Prabhupāda Teaches His Disciples the Value of Time in Spiritual Life
Material wealth can be regained if lost, but a single moment of wasted time cannot be bought back with millions of dollars. Śrīla Prabhupāda instilled a profound sense of urgency in his disciples, teaching them that human life is painfully short and meant exclusively for self-realization. He meticulously trained his followers to organize their days so that not a second was lost to idleness, oversleeping, or mundane conversation, ensuring that every breath was utilized to push forward the Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement.
The Danger of Wasting Time
The mind is restless, and an idle mind immediately becomes a playground for the illusory energy, māyā. Śrīla Prabhupāda warned his disciples against gossiping, engaging in unnecessary manufacturing of ideas, or simply wasting time. He explained that spiritual advancement is quickly choked off if a devotee allows their ears to be filled with rubbish talk instead of transcendental vibrations.
- We should be very careful of our time. Time once wasted, you cannot get it back return. Better utilize this time. The best utilization is to chant Hare Krsna or think of Krsna, worship Krsna. That is Krsna consciousness movement.
- Whatever free time you have engage in reading my books. Otherwise, an idle mind is a devil's workshop.
- As soon as you get time, read books, discuss amongst yourselves, partial closing. Don't fill up the ears with rubbish things. Then advance will be choked up.
- When a person is advanced in Krishna Consciousness he should always think that my time may not go in vain without being engaged in Krishna's service.
Twenty-Four-Hour Engagement
Kṛṣṇa consciousness is not a part-time religious hobby executed on the weekends. True spiritual life demands that a devotee be completely absorbed in transcendental service. Śrīla Prabhupāda explained that whether one is a celibate student, a married householder, or a renounced monk, the standard of success is the same: engaging every waking moment in working, eating, dancing, and chanting for Kṛṣṇa.
- 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.
- Those who are pure devotees do not aspire for any concession, and out of spontaneous love try to engage themselves in devotional service 24 hours each day, 365 days every year, without any stoppage.
- Whether grhasthas, sannyasa or brahmacari everyone has to be completely engaged all the time in devotional service. That is the meaning of good management, to see that everyone is engaged 24 hours a day, and not sleeping unnecessarily or talking idly.
- Just for your food work little, and balance time engage yourself in Krsna consciousness. This is ideal life.
Reading and Writing in Spare Time
The foundation of a devotee's strength lies in understanding the philosophy. Whenever disciples had a moment of spare time, Śrīla Prabhupāda instructed them to dive deeply into the Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam and Bhagavad-gītā. Furthermore, he actively encouraged them to write down their realizations, explaining that preaching and writing are essential functions of a Vaiṣṇava that perfectly utilize otherwise idle moments.
- Bhagavata is the only guide. Read Bhagavata, repeatedly whole life. Safe. Always. Always, whenever there is time, read, read, read.
- If we study all these books, to finish them it will take at least twenty-five years. So you are all young men. I request you to engage your time in reading books, in chanting, in Deity worshiping, in going to preach, selling books. Don't be lazy.
- Whenever you find time, you write. Never mind, two lines, four lines, but you write your realization. Sravanam kirtanam, writing or offering prayers, glories. This is one of the function of the Vaisnava. You are hearing, but you have to write also.
- You should all spend more time reading my books very carefully and stop all this unnecessary manufacturing.
The Importance of Regulated Chanting
The absolute minimum requirement for spiritual success is the daily chanting of sixteen rounds of the Hare Kṛṣṇa mahā-mantra. Śrīla Prabhupāda pointed out that this takes only two hours out of twenty-four, leaving no excuse for neglecting the vow in favor of excessive sleep or mundane work. By practicing this focused chanting daily, the devotee ensures that they will naturally remember Kṛṣṇa at the critical moment of death.
- What is the difficulty, sixteen rounds? At most it will take two hours. You have got twenty-four hours. You want to sleep; all right, sleep, ten hours sleep. That is not recommended. Don't sleep more than six hours.
- Chanting sixteen rounds does not take much time, nor is offering respects to the tulasi plant difficult. The process has immense spiritual potency. One should not miss this opportunity.
- If you have got time, if, if you haven't got to do anything else, you can continue, sixteen hundred. It is not mechanical: "Now I have finished sixteen rounds, that's all." Why sixteen rounds? You chant sixteen hundred rounds.
- If you very much affectionate to your dog or something else, you will think at that time. Therefore practice Hare Krsna, so that at the time of death you can think of Krsna and your life is successful.
Practical Time Management in Duties
Time management must be applied practically to one's specific ashram and duties. A temple president must prioritize their time for preaching rather than getting bogged down in endless administration. Similarly, a mother's most valuable use of time is raising her child in full Kṛṣṇa consciousness, and a householder working an outside job is perfectly utilizing their time as long as their efforts are completely dedicated to the Lord.
- A temple president should have more time for preaching. That is important.
- You may assist your husband very nicely by concentrating all your time and efforts in raising your child in full Krsna consciousness.
- I am glad that you have decided to give your time now fully to serving Krsna directly, but do not misunderstand the position of "outside" jobs. Any work performed by a devotee in Krsna consciousness is never work on the material platform although it may appear to be so.
- In my opinion, because you wanted permission of your parents, you should wait at least for such time when your parents will permit you. But if you are strongly desirous, then you can disregard your father's desire and make advancement in Krsna consciousness.
Conclusion
Śrīla Prabhupāda lived the ultimate example of time valuation, working tirelessly day and night to translate the Vedic literatures and manage a global movement. By strictly following his instructions to abandon idle habits, deeply study the books, and execute continuous devotional service, disciples transform their temporary, fleeting lifespan into a permanent, eternal ticket 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 Our Time (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.