Prabhupāda Explains the Duties of His Disciples Who Are Assisting Him
The unprecedented expansion of the Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement was made possible by a dedicated army of sincere followers. Recognizing the immense effort required to push forward this global mission, Śrīla Prabhupāda frequently highlighted the profound duties of his disciples who were assisting him. By clearly defining the responsibilities of householders, preachers, initiates, and managers, he provided a flawless blueprint for maintaining a pure, cooperative, and spiritually powerful society.
The Joy of Cooperative Assistance
The monumental task of delivering the message of Godhead to the Western world could not be accomplished alone. With deep affection and gratitude, Śrīla Prabhupāda constantly acknowledged the young men and women who gave up their material pursuits to assist his mission. These disciples, who enthusiastically opened centers and distributed literature across the globe, became the very instruments through which the mercy of the previous ācāryas was manifested.
- By the grace of Srila Prabhupada the preaching work is going on nicely and the most important factor is that I have got a number of youthful American and European disciples who are helping me very seriously.
- By the mercy of His Divine Grace, I have got here many American boys and girls who are sincerely assisting me.
- I am an old man and I may shift away from the scene at any moment; but I am very much hopeful of my disciples who are so sincerely helping me.
- I am especially obliged to the American boys and girls who are helping me so much in spreading this Krsna consciousness movement in the Western countries.
- It would not be possible for me to preach all over the world except for your cooperation, you and your Godbrothers and sisters who are maintaining centers all over the world.
The Duty of Married Disciples
Marriage in spiritual life is never meant for sense gratification; it is an āśrama dedicated to regulated spiritual cultivation. Disciples who are married carry the heavy responsibility of showing the public how to live peacefully while keeping Kṛṣṇa in the center. Furthermore, these gṛhastha couples are expected to be active preachers, raise God-conscious children, and financially support the preaching programs of the temples.
- All my students who are married, they are doing preaching work more than sannyasi.
- All you boys and girls who are now married, follow this instruction of Lord Caitanya, and show vivid example to the world how man and woman can be united, not for sense gratification but for the service of the Lord.
- Most of my disciples who are preaching are married couples. As such, I hope both you and your wife will continue to help me substantially in the Krishna Consciousness Movement, and Krishna will bless you more and more.
- The six couples who are working very hard there have been very much appreciated by the people of London, and their character, behavior, and devotion are attracting sincere people to our movement. I want similar thousands of couples for my disciples.
- Those who are householders living outside, they are expected to contribute fifty per cent of the income for the society, twenty-five per cent for the family, and twenty-five per cent for his personal emergency.
The Position of Traveling Preachers
Taking the message of the Supreme Lord to unreceptive or hostile environments requires immense courage. Śrīla Prabhupāda compared his traveling preachers and sannyāsīs to frontline soldiers fighting against the illusion of māyā. Because these dedicated disciples risk their own comfort to save the conditioned souls, they are immediately recognized by Kṛṣṇa as His most intimate and beloved servants.
- I am especially talking to my sannyasi disciples, who are going out today on a great mission. Please stick to this principle-one-Krsna. You will be benefited, and the persons to whom you'll talk, they will be benefited, the world will be benefited.
- Just like fighting soldiers, they are facing danger for the country. They are recognized. Similarly, those who are preachers - on behalf of Krsna preaching people to take to Krsna consciousness - they are great soldiers.
- Those who are in the preaching work, they are very much recognized by Krsna. He says, Nobody is dearer than him, one who is preaching, engaged in the preaching.
- Now I have to create more sannyasis to lecture on our philosophy, and I shall pick these sannyasis from the brahmacaris who are firm in their decision not to marry.
- Those who are sudras, they should not be allowed to take sannyasa. Only those who are qualified brahmanas, they'll be allowed to take sannyasa.
The Seriousness of Initiated Disciples
Receiving spiritual initiation is not a mere ritual; it marks the absolute dedication of the student to the spiritual master. Disciples who step forward for initiation must be entirely convinced of the philosophy and strictly adhere to the regulative principles. By taking these vows, the students promise to finish their material conditioning in this very life and prepare themselves to act as empowered representatives of the disciplic succession.
- All of them will take over. These students, who are initiated from me, all of them will act as I am doing.
- This initiation means the third stage of Krsna consciousness. Those who are being initiated, they should remember that they have to follow the rules and regulations.
- Those who are coming to the touch of Krsna consciousness and initiated to execute, they should be very determined that "In this life we shall make a solution. No more. No more coming again." That should be our determination.
- Those who are initiated now, your path is now open to Krsna's abode.
- The initiated householders are supposed to be Brahmins, and according to scriptural injunction a Brahmin can accept charity for employing the income in the service of the Lord. The boys and girls who chant in the street are also giving in charity.
Developing Pure Spiritual Qualities
As disciples continuously engage in temple duties, saṅkīrtana, and book distribution, their hearts undergo a profound transformation. The material desires that once plagued them are rapidly washed away, replaced by the symptoms of pure devotion. Because they are securely sheltered at the lotus feet of the Lord, these advancing devotees become entirely fearless, peaceful, and forgiving in their interactions with others.
- All these boys and girls who are under my direction, they have no other interest, simply Krsna.
- Practically all the devotees and disciples who have kindly joined me, their symptoms are pure devotees. Even if they have got some ulterior desire, that will be removed very soon, because they have taken to the pure process of Krishna Consciousness.
- Those who are advancing in Krsna consciousness, undergoing tapasya, austerities, their first qualification is to forgive the offender.
- Those who are in Krishna Consciousness, they are not afraid of anything. Either they are in hell, or heaven, for them, they are all equal. They do not make any distinction.
- Those who are strictly following the rules and regulations of Vaisnava activities, they are promoted to Vaikuntha lokas. But those who have developed a spontaneous love for Krishna, they are promoted to the Krishna Loka.
The Heavy Responsibility of Leadership
To manage a rapidly growing spiritual institution, capable leaders are absolutely essential. However, Śrīla Prabhupāda severely warned his managers that spiritual leadership is a post of service, not a platform for political dominance or material enjoyment. Disciples who take up the duty of managing temples and leading others must be flawless in their personal behavior, utterly frugal with the society's funds, and cooperative with their Godbrothers.
- I do not know why our students who are supposed to be the leaders of this movement will fight amongst themselves for supremacy. Our whole process is of surrendering.
- Now that you are President of the Detroit Temple, you have very great responsibility to take proper care of all the devotees who are engaged there.
- Those who are GBC's should be very very careful to administer the business of ISKCON. Otherwise they will be punished. As the post is very great, similarly, the punishment is also very great. That is the difficulty.
- Those who are managers of this institution, they must always know that we cannot make this institution or this center as a brothel. There must be such management and or such arrangement that we must have always good association for advancement.
- Those who are responsible should be very frugal to see that not one penny is unnecessarily spent.
Conclusion
The structural strength of the global preaching mission rests upon the dedicated disciples who are fulfilling their respective duties with absolute sincerity. Whether preaching on the streets, managing temples, or raising spiritual families, these followers ensure that Śrīla Prabhupāda's vision is executed perfectly. By strictly adhering to his guidance, the disciples who are assisting him become the most glorious benefactors of human society.
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 We Who Are (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.