Volume 4, Foreword

Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura founded his Gaudiya Matha on sixty-four principles that outline a perfect and complete foundation for a spiritual society. With unwavering dedication to the mission of his spiritual master, Srila A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada revived the spirit of that vision. In 1965, according to the instructions he received from Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura forty-three years earlier, Srila Prabhupada traveled to the Western world to establish his International Society for Krishna Consciousness as the pure embodiment of the principles that were propounded by his beloved spiritual master.

Although they are not yet widely recognized in our society in their original form, our success lies in the implementation of these sacred instructions. They fully reveal the true essence and framework of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness. As we progress and mature, we must realize that ISKCON carries the responsibility to epitomize the ideals on which Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura created the Gaudiya Matha. By remaining loyal to these principles, our society will surely prosper in spreading the message of Krishna consciousness and inspiring devotees in their spiritual growth. Therefore, in order to share these potent instructions with the community of devotees, I translated the original guidelines and printed them in Spiritual Connections, a magazine published for my disciples and friends.