Prabhupāda Explains That His Disciples' Policy Must Be to Satisfy Kṛṣṇa
Managing a global spiritual society requires clear directives that are free from material calculation. To ensure his followers remain on the transcendental platform, establishing that every action must directly serve the Supreme Lord is the unwavering standard Śrīla Prabhupāda sets for his institutions. By strictly aligning all preaching methods, financial strategies, and community rules with the will of Kṛṣṇa, his disciples are protected from mental speculation and empowered to act as beacons of pure devotion in the material world.
The Core Policy of Pure Devotion
In the material world, policies are generally formed to maximize personal comfort, political power, or financial gain. Contrasting this mundane approach, centering every decision strictly on the satisfaction of the Supreme Lord is the profound paradigm Śrīla Prabhupāda introduces to his followers. He explains that any action devoid of this consciousness ultimately amounts to zero, making it imperative for devotees to reject mental speculation and strictly execute the absolute policy established by the disciplic succession.
- Our policy is not bhoga-tyaga. Our policy is satisfaction of Krsna. That is pure bhakti.
- Our policy means Krsna's policy.
- Our policy is that without Krishna, everything is zero.
- We do not act on mental speculation. It may be our credit or discredit. That is different thing. We simply follow the standard policy. That is Krsna consciousness.
The Preaching Strategy
Rescuing conditioned souls from the darkness of material illusion requires a practical and highly attractive method. Rather than relying on dry intellectual arguments, inviting the public to engage directly in joyful spiritual activities is the authorized preaching policy Śrīla Prabhupāda implements worldwide. He continuously reminds his leaders that freely distributing prasādam and organizing public chanting of the holy names are the most effective ways to purify the masses and introduce them to the philosophy of the Bhagavad-gītā.
- Prasada distribution means giving chance to the people, those who are poor in knowledge, to awaken their Krsna consciousness. This is our policy. Otherwise we cannot do any good to any others.
- Our policy is very simple and plain. We invite people to participate in chanting, dancing and eating prasadam.
- Our method should be to convert such fools (who criticize the preachers of the sankirtana movement) gradually by asking them to come and take prasadam and chant and dance with us. This should be our policy.
- Now you all GBC make a plan how to introduce the books in every home. The same policy in other languages also. We have got much work ahead. Don't think our business is finished.
Utilizing Wealth for the Mission
The materialistic class dedicates enormous energy to accumulating wealth strictly for their own sense gratification. Redirecting this misspent energy toward the service of the Lord is a bold financial policy that Śrīla Prabhupāda aggressively pursues. He instructs his followers that hoarding collected funds in bank accounts is a waste of resources, emphasizing that all money must be immediately utilized for printing transcendental literature, purchasing land, and expanding the preaching mission.
- How to spend the money for Krsna, that is our policy. We do not want to keep money. We cannot keep, that is not possible. Somebody will take it. Ultimately the government will take. Better spend it for Krsna.
- The materialistic persons, their policy is to take, earn money like anything, and employ it in sense gratification. That is their policy. But our policy is to take away the money from the atheist and employ it to the service of Ramacandra.
- So far as the money is concerned, it is not meant for banking, but it is meant for spending. Our policy should be to collect millions of dollars or more than that daily, and spend it daily.
- Our policy is that his money which would have been used for purchasing cigarettes, liquor, sex literature, meat, will give him the opportunity to gradually become purified.
Maintaining Purity in the Society
To ensure the spiritual strength of the movement, strict adherence to the regulative principles is completely non-negotiable. Protecting the purity of his centers by forbidding compromises with materialistic lifestyles is a strict internal policy Śrīla Prabhupāda enforces. He mandates that anyone who wishes to reside in the temples must fully participate in the devotional programs and live cooperatively with the other devotees, ensuring that the ashrams remain powerful sanctuaries for spiritual advancement.
- My policy, as you know, is not to import devotees, but to create devotees out of the local men. That will be better.
- Our policy is to live with devotees. Immediately return and live with devotees and take care of the Deities and Tulsi. That is our main business. My Guru Maharaja condemned living alone in a lonely place.
- Unless one agrees to follow all of our principles, he may not be allowed to live at the temple. This must be our policy.
- For my part I have taken up the policy of my Guru Maharaja. No compromise.
Depending Fearlessly on Kṛṣṇa
Facing opposition from governments, police, or atheistic scientists is an inevitable reality when preaching the absolute truth. Refusing to dilute the philosophy or apologize for executing the Lord's work is the fearless policy Śrīla Prabhupāda imparts to his preachers. He trains them to depend entirely on Kṛṣṇa for protection, asserting that a devotee must simply declare the supremacy of the Lord to the entire world without being intimidated by temporary material forces.
- You should not think that, "I am so powerful, I can gain victory over you." Depend on Krsna, do your best. Yudhyasva mam anusmara (Bhagavad-gita 8.7). This is our policy.
- Our policy is not to ask anything from Krsna. He knows what is good for me; simply I have to surrender unto Him.
- I have heard that you want to make apologies to the police and others. This policy is not at all good. We cannot apologize. We have not done anything wrong. Our policy should be to protest against this persecution.
- Others may cooperate or noncooperate, we don't mind. But we cannot change our policy. Our policy is: Krsna says, "I am the Supreme"; we must declare throughout the whole world that Krsna is the Supreme.
Conclusion
The success of the Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement lies in its absolute refusal to adopt materialistic policies. By ensuring that every drop of energy, every collected dollar, and every preaching endeavor is directed solely toward pleasing the Supreme Lord, providing a perfect framework for self-realization is what Śrīla Prabhupāda achieved. He guarantees that as long as his followers adhere strictly to this divine policy without compromise, they will effortlessly cross over the ocean of material existence and guide the rest of the world to the same destination.
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 Policy (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.