Prabhupāda Teaches His Disciples How They Should Behave
To elevate the degraded condition of modern human society, the Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement must produce individuals of flawless character. Śrīla Prabhupāda meticulously guided his disciples on exactly how they should think, speak, and act. By training them to be extremely cautious against illusion, highly respectful to their fellow devotees, deeply learned in the Vedic philosophy, and overwhelmingly serious about saving time, he provided the exact blueprint for becoming a perfect, ideal Vaiṣṇava.
Vigilance Against Māyā
The material world is the kingdom of illusion, where danger waits at every step. Śrīla Prabhupāda warned his followers that māyā (the illusory energy) is constantly searching for a loophole to exploit. To survive in such a hostile environment, a disciple must be perpetually vigilant. The only guaranteed method for remaining immune to this epidemic of illusion is to stay constantly absorbed in serving the Supreme Lord without a moment's distraction.
- At every moment we should be doing this or that service for Krishna's transcendental pleasure. If we do not remember this, then Maya is right there to grab us.
- The maya is very strong and as soon as there is opportunity the Maya will come and attack. Therefore every one should be very careful against the attack of Maya.
- We don't want to give any chance for Maya to enter in our business. That should be our motto, and we should be very much vigilant.
- Sometimes our devotees fall down because he has not come to that platform, ever-existing. Therefore the fire extinguished. That is possible, but everyone should be very, very careful that the fire may not be extinguished. Then again maya.
- Any new brahmacaris who come with good faith should be helped. We are living in the Kingdom of Maya, so Maya's influence is very great in the material world. It is just like an epidemic. So one has to become immune very carefully by Krishna consciousness.
Exhibiting Ideal Character
Because the Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement claims to offer the ultimate solution to all the world's problems, the public naturally scrutinizes the behavior of its members. Śrīla Prabhupāda taught that every initiated devotee carries the heavy responsibility of being a perfect ambassador. By exhibiting ideal character, simple living, high thinking, and flawless behavior, the disciples naturally attract innocent people to take up the path of devotion.
- All our members, the members of the Krsna consciousness society, should be ideal. At least people may see that "Here is a class of men - ideal character, ideal behavior, spiritual advanced, and very frugal and very nice."
- Our members of Krishna Consciousness society should be ideal human beings, and if they try to follow the principles, surely they will be the ideal men in the world.
- We are endeavoring to create some ideal men, Krsna conscious men, their character, their behavior, their ideal aim of life. So those who have taken to Krsna consciousness seriously, they should be ideal men.
- Those who are members of this society, they should be ideal. Simply by their association people will become good, very good responsibility. And if they become bad themselves, there is no possibility because we are giving instruction.
- Yes, everyone of us should be ideal to the other so everyone can get impetus to make progress more and more.
Respecting All Vaiṣṇavas
A spiritual society cannot survive if its members are infected by false pride and envy. To maintain a unified and peaceful atmosphere, disciples must strictly follow the Vedic etiquette of interpersonal dealings. Śrīla Prabhupāda instructed that every fellow devotee should be treated respectfully as a master (prabhu), and all women within the society should be honored as mothers. This respectful attitude keeps the mind dhīra (sober) and free from material agitation.
- Every devotee should be ready to take instructions from a superior Vaisnava, and a superior Vaisnava must be ready to help an inferior Vaisnava in all respects.
- We should be very, very careful not to commit any offense at the feet of Vaisnava. Vaisnava does not take any offense. He does not care who is offender, but Krsna takes care. Krsna will never tolerate if a person is Vaisnava aparadha.
- In our society, you are all Godbrothers, Godsisters. Or those who are married, they are like mothers. So you should be very careful. Then you will remain dhira, sober.
- Any god-brother's wife or any unmarried girl in our society should be always treated as mother and sister. Any married woman should be treated as mother.
- Actually, you have only one Spiritual Master, who initiates you, just as you have only one father. But every Vaisnava should be treated as prabhu, master, higher than me, and in this sense, if I learn from him, he may be regarded as guru.
Avoiding Offenses and Mistakes
The path of bhakti is joyful and sublime, but it requires strict adherence to the rules. A careless attitude toward spiritual regulations invites disaster. While the Supreme Lord mercifully forgives accidental slips, willfully committing offenses—especially against the holy name or the spiritual master—creates a massive roadblock on the path of advancement. Devotees are expected to carefully analyze their actions and rectify their mistakes immediately.
- Accidental mistake is not dangerous. Willful mistake is dangerous. That we should be careful. We should be very careful always so that accidental mistakes also may not take place. But if it takes place, it is excused.
- Every student should be very much careful not to commit any offense which will be detrimental to this promotion to the Spiritual Kingdom, and thereby the Spiritual Master has to incarnate again to deliver him.
- If there is still the concept that, "I am this body and anything belonging to this body is mine," then you have to chant very cautiously to make progress. Yes. That's all. These ten kinds of offenses you should be guard against.
- You should be very careful. Don't commit any offense in the dhama. Then one life is sufficient to go back to home, back to Godhead.
- 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.
Becoming Expert Preachers
To effectively spread the mission of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, disciples cannot remain uneducated neophytes. They must become highly expert in defending the philosophy of Kṛṣṇa consciousness. Śrīla Prabhupāda instructed his followers to deeply study the authorized books so they could confidently answer any challenge, defeat atheistic scientists, and establish the supremacy of the Vedic conclusions everywhere they go.
- Following in the footsteps of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, all the preachers engaged in the service of ISKCON should be very expert in putting forward strong arguments and defeating all types of atheists.
- You should all read very carefully Srimad-Bhagavatam and Bhagavad-gita, and you should be able to answer all questions like this, and only in rare cases approach me. But it is important that our students must be able to answer all questions for becoming preachers.
- You should be firmly convinced in your own philosophy, Bhagavad-gita, otherwise you may be misled.
- Without preaching, without understanding philosophy, you cannot keep your strength. Everyone should be thoroughly well-conversed with the philosophy which we are putting... That means you must read thoroughly every day.
- I am very much encouraged to learn that you are bold enough to challenge any nondevotee as you did with that impersonalist yoga student. That should be the temperament of all our preachers.
Seriousness to Finish the Material Business
The human form of life is a fleeting and rare opportunity. A sincere devotee recognizes the extreme urgency of their situation and refuses to waste time on frivolous pursuits. Śrīla Prabhupāda constantly reminded his disciples to strictly minimize their eating and sleeping, ensuring that every available second is utilized for spiritual advancement, with the absolute determination to finish their material existence in this very lifetime.
- Advanced life in Krsna Consciousness means one should be always very much anxious to calculate whether every moment of his life has not been utilized in devotional service. This is called feeling of being afraid for misusing time.
- His motto should be: "Why shall I wait for next year? Let me pass in this year." Similarly, we should be very serious: "Why we shall wait for the next life? Let us finish this life and go back to Godhead, Krsna, and dance there."
- We should be very, very careful not to waste the duration of life even by a second. We shall eat less, then we shall sleep also less. Nidrahara-viharakadi: then our sex appetite also will be lessened.
- It is our duty to follow in the footsteps of Dhruva Maharaja, for he was very determined. We should also be determined to finish our duties in executing devotional service in this life; we should not wait for another life to finish our job.
- Those who are coming to the touch of Krsna consciousness and initiated to execute, they should be very determined that "In this life we shall make a solution. No more. No more coming again." That should be our determination.
Conclusion
By carefully prescribing exactly how his disciples should behave, Śrīla Prabhupāda provided a foolproof shield against the degrading forces of the material world. When a devotee fully adopts the character of a true Vaiṣṇava—remaining humble, perfectly obedient, strictly regulated, and fiercely dedicated to preaching—they become a beacon of light in the darkness of Kali-yuga. It is this supreme standard of serious, joyful dedication that guarantees their swift return to the spiritual kingdom.
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 Should Be (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.