I Have Received - Prabhupāda as Faithful Recipient and Loving Guide
In the material world, everyone is anxious to receive—wealth, honor, affection, or power—for their own enjoyment. However, in the life of a pure devotee, receiving takes on a completely transcendental nature. When we examine Śrīla Prabhupāda’s statements beginning with "I have received," we do not find a man accumulating things for himself. Instead, we find a transparent via medium. The greatest treasure Śrīla Prabhupāda received was the pure, unadulterated message of Kṛṣṇa from his spiritual master, Śrīla Bhaktisiddhānta Sarasvatī Ṭhākura. He took that message and freely distributed it to a suffering world. As his movement grew, he became the center of a global network, daily receiving preaching reports, newly printed books, and loving offerings from his disciples, as well as the inevitable burdens of management and conflict. Through it all, his consciousness remained perfectly fixed.
The Unbroken Chain of Reception
Śrīla Prabhupāda never claimed to have invented a new philosophy. He repeatedly stressed that his success was entirely due to presenting exactly what he had received from the disciplic succession. Material things are lost over time, but the transcendental knowledge he received from his Guru Mahārāja was an eternal asset that he faithfully passed on to his own disciples.
- First of all your guru, then his guru, then his guru - at least four, five generation, because the spiritual knowledge is received through the parampara. I have received from my guru; you are receiving from your guru; and my guru received from his guru.
- My responsibility is, what I have received from disciplic succession, from my spiritual master, I am just presenting the same thing, but without any adulteration. That is my business.
- Fifty years ago I was a young man, but that time has been taken and cannot be returned. The spiritual knowledge I received from my spiritual master, however, cannot be taken away, but will go with me.
- This training from an early age is important, and I also was fortunate to have received such training when I was a child.
Transcendental Relish in New Publications
For Śrīla Prabhupāda, there was no greater news than the printing of transcendental literature. Whenever he received an advance copy of a new book or a foreign translation, his enthusiasm knew no bounds. He viewed these books as the primary weapons against the darkness of Kali-yuga and a sign that his mission was taking root.
- I was very happy to receive the new edition of Bhagavad gita the make up is very nice. Every time I see a new publication of my books it gives me so much enthusiasm that my life is increased by 100 years. Thank you for helping me so much.
- I am in due receipt of your letter dated 76-12-27 along with two copies of the Russian Easy Journey to Other Planets. Thank you very much. This is very, very good. I'm very pleased. It is another epoch making event.
- I have received all our new publications and I am very much pleased with them. I can see from "Purusa-sukta Confirmed" that our printing has very much improved, especially the color cover, and if it continues to improve in this way it will be a great credit.
- I have received the new Back To Godhead magazine. It is very nice issue. Having the Indian Rathayatra on the cover and the American one on the inside makes a good contrast.
Managing the Burdens of a Growing Mission
As the founder-ācārya, Śrīla Prabhupāda was the central point for all correspondence. He received reports on everything from legal suits to the domestic disputes of his students. While he often found the troublesome business of management to be a drain on his time, he received these reports with the patience of a father, always seeking to correct and guide his spiritual children.
- I set up the GBC with hope that I shall get relief from administration of the mission but on the contrary I have become the center of receiving so many complaints. So it is not a relief for me, rather it is becoming a little troublesome.
- I am so much disgusted by this troublesome business of marriage, because nearly every day I receive some complaint from husband or wife, and practically this is not my business as sannyasi to be marriage counsellor.
- 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.
- I have received the karatalas, but it is completely hopeless. The man has cheated us cent per cent, but there is no way to rectify it and we shall wait for future to get the right thing.
Accepting Sincere Offerings of Devotion
A spiritual master accepts gifts not for himself, but for Kṛṣṇa. Śrīla Prabhupāda encouraged his disciples to offer whatever they could, as this is the process for advancement in Kṛṣṇa consciousness. Whether it was a significant donation or a simple food item, he received them with acknowledgment of the devotee's sincerity.
- I am in due receipt of your very nice gifts and the donation towards the book fund. This is the way to advance in Krishna consciousness. One should always offer to the spiritual master whatever one can.
- I am in receipt of your note and gift of one ring. Just now I am wearing it. Because you have sincerely offered, I must accept on behalf of my Guru Maharaja although I am not worthy.
- You will be glad to know that I have received your mangos just yesterday and they were so first class. Thank you very much. Now they are all finished.
- I have duly received your bags for the beads and thank you very much. I hope you are Kirtana nicely and feeling transcendental happiness.
Receiving the Results of Sincere Preaching
The most heartening news for Śrīla Prabhupāda was hearing that the chanting of Hare Kṛṣṇa was spreading. He received reports of successful kirtanas and public festivals with spiritual joy. For him, these reports were evidence that the mission of Lord Caitanya was being fulfilled through the efforts of his dedicated disciples.
- When you send news of successful kirtana performances as I received it from London also, and so also I experience personally in Los Angeles, I am overwhelmed with spiritual joy.
- I have received letter from Germany, from Holland. They also have begun chanting Hare Krsna. In England, the Beatles, or Beatniks, they are also chanting. So this is getting popular in the Western countries, and it will get, I am sure.
- I have received very encouraging reports from the Library Party in India, and it appears that this program will increase more and more.
- We receive so many letters from our foreign student how they're feeling. Because they have taken seriously, they're feeling obliged that "We have got life pratyaksavagamam." Pratyaksa means direct.
Conclusion
Everything Śrīla Prabhupāda received, he spiritualized. When he received the transcendental instructions of his spiritual master, he protected them and distributed them to the world. When he received gifts and donations from his disciples, he offered them to Kṛṣṇa, purifying the giver. And when he received the heavy burdens of management and the complaints of conditioned souls, he tolerated them out of deep compassion. The greatest fortune of our lives is that we have now received Śrīla Prabhupāda. It is our duty to take the knowledge we have received from him, preserve it without adulteration, and pass it down to the next generation, just as he showed us by his perfect example.
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 I Have Received (Prabhupāda). We invite you to visit this link to study the complete compilation and experience Śrīla Prabhupāda's teachings in their direct, verbatim form.