Understanding Why the Kṛṣṇa Consciousness Movement Is a Religious Movement
The Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement is frequently defined by its founder-ācārya, Śrīla Prabhupāda, as a profound and scientific educational movement. While it is legally registered as a religious movement and recognized by the Supreme Court of New York as a "genuine religious movement," Śrīla Prabhupāda takes great care to distinguish it from the "so-called" religious movements based on sentiment or blind faith. As a visionary teacher who brought the wisdom of the East to the West, he presents Kṛṣṇa consciousness as an all-round cultural and spiritual reform intended for the welfare of all living entities.
Legal Registration and Authentic Recognition
In 1966, Śrīla Prabhupāda officially incorporated his movement in New York under the state religious act. Since then, it has been registered in countries around the world as a religious and cultural institution. Śrīla Prabhupāda notes that legal bodies, such as the Supreme Court in New York, have formally admitted that the movement is a genuine religious movement. This recognition is considered an act of Lord Kṛṣṇa's grace, facilitating the devotees' ability to perform saṅkīrtana on the streets and be accepted as a valid spiritual society.
- Religious movement.
- In 1966 I started this movement after incorporation in New York under the state religious act, and I began to chant Hare Krsna mantra in a park in New York.
- Recently there is a judgment by the Supreme Court in New York. They admitted that Hare Krsna movement is genuine religious movement.
- The Society is registered in each and every country as a religious and cultural institution under specific statutes.
- I have also read the newspaper cuttings in which I understand that people accept our Society as genuine and religious. So it is Krsna's grace that they are giving you permission to chant on the streets.
A Scientific Movement Beyond Sentiment
Śrīla Prabhupāda repeatedly emphasizes that Kṛṣṇa consciousness is not a sentimental fanaticism. He explains that any religious movement without a philosophical basis is merely sentiment, while philosophy without God is mental speculation. This movement is based on volumes of books—including the Bhagavad-gītā and Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam—which provide the right knowledge to solve the problems of life. It is presented as a scientific movement for the good of the world, designed to educate people on how to return back to Godhead through real knowledge.
- This Krsna consciousness movement is giving that education. Therefore it is not a sentimental so-called religious movement, it is a scientific movement of real education, to solve the problems of life.
- This (Krsna consciousness) is not a sentimental fanaticism, religious movement. This is scientific movement for the good of the whole world.
- The idea is that any religious movement without philosophical basis, it is simply sentiment or fanaticism. And philosophy without idea of God is simply mental speculation.
- If one wants to understand this Krsna consciousness movement through science, through philosophy, through logic - in any way - through religion, through culture - anyway he wants to understand, we have got volumes of books.
An All-Round Cultural and Social Reform
Unlike movements that focus solely on ritual, the Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement is all-round, covering politics, sociology, astronomy, and science. Śrīla Prabhupāda teaches that it is a reformatory movement that includes all sides of human life. It is not just "chanting and dancing"; it is a movement for understanding knowledge in its entirety. By talking of Kṛṣṇa consciousness to everyone one meets, as instructed by Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, the devotees participate in a genuine spiritual movement that seeks the happiness of every human being and animal.
- Everything - politics, sociology, religion, philosophy, science, astronomy - everything is there in Srimad-Bhagavatam. And we should not take this movement as a religious movement. It's not religious movement. It is a movement for understanding knowledge.
- Krsna consciousness means all-round: social, political, philosophical, religious, cultural - everything. It is not one-sided. They take it as . . . they do not know. Therefore they are thinking it is a religious movement. No.
- It is reformatory movement, inclusive all sides of life. Don't think that we are simply chanting and dancing. Our philosophy includes all different activities of humankind, either it may be religious or political or social or cultural.
- Whomever you meet, you talk of Krsna consciousness. That's, that is the cult of Caitanya Mahaprabhu. This is genuine spiritual movement. Or the human society's movement. Spiritual, cultural, religious philosophical, scientific, everything, complete.
Bhagavata-dharma: The Only Real Religion
Ultimately, Śrīla Prabhupāda identifies the Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement as bhāgavata-dharma, the natural religion of the soul. He asserts that any system of religion without the support of the śruti, smṛti, and purāṇas is simply a disturbance. If the devotees remain sincere in following the previous ācāryas, Kṛṣṇa consciousness will be recognized worldwide as the only true religion. This movement is not a "sectarian" invention but a scientific process based on authority, with a 24-hour engagement in the Lord’s service, unlike any other movement in the world.
- This Krsna consciousness movement, you can take it as a religious movement, bhagavata-dharma. This is the only dharma, bhagavata-dharma. Except bhagavata-dharma, any other dharma, so-called dharma, is cheating. That is not dharma.
- Without the support of sruti, smrti, purana, any religious movement for understanding God is simply disturbance - utpatayaiva kalpate. Utpat.
- If we remain very sincere and pure in following the line laid down by the previous great acaryas, this Krishna Consciousness Movement will undoubtedly be accepted throughout the world as the only religion.
- We have no other business than Krsna's business. That is the peculiarity of this movement. Even if you take it is a religious movement, there is no religious movement in the whole world which has got twenty-four hours' engagement.
Conclusion
The Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement stands as a scientific, all-encompassing spiritual tradition. While it fulfills every legal and societal requirement of a religious movement, Śrīla Prabhupāda clarifies that its essence lies in the eternal science of the soul. By refusing to be restricted by "so-called" sectarian definitions, the movement offers a complete system of education—political, social, and philosophical—grounded in the authority of the Vedas. As a genuine spiritual movement, its only goal is the universal happiness of all living entities through the simple yet profound process of chanting Hare Kṛṣṇa and understanding the real goal of life.
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 Krsna Consciousness Movement Is A Religious Movement. We invite you to visit this link to study the complete compilation and experience Śrīla Prabhupāda's teachings in their direct, verbatim form.