Prabhupāda Teaches His Disciples How to Educate Their Children
The education and upbringing of children is one of the most critical aspects of any thriving spiritual society. Through his compassionate and visionary instructions, Śrīla Prabhupāda meticulously guided his followers on how to navigate the immense responsibilities of parenthood. By emphasizing early spiritual immersion, the establishment of traditional schools, and discipline rooted in love rather than fear, he ensured that the next generation would be perfectly equipped to lead the worldwide preaching mission.
The Ultimate Responsibility of Parenthood
Parenthood in the material world is often approached casually, but in the realm of spiritual life, it is considered a profound and weighty duty. Emphasizing the instructions of the Vedic scriptures, Śrīla Prabhupāda taught that no one should become a parent unless they are fully capable of delivering their child from the cycle of birth and death. By raising children with deep spiritual awareness, parents perform the greatest welfare work and ensure that these young souls will not have to take birth again in the material world.
- The Bhagavat also says that no one should become the parent unless he can deliver the child from the clutches of death. So it is your duty to make this baby Krsna conscious so that he may not have to take birth again.
- A child is a rare gift given by Krishna, but at the same time a great responsibility; every parent has the responsibility to see that his child grows up Krsna conscious.
- Now you are raising your third child. So more and more you are becoming responsible for these living entities who are your dependents. You must see that they do not take birth again in this material world. That is your duty.
- To be determined that the child will have his last birth into ignorance is very good. It is true that one should become a parent only if he can deliver his ward from the clutches of death.
- It is the duty of the father and mother to train children in such a way that they will be interested in guru and Krsna. Why? By the mercy of guru and Krsna, he'll get bhakti-lata-bija. And that is real life.
The Purpose of Marriage and Family
The institution of marriage within the Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement is not a license for unrestricted sense gratification or material enjoyment. Instead, the primary purpose of the gṛhastha order is to produce and carefully raise pure devotees of the Supreme Lord. When a husband and wife cooperate to train their offspring in spiritual principles, they transform their household into a sacred environment and perform an immense service to human society by repopulating it with enlightened individuals.
- The aim of married life is to produce nice children, Krsna conscious children. That is the best service to the human society: produce nice children. Don't produce cats and dogs. That is my request. Otherwise don't produce. Remain separate.
- A householder does not mean he gets license to legalize prostitution. That is not householder. Householder can simply have sex life to beget nice child, that's all, no more.
- Marriage is meant for producing nice children, Krsna devotees. So that is our aim. Our aim is not to produce cats and dogs.
- A Krishna Conscious marriage is not based on sense gratification but rather mutual cooperation between husband and wife for making advancement in spiritual life and also for raising Krishna Conscious children.
- Produce children as much as you can train them to become eternally family members of Krsna. That is spiritual contraceptive. Don't produce children like cats and dogs.
Early Training in Kṛṣṇa Consciousness
Spiritual education must not be delayed until adulthood, as the impressions formed during the early years are the most enduring. From the very beginning of life, children should be gently immersed in transcendental sound, practical devotion, and the joyful atmosphere of the temple. By providing this pure foundation alongside basic literacy, parents and teachers perfectly equip the child with the tools needed to navigate the material energy without falling prey to its illusions.
- From the very beginning, a boy must be trained to perform devotional service to the Supreme Personality of Godhead.
- Child is the father of man, so the basic principle of any type of life is to instruct to the children from the very beginning. Krishna Consciousness. Children grow to be the topmost leaders of the human society.
- The basic idea of raising children as they are described in the Vedic literature is that from birth till the age of five years the parents may be very lenient with the child.
- It is the duty of the parents to see that the children are growing luxuriantly not only materially, but spiritually also. So spiritual training should be given from the very beginning.
- As soon as they can read, that's education finished. They will understand, practical demonstration, arati, worship of the Deity, and they play mrdanga, they chant, they join Hare Krsna chanting. They are not meant for any technology.
The Gurukula System of Education
To ensure the systematic and pure education of the next generation, the traditional gurukula system was reintroduced as a central pillar of the society. This educational framework is designed not to produce technologists or materialistic workers, but to train first-class brāhmaṇas who are expertly versed in Sanskrit, English, and absolute philosophy. Through this specialized environment, children are molded into self-controlled, pure-hearted individuals who can eventually guide the entire human society.
- Gurukula is our most important project. If the children are given a Krsna Conscious education from early childhood then there is great hope for the future of the world.
- The International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) has decided to introduce the gurukula system of education for the proper training of young boys in the traditional gurukula way laid down in the Srimad-Bhagavatam.
- I am concerned that the Gurukula experiment should come out nicely. These children are the future hope of our Society, so it is a very important matter how we are training them in Krishna consciousness from the very childhood.
- The important members of ISKCON should give careful attention to our Dallas school, where children are being taught Sanskrit and English to become perfect brahmanas.
- At least a section of man must be first-class so that others can see that what is the ideal character of man. So this Gurukula means from the childhood age we are training them so that in future it will be easier. That is the purpose of Gurukula.
Discipline with Love and Affection
The method of disciplining children is critical to their long-term spiritual success, requiring a delicate balance of firmness and deep affection. Physical punishment and harsh enforcement of rules were strictly condemned, as such treatment breeds resentment and drives the youth away from spiritual life. Instead, teachers and parents are guided to train small children with loving patience, showing them that austerity and devotional service are actually joyful and natural activities.
- Children should not be beaten at all, that I have told. They should simply be shown the stick strongly. So if one cannot manage in that way then he is not fit as teacher. If a child is trained properly in Krishna Consciousness, he will never go away.
- Try as far as possible to discipline the children with love and affection, so that they develop a taste for austerity of life and think it great fun to serve Krishna in many ways.
- So if there is beating of child, that will be difficult for him to accept in loving spirit, and when he is old enough he may want to go away, that is the danger.
- Small children are just like animals and they have to be trained how to obey, otherwise they will be simply spoiled.
- Why these things are going on, marching and chanting japa, insufficient milk, too strict enforcement of time schedules, hitting the small children?
The Future Generation of Preachers
The ultimate vision for these children is that they will seamlessly inherit the leadership and preaching responsibilities of the worldwide mission. Many of these young souls are recognized as elevated devotees from past lives who have taken birth specifically to complete their spiritual journey. By dedicating immense resources to their proper care and education, the movement guarantees that a powerful, pure generation will rise to broadcast the message of Godhead across the globe.
- If we are able to make a whole generation of our children into fine Krsna Conscious preachers, that will be the glory of our movement and the glory of your country as well.
- Our children in Dallas school should be trained because I want that a new generation of devotees shall carry on this great mission successfully.
- These children who are born in our Krsna consciousness Society, they are those children, those who could not finish Krsna consciousness last life.
- Take care of this nice child and raise him along with the other boys in New Vrindaban so that a new generation of Krishna Conscious children will come out of this movement.
- I hope all the small babies who are now being raised by our married couples will one day do tremendously in the matter of Krishna Consciousness.
Conclusion
Through these extensive instructions, Śrīla Prabhupāda established a perfect blueprint for raising children in a world overwhelmed by materialistic values. He shifted the focus of family life from mundane attachment to profound spiritual duty, ensuring that every child is viewed as a precious soul entrusted to the parents' care. By fostering an environment of love, absolute knowledge, and joyful devotion, the movement actively cultivates a brilliant new generation capable of fulfilling the ultimate goal of human 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 Children of Disciples of SP. We invite you to visit this link to study the complete compilation and experience Śrīla Prabhupāda's teachings in their direct, verbatim form.