Read My Books Very Carefully - Prabhupāda's Foundation for Successful Preaching
Śrīla Prabhupāda's books are the very heart of his mission, containing the complete science of God-realization. He did not write these books for mere collection or business; he wrote them to provide his students with the spiritual strength needed to overcome the influence of the material world. By reading these literatures very carefully, a devotee establishes a personal connection with the instructions of Śrīla Prabhupāda and the previous ācāryas. This careful study is the foundation for all successful preaching, as it allows the disciple to speak with realization and authority rather than mental concoction. Śrīla Prabhupāda wanted his students to be fixed in the philosophy, capable of defeating opposing arguments and guiding others back to Godhead. Therefore, the consistent, scrutinizing study of the Bhagavad-gītā, Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, and Caitanya-caritāmṛta is not optional but is the essential life-force for any soul serious about making progress in Kṛṣṇa consciousness.
The Platform of Deathlessness and Enlightenment
Śrīla Prabhupāda explains that his books are transcendental literatures that can save one from all fear and miseries. Every single verse is a gateway to the platform of deathlessness, provided the student approaches the text with great care and attention.
- Krsna Consciousness means to be on the platform of deathlessness. Every sloka in Bhagavad-gita and Srimad-Bhagavatam is informing us of this. If you read these books carefully you will understand this platform of deathlessness.
- Bhagavad-gita is a transcendental literature which one should read very carefully. And the result will be, if he properly follows the instruction, then he can be freed from all miseries of life, all anxieties of life and all fears of life.
- Please read carefully our book, Bhagavad-gita As It Is, and you will find yourself getting enlightenment to the fullest extent. There is no doubt of this.
- We now have published several books which delve deeply into the topic of the Absolute Truth, so you should read them very carefully, and gradually the knowledge will become revealed to you.
Preparing for the Spiritual Examinations
To ensure the purity and standard of his movement, Śrīla Prabhupāda requested that all leaders and brāhmaṇas study the books to pass formal examinations. This ensures that the philosophy is understood deeply rather than superficially.
- All of the leaders should study my books very carefully, since now everyone will have to appear for the examination.
- Brahmanas should study carefully, especially Gita, Isopanisad, Nectar of Devotion and NOI as well as all the small paperbacks. Soon we will have yearly examinations for brahmanas based on these books and those who pass will be awarded Bhakti-sastri titles.
- Every one of you should very carefully read. Every one of you must have one book and read it carefully and appear in the examination next Janmastami. You'll get designation, Bhakti-sastri.
- Now read Bhagavad-gita very carefully, we will have examination next time. From Bhagavad-gita start our Bhakti Shastri.
Protection from the Influence of Māyā
Studying the Vaisnava literatures is a primary method for remaining steady in devotional service. Śrīla Prabhupāda promises that if one studies deeply, they will be freed from the modes of passion and ignorance, and māyā will be unable to touch them.
- Maya will never touch you if you are cent percent serving Krishna. Follow the rules carefully, chant at least 16 rounds, read and study my books deeply, and in this way be enthusiastic about going back to Godhead in this life.
- By remaining steady in chanting and studying our books carefully, along with chanting Sanskrit mantras in Srimad-Bhagavatam and Bhagavad-gita, automatically you will become freed from the modes of passion and ignorance, and gravity and steadiness will come.
- If you simply read our books very carefully, then immediately this disease of heart palpitation, anxiety, will cease because on account of the dirty things, product of this tamo-guna and rajo-guna... That is disturbing us.
- They must chant 16 rounds daily, follow the 4 principles, read our books very carefully, and always be engaged in the transcendental loving service of Lord Krishna. These things will give them real spiritual strength and their lives will be perfected.
Empowerment for Successful Preaching
A preacher must be convinced of the philosophy to convince others. Śrīla Prabhupāda encourages his students to study so they can answer all questions and present the science of Kṛṣṇa consciousness in all spheres of life with common sense.
- There is no need to concoct anything new. You simply have to study carefully our books and then in your own words try to express what you have read. This will automatically make you a very successful preacher.
- You should all read very carefully Srimad-Bhagavatam and Bhagavad-gita, and you should be able to answer all questions like this, and only in rare cases approach me. But it is important that our students must be able to answer all questions for becoming preachers.
- You read very carefully Bhagavad-gita. You have to meet so many opposing elements, so you have to argue and you convince them.
- Please study carefully my books to be enlightened. You have presented our philosophy very nicely. This engladdens me that our students are presenting so convincingly. This is the way to become future preacher.
The Scientific Sequence of Study
There is a specific order and method to spiritual study. Śrīla Prabhupāda recommends starting with the Bhagavad-gītā to understand Kṛṣṇa first, then moving on to more advanced literatures like the Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam and The Nectar of Devotion.
- Be sure and read my books very carefully, Bhagavad-gita, then Srimad Bhagavatam, and then Caitanya Caritamrta.
- We should not jump. First of all we should read Bhagavad-gita very carefully. Try to understand Krsna, what is Krsna. Then we shall be fit to understand what is Bhagavatam.
- Practically, if one very carefully reads the Bhagavad-gita, Srimad-Bhagavatam, Teachings of Lord Caitanya and this Nectar of Devotion, that will give him sufficient knowledge to understand the science of Krsna consciousness. One need not take the trouble of reading other books.
- Our Vaisnava philosophy is in summary the Teachings of Lord Caitanya. Read them very carefully, word to word, & immediately begin translation into French language so they may be published in French Back To Godhead as well as in future they may be published in a book.
Scrutinizing the Word of God
Śrīla Prabhupāda took great labor to translate these books, and he expects his students to take similar care in reading them. He encourages repeating the reading of chapters that are difficult to understand until the truth is revealed.
- So many slokas, I am taking so much labor. If you do not read it carefully... It is not for that I am making business, for selling only, and not for my students.
- One after another, everything is very clearly explained in this Nectar of Devotion. So each chapter you should read very carefully. And if you cannot understand, read it repeatedly.
- I wish to thank you very much for your reading our books so carefully and scrutinizingly. Any man who read these literatures will find a storehouse of transcendental information.
- You read this book very carefully and try to understand Krsna. And as soon as you understand thoroughly Krsna, then tyaktva . . . you have to give up this body. That's a fact.
Clearing Doubts and Fixing the Mind
The goal of study is to have all points of doubt cleared so that the mind remains firmly fixed on the lotus feet of the Lord. Śrīla Prabhupāda invites his students to ask questions whenever they encounter something they do not understand in his books.
- It is best to get all such points cleared up so that our understanding may be firmly fixed up in our philosophy. The best process is to rigidly execute one's prescribed devotional duties regularly, and to study the books and literatures very carefully.
- Please read our books very carefully, and as soon as there is some question you can ask me.
- Last night you were present in the meeting? Read our books very carefully, and as soon as there is some doubt, inquire.
- If you study my books very carefully, then I am sure you will find out the means for applying this Krsna Consciousness philosophy in all spheres of life. There is no limitation. Simply it requires a little common sense practicality.
Conclusion
For Śrīla Prabhupāda, the careful study of his books was the most vital activity for maintaining the spiritual health of his movement. He saw his writings as a treasure house and a scientific storehouse that could solve all of life's problems and lead a person to the platform of deathlessness. By insisting that his students read word to word and pass examinations, he ensured that the purity of the Vaisnava philosophy would be preserved for generations. This deep study provides the protection needed to resist māyā and the ammunition required to become an effective preacher. Ultimately, reading his books very carefully is an act of love and obedience that allows the disciple to fully realize the Absolute Truth and successfully complete the final examination of life.
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 Read My Books Very Carefully (Prabhupada). We invite you to visit this link to study the complete compilation and experience Śrīla Prabhupāda's teachings in their direct, verbatim form.