Category:What Can I Do? (Prabhupada)
Theme Analysis
Śrīla Prabhupāda expresses a profound sense of spiritual responsibility coupled with the recognition of individual free will through the recurring inquiry "What can I do?". This synthesis highlights his role as a tireless benefactor who provides all necessary tools for spiritual success—instructions, literature, and personal prayer—while emphasizing that the disciple must ultimately choose to cooperate. His words reveal a heart burdened by the mismanagement, fighting, and purposeful negligence of his followers, yet he remains fixed in his duty to offer Kṛṣṇa consciousness to the world. Ultimately, he demonstrates that while he can provide the path and pray for the disciple's welfare, the act of walking that path remains the voluntary choice of the disciple.
- The Limitation of Free Will: Śrīla Prabhupāda emphasizes that spiritual life is voluntary and he cannot force anyone to follow the regulative principles or avoid māyā if they choose otherwise.
- Administrative Heartache and Management: Many instances of this phrase arise from Śrīla Prabhupāda's frustration with leaders who become whimsical, fight amongst themselves, or mismanage temple affairs from a distance.
- The Completeness of His Gift: He repeatedly points out that he has given everything—valuable books, constant instruction, and the holy name—leaving the responsibility of taking advantage of these gifts to the disciples.
- Reliance on Prayer and Kṛṣṇa: When faced with incorrigible situations or the suffering of others, Śrīla Prabhupāda reveals his internal practice of praying to Kṛṣṇa and previous ācāryas for the protection of the devotees.
- Explore the synthesized essence of this category in this Vanipedia article: What Can I Do? - Prabhupāda's Compassionate Appeal.
Pages in category "What Can I Do? (Prabhupada)"
The following 71 pages are in this category, out of 71 total.
H
- He has caused a great difficulty in the management of our Honolulu temple. Of course Gurukrpa has got to handle the situation nicely, but what can I do from here
- His only business is to acquire money. He is collecting money like anything and is not contributing to the society. So what can I do? I did not say anything to him. I am simply praying to Krishna for his welfare
I
- I always pray to Krishna for your advancement, and what I can do more than this
- I am depending on you leaders for the future of our Society, yet there is all this interest in illicit sex life. This is causing me heartache worrying how things will go on. What can I do?
- I came to give you. Some of you have taken, and some have not taken, so what can I do? I came to give you Krsna consciousness. That is my duty
- I can understand very well that Upendra is feeling very much disturbed on account of Citralekha's absence, it is quite natural, but what can I do?
- I do not know what I can do in these legal matters. You try your best in consultation with Tamala Krishna. I think that perennial watch-dog is playing some mischief
- I have allowed my disciples to marry as a concession for having household life, because you American boys and girls are accustomed to mix freely with one another, so what can I do?
- I have also received a letter from a diseased man, but what can I do?
- I have consulted persons who know the French language, and they do not very much appreciate her translations. So what can I do? The best thing is that she may go on translating and send her articles to Montreal in care of Gopala Krishna Brahmacari
- I have given all of my disciples instructions to follow for making spiritual advancement, but if they do not have the desire to follow, then what can I do?
- 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 have no ambition to become the proprietor of any temple or house in America because what shall I do with them after becoming a Sanyasi but for the facility of work our own house is absolutely required
- I have noted that you have said about there being new law that licensee is tenant or owner. I do not know what to do on this, but the fact is that we are the proprietor
- I know you are always eager to help me in all respects, and what can I do for you except pray to Krishna that you become more and more advanced in Krishna Consciousness along with your very, very good husband
- I made the GBC to give me relief, but if you do like this, then where is the relief. It is anxiety for me. This is the difficulty, that as soon as one gets power, he becomes whimsical and spoils everything. What can I do?
- I may give initiation very easily, but what can I do? I am prepared to go to hell for service of Lord Caitanya
- I simply want to engage everyone in the service of Krishna, that's all. And that means preaching. So if the preaching work has stopped, what can I do? In that case you must expect there will be so many troubles
- I want to increase my work. Brahmananda Swami and Gopala Krishna were suggesting that I go to some other place in India, but if Tamala Krishna flies 10,000 miles to lodge some complaint against Jayatirtha what can I do?
- I was so pleased to know that since Gurudasa had left London you had taken charge of our temple there, but later on you again left, so what can I do?
- I was thinking that "What shall I do here? I have come here. As soon as I shall impose these four principles they will say, 'Go home.' " But I took that risk. I never said anything palatable
- I was thinking that Kirtanananda Swami is angry upon me because I did not go to New Vrndavana, but what can I do? They are dragging me in so many places and it was arranged for me to see Indira Gandhi, the Prime Minister of India
- If the father is victorious in the courts then what can we do? Our business is not to kidnap. People must come voluntarily. It is always voluntary
- If you all, my right-hand men, are doing things without consulting me and making such big big changes within our society without getting my opinion and the opinion of all the GBC members then what can I do?
- If you can confirm to me that there will be no charge for depositing, then I can send you checks. So please tell me what to do
- If you do not want to give your time and energy full time for translating and editing the Hindi work, unless there is some compensation of money, then what can I do?
- If you think that "It is hackneyed, it is troublesome, but what can I do? These people ask me to do it. I have to do it," that is not Krsna consciousness
- It comes as a shock to me that you have stepped down from your duties as president of our Hong Kong center. Your move is not satisfactory to me, but what can I do
J
- Just before His Divine Grace passed away at Jagannatha Puri, I wrote him a letter asking what I could do to serve him. In reply, he wrote me a letter ordering me to preach in English the cult of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu as I had heard it from him
- Just like I say: "Chant sixteen rounds." If you do not do it, what can I do? That is your fault
L
- Lalita says that "I know Swamiji is very exalted. I am simply afraid... He has so many American disciples. If some of them do something wrong, then that will be very bad thing for him." Lalita was telling me like that. But what can I do?
- Last life, I had some body, but I cannot say what kind of body I had. Of course, there is science, astronomy and other things. They can speak, but I don't believe it. Or even if I believe, what can I do with that?
M
O
- Of course, my authorities and so-called officers, they sometimes also order in such a way that everything becomes topsy-turvy. So you may write to me your grievance - what can I do? - but meanwhile you must follow him exactly whatever he says
- One of the GBC articles says 79th birthday. Big GBC man, so many editors, and it is not detected? You are all mudhas, what can I do?
S
- So I do not know what to do in this connection. The money is there, the sanction is there, the land is there, and still if it does not take place, I shall understand it that this is not the desire of Srila Prabhupada
- So long as he was here, he was taking care of me very nicely, and I am very much obliged to him. I simply said that he may live for some time with the Sankirtana Party, and he became upset. So I do not know what to do
- So what I can do? Brahmananda Maharaja informs me that Jayatirtha told him on the telephone that the money was sent. So you have to check with the bank why it is not yet received. But why the work should be stopped?
- So, the conclusion is, as we learn from Caitanya Caritamrta, that in the beginning Sri Vallabhacarya criticized Sridhara Swami and then Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu criticized Vallabhacarya. So what can we do now after 500 years?
T
- The landlord has taken away more than 2000 Rs, but what can I do? If I go to litigation I will have to put myself in so many anxieties. It is better to forget
- 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
- The opportunity is always there, just as we are offering so many ways to become Krsna Conscious, but if you don't take the opportunity what can I do. That is purposeful negligence of duty
- The students themselves go from door to door for begging alms, and because everyone's son is in the asrama, nobody declines to give alms. So there is no financial difficulty at all; but I do not know what to do in your country
- There must be regularly classes and reading books, chanting 16 rounds, going for kirtana, like that. This is our programme for enthusiasm, if you do not follow it, what can I do?
- They are breaking their promise. Before accepting them, I make him promise. They promise it. If they break, what can I do?
- They do not like to come to us to chant. That is the difficulty. "Oh, we'll have to go there and chant Hare Krsna." So they are afraid. So what can I do?
- This fighting spirit will destroy everything, but what can I do, you American and European boys are trained up in this fighting attitude
- This sex, this illicit sex, how is killing him. Illicit sex is so dangerous. He's a good boy. Similarly, Gaurasundara is killed by this illicit sex. Everyone will be killed with the illicit sex. That is the difficulty - falldown. What can I do?
U
- Unfortunately, if my disciples do not take my guidance, what can I do? By bad association it so happens, so I remain silent. I see the pricks of maya
- Unless everyone of us sticks to the regulative principles of chanting, there is no other alternative than fall-down. That is a fact. I repeatedly say this, so if people do not follow, what can I do?
W
- We are giving them all important Vedic literature, translated into English and other. This is the greatest boon to make human life successful. But if the people want to remain in darkness, then what can we do
- We are inviting everyone to understand Krsna consciousness, but nobody is coming. What can we do? Those who are fortunate, they are taking advantage. That's all
- What are ISKCON's future plans here? Will a temple be built? - Yes, temple is already there. Here is a temple. Unfortunately, nobody coming. What can I do? We are prepared to give this nice philosophy to everyone
- What can I do from such distant place?
- When they chant and dance, I simply remember Bhaktivinoda Thakura. That's all. I pray to Bhaktivinoda Thakura, "Now they have come to your shelter. Give them protection." That's all. What can I do more? I cannot do anything more
- Why they are inventing these such new things like marching and japa like military? What can I do from such a distant place? They should run and play when they are small children, not forced to chant japa, that is not the way
Y
- You are expecting to see me, but I also expected to see the London Rathayatra, but you made no arrangement so what can I do?
- You can assure your parents they will be better off materially after you are initiated. Anyway, now I do not know what to do with you
- You have mentioned about the disagreement amongst our god-brothers, and it is a fact. But so far as I am concerned, I am trying to execute my humble bit, and if somebody disagrees in these activities, what can I do?
- You have your choice. God is there, and maya is there. If you take to maya you remain in maya. What can I do, and what can God do? That is your choice
- You may know it that I am eternally your guide, but if you don't accept me as your guide what can I do?
- You should rectify, but not reject. Members are coming to join us to be rectified, not to be rejected. So, try to rectify the incorrigible, and if not possible, then change. What can we do?