| |
| The
International Society for Krishna Consciousness is a denomination of the Gaudiya Vaishnava faith, a devotional tradition based on the teachings of Bhagavad-gita and the Bhagavat Purana (Srimad Bhagavatam). The tradition traces its roots back 5,500 years.The precepts and practices of the members of the present day ISKCON were taught and codified by the 15th century saint and religious reformer Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu and his principle associates, the six Goswamis of Vrindavana. |
| SriChaitanya, whom devotees revere as a direct incarnation of Lord Krishna, gave a powerful impetus for a massive bhakti (devotional) movement of Krishna followers throughout India. It was under his direction that hundreds of volumes on the philosophy of Krishna consciousness
were compiled. The movement diminished somewhat until the 19th century, when a outstanding Vaishnava theologian, Bhaktivinoda Thakura, again revived Krishna consciousness. His son, Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Goswami, became the guru of Srila Prabhupada and instructed him to make the spreading of Krishna consciousness in the West the mission of his life. |
| After
arriving at New York City in September
1965, Srila Prabhupada struggled alone
for the first year to establish his
God conscious movement. He lived simply,
lectured whenever and wherever he
got opportunity, and gradually began
to attract some small interest in
his teachings. |
Lord Chaitanya Mahaprabhu (center) who appeared
500
years ago to propagate
the chanting of Hare Krishna mantra |
In
July of 1966, while still working
alone from an obscure storefront in
New York City's Lower East Side, Srila
Prabhupada nonetheless founded a spiritual
society intended for worldwide participation.
He called it the International Society
for Krishna Consciousness, or ISKCON
for short. At the time of incorporation,
Srila Prabhupada had not attracted even
one committed follower. Undeterred,
he enlisted volunteers among the small group of regular attendees at his
evening lectures to act as ISKCON's first trustees. That was then. Today,
the International Society for Krishna
Consciousness comprises more than
350 temples, farms, schools, and special
projects throughout the world and
maintains a congregation numbering
in the millions.
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ISKCON's
Purpose
Krishna consciousness is
more than another sectarian
faith. It is a technical science
of spiritual values that is
fully described in the Vedic
literature of ancient India.
The aim of the Krishna consciousness
movement is to acquaint all
people of the world with these
universal principles of God-realization
so that they may derive the
highest benefits of spiritual
understanding, unity, and peace. |
| The Vedas recommend that
in the present age the most
effective means for achieving
self-realization is to always
hear about, glorify, and remember
the all-good Supreme Lord, who
is known by many names. One
of the names is "Krishna," which
means "He, who is all attractive,"
another is "Rama"' which means
" He who is reservoir of all
pleasure," and "Hare," indicates
the Lord's inconceivable energy. |
Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati the
spiritual master of Srila
Prabhupada |
|
His
Divine Grace
A.C. Bhaktivedanta
Swami
Prabhupada
- Founder Acharya
of ISKCON |
Following
the Vedic recommendation, the
members of ISKCON are always
seen chanting Hare Krishna Hare
Krishna , Krishna Krishna Hare
Hare, Hare Rama Hare Rama, Rama
Rama Hare Hare. This sublime
chanting puts us directly in
touch with the Supreme Lord
through the sound vibration
of His holy names and gradually
awakens us to our original relationship
with God.
ISKCON's
primary mission is thus to encourage
all members of human society to devote
at least a portion of their time and
energies in this process of hearing
and chanting about God. In this way
they will gradually come to realize
that all living beings are spirit
souls, eternally related to the Supreme
Lord in service and in love. Srila
Prabhupada gave a clear mission statement
for ISKCON, which is outlined in the
following seven points. |
| The Seven Purposes of ISKCON |
| 1) |
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. |
| 2) |
To propagate a consciousness of Krishna (God), as it is revealed in the great scriptures of India, Bhagavad-Gita and Srimad-Bhagavatam. |
| 3) |
To bring the members of the 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). |
| 4) |
To teach and encourage the sankirtana movement, congregational chanting of the holy name of God, as revealed in the teachings of Lord Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu. |
| 5) |
To erect for the members and for society at large a holy place of transcendental pastimes dedicated to the personality of Krishna. |
| 6) |
To bring the members closer together for the purpose of teaching a simpler, more natural way of life. |
| 7) |
With a view towards achieving the aforementioned purposes, to publish and distribute periodicals, magazines, books and other writings. |
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