Prabhupāda Instructs His Disciples to Constantly Increase Their Service
In the material world, every endeavor eventually leads to fatigue and exhaustion. However, the path of Kṛṣṇa consciousness is entirely different. Śrīla Prabhupāda taught his disciples that spiritual life is defined by its dynamic, ever-expanding nature. By continually increasing their preaching efforts, book distribution, and personal devotion, his followers tap into an unlimited reservoir of transcendental enthusiasm, proving that true service to the Supreme Lord knows no boundaries.
The Principle of Ever-Increasing Service
The Supreme Lord is infinite, and therefore, the opportunities to serve Him are equally boundless. Śrīla Prabhupāda heavily discouraged any mentality of closing centers, slowing down, or becoming complacent. He instilled in his disciples the philosophy of ānandāmbudhi-vardhanam—the ever-increasing ocean of spiritual bliss—reminding them that maintaining the status quo is never enough; the goal is always to expand.
- This is our philosophy; anandambuddhi vardhanam. It means to expand or to increase.
- Krsna Consciousness means always increasing, so I am glad to see that you are remaining enthusiastic to push on this Krsna Consciousness movement more and more.
- I am glad to learn that now you wish to increase your service still further. Krsna is unlimited, and His devotees' service should also be unlimited.
- Our propaganda is opening temples, and you are closing them. We are not for closing but for increasing. I do not approve of this. If possible the Edinburgh temple must be re-opened again.
Increasing Book Distribution and Preaching
The distribution of transcendental literature is the driving force behind the entire Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement. To successfully counteract the degrading influence of the modern age, devotees must relentlessly distribute books to the public. Śrīla Prabhupāda constantly pushed his leaders and students to break their previous records, assuring them that increasing book sales would sanctify and empower all their other preaching activities.
- I especially appreciate your attitude toward increasing more and more the sales of our books, that will sanctify all other activities of preaching because preaching means selling books.
- Thank you for distributing my books so enthusiastically. Please increase this book distribution as much as possible.
- The more you increase your strength in preaching, the more you will go on selling books. I want especially that my books be distributed widely.
- Your book distribution program is very much encouraging to me. The more such literatures are read and distributed, the more auspicity will be there in the world. Please continue this program with ever-increasing enthusiasm.
Increasing Love and Attachment for Kṛṣṇa
Philosophical knowledge and organizational skills are important, but they are secondary to the ultimate goal of life: developing pure love of Godhead. Because the Supreme Lord is inconceivable, trying to fully understand Him through mental speculation is a waste of time. Instead, disciples are advised to simply focus their energy on increasing their unalloyed affection for Kṛṣṇa, which naturally frees them from the grip of māyā.
- Krsna consciousness means we have to increase our attachment for Krsna to the perfectional stage, when there is no more order, but automatically.
- Krsna is explaining Himself in the Bhagavad-gita so much. Don't bother very much to know Krsna. That is not possible. Simply increase your unalloyed love for Krsna. That is perfection of life.
- We have to increase our love for Krsna; therefore this worship, temple worship. If you always be engaged in Krsna's service, naturally you develop love for Krsna. That is wanted.
- If we increase our love for Krishna we shall be able to get out of this maya. People who are not exerting to improve Krishna Consciousness are simply wasting their valuable time and human life.
Increasing Daily Spiritual Practices
A solid spiritual foundation is built upon consistent daily practice. Rather than becoming lax or settling for the minimum requirements, sincere devotees actively look for ways to enhance their devotional routines. Śrīla Prabhupāda encouraged his followers to constantly increase their taste for chanting, improve the standard of Deity worship, and focus deeply on elevating the overall spiritual content of their lives.
- It is very good news for me (Prabhupada) that you are regularly chanting your 16 rounds; try to increase the rounds, but don't decrease.
- So we should not imitate, but at least we must be very careful to complete the sixteen rounds, the minimum. Nama-gane sada rucih. We have to increase our taste for singing and chanting.
- Please continue to increase the deity worship and teach others to become a very good pujari like you. When I see my disciples doing deity worship nicely that engladdens me.
- Go on with your work, and other instructions will follow. Simply become more concerned with increasing the spiritual content of our lives, and in this way all other problems like management will be easily solved.
Increasing the Number of Devotees
The disciplic succession thrives on the active recruitment and training of new souls. A true preacher is goṣṭhy-ānandī—one who derives transcendental pleasure not just from solitary worship, but from actively bringing others to the lotus feet of the Lord. By strengthening the existing members and enthusiastically preaching to the public, disciples successfully increase the size of Kṛṣṇa's worldwide family.
- The Krsna consciousness movement is an attempt to increase the number of pure devotees of the Supreme Lord more and more.
- My Guru Maharaja, Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura, he was gosthyanandi. He wanted to increase the number of devotees. And the more you increase the number of devotees, the more you become very much recognized by Krsna.
- Preaching work means increasing the number of our family members. Krsna is our head man in the family.
- Yes, that is the right idea, to strengthen whatever devotees we have got in spiritual life, fix them beyond any doubts. Then our potency will increase and we may recruit dozens of new devotees easily.
Decreasing Material Necessities
As one's spiritual life increases, material desires must proportionately decrease. Modern civilization constantly invents artificial needs that entangle the living entity in the cycle of karma. Śrīla Prabhupāda trained his disciples in the science of vairāgya-vidyā (the art of detachment), teaching them that by focusing their energy on increasing their Kṛṣṇa consciousness, the heavy burdens of lust, anger, and unnecessary luxury naturally fade away.
- Our life is simple. We don't want luxury. We don't want luxury, but as we are accustomed in so many ways, as far as possible. But life should be very simple. To increase unnecessary things unnecessarily, that is material life.
- In the name of civilization, we have increased so many unwanted things, unnecessarily. This is called anartha.
- Krsna consciousness movement is how to increase detachment for this material life. Therefore it is called vairagya-vidya.
- The more you increase your Krishna Consciousness, the more these things such as lust, anger and greed, will automatically decrease.
Conclusion
The Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement is a living, breathing entity that demands constant growth. By firmly instructing his disciples to never settle for the bare minimum, Śrīla Prabhupāda ensured the global mission would remain vibrant and pure. When a devotee embraces the principle of constantly increasing their service, their preaching, and their devotion, they secure the ultimate victory over material illusion and bring endless satisfaction to the Supreme Lord.
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 Increasing (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.