Śrīla Prabhupāda on Child Protection

Quotes From Śrīla Prabhupāda for The Need of Child Protection in ISKCON

Jayatīrtha: Sometimes people complain that we don't give our children any right of free choice, that we train them in our own way.

Śrīla Prabhupāda: This is nonsense, to give free choice to the child. This is nonsense. Child should be protected. That is intelligence. That is the wrong type of consciousness. According to Vedic civilization, a child, a woman, a brāhmaṇa, a cow, and an old man they should be given protection, not freedom, but protection.

- Śrīla Prabhupāda's Room Conversation with Mr. & Mrs. Wax, Writer and Editing Manager of Playboy Magazine -- July 5, 1975, Chicago

__________________

“These children are given to us by Kṛṣṇa, they are Vaiṣṇavas and we must be very careful to protect them. These are not ordinary children, they are Vaikuṇṭha children, and we are very fortunate we can give them chance to advance further in Kṛṣṇa Consciousness. That is very great responsibility, do not neglect it or be confused. Your duty is very clear.”

- Śrīla Prabhupāda's letter to Arundhati, 30 July 1972

__________________

In the glorious days, or before the advent of the age of Kali, the brāhmaṇas, the cows, the women, the children and the old men were properly given protection. …………………………………………………………………………………………………. The protection of children gives the human form of life its best chance to prepare the way of liberty from material bondage. Such protection of children begins from the very day of begetting a child by the purificatory process of garbhādhāna-saṁskāra, the beginning of pure life.

- Śrīla Prabhupāda, SB 1.8.5, Purport

__________________

The aim of married life is to produce nice children, Kṛṣṇa conscious children. That is the best service to the human society: produce nice children. Don't produce cats and dogs. That is my request. Otherwise, don't produce .…………………………………………………………………………………………………. The Srimad Bhāgavatam says, "One should not become a father, one should not become a mother, unless they are able to protect the children from the imminent danger of death." What is that? The cycle of birth and death. If you can train your children to Kṛṣṇa consciousness, then your child will go back to Godhead in this life. That should be the aim. As you will try to go back to Godhead in this life, similarly, you shall take charge of your children that he can also go in this life back to Godhead. The mother's and father's duty should be that "This child is born out of my womb, and this is the last phase of his life, to come into this womb of any animal or man—no more material body." That should be the responsibility of father and mother. That is the direction of Srimad Bhāgavatam.

Śrīla Prabhupāda, Paramananda & Satyabhama's Wedding -- Montreal, July 22, 1968

__________________

Śrīla Prabhupāda’s instructions were very clear in the regard of caring children. Hence being parts of the society established by him, it is our moral responsibility to provide a conducive environment and pleasant experiences to children, while bringing up and educating them to help these Vaikuṇṭha children flourish in Kṛṣṇa consciousness themselves and spread it further to realize the statement of Caitanya Mahāprabhu “pṛthivīte āche yata nagarādi grāma sarvatra pracāra haibe mora nāma "In every town and village, the chanting of My name will be heard.".

India is known for its values, culture, ethics and policy of ‘Vasudev Kutumbhkam’. As far as rights of children and women are concerned Indian society has been very sensitive to them since beginning of early Vedic period, although it has gone through various ups and downs during different phases of history. Still it could maintain minimum standards even during the rule and invasion of alien powers. Now in the globalised society and age of information technology, wherein India is leading many fields, how can we leg in safeguarding the rights of children and women. India having the largest children population and home to almost one fifth of the world’s children population is more vulnerable to crimes against them. By observing the rapidly increasing crimes against this vulnerable section of the society in India we must be alert and equipped to deal with such incidents as ISKCON is committed to the well-being of all the individuals connected to ISKCON especially children and women.

Our society recognizes that children, for their all-round development need to be raised in an atmosphere of love, care, support, guidance and understanding. We must acknowledge that children are future leaders, when so raised would play a great role in moving forward the mission of Śrīla Prabhupāda. Thus keeping their interest first is not only in their interest but also of ISKCON and society at large.