View source for Prabhupāda Explains What His Disciples Should Request From Everyone

The global preaching mission of Kṛṣṇa consciousness operates on the basis of profound compassion and deep respect for the independence of the living entity. Throughout his worldwide travels, Śrīla Prabhupāda carefully instructed his followers on exactly how to approach the general public and what they should ask of them. By offering a humble, logical request to chant the holy names, read authorized scriptures, and avoid sinful activities, the devotees provide the highest welfare work without demanding any material sacrifice in return.

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=== The Humble Request to Chant the Holy Names ===
The foundational practice of the movement is the congregational chanting of the holy names, which acts as the prime benediction for humanity in the current age. When approaching the public, Śrīla Prabhupāda taught his disciples that their primary request must simply be to ask people to chant. Even if an individual is not inclined toward deep philosophical study or dramatic lifestyle changes, the sheer act of vibrating the transcendental sound will naturally cleanse their heart and awaken their dormant love for God.

* [[Vaniquotes:Everyone, I shall request you to chant Hare Krsna. We have enjoyed so many lives in the past, or suffered. Now, this life, at least one life may be devoted for chanting Hare Krsna and see the result. That is our request|Everyone, I shall request you to chant Hare Krsna. We have enjoyed so many lives in the past, or suffered. Now, this life, at least one life may be devoted for chanting Hare Krsna and see the result. That is our request.]]
* [[Vaniquotes:If you cannot read or if you do not want to waste your time by such reading . . . it is not wasting; it is actually utilizing. But if you think so, then our request is that you simply chant the holy name of God|If you cannot read or if you do not want to waste your time by such reading . . . it is not wasting; it is actually utilizing. But if you think so, then our request is that you simply chant the holy name of God.]]
* [[Vaniquotes:Our only request is that you chant the Hare Krsna maha-mantra|Our only request is that you chant the Hare Krsna maha-mantra.]]
* [[Vaniquotes:We request everyone to abandon sinful activity and chant the Hare Krsna mantra. In this way people can save themselves from repeated birth and death and from being killed like the animals in slaughterhouse|We request everyone to abandon sinful activity and chant the Hare Krsna mantra. In this way people can save themselves from repeated birth and death and from being killed like the animals in slaughterhouse.]]
* [[Vaniquotes:Lord Caitanya and Nityananda are singing one very nice song in which they are requesting everyone to please chant Hare Krishna, and come along with Them. So that is our request to everyone|Lord Caitanya and Nityananda are singing one very nice song in which they are requesting everyone to please chant Hare Krishna, and come along with Them. So that is our request to everyone.]]

=== Reading the Authorized Vedic Literatures ===
While chanting provides immediate spiritual purification, a steady and mature spiritual life requires a solid philosophical foundation. To ensure that the movement is never mistaken for a cheap, sentimental religion, devotees constantly request the public to study the science of Godhead. By reading authorized translations of the ''Bhagavad-gītā'' and ''Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam'', sincere seekers can logically understand their eternal relationship with the Supreme Lord.

* [[Vaniquotes:Now we shall request you to read our books and review it. That will be real presentation of the Hare Krsna Movement|Now we shall request you to read our books and review it. That will be real presentation of the Hare Krsna Movement.]]
* [[Vaniquotes:Our Krsna consciousness movement is to request you to read this Bhagavad-gita as it is. Do not try to comment upon it indigenally|Our Krsna consciousness movement is to request you to read this Bhagavad-gita as it is. Do not try to comment upon it indigenally.]]
* [[Vaniquotes:We request that everyone read authoritative literature in order to understand this movement. We have published Bhagavad-gita As It Is; Teachings of Lord Caitanya; Srimad-Bhagavatam; Krsna, the Supreme Personality of Godhead; and The Nectar of Devotion|We request that everyone read authoritative literature in order to understand this movement. We have published Bhagavad-gita As It Is; Teachings of Lord Caitanya; Srimad-Bhagavatam; Krsna, the Supreme Personality of Godhead; and The Nectar of Devotion.]]
* [[Vaniquotes:We request you all to come every day and try to understand this philosophy of Krsna consciousness based on Bhagavad-gita, Srimad-Bhagavatam, Vedanta-sutra, Ramayana, Mahabharata, all authentic scriptures|We request you all to come every day and try to understand this philosophy of Krsna consciousness based on Bhagavad-gita, Srimad-Bhagavatam, Vedanta-sutra, Ramayana, Mahabharata, all authentic scriptures.]]
* [[Vaniquotes:Our only request is that if you want happiness, if you want to prosper, make your life successful, you must read Bhagavad-gita thoroughly, as it is, as Krsna says. Don't try to misinterpret|Our only request is that if you want happiness, if you want to prosper, make your life successful, you must read Bhagavad-gita thoroughly, as it is, as Krsna says. Don't try to misinterpret.]]

=== Breaking the Pillars of Sinful Life ===
True spiritual advancement is impossible if one continuously pours water on the weeds of material desire. As individuals begin to take the philosophy seriously, the devotees make a strong but necessary request for them to abandon the core sinful activities that bind the soul to illusion. Śrīla Prabhupāda stressed that by giving up meat-eating, intoxication, illicit sex, and gambling, a person successfully breaks the pillars of ''māyā'' and makes rapid progress in devotion.

* [[Vaniquotes:The sinful list we have given, the four principles, illicit sex life, intoxication, meat-eating & gambling. These are the four pillars of sinful life. We request our students first of all break these four pillars. So the roof of sinful life will collapse|The sinful list we have given, the four principles, illicit sex life, intoxication, meat-eating and gambling. These are the four pillars of sinful life. We request our students first of all break these four pillars. So the roof of sinful life will collapse.]]
* [[Vaniquotes:We request that one first break these four pillars, so that the roof of sinful life will collapse. Then by chanting Hare Krsna one can remain established in a transcendental position|We request that one first break these four pillars, so that the roof of sinful life will collapse. Then by chanting Hare Krsna one can remain established in a transcendental position.]]
* [[Vaniquotes:Our only request is that you don't associate with the modes of ignorance. That is very risky|Our only request is that you don't associate with the modes of ignorance. That is very risky.]]
* [[Vaniquotes:Just like in our country the camaras, they take away and take the skin for preparing shoes and eat the flesh and use the bone. So we request those who are flesh eaters, that "Wait up to the natural death. Why you are killing?"|Just like in our country the camaras, they take away and take the skin for preparing shoes and eat the flesh and use the bone. So we request those who are flesh eaters, that "Wait up to the natural death. Why you are killing?"]]

=== Inviting Leaders and the Intelligent Class ===
The direction of human society is largely determined by its intellectual, political, and social leaders. Rather than isolating the movement from the mainstream, devotees actively appeal to the world's most influential minds to examine the Vedic science. By requesting scientists, priests, and politicians to apply the profound truths of the ''Bhagavad-gītā'' to their respective fields, the movement aims to practically uplift the entire global population.

* [[Vaniquotes:Any leader of the society, any political leader, any social leader, they should study. Our only request is that "Please try to understand this Krsna consciousness movement."|Any leader of the society, any political leader, any social leader, they should study. Our only request is that "Please try to understand this Krsna consciousness movement."]]
* [[Vaniquotes:Our request is that such a great science, for the human society, for understanding the problems of life, how to solve it, how to achieve the greatest success in life... We have got this in the Bhagavad-gita. Why should we neglect it|Our request is that such a great science, for the human society, for understanding the problems of life, how to solve it, how to achieve the greatest success in life... We have got this in the Bhagavad-gita. Why should we neglect it.]]
* [[Vaniquotes:We request the intelligent persons, especially the student community, to join this movement, to try to understand scientifically what is this movement|We request the intelligent persons, especially the student community, to join this movement, to try to understand scientifically what is this movement.]]
* [[Vaniquotes:We simply request the leading personalities of all nations to take to the science of Krsna for their own good, for the good of society, and for the good of all the people of the world|We simply request the leading personalities of all nations to take to the science of Krsna for their own good, for the good of society, and for the good of all the people of the world.]]
* [[Vaniquotes:We invite all learned scholars, priests, philosophers to combine together and save the world from this falldown, without God consciousness. That is our request. So I think you all respectable priests and Fathers will kindly help me in this mission|We invite all learned scholars, priests, philosophers to combine together and save the world from this falldown, without God consciousness. That is our request. So I think you all respectable priests and Fathers will kindly help me in this mission.]]

=== The Command to Become a Spiritual Master ===
The ultimate goal of training within the society is to empower individuals to carry the message forward. Echoing the historic command of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, Śrīla Prabhupāda requested that every single person who joins the movement should strictly follow the principles, learn the philosophy, and become a ''guru''. In this way, an army of qualified ''brāhmaṇas'' and pure devotees can successfully blanket the earth with Kṛṣṇa consciousness.

* [[Vaniquotes:All of you who have come to Krsna consciousness movement, that is our request, that you, all of you, become guru but don't speak nonsense. That is request. Simply speak what Krsna has said. Then you become brahmana, you'll be guru, and everything|All of you who have come to Krsna consciousness movement, that is our request, that you, all of you, become guru but don't speak nonsense. That is request. Simply speak what Krsna has said. Then you become brahmana, you'll be guru, and everything.]]
* [[Vaniquotes:Our request is that every one of you become a guru. That is Caitanya Mahaprabhu's order|Our request is that every one of you become a guru. That is Caitanya Mahaprabhu's order.]]
* [[Vaniquotes:That is our mission. All of you who have come to Krsna consciousness movement, that is our request, that you, all of you, become guru but don't speak nonsense. That is request. Simply speak what Krsna has said|That is our mission. All of you who have come to Krsna consciousness movement, that is our request, that you, all of you, become guru but don't speak nonsense. That is request. Simply speak what Krsna has said.]]
* [[Vaniquotes:We always request members of ISKCON to publish as many books as possible and distribute them widely throughout the world. By thus following in the footsteps of Srila Rupa Gosvami, one can become a rupanuga devotee|We always request members of ISKCON to publish as many books as possible and distribute them widely throughout the world. By thus following in the footsteps of Srila Rupa Gosvami, one can become a rupanuga devotee.]]

=== A Universal Invitation Without Loss ===
Perhaps the most powerful preaching angle utilized by the devotees is the sheer logic of the proposition. When requesting the public to take up chanting, reading, and eating ''prasādam'', the devotees highlight that there is absolutely no monetary fee or material loss involved. By simply giving this sublime process a practical trial, any individual can independently experience the immense spiritual gain that inevitably follows.

* [[Vaniquotes:If you take it as a simple method, without any expenditure, without any loss, chant Hare Krsna. Two sides (chant Hare Krsna or read books). Any side you can accept, you will be benefited. That is our request|If you take it as a simple method, without any expenditure, without any loss, chant Hare Krsna. Two sides (chant Hare Krsna or read books). Any side you can accept, you will be benefited. That is our request.]]
* [[Vaniquotes:There is no expenditure, there is no loss on your part, but if there is any gain, why don't you try it? That is our request. Chant Hare Krsna. This is the process of increasing your attachment for God and Krsna|There is no expenditure, there is no loss on your part, but if there is any gain, why don't you try it? That is our request. Chant Hare Krsna. This is the process of increasing your attachment for God and Krsna.]]
* [[Vaniquotes:We don't depend on your contribution, but if you give, oh, that is good for you. But our only request is that please come here. Please chant with us, dance with us|We don't depend on your contribution, but if you give, oh, that is good for you. But our only request is that please come here. Please chant with us, dance with us.]]
* [[Vaniquotes:We invite everyone, without discrimination; we request everyone to sit down and chant the Hare Krsna mantra and take as much prasada as we can supply, and thus everyone is pleased with us|We invite everyone, without discrimination; we request everyone to sit down and chant the Hare Krsna mantra and take as much prasada as we can supply, and thus everyone is pleased with us.]]
* [[Vaniquotes:To the ordinary person we request that, - There is no question of understanding philosophy; please join with us and chant Hare Krsna maha-mantra. There is no loss on your part, but there is very good gain|To the ordinary person we request that, - There is no question of understanding philosophy; please join with us and chant Hare Krsna maha-mantra. There is no loss on your part, but there is very good gain.]]

=== Conclusion ===
The method of delivering humanity established by Śrīla Prabhupāda is uniquely compassionate, relying entirely on education, invitation, and purification. By requesting the general public to chant the holy names, read transcendental books, and give up degrading habits, his disciples act as the truest well-wishers of society. Because this spiritual invitation requires absolutely no material loss, those who sincerely accept the request quickly realize the immense, joyful reality of a life devoted to Kṛṣṇa.

=== 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:Our Requests (Disciples of SP)|Our Requests (Disciples of SP)]]. We invite you to visit this link to study the complete compilation and experience Śrīla Prabhupāda's teachings in their direct, verbatim form.

(See our [[Vanipedia:Methodology for AI-Assisted Articles|Vanipedia:Methodology for AI-Assisted Articles]])
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[[Category:Vanipedia Articles - Śrīla Prabhupāda Trains His Disciples‎]]

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