The International Society for Krishna Consciousness. Founder-Acarya Sri Srimad A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
Although the International Society for Krishna Consciousness, also known as the Hare Krishna movement, is relatively new in the West, its roots date back to ancient India, to the most advanced civilization the world has ever known. The most important witnesses of this era are the Vedic scriptures, written in Sanskrit. Outstanding among these writings are the texts that deal with philosophy and religion. The Vedic religion is monotheistic and teaches the worship of one Supreme God (named Krishna in Sanskrit), and it was this God conscious lifestyle that ensured the long lasting prosperity of the Vedic culture. Under the influence of time everything in this world is subject to a cycle of revival and destruction. About 5000 years ago Kali-yuga, the Iron Age of quarrel and hypocrisy, began. In due course of time kings, priests and teachers, followed by the rest of the populace, slowly lost their qualities of cleanliness and godliness, and with it the principles of their spiritual society. Still, even in Kali-yuga for a long time India remained a country possessing legendary opulence. Again and again we find how throughout history great powers have tried to exploit its treasures. All those who penetrated the Indian sub-continent -- from Alexander the Great in 327 BC up to the Muslims and Englishmen – were astonished at the sight of this country with its imposing temples and palaces. But what these conquerors saw (and often also destroyed) were merely the remains of an earlier and even greater civilization.
The great sages and saints of the Vedic tradition could understand that in Kali-yuga materialism would predominate. Therefore they decided to put all Vedic knowledge, which had been an oral tradition up till then, into writing to save it from the influence of Kali-yuga. Thus the Vedic scriptures came into being 5000 years ago, although their contents, originating from divine revelation, had been existing from time immemorial. Besides the scriptures there were also teachers (gurus) who embodied the Vedic teachings by their own example and in this way passed it on to their disciples, who passed it on to their disciples, etc. This unbroken chain of spiritual masters, which can be traced back to Lord Krishna Himself, has kept the Vedic tradition alive, even while the people of Kali-yuga turned away from it more and more. Thus those who knew the meaning and goal of the Vedas could foresee the coming of every incarnation of God who would reestablish the Vedic culture and religion. In 1486 Lord Krishna appeared in Bengal as Sri Caitanya. His appearance as an incarnation of God (avatar) had already been predicted in the Vedic scriptures. He established the movement for Krishna consciousness in India and revealed the recommended method of God-realization for the present age (yuga-dharma): the congregational chanting of the holy names of the Lord. In other words, the same Krishna, who spoke the Bhagavad-gita 5000 years ago, had now appeared to show how to live the Bhagavad-gita. God always gives both the perfect teachings and the perfect example. Lord Caitanya explained that real God consciousness does not depend on caste or church membership, and opposed Himself to any social, religious or racist prejudice. He spread the chanting of the holy name as the method to enable anyone to become Krishna conscious and predicted that one day the holy name of Lord Krishna would be heard all over the world. In fulfilling this prophecy of the Lord His followers saw their life's mission. They traveled all over India, wrote volumes of books, and since the 19th century also started to make the Vedic knowledge available to the whole world through the English language. A major step was taken ten generations after Lord Caitanya by the great scholar and devotee A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada (1896-1977), who gave the name of Lord Krishna and the message of the Vedas to the whole world.
ISKCON, founded in 1966 in New York by A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, is the contemporary representative of the ancient religion of Krishna consciousness. It is a cultural and religious movement that offers humanity facilities to acquire, study and practice Vedic knowledge. This ISKCON section of "The Complete Picture" offers those who are not that familiar with our movement an insight in its structure, goals, means, and future.
On this page you will find the official goals, standpoints and definitions of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness as established by the Founder-Acaraya, Srila A.C. Bhaltivedanta Swami Prabhupada, and the Governing Body Commission (GBC).
The International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) is the spiritual institution founded by His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, in July 1966, as a continuation of the Brahma-Madhva-Gaudiya Sampradaya. ISKCON was personally directed by its founder-acarya Srila Prabhupada until his departure on November 14, 1977. According to Srila Prabhupada's Will, ISKCON continued thereafter under the ultimate managing authority of the Governing Body Commission. Accordingly, ISKCON is that institution founded by Srila Prabhupada and originally directed by him, which continues to be directed after his departure by the GBC.
Definition of Founder-Acarya of ISKCON
His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada is the founder-acarya of ISKCON. This means that he is ISKCON's link with the Brahma-Madhva-Gaudiya Sampradaya, that his writings, oral teachings, and exemplary actions remain the permanent and irreplaceable basis for all subsequent teaching and activity of ISKCON. He is and will remain always the instructing spiritual master of all devotees in ISKCON.
The following statement is officially accepted as ISKCON's statement about the Founder-Acarya:
To fulfill the previous acarya's desire for a united worldwide preaching organization to expand Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu's mission, Srila Prabhupada founded the International Society for Krishna Consciousness as a distinct branch of the Brahma-Madhva-Gaudiya Vaishnava Sampradaya. Therefore he is the Founder-Acarya of ISKCON.
Srila Prabhupada is the foundational siksa-guru for all ISKCON devotees because he has realized and presented the teachings of the previous acaryas of the Brahma-Madhva-Gaudiya Sampradaya appropriately for the modern age. Srila Prabhupada's instructions are the essential teachings for every ISKCON devotee. Srila Prabhupada's books are the embodiment of his teachings and should be accepted as the standard by all future generations of ISKCON.
Srila Prabhupada should be worshiped daily by every ISKCON member. Every ISKCON spiritual master is responsible to guide his disciples to follow Srila Prabhupada's instructions.
As Founder-Acarya, Srila Prabhupada gave directions for management, principles of co-operation, and other practical guidelines which form the basis and inspiration for ISKCON's policies. Srila Prabhupada established the Governing Body Commission to execute his will, following the order of the previous acaryas.
At the time of ISKCON's incorporation in July 1966 in New York City Srila Prabhupada set down seven points describing the goals of the Krishna consciousness movement:
To systematically propagate spiritual knowledge to society at large, and to educate all people in the techniques of spiritual life, in order to check the imbalance of values in life, and to achieve real unity and peace in the world.
To propagate consciousness of Krishna, as it is revealed in Bhagavad-gita and Srimad-Bhagavatam.
To bring the members of Society together with each other and nearer to Krishna, the prime entity, thus developing the idea within the members, and humanity at large, that each soul is part and parcel of the quality of Godhead (Krishna).
To teach and encourage the sankirtan movement, congregational chanting of the holy names of God, as revealed in the teachings of Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu.
To erect for the members and for society at large holy places of transcendental pastimes dedicated to the personality of Krishna.
To bring the members closer together for the purpose of teaching a simpler, more natural way of life.
With a view toward achieving the aforementioned purposes, to publish and distribute periodicals, books, and other writings.
The following statement is accepted as ISKCON's position statement on the environment:
"Fostering a more simple and natural way of life is one of the founding principles of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness. The members of the Society are therefore committed to helping solve the planet's environmental problems. These include water pollution, air pollution, toxic waste, nuclear and chemical accidents, destruction of wildlife, and desertification."
"While appreciating the good intentions of those working to solve these problems by individual and group efforts of a material nature, we believe the environmental crisis is ultimately a spiritual one requiring a spiritual solution."
"The environmental crisis is a product of a society that has become overly dependent upon destructive industrial technology. This dependency is rooted in reductionist science, which has removed God and the soul from the forefront of human concern. When people forget that nature is the propriety of God, they are driven to exploit it unlimitedly for their own material gratification."
"Scholars of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness are therefore introducing an alternative culture based on the Vedic teachings of ancient India. This philosophical system acknowledges the fundamental reality of a nonmaterial conscious self, or soul, present in each individual. All souls have their source in a Supreme Conscious Self, God. Nature also emanates from God as a perfectly balanced system capable of sustaining all living things. When humans fail to properly understand their total identity as body-mind-soul and the connect of nature with God, the system becomes unbalanced."
"Ultimately, we would like to see society move toward a more natural economy, in which people are not dependent upon the present environmentally destructive system. They would instead live in smaller, self-sufficient economic units, based on simple living and high thinking. These villages, towns, and small cities would provide for basic needs locally and offer secure lifetime employment."
"To this end, the International Society for Krishna Consciousness is gradually developing rural communities all over the world and a town for 20,000 in Mayapur, India."
"To reduce the urge to excessively exploit and consume material resources, ISKCON teaches people methods for experiencing nonmaterial happiness from the soul. Chief among these is the time-honored practice of Hare Krishna mantra meditation. Without elevating desires from material to spiritual, the basic impetus to environmentally destructive behavior will remain intact."
"We recognize the major detrimental effect of the meat industry, particularly the cattle industry, has on the environment. ISKCON's model programs for protecting cows and using bulls for transport and agriculture, based on the Vedic spiritual teachings, are thus environmentally beneficial. Such programs are now operating in ISKCON rural communities around the world. The spiritual vegetarian diet followed by ISKCON members saves scarce resources and has a far less negative impact on the environment than a meat-based diet. Since its founding in 1966, ISKCON has provided over 900 million vegetarian meals through its restaurants, temples, and Food for Life program (for the homeless, hungry, or disadvantaged). The Society has also sold over 10 million vegetarian cookbooks."
"While working to make this world a better place, ISKCON also encourages people to understand their identity as spirit souls and return to the spiritual world, which is the natural environment of the soul."
More information on the environment issue can be found in the essay Environment, cutting the branch we are sitting on.