(Click to enlarge photo of Srila Prabhupada bowing to Radha Vrindavan Chandra, 1972)
"Practically there is no credit for me, if there is any credit it goes to my Spiritual Master, Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Goswami Prabhupada, Who is helping me by sending so many good souls like you in this movement. Whatever is being done, it is due to His Divine Grace only. So my business is just to carry out His order. That is the way of disciplic succession; and as you have all come to help me, if you also follow the same principles then our combined effort to serve Lord Krishna will be surely successful."
(Srila Prabhupada Letter, March 26, 1969)
"So far I am concerned, I am a humble disciple of His Divine Grace, Om Visnupad Sri Srimad Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Goswami Maharaja, who was the original pioneer of spreading this movement in the Western world. During his lifetime, up to 1936, he started 64 main centers all over the world, including centers in Berlin, Germany, and London, England. His Divine Grace entrusted me to spread this movement in the Western countries, and since 1965, I am trying in my humble way to spread this movement in this part of the world."
(Srila Prabhupada Letter, February 21, 1968)
"And so far I am concerned, I don't take any credit, but I am confident that because I am presenting the Vedic knowledge as it is, without any adulteration, it is being effective. That is my contribution. Just like if you have got a right medicine and if you administer to a patient, you must be sure that he'll be cured."
(Srila Prabhupada Conversation, Moscow, June 22, 1971)
Devotee: This morning you were saying that fasting is very good.
Devotee (2): I was just thinking about that.
Prabhupada: No. Not prasadam. I never said. No, those who want to eat... Fasting... One who has not developed Krishna consciousness, for him fasting. And one who takes pleasure, "Oh, it is Krishna's pleasure, or Krishna's food. I'll take." This is the idea. So we are not devotees, therefore we should first fast. And those who are devotees, they'll take as much as they like. I was telling fasting because I am not a devotee. For me fasting is good.
(Srila Prabhupada Conversation, Vrindavan, September 6, 1976)
"Sometimes I become surprised how I have written this. Although I am the writer, still sometimes I am surprised how these things have come. Such vivid description. Where is such literature throughout the whole world? It is all Krishna's mercy. Every line is perfect."
(Srila Prabhupada Conversation, Vrindavan, June 28, 1977)
"Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura used to say, 'If I could perfectly deliver even one soul back home, back to Godhead, I would think my mission -- propagating Krishna consciousness -- to be successful.' The Krishna consciousness movement is spreading now all over the world, and sometimes I think that even though I am crippled in many ways, if one of my disciples becomes as strong as Dhruva Maharaja, then he will be able to carry me with him to Vaikunthaloka."
(Srimad-Bhagavatam 4.12.33, Purport)
"Therefore sometimes, when people say in India, 'Swamiji, you have done wonderful.' And yes, I do not know. I'm not a magician. But, so far I am confident that I did not adulterate the words of Krishna. That's all. That's my credit. I did not like to take the position of Krishna. I remained a servant of Krishna, and I spoke what Krishna said. That's all. This is my secret. So everyone can do that. There is nothing magic. The magic will act as soon as you become a pure devotee of Krishna. The magic will be done by Krishna, not by me or you. He will do it. Just like a small child. Nobody can hurt him. The father will take care. He does not know. He's simply depending on father. 'My father, mother.' That's all. Krishna says that 'You surrender unto Me, I give you protection.' He's not a liar. He's not inefficient. He's strong. He's sufficiently opulent. He can do that. So believe in Krishna's word and surrender unto Him, and don't spoil this human form of life. Death is sure. Before death, we must prepare to go back to home, back to Godhead."
(Srila Prabhupada Lecture, Los Angeles, May 19, 1972)
"Mind should not be trusted. My Guru Maharaja used to say that 'After getting up from your sleep, you take your shoes and beat your mind hundred times. This is your first business. And while going to bed, you take a broomstick and beat your mind hundred times. Then you can control your mind. Otherwise it is very difficult.' So this beating with shoes and broomstick is also another tapasya. For men like us, who have no control over the mind, we should practice this tapasya, beating the mind with shoes and broomstick. Then it can be controlled."
(Srila Prabhupada Lecture, Vrndavan, November 24, 1976)
"This Krishna consciousness movement is expanding by their help. I am alone, but they are helping me. They are my gurus. I am not their guru, because they are helping me in executing my Guru Maharaja's order."
(Srila Prabhupada Lecture, Bombay, March 29, 1971)
Devotee: ...most pleased with you, Srila Prabhupada. We must be sure of that.
Prabhupada: Unless he is pleased, what I am worth? It is due to his pleasure. Otherwise what I am worth? Everyone says, 'You have done wonderful.' What can I do wonderful? It is by his pleasure it is going on. Yasya prasadad bhagavat-prasadah."
(Srila Prabhupada Morning Walk, Chicago, July 5, 1975)
"So we do not, I mean to say, become proud to have very, very scientific accurate knowledge by speculation. We are not such people. We are taught by the parampara system that we are humble servants of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, and what our master says, we accept it. That's all. We do not like to be foolishly proud to have full knowledge of this universe, of this creation. We have full knowledge, but we understand in this way. This is called parampara system."
(Srila Prabhupada Lecture, Mayapur, April 2, 1975)
"You have rightly observed that I am simply trying to execute the order of my Spiritual Master. Whatever is being done it is not on account of my intelligence or endeavor because I am simply an instrument in the hands of my Spiritual Master. I do not know how far I have got the capacity to carry His order, but I may say that I have a sincere desire to do it. This is Parampara system. If a student tries to satisfy his immediate Acarya or the Spiritual Master, that is the only qualification for advancing in Krsna consciousness. This is explained in the Guruvastakam -- yasya prasadah bhagavata prasadao."
(Srila Prabhupada Letter, June 17, 1970)
"So, by guru Vaisnava, and whatever position I have got it is by guru's mercy and the Vaisnavas' blessings, otherwise I am insignificant."
(Srila Prabhupada Conversation, Mayapur, March 17, 1973)
"It is to be admitted that whatever translation work I have done is through the inspiration of my spiritual master, because personally I am most insignificant and incompetent to do this materially impossible work. I do not think myself a very learned scholar, but I have full faith in the service of my spiritual master, His Divine Grace Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura. If there is any credit to my activities of translating, it is all due to His Divine Grace."
(Caitanya-caritamrta Antya, Concluding Words)
Prabhupada: Where is our... (kirtana-party in background) ...that Europeans and Americans will come, and they will dance here with the chanting, "Jaya Sacinandana, Jaya Sacinandana!" So that is being done.
Devotee: That is being done. By the mercy of Prabhupada Maharaja, everything has become possible.
Prabhupada: Oh... So when they chant and dance, I simply remember Bhaktivinoda Thakura. That's all. I pray to Bhaktivinoda Thakura, "Now they have come to your shelter. Give them protection." That's all. What can I do more? I cannot do anything more.
(Srila Prabhupada Morning Walk, Mayapur, March 6, 1974)
"My Spiritual Master has given me the instruction to spread this movement all over the world and you are my good disciples, are helping me do this. Without your good help I could not have done anything, so practically you can take all the credit for spreading this Krsna Consciousness movement and fulfilling the prophecy of Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu. If there is some incident and I claim that no one is cooperating with me or no one will work with me, that is my defect, not theirs. The Vaisnava devotee must think like this. We should not find fault with others and criticize and go away, that is not the Vaisnava way. Better we should always be willing to offer all respects to others and consider them as our superiors always."
(Srila Prabhupada Letter, August 26, 1972)
"You are at liberty to make many questions like that. So long I can, I must make answers to your questions, but when I fail, I shall ask you to excuse me."
(Srila Prabhupada Letter, April 11, 1970)
"You have given me the credit of being the best disciple of Prabhupada. That is very kind of you, but I am just trying to serve him. Whatever success there is is due to his mercy."
(Srila Prabhupada Letter, November 15, 1976)
"I am in due receipt of your nice poetry. These words are very appropriate for my Guru Maharaj. Your sentiments and nice words are worthy to be offered to my Guru Maharaj. I am quite unfit for such words. Whatever I am doing, it is due to the work of my Guru Maharaj. Actually, He is the power behind me, and I am only instrument."
(Srila Prabhupada Letter, October 4, 1969)
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