Цитаты: шраванам (Шрила Прабхупада)

Introduction

If a person is actually executing devotional service, then he must be happy. If he's not happy, then he's not  doing properly. So first thing is this. He might be doing something in the name of devotional service. If he's actually rendering devotional service, then he must be feeling. Just like if you are eating actually, then you must feel strength and satisfaction of your hunger. You cannot say,

   "I'm eating, but I'm not satisfied of my   hunger."

   That is impossible… Then he has to rectify the

    process of his service.  Not to change but to

    rectify the process….If you are actually executing devotional service, you must feel happy. If you

   don’t feel happy, then you are not executing.

   There is some flaw.”

        Lecture 1968

“May there be good fortune throughout the universe, and may all envious persons be pacified. May all living entities become calm by practicing bhakti-yoga, for by accepting devotional service they will think of each other’s welfare. Therefore let us all engage in the service of the supreme transcendence, Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa, and always remain absorbed in thought of Him.”

  SB 5.18.9 verse

"In order to become really learned, we have to associate with devotees. Then we can actually relish krsna-katha. When DISCUSSED AMONG DEVOTEES, krsna-katha is pleasing to the heart and ear. This requires a little training, and this training is given by the devotees."

  TLK Vs 25-26

Sadhu-sanga and sravanam

If we are not experiencing the above, what can we do about it?

“Caitanya Mahaprabhu…says: sadhu-sanga sadhu-sanga sarva-sastre kaya, lava-matra sadhu-sanga... Sadhu-sanga sadhu-sanga sarva... lava-matra sadhu-sange sarva-siddhi haya [Cc. Madhya 22.54]. Sadhu-sanga is very important. If we can associate with real sadhu, means real devotee, unadulterated devotee, anyabhilasita-sunyam jnana-karmady-anavrtam [Bhakti-rasamrta-sindhu 1.1.11], then the recommendation is that simply by associating with sadhu all perfection will come.”

Lecture on Bhagavad-gita 6.47 -- Ahmedabad, December 12, 1972

The topmost benediction for those who are living in this material world and are subjected to the repetition of birth and death is association with pure devotees. One should search out such pure devotees and remain with them.

  That will make one completely

  happy, even though living within

  the material world.

      SB 4.30.34

One should take shelter of a pure devotee, who has

nothing to do with this material world but is simply engaged

in devotional service. By serving him only, one can

transcend the qualitative material condition. In this verse it is recommended (yogesvara-upasanaya) that one serve the lotus feet of the topmost yogi, or the devotee. To serve the topmost devotee means to hear from him about the glories

  of the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

        SB 4.22.22

Therefore our method is to accept

  the perfect guru to understand the

  subject matter. But still, if one reads the books as it is from authorities, there is chance of

  understanding.

    Room conversation, ‘76

There are two types of Bhagavatas, namely the book Bhagavata and

  the devotee Bhagavata. Both the Bhagavatas are competent remedies, and both of them or either of them can be good

  enough to eliminate the

  obstacles.

  SB 1.2.1

Reporter (2):  What will happen to the movement in the United States when you die?

  Prabhupada: I will never die.  I shall live forever in my books, and

  you will utilize.

  Press conference ‘75

You may please me the most by reading my books and following the instructions therein and by becoming fully Krishna Conscious in this life time.

  Letter ‘74

You mention you like to speak now very often, but the first business should be to preach to the devotees. It is better to maintain a devotee than to try to convince others to become devotees. ……Your first job should be to make sure that every one of the devotees in your zone of management is reading regularly our literatures and discussing the subject matter seriously from different angles of seeing, and that they are somehow or other absorbing the knowledge of Krishna Consciousness philosophy. If they are fully educated in our philosophy and if they can get all of the knowledge and study it from every viewpoint, then very easily they will perform tapasya or renunciation and that will be their advancement in Krishna Consciousness. ….. So you introduce this system and train the devotees first. Don't be too much concerned for the time being with nondevotees, now we must fix-up what devotees we have got in the knowledge of Krishna Consciousness, then we will succeed. What good are many, many devotees if none of them are knowledgeable?

Letter to: Satsvarupa  --  Los Angeles 16 June, 1972

Simple hearing is not all; one must realize the text with proper attention.

  SB 1.3.44

Simply to hear like the hogs is not sufficient; one must be able to understand from the authorities.

  Bg 15.19

Nor by independent study of books of knowledge can one progress in spiritual life.  

  Bg 4.34 purport

Generally, people cannot understand. But if one understands, he becomes liberated.

If some way or other... It is not very difficult; simply we have to associate with devotees and discuss this literature. Then we'll understand Krsna very easily.

  Lecture ‘76

“I am therefore so much laboring hard that … before my leaving this body, I may give you some books who you can enjoy after my death. So utilize it. Utilize it. Read every sloka nicely, try to understand the meaning, discuss amongst yourselves. Nityam bhagavata-sevaya. That is our mission. Nasta-prayesv abhadresu nityam bhagavata-sevaya [SB 1.2.18]. Abhadra, we have got so many dirty things within our heart. So these dirty things can be cleansed simply by Krsna consciousness."

lecture on Srimad-Bhagavatam 1.1.1 -- July 6, 1972

Therefore one must learn detachment by discussion of spiritual science based on authoritative scriptures, and one must hear from persons who are actually in knowledge. As a result of such discussion in the association of devotees, one comes to the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

   Bg 15.3-4

Discussion of Krsna is very potent, and if a fortunate person has such association and tries to assimilate the knowledge, then he will surely make advancement toward spiritual realization.

   Bg 9.1 purport

  …unless and until one is trained in the culture of good association, one cannot become good.        

SB 3.3.6 purport

Benefits we should be experiencing if we are discussing properly

Try to always study our books and see our philosophy from different lights of directions, become convinced yourself of this knowledge and without a doubt all of your difficulties of mind will disappear forever and you will see Krishna face-to-face.

    Letter ‘72

Such exchanges of thoughts in regard to Krsna give pleasure to the Lord, who therefore favors such devotees with all enlightenment.

  CC Adi Lila 1.49 purport

This process of hearing about and glorifying the Lord is applicable for everyone, whoever he may be, and it will lead one to the ultimate success in everything in which one may be engaged by providence. …Everyone wants to be free from all kinds of fear, and everyone wants the fullest extent of happiness in life. The perfect process for achieving this, here and now, is recommended in the Srimad-Bhagavatam…. By hearing about and glorifying the Lord, all a person's activities become molded into spiritual activities, and thus all conceptions of material miseries become completely vanquished.  

     SB 2.1.5 purport

Be engaged always in reading Srimad-Bhagavatam, discussing amongst yourself. Then you'll make progress. Otherwise, if you take it as an official routine work... You should take as routine work, but with consciousness that "We have to learn something," not simply attending the class, but to learn something. In this way make your life successful.

    Lecture 1975

  What is the danger of not discussing Srila Prabhupada’s purports correctly?

What is the value of this association? Sat-sanga. Sat-sanga means assembly, discussion. Bodhayantah parasparam, tusyanti ca ramanti ca. If you are not interested in association, discussion, then you are finished. So... karmis, they are fools and rascals. When you have got this center, it is not that you should be engaged from morning till you go to bed for sense gratification. That is not life. That is karmi's life. You have no time for sat-sanga, for association. You cannot make any progress by this sort of karmi's life. We have to work for organization, but not that whole day and night engaged and no sat-sanga. That is a misguided policy, and it will spoil the whole structure.  

    Room Conversation – 1973

•“Why they are going? They are busy in some other work? Eh? Ugra-karma. Without hearing, what he will do, nonsense? Sravanam kirtanam, this is our main business. Sravanam. If you don't hear, what you will do? You will do simply sense gratification. That's all.

So this is difficulty, that we are not very much interested in hearing. And that is the main business. Our bhakti begins: sravanam kirtanam visnoh [SB 7.5.23]. We have to hear and we have to speak. But if we are not interested in hearing and speak, then it will be the same thakura-bari(?), simply formula. That's all. And gradually it will be stopped. Unless there is life of sravanam kirtanam, these big, big buildings, temples, will become burden. So if we are, if we want to create burden for future, then we may give up this hearing and chanting and sleep very nicely. It will be burden. Galagraha. Not sri-vigraha, but galagraha. Galagraha. Sri-vigraha means worshipable Deity. So if we give up this sravanam kirtanam visnoh, then it will be thought that "Our Guru Maharaja has given a burden in the neck, galagraha." This is the danger. So we must be very much alert in sravanam kirtanam. Otherwise all this labor will be futile. This building will be only the nest, nest for the doves and the pigeons. That is the danger. That is being done. Nobody is interested. Such, such things... “

lecture on Srimad-Bhagavatam 1.8.19 -- Mayapura, September 29, 1974

  "So those who are of the dog's mentality, cat's mentality, monkey mentality, it is difficult for them. They have to change their mentality by sat-sanga. This is called sat-sanga. Just like you are hearing from the sastra, and we are speaking from the sastra. This is called sat-sanga. Satam prasangan mama virya-samvido bhavanti hrt-karna-rasayanah kathah [SB 3.25.25]. By sat-sanga, by real spiritual association, by talking with them, by mixing with them-satam prasangan mama virya-samvido -- then we can learn about the unlimited potencies of Krsna. Mama virya-samvido bhavanti hrt-karna-rasayanah kathah. Then it becomes very pleasing to the heart and to the ear, by satam-prasangan. Otherwise it is not possible."

lecture on Sri Caitanya-caritamrta, Madhya-lila 20.112 -- New York, July 20, 1976

In human society, aversion to the principles of understanding the Supreme Personality of Godhead is the cause of all falldowns. That is the greatest offense of human life.

  Bg 16.24 purport

WHO SHOULD WE DISCUSS WITH?

"In addition, Sri Sanatana Gosvami in his Hari-bhakti-vilasa recommends that one should not hear Bhagavad-gita, the puranas, the Srimad-Bhagavatam or any hari-katha from anyone who is not a Vaisnava IN HIS ACTIONS.“

  TLK Vs 25-26

"To understand…… It requires little cool brain. But that cool brain cannot act without …giving up these four things, namely illicit sex, meat-eating, intoxication, and gambling. If your brain is congested always with all these four rubbish things, you cannot think of higher, finer things. That is not possible. Therefore we restrict, to make the brain clear to understand about Krsna…. “

lecture on Bhagavad-gita 13.5 -- Paris, August 13, 1973

“So sometimes the disciple and the spiritual master, the relationship is like that. Sometimes the teacher questions to the student, and student replies, and sometimes the student questions to the teacher, and teacher replies. This is called istagosthi. To develop knowledge, these questions and answers are required. ….. Unless one is very inquisitive, there is no necessity of accepting a spiritual master. That is the instruction in the Srimad-Bhagavatam.” Lecture ’66

“The best process for making the home pleasant is Krsna consciousness. If one is in full Krsna consciousness, he can make his home very happy, because this process of Krsna consciousness is very easy. One need only chant Hare Krsna, Hare Krsna, Krsna Krsna, Hare Hare/ Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare, accept the remnants of foodstuffs offered to Krsna, have some discussion on books like Bhagavad-gita and Srimad-Bhagavatam, and engage oneself in Deity worship. These four things will make one happy.”

Bg 13.8-12

“There are innumerable books, such as the puranas, Mahabharata, Bhagavatam, Bhagavad-gita and Upanisads, which contain countless subjects for discussion among two devotees or more. Friendship should be cemented between persons with mutual interests and understanding”

SB 3.29.17

1st State what you understand Srila Prabhupada means by unpacking the meaning of each sentence phrase by phrase, word by word.

To hear and explain them is more important than reading them. One can assimilate the knowledge of the revealed scriptures only by hearing and explaining. Hearing is called sravana, and explaining is called kirtana. The two processes of sravana and kirtana are of primary importance to progressive spiritual life. Only one who has properly grasped the transcendental knowledge from the right source by submissive hearing can properly explain the subject.   SB 1.1.6 purport.

" So one who is spreading krsna-upadesa, simply repeat what is said by Krsna, then you become acarya. Not difficult at all. Everything is stated there. We have to simply repeat like parrot. Not exactly parrot. Parrot does not understand the meaning; he simply vibrates. But you should understand the meaning also; otherwise how you can explain?”

Lecture April 7, 1975

So by studying Krsna, you become liberated. So these verses should be studied very carefully, understanding each word very carefully. Then you'll understand Krsna.

  Lecture 1976

  “…one should read Bhagavad-gita very scrutinizingly with the help of a person who is a devotee of Sri Krsna and try to understand it without personally motivated interpretations.” Bg 1.1 purport

And each and every verse is so important that if a serious student studies each and every verse, each verse will take at least one month to understand. And there are eighteen thousand verses. So for serious study of Srimad-Bhagavatam, it will take eighteen thousand months.

    Lecture 1974

2^nd Associate with each other in such a way as to help each other clarify your individual understandings.  Don’t debate with each other and try to prove your partner wrong.

Actually Vedic scripture is krsna-katha, topics about Krsna, and krsna-katha is not a subject matter for a debate club.

  TLK Vs 34

I am very much stressing nowadays that my students shall increase their reading of my books and try to understand them from different angles of vision. Each sloka can be seen from many, many angles of vision, so become practiced in seeing things like this.

    Letter ‘72

CC M 24.8-9 Lord Caitanya speaks to Sanatana Goswami:

"I do not recall what I spoke in that connection, but if something comes to My mind due to association with you, I shall explain it.”

"Generally by Myself I cannot give an explanation, but by the strength of your association something may manifest itself.”

3rd Use humble language

“One should not speak in such a way as to agitate the minds of others… This is penance as far as talking is concerned.”    Bg 17.15 purport

4th  Don’t accept blindly. RESPOND to points that you find hard to accept, or to points you feel are especially important

Suppose you hear something of the Bhagavad-gita, and it appeals to you, or even does not appeal to you. Just try to think over: "What Bhagavad-gita says? How Swamiji has discussed this matter?" Apply your arguments. Apply your logic. Don't take it as a sentiment or as a blind faith. You have got reason; you have got arguments; you have got sense. Apply it and try to understand it. …Then you will feel... …. You will gradually develop your attachment for hearing it, and devotional service will be invoked in your heart, and then, gradually, you will make progress.

    Lecture 1966

5th Ask the right kind of questions

      Make your question to understand it, not making question to avoid it. There are two kinds of question. That question will not help you. If you try to avoid, then Krsna will help you to avoid, and if you want to capture Krsna, then Krsna will help you how you can capture.

  Lecture 1968

"Those who are expert in giving knowledge, we should associate. ….If we associate with saintly persons and hear from them Bhagavad-gita and other Vedic literatures, then … it becomes appealing to the heart, hrt, and pleasing to the ear. …. And if you bring them into practical purposes, apply in your life, then sraddha bhaktir ratir anukramisyati. Then gradually you'll become faithful to the Supreme. Sraddha bhaktir. You'll develop your natural instincts of devotional service. Sraddha bhaktir ratir, attachment. Anukramisyati, one after another. This is the process."

lecture on Bhagavad-gita 13.6-7 -- Bombay, September 29, 1973

6th Cite sastra to support your lights

“Besides that, one should not talk nonsense. The process of speaking in spiritual circles is to say something upheld by the scriptures. One should at once quote from scriptural authority to back up what he is saying. At the same time, such talk should be very pleasurable to the ear.”

  Bg 17.15 purport

Concluding quotes

When we speak of hearing and chanting, it means that not only should one chant and hear of the holy name of the Lord as Rama, Krsna … but one should also read and hear the Bhagavad-gita and Srimad-Bhagavatam in the association of devotees. The primary practice of bhakti-yoga will cause the seed already sowed in heart to sprout, and by a regular watering process, as mentioned above, the bhakti-yoga creeper will begin to grow.   SB 2.2.30

The word jivanti indicates that a devotee who always hears about Lord Krsna will go back home, back to Godhead, even if he can do nothing except maintain his existence and hear topics concerning the Lord.

   SB 10.14.3