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Category:I Should (Prabhupada)

Theme Analysis

The category analyzing Śrīla Prabhupāda's use of the phrases "I should" and "we should" reveals his profound sense of duty, his unyielding dedication to his spiritual master, and his deep compassion for all living entities. When Śrīla Prabhupāda spoke about what he should do, he was rarely expressing personal preference; rather, he was articulating the absolute mandate given to him by his Guru Mahārāja. He recognized that his life was entirely meant for the eternal benefit of human society, leading him to cross the ocean and spread the message of Lord Kṛṣṇa despite immense personal inconvenience. Furthermore, he used "we should" as a fatherly directive to his disciples, establishing strict spiritual standards, urging them to cooperate, and emphasizing the paramount importance of book printing and distribution. As his mission expanded, his "I should" transformed into an earnest desire to retire from active management, pleading with his leading disciples to take charge so he could focus on his immortal work of writing books. Through these statements, we witness the heart of a perfect servant and a loving, visionary guide.

  • Executing His Guru's Order: Śrīla Prabhupāda repeatedly emphasized that his preaching, his traveling, and his book writing were not his own ideas, but direct instructions from his spiritual master that he felt he absolutely should and must execute.
  • Boundless Compassion: He expressed that his duty extended to all living entities, noting that if even a lizard is in the room, a devotee should see that it does not starve, proving that his mission was driven by universal, spiritual welfare.
  • Focusing on Transcendental Literature: As his disciples matured, he expressed that he should retire from administrative burdens to sit in a solitary place and translate the Vedic scriptures, urging his followers to prioritize printing and distributing these books over all else.
  • Setting the Standard for His Disciples: He used the phrase to establish the proper mood and behavior for his followers, explaining that as a spiritual master, he should find fault to help disciples progress, and that disciples should work cooperatively without interpreting Kṛṣṇa's clear words.

Pages in category "I Should (Prabhupada)"

The following 32 pages are in this category, out of 32 total.

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