Krishnas share their enviro-ethic

By Wes Yarborough New Thought News Service When the typical American thinks of the Hare Krishna movement, they likely think of bald men and women in robes, chanting in airports and handing out trinkets.  Not many people appear to understand the depth of the faith and its connection to the environment. The Krishna philosophy is one of the more environmentally connected religious practices that I've come across so far at the Parliament. "Many people think that humans are the center of God's focus, but in reality we are just one unit of his infinite creation," His Holiness Dr. Yaduandana Swami explained during a Friday morning workshop on the faith. He discussed how the basis of the Krishna doctrine, the Bhagavad Gita and the Srimad Bhagavataman, explain the essence of God in nature. The belief is that unless the focus is on God, humans won't have the integrity to uphold, sustain and properly nurture the divine and our planet. The Krishnas believe the world is tarnished because of something they call "consciousness pollution," caused by being out of touch with one's God-consciousness. Being in touch with the God-consciousness within is the way to reverse that pollution, they feel. And for the Krishnas, eating patterns are one way to be in touch. The meat industry contributes a vast majority of the world's pollution for a vast number of reasons, they believe. The Krishnas' spiritual connection to all living things is one reason they promote a vegetarian lifestyle.  The Krishnas' way of thinking mirrors and parallels New Thought principles, and may merit renewed consideration as people worldwide focus on the Earth we walk, run, eat, sleep, pray and love on.