View source for Prabhupāda's Only Desire and Qualification

Śrīla Prabhupāda's life is an open book of total surrender. When we look at his only desires and qualifications, we see a personality who had completely set aside personal interest for the sake of the mission. He spoke to his disciples with such transparency that we can feel his heart—a heart that beat only for Kṛṣṇa and for the spiritual progress of his followers.

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=== The Only Qualification: Following the Order ===

Śrīla Prabhupāda often told his disciples that he was not a wonderful man or a magician. He insisted that any success he achieved was simply because he did not deviate one inch from the instructions of Śrīla Bhaktisiddhānta Sarasvatī Ṭhākura. By highlighting this as his only qualification, he was teaching us the most important lesson: that the secret of spiritual life is to faithfully execute the order of superior authority.

* [[Vaniquotes:From my personal instance I can explain to you it is my duty, that I am not very wonderful man, but I have tried to execute the order of my spiritual master. Whatever little success you can credit, that is my only qualification|From my personal instance I can explain to you it is my duty, that I am not very wonderful man, but I have tried to execute the order of my spiritual master. Whatever little success you can credit, that is my only qualification.]]
* [[Vaniquotes:I am successful in my teaching work because I have not deviated one inch from my Spiritual Master's instruction; this is my only qualification. So if you simply remain pure, your preaching will have effect|I am successful in my teaching work because I have not deviated one inch from my Spiritual Master's instruction; this is my only qualification. So if you simply remain pure, your preaching will have effect.]]
* [[Vaniquotes:It is not that I am very much qualified. The only qualification is that I have tried to execute the order of superior authority. That's all. This is the secret of success|It is not that I am very much qualified. The only qualification is that I have tried to execute the order of superior authority. That's all. This is the secret of success.]]
* [[Vaniquotes:Whatever little success is there, that was only this qualification, that I wanted to serve him. That's all. Otherwise, there was no business of coming here at the age of seventy years. You have seen all my room in the Radha-Damodara temple?|Whatever little success is there, that was only this qualification, that I wanted to serve him. That's all. Otherwise, there was no business of coming here at the age of seventy years. You have seen all my room in the Radha-Damodara temple?]]

=== The Only Credit: Presenting the Truth As It Is ===

In a world full of speculators and "juggler" ''gurus'', Śrīla Prabhupāda took great care to keep the message of Kṛṣṇa pure. He compared himself to a milkman who does not add water to the milk. His only credit was that he did not spoil the ''Bhagavad-gītā'' or the ''Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam'' by adding his own opinions. He wanted his disciples to carry this same honesty into their own preaching work.

* [[Vaniquotes:I am not a magician. My only credit is I have not spoiled the Bhagavad-gita. I have presented as it is. Therefore it is successful|I am not a magician. My only credit is I have not spoiled the Bhagavad-gita. I have presented as it is. Therefore it is successful.]]
* [[Vaniquotes:I cannot manufacture gold, I cannot show any jugglery, but if there is any credit, then the only credit is I don't adulterate. That's all. The pure milk, I don't show my expert service by adding water in it|I cannot manufacture gold, I cannot show any jugglery, but if there is any credit, then the only credit is I don't adulterate. That's all. The pure milk, I don't show my expert service by adding water in it.]]
* [[Vaniquotes: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|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:My only credit is that I have presented Bhagavad-gita as it is, without any speculation, or interpretation, therefore for the first time in the history of the world people are accepting it|My only credit is that I have presented Bhagavad-gita as it is, without any speculation, or interpretation, therefore for the first time in the history of the world people are accepting it.]]

=== The Only Concern: Unity and Management ===

As a loving father, Śrīla Prabhupāda's only anxiety was the stability of the institution he built for his disciples. He was deeply pained by complaints and counter-complaints and pleaded with his followers not to fight among themselves. He saw that if they began to think of their own personal benefit instead of the society's mission, the great work they had done together would be ruined.

* [[Vaniquotes:I do not wish to see that somehow or other we have built up a nice institution, on account of lack of management it may be hampered. That is my only anxiety|I do not wish to see that somehow or other we have built up a nice institution, on account of lack of management it may be hampered. That is my only anxiety.]]
* [[Vaniquotes:The whole management should be done combinedly. Do not fight amongst yourselves, as that is my only anxiety|The whole management should be done combinedly. Do not fight amongst yourselves, as that is my only anxiety.]]
* [[Vaniquotes:We have worked very hard and established a great institution, but if we think for our personal benefit then it will become ruined. This is my only concern|We have worked very hard and established a great institution, but if we think for our personal benefit then it will become ruined. This is my only concern.]]
* [[Vaniquotes:I do not wish to give any decision without the GBC's verdict. My only grievance is that I appointed GBC to give me relief from the management but, on the contrary, complaints and counter-complaints are coming to me|I do not wish to give any decision without the GBC's verdict. My only grievance is that I appointed GBC to give me relief from the management but, on the contrary, complaints and counter-complaints are coming to me.]]

=== The Only Desire: The Welfare of All Souls ===

Beyond the management and the preaching, Śrīla Prabhupāda's only desire was to see everyone become happy and peaceful in Kṛṣṇa consciousness. Whether he was praying for the success of a new center, asking a politician to study the ''Bhagavad-gītā'', or urging his disciples to chant their sixteen rounds, his focus was always on ''para-upakāra''—doing good for others.

* [[Vaniquotes:My only desire for my disciples is that they chant Hare Krishna Mantra at least 16 rounds, follow the rules and live in association of devotees then you will be happy and peaceful and not disturbed|My only desire for my disciples is that they chant Hare Krishna Mantra at least 16 rounds, follow the rules and live in association of devotees then you will be happy and peaceful and not disturbed.]]
* [[Vaniquotes:My only desire is that all people become happy and prosperous in Krishna Consciousness|My only desire is that all people become happy and prosperous in Krishna Consciousness.]]
* [[Vaniquotes:Our only mission is para-upakara, Caitanya Mahaprabhu's mission; we don't want to exploit anyone|Our only mission is para-upakara, Caitanya Mahaprabhu's mission; we don't want to exploit anyone.]]
* [[Vaniquotes:You are all my spiritual children, and my only concern is to see that you all become strong in your devotion to Lord Krishna, so sometimes scolding may be there, but you should always remember that it is done with love and it is only for your benefit|You are all my spiritual children, and my only concern is to see that you all become strong in your devotion to Lord Krishna, so sometimes scolding may be there, but you should always remember that it is done with love and it is only for your benefit.]]

=== Conclusion ===

Śrīla Prabhupāda’s "only" was never about himself. His only credit was his loyalty to his spiritual master; his only desire was our happiness; and his only anxiety was our unity. When we look at the immense success of his movement, we must remember that it all came from this singular, pure focus. As his "spiritual children," our best response is to take up his mission with that same sincerity, knowing that if we simply follow Śrīla Prabhupāda's instructions without deviation, we too will find the success he so graciously promised us.

=== 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:My Only (Prabhupada)|My Only (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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