Prabhupāda Instructs His Disciples to Maintain the Vaiṣṇava Standard
The Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement is not an ordinary social organization that can be adjusted according to popular opinion; it is a divine mission governed by absolute rules. Śrīla Prabhupāda relentlessly trained his disciples to understand that their only strength lay in their purity. By strictly upholding the Vaiṣṇava standard in their daily habits, temple management, and Deity worship, and by fiercely rejecting the temptation to manufacture new ideas, his followers secure their own spiritual advancement and guarantee the global success of the mission.
The Foundation of Spiritual Strength
Purity is the only true asset of a spiritual society. Śrīla Prabhupāda explained that this purity does not come from intellectual gymnastics, but from rigidly following the basic devotional routine. By waking up early, attending morning classes, chanting sixteen rounds of the holy name, and avoiding the association of non-devotees, the disciples create an impenetrable fortress against the attacks of māyā.
- Keep our standard Krishna Consciousness programme to the highest level by always without fail rising early, chanting 16 rounds, holding arotik, going out for street sankirtan, reading books daily, distributing as many books as possible, like that.
- If you simply keep to our standard programme, that means chanting daily 16 rounds, rising early, attending mangal arati, like that, if this programme is strictly maintained amongst all the devotees, they will remain pure.
- Within these Vaisnava standards which I have put forward lies the spiritual strength of our movement. So you may please do the needful in this regard.
- Our unique asset is our purity. No one any where can match it. That will be noticed eventually and appreciated, as long as we do not diminish or neglect the highest standard of purity in performing our routine work.
- The standard practices for initiated devotees: Must attend evening and morning classes. Should not extensively mix with non-devotees. Should not eat food cooked by non-devotees.
The Danger of Manufacturing Ideas
The Western mind is naturally restless and constantly seeks to innovate. However, in spiritual life, innovation is a deadly poison. Śrīla Prabhupāda strictly forbade his disciples from altering the established procedures, pointing out that any attempt to manufacture new ideas or whimsically change the philosophy immediately deteriorates the standard and ruins the potency of the movement.
- The standards I have already given you, now try to maintain them at all times under standard procedure. Do not try to innovate or create anything or manufacture anything, that will ruin everything.
- So don't spoil the movement by manufacturing ideas. Don't do that. Go on in the standard way, keep yourself pure; then movement is sure to be successful. But if you want to spoil it by whimsical, then what can be done?
- As soon as we deteriorate our standard, then everything is spoiled. Therefore I am so much strict about the standard. And our these Western boys, they are always manufacturing ideas.
- No, our ideas are standard. We are not manufacturing any idea. Just like whatever we speak, immediately we give evidence from the sastra. That is our standard.
- I shall see later on whether or not that Krishna Balarama can be installed there. You cannot paint the Deity with paint to make bluish. Don't manufacture ideas. What is standard you must follow.
The Highest Standard of Deity Worship
Inviting the Supreme Lord to personally reside in the temple requires an immaculate environment. Śrīla Prabhupāda insisted that arcana (Deity worship) must be executed with the utmost punctuality, devotion, and physical cleanliness. When the standard of worship is kept at the absolute highest level, all other aspects of temple life, from preaching to book distribution, naturally flourish and become successful.
- Always keep to this high standard of Deity worship, never become neglectful. Everything must be done very timely, and the temple must be immaculately cleansed daily. These things, cleanliness and promptness, are the most important points for Deity worship.
- I have always instructed that the standard of arcana worship must be kept very high, because this will insure that every other temple activity will also flourish. So I am relieved to know that now the Deities are in your care. Thank you for this.
- Regarding deity worship, the standard of deity worship must be kept very high in all our ISKCON centers.
- The Deity worship should be done just in the way it was carried out in my presence. You should see that such a high standard is maintained and that there are no irregularities. Irregularity means breaking the schedule.
- Worship of Sri Sri Radha Krishna is the ultimate in arcana worship, so the standard must be the highest.
The Duty of Leaders and the GBC
The vast, worldwide society of devotees cannot function properly without strong, spiritually advanced leadership. Śrīla Prabhupāda formed the Governing Body Commission (GBC) specifically to act as the guardians of the Vaiṣṇava standard. He demanded that his leaders, managers, and sannyāsīs supervise the centers strictly, ensuring that no devotee, regardless of their position, is allowed to deviate from the established rules.
- I have formed this GBC for that purpose, to keep the devotional standards at the highest level and at the same time to manage a world-wide organization.
- As GBC you should see the standard is perfectly maintained, and that deity worship is perfectly done. Then Krishna will give us all protection.
- GBC men should not dictate very much, simply supervise and see that the standards are maintained.
- Sannyasi means responsible, you must be responsible for the spiritual progress of the devotees, to see that the right standard is being observed in all departments.
- All our managers should be spiritually advanced simple and honest in carrying out the orders of the spiritual master and Krsna. That will be a nice standard.
Becoming the Ideal Example
It is not enough to simply follow the rules mechanically; a devotee must embody the philosophy in their character. Śrīla Prabhupāda expected his disciples to be the perfect, ideal examples of the paramparā. By visibly demonstrating peacefulness, dedication, and freedom from all sinful habits, the disciples provide practical proof to the world that the Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement is factually transforming human society.
- I expect every one of my students to come to your standard and remain steadfast in pushing on this movement of Krishna Consciousness.
- Become very convinced of our Krishna philosophy and very enthusiastically and soberly maintain temple routine standards, increase book distribution, satisfy the devotees, and in every way become the perfect Krsna consciousness example of angel.
- You set the ideal standard of householder life for the benefit of others and they will gradually be influenced to follow your example of sincere service on Krsna's behalf.
- Try to maintain the standard of a perfect person as is given in the Bhagavad-gita, and do not deviate from this wonderful method of Krishna consciousness.
- People will appreciate. ...pure character or position, people will take, in any condition. There may be revolution or no revolution. They will take it. ...that our movement is actually good. They will take in any condition. That standard we must maintain.
The Standard Ensures All Success
The supreme victory of the movement does not rely on clever political maneuvering or adopting modern compromises. Śrīla Prabhupāda boldly assured his followers that success was already guaranteed, provided they did not dilute the process. As long as the disciples adhere strictly to the exact Vaiṣṇava standard that was handed down to them by the great predecessor ācāryas, their preaching will effortlessly conquer the hearts of people worldwide.
- If this standard of devotional practices is maintained at the highest level, everything else you do will become automatically successful. And that will please me very much.
- If you keep all your programs to the standard as I have already instructed in so many ways, then they will easily become satisfied that this is the real way of life.
- Continue to see to the management of ISKCON and keep up the standards of devotional service and this Krishna Consciousness movement will be accepted all over the world.
- Yes, such opening of temples, holding daily street sankirtana, distributing books, preaching in the schools and colleges, this is our standard programme for injecting Krishna Consciousness in the world.
- You will simply introduce our Krsna Consciousness program anywhere and everywhere, without any compromise or deviation from the highest standard of devotional practice, as chalked out for us by our great predecessors.
Conclusion
By demanding rigorous adherence to the Vaiṣṇava standard, Śrīla Prabhupāda protected the Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement from the degrading influence of time and speculation. He taught his disciples that purity is the only actual power in spiritual life. When devotees humbly submit to the established routine, honor the Deity with impeccable worship, and refuse to manufacture new ideas, they preserve the profound spiritual potency of the disciplic succession for all future generations.
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 Our Standards (Disciples of SP). We invite you to visit this link to study the complete compilation and experience Śrīla Prabhupāda's teachings in their direct, verbatim form.