Krishna consciousness means to work in full knowledge of one's relationship with the Supreme Absolute, and the perfection of this consciousness is full knowledge of Krishna, or the Supreme Personality of Godhead. A pure soul is the eternal servant of God as His fragmental part and parcel. We are all meant to serve the Lord in a transcendental loving relationship in the spiritual world. When we refuse to serve the Supreme Lord and become rebellious towards Him, we are put into this material world. Due to the desire to lord it over material nature one undergoes many sufferings.

Dharma means to abide by the laws of God. Just like, a good citizen is he, who knows his relationship with the state and abides by the laws of the state. One who doesn’t care for or abides by the state laws is called as a bad citizen or a criminal. Such citizens are put into the prison house for reformation. Similarly, the living entities are part and parcel of God. But when they are not ready to abide by the laws of God, they are put into this material world for reformation. The process of reformation and reestablishment of the living entities lost relationship with the Supreme Lord is called yoga. Krishna consciousness is that process of yoga.

In this imprisoned life of material world we are revolving in the cycle of 8,400,000 species and thus suffering in many ways. The human form of life is a chance to get out of this imprisoned life, and as such the only occupation of the human being is to reestablish his lost relationship with God.

Krishna consciousness is a direct process of linking ourselves with the Supreme Lord by engaging in His loving devotional service with the proper understanding of His position and His relationship with us. “Religion without philosophy is sentiment and philosophy without religion is speculation.” Therefore, in order to establish relationship with the Lord one must have proper philosophical understanding of the Lord based on the bona fide Vedic scriptures and one must engage in practical religious actions as taught by the scriptures and great acharyas. Knowledge guides us in proper action and action helps us in realizing the spiritual knowledge. Krishna consciousness stands on these two fundamental principles and thus, is an authorized process of yoga. We should endeavor, therefore, to organize our lives in such a way as to follow Krishna’s teachings as far as possible. Lord Krishna promises that we will be happy not only in this life but also in the next.

Krishna consciousness was spread all over India in the sixteenth century by Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, who taught that bhakti-yoga is the essence of all religion and the most important point taught in all scripture. He radically challenged the established religious views of the time and convinced Hindus, Muslims, and impersonalists alike to embrace the non-sectarian principles of Krishna consciousness; that anyone, from any social status or background, has equal access to God by practicing devotional service. Mahaprabhu also told His disciples to thoroughly study the Vedas and show how bhakti is the sum and substance of all knowledge presented there.