Improving our Sadhu- sanga

1. Improvingour Sadhu-sanga

2. What should we be experiencing?

3. 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

4. “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 ŚrīKṛṣṇa, and always remain absorbed in thought of Him.” SB 5.18.9 verse

5.  By regularly hearing, chanting and meditating on the beautiful topics of Lord Mukundawith ever-increasing sincerity, a mortal being will attain the divine kingdom of the Lord, where the inviolable power of death holds no sway. For this purpose, many persons, including great kings, abandoned their mundane homes and took to the forest. SB 10.90.50

6. “Lord Caitanya has said that in this age no one needs to change his position, but one should give up the endeavor to understand the Absolute Truth by speculative reasoning. One should learn to become the servant of those who are in knowledge of the Supreme Lord. If one is fortunate enough to take shelter of a pure devotee, hear from him about self-realization and follow in his footsteps, one will be gradually elevated to the position of a pure devotee.” Bg 13.26

7. What did we learn from the last four slides?

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

9. “CaitanyaMahaprabhu…says: sadhu-sanga sadhu-sangasarva-sastre kaya, lava-matra sadhu-sanga... Sadhu-sanga sadhu-sangasarva... lava-matra sadhu-sangesarva-siddhi haya [Cc. Madhya 22.54]. Sadhu-sanga is very important. If we can associate with real sadhu, means real devotee, unadulterated devotee, anyabhilasita-sunyamjnana-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

10. 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 

11. The summary is that one has to, first of all, seek the association of pure devotees who not only are learned in the Vedanta but are self-realized souls and unalloyed devotees of Lord Sri Krsna, the Personality of Godhead SB 1.5.34

12. 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

13. What did we learn from the last 4 slides?

14. 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

15. 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

16. 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

17. 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

18. 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

19. What did we learn from the last 5 slides?

20. Simple hearing is not all; one must realize the text with proper attention. SB 1.3.44

21. Simply to hear like the hogs is not sufficient; one must be able to understand from the authorities. Bg 15.19

22. Nor by independent study of books of knowledge can one progress in spiritual life. Bg 4.34 purport

23. What did we learn from the last 3 slides?

24. How should we associate with SrilaPrabhupada’s books?

25. …one has to associate with liberated persons not directly, physically, but by understanding, through philosophy and logic, the problems of life. SB 3.31.48 purport

26. …one has to seek the association of devotees, and by such association, when one contemplates and tries to understand the transcendental activities of the Lord, the path to liberation is open, and he is freed. SB 3.25.25

27. What did we understand from the last two slides?

28. 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

29. “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. Nityambhagavata-sevaya. That is our mission. Nasta-prayesvabhadresunityambhagavata-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

30. 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

31. 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

32. What did we understand from the last four slides?

33. …unless and until one istrained in the culture of good association, one cannot become good. SB 3.3.6 purport

34. One should learn how to associate with the devotees of the Lord by gathering with them to chant the glories of the Lord. This process is most purifying. As devotees thus develop their loving friendship, they feel mutual happiness and satisfaction.And by thus encouraging one another they are able to give up material sense gratification, which is the cause of all suffering. SB 11.3.30

35. "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

36. What did we learn from the last 3 slides?

37. How should we discuss SrilaPrabhupada’s purports?

38. 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.

39. Hearing is solidified by the process of chanting. One who has perfectly heard from the perfect source becomes convinced about the all-pervading Personality of Godhead and thus becomes enthusiastic in glorifying the Lord. SB 2.2.36 purport

40. "When we will learn something, we have to repeat it, even in material things. And what to speak of spiritual?"Lecture New York, 1966 Bhagavad-gita 2.55-56

41. " 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

42. What did we understand from the last 4 slides?

43. Actually Vedic scripture is krsna-katha, topics about Krsna, and krsna-katha is not a subject matter for a debate club. TLK Vs 34

44. 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

45. 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.”

46. What did we learn from the last 3 slides?

47. 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

48. 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

49. “…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

50. What did we learn from the last 3 slides?