The 10 Principles
Principle Two
Principle Three
Principle Four
Principle Five
Principle Six
Principle Seven
Principle Eight
Principle Nine
Principle Ten
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2. Systematically Scrutinise The Books Together
Systematically:
“In systematic way you discuss.” (Morning Walk - 30/12/’73 Los Angeles)
“This Bhagavad-gita is the ABCD of knowledge. This is entrance examination, matriculation examination, school-leaving examination. And Srimad-Bhagavatam is graduate. When you become graduate in spiritual knowledge, then you can understand Srimad-Bhagavatam. And when you have passed your Bachelor degree, when you are post-graduate, that study is Sri-Chaitanya-charitamrta. So we have got three different status of reading capacity. We have got already twenty books. So don’t waste your time. Try to understand what is Krishna and what is spiritual life by reading these books. Everything is explained there.” (Lecture on Bhagavad-gita 13.22-24 — Melbourne, June 25, 1974)
“Therefore Bhagavad-gītā is the preliminary study of spiritual life. If you can understand Bhagavad-gītā, then you can begin Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam. If you have not understood Bhagavad-gītā, it is useless. You cannot understand Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam.” (Lecture on SB 3.25.22 — Bombay, November 22, 1974)
“Try to understand each and every verse of Bhagavad-gītā, especially, and if possible Bhāgavatam.” (Conversation at house of Ksirodakasayi dasa — July 25, 1976, London)
“Everything is explained in Bhagavad-gītā. Therefore, to learn how to become free from the miserable condition of material existence, Bhagavad-gītā As It Is is the preliminary study. Then, if one understands Bhagavad-gītā, one can proceed to Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, and if one advances further, one may study Chaitanya-charitāmṛta. We are therefore presenting these invaluable books to the whole world so that people may study them and be happy, being delivered from miserable conditional life.” SB 10.8.49 purport
“The systematic hearing of the transcendental activities, qualities and names of Lord Śrī Krishna pushes one towards eternal life. Systematic hearing means knowing Him gradually in truth and fact, and this knowing Him in truth and fact means attaining eternal life, as stated in the Bhagavad-gītā.” SB 1.18.10 purport
Scrutinisingly:
“First of all, try to understand one word please. One word, if you understand, your life will be successful.” (Morning Walk — March 30, 1974, Bombay)
“Therefore you will find in Srimad-Bhagavatam, each word is transcendental. Each word is full of meaning and transcendental knowledge because the writer, the composer of this transcendental book, is Vyasadeva. He is perfect, Vedavyasa, perfect in Vedic knowledge.” (Lecture on SB 1.7.6 - Vrndavana, April 18, 1975)
“Just like in the Srimad-Bhagavatam there are so many descriptions, so many other things, but because it is in relationship with Krsna, so each word of Bhagavatam is valued. Each word of Bhagavad-gita is valued.” (Lecture on SB 1.8.44 - Los Angeles, MAY 6, 1973)
“This Bhagavata is so, I mean to say, exalted transcendental knowledge that there are eighteen thousand verses, and if you analyze each verse, each word, you will get a great transcendental information.” (Lecture on SB 2.1.1-5 - Boston, December 22, 1969)
“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 on SB 7.9.32 - Mayapur, March 10, 1976)
Sometimes people object that this is unrealistic as we would never get through all the books. There is no objection to reading all the books, but to fully experience their transformative benefit, we must systematically scrutinise them. In this way, over several lifetimes, we will qualify ourselves to attain Goloka Vrindavana.
“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 on SB 2.1.1-5 - Melbourne; June 26, 1974)
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