Prabhupāda Instructs His Disciples to Always Remain Thinking of Kṛṣṇa
The ultimate goal of all Vedic literature, such as the Bhagavad-gītā and Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, is to teach humanity how to continuously remember the Supreme Lord. Śrīla Prabhupāda perfectly translated this ancient science into a practical lifestyle for his followers, explaining that thinking of Kṛṣṇa is not an artificial or passive meditation. By actively dedicating every moment of life to devotional service, disciples effortlessly absorb their minds in transcendence, conquer the illusions of māyā, and prepare themselves for the final test at the time of death.
The Perfection of First-Class Yoga
In the modern age, many people attempt to perform yoga through difficult physical postures or silent meditation, but the mind remains restless and easily distracted. Śrīla Prabhupāda explained that the highest, first-class yoga system is simply keeping the consciousness fully absorbed in Kṛṣṇa twenty-four hours a day. By dedicating one's life to chanting, hearing, and serving the mission without stopping, the practitioner naturally achieves the perfect state of meditation without any artificial effort.
- We have to execute this twenty-four-hours' Krsna business, Krsna consciousness, always absorbed in thought of Krsna - in sitting, in walking, in eating, in sleeping, everything. In working. That is first-class yoga.
- Our these students, they are being educated how to think of Krsna always, twenty-four hours, without any stop. And that is first-class yoga.
- These boys and girls who have taken to Krsna consciousness movement seriously, they are all first-class yogis because they are always thinking of Krsna. So if you want to develop Krsna consciousness, then you kindly associate with these devotees.
- What is the qualification? This qualification, if we simply dedicate these three things: always thinking of Krsna, that is very nicely possible. If we chant and hear, then we must be thinking of Krsna. Hare Krsna, Hare Krsna.
Transforming Daily Activities into Remembrance
Living a spiritual life does not require abandoning one's daily duties; it simply requires a change in consciousness. Whether a devotee is cooking, writing, doing business, or raising children, dedicating the fruit of that labor to the Supreme Lord transforms ordinary work into pure bhakti. Śrīla Prabhupāda assured his followers that any time spent practically working or reading for Kṛṣṇa is eternally saved, ensuring that the mind remains fully protected from material contamination.
- Any moment, any time you spend for thinking of Krsna, working for Krsna, chanting for Krsna, eating for Krsna, dancing for Krsna, that time is saved.
- As you think of Krsna, as you see Krsna, as you read of Krsna, as you work for Krsna, some way or other, if you remain in Krsna consciousness, that is your benefit. And that benefit will save you from taking birth again in the material world.
- In our society everything is open. There is no secrecy. We worship Krsna, we think of Krsna, we work for Krsna, we glorify Krsna, we chant for Krsna, we dedicate our life for Krsna. That's all.
- If you write books about Krsna, if you read books about Krsna, if you talk about Krsna, you think of Krsna, you worship Krsna, you cook for Krsna, you eat for Krsna - so that is krsna-kirtana.
Overcoming Lower Impulses and Material Disturbances
The material energy constantly tries to agitate the mind with strong urges, especially the sex desire, anger, and petty fault-finding. However, the spiritual master provided a perfect and positive remedy. When a devotee directs their thoughts toward Kṛṣṇa's transcendental pastimes with the gopīs, or deeply immerses themselves in the mahā-mantra, these lower material impulses immediately become subordinate. True tolerance naturally awakens when the consciousness is heavily saturated with divine remembrance.
- Another secret of success is that when one is very much sexually disturbed he should think of Lord Krishna's pastimes with the Gopis, and he will forget his sex urge. To think of Krishna's pastimes with Gopis, but not to try to imitate.
- That is our process. Just like sex impulse is natural for everyone in the material world, but if we think of Krsna embracing Radharani or dancing with the gopis, then our sex impulse becomes subordinate, no more stronger.
- To the extent we are thinking of Krishna, to that extent maya has no influence. But as much as we are desiring to forget Krishna and trying to enjoy for ourself, so to that extent we must suffer the pains of maya.
- Devotee means he is able to tolerate all kinds of discomfort and whims of the material nature, and because he is so much absorbed in serving Krishna, he takes no time to become angry or take offense with others or find out some fault, no.
The Principle of Separation and Eternal Connection
Devotees who are separated from the physical presence of the spiritual master may initially feel a sense of loneliness or distress. Śrīla Prabhupāda transformed this emotional pain into spiritual ecstasy by teaching that constant remembrance effectively bridges any gap. When a disciple strictly follows the regulative principles and thinks of the spiritual master and Kṛṣṇa in a mood of loving separation, they are eternally connected and fully protected from falling astray.
- To feel separation from the Spiritual Master or Krishna is very good position. That means one who is in pure love with Krishna and His Representative, Spiritual Master, he thinks always of Them.
- Don't fall astray. Separation is absolutely forbidden at any time. Always think of Krishna and be happy.
- The solution is to be always thinking of Krishna and the Spiritual Master, then maya cannot touch you. If you very strictly follow the regulative principles and chant 16 rounds minimum, there is no question of ever falling down.
- Please continue to think of Krishna and you will feel more and more the Blissful pleasure transcendental to all material contamination.
Preparing the Consciousness for the Time of Death
The true test of one's lifelong spiritual practice arrives at the final moment of life in the material body. Whatever the mind is absorbed in at the time of death dictates the soul's next destination. Therefore, Śrīla Prabhupāda heavily stressed that the ultimate purpose of training the mind during one's healthy years is to guarantee that it will automatically lock onto Kṛṣṇa's form and service during the final, critical transition, ensuring complete liberation.
- 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 death we have to become competent in Krsna consciousness. What is that competency? Always, twenty-four hours, thinking of Krsna. That's all. This is competence.
- If we are practiced to think of Krsna always, naturally, at the time of death, at the time of end of this body, if we are so fortunate to think of Krsna, His form, then we become materially free, no more this material body.
- If you think of Krsna, how to serve Him, that is your perfection of life. Because you'll think at the time of death of Krsna.
Conclusion
The profound instructions compiled in this article clearly establish that Kṛṣṇa consciousness is an immersive, total way of life. By training his disciples to weave the remembrance of the Lord into every waking activity—whether it be chanting, preaching, cooking, or managing—Śrīla Prabhupāda provided the master key to spiritual success. When a devotee consistently maintains this divine consciousness without interruption, they achieve the highest perfection of yoga and are guaranteed an eternal life of bliss and knowledge.
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 Thinking of Krsna (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.