The Qualities and Duties of Members of the Kṛṣṇa Consciousness Movement
To be a member of the Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement is to embark on the most courageous adventure of the human spirit. It is not a mere formal affiliation but a total transformation of the heart, where one trades the fleeting pleasures of the material world for the eternal bliss of divine service. Śrīla Prabhupāda envisioned his members as a new class of "spiritual aristocrats"—men and women who, through their purity and dedication, become the guiding lights for a confused civilization.
The Foundation of Membership: Tapasyā and Regulation
Stepping into this movement means accepting a life of voluntary discipline, or tapasyā, which Śrīla Prabhupāda explains is the only way to break the heavy chains of material habit. By following the four regulative principles and chanting the Holy Name, a member builds an internal fortress that no amount of māyā can breach. This regulated life is not meant to restrict us, but to set us free, allowing the soul to breathe in its original atmosphere of purity.
- If one wants to become an initiated member of our Krsna consciousness society, we first of all ask him to undergo tapasya. In the Western countries especially it is a great tapasya to give up illicit sex life, intoxication, meat-eating and gambling.
- If they (the members of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness) follow the rules and regulations and chant sixteen rounds daily, their endeavor to preach the cult of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu will certainly be successful.
- A member of the temple, whether grhastha, brahmacari or sannyasi, must practice a life of renunciation, following in the footsteps of Haridasa Thakura and the six Gosvamis. Otherwise, because maya is very strong, at any time one may become a victim of maya.
- The members of the Krsna consciousness movement chant a minimum of sixteen rounds a day, which can be done without difficulty, and at the same time they must preach the cult of Caitanya Mahaprabhu according to the gospel of Bhagavad-gita As It Is.
The Dynamic Mission of Compassionate Preaching
The heart of a member beats for the benefit of others, mirroring the deep compassion that Śrīla Prabhupāda carried when he first arrived on Western shores. Members are not "escapists" hiding from the world; they are spiritual warriors who go door-to-door, village-to-village, and city-to-city to distribute the highest knowledge found in the Bhagavad-gītā. This activity is the ultimate welfare work because it provides a permanent solution to the miseries of life by reawakening the world's forgotten relationship with the Supreme.
- Every member of the Krsna consciousness movement is interested in going door to door to try to convince people about the teachings of Bhagavad-gita As It Is, the teachings of Lord Caitanya. That is the purpose of the Hare Krsna movement.
- All the members of the Krsna consciousness movement should try to benefit the conditioned souls by inducing them to become Krsna conscious and giving them all facilities to do so. Such activities constitute real welfare work.
- Members of the Krsna consciousness movement have no business begging. Instead, they work very hard to introduce some literatures about Krsna consciousness so that people can read them and be benefited.
- The preaching of Krsna consciousness must be done very carefully by the members of the Krsna consciousness movement, especially the sannyasis. This will create an auspicious atmosphere.
Cultivating the Ideal Vaiṣṇava Character
A member's most powerful preaching tool is their own character, and Śrīla Prabhupāda often pointed to his disciples as proof of the transformative power of bhakti. By cultivating brahminical qualities—cleanliness, truthfulness, and humility—members become "ideal human beings" who naturally command respect. This purity is maintained by seeing Kṛṣṇa’s artistic hand in everything and engaging the tongue solely in the vibration of the Holy Name and the honor of prasāda.
- Our members of Krishna Consciousness society should be ideal human beings, and if they try to follow the principles, surely they will be the ideal men in the world.
- The members of the Krsna consciousness movement must always follow this principle (bahyabhyantarah sucih). Then it will one day be possible to see the Supreme Personality of Godhead face to face.
- The members of the Krsna consciousness movement, being engaged in vasudeva-bhakti, very quickly come to the stage of being nice Vaisnavas, so much so that people are surprised that mlecchas and yavanas are able to come to this stage. This is possible by vasudeva-bhakti.
- Sevonmukhe hi jihvadau: One must engage his tongue in the service of the holy name. Our Krsna consciousness movement is based on this principle. We try to engage all the members of the Krsna consciousness movement in the service of the holy name.
Cooperation and Sacrifice for the Pleasure of Kṛṣṇa
The strength of the Vani Temple lies in the unity and sacrifice of its members, who Śrīla Prabhupāda requested to cooperate with one another despite any personal differences. Whether a member is a factory worker, an office professional, or a traveling monk, their contribution of time, energy, and wealth constitutes real renunciation. When members live in harmony with Kṛṣṇa as the center, they are no longer living in the material world; they have already entered the atmosphere of Vaikuṇṭha.
- If the members of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness, putting faith in Krsna as the center, live in harmony according to the order and principles of Bhagavad-gita, then they are living in Vaikuntha, not in this material world.
- Our Krishna Consciousness movement is based on complete fellow feeling and love, but there is a word maryada which means respect which should always be offered to the Spiritual Master and elderly members.
- There are many members of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness who work very hard in their office or in the factory or some other place, and whatever they earn they give to the Society.
- You are a sincere and intelligent boy, so if you along with all of the members combine to cooperate with one another in our mission of spreading Krishna Consciousness that will be very nice.
Conclusion
Membership in this movement is the highest calling of the modern age—a rare opportunity to become a direct servant of the Supreme Lord under the guidance of His pure devotee. By embracing the path of tapasyā, maintaining the highest standards of purity, and dedicating one's life to the welfare of others, a member transcends all mundane designations. As Śrīla Prabhupāda promised, if we remain fixed in these principles and work together in love and trust, we will not only change our own lives but will create a spiritual revolution that can save the entire world.
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 Members of 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.