Acting Like Me - Prabhupāda's Instructions to His Disciples
Śrīla Prabhupāda’s use of the phrase "like me" serves as both a humble self-assessment and a powerful standard for his followers. He often compared his own aging body to that of his disciples to illustrate the temporary nature of material existence, yet he simultaneously challenged his leaders to match his tireless energy in preaching. While he humbly attributed his success to the fact that his spiritual master "liked me," he expected his students to repay their debt by acting with the same vigor and independence. Furthermore, he used the analogy of a person "like you and me" to bridge the gap between the finite living entity and the infinite Personality of Godhead, Kṛṣṇa. This nuanced expression provides a unique window into the mind of a pure devotee who, while considering himself an ordinary man, acts as the empowered representative of the Supreme. By studying these instructions, disciples can understand the balance between following the spiritual master's example and avoiding improper imitation.
Leadership Through Active Preaching
Śrīla Prabhupāda defined the role of his leading secretaries and disciples as being one of constant activity. He emphasized that the GBC should not merely pass resolutions but should travel and preach with the same urgency and dedication that he himself demonstrated throughout his global mission.
- GBC means now they should tour very extensive. That is the first principle, the GBC. Not sit down one place and pass resolution. No. They must be active. They must act like me.
- As I am old man, I am traveling all over the world, now to give me relief, the GBC members . . . I shall expand into twelve more, so that they can exactly work like me. Gradually they will (be) initiators. At least first initiation.
- If you feel at all indebted to me then you should preach vigorously like me; that is the proper way to repay me.
- Now you are doing my work and you shall be like me and be yourselves the worthy representatives of our disciplic succession.
Realizing the Inevitable Change of Body
The material body is subject to the laws of nature, and Śrīla Prabhupāda often used his own physical presence to teach the philosophy of reincarnation and aging. He reminded his young disciples that their youthful forms would eventually transform into an old body just as his had.
- As we have to change our old dress, similarly, this body has to be changed. And we are changing. Changing every moment. That is a fact. This boy will grow also some day like you, like me. This body will not stay.
- As you are experiencing this change of body, similarly, you take it that this body also will change. An old man like me, the next body is there. Either farther old man or, after death, another body. This is to be understood.
- Changes (of material body), you can understand, that you had a body like a baby; a body like a child; you had a body like a boy. Now you have got youthful body. Some days after, you will get a body like me. So the body is changing, and I am the same.
- Your body, my body, in youthhood it is very beautiful, and in due course of time it will be ugly like me. So this is the work of the time. Similarly, nature's way, there are four ages: Satya-yuga, Treta-yuga, Dvapara-yuga, Kali-yuga. Seasonal changes.
The Grace of the Spiritual Master
Śrīla Prabhupāda consistently displayed extreme humility regarding his own qualifications. He explained that any success he achieved was not due to his own merit but because his spiritual master, His Divine Grace Bhaktisiddhānta Sarasvatī Ṭhākura, "liked me" and gave him the responsibility to preach.
- Guru Maharaja liked me. I know. By his blessing it is, everything has happened. I was not worth. What did I...? I do not know why he liked. I was not worth. There were so many disciples. And still, he liked me.
- His Divine Grace, my spiritual master, somehow or other liked me, that I should take up this responsibility. And on the first day I met him, I was at (that) time a very young man, a nationalist, and engaged in a very responsible office.
- Four men liked me very, very much. One is my father, one is Dr. Bose, Kartik Chandra, one my Guru Maharaja, and..., who else? One, my maternal uncle. Rakal Chandrardha. He was very rich man.
- After taking sannyasa I was more engaged in writing my books without any attempt to construct temples or to make disciples like my Godbrothers. I was not very much interested in these matters because my Guru Maharaja liked very much publication of books.
Understanding Kṛṣṇa as a Person
A central theme in Śrīla Prabhupāda’s teaching is the personal nature of God. He used himself and his listeners as reference points to explain that Kṛṣṇa is a person with individual identity, though his potency is infinitely greater than that of a conditioned soul.
- Krsna, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, is a person, a person like you, like me. Just like we are facing each other, similarly, when you are spiritually perfect, you will be able to see Krsna exactly like face to face.
- The contents of salt, that is very small, and the contents of salt in the ocean, that is very big. That you cannot imagine. It is like that. God is like you and me, a person. But He is Pacific Ocean; we are drop. That's all.
- Krsna is not a hungry man like me, that "If you give Me something, I will eat everything, finished." No. Krsna can take the whole plate; still it will remain the whole plate, for giving prasadam.
- Krsna can give you shelter. Don't... Don't disbelieve Him. He is not a man like me. If I promise you something, it may be broken because I am not all-powerful. But here is a promise by the all-powerful.
Conclusion
Śrīla Prabhupāda’s various applications of the phrase "like me" reflect his role as an accessible yet authoritative guide. Whether discussing the fragility of the body or the necessity of bold preaching, he consistently directed the attention of his disciples toward the absolute truth. By comparing his own status to that of the Supreme Lord, he established a clear distinction between the finite and the infinite, while simultaneously showing his followers that by following his instructions and "acting like me" in service, they could also achieve the transcendental platform.
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 Like Me (Prabhupada). We invite you to visit this link to study the complete compilation and experience Śrīla Prabhupāda's teachings in their direct, verbatim form.