Prabhupāda Instructs His Disciples on Making Steady Progress
The journey back to Godhead requires a sincere and determined effort rather than mere sentiment. Through his extensive correspondence, Śrīla Prabhupāda trained his followers to measure their progress in practical ways. By identifying the absolute necessity of strict discipline, pure association, and unflinching faith in the paramparā, he provided a foolproof formula for overcoming material illusion and achieving steady spiritual growth.
Following the Regulative Principles
To ensure the steady spiritual advancement of his students, Śrīla Prabhupāda established strict, non-negotiable standards of behavior. He taught that one cannot artificially jump to higher platforms without first becoming conservative and rigidly following the four prohibitive rules. By faithfully adhering to these foundational vows and chanting the prescribed rounds daily, the practitioner purifies their heart and guarantees their safe and steady progress.
- The devotees must bear in mind they are promising to follow four regulative principles and chanting a minimum of 16 rounds of japa daily. Everyone should take very seriously this vow and make steady and sure progress in Krsna consciousness and go back to Godhead in this lifetime.
- As soon as the bhajana-kriya, immediately there is anartha-nivrttih syat. All unwanted things: no smoking, no intoxication, no illicit sex, no meat-eating, no gambling. We make this condition before making a student.
- By always following the principles, chanting, and performing regulated worship of the Deity, one can make steady advancement.
- We have to become conservative, follow the rules. Not that we give liberty, that "Whatever you like, you do, and at the same time you make progress, spiritual life." That is not possible.
- You should follow the four regulative principles without deviation. If you do these simple things, you will make steady advancement in Krishna Consciousness and there will be no fall downs.
Enduring Difficulties and Tests
The material world naturally presents various obstacles and illusions designed to distract the developing devotee. Instead of becoming discouraged, Śrīla Prabhupāda advised his disciples to view these challenges as divine tests meant to strengthen their determination. By patiently tolerating temporary inconveniences and voluntarily accepting tapasya, the sincere soul can make continuous progress without being disturbed by the flickering material energy.
- According to Bhagavad-gita we have simply to tolerate all these temporary appearances and disappearance, our main function being to make steady progress in Krsna consciousness.
- She tests very rigidly whether you have taken Krsna consciousness to disturb Krsna, or you are actually serious. That is maya's business. So there will be, in the beginning, test by maya, and you will feel so much disturbances in making progress in Krsna consciousness.
- When we are put into difficulties while discharging Krishna Conscious duties, it is to be understood that Krishna puts us in a field of austerities and penances which help us making progress towards realization of our goal of life.
- Very cautiously and intelligently we have to make progress in spiritual life. Don't take it very insignificantly. We should be very much careful. Otherwise there is falldown, and once falldown means a gap of millions of years.
- Without tapasya there is no question of making advancement. So if still the material nature is so much attractive to you that you are unable to sacrifice things in this way, then better you give up the whole thing and do as you like outside.
Purifying Our Association
Individual effort is immensely supported by the presence of advanced devotees who share the same spiritual goal. For this reason, Śrīla Prabhupāda constantly encouraged his followers to work cooperatively and make their society an invincible fortress against material contamination. By removing enviousness and serving together harmoniously, the devotees create a pure atmosphere that accelerates the spiritual progress of everyone involved.
- The best way to make advancement in Krishna consciousness is by the association of advanced devotees.
- By association, good association, everything is possible. Therefore you have to make this association of Krsna consciousness so perfect that anyone who comes in contact with that association, he becomes purified automatically.
- You make your society so strong that you be not cheated, and others may not cheat. Then it will be first-class. And if you make another society of cheaters and cheated, there is no profit.
- We had got the wrong impression, and actually that everything is progressing in a spirit of mutual cooperation in all respects. This is Krishna Consciousness. Working together to please the Supreme Personality of Godhead.
- You must jointly work because both of you, you have started this New Vrindaban, and you have to work jointly. There may be sometimes disagreement, but you should settle up. Otherwise how you can make progress?
Testing One's Own Advancement
True spiritual life is not a theoretical or mechanical exercise; it yields tangible, measurable results in the heart. As a practical yardstick, Śrīla Prabhupāda explained that one can test their own progress simply by checking if their material desires are actively decreasing. If a practitioner still feels strong attachments to sense gratification and bodily comforts, they must recognize that their devotional service requires more serious attention and surrender.
- Whether you are making progress in Krsna consciousness you have to test yourself, whether you are decreasing your material desires. That's all.
- When one is in Krishna Consciousness, he no more feels any bodily pains and pleasures. After all, we are not this body. But we should make progress steadily by following the rules and regulations, not making experiment.
- If you do not control your tongue, if you feel inconvenient in taking prasadam, that means you are not making progress.
- If I am still in illusion, then I should understand that my business in Krsna consciousness is not progressing; this is the test.
- Forget sleeping, eating, mating. This is all material necessities. If you increase these things, then you cannot make any progress in spiritual life.
Unflinching Faith in the Guru
The descending process of Vedic knowledge requires a perfect conduit to transfer spiritual potency. Without implicitly trusting and serving the bona fide spiritual representative, Śrīla Prabhupāda emphasized that no one can make actual progress toward the supreme destination. By taking absolute shelter of the paramparā system and executing the orders of the guru with firm faith, the disciple becomes perfectly linked to the Supreme Lord and guaranteed success.
- That is the sublime philosophy of Krishna Consciousness understanding; implicit faith in Krishna and Spiritual Master. This will make your steady progress towards the Ultimate Goal of back to Home, back to Godhead.
- Without being fully spiritualized, you cannot make others spiritualized. Therefore we have to follow the parampara system. The disciplic succession, as we get the knowledge, as we get the power, as we get the instruction, so we have to follow.
- Sri-guru-carane rati, ei se, uttama-gati. If you want to make real progress, then you must be firmly faithful at the lotus feet of guru.
- We are interested in spiritual subject matter. Therefore the process is adau gurv-asrayam. One has to accept a bona fide spiritual master. That is our process. Without accepting a bona fide spiritual master, we cannot make any progress. It is impossible.
- You have accepted the importance of the spiritual master for making advancement in spiritual life. Now that you have been formally initiated, you are linked up with all the great Vaishnava acharyas.
Conclusion
Through his precise instructions, Śrīla Prabhupāda ensured his disciples understood that spiritual life is a dynamic, progressive march. By adhering to the rules, tolerating distress, maintaining pure association, and keeping absolute faith in the spiritual master, anyone can successfully navigate the material world. This uncompromising dedication allows the sincere soul to achieve the ultimate perfection of returning back to Godhead.
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 Progress (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.