Srila Prabhupada’s idea for the education of our children was to make them well-rounded devotees, who are expert in the sastras, eager to give Krishna to others, and steady in their own practice. In one lecture he says, “We are interested to open school if there is education for Krishna consciousness . . . But we are not interested in so-called godless education. That is not our business.” Since Krishna is the source of all knowledge, if we understand and love Him, then knowledge will naturally follow.
Everything comes from Krishna, material or spiritual. This is why Srila Prabhupada emphasized spiritual education as the goal of education. He says that Srimad Bhagavatam has everything that is needed to understand the material and spiritual worlds. Srila Prabhupada’s vision for the children was that they not only receive academic education but that they also develop godly character. In order to have good character one must have God in the center; otherwise, there is no impetus to check one’s actions.
Krishna has all these wonderful qualities, such as kindness, knowledge, peacefulness, and forgiveness and a godly person can also develop these qualities. Good character comes from living a pure and simple life dedicated to hearing and chanting the holy names, which is the basis of all learning.
