Category:Our Decisions (Disciples of SP)
Theme Analysis
To properly establish the spiritual framework of his society, removing the concept of personal, whimsical choices is a foundational lesson Śrīla Prabhupāda instills in his followers. He explains that true surrender requires giving up one's independent free will and strictly aligning one's actions with the desires of Kṛṣṇa and the disciplic succession. However, regarding the practical management of the worldwide movement, he establishes a cooperative system where his disciples, particularly the Governing Body Commission (GBC), must jointly decide on administrative and personal matters. This dual approach ensures that while devotees remain completely surrendered in philosophical principle, they also develop the mature responsibility required to maintain the society through mutual consultation.
- The True Meaning of Surrender: Giving up personal motivations and deciding strictly to follow the instructions of the supreme master is the very definition of becoming a devotee.
- Relinquishing Free Will: A neophyte often struggles with personal desires, but advancement in Kṛṣṇa consciousness means the continuous internal debate of "should I do this or that" is completely stopped.
- Empowering the Governing Body: To ensure he can focus entirely on translating the Srimad-Bhagavatam and other Vedic literature, all administrative and managerial choices are deliberately handed over to the GBC.
- Cooperative Consultation: Individual, whimsical dictates are discouraged; leaders must sit together, especially during the annual Mayapur meetings, to make united resolutions for the entire society.
- Personal Life Choices: Whether one decides to enter household life or remain a celibate monk, the decision must be practical, free from sentimentalism, and ideally confirmed by senior Godbrothers to ensure steady spiritual progress.
- Explore the synthesized essence of this category in this Vanipedia article: Prabhupāda Teaches His Disciples That Surrender Means No Independent Decisions.
Pages in category "Our Decisions (Disciples of SP)"
The following 69 pages are in this category, out of 69 total.
A
- Actually that mentality is sannyasa. It doesn't matter whether we have changed the dress or not, but if we decide it, that "I am eternal servant of Krsna; my only duty is to serve Krsna," that is sannyasa
- Actually, I have appointed the GBC men to act on my behalf, so it is their responsibility now to sanction such matters and make decisions of management
- Acyutananda wanted to come back, so it was very welcome suggestion. But I think he might have changed his decision again. I do not know what to do with this boy. And if they want to remain in India, they must do something tangible work for our society
- After marrying, certainly there will be some disagreement or misunderstanding between husband and wife. So consider all these points, and you can decide yourself. But if you marry, I have no objection
- All of you are expert painters, so your mutual decision for painting a picture is more valuable than my suggestion
- All of you are sincere devotees pledged to the missionary activities, so you should sit together and decide what to do and what not to do
- All these questions should be directed to the GBC members, as my desire is to simply translate, and leave the management matters for them to decide
- Anyway, both your wife and yourself cannot think of marrying again; that is not my advice. Even if your wife decides to marry again, for your part you should forget it
D
- Decide amongst yourselves what is to be done and do the needful. This is management. You have asked about the management of our society, and the position is that management should be done in such a way that people may not break away
- Devotee hasn't got any personal decision. That is the process of Krsna consciousness. Evam parampara-praptam imam rajarsayo viduh. We should decide by the order of Krsna through the disciplic succession, via media, the spiritual master. That is required
F
- First of all, you decide whether you are female or male, then be one or the other. Then, you may enter our temple any time you like. But sometimes man and sometimes woman, that is not proper. Such awkward thing cannot be allowed
- From your letter, it appears that you need a change of activities. I think it will be best if you come to the festival at Mayapur and from there we can decide what project will be best for you to become involved in
I
- I am always glad to know that you are there to help manage the affairs of the San Francisco center so I am glad that you have decided to remain there as president
- I am forwarding a copy of this letter to Gurudas, so during Ratha Yatra festival you must meet together and make a decision of this World Samkirtan Party
- I am free to come to Calcutta for holding our festival, but these things should be decided amongst all of you leaders in India, including Gurudasa, Giriraja, Tamala, Bhavananda, Gargamuni
- I am glad that you have decided to give your time now fully to serving Krsna directly, but do not misunderstand the position of "outside" jobs. Any work performed by a devotee in KC is never work on the material platform although it may appear to be so
- I am so glad to understand that you have decided to dedicate your life for Krishna Consciousness Movement, this is the right way of perfecting our mission of human life
- I am so pleased to learn that you are feeling well, and you have decided to stay therein Berlin and open a temple. It is so much pleasing to me
- I am very glad you decided to marry and I quite approve of it. My married couple disciples are doing very nice service to Krishna Consciousness in Hawaii, Japan, London, Los Angeles, Boston, New York, etc
- I am very much anxious to have a center in Calcutta, so both those places are very suitable for our purpose. Now you have to decide which one we shall take and work for it immediately
- I do not know why by talking on telephone you should decide such an important transaction. I hope either you or Tamala Krishna should not act anything in this connection without consulting our friends like Pannala Pittie and finally approved by me
- I fully approve of the decisions made by you as follows
- I think there is no need of getting a degree. If you can spare some time, you try to learn Bengali, from Sriman Prabhansu. It will be a great asset for our Mission; and as you have decided to work to get money, I quite approve
- I think you should consult your Godbrothers in this connection. So I have no objection if you decide to marry as a matter of necessity
- If he fails to find out a good master, then he's street dog. Dog's life is good, provided he gets a good master. So therefore we have decided to become dog of Krsna, the best master
- If there is fighting then how will you manage? So the whole GBC committee must decide if there is fighting
- If we decide that "Whatever Krsna has said, we have to do it at any risk," that is Krsna consciousness. "Krsna has said. My Guru Maharaja said. We have to do it"
- If you decide to marry, there are many devotee girls, and one of them may be a very nice companion for your devotional life. You prefer to be free, but a devoted wife is as good as freedom
- If you decide to remain as brahmacari, then I may call you back for my personal assistance when I return to the States. I was very much pleased with your service. May Krishna bless you more and more
- If you have taken to Krsna consciousness, your, that current of "do it" or "do not," is stopped. Because you have agreed to do only what Krsna says. If you have actually decided like that, then you are free
- If you look after Spiritual Sky business, I have no objection. Hamsaduta is here and I have discussed with him. I have given the decision over to the GBC men. Whatever they decide, I shall accept
- In the beginning we thought and consulted in so many ways and then settled up to purchase the machine. Why have you now decided to rent it and make an experiment? This is puzzling
- It does not mean that because occupation duty is not the real consideration, that I should give it up and do something else, thinking that devotional service may be carried on under whatever circumstances which I may whimsically decide
K
- Kanpur is the next important city after Calcutta and Bombay. Therefore his decision to start immediately one center at Kanpur is acceptable
- Krishna wants to see that the life is sacrificed, but also accumulation, money, should be given to Krishna. Life to Krishna and money to wife is not a good decision
- Krsna knows everything of your purpose, and He gives you opportunity to work as you have decided. If you decide to enjoy this material world, Krsna will give you intelligence how to become very nice businessman, nice politician, very nice cunning man...
N
- Naturally, I want to see that all of my centres are going nicely, so is it not possible to mitigate the differences of opinion and work smoothly, conjointly. So best thing is that we wait for the Mayapur meeting and decide there combinedly what to do
- Neophyte means no independent decisions, no free will, that means surrender
- Now I have to create more sannyasis to lecture on our philosophy, and I shall pick these sannyasis from the brahmacaris who are firm in their decision not to marry
R
- Regarding distribution of Spiritual Sky Incense profits to aleviate financial difficulties, you GBC members decide amongst yourselves as to the proper course of action and whatever you decide amongst yourselves, I have no objection
- Regarding my books, everyone should read. I am also reading. Everyone should be engaged 24 hours. That is the sum and substance. How much you should read and how much you should do other types of service, that has to be decided by each individual devotee
- Regarding our Indian centers, it is already decided that in Bombay we must have a center first and negotiation is going on seriously. If we cannot open many centers in India, at least one center must be opened in Bombay before we go back to the States
- Regarding relocating New Kuruksetra and beginning the Bhaktivedanta Institute there, first of all decide among the scientists, Svarupa Damodara and party, and if they agree then I have no objection
- Regarding the letter to the draft board, I would like that you boys may decide among yourselves what is to be done. When you have decided amongst yourselves, send it to me and I shall sign
- Regarding the translations into Russian and other East European languages, you are the expert in the field, so however you decide to get the work done is alright. I will simply be very glad to receive any publications from these languages
- Regarding this matter of Spiritual Sky management, I have given the decision over to the GBC men. Whatever they decide, I will accept
- Regarding your correspondence with the leading men in India, I don't think it will be very much fruitful. Personally I have no faith in them, but if you decide to open correspondence with them, I have no objection
- Regarding your desire to return to Africa, I think that it would be best if the matter be decided at the next Mayapur meeting. Therefore kindly wait until then
- Regarding your joining the travelling party for Sanskrit work, I have no objection, but these things have to be decided amongst yourselves
- Regarding your new engagement, you can consult with Gurukrpa Maharaja and decide which engagement will be best for you
S
- So if you all think, Jayapataka, Tamala Krishna, and the others, my approval is there. Whatever you all decide in future in these matters, that's all right
- So to pass the examination means one must have knowledge. There are higher intelligent class of disciples, otherwise it is not compulsory. So how to organize it, how to do it, you GBC can decide. I have given the idea, now how to do it is up to the GBC
- So you GBC men now decide how to manage things so nicely so that I (Prabhupada) may spend my time solely for translating my books
T
- The decision to train African people to be nice preachers is a nice idea
- The International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) has decided to introduce the gurukula system of education for the proper training of young boys in the traditional gurukula way laid down in the Srimad-Bhagavatam
- The local management of affairs must be decided by the board, and that decision should be final
- The matter will have to be taken up by the GBC at their general meeting and whatever decision they make you will have to abide by. This business must stop. If you fight amongst yourselves what can I do? This fighting will spoil everything
- These matters of marriage between the devotees must be decided upon by the GBC men and other senior members by their mutual consultation. So in this case you consider with other GBC and senior men
- They promised before me to follow the principles. If they are not, then they are not allowed to initiate, but if they are actually following, then they are allowed. These things should be raised in our next meeting in Mayapur and decided
- This matter must be decided by the GBC. Let them consult together and decide. Whatever they decide is approved by me
W
- We have now decided to take legal proceedings against Nair because we have received one telegram from Tamala Krishna as follows: "Nair unreasonable, settlement impossible, immediately filing criminal and civil suits, letter follows, Tamala Krishna"
- We shall sit together in Mayapur if there is any complaint against one another. At the Mayapur meeting, whatever we have decided that is good for one year
Y
- You have asked me something for which it is difficult to answer from such a distant place. You are grown up girl you should rather decide what to do. Fix up your mind always in Krishna and He will give you good counsel
- You have to decide how to manage very nicely. Otherwise will is also given
- You must all jointly make these decisions about my program there, not that whimsically one man shall decide one thing another man shall decide another thing
- Your decision to fix up the feast room first is approved by me
- Your program for those who are desiring to take sannyasa is approved by me and I request that you make something concrete and distribute it to all the other GBC members and amongst yourselves you may decide who will take sannyasa