Meditation and vegetarianism
When the prayers are done, Dayal Nitai das lights incense and begins a sermon on Krishna and ISKCON's sacred text, the Bhagavad-Gita, in a mixture of English and Chinese.
"Service and devotion cause people to glorify God in their words and actions," says Dayal Nitai das. "Everything should serve God because God is the true possessor and governor of all. In the material world, it is only by seeking non-selfish ends and acting to please God that we can escape the karmic cycle.
Ringing with song just a few moments before, the apartment becomes silent; Hindus and ISKCON members from around the world sit on their mats, listening intently.
"There are about 100 people who gather regularly in Taipei City and County. About 40% of them are Indian, and about 60% Taiwanese," estimates Lu Yi-hua as she looks over at the devout society members and Hindus gathered here. "There are another 50 or 60 in central and southern Taiwan."
Lu, ISKCON's executive director in Taiwan and an adherent for 20 years, says that the society's small rented center has become livelier in recent years as the number of Indians in Taiwan has grown. These Indians not only come to the center for the regular Sunday afternoon meetings, but also to worship during the week.
In addition to providing religious training, ISKCON, which stresses devotion and actively proselytizes, promoted itself for a time by offering classes in yoga and meditation. These days, ISKCON members in their distinctive multicolored robes can be seen participating in charitable events in communities everywhere.
"On holidays, we also take devotees and others interested in Krishna on retreats to the mountains in Taiwu and Laiyi Townships at the southern tip of Taiwan," says Lu. "There, we meditate and sing devotional songs in the forest. Members from the Kaohsiung-Pingtung area often invite local working people to come along and unwind a little. Our retreats have all been well attended."
"Krishna worship doesn't have a set form," explains a Ms. Tsai, a Tainan resident who has participated in Krishna-related activities. "The main thing is to let go, and to advocate caring more for the people around you. Most of the spiritual teachers who lead these activities also encourage everyone to eat less meat, to use meditation to cultivate their spiritual side, and to still their emotions. Really, it's very accessible."
Dasa lectures on the Bhagavad Gita in the cramped Tingchou Road apartment that functions as ISKCON's Taipei center. Because members are of several nationalities, he always gives this talk in English and Chinese.