View source for Prabhupāda's High Standards for His Followers



Śrīla Prabhupāda looked upon his followers with great hope and affection, seeing in them the potential to revolutionize the world. He did not seek cheap followers or a large number of superficial customers; instead, he desired sincere souls who would take his instructions to heart and become pure representatives of the Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement.

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=== The Potency of a Single Sincere Follower ===

Śrīla Prabhupāda frequently compared a sincere follower to the moon. While thousands of stars cannot light up the night sky, one moon can dissipate the darkness. Similarly, even one person who becomes perfectly Kṛṣṇa conscious can perform tremendous work for the benefit of the entire world.

* [[Vaniquotes:I do not have many followers, but I do have a select few. Because they are select, they will bring about a revolution in the world. One moon is sufficient to dissipate darkness|I do not have many followers, but I do have a select few. Because they are select, they will bring about a revolution in the world. One moon is sufficient to dissipate darkness.]]
* [[Vaniquotes:It is useless to expect a large number of followers. We want only one good follower. If I can get one man to become Krsna conscious, I will consider my mission fulfilled|It is useless to expect a large number of followers. We want only one good follower. If I can get one man to become Krsna conscious, I will consider my mission fulfilled.]]
* [[Vaniquotes:If one disciple is enlivened with Krsna consciousness, he can work as the moon. Otherwise so many foolish followers, what they'll do? Just like stars|If one disciple is enlivened with Krsna consciousness, he can work as the moon. Otherwise so many foolish followers, what they'll do? Just like stars.]]
* [[Vaniquotes:One moon is sufficient. So this KC movement, it is not required that everyone will be follower. That is not possible, because it is very difficult. But still, if one follower, sincere follower is there, it will go on. It will go on. Nobody can stop it|One moon is sufficient. So this Krsna consciousness movement, it is not required that everyone will be follower. That is not possible, because it is very difficult. But still, if one follower, sincere follower is there, it will go on. It will go on. Nobody can stop it.]]

=== Boiling the Milk: The Need for Deep Training ===

Rather than simply increasing the number of people in the movement, Śrīla Prabhupāda wanted to "boil the milk" to make it thick and sweet. This means training his followers intensely in the philosophy and daily activities of Kṛṣṇa consciousness so they become truly effective and stable in their spiritual lives.

* [[Vaniquotes:We may thin the milk till it becomes useless, or we may boil it until it becomes thick and sweet, so now we have got enough followers, let us train them up perfectly in the philosophy and activities of Krsna Consciousness way of life|We may thin the milk till it becomes useless, or we may boil it until it becomes thick and sweet, so now we have got enough followers, let us train them up perfectly in the philosophy and activities of Krsna Consciousness way of life.]]
* [[Vaniquotes:Better to develop the small number of devotees we have, make them truly Krishna conscious boys and girls than to go on getting many followers who do not understand and practice the real principles|Better to develop the small number of devotees we have, make them truly Krishna conscious boys and girls than to go on getting many followers who do not understand and practice the real principles.]]
* [[Vaniquotes:Advancement in Krsna consciousness depends on the attitude of the follower. A follower of the Krsna consciousness movement should become a perfect gosvami|Advancement in Krsna consciousness depends on the attitude of the follower. A follower of the Krsna consciousness movement should become a perfect gosvami.]]
* [[Vaniquotes:We don't want these nonsense followers, many thousands. What they will do? But if we can turn one man into Krsna consciousness perfectly, he can do tremendous work in the world|We don't want these nonsense followers, many thousands. What they will do? But if we can turn one man into Krsna consciousness perfectly, he can do tremendous work in the world.]]

=== The Character and Qualifications of a Follower ===

To be a follower of Śrīla Prabhupāda means to accept a life of discipline and purity. Śrīla Prabhupāda emphasized that he built the character of his followers by giving them restrictions and the sublime practice of chanting, transforming them into gentlemen and ladies who talk better than any worldly philosopher.

* [[Vaniquotes:Oh, yes. Certainly. That is the first condition to accept one as my disciple, because there are some restriction. I build up their character. So naturally my followers are very restricted|Oh, yes. Certainly. That is the first condition to accept one as my disciple, because there are some restriction. I build up their character. So naturally my followers are very restricted.]]
* [[Vaniquotes:If you talk to whatever small number of followers I have, you will find that they talk better than any great philosopher, better than any scientist or politician. That is the quality of my students. What's the point in talking nonsense?|If you talk to whatever small number of followers I have, you will find that they talk better than any great philosopher, better than any scientist or politician. That is the quality of my students. What's the point in talking nonsense?]]
* [[Vaniquotes:In our KC movement we are teaching our followers to chant the Hare Krsna mantra continuously on beads. Even those who are not accustomed to this practice are advised to chant at least sixteen rounds on their beads so that they may be trained|In our Krsna consciousness movement we are teaching our followers to chant the Hare Krsna mantra continuously on beads. Even those who are not accustomed to this practice are advised to chant at least sixteen rounds on their beads so that they may be trained.]]
* [[Vaniquotes:We should be very much strictly follower of the Vaisnava principle. Vaisnava's only business is how to deliver these fallen souls. Caitanya Mahaprabhu, He appeared as a Vaisnava. The business is to deliver|We should be very much strictly follower of the Vaisnava principle. Vaisnava's only business is how to deliver these fallen souls. Caitanya Mahaprabhu, He appeared as a Vaisnava. The business is to deliver.]]

=== Following the Ācārya and the Eternal Connection ===

Śrīla Prabhupāda taught that the secret of spiritual success is to follow the instructions of the ''ācārya'' without deviation. By becoming a cent per cent follower, one eventually becomes mature enough to act with authority, and more importantly, one never loses the association of the spiritual master.

* [[Vaniquotes:When we are completely, cent per cent follower of acarya, then you can also act as acarya. This is the process. Don't become premature acarya. First of all follow the orders of acarya, and you become mature|When we are completely, cent per cent follower of acarya, then you can also act as acarya. This is the process. Don't become premature acarya. First of all follow the orders of acarya, and you become mature.]]
* [[Vaniquotes:He (Srila Prabhupada Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Gosvami Maharaja) lives forever by his divine instructions and the follower lives with him|He (Srila Prabhupada Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Gosvami Maharaja) lives forever by his divine instructions and the follower lives with him.]]
* [[Vaniquotes:The present Krsna consciousness movement is also based on the authority of Srila Rupa Gosvami Prabhupada. We are therefore generally known as rupanugas, or followers in the footsteps of Srila Rupa Gosvami Prabhupada|The present Krsna consciousness movement is also based on the authority of Srila Rupa Gosvami Prabhupada. We are therefore generally known as rupanugas, or followers in the footsteps of Srila Rupa Gosvami Prabhupada.]]
* [[Vaniquotes:Regarding serving your godbrothers, this is a very good practice. The Spiritual Master is never without His followers, so to serve the Spiritual Master also means to be the servant of His disciples|Regarding serving your godbrothers, this is a very good practice. The Spiritual Master is never without His followers, so to serve the Spiritual Master also means to be the servant of His disciples.]]

=== Conclusion ===

Being a follower of Śrīla Prabhupāda is a high calling that requires sincerity, patience, and a deep desire for spiritual growth. Śrīla Prabhupāda did not want followers who would simply offer lip service; he wanted individuals who would transform their lives and become "moons" of wisdom in a dark world. He promised that those who follow his divine instructions will never be alone, for the follower lives eternally with the spiritual master through his ''vāṇī''. By boiling the milk of our own devotion and strictly adhering to the principles he laid out, we can fulfill Śrīla Prabhupāda’s vision and become empowered to assist him in delivering the fallen souls of this age.

=== Dive Deeper into Śrīla Prabhupāda's Vāṇī ===

Śrīla Prabhupāda lives within his instructions. This article is a summary of the profound truths found in the Vaniquotes category [[Vaniquotes:Category:My Followers (Prabhupada)|My Followers (Prabhupada)]]. 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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