Our Inspiration

A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada

The work of the ISKCON Environmental Initiative is inspired by our teacher and ISKCON’s Founder-Acharya, His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada (1896-1977).

Srila Prabhupada, as he’s called, was an acarya (great teacher) within the Gaudiya Vaisnava lineage and the founder of ISKCON, or the International Society for Krishna Consciousness, one of the leading organizations sharing the teachings and practices of bhakti-yoga around the world.

Srila Prabhupada’s legacy lives on in more than 80 volumes of translated scriptures, thousands of hours of recorded talks, and vibrant temples, monasteries, and farm communities around the world.

Srila Prabhupada was an advocate for what he called “a simpler, more natural way of life,” encouraging followers to steward resources wisely and use natural materials, seeing everything as a gift from God. Everything material is “part and parcel” of Krishna’s energy, he would often say, and should be used with care.

We follow Srila Prabhupada’s inspiration that a simple, natural life is most conducive to spirituality – whether living in cities, suburbs, or rural farm communities.