Krishna Consciousness Explained

This article, "Krishna Consciousness Explained," was published in The Hindu, February 14, 1972, in Chennai, India.

MADRAS, Feb. 14. 

The human form of life is actually meant for God-realisation. To strive relentlessly for the gratification of the senses, ignoring this fundamental and salutary purpose, is to reduce oneself to the level of a beast. Man is expected to practise austerity, which is necessary for purifying his existence, and to seek true knowledge of the Supreme Being from an authentic spiritual master who faithfully passes on what has been imparted to him by his own Acharya. It is not for anyone to introduce his own ideas and theories while interpreting the scriptural text. 

His Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada; the founder-Acharya of the Krishna Consciousness movement (or Hare Krishna cult), in a discourse at the Rajeswari Kalyana Mandapam, Mylapore, on Saturday, emphasised that Vedic knowledge should be acquired through the method of "disciple succession" (Parampara system) and that the job of a spiritual teacher was to present it without any adulteration, distortion or concoction. Everyone should realise that Sri Krishna is the Supreme Personality of Godhead, that everything belongs to Him, that all the living entities are part and parcel of Him and that He is the purveyor of all benefits and sustainer of all lives. If a person realises these facts that are essentially signified by the term Krishna Consciousness and patterns his life in consonance with them, he is sure to attain transcendental bliss and snap the chain of birth and death.