Family Life and Renunciation for Devotees in the Kṛṣṇa Consciousness Movement
In the Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement, spiritual advancement is not determined by the color of one's dress but by the purity of one's consciousness. Śrīla Prabhupāda clarified that while the renounced order (sannyāsa) is accorded high respect, it must be accepted responsibly. The movement encourages a stable, regulated family life over a hypocritical show of renunciation. The ultimate goal for all devotees, whether married or renounced, is to conquer the material energy and engage fully in the service of the Lord.
Danger of Sentimental Renunciation
Renunciation in Kṛṣṇa consciousness is not a matter of sentiment; it requires a genuine burning of material desires. Śrīla Prabhupāda warned his disciples against taking sannyāsa prematurely. When a devotee accepts the renounced order without sufficient strength, they run the risk of falling down, which creates a "scandal" for the entire society. Such "monkey disciples," unable to maintain strict vows, inevitably return to sense gratification, sometimes even trying to justify their illicit connections under the guise of spirituality.
- Sometimes in our society, ISKCON, a person out of sentiment may take sannyasa, but because his desires are not burned completely, he again takes to family life, even at the risk of losing his prestige and disgracing his good name.
- In the Krsna consciousness movement these monkey disciples, being unable to follow the strict regulative principles, sometimes fall down and try to form societies based on sex.
- If you again give up sannyasa or you try to marry, it will be scandalous for our society.
Value of Stable Family Life
Contrasting with the unstable renunciant is the sincere householder. Śrīla Prabhupāda often cited the examples of his disciples who were living peacefully with their wives and children as positive models. He emphasized that there is no impediment to Kṛṣṇa consciousness in family life if the center of the home is the Deity. A devotee can install Deities, chant the mahā-mantra, and read the scriptures at home under superior guidance, achieving the same perfection as those in the temple.
- Those who have deserted this movement are not the example. Why are you citing them as example? There are so many devotees like Dayananda, Shyamsundar, Hayagriva and others who are living with their wife and children very peacefully. Why take bad examples.
- It is not that we have to open different centers all over the world. Whoever cares for the Krsna consciousness movement can install Deities at home and, under superior guidance, worship the Deity regularly, chanting the maha-mantra and discussing the Bhagavad-gita and Srimad-Bhagavatam.
Mutual Responsibility
For those in the gṛhastha-āśrama, the husband and wife have a mutual duty to protect each other's spiritual life. This is particularly true for the families of leadership figures. Śrīla Prabhupāda instructed that the wife of a GBC member, for instance, holds the responsibility of ensuring her husband maintains the highest standard of Kṛṣṇa consciousness, acting as a fortress against the degradation of māyā.
- As the wife of a GBC member you have got the responsibility to help your husband to maintain the highest standard of Krishna Consciousness both in yourselves and in all the other devotees in the Temple.
- In this Krsna consciousness movement the devotees are forbidden to have illicit sex. Thus they avoid so many difficulties.
Conclusion
The Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement is a society of soldiers fighting against illusion, and this fight can be waged from any āśrama. Whether one is a sannyāsī or a gṛhastha, the requirement is strict adherence to the regulative principles and "transcendental enthusiasm." Śrīla Prabhupāda taught that it is far better to be a humble, regulated householder than a pretentious, fallen renunciant. In the end, Kṛṣṇa accepts the devotion, not the social designation.
Dive Deeper into Śrīla Prabhupāda's Vani
Śrīla Prabhupāda lives within his instructions. This article is a summary of the profound truths found in the Vaniquotes category Devotees in the Krsna Consciousness Movement. We invite you to visit this link to study the complete compilation and experience Śrīla Prabhupāda's teachings in their direct, verbatim form.