Prabhupāda Explains to His Disciples Why They Must Reject Māyāvāda Thinking
The mind is the central battleground of spiritual life. Throughout his instructions, Śrīla Prabhupāda meticulously trains his disciples to identify and reject the subtle creeping of Māyāvāda (impersonalist) philosophy and other false mentalities. By teaching his followers to abandon the illusion that they are God, to properly honor the Deity, and to guard against premature pride, he ensures that their consciousness remains firmly fixed on the absolute truth of personal, loving devotional service.
The Root of Māyāvāda and False Identity
The apex of material illusion is the desire to become the Supreme. Śrīla Prabhupāda vehemently warns his disciples against the Māyāvāda philosophy, which falsely claims that the living entity is completely one with Kṛṣṇa. He clarifies that taking a spiritual name like "Kṛṣṇa dāsa" means realizing one's eternal position as a servant, not falsely identifying as the Lord or artificially imitating exalted personalities like Mother Yaśodā.
- If you think you are Krishna or Spiritual Master, that is Mayavadi philosophy. One should not indulge in this sort of thing.
- When one is named Krsna, Krsna dasa, he is servant of Krsna. Not that Krsna. If he thinks, "I have become Krsna," that is Mayavada.
- The Mayavadis think that they have themselves become Krishna. Similarly, if we think that we are Mother Yasoda, that will be the same philosophy. You should aspire to follow the footsteps of Mother Yasoda and Love Krishna in maternal affection.
The Impersonal Trap of Disrespecting the Deity
Because impersonalists cannot conceive of a Supreme Lord with a transcendental form, they view Deity worship as mere idolatry. Śrīla Prabhupāda strictly forbids this hellish mentality (nārakī-buddhiḥ). He trains his followers to never think of the Deity as stone, wood, or brass. By understanding that Kṛṣṇa has mercifully appeared in this form to accept service, the devotee elevates their consciousness and ultimately realizes the direct, personal presence of the Lord.
- Don't think that the Deity is a doll. Even if you think it is doll, Krsna has come to you in the form of doll so that you can see.
- If you think this is a brass-made idol, then it will remain a brass-made idol to you forever. But if you elevate yourself to higher platform of Krsna consciousness, then Krsna, this Krsna, will talk with you.
- These things are forbidden. You cannot... Arcye visnau sila-dhih. Krsna or Visnu, the same thing -- if you think that this murti is made of stone, Salagrama-sila, if you think it is sila or stone, this is naraki-buddhih. This is not recommended.
The Arrogance of Premature Perfection
A symptom of false, impersonal ego is the belief that one has attained ultimate perfection simply by undergoing a ritual or acquiring basic knowledge. Śrīla Prabhupāda sharply curtails the arrogant thinking that a disciple is "finished" learning or has the license to commit sins because they are initiated. He reminds them that true knowledge fosters humility, and neglecting the continuous study of the spiritual master's books is a dangerous offense.
- If you think that after getting initiation, "I have become perfect. Now again, whatever nonsense I was doing, I shall go on doing it," then it will be useless.
- If you think that "Now I am Krsna conscious. Whatever I do, it is right," then it is great sin. But accidentally it happens. That is excused.
- Knowledge is so nice that even if you think that you are very learned, you are well versed in everything, still, you require knowledge. That should be our motto. Don't think that "I have finished."
- Your guru is writing books. If you think, "There is no necessity of reading books," that is guror avajna.
Rejecting Material Motivations and Excuses
When the mind is not fully surrendered, it constantly manufactures excuses and material calculations. Śrīla Prabhupāda warns that viewing the society's achievements as vehicles for personal benefit will completely ruin the institution. Furthermore, he instructs disciples to reject the restless mentality that views steady devotional service as a "hackneyed" burden or constantly seeks new, artificial engagements under the guise of making better spiritual advancement.
- We have worked very hard and established a great institution, but if we think for our personal benefit then it will become ruined. This is my only concern.
- If you think that "It is hackneyed, it is troublesome, but what can I do? These people ask me to do it. I have to do it," that is not Krsna consciousness.
- Now when we are selling book, that is Krsna consciousness. We are selling book. But if we think that the selling book may be diverted into selling jewelry, that is not very good idea. Then we become again jeweler. Punar musika bhava. Again become mouse.
- It is a fallacy to say that my present engagement with the press is not the best for my spiritual advancement, and if we think in this way we may go on trying out one engagement after another and always say the same excuse.
Cultivating Proper Practical Thinking
Having cleared away the weeds of Māyāvāda and mental concoction, Śrīla Prabhupāda empowers his disciples to use their intelligence practically for Kṛṣṇa. Proper thinking involves understanding that the physical body is merely a tool meant to be kept fit for Kṛṣṇa's work. By tolerating trivial ego conflicts and urgently executing practical plans for the preaching mission, a devotee's mind becomes a perfect instrument for spiritual success.
- If you think that "This body is required for acting, for working on behalf of the Supreme Lord; therefore I must keep the body fit to work" - that is not your identification with the body.
- If you want to do business, you must take the first opportunity, the greatest opportunity, do your business. That is intelligence. And if we think, "All right, I shall do slowly. In seven hundred lives I shall become perfect," that is another thing.
- So you are all good souls, please do not be agitated in trivial things. Do your duty nicely, develop the center as nicely as possible. If you think that your personality has been minimized, you can tolerate it.
- Your idea sounds very nice. It is a good proposal. Is it practical? Can you do it? If you think it is practical and you can do it, then it could have very nice results. Work nicely with Hamsaduta and see what can be arranged.
Conclusion
The purity of the Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement depends entirely on the correct philosophical understanding of its members. By fiercely rejecting the Māyāvāda illusion that the soul is equal to God, and by abandoning the material tendency to exploit spiritual life for personal gain, devotees protect their devotional creepers. Śrīla Prabhupāda’s profound instructions ensure that his disciples replace dangerous mental concoctions with the humble, practical, and highly active intelligence of an eternal servant.
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 If We Think That (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.