Education in ISKCON
Prabhupāda’s vision. Less than a year after arriving in America, in mid-1965, ISKCON’s founder, A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda, established the first ISKCON centre in New York City. The articles of incorporation that he wrote show what he wanted to achieve. Systematic spiritual education is mentioned as the first of the seven purposes of ISKCON:
To systematically propagate spiritual knowledge to society at large and to educate all peoples 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. (Satsvarūpa Dāsa Goswami 1980, p. 132)
Prabhupāda said that knowledge and science become complete when they are used to glorify God. (Prabhupāda 1987, pp. 268–9)2 Thus, he encouraged some of his disciples to become educated in regular educational institutions and to develop educational programmes for children and adults. (Prabhupāda 1992, pp. 731–4; 751–63) Prabhupāda foresaw that systematic education would help his followers perform successful missionary work and take responsibilities of leadership within ISKCON. More info >>
