Category:What Can Be Done? (Prabhupada)
Theme Analysis
Śrīla Prabhupāda’s frequent use of the rhetorical question "What can be done?" reveals his profound realization of the individual soul's minute independence and the heavy influence of Kali-yuga. Rather than expressing helplessness, this phrase signifies a state of deep tolerance and practical detachment. He understood that while the medicine of Kṛṣṇa consciousness is perfect, its efficacy depends on the patient's willingness to take it. Whether facing internal disagreements among his disciples, the external opposition of a godless society, or the personal failings of those he loved, Śrīla Prabhupāda remained fixed in his duty. He teaches us that a devotee must endeavor with all sincerity, but ultimately accept the reality of human nature and the supreme will of Kṛṣṇa with a compassionate heart.
- Tolerance of Human Nature: Śrīla Prabhupāda emphasizes that differences of opinion and occasional failures are natural among conditioned souls, requiring a leader to remain patient and tolerant rather than becoming discouraged.
- The Choice to be Guided: He highlights the frustration of seeing people choose to be cheated by bluffers, noting that if an individual is determined to remain in ignorance, even the most potent spiritual message cannot force their surrender.
- Practicality in Preaching: For the sake of spreading Lord Caitanya's mission, Śrīla Prabhupāda was willing to make practical adjustments to tradition, demonstrating that the essence of service is more important than external formalities.
- Faith Amidst Obstacles: When faced with legal, financial, or social setbacks, the mood of "What can be done?" serves as a reminder to depend on Kṛṣṇa while continuing to execute one's prescribed duties to the best of one's ability.
- Explore the synthesized essence of this category in this Vanipedia article: What Can Be Done? - Prabhupāda’s Compassionate Tolerance in the Mission.
Pages in category "What Can Be Done? (Prabhupada)"
The following 81 pages are in this category, out of 81 total.
A
- A difference between godbrothers is natural. That difference of opinion will continue, what can be done
- A sadhu is advised, titiksavah, tolerate. Tolerate all this nonsense. What can be done? We have no other alternative to tolerate. Nobody's coming to help us, our business is so thankless task
- Actually, this liberation by chanting Hare Krsna is happening. But people want to be misguided. And there are so many bluffers to misguide them. What can be done
- As you say the Indians are cheaters even though not all of them. The majority who come and join us, it has been experienced, they are not sincere. Under the circumstances what can be done, I do not know
B
- Because people want to be cheated, men such as you mention have become very popular. They are preaching all nonsense and the people are accepting them, but if someone wants to be cheated, what can be done?
- Better allow them (the grhasthas) to live together. What can be done? But we cannot lose them. After training so much, if they are lost, then that is a great loss. This I am giving hint. Now you GBC, you change them. Make process
- Both the girls and the boys should be trained up. Then they'll be responsible husband and wife and live peacefully. In their young days, if you give them freedom, they'll spoil. What can be done?
F
- For preaching I have violated so many things. What can be done? As far as possible, I have kept pace
- From reports I have received it appears that affairs at Bhaktivedanta Manor and Bury Place London have deteriorated to the critical stage, and therefore I am asking you to go there immediately and see what can be done
G
- Generally I don't have much faith in these politicians. They are no more interested for the welfare of the citizens. Simply they want some votes to exploit others. But let us see what can be done
- God exists, we have given so many proofs. If the rascal cannot understand, what can be done? There is mother, there is children; where is the father? This is our argument. Mother, the earth is mother
H
- He has drifted from our society completely and his letter is very discouraging. He has accused everyone save himself. So I do not know what can be done with him
- He must have some companion, but he doesn't want family, the botheration of family. Then dog is the best friend. What can be done? This is going on, and it will increase more and more, more and more
- He was not satisfied. He (Acyutananda) touched his feet, but still (started shouting). Then what can be done? He is a rascal, that Damodara Maharaja. Nobody likes him. I guess he is mad
- Here in Bombay they also have the complaint that we are nuisance. What can be done?
- How they are spoiling the opportunity in the whole educational system, social system, political system. Let us do our duty. What can be done
I
- I am not very enthusiastic about the Harmonist idea, but if you have to sell Back To Godhead for minimum $1.00 then do it, what can be done?
- I am sorry to learn that Visvanatha and Kunti Devi did not take this very seriously. What can be done? They will have to wait to the next life, or if Krishna's Mercy is there, they will come back surely
- I did not go to your country taking Vrndavana with me. I had to stay in places where in the refrigerator there is meat. And I was cooking. When opened it I saw, "Here is meat. All right, what can be done? Hare Krsna." That's all
- I don't think Acyutananda can be engaged as leader in any group. He can work only as assistant. So you write them as far as possible. Otherwise, let them come back - what can be done?
- I have no objection if Aravinda stays in my room for a few days more before returning to USA. Of course, it is not proper formal etiquette, but if he is insisting, what can be done?
- I know that all big leaders are falling victim to sex-life. So let her live in New York and you live in Paris with your wife, what can be done?
- I understand that the mrdanga instruction to our devotees is a failure. So retain the teachers and have them engage our students, but if the students are so dull what can be done?
- If one does not know who God is, who Krsna is, and if one does not surrender to Him, then where is the question of knowledge? But if a rascal claims that "I am a man of knowledge," what can be done
- If the cost is about Rs 5/- per record then would they be sold at Rs. 10/-? I do not know at what price you have sold them in the past. Anyway if you have already placed the order with Gramaphone Co. then what can be done?
- If they are giving us trouble to distribute at the airports, then go to the courts. What can be done?
- If they think that they can do some business, let them do it. What can be done? If they cannot produce food, then let them do business
- If we could get even small land just to keep our office, for the purpose I thought the land was nice. Visit, and if you all think even for that purpose it is no good then give up the idea; what can be done?
- India's original culture is all right. But unfortunately, our modern leaders, they are killing the original culture. They want to introduce Western culture. Now it is openly there are beef shop, wine shop. So what can be done? It is Kali-yuga
- It is most unfortunate to hear of the manner in which you have been mistreated by the doctors. But what can be done now about that?
- It is understood that Maharishi Mahesa says that one can drink, and at the same time make advancement in meditation, is clearly a cheating process. But what can be done, your countrymen also wants to be cheated like that
K
- Keep bugs from the altar and Deity. You cannot allow them to disturb the Deity. Best is that you try and catch them and throw them out rather than kill them but if killing them is the only alternative, what can be done?
- Krsna consciousness movement should be taken very seriously to solve all the questions of the world. But they want to remain in ignorance, in darkness. Let us do our duty. What can be done
- Krsna is offering all opportunities, and we, humble servant of Krsna, we are trying to preach it. But the rascals will not accept it. What can be done? That is the difficulty. They want to continue to remain as rascals
M
O
- Of course it is a novel thing, that a sannyasi is taking part in marriage. But what can be done? I have to execute my mission
- Once opened it cannot be closed. Somehow or other you have to manage to continue the temple worship. That is the devotional cult. If they are closed and it is impossible to re-open, then what can be done?
- One can become liberated simply by chanting Hare Krsna mantra. This is real Vedanta. And actually it is happening. So they want to be misguided. And there are so many bluffers, they misguide them. What can be done?
- One who has no intelligence, he will continue to suffer. What can be done? You cannot say that, "I am not surrendered." You are surrendered to your dictation of the senses
R
- Read my books and do some menial service, but why you have left Mayapur? You are restless, so what can be done
- Regarding having your wife do the management, if there are no men available then what can be done?
- Regarding Miami that you want to replace Abhirama, yes a capable man must be there, what can be done. But I have already written that he can marry that girl and divorce his wife
- Regarding our involvement with the property in Bombay: by chance we have been entangled but now a strong committee should be formed of our life members. Let them take it up, otherwise what can be done?
- 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 London affair, what can be done. This is the American and European habit of diplomacy. Unless there is spiritual advancement they will do by their nature like this
S
- $70,000. or $80,000. should have been collected, but Karandhara has only collected $24,000. So where is the rest of the money? This means that the money is not being collected properly. What can be done?
- So don't spoil the movement by manufacturing ideas. Don't do that. Go on in the standard way, keep yourself pure; then movement is sure to be successful. But if you want to spoil it by whimsical, then what can be done?
- So far as the devotees at our Montreal center working at regular jobs during the winter months, that is not very good, but if there is no other way what can be done?
- So we have to somehow or other push on and Krishna will give us a chance. For yourself also you can try and take a visa as a teacher and some of your students may demand your presence. We have to play some tricks for Krishna's sake. What can be done?
- So, yes it can be continued. It is 3 per cent less than what they were giving. What can be done?
- Someone of the GBC will come there and Brahmananda will be transferred to somewhere else. Perhaps he can go to Europe. If Brahmananda also falls then of course there will be trouble there. What can be done?
T
- The marriage relationship is not for sex. Of course, that is the way in this age. So, such wife may marry for the second time, what can be done? Vedic marriage is not for sex
- The most important point is that everyone, especially the leaders, must always stick to the basic regulative practices that I have given, especially 16 rounds each day. So, now what can be done?
- There is a Sanskrit saying, Do according to the country's laws. If both the present husband and wife agree to divorce, then they can do it and re-marry, what can be done?
- There is good scope for distributing Gujarati and Hindi books in Fiji, but if there is mismanagement then what can be done
- These sahajiyas will come out of so many devotees. What can be done? From my Guru Maharaja's disciples, so many sahajiyas came
- Try to get the certified copy. Otherwise, what can be done? Do not be discouraged. Go on serving sincerely. Your success is your sincere desire to serve Krsna
W
- We are doing something good for the whole world. Present the scholars' opinions. They have the power, we are powerless. What can be done? Depend on Krishna
- We are prepared to pay cash 4 lacs less what we have already paid. Otherwise they must return our money and pay all damages, interest, etc, and we shall leave the temple as it is and shall go away: what can be done
- We are trying to save them, "Don't become dog. Just become god or godly." This is our movement. But they are persistent to become dog. Even they are coming here, again falling. Persistent to become dog. So that is nature's law, what can be done?
- We do not allow divorce, but in your country it is a common thing. Although we do not like it, according to the country, what can be done?
- We have to meet rascals and we have to preach. The world is full of rascals, mudha. What can be done? But we cannot change our preaching because the rascals are many. That is not . . . we cannot make that
- We must be tolerant like the tree and humble like the blade of grass. Such persons can chant the Hare Krishna mantra and preach. In Bombay we are undergoing so many tribulations. What can be done?
- We should bring the matter in the court. We have the opinions of so many scholars. Bring the matter in the court. But if it is a state policy to cut down this Movement, then civil disobedience. What can be done?
- We sit down, don't use any chair, any couches, unnecessarily, carpet. What expenditure? We have no expenditure for personal self. And still you are faulty? What can be done
- When I went to your country, actually sometimes I had to live in a hell according to our Indian standard, Vedic standard. So what can be done? Hell or heaven, I have to do my duty
Y
- Yes, Swami Bon is envious. What can be done?
- You are elderly man, educated man, you prefer to take guidance from the Americans, not from Krsna. So what can be done? That is Krsna's ill luck and your misfortune. What can be done?
- You ask if children may be taken to ordinary medical doctors. Why not? Of course we do not always trust that these doctors maybe doing the right thing, but what can be done?
- You can do it (to surrender to Krsna) immediately, but unfortunately you'll not do it. What can be done? There is a story, I may narrate it. One poor man was begging on the street, and Lord Siva and Parvati was passing as ordinary man
- You say that the women with children make their schedules around their children. That is the difficulty for family men, their first worshipable object becomes the children. What can be done?
- Your first consideration must be to see that your children become Krishna conscious, and if your husband will not take his responsibility, then what can be done? Simply you must keep to the principles, and pray to Krishna to help you
- Your husband has gone away so what can be done