Prabhupāda Explains to His Disciples What They Require for Spiritual Success
The successful expansion of the Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement depends on meeting both internal spiritual qualifications and external practical standards. Through his extensive instructions, Śrīla Prabhupāda taught that while practical resources like land and printing presses are necessary for preaching, the most essential requirement is a heart dedicated to serving the Supreme Lord. By following his systematic plan for qualified leadership and community development, disciples can ensure their own advancement while providing the guidance that the rest of the world desperately requires.
Qualified Leadership and Spiritual Masters
To enlighten a world currently in darkness, the existence of thousands of genuine teachers is an absolute necessity. Understanding that the movement cannot expand through the efforts of a single person alone, Śrīla Prabhupāda called for his disciples to become qualified spiritual masters who are free from the desire to cheat. Such leaders must strictly follow the paramparā system and remain humble, recognizing that their only qualification is their transparency in delivering the message of Kṛṣṇa.
- We require hundreds and thousands of gurus. But not cheaters.
- Because people are in darkness, we require many millions of gurus to enlighten them.
- Lord Caitanya wants that this movement be spread to every nook and corner of the earth, so we require so many hundreds of thousands of sincere young men like yourself to take it up.
- We require hundreds and thousands of spiritual masters who have understood this Krsna science and preach all over the world.
- I say all fourth-class men they are, leaders. Therefore the whole world is in chaotic condition. We require first-class men to lead. We are first-class men. Take our advice, and then everything will be all right.
Intellectual and Character Standards
A thriving spiritual society functions like a human body, where the brāhmaṇas provide the essential brain work and direction. Because modern society lacks an intelligent head, Śrīla Prabhupāda focused on training his disciples to become first-class men defined by their behavior and Kṛṣṇa consciousness rather than academic degrees. He required that his followers maintain a high standard of purity, demonstrating through their ideal character how to live a peaceful and sane life.
- Brahmana is meant for doing the brain work. He will give advice. Just like we, Krsna consciousness movement, we are not meant for the ksatriya's or vaisya's business, the devotees, but if required they can take. But real business is brahmana's business.
- That is the idea of my Guru Maharaja, a Gurukula. We are not going to make some big, big scholars. We don't require scholars. We require ideal men by character, by behavior, by Krsna consciousness.
- The brain will give direction, the hand will give protection. Everything is required. Therefore we have named this "Krsna conscious society." "Society" means all classes of men required.
- From your letter I can understand that you are anxious to become householder and this is very good. We require so many householders to set example to others how in Krsna consciousness we can live peacefully and sanely, even in married life.
- I requested that we require a set of first-class men that is not there at the present moment. There is no head. They are thinking simply arms wanted, defense, and fight amongst themselves. That's all.
Practical and Economic Requirements
Spiritual life is not lived in a vacuum; it requires a practical foundation that supports the mission without creating artificial entanglements. To solve economic problems, Śrīla Prabhupāda recommended that his followers secure land and protect cows, which provides the natural food and milk required for a healthy society. He taught that by simplifying material necessities and avoiding an artificial lifestyle, devotees could save valuable time for their primary business of advancing in God consciousness.
- As I have already discussed in my Srimad-Bhagavatam, for economic problem one requires a little land and a few cows. Then the whole economic problem is solved.
- We say protect cow from economic point of view, krsi-go-raksya-vanijyam. Without saving cows you cannot get good food. Not from the animal point of view. You require milk and milk preparation.
- We require material necessities as much as it is required, no artificial life. That is spiritual life. Simply increasing artificial life, even for shaving, a big machine is required. What is this? Simply wasting time.
- I have no ambition to become the proprietor of any temple or house in America because what shall I do with them after becoming a Sannyasi but for the facility of work our own house is absolutely required.
- You can produce your cloth also if you produce cotton. And we are trying in Mayapura to produce our own cloth. So we require our own cloth, own food, and time saved for advancing in Krsna consciousness. That is required. That is actual civilization.
Preaching and Literary Infrastructure
The backbone of the entire spiritual movement is the profuse distribution of transcendental knowledge through books and magazines. Śrīla Prabhupāda explained that because the printing press has a far wider reach than localized preaching, literary propaganda is a vital requirement for the success of the mission. He required that his students become well-versed in all the literatures and that these books be translated into all languages to reach every nook and corner of the earth.
- Best thing is to get Bhagavad-gita printed on our own press, some soft bound and some hard bound, regularly sewn. Now in New York we have got large space. If required we can increase by another press, but try to get all our books printed on our own press.
- I have so many ideas for paintings, and we will be requiring so many expert paintings as you are able to do, so please be very serious to do this work nicely and quickly. It will be great service.
- Now we are requiring our students to be very well familiar with all our literatures so that we may present our philosophy before even the most educated persons.
- This translation work is very important. It is not simply a matter of ABC's, but it requires spiritual realization to do it properly. I understand that you are a good sankirtana man and book distributer. So you all cooperate.
Internal Qualities and Sincere Endeavor
Beyond external resources, the aspiring devotee must cultivate specific internal qualities to please the Lord and make steady progress. Śrīla Prabhupāda frequently taught that enthusiasm, patience, and a humble attitude are the primary requirements for a successful spiritual life. He required that his disciples be prepared to sacrifice their life, wealth, and intelligence for the mission, assuring them that if they offered their sincere hearts, the Supreme Lord would provide all the facilities they required.
- Enthusiasm and patience, these things required. If under changing conditions, I lose my enthusiasm, if I cannot endure the difficulties of my duty, therefore I go away. Then how I can be leader?
- Easiest way to please Krsna... You don't require much money, much education, and nothing of the sort. Simply you require your heart.
- For serving the Lord, we require to sacrifice our life, our wealth, our intelligence, and our words. One can serve the Lord with these four possessions; if not, with three, if not, then with two or even one.
- In our Krsna consciousness movement the first qualification required by the devotees is enthusiasm. Then work it out patiently and with conviction that it will surely be done.
- Patience is required for the successful discharges of Krsna conscious duties. Krsna is pleased to award benediction upon the aspiring devotee engaged in His service with patience determination and regularity.
Education and Essential Training
Spiritual training is a lifelong process that must begin with the correct foundation and the constant guidance of a bona fide representative of the Lord. To achieve this, Śrīla Prabhupāda identified the requirement for centers where devotees could associate and awaken their inquisitiveness about God. He required that his students undergo rigorous training, including regular study for examinations and the practice of remembering the Supreme Personality of Godhead at every moment, particularly at the time of death.
- By the association of devotee we awaken our inquisitiveness about God. Therefore the centers are required. It is not unnecessarily we are opening so many centers. No. It is for the benefit of the human society.
- At the time of death we have to think very rightly. That is required. That is human life. You have to train yourself in such a way that at the time of death you think of Krsna.
- Before the Spiritual Master a dullheaded fool is required, an over intelligent disciple is not a very good qualification.
- Devotee hasn't got any personal decision. That is the process of Krsna consciousness. Evam parampara-praptam imam rajarsayo viduh. We should decide by the order of Krsna through the disciplic succession, via media, the spiritual master. That is required.
- We require many first class devotees to make the temple alive with transcendental bliss.
Conclusion
By clearly defining what is required for both the individual practitioner and the collective mission, Śrīla Prabhupāda provided his disciples with a perfect blueprint for success. He balanced the high spiritual requirement of total surrender with the practical necessity of organized management and self-sufficiency. Through his expert guidance, his followers learned that by dedicating their enthusiasm and resources to the Lord, they would always receive the strength and intelligence required to fulfill the mission of spreading Kṛṣṇa consciousness all over the 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 We Require (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.