{"id":31557,"date":"2025-06-28T15:16:06","date_gmt":"2025-06-28T09:46:06","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/srivyasapuja.com\/svp\/?p=31557"},"modified":"2025-06-28T15:16:08","modified_gmt":"2025-06-28T09:46:08","slug":"which-of-srila-prabhupadas-personal-habits-do-you-try-to-emulate","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/srivyasapuja.com\/svp\/which-of-srila-prabhupadas-personal-habits-do-you-try-to-emulate\/","title":{"rendered":"Which of Srila Prabhupada\u2019s Personal Habits Do You Try to Emulate?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>When we think of Srila Prabhupada, we often think of his teachings, his books, and his global accomplishments. But behind all of this were personal habits \u2013 quiet, disciplined practices that revealed the depth of his dedication, clarity, and devotion. These were not mere routines. They were expressions of love for Krishna, refined over a lifetime of devotion.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Among the many habits, here are a few of Srila Prabhupada\u2019s daily habits that I find myself deeply inspired by \u2013 and humbly try to emulate in my own spiritual journey:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Getting up early in the morning \u2013 before sunrise<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cA person who cannot get up early in the morning cannot advance spiritually.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Srila Prabhupada would get up every day at about 1:30 or 2:00 a.m. He called this time brahma-muhurta \u2013 the most spiritually powerful time of the day. He used these quiet hours to write, chant, and connect with Krishna without distractions. I may not be able to get up as early as him, but waking up before sunrise has made a difference\u2014from clarity of mind to consistency in chanting.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ol start=\"2\" class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Write or read daily<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<p>Srila Prabhupada translated dozens of volumes\u2014often in the darkest hours of the night when others were sleeping. But he didn\u2019t just write for the world; he was also an avid reader and listener of the scriptures.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>I try to maintain a daily habit of reading his verses, even if it\u2019s just a single verse. Sometimes I write reflections or underline key lines\u2014just to understand his words more deeply.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ol start=\"3\" class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Chant mindfully<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<p>Although he was managing a worldwide mission, Srila Prabhupada never neglected his 16 chanting cycles. His chanting was slow, deliberate, and full of devotion. He once said:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Inspired by this, I try to give my chanting the proper time and respect\u2014early in the morning, without multitasking, treating each mantra as a personal encounter with Krishna.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ol start=\"4\" class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Simplicity in life<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<p>Srila Prabhupada\u2019s needs were minimal\u2014he lived simply, ate light food, and traveled modestly. Even when wealth flooded ISKCON, he remained aloof.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>I try to reflect this in small ways\u2014reducing excess, keeping my surroundings clean, and living in a way that keeps the mind calm and clear for devotion.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ol start=\"5\" class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Daily service to guru and mission<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<p>Everything Prabhupada did\u2014from writing letters to organizing festivals\u2014was done as service to his guru and Krishna. He once said:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This feeling inspires me to dedicate even my ordinary efforts\u2014work, communications, or creative work\u2014as service. It shifts the mindset from \u201cI\u201d to \u201cWe\u201d \u2013 from ego to surrender.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Final Reflection<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>I will probably never be able to match Srila Prabhupada\u2019s incredible strength or perfect discipline. But imitating even one of his habits \u2013 with sincerity and consistency \u2013 brings me closer to His refuge. Each habit is like a thread connecting me to His lotus feet, keeping me steady on the path back to Krishna.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cTry to follow. That is real love.\u201d \u2013 Srila Prabhupada<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>When we think of Srila Prabhupada, we often think of his teachings, his books, and his global accomplishments. But behind all of this were personal habits \u2013 quiet, disciplined practices that revealed the depth of his dedication, clarity, and devotion. These were not mere routines. They were expressions of love for Krishna, refined over a &#8230; <a title=\"Which of Srila Prabhupada\u2019s Personal Habits Do You Try to Emulate?\" class=\"read-more\" href=\"https:\/\/srivyasapuja.com\/svp\/which-of-srila-prabhupadas-personal-habits-do-you-try-to-emulate\/\" aria-label=\"Read more about Which of Srila Prabhupada\u2019s Personal Habits Do You Try to Emulate?\">Read more<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":5,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-31557","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-blogs"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/srivyasapuja.com\/svp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/31557","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/srivyasapuja.com\/svp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/srivyasapuja.com\/svp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/srivyasapuja.com\/svp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/5"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/srivyasapuja.com\/svp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=31557"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/srivyasapuja.com\/svp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/31557\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":31558,"href":"https:\/\/srivyasapuja.com\/svp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/31557\/revisions\/31558"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/srivyasapuja.com\/svp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=31557"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/srivyasapuja.com\/svp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=31557"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/srivyasapuja.com\/svp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=31557"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}