Prabhupāda Instructs His Disciples on What They May Not Do in Devotional Service
Setting clear boundaries is absolutely essential for steady advancement in spiritual life. To protect his growing society from subtle deviations, Śrīla Prabhupāda establishes strict guidelines regarding what his disciples may and may not do within their daily practice. By strictly following these protective injunctions and maintaining a humble attitude, devotees safely navigate the pitfalls of material energy and ensure their triumphant return to the spiritual realm.
Upholding Strict Standards and Temple Purity
Maintaining the transcendental atmosphere of the society's centers requires strict adherence to authorized practices. In managing temple affairs, Śrīla Prabhupāda clearly defines specific actions that are not permitted, ensuring that unauthorized worship and mundane habits do not pollute the sacred environment. Whether regulating kitchen access to initiated devotees or rejecting unauthorized rituals like Gaṇeśa pūjā, these rules are vital for keeping the movement perfectly aligned with the pure teachings of the disciplic succession.
- The Ganesa puja may not be performed. No, it is not to be done. No need of it.
- Regarding kitchen affairs, as a rule those who are not initiated may not enter into the kitchen affairs.
- No, you may not serve decaffinated coffee in the restaurant.
- Regarding your question of dancing-show, whatever it may be, it may not deviate from the real Krsna consciousness program. We are Hari Kirtana men, that's all.
Avoiding Luxury and the Misuse of Time
The facilities provided within a spiritual institution are meant solely for advancing in pure devotion, never for material comfort. It is a dangerous deviation, Śrīla Prabhupāda explains, to view the temple as a place for free living, unregulated sense gratification, or personal ambition. Devotees must remain vigilant against the creeping desires for luxury or mundane fame, dedicating every valuable moment strictly to the service of the Supreme Lord so that their human life is not wasted.
- Eat Krishna Prasadam, but be careful that we may not indulge in luxury. For Krishna we can offer the most beautiful preparations, but for us Prasadam should be very simple.
- If we take it that "Here is an institution where we can have free hotel, free living and free sense gratification," then the whole institution will be spoiled. Be careful. All the GBC's, they should be careful that this mentality may not increase.
- We should be satisfied with our pictures hanging in our different temples. But we may not sacrifice our valuable time for becoming famous artists so that pictures may be sold like hotcakes.
- When a person is advanced in Krsna consciousness he should always think that my time may not go in vain without being engaged in Krishna's service.
Humble Reliance on the Disciplic Succession
Advanced spiritual realization is never the result of independent academic study or mundane intelligence. Rejecting the proud mentality that one can succeed without guidance, Śrīla Prabhupāda teaches that absolute reliance on a genuine guru is mandatory. Even if a practitioner is not deeply versed in complex philosophical texts like the Vedānta-sūtra, their humble submission and strict adherence to the previous ācāryas guarantee their perfection and protect them from internal discouragement.
- Don't think that "I am so advanced. I may not require any guru. I can do without guru." That is nonsense. That, not possible. "Must."
- We may not be very well versed in the Vedanta-sutra aphorisms and may not understand their meaning, but we follow in the footsteps of the acaryas.
- One may not think that "I am not qualified to become guru." No, you are qualified if you follow strictly the parampara system. Then you are qualified. That's all.
- Even there is some difficulty or hardship, or even my godbrothers may not cooperate or there may be fighting, still, I must perform my duty to my spiritual master and not become discouraged and go away, that is my weakness.
Protecting Devotees from Falling Away
Recruiting a conditioned soul to the path of devotional service requires immense effort, compassion, and divine grace. Once individuals join the society, Śrīla Prabhupāda emphasizes that leaders must manage them tactfully and train them carefully so they do not fall back into illusion. By providing proper care, mitigating internal disruptions, and encouraging sincere prayers for protection against the powerful forces of māyā, the movement ensures the long-term spiritual safety of all its members.
- Just like I am traveling all over the world twice, thrice, in a year. My duty is to see that my disciples who have accepted me guru, they may not fall down. That is my anxiety.
- We get a devotee after great endeavour, and we must train such devotee in a nice way so that he may not go back and be at large in the clutches of Maya.
- You should always deal things so tactfully that people may not fall away. Every living being is important in Krsna conscious service, and we must take all precautions that one may not fall away.
- If one is always careful about falling down and prays to Krishna that he may not fall down on account of greater strength of Maya, then Krishna will give him special protection.
Ensuring No Further Material Births
The ultimate objective of adhering to all rules and regulations is to permanently sever the soul's entanglement in the material world. By executing devotional duties with immense enthusiasm, Śrīla Prabhupāda promises that a sincere practitioner will never have to accept another physical body. Whether training children in a spiritual family or cooperating together within the society, the ultimate goal is to become completely purified so that the disciples may joyfully reunite with their eternal guide at the supreme destination.
- Every one of my disciples should act in such a way that they may go with me and may not have to come back to take another birth.
- Utsahat means you must be very much enthusiastic that "In this life, in this human form of life, I must complete my spiritual consciousness, or God consciousness, so that in the next life I may not have this material body."
- It is the duty of all parents to make every child Krsna conscious, so that the fortunate child born of Krsna conscious parents may not have any more to take birth in this material world.
- Our relationship is eternal. But if somebody lags behind, so in spite of our eternal relationship one may not meet other at the destination.
Conclusion
The negative injunctions and boundaries established by the spiritual master are not restrictive punishments, but loving protections. By understanding clearly what they may not do, disciples of Śrīla Prabhupāda avoid the subtle traps of luxury, pride, and unauthorized practices. These loving warnings ultimately preserve the purity of the individual and the society, ensuring that every sincere follower safely completes their journey back home, 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 We May Not (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.