View source for I Go - Prabhupāda’s Unstoppable Preaching Tour

When we examine the letters, lectures, and conversations of Śrīla Prabhupāda, his use of the phrase "I go" reveals the mindset of a perfect ''parivrājakācārya''—a traveling mendicant completely dedicated to the salvation of the conditioned souls. In standard Vedic culture, a man in his late seventies is expected to remain peacefully in a holy place like Vṛndāvana. Yet, Śrīla Prabhupāda accepted the immense physical burden of circling the globe simply because he was explicitly ordered to do so by his spiritual master. His travel schedule was relentless; he moved from city to city, checking on his disciples, inspecting temple properties, and confronting atheistic philosophies. However, despite this whirlwind of activity, his internal life remained perfectly undisturbed. He noted that wherever he went, he brought his books, his Deities, and his absolute absorption in Kṛṣṇa, ensuring that his translation work never stopped. By exploring where Śrīla Prabhupāda chose to go, and why he went there, we witness the unparalleled compassion and determination that built a worldwide spiritual movement in just over a decade.

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=== Traveling Under the Order of the Paramparā ===

Śrīla Prabhupāda did not journey to the West for business, tourism, or personal ambition. He frequently explained that at an age when most saintly persons retire to Vṛndāvana, he boarded a cargo ship to New York for one reason only: the direct order of Bhaktisiddhānta Sarasvatī Ṭhākura. He understood that New York was the most influential city in the world, and by planting the seed of Kṛṣṇa consciousness there, the entire globe could benefit.

* [[Vaniquotes:My Guru Maharaja ordered me that "You go and preach this philosophy to the Western world." So under his order I came, and I presented Bhagavad-gita As It Is, as you have read|My Guru Maharaja ordered me that "You go and preach this philosophy to the Western world." So under his order I came, and I presented Bhagavad-gita As It Is, as you have read.]]
* [[Vaniquotes:At the age of seventy years, nobody goes out. At least from Vrndavana nobody goes at the age of seventy years. But Krsna asked me. I thought that I must go, Guru Maharaja wanted it, Caitanya Mahaprabhu... Let me try|At the age of seventy years, nobody goes out. At least from Vrndavana nobody goes at the age of seventy years. But Krsna asked me. I thought that I must go, Guru Maharaja wanted it, Caitanya Mahaprabhu... Let me try.]]
* [[Vaniquotes:From the very beginning I went to New York because I thought that Krishna Consciousness is the most important idea in the world, so let me go to that place, New York, which is the most important city in the world|From the very beginning I went to New York because I thought that Krishna Consciousness is the most important idea in the world, so let me go to that place, New York, which is the most important city in the world.]]
* [[Vaniquotes:I told you that in my horoscope it was declared that after seventieth year, I shall go to foreign countries and I shall establish many temples. In my horoscope that is. Now I see it is coming practically|I told you that in my horoscope it was declared that after seventieth year, I shall go to foreign countries and I shall establish many temples. In my horoscope that is. Now I see it is coming practically.]]

=== Constant Encouragement of Disciples ===

Once the movement began to expand, Śrīla Prabhupāda found himself with centers on nearly every continent. In his letters, he often expressed that his primary motivation for traveling was to see these centers develop and to personally encourage his young disciples. Despite his advanced age, he accepted the physical toll of continuous flights and drastic climate changes simply to ensure that the mission would remain strong long after his physical departure.

* [[Vaniquotes:I have established so many centers. So I have to go from one center to another just to encourage them. Otherwise I am old enough. I am eighty years. So traveling is not very good job for me, but still I do it just to encourage them|I have established so many centers. So I have to go from one center to another just to encourage them. Otherwise I am old enough. I am eighty years. So traveling is not very good job for me, but still I do it just to encourage them.]]
* [[Vaniquotes:I am this old age, I cannot move. Still I am traveling all over the world. I am simply interested that whatever I have done, it may not be vanquished in my absence. Let me go and encourage them|I am this old age, I cannot move. Still I am traveling all over the world. I am simply interested that whatever I have done, it may not be vanquished in my absence. Let me go and encourage them.]]
* [[Vaniquotes:In New York I caught a cold and it continued for about one month of coughing at night without any sleep. But still I am travelling. I went from New York to London to Paris to Tehran to Bombay to Hyderabad to here|In New York I caught a cold and it continued for about one month of coughing at night without any sleep. But still I am travelling. I went from New York to London to Paris to Tehran to Bombay to Hyderabad to here.]]
* [[Vaniquotes:I do not mind for the severe cold there, but if you think that my service will be helpful to you, you can call me, I shall go|I do not mind for the severe cold there, but if you think that my service will be helpful to you, you can call me, I shall go.]]

=== Relentless Dedication to Translation Work ===

One of the most miraculous aspects of Śrīla Prabhupāda's schedule was that his book production never slowed down, regardless of where he was. He structured his travel so that he always had his dictaphone and an assistant. While he spent his days managing temples, meeting dignitaries, and preaching, he consistently rose in the very early hours of the morning to continue translating the Vedic literatures. 

* [[Vaniquotes:Traveling is going on throughout the whole world and wherever I go, at night I write books|Traveling is going on throughout the whole world and wherever I go, at night I write books.]]
* [[Vaniquotes:At the present moment I take with me three assistants, so my books writing is going on, so that is not stopped by my travelling. So now I can go on touring and my writing will go on. So if we have got our own bus that will be very nice|At the present moment I take with me three assistants, so my books writing is going on, so that is not stopped by my travelling. So now I can go on touring and my writing will go on. So if we have got our own bus that will be very nice.]]
* [[Vaniquotes:Now Kirtanananda has bought me one bus, so now I am taking with me wherever I go three assistants, so my translating work is not stopped even while traveling|Now Kirtanananda has bought me one bus, so now I am taking with me wherever I go three assistants, so my translating work is not stopped even while traveling.]]
* [[Vaniquotes:I am here, always working, something reading or writing, something reading or writing, twenty-four hours. Simply when I feel hungry, I take some food. And simply when I feel asleep, I go to bed|I am here, always working, something reading or writing, something reading or writing, twenty-four hours. Simply when I feel hungry, I take some food. And simply when I feel asleep, I go to bed.]]

=== Spiritual Stability Amidst Global Movement ===

For an ordinary person, constant travel brings distraction and agitation. For a pure devotee, however, the location makes no difference because the consciousness remains fixed on the Supreme Lord. Śrīla Prabhupāda explained that he was never truly in America, Europe, or Africa; internally, he was always in Vṛndāvana. He demonstrated this by setting up a small Deity room wherever he stayed and strictly maintaining his spiritual ''sādhana'' no matter the time zone.

* [[Vaniquotes:In that sense I'm not in America; I am in Vrndavana because wherever I go in my apartment or in my temple I live with Krsna and Krsna consciousness|In that sense I'm not in America; I am in Vrndavana because wherever I go in my apartment or in my temple I live with Krsna and Krsna consciousness.]]
* [[Vaniquotes:We require so many pictures for our temples which are already present and which will be opened in the future. Immediately upon receipt of your picture, I had it hung right above my Deity room. Wherever I go I convert one closet into my Deity room|We require so many pictures for our temples which are already present and which will be opened in the future. Immediately upon receipt of your picture, I had it hung right above my Deity room. Wherever I go I convert one closet into my Deity room.]]
* [[Vaniquotes:Every morning I go to the temple and see the Deity and offer obeisances, so I expect each and every one of my disciples should also follow what I have given in this connection, arising early, taking bath, attending mangal arati|Every morning I go to the temple and see the Deity and offer obeisances, so I expect each and every one of my disciples should also follow what I have given in this connection, arising early, taking bath, attending mangal arati.]]
* [[Vaniquotes:It is a fact that wherever we go, if we simply let the people hear our chanting and if we repeat what we have heard from the bona fide Spiritual Master, then surely many, many sincere souls will become attracted to our movement|It is a fact that wherever we go, if we simply let the people hear our chanting and if we repeat what we have heard from the bona fide Spiritual Master, then surely many, many sincere souls will become attracted to our movement.]]

=== Conclusion ===

Śrīla Prabhupāda's travels stand as an unprecedented feat in spiritual history. By examining his statements of "I go," we are reminded that he did not travel to see the world, but to save it. Operating purely under the order of his spiritual master, he defied old age, ill health, and physical discomfort to establish a global sanctuary for the conditioned souls. Even while crossing oceans and managing a massive institution, his true residence remained at the lotus feet of Kṛṣṇa, allowing him to produce his translations without interruption. Ultimately, his relentless journeying teaches us that true renunciation is not about sitting silently in a holy place; it is about going wherever it is necessary to deliver the message of ''Bhagavad-gītā'', remaining steady in devotion no matter the external circumstances.

=== 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 [[Vaniquotes:Category:I_Go_(Prabhupada)|I Go (Prabhupāda)]]. We invite you to visit this link to study the complete compilation and experience Śrīla Prabhupāda's teachings in their direct, verbatim form.

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