Raising children is direct devotional service.
Lecture on BG 2.13-17 -- Los Angeles, November 29, 1968 Nandarāṇī: When householder women raise their children in Kṛṣṇa consciousness, this seems to be an indirect service for Kṛṣṇa. Should they try to serve Him more directly by, you know, maybe cooking in the temple or being, you know, something like this, more directly, or is raising children and just having the household function, is that enough service? Is that enough service? Prabhupāda: Yes, the thing is we should be Kṛṣṇa conscious. Just like electrification. Touching electricity by one wire, another joining another, another wire, if the touch is there factual, then the electricity is everywhere. Similarly if our Kṛṣṇa consciousness is rightly connected, then there is no question of direct or indirect. Because absolute world there is no difference. As soon as it is touched with the direct connection... That is called disciplic succession. Because the connection is coming down one after another, so if we touch here, the spiritual master who is connected by the same way, then the electric connection is there. There is no question of direct or indirect. Evaṁ paramparā-prāptam imaṁ rājarṣayo viduḥ (BG 4.2). Simply we have to see whether the connection is disconnected. If the connection is there, tight, then the electricity come without fail. So in our conditioned stage there will be so many doubts, so many implication. But the same thing as I gave you example, that don't be very much hasty to receive the result immediately. Simply we have to follow. We have to follow. Tat-tat-karma-pravartanāt. This is advised by Rūpa Gosvāmī. The six things we have to take particular care, and six things we have to avoid in order to be perfect in Kṛṣṇa consciousness.
Vaikuntha Children
- These children are given to us by Krishna, they are Vaisnavas and we must be very careful to protect them. These are not ordinary children, they are Vaikuntha children, and we are very fortunate we can give them chance to advance further in Krishna Consciousness. That is very great responsibility, do not neglect it or be confused. Your duty is very clear.
(Letter to: Arundhati -- Amsterdam 30 July, 1972)
The glory of our movement.
If we are able to make a whole generation of our children into fine Krsna Conscious preachers, that will be the glory of our movement and the glory of your country as well. But if we neglect somehow or other and if we lose even one Vaisnava, that is very great loss.
(Srila Prabhupada Letter, June 20, 1972)
Child-worship is more important than Deity-worship
Letter to Arundhati dasa, July 30, 1972
“Child-worship is more important than deity-worship. If you cannot spend time with him, then stop the duties of pujari. At least you must take good care of your son until he is four years old, and if after that time you are unable any more to take care of him then I shall take care. These children are given to us by Krishna, they are Vaishnavas and we must be very careful to protect them. These are not ordinary children, they are Vaikuntha children, and we are very fortunate we can give them chance to advance further in Krishna Consciousness. That is very great responsibility, do not neglect it or be confused.”
Also we require so many Krishna conscious children
Letter to Upendra dasa, December 8, 1968
“We require so many householders to set the example for others, how in Krishna consciousness we can live peacefully, even in married life. Also we require so many Krishna conscious children to show how nicely and beautifully a child can develop when he is following the principles of God consciousness.”
Regarding the child problem:
Letter to Krishna devi dasi, August 21, 1968
“Regarding the child problem: I may inform you that all children born of the Krishna conscious parents are welcome and I want hundreds of children like that. Because in future we expect to change the face of the whole world, because the child is the father of man.”
So you do this duty very carefully
November 2, 1969
“It is very good news that Vishnu-arati is advancing nicely in Krishna consciousness and I know that you and your husband will always do your best to bring her up on the right path of Krishna consciousness. To raise one soul to Krishna consciousness is counted by Krishna as a very great service, so you do this duty very carefully and Krishna will certainly bestow His blessings upon you.”
Now you husband and wife must work together combinedly
Letter to Jagadisha dasa, July 9, 1970
“Now you husband and wife must work together combinedly with great responsibility for raising your new child in ideal Krishna consciousness. Children learn by imitation of their, so if you both set Krishna conscious example the child will very naturally and easily become advanced in Krishna consciousness by following.”
