Prabhupāda Explains to His Disciples the Difference Between Concocted and Spiritual Plans
In the execution of devotional service, a clear distinction must be made between plans born of mental speculation and those sanctioned by divine authority. Śrīla Prabhupāda meticulously trains his followers to abandon personal concoctions and instead dedicate their intelligence to executing the plans revealed by the Supreme Lord and His representatives.
Abandoning Concocted Plans for Maintenance
The hallmark of a pure devotee is a complete lack of personal ambition and a firm dependence on the protection of the Lord. Śrīla Prabhupāda warns that making independent, manufactured plans for one's own maintenance or security is a sign of a lack of faith. Instead of giving trouble to Kṛṣṇa by worrying over bare necessities, the disciple is encouraged to accept Kṛṣṇa's plan and focus entirely on spiritual advancement, trusting that the Lord is always alert to the needs of His surrendered servants.
- Don't make any plan. Accept Krsna's plan. That will be simply giving trouble to Krsna. Therefore, a devotee does not pray even for his maintenance. That is pure devotee. He doesn't give trouble to Krsna even for his bare maintenance.
- Don't make your own manufactured, concocted plan. Therefore, to guide you, a Krsna's representative required. That is spiritual master. So there is a huge plan and huge scheme. Therefore we have to follow the footsteps of the mahajanas.
- If he has no maintenance, he'll suffer, fasting; still, he'll not ask Krsna, "Krsna, I am very hungry. Give me some food" Of course, Krsna is alert for His devotee, but a devotee's principle is not to place any plan to Krsna. Let Krsna do.
- The words, the plans and the instruction which is coming directly from Krsna, that thing we have to accept. We shall not make any our own plan. That is the way of making progress.
Taxing the Brain for Preaching Plans
While personal concoction is condemned, the active use of intelligence to plan for the propagation of the saṅkīrtana movement is highly encouraged. Śrīla Prabhupāda explains that when a devotee "taxes his brain" to conceive of better ways to distribute books, organize festivals, or establish centers, he is actually engaging his mind in samādhi. These plans are considered spiritual because their sole objective is to induce others to become Kṛṣṇa conscious, which is the heart of Kṛṣṇa's own plan for the world.
- As far as possible, our business is to induce persons how he becomes Krsna conscious. That's all. For that reason, you can make your plan, because that is Krsna's plan. But that should also be sanctioned by Krsna.
- This brain taxation, if you engage in Krsna's service - how to spread Krsna consciousness, how to convince people about Krsna, how to take them to the Krsna's desire - in this way, if you go on making plan for spreading Krsna consciousness, then your mind is controlled.
- Gargamuni and Tamala Krishna are making plans to open 108 centers within a three year period. So I very much appreciate how my disciples are taking this movement to their heart of hearts, and are working very sincerely to propagate it.
- This Sankirtana Movement should be planned very diligently, and it should be pushed on. Then our propaganda will surely come out successful.
The Sanction and Guidance of the Spiritual Master
A plan is spiritual only if it is sanctioned by Kṛṣṇa’s representative, the spiritual master. Because the mind is prone to concoction, the disciple must submit all their schemes for the mission to the guru for approval. Whether planning a daily world newspaper, a traveling bus party, or the construction of a magnificent temple, the disciple relies on the expert direction of Śrīla Prabhupāda to ensure the plans remain practical and aligned with the eternal principles of the paramparā.
- I very much approve of your enclosed brochure, and I am pleased by your festival plan for the colleges all over the state. Actually, this roving Sankirtana and college program is the most appropriate plan for spreading Krsna consciousness and preaching.
- I simply want things to be developed which we have got, not to make so many big big plans and changing all the time, that is not very practical.
- I have heard from Jayatirtha you want to make big plan for centralization of management, taxes, monies, corporate status, bookkeeping, credit, like that. I do not at all approve of such plan. Do not centralize anything.
- Now if our students strictly follow the chalked out plan; namely chanting 16 rounds daily, following the restrictive regulations and reading at least one chapter from our books, then automatically they become ordained ministers.
Planning for a Self-Sufficient Society
The long-term vision for the movement included plans for erecting international cities and farm communities based on Vedic culture. These spiritual plans focused on self-sufficiency—producing food grains, maintaining cows, and weaving cloth—to provide a stable foundation for a Kṛṣṇa conscious society. Śrīla Prabhupāda instructs his disciples to execute these construction and agricultural plans diligently, utilizing the talents of architects and craftsmen to create environments where everyone can live peacefully and focus on the Absolute Truth.
- We are developing a plan to be self-sufficient. Namely, to produce our food grains, maintain cows, for drinking milk, and weave cloth for garments. We have plans for erecting a magnificent international city based on this Vedic culture.
- My architect-disciple has seen the Temple compound and has made plans how to improve it. Now you should make a draft of the Deed of Gift and send it to me.
- Give facility to the people. Here (in New Mayapura) is very nice arrangement. Now make plan how to utilize. You have got enough land. You can utilize for supplying the necessities of life.
- We have got the plans drawn by Saurabha and that architect, Mr. Suri, still, if we have not got sufficient funds and if there is long delay to get them, better to go ahead and build something little cheaper and very simple.
Conclusion
True success in spiritual life depends on the disciple’s ability to distinguish between their own mental whims and the divinely sanctioned plans of the spiritual master. By abandoning independent schemes for maintenance and instead applying their full intelligence to the service of the mission, devotees participate in Kṛṣṇa’s own plan for the world. Through this disciplined application of intelligence, practitioners remain protected from the dangers of concoction and successfully expand the glorious movement of Lord Caitanya.
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 Plans (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.