I May Be - Prabhupāda’s Humility and Perfect Representation
In a world where people desperately try to project perfection and power, Śrīla Prabhupāda’s approach was entirely different. He did not claim to be God, a magician, or a faultless material being. Often using the phrase "I may be," he presented himself simply as a humble servant carrying a perfect message. By studying these statements, we witness a beautiful paradox: Śrīla Prabhupāda claimed no personal perfection, yet his knowledge, his actions, and his compassion were absolutely perfect because he was flawlessly connected to Kṛṣṇa. His "I may be" statements reveal his deep humility, his urgent desire to leave behind a legacy of transcendental books, his reliance on the prayers of his followers, and the fundamental philosophical truth that we are tiny servants of the Supreme Controller.
The Perfection of an "Imperfect" Messenger
Śrīla Prabhupāda taught that the secret to spiritual success is not acquiring immense personal power or mundane intellect. The secret is becoming a transparent medium. He frequently stated that while he or his disciples may be imperfect from a material standpoint, the knowledge they distributed was flawless because they simply repeated what Kṛṣṇa said.
- I may be imperfect - I am imperfect, actually I am imperfect - but I am carrying the message, Krsna. Krsna says: "I am the Supreme Personality of Godhead"; we say: "Krsna is the Personality of Godhead." Krsna says that, "You surrender unto Me"; we say, - Just surrender unto Krsna.
- I may be imperfect, but because I receive knowledge from a perfect person, my knowledge is perfect. This is called parampara system.
- We don't depend on my own intelligence. We depend on Krsna's intelligence. That is the difference. Then, if Krsna is perfect, then my intelligence is perfect. I may be not perfect, but because I take Krsna's intelligence, therefore I'm perfect.
- If you inquire whether I am perfect or my disciples who are preaching this Krsna conscious movement, they are perfect, we may be imperfect. We are imperfect. We accept we are imperfect. But we are distributing the perfect knowledge.
Delegating Management to Translate Books
As his movement expanded globally, the administrative burden became immense. Śrīla Prabhupāda established the Governing Body Commission (GBC) specifically so that he could be relieved from management. His greatest desire was to dedicate his final years entirely to translating the Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam and Caitanya-caritāmṛta so that the world would have perfect spiritual guidance long after his physical departure.
- My desire is that some of our experienced members who have proved their sincerity of service may form the GBC Board so that the management of the whole institution may go on smoothly, and I may be relieved of affairs of management.
- My idea in forming the GBC is that I may be spared from the management and use my time for translating books.
- Please go on all working together in cooperative spirit and do the needful; then I may be spared taxing my brain over so many matters and I can go on my real work of translating.
- Kindly inform the others that I may be relieved to give you so many more nice books - that is my real desire.
Dependence on Prayers and Mercy
Though he was a perfectly self-realized soul empowered directly by Kṛṣṇa, Śrīla Prabhupāda frequently asked for the prayers and mercy of his disciples and well-wishers. He viewed himself simply as a bearer of the message, demonstrating that the mood of a pure Vaiṣṇava is always one of deep humility and complete dependence on the Lord and His devotees.
- I am just doing the work of a bearer. There is nothing of my personal contribution and I ask all your mercy so that I may be able to distribute Krishna's message as it is without any deviation.
- I hope you all pray to Krishna so I may be able to execute my duty properly.
- Your appreciation of my adventure at this part of my life has encouraged me, and I think that by the prayers of good souls like you I may be able to work for sometime more in the interest of this great movement.
- I thank you very much for your kind words, and you can pray to Krishna that I may be for some time with you. That is my desire.
The Supreme Controller vs. The Subordinate Controller
Material existence is plagued by the living entity's false ego—the desire to be the supreme controller. Śrīla Prabhupāda used the phrase "I may be" to clarify our actual position. We may have a tiny bit of control over a family, a business, or even a nation, but Kṛṣṇa is the Parameśvara, the ultimate controller of everyone and everything.
- We are isvara, we may be isvara. I may be isvara for few persons, another may be for a big nation, another may be for the... You can go on increasing. But you cannot reach the, position of God.
- You may be controller; I may be controller; he may be controller; but not controller like Krsna. Krsna can control all other controllers. Therefore He is called supreme controller, Paramesvara, Paramatma, Parabrahman.
- I may be in designation your Spiritual Master, but actually I am servant of the servant of Krishna, and because you are all sincere servants of Krishna, I am your servant.
- We are animals of the land, so if we are put into the water, then however expert swimmer I may be or you may be, it is simply struggle for existence.
Conclusion
Śrīla Prabhupāda’s use of "I may be" is a profound lesson in Vaiṣṇava humility and the exact mechanics of spiritual perfection. By refusing to claim mundane perfection, he became the perfect vessel for Kṛṣṇa's message. By recognizing his position as a servant, he became the greatest master. By striving to be relieved of management, he gifted the world an eternal library of transcendental literature. His example teaches us that we do not need to be perfect to serve Kṛṣṇa; we simply need to connect ourselves firmly to the perfect paramparā system, remaining humble, cooperative, and deeply dependent on the Lord's mercy.
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 I May Be (Prabhupāda). We invite you to visit this link to study the complete compilation and experience Śrīla Prabhupāda's teachings in their direct, verbatim form.