Category:My Words (Prabhupada)
Theme Analysis
Śrīla Prabhupāda often described his own words not as his personal creation but as "ambrosial" instructions flowing directly from the Supreme Personality of Godhead through the disciplic succession. This category explores the transcendental nature of the spiritual master's words (vāṇī). Unlike mundane speech, these words possess the potency to deliver the disciple from illusion, provided they are received without "addition or subtraction." The analysis highlights the principle that the guru is eternally present in his words, and by living according to these instructions, the disciple remains sharpened as a spiritual weapon, capable of defeating the influence of the material world.
- The Divine Source: Śrīla Prabhupāda consistently disclaimed authorship of the philosophy, stating that he was simply repeating the words of Kṛṣṇa and Lord Caitanya. Because the source is perfect, the words are "ambrosial."
- Vāṇī over Vapuḥ: The physical presence of the guru (vapuḥ) is temporary, but his words (vāṇī) are eternal. Service to the instruction is declared to be more important than physical service.
- Strict Fidelity: The qualification of a disciple is the ability to repeat the words of the guru "word-for-word" without alteration. This strict adherence preserves the purity of the paramparā system.
- Sharpening the Weapon: Following the guru's words is not a passive act; it sharpens the disciple's spiritual intelligence, allowing Kṛṣṇa to give them the strength to preach and defeat opposing arguments.
- Final Authority: For a sincere disciple, the word of the spiritual master is the "final agreement." Whether regarding business dealings or spiritual practice, the guru's word is the ultimate standard of truth.
- Explore the synthesized essence of this category in this Vanipedia article: Ambrosial Instructions - The Transformative Power of Prabhupāda's Words.
Pages in category "My Words (Prabhupada)"
The following 25 pages are in this category, out of 25 total.
I
- I am not manufacturing the words "foolish" and "rascal." It is said by Krsna
- I am speaking simply what the Supreme Personality of Godhead has said. I'm just repeating the same words. That's all. Don't think that I am speaking. I am simply instrument. Real speaker is the Supreme Personality of Godhead, who is without and within
- I have given you such valuable things, day and night trying to convince you, each word to word; if you don't take advantage of this, then what can I do for you?
- I tried to give aural reception to the words of my Spiritual Master, Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Goswami Maharaja, and thus I tried to engage my tongue in repeating the same words without any change
- If there is any doubt, that "I cannot accept his words verbatim," then one should not accept him as spiritual master. That is hypocrisy. One must be first of all convinced
- If we keep to the vani to the words of spiritual master, then we remain very fixed up
- If you all carry these words successively, then the transcendental parampara system will be exactly maintained and people in general will be benefited
T
- That he (the guru) was speaking, vani and vapuh. Even if you don't see his body, you take his word, vani
- The first thing is that I have already given you my word, so there is no need of an agreement with me. My word is final agreement, but if you want it for business reasons, I have no objections to sign it
- The government is spending millions of dollars to stop LSD and other drug intoxication, but my students are giving up everything simply by following my word. So why isn't the government coming forward to help me?
- The words are ambrosial because they are not my personal words, they are instructions of my predecessors and I am just trying to administer them to my best knowledge. That is the way of Parampara system
- They are not my words (in my books and letters and my speaking at meetings), as I have repeatedly informed you that I am simply the bearer of the message from Lord Chaitanya through the disciplic succession and I do not make any addition or subtraction
- To serve the Spiritual Master's word is more important than to serve him physically