Prabhupāda's Engagements - Serving His Spiritual Master and Kṛṣṇa
Śrīla Prabhupāda often spoke of his daily activities as a continuation of the order he received from his spiritual master. In this article, we see the deeply personal and tireless nature of his service, showing how every moment of his life was dedicated to the benefit of the world and the pleasure of Kṛṣṇa.
The Foundation of a Lifetime of Service
Śrīla Prabhupāda often traced the origin of all his activities back to his first meeting with his spiritual master. He felt a profound sense of duty to fulfill the mission given to him, viewing his global preaching as a miraculous expansion of that original instruction to spread the message of bhakti to the English-speaking world.
- He (my Guru Maharaja) asked me to take up this job as soon as I met Him in 1922; unfortunately I was so worthless that I delayed the matter until 1965, but He is so kind that by force He engaged me in His service.
- In 1922, I was at that time very much engaged in Congress activity. I was very much devout follower of Mahatma Gandhi.
- First of all let us offer our respectful obeisances unto our spiritual master, Om Visnupada Sri Srimad Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Gosvami Prabhupada, by whose order I am engaged in this herculean task of writing commentary on the Srimad-Bhagavatam.
- There was no preparation for this, but he (Bhaktisiddhanta) desired it, and by his grace we are now engaged in executing his order, which has given us a transcendental occupation and has saved and liberated us from the occupation of material activities.
The Nighttime Herculean Task of Writing
Among all his engagements, Śrīla Prabhupāda prioritized the translation and commentary of the Vedic scriptures. He would often rise in the quiet hours of the night to write, considering these books to be the most important legacy for his disciples and the future of humanity.
- At the age of 70 I had the energy to go outside India and apart from other various duties, engage myself in writing books even at night without sleep. All these have been done in accordance with the direction of my Prabhupada Gurudeva.
- 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.
- So far as my translating of the rest of Srimad-Bhagavatam is concerned, that is my next program. After returning from India I shall be seriously engaged in translating work.
- Let me offer my respectful obeisances unto the lotus feet of Srila Rupa Gosvami Prabhupada and of Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Gosvami, by whose inspiration I have been engaged in the matter of compiling this summary study of Bhakti-rasamrta-sindhu.
Spreading the Mission Across the World
Śrīla Prabhupāda traveled tirelessly, accepting invitations to speak at universities, on television, and at public gatherings. He was always eager to meet new people and find ways to engage them in the practice of bhakti, showing us that a preacher's heart is always seeking to bring others closer to Kṛṣṇa.
- Here in Nairobi our program is going on very nicely. There are TV engagements and a very large meeting is scheduled at the University of Nairobi for tomorrow. Many respectful Hindus are inviting us and I am staying in everyone's house for about four days.
- This television program is very much encouraging to me, and I wish to take part in it immediately. I wanted to cancel all other engagements and go direct to Los Angeles.
- Especially I have come for this purpose, how to engage them in Krishna Consciousness.
- So far the speaking engagements are concerned, they must be well-organized and sponsored, so that there will be enough publicity and many people will come. We are not cheap, we want to speak something, but there must be good accommodations provided.
The Internal Strength of Service and Association
Despite his intense schedule, Śrīla Prabhupāda lived in a state of constant internal communion with his spiritual master. He shared this strength with his disciples, teaching them that by taking on the responsibility of serving Kṛṣṇa, they would find the same transcendental protection and happiness he experienced.
- I also do not feel separation from my Guru Maharaja. When I am engaged in His service His pictures give me sufficient strength.
- I have given up my wife and children for this purpose. If I am engaged in family life, then I cannot do this missionary work. I have taken absolute shelter to this work without any disturbance.
- You have begged for my blessings and I give them to you because you are my spiritual son and I have taken responsibility for engaging you in the service of Krsna.
- I am very much pleased to note the list of engagements you have submitted, and I can see you have been working very hard to secure so many opportunities for spreading Krsna consciousness
Conclusion
The life of Śrīla Prabhupāda serves as a perfect example of what it means to be fully engaged in the service of the Guru and Kṛṣṇa. By following the instructions of his spiritual master with unwavering faith, he turned every moment—whether writing, traveling, or speaking—into a transcendental offering. His dedication reminds us that true liberation and satisfaction are found when we align our activities with the will of Kṛṣṇa and His pure devotees, just as he did throughout his entire life.
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 Engagements (Prabhupada). We invite you to visit this link to study the complete compilation and experience Śrīla Prabhupāda's teachings in their direct, verbatim form.