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About

Fuelled by Knowledge and Devotion

Philosophy

Mind

Yoga wisdom describes the mind as being harder to control than the raging wind. And we can relate, right? When the assignment deadlines are looming and the stresses of life seem to be never-ending, it’s so hard to get our stubborn minds to focus and block everything else out. We get so distracted by the most insignificant things and face a constant internal battle.

That’s where meditation comes in! We’re the biggest meditation fans at KCSOC and we want to make it as accessible as possible for students at uni. Combined with timeless teachings from ancient yoga texts hand-picked by monks specifically for students, you’ll leave our weekly events with a greater sense of focus, clarity and feeling much better equipped to take on the world.

Body

Firstly, KCSOC is a society of givers and whenever we meet up, we’re not letting you go without feeding you a scrumptious meal of vegetarian goodness. Made in a karma-free way with lots and lots of love, it’s soul food. On the house, of course – we’ll look after your bank balance as well as your body!

At our termly retreats and our big summer getaway at the end of the year, we’ll give you the complete yoga experience. That means the real deal taught by experts who are practically living the yoga lifestyle and aren’t driven by the money motive.

Soul

So here’s the big fat one that almost always gets missed out. All of us at KCSOC want to take care of you and that means the WHOLE you: your body, mind and soul. That little spiritual spark inside of you that gives life to the rest of your body is a huge deal!

We’re a pretty spiritual bunch and love talking about deep topics and thinking outside the box. You know what they say, right? Only dead fish go with the flow! We don’t stick to the status quo and want to create a community of young people who are conscious that there’s got to be more to life. If we have so many comforts and conveniences, why do we often find ourselves feeling dissatisfied, empty and lacking in purpose?

Feeding our spiritual sides and taking you on a journey of self-realisation is a big part of the KCSOC mission. As you gain a deeper sense of who you are and make lifelong friends with like-minded people, you’ll soon find a greater vision for your life unfolding that you wouldn’t have been able to tap into otherwise. We’ve seen countless young people completely transform after joining KCSOC over the years and now they’re our there in the big wide world contributing to society in massive and previously unthinkable ways.

Inspiration

A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada

Prabhupada

KCSOC draws from the philosophical teachings of A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada (known as Srila Prabhupada), a swami and saint who travelled to the West in order to complete his mission to spread the sublime bliss of spirtuality: the joy of Krishna Consciousness.

In 1965, at the age of 69, Srila Prabhupada travelled to New York City aboard a cargo ship. The journey was treacherous, and the elderly spiritual teacher suffered two heart attacks aboard the ship. Arriving in the United States with just 7 dollars in Indian rupees and his translations of sacred Sanskrit texts, he began to spread the teachings of Krishna Consciousness. His spiritual message resonated with many young people, some of whom came forward to become serious students of the Krishna tradition. With the help of these students, Srila Prabhupada rented a small storefront on New York’s Lower East Side to use as a temple. On July 11, 1966, he officially registered his organization in the state of New York, formally founding the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON).

In the 11 years that followed, Srila Prabhupada circled the globe 14 times on lecture tours, bringing the teachings of Lord Krishna to thousands of people on 6 continents. Men and women from all backgrounds and walks of life came forward to accept his message, and with their help, Srila Prabhupada established ISKCON centers and projects throughout the world. Under his inspiration, ISCKON established temples, rural communities, and educational institutions and started what would become the world’s largest vegetarian food relief program. With the desire to nourish the roots of Krishna Consciousness in its home, Srila Prabhupada returned to India several times, where he sparked a revival of the ancient tradition. In India, he opened dozens of temples, including large centers in the auspicious towns of Vrindavana and Mayapur.

Srila Prabhupada’s most significant contributions, perhaps, are his books. He authored over 70 volumes on the Krishna philosophy, which are highly respected by scholars for their authority, depth and fidelity to the tradition. Several of his works are used as textbooks in university courses and his writings have been translated into 76 languages. His most prominent works include: Bhagavad-gita As It Is, the multi-volume Srimad-Bhagavatam and the set of Sri Caitanya-Caritamrita books.