Prabhupāda Teaches His Disciples That He Has Given Them the Complete Formula
Navigating the material world requires flawless spiritual direction, and assuring his followers that they possess this perfect guidance is a foundational lesson Śrīla Prabhupāda imparts. He makes it unequivocally clear that through his books and personal instructions, he has already given his disciples the complete formula needed to conquer material illusion. By simply executing these given instructions with strict fidelity and avoiding the urge to manufacture new ideas, his followers are guaranteed absolute success in both their personal realization and their worldwide preaching efforts.
The Complete Formula for Perfection
Conditioned souls often feel anxious that they might be missing some hidden spiritual secret. To alleviate this doubt, confirming that the entire science of God realization is already available to them is the reassuring approach Śrīla Prabhupāda takes. He explains that his disciples have been given everything they need to answer any philosophical question and achieve the highest perfection, simply by reading his books and strictly following his guidance.
- Because I have now given you everything you are able to answer all such questions from what you know, and if there is any difficulty you may consult my books, or you may write me if necessary.
- I have given you everything, so read and speak from the books and so many new lights will come out.
- I have given you all the guidance and hints and it is described in all my books. Now it is up to you. Please keep our principles firmly and everything will come out successful.
- I have given them everything, so they shall be able to answer all questions, and if they cannot answer from their experience, then I have given answer in my books.
- You cannot accuse me that I have not given you anything.
No Need for New Additions
The modern mind is conditioned to constantly seek out new inventions and novel ideas. Protecting his society from this destructive tendency, strictly forbidding any alteration to the authorized process is a hard line Śrīla Prabhupāda draws. He instructs his disciples that the Vedic path is eternal and perfect, meaning that attempting to innovate, manufacture artificial methods, or change the established standards will only ruin the movement.
- Don't try to manufacture some artificial process. The process I have already given. Now you simply have to follow it strictly and Krishna will give you all help.
- You manufacture ideas and then I have to waste my time. I have given you everything already, there is no need for you to add anything or change anything.
- The standards I have already given you, now try to maintain them at all times under standard procedure. Do not try to innovate or create anything or manufacture anything, that will ruin everything.
- What Vyasadeva said, your guru will also say the same thing. Not that "So many hundreds of thousands of years have passed away. Therefore I will give you a new formula." No. There is no new formula.
- I have given you the guiding principles; it is not that I must be consulted with every small detail.
Strict Adherence to the Principles
Theoretical knowledge is useless without practical application. To ensure his followers actually achieve the results of spiritual life, demanding strict adherence to the fundamental rules is the uncompromising standard Śrīla Prabhupāda maintains. He reminds them that the formula for pleasing Kṛṣṇa is incredibly straightforward—chanting sixteen rounds, following the four regulative principles, and studying the literature—but it must be executed with absolute sincerity.
- How to please Krishna? - by following all the regulative principle that I have given you, chanting 16 rounds and reading my books scrutinizingly. Everyone must do these things, otherwise they cannot understand Krishna consciousness.
- You must follow the principles that I have given at all times, under all circumstances. Without these four principles, there is no spiritual life. Even it may be very difficult you must follow.
- The main point is simply to execute everything with complete sincerity and enthusiasm, without deviating from the principles that I have given you in my books.
- My instructions I have already given to you, how to chant the beads, and how to protect yourself from the offenses. I shall advise you again to chant always, increasing the counting.
- If you simply stick to this program which I have given you in so many ways, you will come out successful in your mission, of this there is no doubt. So do it very seriously and enthusiastically and receive the blessings of Lord Krsna.
Managing the Spiritual Society
A global organization cannot be maintained by one person alone. Having provided the complete philosophical framework and operational standards, expecting his senior disciples to take over the burden of management is a mature responsibility Śrīla Prabhupāda places upon them. He explicitly delegates administrative duties to the Governing Body Commission, explaining that his primary duty is to translate books, and they must use the intelligence he has given them to run the society.
- Take over from me management of ISKCON affairs and work combinedly to open as many centers as possible all over the world. If you simply carry out the instructions which I have given you Krsna will reward you with all success.
- Now the factual administration will depend on the Governing Body Commission and the sannyasis are entrusted for making propaganda work. I wish to remain on the background to give you some directions.
- I have invested the GBC for maintaining the standard of our Krsna consciousness society, so keep the GBC very vigilant. I have already given you full directions in my books. Please counteract this contamination which has been spread throughout our society.
- I have given you a department to manage nicely, and if there is some profit, you may give some for my book fund, but I cannot be consulted for advice in how you should manage the particulars of your business.
- How things should be done I have given you suggestion, but it is not possible for me to divert my attention. Then my real work will suffer.
Preaching with Conviction
Transforming the hearts of others requires absolute conviction in the message being delivered. To ensure his followers become powerful preachers, establishing that their strength comes solely from following his instructions is the secret Śrīla Prabhupāda reveals. He assures his disciples that if they simply apply their intelligence to preach exactly what he has given them, without any deviation, the Lord will personally send sincere souls to join the movement.
- I am getting to be an old man. I have given you the formula how to preach; you are young boys and girls, our future hope. Now you follow the principles, apply your intelligence, and everything will come out successful by the Grace of our Lord Krishna.
- I request you to seriously become convinced of this Krishna consciousness movement as you are understanding it and by strictly following the rules I have given you, you will get strength to convince others nicely.
- This activity of preaching, along with your daily program as you have given me, that will be sufficient to bring you to the platform of perfection in spiritual life in very short time.
- If you simply execute with full faith the instructions that I have already given you, then you will see so many people will be sent by Krsna to become devotees because of your sincerity.
- As you have pleased me, you should take it that you have pleased Krsna, the Supreme Personality of Godhead. It is for this I have given you sannyāsa, to be prepared to go anywhere on my order and preach sincerely and purely without any other consideration.
Passing on the Legacy
The mission of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu spans across generations, extending far beyond the lifespan of any single individual. Preparing his disciples to carry the torch forward, firmly handing over the responsibility of the movement is the profound final instruction Śrīla Prabhupāda emphasizes. He passionately pleads with them to take advantage of the immense spiritual wealth he has given them, urging them to maintain the exact standard and push the movement forward eternally.
- My advice to you, I am old man. So even I may not return, you shall continue this Krsna consciousness movement. This is eternal and I shall request you to keep the standard as I have already given you the program.
- Now the Krishna consciousness movement is given to you, some selected European and American boys and girls. Please try to maintain it heart and soul with faith in Krishna, and your life will be successful.
- I have given you such valuable things, day and night trying to convince you, each word to word; if you don't take advantage of this, then what can I do for you?
- I have tried to give you all Krsna consciousness, now it is your duty to develop it. If you remain strong on the spiritual platform then your progress will not be checked or blocked.
- My only request to my disciples all over the world on this day is to go on pushing on this movement with determination and sincerity, rigidly following the principles I have given you.
Conclusion
The path back to the spiritual world is beautifully illuminated for those who simply accept authorized guidance. By assuring his followers that they lack absolutely nothing for their spiritual advancement, removing all cause for doubt and speculation is the monumental achievement of Śrīla Prabhupāda. He proves that true spiritual intelligence is not found in creating new philosophies, but in faithfully preserving, practicing, and distributing the perfect formula he has so compassionately given to the world.
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 I Have Given You (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.