Category:I May Be (Prabhupada)
Theme Analysis
When Śrīla Prabhupāda says "I may be," he often contrasts his perceived personal limitations with the absolute perfection of the message he carries. This phrase reveals a profound humility combined with unbreakable spiritual confidence. It also highlights his constant desire to be relieved of management to focus on writing, his dependence on Kṛṣṇa and his Guru, and his philosophical understanding that true perfection comes not from individual greatness, but from faithful surrender to the disciplic succession.
- The Perfection of an "Imperfect" Messenger: Śrīla Prabhupāda frequently stated, "I may be imperfect." He did this not to admit mundane fault, but to emphasize that his power came entirely from repeating the perfect words of Kṛṣṇa without alteration. He taught that one does not need to be an absolute controller or a flawless material entity to deliver perfect knowledge; one simply needs to be an honest transmitter.
- Delegating Management to Translate Books: As the worldwide ISKCON movement grew, Śrīla Prabhupāda increasingly used "I may be" to express his desire to form a Governing Body Commission (GBC). His goal was clear: he wanted his disciples to manage the affairs cooperatively so that he "may be spared" and could dedicate his remaining time to translating Vedic literature.
- Dependence on Prayers and Mercy: Despite being a completely liberated soul, Śrīla Prabhupāda exhibited intense humility. He frequently requested his disciples and well-wishers to pray to Kṛṣṇa so that he "may be able to execute his duty" or "may be inspired" to continue his vast preaching work.
- The Supreme Controller vs. The Subordinate Controller: Philosophically, Śrīla Prabhupāda used "I may be" to define the living entity's position. He explained that "I may be" a controller of a few things or a few people, but Kṛṣṇa is the Supreme Controller of all controllers. This understanding eradicates false ego and establishes the soul in its natural position of service.
- Explore the synthesized essence of this category in this Vanipedia article: I May Be - Prabhupāda’s Humility and Perfect Representation.
Pages in category "I May Be (Prabhupada)"
The following 30 pages are in this category, out of 30 total.
I
- I am also pleased to hear something about Kirtanananda's party, and if you have them, kindly send me one photo of these painted busses, how they look, so I may be inspired by seeing them
- 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 now old man, and attacked with serious disease; I may be overcome by death at any moment. Therefore I wish to leave some trained preachers so that they can do the work of Krishna Consciousness in the western world. That is my ambition
- I am very hopeful for this GBC that you will work in such a way that I may be completely relieved from all management of this society
- I do not follow why you should feel uneasy in my presence. The easiest thing for you & for all others is to follow my instructions wherever you may be or I may be
- I have got many ideas for developing the new Vrindaban scheme and if Krishna gives me opportunity I may be able to show something very wonderful in your country
- I hope you all pray to Krishna so I may be able to execute my duty properly
- I may be imperfect - I am imperfect, actually I am imperfect - but I am carrying the message, Krsna. Krsna says: "I am the SPG"; we say: "Krsna is the SPG." Krsna says that, "You surrender unto Me"; we say, - Just surrender unto Krsna
- I may be imperfect, but because I receive knowledge from a perfect person, my knowledge is perfect. This is called parampara system
- I may be in designation your Spiritual Master, but actually I am servant of the servant of Krishna, and because you are all sincere servants of Krishna, I am your servant
- I may be whatever it is. That is the business
- I thank you very much for your kind words, and you can pray to Krishna that I may be for some time with you. That is my desire
- I wish to die without a doctor. I may be seriously, but don't call doctor. Chant Hare Krsna. Don't be disturbed. Everyone has to die. Let us die peacefully, without doctor
- If you inquire whether I am perfect or my disciples who are preaching this Krsna conscious movement, they are perfect, we may be imperfect. We are imperfect. We accept we are imperfect. But we are distributing the perfect knowledge
M
- My desire is that some of our experienced members who have proved their sincerity of service may form the GBC Board so that the management of the whole institution may go on smoothly, and I may be relieved of affairs of management
- My father never prayed that "My son may become very rich man." He never prayed like that. Actually, his ardent desire that his son may become a Vaisnava. And my Guru Maharaja's training has put me this position
- My idea in forming the GBC is that I may be spared from the management and use my time for translating books
P
- Physically and mentally we may be disturbed sometimes, but we have to stand erect on the spiritual platform. I may inform you in the connection that I am at the present moment physically unfit
- Please go on all working together in cooperative spirit and do the needful; then I may be spared taxing my brain over so many matters and I can go on my real work of translating
W
- We are animals of the land, so if we are put into the water, then however expert swimmer I may be or you may be, it is simply struggle for existence
- We are isvara, we may be isvara. I may be isvara for few persons, another may be for a big nation, another may be for the... You can go on increasing. But you cannot reach the, position of God
- We don't depend on my own intelligence. We depend on Krsna's intelligence. That is the difference. Then, if Krsna is perfect, then my intelligence is perfect. I may be not perfect, but because I take Krsna's intelligence, therefore I'm perfect
Y
- You are yourself authority. Now, if you say my views are not correct, I may be incorrect but I am following the predecessor
- You may be controller; I may be controller; he may be controller; but not controller like Krsna. Krsna can control all other controllers. Therefore He is called supreme controller, Paramesvara, Paramatma, Parabrahman
- You should work cooperatively in such a way that we don't deviate from the policy, and conjointly, consulting together, so that I may be relieved from petty minor things. But if there is some difficulty, I am at your service
- Your appreciation of my adventure at this part of my life has encouraged me, and I think that by the prayers of good souls like you I may be able to work for sometime more in the interest of this great movement