View source for I Say - Prabhupāda's Uncompromising Voice of Truth

When Śrīla Prabhupāda spoke the words, "I say," it was not an expression of personal ego or mental speculation. In the modern world, philosophers, scientists, and politicians constantly say things based on their own flawed research and shifting opinions. Śrīla Prabhupāda, however, spoke from an entirely different platform. As a pure representative of the disciplic succession (''paramparā''), his "I say" was synonymous with "Kṛṣṇa says." Through this phrase, we hear the voice of a fearless truth-teller who refused to flatter a materialistic society, a genuine ''guru'' who rejected cheap magic and secret ''mantras,'' and a humble servant who attributed his worldwide success entirely to the fact that he never adulterated the message of his spiritual master. 

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=== The Magic of No Adulteration ===

People were constantly amazed by how rapidly the Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement spread across the globe. When praised for this wonderful feat, Śrīla Prabhupāda consistently deflected the credit, stating that his only "magic" was presenting the Absolute Truth exactly as it was given to him.

* [[Vaniquotes:Everyone says: "Swamiji, you have done wonderful thing." But I say: "I do not know any magic, jugglery. But wonderful thing is that I have not adulterated." That is wonderful|Everyone says: "Swamiji, you have done wonderful thing." But I say: "I do not know any magic, jugglery. But wonderful thing is that I have not adulterated." That is wonderful.]]
* [[Vaniquotes:I do not know what wonderful. I do not know any magic. I simply say that you accept Krsna or Bhagavad-gita as it is. That's all. That is my magic|I do not know what wonderful. I do not know any magic. I simply say that you accept Krsna or Bhagavad-gita as it is. That's all. That is my magic.]]
* [[Vaniquotes:People say so much about me, that I have done some wonderful thing. But I say that I am not a magician. I'm not a magician. My only credit is that I am presenting Krsna as He is. That's all. I am not diluting Krsna. That is not my business|People say so much about me, that I have done some wonderful thing. But I say that I am not a magician. I'm not a magician. My only credit is that I am presenting Krsna as He is. That's all. I am not diluting Krsna. That is not my business.]]
* [[Vaniquotes:That is our process. What Krsna has said, we say, that's all. Therefore there is little success. I don't manufacture. I have no extraordinary power or I cannot show magic or jugglery of words. But I do sincerely, to present what Krsna has said|That is our process. What Krsna has said, we say, that's all. Therefore there is little success. I don't manufacture. I have no extraordinary power or I cannot show magic or jugglery of words. But I do sincerely, to present what Krsna has said.]]

=== Fearless and Frank Preaching ===

Śrīla Prabhupāda did not come to the West to be popular; he came to deliver conditioned souls. He knew that the truth of spiritual life directly contradicted the modern, bodily concept of life. He fearlessly called out the illusions of society, even when he knew his words might be hard to swallow.

* [[Vaniquotes:Actually this Krsna consciousness movement is a process of making this animal society into human civilization. At the present moment especially, all animals. I take them as animals. Therefore I say so boldly. I care for them|Actually this Krsna consciousness movement is a process of making this animal society into human civilization. At the present moment especially, all animals. I take them as animals. Therefore I say so boldly. I care for them.]]
* [[Vaniquotes:It is not rejecting; it is reforming. The Catholic religion also teaches love of God, or love of Christ. So if I say the truth, it will not be very palatable, but this movement is reformation|It is not rejecting; it is reforming. The Catholic religion also teaches love of God, or love of Christ. So if I say the truth, it will not be very palatable, but this movement is reformation.]]
* [[Vaniquotes:I say this frankly - everyone may read it - that any society where there are no spiritual persons or Krsna consciousness is a rascal society, because it has no head|I say this frankly - everyone may read it - that any society where there are no spiritual persons or Krsna consciousness is a rascal society, because it has no head.]]
* [[Vaniquotes:As soon as we see that he is not a devotee of Krsna, then he's a rascal. How do we say? He is not my enemy, but we have to say because it is stated by Krsna|As soon as we see that he is not a devotee of Krsna, then he's a rascal. How do we say? He is not my enemy, but we have to say because it is stated by Krsna.]]

=== Rejecting Cheap Gurus and Secret Mantras ===

In contrast to the many so-called ''swamis'' and ''yogis'' who came to the West to charge money for secret ''mantras'' or promise easy liberation without austerities, Śrīla Prabhupāda was completely transparent and strictly demanded that his students give up sinful habits.

* [[Vaniquotes:It is not difficult (chanting Hare Krsna). There is no secret. I don't say that, "I have got a secret mantra which I shall give you, and you pay me fifty dollars" or like that. It is open secret|It is not difficult (chanting Hare Krsna). There is no secret. I don't say that, "I have got a secret mantra which I shall give you, and you pay me fifty dollars" or like that. It is open secret.]]
* [[Vaniquotes:I don't take cheap students, that "You can do whatever you like, and you pay me some money. I give you some mantra, and you become God." I don't say like that. I don't bluff like that. I have not come to earn money from your country|I don't take cheap students, that "You can do whatever you like, and you pay me some money. I give you some mantra, and you become God." I don't say like that. I don't bluff like that. I have not come to earn money from your country.]]
* [[Vaniquotes:I have not given them any bribe. I have not shown them any magic of gold manufacturing. From the very beginning I said: "You chant Hare Krsna." But that is becoming fruitful|I have not given them any bribe. I have not shown them any magic of gold manufacturing. From the very beginning I said: "You chant Hare Krsna." But that is becoming fruitful.]]
* [[Vaniquotes:I say that you cannot take meat, you cannot smoke. So all my students, they were accustomed to this habit, but by my order they have restrained|I say that you cannot take meat, you cannot smoke. So all my students, they were accustomed to this habit, but by my order they have restrained.]]

=== A Universal Science, Not a Sectarian Religion ===

Śrīla Prabhupāda constantly battled the misconception that Kṛṣṇa consciousness was just another "Hindu" sect. He used "I say" to clarify that he was teaching the universal, scientific reality of the soul's eternal relationship with the Supreme Lord, applicable to people of all faiths.

* [[Vaniquotes:If you have God, you chant the holy name of that God. I don't say that You chant the holy name of my God. You chant the holy name of your God. God is one. Just like water. Somebody says water, somebody says pani, somebody says jala, but the end is water|If you have God, you chant the holy name of that God. I don't say that You chant the holy name of my God. You chant the holy name of your God. God is one. Just like water. Somebody says water, somebody says pani, somebody says jala, but the end is water.]]
* [[Vaniquotes:I repeatedly say that this (KCM) is not a religious cult, that we want to supersede another type of religion. That is not our business. Our aim is to make all people happy. Sarve sukhino bhavantu. This is the Vedic mission. Everyone should be happy|I repeatedly say that this (Krishna conciousness movement) is not a religious cult, that we want to supersede another type of religion. That is not our business. Our aim is to make all people happy. Sarve sukhino bhavantu. This is the Vedic mission. Everyone should be happy.]]
* [[Vaniquotes:Don't bring in any religion. A type of religion is made, "Believe something blindly." So that is not our concern. We are talking of the science. If I say that stone is also Krsna, is not that the science?|Don't bring in any religion. A type of religion is made, "Believe something blindly." So that is not our concern. We are talking of the science. If I say that stone is also Krsna, is not that the science?]]
* [[Vaniquotes:I say, "Please obey God. Please try to love God." That is my mission. And I give the way how to love God very easily. How to love, provided you agree|I say, "Please obey God. Please try to love God." That is my mission. And I give the way how to love God very easily. How to love, provided you agree.]]

=== The Instrument of the Paramparā ===

Ultimately, Śrīla Prabhupāda's "I say" was a reflection of his absolute surrender to his spiritual master, Śrīla Bhaktisiddhānta Sarasvatī Ṭhākura. He viewed himself merely as a transparent instrument carrying a perfect message.

* [[Vaniquotes:I (Prabhupada) am not saying anything which is not given by my Guru Maharaja. I am simply repeating what I have learned from him. So you please do the same and your life will be full of ananda - blissful happiness|I am not saying anything which is not given by my Guru Maharaja. I am simply repeating what I have learned from him. So you please do the same and your life will be full of ananda - blissful happiness.]]
* [[Vaniquotes:I say I am foolish man. I have no idea. Whatever Krsna says, that is idea. Just like a child|I say I am foolish man. I have no idea. Whatever Krsna says, that is idea. Just like a child.]]
* [[Vaniquotes:I am not speaking my own views. I have got my acaryas, my teachers, Ramanujacarya, Sankaracarya, Madhvacarya. So it is all right. It is all right. I have got so many authorities. What authority you have got?|I am not speaking my own views. I have got my acaryas, my teachers, Ramanujacarya, Sankaracarya, Madhvacarya. So it is all right. It is all right. I have got so many authorities. What authority you have got?]]
* [[Vaniquotes:I say that because my Guru Maharaja appointed me for that purpose|I say that because my Guru Maharaja appointed me for that purpose.]]

=== Conclusion ===

When Śrīla Prabhupāda says something, it is not ordinary sound vibration; it is the descent of the Absolute Truth through the chain of disciplic succession. His bold declarations cut through our material illusions, his refusal to compromise protects us from spiritual cheating, and his deep humility teaches us the actual meaning of surrender. By hearing what Śrīla Prabhupāda says and strictly applying it to our lives, we bypass the flawed, relative knowledge of this world and connect directly with the eternal wisdom of the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

=== Dive Deeper into Prabhupāda's Vani ===

Śrīla Prabhupāda lives eternally within his instructions. This article is a loving summary of the profound truths found in the Vaniquotes category [[Vaniquotes:Category:I Say (Prabhupada)|I Say (Prabhupada)]]. We enthusiastically invite you to visit this link to study the complete compilation, immerse yourself in his mercy, and experience Śrīla Prabhupāda's teachings in their direct, verbatim form.

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