Simply Repeat Whatever Kṛṣṇa Says

Śrīla Prabhupāda teaches that the easiest and most scientific method of self-realization is to simply repeat whatever Kṛṣṇa says. Unlike mundane philosophies that require extensive mental speculation, Kṛṣṇa consciousness is based on the submissive reception of perfect knowledge from the Supreme Personality of Godhead. By following this process, one connects directly with the paramparā system and attains the highest perfection.

Arjuna's Standard of Acceptance

Śrīla Prabhupāda highlights Arjuna's mood in the Bhagavad-gītā as the ideal example for all devotees. Rather than arguing or selecting portions that suited his whim, Arjuna accepted Kṛṣṇa's words completely as the absolute truth, setting the standard for how one should approach spiritual knowledge.

• Arjuna is not a fool. He said: "Whatever You have said, I accept them as truth." That is real understanding.
• My dear Krsna, whatever You are saying, I accept them in toto, word to word - This is required. Not that I give up this portion, I give up that portion, whatever is to my purpose.
• He (Arjuna) voluntarily accepted: "Whatever Krsna says, I shall do it." Just like all my disciples - they have not lost their individuality, but they have surrendered their individuality. That is required.
• Arjuna does not cavil with Krsna but agrees with whatever He says. This is his special qualification, and this is the way of understanding Bhagavad-gita.

The Qualification of a Guru

To become a spiritual master or a preacher does not require extraordinary academic qualifications or the ability to manufacture new ideas. Śrīla Prabhupāda explains that a real guru is simply one who repeats the message of Kṛṣṇa without adding or subtracting anything, thereby maintaining the purity of the message.

• Real guru is he who instructs what Krsna has said. It is not that you manufacture your teaching. No. That is Caitanya's . . . There is no need of manufacturing. The instruction is already there. You have simply to say, "This is this." That's all.
• You simply repeat, recite, the instruction of Krsna. That is preaching. That is preaching. And we are doing the same thing. We are doing. We are not introducing any new interpretation. Whatever Krsna has said, bas, finished.
• Our business is to present Bhagavad-gita as it is. Krsna says, mattah parataram nanyat kincid asti dhananjaya (BG 7.7). We say that, that Krsna is the Supreme Personality of Godhead. What Krsna says Himself, we simply carry the message. That's all.
• To become representative of Krsna is not very difficult. Simply one has to become very sincere. That's all. That whatever Krsna says, he will say. Just like Arjuna.

Perfection Through Surrender

Surrender is often misunderstood as stopping all activity, but Śrīla Prabhupāda clarifies that it actually means engaging fully in executing Kṛṣṇa's orders. When a devotee aligns their will with Kṛṣṇa's and acts according to His instruction, their life becomes perfect and free from material contamination.

• If one does whatever Krsna says, his activities are not material. For example, when Arjuna fought in response to the order of Krsna, his activities were not material.
• Tattvatah means in truth, not superficially. If you understand Krsna in truth, as He is speaking Himself about Himself. If you simply accept Krsna, what He says, if you follow, then you become perfect and you become fit for going back to Godhead.
• Whatever Krsna says, sarva-dharman parityajya mam ekam saranam . . . accept it, then sraddha begins. Otherwise there is no sraddha.
• By your service, Krsna will automatically reveal Himself. He wants service, therefore He said: "Surrender unto Me." not stop all activities. "Surrender unto Me." What He will say, you do. That is surrender.

Rejecting Mental Speculation

The tendency to interpret scripture through one's own limited intelligence is a significant obstacle on the spiritual path. Śrīla Prabhupāda warns against using one's "fertile brain" to alter the meaning of the śāstras, urging us instead to accept the text exactly as it is without adding our own concoctions.

• Don't misinterpret according to your own, I (Prabhupada) mean to say, fertile brain. No. Just hear Krsna, what Krsna says, as it is. Krsna... Don't try to interpret, mal-interpretation.
• We haven't got to take so much trouble or create it by our fertile brain. We are simply repeating what Krsna has said. That's all. And see how it is effective.
• That is Krsna consciousness. His will is supreme. Whatever He says, that's all. As soon as you manufacture, everything is spoiled.
• Whatever Krsna says or He said 5,000 years ago, we are repeating the same thing. That is called parampara system. Not that "The world has changed. Scientific advancement is very great. Now we can interpret in this way and that way." This is all nonsense.

Ultimate Conclusion of Knowledge

Many claim to study the Vedānta, but without understanding Kṛṣṇa, their knowledge remains incomplete. Since Kṛṣṇa is the source and knower of Vedānta, Śrīla Prabhupāda asserts that accepting Kṛṣṇa's words is the ultimate conclusion of all philosophical inquiry and the end of all knowledge.

• The end of knowledge is to understand Krsna. Krsna therefore says, brahma-sutra-padais caiva. He's recommending. He is Vedanta. Therefore whatever Krsna says, that is the ultimate conclusion of Vedanta.
• Brahma-sutra-padais caiva. He's (Krsna) recommending. He is Vedanta. Therefore whatever Krsna says, that is the ultimate conclusion of Vedanta.
• Whatever Krsna says, that is Vedanta. And other so-called Vedantists, they are nonsense. They do not know what is Vedanta.

Conclusion

In summary, the essence of the Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement is to accept the Supreme Lord as the ultimate authority and to align one's life with His instructions. Śrīla Prabhupāda constantly reminds us that we need not manufacture our own path; by simply repeating and acting upon whatever Kṛṣṇa says, we uphold the truth of the paramparā and ensure our return to the spiritual world.

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 Whatever Krsna Says. 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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