Trying My Best - Prabhupāda Executing Order of His Spiritual Master
In this profound collection of instructions, we are given an intimate glimpse into the very heart of Śrīla Prabhupāda. Although he single-handedly spread Kṛṣṇa consciousness across the globe, establishing temples, publishing libraries of transcendental literature, and initiating thousands of disciples, he never claimed personal credit. Instead, he constantly presented himself as a humble servant whose only qualification was that he was "trying his best" to execute the sacred order of his spiritual master. This deep mood of dependence on Śrīla Bhaktisiddhānta Sarasvatī Ṭhākura reveals the essence of the paramparā system. By his own pure example, Śrīla Prabhupāda shows us that spiritual success does not depend on mundane scholarship or worldly abilities, but rather on sincere, earnest endeavor. He affectionately invites all of us to adopt this same mood, assuring us that if we simply try our level best to push forward this movement, we will surely attract the mercy of the Lord.
The Only Qualification
Śrīla Prabhupāda teaches us that the path of devotional service does not require extraordinary material qualifications. His own profound success was simply the result of his unwavering determination to try his best, relying completely on the mercy of his spiritual master.
- I am not qualified, but only qualification is that I tried to do the best, that's all. That much qualification. I had faith in their program, and I thought, "I shall try my best, whatever capacity I have got." That's all.
- I tried my best, because my spiritual master said that "You go and try to preach in English." So I tried my best, that's all. I have no qualification. So this is very nice point, yasya prasadat.
- I am lower than you. I am the lowest of the all creatures. I am simply trying to execute the order of my spiritual master. That's all. That should be the business of everyone. Try best. Try your best to execute the higher order.
- I am praying to my spiritual master to give me strength to finish this work. I am neither a great scholar nor a great devotee; I am simply a humble servant of him, and to the best of my ability I am trying to please him by publishing these books.
The Order of the Spiritual Master
The lifeblood of a sincere disciple is the instruction received from his spiritual master. Śrīla Prabhupāda crossed oceans and endured immense hardships solely to fulfill the holy desire of Śrīla Bhaktisiddhānta Sarasvatī Ṭhākura to preach the message of Lord Caitanya in the Western world.
- As a bona fide disciple of Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati, and because I am trying my best to fulfill His holy desire in the matter of preaching work in this part of the world, I have got the right to ask from you a plot of land for this purpose.
- I was translating Bhagavatam, and when three books were published, I prepared myself to go to America, singlehanded. Not for getting any material reputation, but simply to try, because I knew my Guru Maharaja was very, very anxious to preach this cult.
- There are many sincere souls like you in the western world and my Guru Maharaja wanted me to come here and to pick up as many of you as is possible. And I am trying my best.
- I came here with a service position, that I must give some service to my Guru Maharaja, not that I thought of success. But the spirit was that Guru Maharaja told me I must do something, whatever I can. It may be failure; it may be success - let me try.
Distributing Transcendental Knowledge
The unprecedented distribution of Vedic literature was the direct manifestation of Śrīla Prabhupāda trying to please his guru. He presents the teachings of the paramparā purely and without alteration, offering humanity the greatest philosophy of life through his massive translation work.
- Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura wanted to print as many books as possible and distribute them all over the world. We have tried our best in this connection, and we are getting results beyond our expectations.
- My Guru Maharaja wanted that some books should be published. So I tried my best, and he's giving success more than expectation. In the history nobody has sold religion, philosophical books in such large quantity.
- The words are ambrosial because they are not my personal words, they are instructions of my predecessors and I am just trying to administer them to my best knowledge. That is the way of Parampara system.
- So we are trying our bit to understand Krsna and to make others to understand Krsna. And therefore we have published about eighty-two books, big books and small books. So we request that you either accept Krsna without any hesitation.
Inviting Others to the Same Mood
Just as he faithfully served his spiritual master, Śrīla Prabhupāda lovingly invites all sincere souls to join him in this grand mission. He assures us that if we simply cooperate and try our level best on the same principles, we will experience spiritual success and make the whole world happy.
- By disciplic succession, Bhaktivinoda Thakura, then my spiritual master. Then we are trying our level best. Similarly, you will also try your level best on the same principle. Then it will go on.
- We are trying to the best of our ability to introduce the Krishna consciousness movement directly into the countries of the yavanas and mlecchas. Such yavanas and mlecchas are coming to us and becoming purified Vaisnavas who follow in the footsteps of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu.
- Everywhere it is difficult because people have become godless. Still, we have to try our best. The task is difficult, undoubtedly. It is very difficult task, to bring back people to God consciousness.
- It is my ambition, as foretold by Lord Caitanya, that the people of the world will be happy under the banner of Krishna Consciousness, and let us try our best for this greatest philosophy of life.
Conclusion
Śrīla Prabhupāda’s profound success in spreading Kṛṣṇa consciousness was rooted entirely in his unalloyed devotion to the order of his spiritual master. By continually identifying himself as a humble servant whose only merit was his sincere endeavor, he perfectly embodied the mood of the paramparā. His teachings remind us that we do not have to be materially qualified or highly capable; we simply need to have deep faith and try our level best. When we earnestly endeavor to serve Śrīla Prabhupāda and Kṛṣṇa, the Lord supplies the necessary intelligence and empowerment to ensure ultimate spiritual victory.
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 Trying My Best (Prabhupada). We invite you to visit this link to study the complete compilation and experience Śrīla Prabhupāda's teachings in their direct, verbatim form.