SpiritualHis Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda (1896–1977), founder and spiritual preceptor of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON), came to the West in 1965 with the mission of sharing the wisdom of the ancient Vedic tradition of bhakti-yoga, the path of pure love for God. At first, his main effort was to translate and comment upon the most essential scriptures—such as the Bhagavad-gita and the Srimad-Bhagavatam—into English. Yet his mission was not limited to imparting philosophical education; he also sought to demonstrate the practical application of Vedic knowledge in daily life, showing how society could live simply, peacefully, and in harmony with nature under the principles of devotional service to God.
From the very beginning, therefore, he emphasized the need for rural communities where devotees could live from the land—growing their own food, protecting cows, and creating an atmosphere favorable to spiritual growth. He oŌen described this principle as “simple living and high thinking.” For him, the village lifestyle sustained by the land and the cows was not a sign of backwardness or poverty, but the true wealth of human life: freedom from material anxiety and a foundation for cultivating bhakti, loving devotional service to Krishna.
Prabhupāda repeatedly spoke of agriculture and cow protection as the central pillars of every civilized society, not only of the ancient Vedic culture. He explained that society must care for cows as mothers and for bulls as fathers, since they nourish humanity with milk and grain. Naturally, he strongly condemned the exploitation and slaughter of these sacred animals. Protecting cows, he said, is not sentimentality but dharma—a spiritual duty that benefits the entire world.
To bring this vision into practice, Prabhupada promoted the establishment of ISKCON’s farming communities worldwide, beginning with New Vrindaban in West Virginia, USA, in 1968. These communities were meant to serve as models of a spiritual economy— living off the land, protecting animals, and saving time to dedicate every aspect of life to Krishna. He regarded such projects as essential to the survival and authenticity of the Hare Krishna movement.
Thus, the legacy of Srila Prabhupada is not only the books that continue to inspire millions, but also the vision of a way of life that offers devotees the chance to live free from the pressures of industrial society—rooted in the land, centered on the cows, and upliŌed by devotion. A life that reflects the eternal culture of Vṛndāvana, the pastoral home of Krishna Himself.
Srila Prabhupada visiting the goshala in Gita-Nagari