Prabhupāda on Managing His Movement

Śrīla Prabhupāda often shared his heart with us regarding the immense task of managing a rapidly growing, worldwide institution. While in his advanced age he naturally desired the peaceful atmosphere of Vṛndāvana to deeply concentrate on translating the Vedic literatures, his pure compassion for the suffering souls kept him engaged in overseeing his society. However, as the movement expanded, he begged us to mature, cooperate, and take up the management of the society. For Śrīla Prabhupāda, writing his books was not a casual endeavor; it required extreme sobriety, pure devotion, and uninterrupted focus. By relieving him of these managerial affairs, we were not merely solving practical organizational problems—we were directly assisting him in the creation of a transcendental literature that would save the whole world for generations to come.

The Burden of Worldwide Management

Śrīla Prabhupāda single-handedly started this movement, taking on immense struggles when he was alone. But as the society grew into a global institution, he expressed his very real concern about how one man could manage such worldwide affairs. He asked us, his loving assistants, to carefully take over these responsibilities so he wouldn't be disturbed by the constant demands of administration.

• How one man can manage the whole world affairs? This is my concern.
• We are trying to manage a great institution.
• Sometimes I also think that let me go back to Vrndavana, in that peaceful situation, to live without any responsibilities; still, in this old age, I take the responsibility of managing our quite big Institution.
• When I was alone I was taking so much trouble, but now there are so many assistants. But now you have to manage things very carefully and relieve me from the management so I can translate my books.

Forming the GBC for Relief

To ensure the movement's stability and to protect his own time, Śrīla Prabhupāda formed the Governing Body Commission. He made it clear that he did not want to be dragged into daily disputes or local problems. His instruction to the GBC was simple but firm: manage exactly the way he managed, do not let things deteriorate, and spare him from the continuous flow of complaints.

• My idea in forming the GBC is that I may be spared from the management and use my time for translating books.
• I want that the GBC relieve me of all management which means they have to manage the way I manage. I do not want to see things deteriorate by their management.
• I am very hopeful for this GBC that you will work in such a way that I may be completely relieved from all management of this society.
• I do not wish to give any decision without the GBC's verdict. My only grievance is that I appointed GBC to give me relief from the management but, on the contrary, complaints and counter-complaints are coming to me.

Freeing Time for Translation

Śrīla Prabhupāda considered the translation of the Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam to be his lasting contribution to the world. He revealed to us that delivering this pure knowledge required a clear, undisturbed brain and deep concentration. Whenever we troubled him with management, we were actively preventing him from giving humanity the ultimate spiritual medicine.

• Please assist me in the management so that I can be free to finish the Srimad-Bhagavatam which will be our lasting contribution to the world.
• So I request you to relieve me of management responsibilities more and more so that I can complete the Srimad-Bhagavatam translation. If I am always having to manage, then I cannot do my work on the books.
• Please give me relief from all the managing so I can devote my brain to the literary work. It requires a great deal of concentration.
• It is document, I have to choose each word very soberly and if I have to think of management then I cannot do this. I cannot be like these rascals who present something mental concoction to cheat the public.

The Mood of Service and Cooperation

Śrīla Prabhupāda taught us that leadership in Kṛṣṇa consciousness is not about being a mundane proprietor; it is about selfless service. He wanted us to work combinedly and harmoniously. If we fought amongst ourselves, his attempt to hand over the management would fail. True management simply meant cooperating with him and carrying out his instructions to spread Kṛṣṇa consciousness.

• I am just trying to hand over the whole management in the hands of my devotees, but if there is some disagreement in the management, then the whole thing may not go well.
• Take over from me management of ISKCON affairs and work combinedly to open as many centers as possible all over the world. If you simply carry out the instructions which I have given you Krsna will reward you with all success.
• Just like I am head of this institution, but I am not dealing as proprietor. I am dealing as manager, head. Is it not? And all my assistants, they are also working in that capacity. If I would have been proprietor, then they would not have been interested.
• You accept me as the chief of this institution. There must be one chief. Otherwise there will be no management.

Conclusion

Śrīla Prabhupāda’s plea for us to take up the management of his society was fundamentally a plea for us to help him give Kṛṣṇa to the world. He established the framework, set the spiritual standard, and guided us with immense patience. In return, he simply asked for our cooperation and maturity so that he could immerse himself in the monumental task of translating the Vedic literatures. When we manage cooperatively and follow Śrīla Prabhupāda's instructions without unnecessarily burdening him, we are not just running an organization—we are actively facilitating the flow of transcendental knowledge to suffering humanity.

Dive Deeper into Śrīla Prabhupāda's Vani

Śrīla Prabhupāda lives within his instructions. This article is a summary of the profound truths found in the Vaniquotes category My Managing (Prabhupada). We invite you to visit this link to study the complete compilation and experience Śrīla Prabhupāda's teachings in their direct, verbatim form.

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