View source for I Have Taken - Prabhupāda’s Surrender in Action

In material life, taking is synonymous with exploitation—taking wealth, taking advantage, or taking pleasure at the expense of others. In the realm of pure devotion, however, taking is a profound act of service and surrender. When we examine Śrīla Prabhupāda's statements built around the phrase "I have taken" (or "I take"), we discover the exact mechanics of his spiritual success. First, he took shelter; he took perfect knowledge from Kṛṣṇa and the disciplic succession, refusing to rely on his own mundane intelligence. Armed with this perfect guidance, he then took immense action. He took the renounced order of life (''sannyāsa''), took on the grave risks of traveling the world in his old age, took up the mighty task of publishing a library of Vedic literature, and took the heavy responsibility of personally guiding thousands of conditioned souls. By studying what Śrīla Prabhupāda took upon himself, we understand the active, compassionate, and fearless nature of a pure devotee.

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=== Taking Sannyāsa and Accepting the Risk ===

Śrīla Prabhupāda’s journey to the West was fraught with physical danger and uncertainty. Yet, he explained that taking ''sannyāsa'' and accepting these risks was simply his duty. He gave up the comforts of home and family to take absolute shelter in the order of his spiritual master, viewing any perceived hardship as a transcendental opportunity.

* [[Vaniquotes:I took that order of my spiritual master very seriously, but I did not think that I'll have to do such and such thing. I was at that time a householder. But this is the arrangement of Krsna|I took that order of my spiritual master very seriously, but I did not think that I'll have to do such and such thing. I was at that time a householder. But this is the arrangement of Krsna.]]
* [[Vaniquotes:In the old age I am traveling all over the world. People think that I have taken some hardship. But for Krsna's sake, even it is hardship... Actually, there is no hardship. But even it is hardship, we should take it|In the old age I am traveling all over the world. People think that I have taken some hardship. But for Krsna's sake, even it is hardship... Actually, there is no hardship. But even it is hardship, we should take it.]]
* [[Vaniquotes:I have given up my wife and children for this purpose. If I am engaged in family life, then I cannot do this missionary work. I have taken absolute shelter to this work without any disturbance|I have given up my wife and children for this purpose. If I am engaged in family life, then I cannot do this missionary work. I have taken absolute shelter to this work without any disturbance.]]
* [[Vaniquotes:I have taken all the risk in the old age because I am in duty-bound. So I have to execute my duty in spite of all my inconveniences. That is the idea|I have taken all the risk in the old age because I am in duty-bound. So I have to execute my duty in spite of all my inconveniences. That is the idea.]]

=== Taking Perfect Knowledge from the Paramparā ===

To change the course of human history, one needs perfect direction. Śrīla Prabhupāda stated unequivocally that his intelligence and knowledge were not his own; he simply took them from Kṛṣṇa. Because he took facts strictly from the supreme authority and ''Bhagavad-gītā'', his teachings were flawless and possessed the potency to awaken the world.

* [[Vaniquotes:I do not know anything, but I, I am surrendered to a person who knows everything. Therefore I know everything. I take my knowledge from Krsna. So you should think how much knowledge you have assimilated|I do not know anything, but I, I am surrendered to a person who knows everything. Therefore I know everything. I take my knowledge from Krsna. So you should think how much knowledge you have assimilated.]]
* [[Vaniquotes:We don't depend on my own intelligence. We depend on Krsna's intelligence. That is the difference. Then, if Krsna is perfect, then my intelligence is perfect. I may be not perfect, but because I take Krsna's intelligence, therefore I'm perfect|We don't depend on my own intelligence. We depend on Krsna's intelligence. That is the difference. Then, if Krsna is perfect, then my intelligence is perfect. I may be not perfect, but because I take Krsna's intelligence, therefore I'm perfect.]]
* [[Vaniquotes:We are getting knowledge from Krsna, the most perfect. Or you get knowledge from Jesus Christ, that is also perfect, because source is perfect. I am taking knowledge from God and you are taking the knowledge from the son of God|We are getting knowledge from Krsna, the most perfect. Or you get knowledge from Jesus Christ, that is also perfect, because source is perfect. I am taking knowledge from God and you are taking the knowledge from the son of God.]]
* [[Vaniquotes:We have taken Bhagavad-gita as the standard of all human activities. If the leaders of the human society take it as standard, then all the problems will be solved. That we can give practical suggestions. Any plan of the atheists will never be successful|We have taken Bhagavad-gita as the standard of all human activities. If the leaders of the human society take it as standard, then all the problems will be solved. That we can give practical suggestions. Any plan of the atheists will never be successful.]]

=== Taking Up the Mighty Project of Preaching ===

Śrīla Prabhupāda saw that society was plunging blindly into the darkness of sense gratification. Out of supreme compassion, he took up the difficult task of establishing a worldwide society and translating the voluminous Vedic texts. He viewed this mighty project as the direct manifestation of his spiritual master’s desires.

* [[Vaniquotes:Srimad-Bhagavatam is meant for all human beings and it is the duty of the Hindus specially the Vaisnavas to disseminate the great knowledge throughout the whole world. With this purpose in view I have taken up the mighty project|Srimad-Bhagavatam is meant for all human beings and it is the duty of the Hindus specially the Vaisnavas to disseminate the great knowledge throughout the whole world. With this purpose in view I have taken up the mighty project.]]
* [[Vaniquotes:ISKCON has taken up this task of preaching the cult of Caitanya, its members should not only construct temples in every town and village of the globe but also distribute the books that have already been written and further increase the number of books|ISKCON has taken up this task of preaching the cult of Caitanya, its members should not only construct temples in every town and village of the globe but also distribute the books that have already been written and further increase the number of books.]]
* [[Vaniquotes:We have taken a very difficult task, to convince people to take to Krsna consciousness. But that is the only benefit, or the supreme goal of life. Krsna personally comes to teach this science|We have taken a very difficult task, to convince people to take to Krsna consciousness. But that is the only benefit, or the supreme goal of life. Krsna personally comes to teach this science.]]
* [[Vaniquotes:As I have taken this work as my life and soul on the order of my Spiritual Master, similarly if you take my desires as life and soul, then the whole thing is immediately connected with Krsna. That is the meaning of Parampara system|As I have taken this work as my life and soul on the order of my Spiritual Master, similarly if you take my desires as life and soul, then the whole thing is immediately connected with Krsna. That is the meaning of Parampara system.]]

=== Taking Personal Care of the Disciples ===

A general commands from behind the lines, but a loving father stays in the trenches with his children. Despite his massive literary and administrative responsibilities, Śrīla Prabhupāda took meticulous care of his disciples. He took on the troublesome business of resolving their disputes, answering their letters, and even managing their marriages to ensure they remained steady in their service.

* [[Vaniquotes:I reply each and every letter. Especially your letters, Brahmananda's letters, Satsvarupa's letters and Gargamuni's letters I take special care and reply each of them|I reply each and every letter. Especially your letters, Brahmananda's letters, Satsvarupa's letters and Gargamuni's letters I take special care and reply each of them.]]
* [[Vaniquotes:You may be assured that I am always anxious about the welfare of my disciples, so that I am taking steps to rectify this unfortunate situation|You may be assured that I am always anxious about the welfare of my disciples, so that I am taking steps to rectify this unfortunate situation.]]
* [[Vaniquotes:Perhaps it is a new thing I have introduced, that I take part in the marriage ceremony of my disciples. Actually, I do it because I want to see them without any anxiety|Perhaps it is a new thing I have introduced, that I take part in the marriage ceremony of my disciples. Actually, I do it because I want to see them without any anxiety.]]
* [[Vaniquotes:My future hope is you all good spiritual sons. Still I am taking as much care as possible. My only desire is that you all good boys may take up the matter very seriously|My future hope is you all good spiritual sons. Still I am taking as much care as possible. My only desire is that you all good boys may take up the matter very seriously.]]

=== Conclusion ===

Śrīla Prabhupāda's life was defined by what he took and what he refused to take. He refused to take credit, mundane comforts, or speculative knowledge. Instead, he completely absorbed himself in taking the instructions of his Guru Mahārāja into his heart. Because he took his connection to the ''paramparā'' so seriously, he possessed the immense spiritual strength required to take on the seemingly impossible burden of rescuing the fallen souls of Kali-yuga. For the disciple, his example is clear: if we simply take his instructions as our life and soul, and practically take up the difficult work of spreading this movement, we become instantly connected to Kṛṣṇa and perfectly situated on the path back home, back to Godhead.

=== Dive Deeper into Śrīla Prabhupāda's Vani ===

Śrīla Prabhupāda lives within his instructions. This article is a summary of the profound truths found in the Vaniquotes category [[Vaniquotes:Category:I_Have_Taken_(Prabhupada)|I Have Taken (Prabhupāda)]]. We invite you to visit this link to study the complete compilation and experience Śrīla Prabhupāda's teachings in their direct, verbatim form.

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