CC Madhya 25.278 – Srimad Bhagavatam 6.1.38 – On Reading Srila Prabhupada’s Books—Why and How

Host: Srila Prabhupada ki jaya! We welcome all the devotees on the first day of our śravaṇaṁ week programs. Many of you may now be aware that the week from the third September to ninth September has been declared “The Śravaṇaṁ Week.” And after being declared “The Śravaṇaṁ Week” by ISKCON GBC earlier this year to enhance the culture of reading Srila Prabhupada’s books. It is said māyā-mugdha jīvera nāhi svataḥ kṛṣṇa-jñāna jīvere kṛpāya kailā kṛṣṇa veda-purāṇa, the conditioned soul cannot. . . Actually, Srila Prabhupada has many times emphasized the importance of reading his books. But unfortunately, it has been observed that many devotees and even leaders are neglecting this very important instruction of Srila Prabhupada. So, one time, Prabhupada had said, “Unless we take care of the books, preach, read ourselves, understand the philosophy, this Hare Krishna will be finished within a few years.” Therefore, it is the responsibility of all Prabhupada’s followers to work together to prevent these things from happening. There is a statement Srila Prabhupada said, “If you distribute my books, you will stay happy. But if you read my books, you will stay here.” Hare Krishna. Thank you very much.

Devotee: Hare Krishna, dear devotees. We are now actually waiting for His Holiness Giriraj Maharaja to join us. So, while waiting for him to join in, I will just request the kirtan team to continue with kirtan, and we’ll let you know as soon as Maharaja is in the call

Hare Krishna, dear devotees. Dear devotees present at the Sri Sri Radha Golokananda mandir, Mauritius and abroad. Hare Krishna. Please accept my humble obeisances. I would like to welcome you all to the launch of a series of programs observing the Śravaṇam Week, which aims at creating a culture of reading the books of Srila Prabhupada, our founder-acharya. And tonight, to kick start our Śravaṇam Week, it is indeed our great fortune to have amongst us, His Holiness Giriraj Swami Maharaja.

Maharaja is a senior most disciple of Srila Prabhupada. He first met His Divine Grace in 1969 at the Boston University where he was studying. During that brief life-changing encounter, Maharaja says that he learned much more than in his many years of academic education. Indeed, he joined Boston ISKCON center right after his graduation. He took initiation from Srila Prabhupada and was soon after given the opportunity to go to India to help Srila Prabhupada establish his mission there. In 1972, he was appointed president of ISKCON Bombay and made a trustee of the Bhaktivedanta Book Trust as well. He oversaw all aspects of the development of the Hare Krishna Land in Juhu. He was very instrumental to raise funds for the project, which he did by genuinely caring for the spiritual well-being of the people he approached.

Over the years, Maharaja was behind various major projects, including the acquisition and development of the Bhaktivedanta ashram in Govardhana, development of the kirtan ashram for Vaishnavis, the Bhaktivedanta Hospice, and the Vrindavan Institute of Palliative Care to prepare terminally sick devotees on the final journey back to Godhead. Maharaja was awarded sannyasa by His Holiness Tamal Krishna Maharaja on Gaura-purnima of 1978. In September 1982, he was appointed GBC for Bombay, Mauritius, South Africa, Spain, Portugal, Sri Lanka, and Pakistan. Consequently, our island of Mauritius was blessed when Maharaja landed here for the first time in March of 1982. He was directly involved in the installation of their Lordships, Sri Sri Radha Golokananda, at the White House, the seat then of ISKCON in Mauritius, in the town of Quatre-Bornes. That happened during the Janmashtami of 1983.

In September 1984, Maharaja inaugurated the first Padayatra ever in the country with the brahmacharis at that time. This was at the same time Padayatra was launched in India. Maharaja and his team toured the country, establishing Krishna consciousness in every town and village. Maharaja also inaugurated the Grand Bassin marathon. This happens during Maha Shiva-ratri time, where about three hundred thousand people flock to the sacred lake at Grand Bassin to honor Lord Shiva. He personally organized the Food for Life, hari-nāma, and book distribution there. This is today the next biggest book distribution event apart from the December Srila Prabhupada book marathon. Maharaja also started a local newspaper called ISKCON World Review. Maharaja also started Janmashtami celebrations on a grand scale in Mauritius, and he started and engaged college and university preaching. He personally trained devotees in leadership.

His Holiness Giriraj Maharaja was instrumental in the purchase of the Hari Krishna Land at Pont Fer, Phoenix, where Their beautiful Lordships Sri Sri Radha-Golokananda now reside. He organized for devotees to go abroad to collect for the purchase of the land. The day before yesterday, His Grace Giridhari Prabhu was telling me that after collecting, there was still an amount that could not be raised, and the father of His Holiness Giriraj Maharaja personally contributed that amount. His Grace Giridhari Prabhu also mentioned that during one of his last visits to Mauritius, maybe 1998, Maharaja had told him that he had promised Sri Sri Radha-Golokananda that he would give them a temple. Currently a major project is on the way to build a magnificent temple for Sri Sri Radha-Golokananda. We request the yatra to push on with great enthusiasm so that within a short span, we can complete the project for the pleasure of their Lordships, and at the same time, fulfill the promise of His Holiness Giriraj Maharaja to their Lordships. It will be our way to express our deep gratitude to him for his personal efforts at the cost of great personal inconvenience for our sake.

Maharaja has also taught Srila Prabhupada’s books at the Vrindavan Institute for Higher Education and continues to lecture and give presentations at japa retreats and workshops around the world. Presently based in Carpinteria, California, Giriraj Maharaja is now focusing on one of the main personal instructions he received from Srila Prabhupada, which is to write. He is the author of Watering the Seed and Many Moons, and he is working on several publications, including books about death and dying in the Vedic tradition, his search for spiritual master and his early days in the Boston temple, his troubles together with Srila Prabhupada in India, and Srila Prabhupada’s monumental efforts in Bombay, and also about Vaishnava holy days.

Maharaja is thus most qualified to talk to us today about the importance and relevance of Srila Prabhupada’s books in a devotee’s life. How we should approach the books, how we should study them. Before passing over to Maharaja, kindly note that we shall have a question-answer session at the end. You may write your questions in the chat box in Zoom or on Facebook, and devotees sitting in the temple hall, they’ll be given some paper and pen also on which to write the questions. Sruti Dhar Prabhu and his team shall be reading the questions to Maharaja at the end. Over this, we pass on to His Holiness Giriraj Swami Maharaja, who we welcome once again by the loud chanting of Haribol three times, Haribol! Haribol! Haribol! His Holiness Giriraj Swami Maharaja ki jaya!

Giriraj Swami: Hare Krishna. It is a great honor and privilege and pleasure to be here with all of you for this most auspicious purpose of discussing why and how to read Srila Prabhupada’s books, and I’m also very pleased to see the progress on the temple construction, and I look forward to its completion and I would hope to attend the grand opening in person. So, I´ll begin by reciting the maṅgala-ācaraṇa prayers and leading a short kirtan, and then I will speak on the subject.

So, one personal request. I would like the devotees to put on their videos, as far as possible, to make the interaction more personal. Today’s topic is: Reading Srila Prabhupada’s books—Why and How?

I will begin first by discussing why. The first reason is that we need to remain strong in spiritual life. And I will read one quotation from Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā, Chapter Twenty-Five,.

TEXT 278

“Men become strong and stout by eating sufficient grains, but the devotee who simply eats ordinary grains but does not taste the transcendental pastimes of Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu and Kṛṣṇa gradually becomes weak and falls down from the transcendental position. However, if one drinks but a drop of the nectar of Kṛṣṇa’s pastimes, his body and mind begin to bloom, and he begins to laugh, sing and dance.”

PURPORT by Srila Prabhupada

All the devotees connected with the Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement must read all the books that have been translated (the Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, Bhagavad-gītā and others); otherwise, after some time, they will simply eat, sleep and fall down from their position. Thus they will miss the opportunity to attain an eternal, blissful life of transcendental pleasure.

COMMENT

And I might mention here that falling down doesn’t have to be gross, it can be, of course, but it can also be subtle, that we lose our conviction in Krishna consciousness, we lose our enthusiasm to practice and preach Krishna consciousness. But if we read all the books as Srila Prabhupada is instructing, we would attain an eternal blissful life of transcendental pleasure. Another reason why we should read the books is so that we can properly represent the Krishna consciousness movement. In a talk on Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 6.1.38 on June 4th, 1976 in Los Angeles, Srila Prabhupada spoke about this important necessity for us.

TEXT 38

śrī-viṣṇudūtā ūcuḥ

yūyaṁ vai dharma-rājasya

yadi nirdeśa-kāriṇaḥ

brūta dharmasya nas tattvaṁ

yac cādharmasya lakṣaṇam

TRANSLATION

The blessed messengers of Lord Viṣṇu, the Viṣṇudūtas, said: If you are actually servants of Yamarāja, you must explain to us the meaning of religious principles and the symptoms of irreligion.

COMMENT

So I hope all of you are reading Srila Prabhupada’s books, and if so, you will know that in the Sixth Canto of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam is the history of Ajamila. Ajamila was born in a good brahman family and he was well-behaved, but due to bad association, he fell down and married a prostitute and engaged in all sorts of sinful activities with her and for her sake. And he had a son named Narayana. And at the time of death, the Yamadutas, the messengers of Yamaraja, came to take him to be punished. And Ajamila, in a panic-stricken state, called for his son Narayana. And when he uttered the holy name of Narayana, those four syllables, Na-Ra-Ya-Na, the messengers of Lord Narayana, Vishnu came.

So, there was a discussion between the Yamadutas and the Vishnudutas about who had jurisdiction over Ajamila. The Yamadutas claimed that they had jurisdiction because he was sinful and he should be taken to Yamaraja for punishment, and the Vishnudutas, of course, claimed that they had jurisdiction because at that final moment, Ajamila had uttered the holy name of Narayana. And although he was calling for his son, the acharyas comment that calling the holy name of Narayana reminded him of the original Narayana whom he had worshiped in his youth.

So, there was a discussion about who has jurisdiction. And so, the Vishnudutas challenged the Yamadutas. And out of this, Srila Prabhupada draws a very important lesson for us.

TRANSLATION

The blessed messengers of Lord Viṣṇu, the Viṣṇudūtas, said: If you are actually servants of Yamarāja, you must explain to us the meaning of religious principles and the symptoms of irreligion.

TALK by  Srila Prabhupada on Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 6.1.38

The Yamadutas challenged, “Who are you, interfering with our business? We have come to arrest him.” So, the counterchallenge was, “You said, ‘We are servants of Dharmaraja, it is his jurisdiction. This person is impious. So, this is in the jurisdiction of Dharmaraja. He has to try the case and give him punishment, the criminal department, law and order. So, you cannot interfere with us.” Therefore, the challenge was replied by the Vishnudutas, “If you are actually representatives of Dharmaraja, who try the cases of dharma and adharma, first of all, explain what is dharma and what is adharma.”

This is a very nice challenge. Suppose if you say, “We are Krishna conscious persons.” One may challenge you, “First of all, explain what you know about Krishna.” That is quite natural. If you do not know about Krishna, you have no right to say, “I belong to the Krishna consciousness movement.” You have no right to say. So, your position is like that. Simply, if you have tilak and kaṇṭhi (neck beads), that does not mean you belong to the Krishna consciousness movement. Any cheater can do that. You must know the philosophy. If one challenges you, you must reply. Therefore, Bhaktivinoda Thakura has sung a song indicating these cheaters. He says, eita eka kalir celā: “Here is a servant of Kali.” What kind of celā (disciple)? Nāke tilaka galai mālā. “He has got tilak and galai mālā (neck beads). Bās. That’s all.” He does not know the philosophy. If you do not know what is the philosophy of Krishna consciousness, if you simply mark your body with tilak and kaṇṭhi, then you are not a proper servant; you are not qualified. So tilak, mala is necessary. Just like a policeman. A bogus man, if he dresses like a policeman, is not a policeman. He must know what is the police law, criminal law, who is to be punished, who is not to be punished, what is criminality, what is innocence. All these things he must know.”

COMMENT

So, this is another reason why we should study Srila Prabhupada’s books, so we can properly represent the Krishna consciousness movement, we can explain the philosophy of Krishna consciousness. And another reason is that Srila Prabhupada took great effort to translate these books and write these books for us. He said that his books are meant for everyone, but especially for his sincere devotees. So, we should reciprocate the effort, monumental effort, superhuman effort, he ment to translate and write these books. Srila Prabhupada would generally retire at around ten o’clock at night, sleep only two hours, sleep or rest, whatever, two hours, and then he would get up at midnight. And while we were all sleeping, he would be dictating his books. So, we should appreciate the effort that Srila Prabhupada made. The pains he took to produce these literatures for us to read. So, in a talk on Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 6.1.1 on May 21st, 1975 in Melbourne, he said. . .

TALK by Srila Prabhupada

We have got Kṛṣṇa, we have got spiritual master, we have got the books, Bhāgavata, we have got Gītā. Now let us take advantage of it. These transcendental literatures, we have taken much pain to translate them into English so that you can understand. We have got fifty books. So, take advantage. It is not meant for the cats and dogs. It is meant for the human being. Not a particular class or nation. No. It is meant for all human beings. So, take advantage of this knowledge, understand the philosophy of life, that “I am eternal.”

COMMENT

During these difficult times, I always feel the urgent need for Srila Prabhupada’s books to be distributed and read in large numbers. For only such literature can enlighten people how to proceed in the right way. And Srila Prabhupada’s preface to Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam is profoundly relevant. His Grace Radhika Raman dasa, who is a brilliant scholar, has spoken about different ways of writing, in Sanskrit in particular. And generally, the two categories are poetry and prose, but he said there’s a type of Sanskrit that is prose but it’s very poetic. And he said that Srila Prabhupada’s preface to Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam is like that. It’s prose but it’s very poetic. So, I’ll read a little from it because it’s very inspiring and it shows the urgency for people, of course, beginning with us, to study Srila Prabhupada’s books, and in particular Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam.

PREFACE to Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam

We must know the present need of human society. And what is that need? Human society is no longer bounded by geographical limits to particular countries or communities. And the world tendency is toward one state or one human society.”

COMMENT

Now, this is very relevant to our temple in Mauritius—the Temple of Unity. So, what will be the basis of that unity? That is explained here by Srila Prabhupada in his preface to Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam.

PREFACE (continued)

The world tendency is toward one state or one human society. The ideals of spiritual communism, according to Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, are based more or less on the oneness of the entire human society, nay, of the entire energy of living beings. The need is felt by great thinkers to make this a successful ideology. Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam will fill this need in human society. It begins, therefore, with an aphorism of Vedānta philosophy, janmādy asya yataḥ, to establish the ideal of a common cause.

Human society, at the present moment, is not in the darkness of oblivion. It has made rapid progress in the fields of material comforts, education and economic development throughout the entire world. But there is a pinprick somewhere in the social body at large, and therefore there are large-scale quarrels, even over less important issues. There is need of a clue as to how humanity can become one in peace, friendship and prosperity with a common cause. Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam will fill this need, for it is a cultural presentation for the respiritualization of the entire human society.

There is God, or the Almighty One, from whom everything emanates. This ultimate source is explained rationally and authoritatively in the beautiful Bhāgavatam, or Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam. I am hopeful of its good reception by the thinkers and leaders of society.

COMMENT

And part of today’s topic is ‘Why?’ Why we should read Srila Prabhupada’s books, and how we should read them. And one of the last purports that Srila Prabhupada dictated in Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, he was lying on his bed in Vrindavan, he was bedridden, and Pradyumna Prabhu and Jayadvaita Prabhu, they were by his bedside, holding the microphone to his mouth. And Pradyumna Prabhu had the book with the commentaries so he would read the commentaries which Srila Prabhupada would take into consideration while he was dictating his purports. And one of the last purports that Srila Prabhupada dictated is so important for us. And he gives a very specific instruction.

PURPORT by Srila Prabhupada

We should discuss Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam daily as much as possible.

COMMENT

I repeat.

PURPORT (continued)

We should discuss Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam daily as much as possible, and then everything will be clarified, for Bhāgavatam is the essence of all Vedic literature (nigama-kalpa-taror galitaṁ phalam). It was written by Vyāsadeva (mahā-muni-kṛte) when he was self-realized. Thus the more we read Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, the more its knowledge becomes clear. Each and every verse is transcendental.

COMMENT

And then, just picking up on that theme, in a talk on Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 1.16.8 on January 5th, 1974 in Los Angeles, Srila Prabhupada said:

TALK by Srila Prabhupada

These are the Bhāgavata. There is no comparison. There is no literature throughout the universe like Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam. There is no comparison. There is no competition. Every word is for the good of the human society. Every word, each and every word. Therefore we stress so much about the book distribution. Somehow or other, if the book goes in one hand, he will be benefited. At least he will see, “Oh, they have taken so much price. Let me see what is there.” If he reads one sloka, his life will be successful. If one sloka, one word. This is such a nice thing. Therefore we are stressing so much, “Please distribute books, distribute books, distribute books.” A greater mridanga. We are chanting, playing our mridanga. It is heard within this room or little more. But this mridanga will go home to home, country to country, community to community, this mridanga.

COMMENT

So yeah, it’s so important that we read Srila Prabhupada’s books, for many reasons. And how to read Srila Prabhupada’s books? Of course, in one sense, Srila Prabhupada has given the answer that we should read them regularly and discuss them, read them daily and discuss them. The more we discuss, the more the matter will become clarified. And another instruction on how to read them is nicely developed by our godbrother, His Grace Bhurijana dasa, who wrote an article called Prayerful Reading. And the idea of Prayerful Reading is that while reading, we are praying to Srila Prabhupada and the previous acharyas to instruct us, to tell us what we need to know, at this particular time and in this particular situation, to apply in our life.

And so many devotees have experienced that when they had some problem, some questions, some challenge, they opened Srila Prabhupada’s book and the answer came right out of the page. Just what they needed to hear. So, yeah, we should read in a prayerful mood to gain instructions that will be relevant and beneficial for us to apply in our lives. The books are actually alive. They’re Krishna. I mean Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam is Krishna. Bhagavad-gītā is Krishna. And along with Krishna, Srila Prabhupada. So, they’re there to speak to us and to tell us what we should do and what we should not do. What we should think and what we should not think. What we should desire and what we should not desire. They are there to provide guidance for us in every aspect of our life. The third verse of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam is beautiful, and it says that the Bhāgavatam is the ripened fruit of the Vedic knowledge.

nigama-kalpa-taror galitaṁ phalaṁ

śuka-mukhād amṛta-drava-saṁyutam

pibata bhāgavataṁ rasam ālayam

muhur aho rasikā bhuvi bhāvukāḥ

“O expert and thoughtful men, relish Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, the mature fruit of the desire tree of Vedic literatures. It emanated from the lips of Śrī Śukadeva Gosvāmī. Therefore this fruit has become even more tasteful, although its nectarean juice was already relishable for all, including liberated souls.”

So, a desire tree (kalpa-taroḥ) fulfills all desires. And we all have various desires, and naturally, we want our desires to be fulfilled. And they can be fulfilled best, most completely and most blissfully, by Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam.

PURPORT by Srila Prabhupada

In this śloka it is stated that Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam is not only a superior literature but is the ripened fruit of all Vedic literatures. In other words, it is the cream of all Vedic knowledge. Considering all this, patient and submissive hearing is definitely essential. With great respect and attention, one should receive the message and lessons imparted by the Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam.

The Vedas are compared to the desire tree because they contain all things knowable by man. and the highest spiritual realization is knowledge that the Personality of Godhead is the reservoir of all spiritual tastes, or rasas.

COMMENT

Now, I’ll just read one more wonderful verse in glorification of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam. This is 1.3.43.

kṛṣṇe sva-dhāmopagate

dharma-jñānādibhiḥ saha

kalau naṣṭa-dṛśām eṣa

purāṇārko ‘dhunoditaḥ

“This Bhāgavata Purāṇa is as brilliant as the sun, and it has arisen just after the departure of Lord Kṛṣṇa to His own abode, accompanied by religion, knowledge, etc. Persons who have lost their vision due to the dense darkness of ignorance in the Age of Kali shall get light from this Purāṇa.”

PURPORT by Srila Prabhupada

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam is the summum bonum of life, Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa personified. We must therefore accept Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam as the direct representation of Lord Kṛṣṇa. One who can see Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam can see also Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa in person. They are identical.

COMMENT

So, my dear devotees, Srila Prabhupada has left us a wealth of transcendental literature, which are Krishna and the entire paramparā and Srila Prabhupada. And so, we should take advantage of their association and guidance for a life of eternal bliss and knowledge. So now, I think that we can open the floor for questions or comments. But this, I can say, is very purifying and enlivening to speak about Srila Prabhupada’s books and glorify Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam and Srila Prabhupada and all of Srila Prabhupada’s books. Hare Krishna.

So, I guess you can raise your hand, or if people have put questions in the chat. But when it comes to asking the question, I would like to see the face of the person who’s asking the question, then it will be more personal. And not only questions, also, you can share reflections and realizations. So, Harideva Prabhu, will you be sort of managing this?

Harideva Prabhu: Yes Maharaja. I’ll just ask Sridhar Prabhu if there are any questions that he can read from the chat box.

Giriraj Swami: Okay.

Sridhar Prabhu: Hare Krishna, Maharaja. So, yes, we have one question from a devotee from the audience, who would like to know, “What should one do if while reading the books of Srila Prabhupada, one cannot understand the teachings? So, how should one go about it?”

Giriraj Swami: Okay. That’s a very good question. Is the person who asked the question here on the Zoom?

Sridhar prabhu: Yes, Maharaja. The devotee wishes to keep anonymity, Maharaja.

Giriraj Swami: Oh, okay, all right. I don’t know why, because it was a very good question. So, what do we do if we’re reading Srila Prabhupada’s books and we don’t understand something? There are two primary processes. The first is to read it again. When The Nectar of Devotion first came out, of course, it was new to us. And some of it was quite advanced. And Srila Prabhupada said if we come to something we don’t understand, we should just read it again and again. And I cite my dear godbrother Bhurijana Prabhu again, who has written wonderful books to help us understand Srila Prabhupada’s books, especially the Bhagavad-gītā, he wrote a book called Surrender Unto Me, and also Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam. He has written two books so far. One on the first four Cantos of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, and then one on the Twelfth Canto of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam. And he says he gets so many of his insights just by reading and re-reading and re-reading and re-reading. So, the more you read it, the more it becomes clear.

There was one exchange between Prabhupada’s disciple, Jadurani dasi and Srila Prabhupada, very early in the history of the movement, when Srila Prabhupada first came to America. And so, she had come across a statement, that the moon is churned from the ocean of milk, and Srila Prabhupada instructed her to repeat that. She repeated it. There’s a little feedback. . . I don’t know what the cause of that is, but anyway. So, she repeated it, “The moon is churned from the ocean of milk.” And he asked her to repeat it again. “The moon is churned from the ocean of milk.” And again, “The moon is churned from the ocean of milk.” And then, Srila Prabhupada asked her, “Now, do you understand?” And she said, “Yes. The moon is churned from the ocean of milk.” So, repetition.

And Srila Prabhupada also repeats within his purports, like he said, repetition is necessary for our understanding. And he said, “We will not say that Krishna is the Supreme Personality of Godhead in one purport. We will say that Krishna is the Supreme Personality of Godhead in every purport.” So, repetition. And then, the other way is by discussion, by consultation. You can approach some devotee, a friend, or a mentor, and say, “I read this and I don’t understand it. Can you help me to understand it?” And there’s a chance that the person will understand it and be able to explain it. But even if not, the two of you can discuss together. As Srila Prabhupada said, “Read Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam daily as much as possible. The more you discuss, the more the subject becomes clarified.” Good question. Any other questions?

Harideva Prabhu: Yes, thank you, Maharaja. We have another question from Neha Mishra Mataji on Facebook, who is following us live on Facebook. Mataji asks, “How to balance one’s material and spiritual life?”

Giriraj Swami: There should be no material life. It should be spiritual only. What we consider material can be spiritualized by dovetailing it with Krishna’s service, with Krishna consciousness. The basic principle of vaidhī-sādhana-bhakti is to always remember Krishna and never forget Him. And all the other injunctions and prohibitions are servants of the one injunction, “Always remember Krishna” and the one prohibition, “Never forget Krishna.” So, whatever we do, we should do in Krishna consciousness. If we have children, we should raise them in Krishna consciousness, raise them to become good devotees. If we’re earning money, we should use that money to support our Krishna conscious lifestyle. And whatever we don’t need for ourselves and our family members, we can give for spreading Krishna consciousness.

So, everything should be dovetailed in Krishna consciousness. But in our state, we do need to keep the body and soul together. So, we need to eat and sleep, all these things are there in the Bhagavad-gītā, one should not eat too much or eat too little. I’m reminded of a time when His Holiness Indradyumna Swami and I were invited for lunch at a devotee’s home in Durban, South Africa, and they had prepared an elaborate feast. But the way they served, it seemed like they had served everything, and then they’d bring out something else, and then we would think, All right, that’s the end, and then they’d bring out something else, All right, all right, we’ll have a little more, and then they’d bring out something else. So, I said to Indradyumna Swami, “This is very difficult.” And Indradyumna Swami replied, “As Krishna says in the Bhagavad-gītā, one should not eat too much or eat too little.” So, he said, “Today we’re focusing on not eating too little.”

But in a way, balance is necessary. And what constitutes the proper balance at one stage may not be the proper balance at another stage, the proportions may change. And we should pray, we should always be praying, all the time, to Srila Prabhupada, to Gaura-Nitai, to the paramparā, to Krishna, to guide us, so that we can serve them nicely and without any disruption. And coming back to that phrasing of material and spiritual, if we neglect some aspect of our material life, so to speak, it can cause a disturbance in our spiritual life. So, we do need to take care of all aspects of our life. But ultimately, everything in our life should be spiritual, because even keeping the body and soul together, the purpose ultimately is to serve Krishna. Hare Krishna.

Harideva Prabhu: Actually, we have one last question, Maharaja, if that is okay with you?

Giriraj Swami: Sure.

Harideva Prabhu: Sridhar Prabhu, you read the question please.

Devotee: Hare Krishna, Maharaja. Thank you for the answer. We have a question from Nitya Radha dasi from Facebook, it’s about how to transform the majority mindsets of people not primarily interested in philosophy, books readings, rather attracted to the Krishna kirtan and other services. Sorry. So, they are not attracted to book reading, but rather to kirtan and other services.

Giriraj Swami: Yes, I mean there are nine processes of devotional services enumerated by Prahlada Maharaja; śravaṇaṁ kīrtanaṁ viṣṇoḥ smaraṇaṁ pāda-sevanam arcanaṁ vandanaṁ dāsyaṁ sakhyam ātma-nivedanam. And Rupa Gosvami and Srila Prabhupada explained that one can achieve perfection by executing all of the processes, or one, or two or three of the processes. So, śravaṇaṁ, reading, is one of the processes, but so is kīrtanaṁ, chanting or glorifying. So, if someone doesn’t have taste for reading, they can still progress by kīrtanaṁ, by serving. And probably, they will be purified by kirtan and by sevā, and they will develop a taste for hearing or reading. Because that’s very necessary, to hear about Krishna, read about Krishna. But in the meantime, yes, they can chant, they can do service, and that will, I would say, bring them to the stage of appreciating the books.

Devotee: Thank you, Maharaja.

Harideva Prabhu: Thank you very much, Maharaja, for the enlightening answer. We have one last question from His Grace Vyas Krishna Prabhu and his good wife Vaya Kishori Mataji. Prabhu and Mataji asked, “How can we organize a routine to read the books? And if there is any specific requirement to read specific books on a specific day? For example, Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam on weekdays, Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta on Saturday, or Śrīla Prabhupāda-līlāmṛta on Sundays. Can you please give an insight, Maharaja?” Thank you.

Giriraj Swami: Well, we should read Srila Prabhupada’s books every day. He repeatedly advised that we should read his books for at least an hour a day. And sometimes, of course, I think it is more temple devotees or ashram devotees, for two or three hours a day. And you have to include it in your schedule, like you include breakfast in your schedule every day, you include lunch, breakfast in your schedule every day, you include sleep in your schedule every day, and I hope you include sixteen rounds in your schedule every day. So, in the same way, we should include some reading every day.

Srila Prabhupada said in relation to his sixteen rounds, when he was a grihastha, that he would chant four rounds before breakfast. He wouldn’t have breakfast until he chanted four rounds. He would chant four rounds before lunch. He would chant four rounds before dinner. And he would chant four rounds before taking rest at night. So, in that way, he was sure that he would complete his sixteen rounds. So, yeah, I guess you have to put it in the schedule. As far as what to read when, I’ve never heard such advice. Although on September 18th, the Purusottama adhika-māsa is beginning, that extra month that comes every three years to keep the lunar calendar in line with the solar calendar, and it is recommended in the Puruṣottama month that one should read the Fifteenth Chapter of the Bhagavad-gītā, which is called Puruṣottama Yoga. One should read the Fifteenth Chapter every day.

But otherwise, there is no such rule that one should read a certain book on a certain day. I mean, the general progression is first, Īśopaniṣad, then Bhagavad-gītā, then The Nectar of Devotion, then the Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, then Caitanya-caritāmṛta. But I asked Srila Prabhupada about reading, and he said, “It’s all nectar. And wherever you have taste, wherever you have an inclination, you just read that.” Is that all right, Vyas Krishna Prabhu? Okay.

Sridhar Prabhu: Thank you. Thank you very much, Maharaja. Thank you very much. Thank you so much. Harideva Prabhu will now conclude the session. Harideva Prabhu, please?

Harideva Prabhu: So, we’d like to thank you very much, Maharaja, for having taken your time to share with us your realizations about Srila Prabhupada, reading Srila Prabhupada’s books. Just a quick recapitulation of what we’ve learned from you today is that it’s very important to read the books. Why? For three main reasons. First, to remain strong in spiritual life. You gave the example of a person eating grains to remain strong, that’s for an ordinary person. But if a devotee just eats grains and doesn’t read Srila Prabhupada’s books, then he will drop from the spiritual path. So, it’s very important to read. Secondly, you mentioned that it’s very important to read books so that we can properly represent Srila Prabhupada and the Krishna consciousness movement. And also, it’s an expression of our gratitude and reciprocation with Srila Prabhupada for his great effort that he has put into writing all these books.

And, how to read the books? You mentioned about regularity, and daily we should read, we should discuss. And you also mentioned about prayerful reading in which we pray to the acharyas, to Srila Prabhupada, to the guru, to the spiritual master, to reveal to us what we need to know through our reading at that particular time and at that particular situation in our life.

So, we would like to thank you very much, Maharaja, once again, and we hope that in the near future, we will be having the opportunity to hear from you again for you to address the Mauritius yatra. So, it’s been very wonderful to have your association, Maharaja. Thank you so much.

Giriraj Swami: It’s been a pleasure. And I wish you all success with the temple project.

Devotee: Thank you so much, Maharaja. So, we’d like to express our gratitude to His Holiness Giriraj Maharaja by saying Haribol three times very loudly. Haribol! Haribol! Haribol!

Giriraj Swami: I suggest we can end by offering Vaishnava praṇāma.

Let us offer our respectful obeisances unto all the Vaishnava devotees of the Lord who are just like desire trees who can fulfill the desires of everyone and are full of compassion for the fallen conditioned souls.

vāñchā-kalpa-tarubhyaś ca
kṛpā-sindhubhya eva ca
patitānāṁ pāvanebhyo
vaiṣṇavebhyo namo namaḥ