Category:I Tell You (Prabhupada)
Theme Analysis
The category exploring Śrīla Prabhupāda's use of the phrase "I tell you" uncovers his dual role as a fearless speaker of unpalatable truths and an intimately caring spiritual father sharing his personal realizations. When he spoke to the public or to leaders, he used "I tell you frankly" to cut through illusion, boldly condemning modern education as a "slaughterhouse," predicting the failure of space travel, and challenging religious hypocrisy. Yet, when addressing his disciples, the tone of "I tell you" often shifted to deep intimacy. He used the phrase to share his own life story—his reluctance to take sannyāsa, his early rejections from wealthy foundations, and the absolute secret of his success: his unwavering faith in the instruction of his Guru Mahārāja. Through these statements, Śrīla Prabhupāda demonstrated that whether he was challenging the world or confiding in his followers, his words were consistently meant to pull souls out of darkness and anchor them to the Absolute Truth.
- Fearless and Frank Preaching: Śrīla Prabhupāda frequently used "I tell you frankly" to deliver uncompromising assessments of modern society, exposing the flaws of Godless education, the futility of space exploration, and the uselessness of so-called philosophical interpretations that lack devotion.
- Sharing Personal Experience: He utilized this phrase to draw his disciples close, sharing intimate stories from his own life, such as his initial struggles to establish the movement, his lack of desire to take sannyāsa, and his experiences with prominent figures like Mahatma Gandhi.
- The Secret of Success: In moments of deep instruction, he emphasized, "I tell you frankly, whatever little success is there... I simply believed what was spoken by my Guru Mahārāja," establishing strict adherence to the spiritual master as the only path to perfection.
- Direct Instruction and Discipline: He used "I tell you" to set firm boundaries, instructing his disciples that he could not endorse sinful behavior, demanding attentiveness during his lectures ("If somebody dozes... I tell you frankly... better not to sit"), and clarifying standards for raising and educating children.
- Explore the synthesized essence of this category in this Vanipedia article: I Tell You - Prabhupāda's Fearless Preaching and Intimate Guidance.
Pages in category "I Tell You (Prabhupada)"
The following 44 pages are in this category, out of 44 total.
I
- I cannot become liberal and tell everybody, "Go ahead and do all nonsense and you can become God conscious." I cannot possibly recommend that
- I have already told you, Ivory Jewels, conchshell and cow dung are all pure. Everything is pure when employed in the service of the Lord
- I have already told you, your first business is to see about the publication of my books
- I have come here for the first time, but before me, Bhagavan dasa, he has organized. But what is his credit? He has presented the thing as I have told him. That's all. This is wonderful
- I shall always try to enlighten you to my best capacity. You have kindly asked me what you have to do. That I shall tell you later on, when you are fixed up in our line of thought
- I tell you as a sincere friend that you must immediately retire from active politics if you do not desire to die an inglorious death. You have 125 years to live as you have desired to live but you if you die an inglorious death it is no worth
- I tell you frankly, whatever little success is there in this Krsna consciousness movement, I simply believed what was spoken by my Guru Maharaja. You also continue that. Then every success will come
- I tell you my practical experience. I wrote some letters some good foundation that "I want to start here in America an institution for God consciousness, international institution for God consciousness. You kindly help me." Now, they have flatly refused
- I tell you the that impression will never go. It is such a thing. But if we take it up very seriously and go on molding our life in that way, then it becomes quickly successful
- I think that your separation from Karunamayi is Krishna's desire. So don't be sorry for it. In this connection I may tell you my personal life experience
- I told you that in my horoscope it was declared that after seventieth year, I shall go to foreign countries and I shall establish many temples. In my horoscope that is. Now I see it is coming practically
- 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 was telling you that my Guru Maharaja hinted that "If you get some money, you publish book." So from the very beginning, I am trying that. So this is specific. Other, following rules and regulations, that is all right. But a specific
- I'll tell you another story about Mahatma Gandhi. My Guru Maharaja invited him in our matha
- If I tell you to come from the darkness into the light and if you don't come, that is your misfortune. Maya is there, and God is there. If you want to remain in maya, then how can you be saved
- 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 you question me that "Swamiji, why you have taken sannyasa?" You may ask that question. Yes. So I may tell you frankly that I had no desire to accept this sannyasa
- If you want to know me, you can imagine so many things: "Swamiji may be this. Swamiji may be that, like that, like this, like that." They are all imperfect. But if I tell you about myself openly that "I am like this," then your knowledge is perfect
- In a suitable moment you can talk with Mr. Kallman that Swamiji was telling that he has not received any royalty of 5%. The agreement is there; so he must pay. But if he does not pay we don't mind; we shall issue our own records and try to sell
- It is not a new movement, because as I told you, that this is based on the principles of Bhagavad-gita, and Bhagavad-gita is not new. At least from historical point of view, it is five thousand years old
O
- One must become a Vaisnava. Otherwise, his so-called ideas and interpretation has no value. Has no value. Just like in your country, South India, Dr. Radhakrishnan, he has done so many works. But to tell you frankly, it is useless labor
- Our children are going, these boys, they are taking prasadam, we are taking prasadam, we are traveling all over the world, spending, as I told you, over 700,000's of rupees per month, but we have no source of income fixed
S
- So far making tapes of Ajamila series, I have told Los Angeles tape-making operation that they should distribute to our devotees at cost price - to nondevotee that is another thing
- 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. (laughs) For me fasting is good. If I eat more-atyaharah
- Srnvatam sva-kathah krsnah. Krsna, as I already told you, Krsna is situated in everyone's heart. So when people are anxious to hear about Krsna, this is the only qualification
- Suppose there are so many rich men in your country and so many foundations also. And I tell you my practical experience. I wrote some letters to some good foundation
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- The modern educational system without any knowledge of Bhagavan, I may tell you frankly, not only in India, everywhere, they are practically slaughterhouse
- This is the argument. You are so rascal that you cannot admit your rascaldom. Just like this moon planet expedition. But I, sixteen years before, I told that these are rascals. Therefore I am right
- This is the order. Guru-mukha-padma-vakya, cittete koriya aikya. Now citta means consciousness or heart. "I shall do this only, bas. My Guru Maharaja told me; I shall do this." Cittete koriya aikya, ar na koriho mane asa
- This Mars expedition will be a failure. Let them spend millions of dollars. I told about moon planet ten years ago. Simply it is childish, simply a waste of money and energy. I told this. Now it has proved
- To keep the whole human society in perfect happiness, according to the direction of God. Just like I told you that Krsna says, annad bhavanti bhutani. If you want to keep the living entities, both men and animal, you must arrange for their nice fooding
- To take care of the children, to educate them, that will depend on their parents. Now our Pradyumna was complaining that in the Gurukula, his child was not educated to count one, two, three, four. So I have told him that "You educate your child"