Prabhupāda Warns His Disciples That Internal Politics Will Ruin the Spiritual Society
Maintaining absolute purity within a spiritual institution requires a strict rejection of all mundane diplomacy and power struggles. Śrīla Prabhupāda enforces a zero-tolerance policy for internal politics, defining it simply as planning for one's own happiness. He warns his disciples that introducing such plotting will absolutely ruin the movement, just as it fractured previous organizations. While he occasionally encouraged his followers to engage in the public political arena solely to present sinless leadership and reform human society, he generally advised them not to waste time on mundane agitations. Internally, he strictly forbade democratic power politics, secret meetings, and selfish plotting, training his disciples to cooperate, remain pure, and focus entirely on their devotional duties rather than fighting for prestige.
The Destructive Nature of Politics
Introducing diplomacy into a spiritual society is a guaranteed formula for destruction. Śrīla Prabhupāda warns that as soon as politics enters the campus, the entire mission is spoiled, citing the tragic example of how such plotting fractured his own godbrothers' institution. He emphatically states that he has absolutely nothing to do with politics, promising to leave if such nasty diplomacy is ever found in his work.
- We have nothing to do with politics.
- As soon as politics come, everything is spoiled. In the Gaudiya Math the politics is still going on.
- Don't bring politics; then it will be ruined.
- They have nothing to do with politics. And if they found any politics, they can hang me. I shall go.
Rejecting Diplomacy and Power Struggles
Spiritual leadership is based on purity, not democratic power struggles or secret factional meetings. Defining politics as simply planning for one's own happiness, Śrīla Prabhupāda demands that all such selfish plotting and diplomacy be completely eradicated from the society. He insists that any differences among disciples must be discussed openly, reminding them that they are Vaiṣṇava devotees and not mundane politicians.
- Democracy in spiritual affairs is not at all good but breeds power politics. We should be careful about power politics. Our only aim should be that each and every devotee is full dedicated to Krsna, then things will go on nicely.
- Politics means planning for one's own happiness. That is politics. So in our society there should be no diplomacy, no politics.
- If they have objection they must lodge it with their GBC, and differences must be discussed openly amongst ourselves, not secret meetings. We are Vaisnava devotees, not politicians.
- We are Vaisnava devotees, not politicians. So these things must be stopped, plotting. Your merit stands far above theirs, you have done some tangible work to please me by spreading this Krishna Consciousness message in New Orleans, that is the test.
Focusing on Pure Devotional Duty
The only effective remedy for institutional fighting is to remain absorbed in pure devotional service. Acknowledging that politics naturally arise whenever many people gather to manage affairs, Śrīla Prabhupāda instructs his followers to simply ignore the plotting and faithfully execute their prescribed duties. By remaining uninvolved in diplomacy and concentrating on local preaching and deity worship, a disciple's purity remains completely protected from illusion.
- If you remain pure by following the instructions of your Spiritual Master there is no chance for maya to enter into the program. So I do not think you will find any more these politics at our Boston center or elsewhere.
- You report that Bhagaji is tired of dealing with the politics of ISKCON. Of course as soon as there are a number of men dealing, there are politics, but we still have to execute our duty.
- Your comment is well taken that you have little or no knowledge of the politics. So you remain uninvolved and just continue to simply follow the authorities and concentrate on improving the Deity worship.
- You are right that politics should be avoided. In my personal life I did not participate in the political diplomacy of my god-brothers. I was simply thinking how to fulfill the order of my guru maharaj.
Resolving Internal Conflicts
Whenever disputes break out in the temple, devotees must carefully examine their own behavior to ensure they are not reviving old, materialistic habits of fighting. Śrīla Prabhupāda refuses to blindly take sides in local arguments, noting that the complaining party might actually be the one making politics. He continually urges his followers to cooperate nicely with one another, as maintaining unity is far more important than winning a factional dispute.
- At the present moment in our ISKCON campus politics and diplomacy has entered. Some of my beloved students on whom I counted very, very much have been involved in this matter influenced by Maya.
- How I can judge from here? It may be you who are fighting and making politics, it may be you who is wrong. It is up to the President to judge.
- You mention there is fighting and making politics in the temple. But that is your previous qualification. That means you could not give up your qualification. You or anyone. So you should be careful not to revive your old qualifications.
- You all should co-operate and then things will go on very nicely. We should not bring in politics. That is a very nasty thing.
Engaging in Public Politics
Although internal diplomacy is strictly forbidden, disciples are sometimes encouraged to enter the public political arena if it directly helps spread spiritual principles. Śrīla Prabhupāda enthusiastically supports candidates who campaign to establish an ideal, sinless class of human leadership, but he advises against wasting time on mundane agitations like anti-abortion protests. If a political program yields no real spiritual benefit, he explicitly instructs his followers to stop it and return to their standard devotional duties.
- Certainly we are opposed to abortion, and we can advise that it is not good, but do not take an active part in this political agitation against abortion. We are not much concerned in that way, so do not waste time approaching politicians.
- They have taken you as a serious candidate and according to your statement, you feel you may even win. So I am very much encouraged by this political field in America.
- You should make political propagation on the basis of reforming the whole human society. The leaders must be an ideal class of men, with ideal character, free from the four sinful activities.
- You may stop the political program. It will not benefit our real spiritual position.
Conclusion
By identifying politics as the pursuit of personal happiness and power, Śrīla Prabhupāda draws a clear line between material calculation and pure spiritual service. He protects his disciples from the devastating effects of factionalism by demanding open cooperation, strict adherence to duty, and the complete rejection of secret meetings and diplomacy. By keeping their attention fixed on their preaching activities and deity worship, the followers avoid the nasty pitfalls that have historically ruined other institutions. Under the strict and uncompromising guidance of Śrīla Prabhupāda, the disciples learn that true success in the Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement depends entirely on purity, unity, and an absolute absence of politics.
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 Politics (Disciples of SP). We invite you to visit this link to study the complete compilation and experience the teachings in their direct, verbatim form.