Prabhupāda Only Qualification - Executing the Order of the Guru

When we look at the achievements of Śrīla Prabhupāda—translating libraries of books, circling the globe, establishing a worldwide society—we might assume he considered himself a man of extraordinary personal ability. However, his own self-analysis was radically different. In these revealing quotes, he strips away the facade of "greatness" to show the real mechanism of spiritual power: absolute surrender to the order of the Spiritual Master.

"I Am Not Wonderful"

Śrīla Prabhupāda consistently refused to take credit for his success. He viewed himself merely as an instrument.

• 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.
• 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.

"I Believed Cent Percent"

If he claimed no material skill, what did he possess? He possessed unshakeable faith. He explains that while others might have analyzed or critiqued the instruction, he simply accepted it.

• I am not very expert or educated or nothing extraordinary, but only thing is that I believed in his word. You can say that is my qualification. I believed cent percent in his (Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati's) word.

The Power of Hearing

Śrīla Prabhupāda identifies a specific behavior from his youth that endeared him to his Guru: his patience in hearing. While others would become restless during long philosophical discourses, he remained seated.

• That was my qualification, whatever you may say. I was simply asking, "When Guru Maharaja will speak? When?" & I will sit down & go on hearing... others will disperse—I will not disperse.
• My only qualification was . . . When I was introduced to my Guru Maharaja for initiation, so Guru Maharaja immediately said, "Yes, I shall initiate this boy. He is very nice. He hears me very patiently. He does not go away." So that was my qualification.

Conclusion

The lesson Śrīla Prabhupāda leaves us is that spiritual qualification is not something we "achieve" through talent; it is something we receive through submission.

• I am a bona fide teacher as long as I follow the instructions of my spiritual master. That is the only one qualification for becoming a teacher.

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 My Qualifications (Prabhupada). We invite you to visit this link to study the complete compilation and experience Śrīla Prabhupāda's teachings in their direct, verbatim form.