The Puppet of the Parampara - The Philosophy of Instrumentality
In the modern world, "success" is usually claimed by the ego. "I built this," "I wrote this," "I achieved this." Śrīla Prabhupāda, despite achieving global success, operated on a completely different platform. He viewed himself not as the doer, but as a transparent medium through which the energy of the paramparā (disciplic succession) flowed.
In these profound quotes, he uses the metaphor of a "puppet" to explain the mystery of spiritual potency.
"I Am a Puppet"
Śrīla Prabhupāda did not shy away from describing his total dependence on his Spiritual Master. He famously invited his disciples to join him in this dependence.
To be a puppet is not to lose one's free will; it is to align one's will so perfectly with the superior authority that there is no friction. When the disciple dances exactly as the Guru pulls the strings, the performance becomes perfect.
"No Credit for Me"
When people praised him for his books, his temples, or his disciples, Śrīla Prabhupāda consistently deflected the praise upwards.
- Personally I have no credit for myself, but I am trying to act as faithful servant of my predecessors and just presenting without any adulteration the message which I have received from my Spiritual Master.
- Whatever is being done, there is no credit for me, but all the credit goes to my Spiritual Master, because He has arranged everything, and I am simply to abide by His order.
He explained that his only "qualification" was that he did not change the message. By acting as a faithful peon, the letter (the message of Kṛṣṇa) was delivered intact.
The Power of the Instrument
This philosophy of instrumentality removes the burden of "achievement" from the shoulders of the devotee. If one is simply an instrument, the result belongs to the operator, not the tool.
This is the secret of his fearlessness. He knew that the mission was Bhaktisiddhānta Sarasvatī’s mission, and Kṛṣṇa’s mission. Therefore, it could not fail.
Conclusion
Śrīla Prabhupāda teaches us that real freedom is found in becoming bound by the order of the Guru.
Dive Deeper into Srila Prabhupada's Vani
Srila Prabhupada lives within his instructions. This article is a summary of the profound truths found in the Vaniquotes category Prabhupada and Bhaktisiddhanta. We invite you to click the link to study the complete compilation and experience Srila Prabhupada's teachings in their direct, verbatim form.