Category:I Ask (Prabhupada)
Theme Analysis
The category exploring the times Śrīla Prabhupāda says "I ask" or "I asked" reveals the dynamic, personal, and boldly compassionate nature of his preaching. He was not a passive philosopher; he actively challenged the illusions of the modern world while simultaneously begging his disciples to take their spiritual lives seriously. First, we see how he asked for cooperation and practical service, showing his deep reliance on his students to help fulfill the mission of his Guru. Second, he boldly asked piercing questions of Christians regarding animal killing and of scientists regarding their defiance of God, exposing the flaws in materialistic society. Third, he strictly asked his followers to adhere to pure devotional principles, emphasizing that taking initiation requires a serious commitment to chanting and avoiding sinful life. Finally, he asked his audiences to wake up from the slumber of material existence, feeling genuine pain when people wasted their precious human lives. Through these requests and questions, Śrīla Prabhupāda acts as a perfect, loving father, constantly pushing us to become perfect instruments for Kṛṣṇa.
- Prabhupāda Asking for Cooperation and Service: Śrīla Prabhupāda humbly asked his disciples to work together, distribute books, and help him execute the grand vision of his spiritual master.
- Prabhupāda Asking the Christians and Scientists: With fearless logic, he asked so-called religious men why they violate the commandment not to kill, and challenged arrogant scientists to create even a simple insect.
- Prabhupāda Asking for Pure Devotional Service: He asked for strict adherence to the regulative principles and a minimum of sixteen rounds of chanting, establishing the foundation of a strong spiritual life.
- Prabhupāda Asking Us to Remain Awake in Spiritual Life: Out of deep compassion, he asked society to question the ultimate aim of life, urging everyone to give up the animalistic propensity for sleeping and sense gratification.
- Explore the synthesized essence of this category in this Vanipedia article: I Ask - Prabhupāda's Loving Requests and Bold Challenges.
Pages in category "I Ask (Prabhupada)"
The following 95 pages are in this category, out of 95 total.
A
- A tree is standing for five thousand years or five hundred years. Is it not hellish? If I ask you, "Stand here for five days," you will die
- Actually, I was very inquisitive. I could not follow what Guru Maharaja was speaking, but still, I was asking others, that "When Guru Maharaja will speak? I will hear." I could not follow. He was speaking in a very high philosophical term
- Although there is no GBC man for Far East for addressing your questions, still, as I am now old man and inclined for philosophy and translating, I am asking my disciples to kindly give me some relief from so much administrative work and asking questions
- As a bona fide disciple of Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati, and because I am trying my best to fulfill His holy desire in the matter of preaching work in this part of the world, I have got the right to ask from you a plot of land for this purpose
- As things have generally not been so well managed there I have asked him to be ad-hoc President of New York Temple until the coming GBC meeting
- As you have developed a deep love for me, I dare to ask you to send me financial help to take me to Japan. I think you can immediately instruct your Embassy in Delhi to do the needful and dispatch me to Japan on your behalf
- Ask anybody that "What is the aim of your life?" Nobody... Nobody will be able to say
H
- He (Allen Ginsberg) has promised to me that, "Wherever I shall go, I shall chant." I asked him that if he was there he can see me again
- He is very much anxious to have me visit there, so I have consented that on my way to Russia I will go there for some time. I asked that you correspond with this boy in my previous letter but he makes no mention of it
- Here is a boy. He is a professor. So if I ask him, "Please go and dance on the footpath," will he agree? A professor will agree? But when a professor dances, there is something. You should understand
I
- I am also asking that they write a statement in all seriousness stating they have not broken promises of first initiation & they will go on steadfastly chanting the prescribed rounds. I am hoping to stop whimsical recommendations for second initiation
- I am asking all GBC members to come to Mayapur early and hold the meeting in my presence
- I am asking people to become God conscious; but if you refuse to become God conscious how can I help you?
- I am asking so much here "Farm, farm, farm, farm." That is not my program - Krsna's program. Annad bhavanti bhutani (BG 3.14). Produce greenness everywhere, Vrndavana. It is not this motorcar civilization
- I am asking so much here and..., "Farm, farm, farm, farm." That is not my program -- Krsna's program. Annad bhavanti bhutani. Produce greenness everywhere, everywhere. Vrndavana. It is not this motorcar civilization
- I am asking you personally, along with Tamala Krsna Goswami to whom I am sending a copy of this letter, to bury the hatchet and join together to push on this movement cooperatively
- I am especially interested in the land which I asked from you within the vicinity of Caitanya Math. This is in pursuance of the desire of Srila Bhaktivinode Thakura and Srila Prabhupada. It is not for my personal use or satisfaction of personal whims
- I am just doing the work of a bearer. There is nothing of my personal contribution and I ask all your mercy so that I may be able to distribute Krishna's message as it is without any deviation
- I am very anxious to know whether we are going to have our Mayapur function? I want very much to hold this function this year with all of my students, and I ask you to kindly serve me by making this possible
- I asked him (one big professor in Moscow) that, - What is the difference between your philosophy and our philosophy? You have accepted a leader, Lenin, and we have accepted a leader, Krsna. So far accepting a leader, there is no change
- I asked Mukunda to find out an apartment. He found this apartment, 26 Second Avenue. One storefront down and one living quarters up. So I found it very convenient. Down I would lecture and hold kirtana
- I asked my father, "Oh, I shall worship Krsna. Give me." So my father gave me Radha-Krsna, so I, whatever I was eating, I was offering Them. So the statement of the sastra and my practical experience corroborates
- I asked my mother in my childhood, "My dear mother, how did I come out from your belly?" I still remember. So my mother showed me her navel: "You come out from this place"
- I asked the Christian so many times that "Your Bible says, 'Thou shalt not kill.' Why you are killing?" They cannot give any satisfactory answer. This is my experience
- I can ask any of my disciple to do something, he'll do it. But this microphone, it has also a form, but if I want microphone, "Please do this," he cannot, it cannot be, because it is material
- I did not ask my students to marry to become a lost child. I wanted to give them some facility, because you cannot do without wife. But now I am seeing that some of them are slipping away
- I have already asked you to consult with the GBC members before purchasing the boat. So do not purchase this boat unless all the GBC members agree. I understand that some of the GBC members are not favorably disposed to this proposal of purchasing a boat
- I have already asked you to think on the project how you can push on our books and literature. I cannot suggest any other alternatives, but if you can execute this will of mine, I shall remain ever-obliged to you
- I have asked Kirtanananda Maharaj to work on the bahudaka stage for the present. I discussed this point with him when I was in New Vrindaban
- I have asked you all to address your Godbrothers as prabhu. This prabhu means boss. If everyone of us thinks of his fellow worker as boss there is no question of misunderstanding
- I have met with so many Christians and when I ask them why Christians are killing they cannot answer. The first principle of spiritual life is non violence
- I have sent a letter to your government asking them questions that you write on the bills, "In God We Trust." So you trust in God blindly or knowingly? That was my question. Suppose I trust you. you must be trustworthy. Otherwise why shall I trust you?
- I never bribed them, nor I showed any magic. I simply asked them, "Chant Hare Krsna." And see the result. It is practical
- I requested him to give me facilities to go to foreign countries, and he promised to do his best. Now, somehow or other, I am here and ask him if he will allow SANKIRTANA party to come here
- I think if you ask all of them to cooperate with him while you stry to improve your business separately that will pacify things. I am hopeful and praying to Krsna that you become successful
- I think in Sydney. Some boy, present, he was . . . "We have to supply food to the hungry who are dying without food, in starvation." Then when I asked him, "How many men you have seen dying out of starvation?" he could not reply
- I want to hold this (Mayapur) function this year with my students & I ask kindly serve me by making this possible. It's a very important day & will be a great service to Srila Bhaktivinode Thakura & His son Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura
- I was going to Europe via New York, I asked you to pick up some file "Vrindaban" ("Radha Damodara Temple") and you picked it. I told you that this file is very important and keep it carefully
- I've asked Swaroop Damodara to invite Ramananda Rao to come and join him to present this revolutionary theory to the learned advanced scientists
- If a child, a small child, I ask him, "My dear child, you take my shoes and keep it there," he will immediately agree. He has no sense, "Oh, he is asking me to take his shoes." He will immediately agree. Even he is very rich man's son
- If I ask the dog that 'What is your next life?' he cannot say. 'Gow gow.' That's all
- If I ask you how many hairs you have got on your head, you do not know. Similarly, we have got this body. I am claiming my body, but I am not in full knowledge of my own body. And what to speak of knowing your body or other's body?
- If I ask you what you are, you will say, "I am Mr. John; I am a rich man; I am this; I am that." All these are bodily identifications. But you are not this body. This is illusion
- If I ask you what you mean by liberation, can you answer? And if I ask you what you mean by entanglement, can you answer? These words are there in the Vedic literature - liberation and entanglement
- If I go there in London it may be possible for me to take the management of the temple because she is very much eager to have my cooperation. So I am asking your opinion after consulting amongst yourselves whether I shall go as invited by her
- If somebody dozes, it gives me too much pain. And I asked you to go and sleep. It disturbs me, too much disturbs me. I tell you frankly. When I speak or when I speak if somebody dozes, better not to sit. Sleep twenty-four hours, but don't make show
- If World Samkirtan Party is organized our meeting will be in a very short time. In this connection I shall ask you to contact Ksirodakasayee. He is very eager in this respect
- If you ask him to do full time work, that he'll not do. Therefore I did not initiate others
- In my childhood, Radha-Govindaji were the source of my enjoyment. I asked my father to give me Radha-Govinda deities and he gave me and I worshiped. And I also asked him to give me ratha
- In our movement we ask everybody, especially our serious students, to refrain from four kinds of sinful activities: illicit sex life, intoxication, gambling and meat-eating. These are the pillars of sinful life
- In the universities they say that "What is the wrong if I become an animal?'' I asked them, "Do you like to be animal?'' "Yes.'' "Then all right, next time you become animal. (laughter) This is your I give you this blessing. That's all''
- Is that the cultural end, to sleep at night or sex indulgence and at night earn money and maintain the family? I am asking this question
- It is not superficial. This dancing is spiritual ecstasy. Otherwise, it is not a dog's dancing. You see? Any gentleman, if I ask you, "Please dance on this footpath," will you agree? It is not that dancing
M
- Manava-dharma, "man's religion." I asked him (Nanda) several times that "Is there any dog's religion? You have manufactured that." Religion means man's religion. That much he can do. Manava-dharma. He is educated, intelligent, buddhi - with no brain
- My wife was taking tea. So I asked her not to take tea, not to take tea. But she didn't care husband
O
- One old lady, she used to come to my class. So she had a son. So I asked, "Why don't you get your son married?" "Oh, if he can maintain a wife, I have no objection." Just to maintain a wife is a great job in this age
- One thing is that I have asked Jayapataka Swami to make you treasurer so that you can look after things and see to it that such unnecessary expenditure is not made in the future
T
- That I am asking you, that what you are?
- That is service. Before wanting, that is... That is all right. "Now let the master refuse it." But service is: before he asks, the thing should be offered. That is service. After asking, offering something, that is second-class service
- 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, & I will understand or not understand-others will disperse-I will not disperse. That he marked
- The first commandment is violated. It is clearly said, "Thou shalt not kill." But when I ask any Christian, "Why you are killing?" He cannot give me any satisfactory answer
- The GBC have not been able to fully participate in the Mayapur festivities due to the annual meeting. Therefore, I am asking all GBC members to come to Mayapur early and hold the meeting in my presence
- The Krsna consciousness movement is not that we are asking everyone to become a sannyasi like me, and give up everything. No. That is not our program
- The so-called foolish scientists don't care for God. They think by so-called scientific advancement all problems will be solved. One of my students, he is double M.A. in Chemistry and Ph.D. I asked him to discuss these things. He has written a small book
- There is no question of asking you to go away from Bhaktivedanta Manor. I have received word also from other sources that the situation has improved since you have come there. I have sent a detailed letter to Mukunda and this explains my desire
- There is one boy, "D.D.D.," I call him. He is always engaged in making arati, in worshiping Jagannatha. His father sent him some toys. He did not take it. So I asked him, "Why you are not taking the toys?" And he said, - It is maya
- They are making machine perfect, but they cannot make themselves perfect. Why don't you ask that "Why don't you make a machine that you will not die? Your machine will not die, I accept. You are so perfect. But why you will die? Why he will die?"
- This marriage is serious business and not to be taken lightly. There is no question of separation in Krishna Conscious marriages. Therefore I am asking all those who want to be married that they sign one paper promising that there will be no separation
- This sanction was given, "Touch it," reluctantly. Now when he gets experience and I ask him, "Touch again?" "No." So this sanction
W
- We are doing the same thing. When we go to God we ask Him, "Kindly give me the bundle on my head. My family become may happy. I may have a large amount of money to enjoy material things." We ask that. That is our foolishness
- We are not magician, but we ask our students "Simply you chant this transcendental vibration," and he becomes gradually cleansed of all dirty things within the heart. This is our process
- We asked this question, bhoga-tyaga, to our Guru Maharaja
- We come sometimes to the priestly order. I ask them that "Lord Jesus Christ says: "Thou shalt not kill." Why you are killing?" They cannot give us any satisfactory answer. Where is Christian? The first commandment is violated by the so-called Christians
- We do not say anything that can be defied by anyone. That experience we have. Rather, we defy everyone: "Any questions?" Till now, Krsna has given us protection. In big, big meetings in big, big countries, after speaking I ask, - Any questions
- We require personalities like you to join this movement wholeheartedly, but because you have got wife and children I am hesitating to ask you to close your business. As a responsible head of a family you should consider this point seriously
- When I ask you, "Create another plane like a fly or mosquito," you are unable to do it. Then why do you take, "There is no God, science is everything." Why do you say like that?
- When I was grhastha, I was going in so many temples, asking for some prasadam. That's a long history. So there is no question of, if one is financially poor, he should come to the temple. Everyone should come to the temple and ask for prasada
- When I was living in New York, among the people coming to our classes was an old lady who had a grown son. I asked her, "Why doesn't your son get married?" She replied, "Yes, he can marry when he can maintain a family
- When our student become serious to be initiated, we ask that you must give up these four prohibited principles. So, no illicit sex life, no gambling, no meat-eating and no intoxication
- When the spirit soul is out of your body, then I am asking you, "Mr. Ali, Mr. Ali, get up." Who is hearing? Your ear is there, but you cannot hear - finished. Therefore the spiritual senses, that is real sense. Do you follow what I say
- Wherever you may be please continue your preaching. I also may ask you to cooperate with the temple authorities there and always chant Hare Krishna on your beads and follow the rules and regulations as I have given
Y
- Yes, if I ask my servant that "You ask me to get up at seven o'clock," that does not mean.... (laughter)
- 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
- You can sleep this way. I am asking you. Yes, you're sleeping. You can go and sleep. Don't make here
- You must execute the duties. Just like we have asked our students to finish sixteen rounds chanting minimum. Sixteen rounds is nothing. In Vrndavana there are many devotees, they chant 120 rounds. Like that. So sixteen rounds is the minimum
- You remember, you were driving your father's car, eighty miles. So I asked you, "Don't go so fast"