Incorporation of ISKCON New York
BY: SUN STAFF
Bhaktivedanta Book Trust
Jul 26, 2016 — CANADA (SUN) — July 27th is the observance day of the auspicious anniversary of Srila Prabhupada's incorporation of ISKCON New York, in 1966.
In 1966, Srila Prabhupada began chanting the Hare Krsna maha-mantra under a tree in New York's Tompkins Square Park, thereby inaugurating the western advance of Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu's glorious Sankirtana movement. On July 13th, 1966 Srila Prabhupada incorporated ISKCON New York, and in Autumn of 1966 he established the ISKCON Press, which clearly demonstrated his emphasis on the importance of publishing and distributing his authorized books. Since that time, many millions of his books have been distributed throughout the world, translated into many different languages.
"We shall call our society
I.S.K.C.O.N.", Srila Prabhupada said with great pleasure when he first
coined the acronym for the International Society of Krishna
Consciousness. 'Krishna Consciousness' was Srila Prabhupada's rendering
of a phrase from Srila Rupa Goswami's Padyavali:
krsna-bhakti-rasa-bhavita
"To be absorbed in the mellow taste
of executing devotional service to Krsna'."
"He had initiated the legal work of
incorporation that spring, while still living on the Bowery, but even
before its legal beginning, he had been talking about his "International
Society for Krishna Consciousness", and so it had appeared in letters
to India and in "The Village Voice" (newspaper). A friend had suggested a
title that would sound more familiar to Westerners "International
society for God Consciousness". But 'God' was a vague term, whereas
'Krishna' was exact and scientific; 'God Consciousness' was spiritually
weaker, less personal. And if Westerners didn't know or understand that
Krishna was God, then the 'International Society for Krishna
Consciousness' would tell them, by spreading His glories 'in every town
and village'.
"Your Ever Well-wisher", page 45-47
Within ISKCON's Articles of
Incorporation, Srila Prabhupada included seven points quite similar to
those presented in his prospectus for The League of Devotees, which he
founded in Jhansi, India in 1954.
Seven Purposes of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness
(a) 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 the values in life and to achieve real unity and
peace in the world.
(b) To propagate a consciousness of Krishna, as it is revealed in the
Bhagavad Gita and Srimad Bhagavatam.
(c) To bring the members of the society together with each other and nearer
to Krishna, the prime entity, thus to develop the idea within the members,
and humanity at large, that each soul is part and parcel of the Quality of
Godhead (Sri Krishna).
(d) To teach and encourage the 'sankirtan' movement, congregational
chanting of the Holy Names of God as revealed in the teachings of Lord Sri
Caitanya Mahaprabhu.
(e) To erect for the members and for society at large, a Holy place of
transcendental pastimes, dedicated to the personality of Krishna.
(f) To bring the members closer together for the purpose of teaching a
simpler and more natural way of life.
(g) With a view towards achieving the aforementioned purposes, to publish
and distribute periodicals, magazines, books and other writings.
More than ten years after the
date of his ISKCON New York Incorporation, Srila Prabhupada was still
emphasizing the meaning and intention behind his society's name. During
an evening darshan in Tehran, Srila Prabhupada said:
"If you want to know
Krsna, then you have to know from the persons who are dealing with
Krsna. That's all. They have no other business. Our Krsna consciousness
movement means we are dealing with Krsna. That's all. We're writing
books, so many books for Krsna. We are preaching and going country to
country. We simple deal with Krsna. Therefore the movement is known as
"Krsna consciousness." Somebody suggested "Why don't you write 'God
consciousness'?" No, if I say "God consciousness," they'll bring so many
gods. It is very simple. If we take it seriously, then benefit is
there. But if we hesitate, it is our misfortune."
