Prabhupāda Explains to His Disciples What Their True Concern Should Be
In the material world, living entities are constantly overwhelmed by temporary anxieties and false priorities. By clearly delineating what truly matters, Śrīla Prabhupāda guides his followers to abandon mundane distractions and focus their entire existence on the eternal reality of Kṛṣṇa consciousness.
Prioritizing Spiritual Progress
The foundational strength of the Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement does not lie in its buildings or financial assets, but in the internal purity of its members. Recognizing the dangers of administrative distraction, Śrīla Prabhupāda repeatedly instructed his managers and disciples that their first and most vital concern must be their own spiritual advancement. By rigorously chanting their daily rounds of japa and strictly adhering to the paramparā standard, devotees naturally overcome all other organizational obstacles.
- The first medicine which you should be concerned with is to chant Hare Krsna and to become increasingly steady in Krsna consciousness.
- Now you be always travelling here and there, visiting the centers in your zone, seeing how things are going on and how the students are making spiritual progress. That is our real concern, the spiritual progress of life.
- Simply become more concerned with increasing the spiritual content of our lives, and in this way all other problems like management will be easily solved, not that they can be solved by making some legal formula and having big big meetings and talks.
- I am glad that you are fully absorbed in your work and very concerned that it be executed just to my satisfaction in parampara standard. This is your perfection. I am hopeful we will continue our cooperation as I have many many more books to write.
Distributing Transcendental Knowledge
While ordinary people are preoccupied with securing comfortable situations in the material world, a pure Vaiṣṇava feels deep compassion for the suffering of others. Therefore, the singular mission of the society is the widespread distribution of transcendental knowledge through the saṅkīrtana movement. Śrīla Prabhupāda emphasized that regardless of financial difficulties or temporary setbacks, the paramount concern of every center must be the printing and distribution of spiritual literature.
- Don't bother too much about financial matters, but your first concern should be book and magazine distribution.
- Our (Krsna consciousness movement) only concern is to attract people to Krsna consciousness. We may do this in the dress of sannyasis or in the regular dress of gentlemen. Our only concern is to spread interest in Krsna consciousness.
- That is our concern: how the world is misdirected. That we are challenging, this Krsna consciousness. It is not that "East," "West," "you," "I." Everyone is a victim. Bhagavata says, prayena kalau asmin yuge janah: "In this age everyone is condemned."
- Representative goes to secure business door to door. Somebody purchases, somebody does not. So that is not the representative's concern. Similarly, our concern is that we shall dedicate our life to preach this Krsna consciousness movement all over the world.
Avoiding Political and Social Movements
Because material existence is fundamentally flawed, trying to solve humanity's problems through political agitation or temporary social welfare is ultimately a waste of time. To protect his followers from being absorbed in these futile endeavors, Śrīla Prabhupāda strictly forbade their involvement in mundane controversies or sectarian debates. By remaining aloof from political movements, devotees maintain their focus on the only true solution—awakening the dormant love of God within every living entity.
- Certainly we are opposed to abortion, and we can advise that it is not good, but do not take an active part in this political agitation against abortion. We are not much concerned in that way, so do not waste time approaching politicians.
- So far our devotees, Americans are concerned, they have nothing to do with politics.
- We have no concern with any political movement or social movement. We have taken simply Krsna consciousness movement.
- We do not advocate any sectarian religion. We are concerned to invoke our dormant love for God.
Relying Solely on Śāstra
In the realm of spiritual philosophy, mental speculation and imperfect analogies hold absolutely no value. The only reliable source of knowledge is the authorized Vedic literature and the realizations of the previous ācāryas. Instilling a deep respect for textual authority, Śrīla Prabhupāda trained his disciples to base all their arguments, preaching, and personal convictions strictly upon the śāstra, refusing to entertain the concocted theories of modern scientists or mundane scholars.
- And so far we are concerned, we don't talk anything, except what is mentioned in the books. That's all. We remain always foolish. And as foolish men, we do not talk. We simply talk what is mentioned by Vyasadeva, by Sukadeva Gosvami.
- Concerning our use of analogy. We do not bring in imperfect analogy, but we follow the instructions of the Sastras strictly. Our authority is on the basis of Sastra, not analogy.
- Krsna is para-tattva, accepted by all acaryas. We are not talking of the fools and rascals who are theorizing without any knowledge. We are concerned with the authorities.
- Because the Gita is spoken by the Supreme Personality of Godhead it is sruti. But people take it as smrti because it is part of the Mahabharata. We take it as sruti as far as we are concerned.
Cultivating Pure Love for Kṛṣṇa
The ultimate perfection of all spiritual endeavor is not achieving material success or institutional glory, but developing pure, unalloyed love for the Supreme Lord. When a devotee acts exclusively for the pleasure of Kṛṣṇa, they are no longer disturbed by the dualities of victory or defeat, comfort or inconvenience. Through his personal example, Śrīla Prabhupāda demonstrated that maintaining a constant, loving meditation on the Lord is the true essence and ultimate concern of spiritual life.
- Our concern is to transfer this love - which has to be placed somewhere - to Krsna. This is Krsna consciousness. If you transfer your love to Krsna, that is perfection.
- We should make a sincere effort to implement the will of Krsna, or Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, and we should not be concerned with victory and defeat. Our only duty is to work sincerely, so that our activities may be recognized by Krsna.
- I think for Krishna's sake we shall try to work together even at the risk of little personal inconvenience. Our foremost concern is Krishna. If Krishna's service is well done, then we should try to forget our personal inconveniences.
- I am very glad to read in your letter a nice line, "My main concern is seeing Him constantly in my daily life, that is, to constantly remember Him and not to forget Him." This is actually Krsna consciousness.
Conclusion
The measure of a devotee’s advancement is found in the subjects that occupy their mind and energy. By systematically shifting the attention of his disciples away from temporary political, social, and bodily anxieties, Śrīla Prabhupāda anchored them in the eternal reality of devotional service. When a practitioner's sole concern becomes pleasing Kṛṣṇa, distributing His message, and following the scriptural injunctions, they effortlessly transcend the illusions of the material world.
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 Concern (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.