Why Prabhupāda Established ISKCON - The Necessity of Devotee Association
Śrīla Prabhupāda established the International Society for Kṛṣṇa Consciousness not merely as a legal institution, but as a spiritual necessity for the conditioned souls. At the core of his mission was the understanding that devotional service cannot be performed in isolation. To practice Kṛṣṇa consciousness effectively, one requires the association of like-minded souls. This article examines Śrīla Prabhupāda's foundational purpose for ISKCON: to provide a sanctuary of sādhu-saṅga where devotees can advance together, protected from the material energy.
Indispensability of Association
Śrīla Prabhupāda is emphatic that spiritual advancement is inextricably linked to the company one keeps. He states clearly that without the association of devotees, one cannot advance. Consequently, he established ISKCON to provide this essential element. He warns that any attempt to be "aloof" from the society while claiming to practice Kṛṣṇa consciousness is a delusion.
- Without the association of devotees, one cannot advance in Krsna consciousness. Therefore, we have established the International Society for Krishna Consciousness.
- We have established the International Society for Krishna Consciousness. Anyone who is trying to be aloof from this Krishna Consciousness Society and yet engage in Krsna consciousness is living in a great hallucination, for this is not possible.
- Association is so important. So if we become serious for developing divine consciousness, then this is the only association - we have established the International Society for Krishna Consciousness.
A Refuge from Materialism (Asat-saṅga)
The material world is filled with asat-saṅga, or association with temporary, material things and people attached to them. ISKCON was established to offer a counter-environment. By associating with Kṛṣṇa through His devotees, one is saved from the contamination of materialistic talk and behavior. The society provides the opportunity to associate with those who have not forgotten the Lord.
- We have established this Krsna consciousness movement in order to avoid asat-sanga, association with those who are interested in material things. Because we are associating with Krsna, we do not wish to talk about anything but Krsna.
- We have established the International Society for Krishna Consciousness to give people an opportunity to associate with those who have not forgotten Krsna. This spiritual association offered by our ISKCON movement is increasing day by day.
Cultivating Faith and Relishing Service
The society acts as an incubator for faith. Śrīla Prabhupāda notes that even a person with little faith can develop it into full Kṛṣṇa consciousness by taking advantage of the society. Furthermore, the exchange of love between devotees makes the service relishable. Without this community, the practice would be incomplete.
- We have established this International Society for Krishna Consciousness. Society is required. Sadhu-sanga. Just to give opportunity to persons who have got little faith to develop that faith into Krsna consciousness.
- Transcendental devotional service cannot be complete and cannot be relishable without the association of devotees. We have therefore established the International Society for Krishna Consciousness.
Conclusion
Śrīla Prabhupāda established ISKCON to solve the problem of loneliness in spiritual life. By creating a society dedicated to the Absolute Truth, he provided a practical means for everyone to engage in sādhu-saṅga. The movement is a "practical common formulation" of the theistic ideal, established to defeat dogmatic wrangling and facilitate the pure development of love of God through mutual association.
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 Establishing 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.