DISCUSS Prabhupada’s purports with other devotees.
Many of us already read Srila Prabhupada’s books or listen to his lectures. Despite that, we are still not happy. What adjustment can we make? Srila Prabhupada recommends that we discuss his purports:
“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 will understand Krishna very easily.” Lecture on SB 6.1.39-Los Angeles, June 5, 1976
“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‘75)
If we neglect discussing Srila Prabhupada’s books together, we cannot make progress in spiritual consciousness:
“What is the value of this association? Sat-saṅga. Sat-saṅga means assembly, discussion. Bodhayantaḥ parasparam, tuṣyanti ca ramanti ca. If you are not interested in association, discussion, then you are finished. So… karmīs, 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 karmī’s life. You have no time for sat-saṅga, for association. You cannot make any progress by this sort of karmī’s life. We have to work for organization, but not that whole day and night engaged and no sat-saṅga. That is a misguided policy, and it will spoil the whole structure. In Los Angeles, they regularly assemble during ārati and class. If this regulative principle is lost, then you are karmīs.” (Room conversation, ‘73)
Evidence from Bhagavad-gita
“The messages of the Supreme Personality of Godhead are full of potencies, and these potencies can be realized if topics regarding the Supreme Godhead are discussed amongst devotees.” Bg 9.1 purport
Discussion of Krishna 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
“Devotees of the Supreme Lord…..take pleasure in discussing Him with other devotees.” B.g. 10.9 purport
“In discussing Krishna’s opulences and His diverse energies, the pure devotees take transcendental pleasure. Therefore they want to hear and discuss them.” Bg 10.19 purport
“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 purport
Evidence from Srimad-Bhagavatam
“Both by rising and by setting, the sun decreases the duration of life of everyone, except one who utilizes the time by discussing topics of the all-good Personality of Godhead.” SB 2.3.17 verse
“Such discourses on the transcendental activities of the Lord purify the atmosphere in which such discussions are held, and the devotees thus become enlivened while answering such questions.” SB 2.5.9 purport
“The highest perfectional gain of humanity is to engage in discussions of the activities and glories of the Pious Actor. Such activities are so nicely arranged in writing by the greatly learned sages that the actual purpose of the ear is served just by being near them.” SB 3.6.37 verse
“Here in the Bhāgavatam, in this verse particularly, it is stressed that people who try to discuss and understand the real spiritual nature of the spiritual sky and the Vaikuṇṭhas are fortunate.” SB 3.15.23 “It is very much regrettable that unfortunate people do not discuss the description of the
Vaikuntha planets but engage in topics which are unworthy to hear and which bewilder one’s intelligence. Those who give up the topics of Vaikuntha and take to talk of the material world are thrown into the darkest region of ignorance.” SB 3.15.24 verse
“However, persons who have given up stereotyped worldly affairs and the beastly followers of these affairs, and who have taken shelter of the umbrella of Your lotus feet by drinking the intoxicating nectar of Your qualities and activities in discussions with one another, can be freed from the primary necessities of the material body.” SB 3.21.17 verse
“In the association of pure devotees, discussion of the pastimes and activities of the Supreme Personality of Godhead is very pleasing and satisfying to the ear and the heart. By cultivating such knowledge one gradually becomes advanced on the path of liberation, and thereafter he is freed, and his attraction becomes fixed. Then real devotion and devotional service begin.” SB 3.25.25 verse
“In Bhagavad-gītā there is reference to bodhayantaḥ parasparam, “discussing among themselves.” Generally pure devotees utilize their valuable time in chanting and discussing various activities of Lord Krishna or Lord Caitanya amongst themselves. There are innumerable books, such as the Purāṇas, Mahābhārata, Bhāgavatam, Bhagavad-gītā and Upaniṣads, which contain countless subjects for discussion among two devotees or more.” SB 3.29.17 purport
“When there is a congregation of devotees, their discussions, questions and answers become conclusive to both the speaker and the audience. Thus such a meeting is beneficial for everyone’s real happiness.” SB 4.22.19 verse
“The conclusion is that if one participates in a discussion of devotees, he is both materially and spiritually benefited…. The discussion of spiritual matters amongst devotees is beneficial for everyone, without exception.” SB 4.22.19 purport
“The inhabitants of Brahmaloka always discuss such narrations so that after the annihilation of the material world they can be directly transferred to the spiritual world.” SB 4.29.84 purport
“Dear Lord, as long as we have to remain within this material world due to our material contamination and wander from one type of body to another and from one planet to another, we pray that we may associate with those who are engaged in discussing Your pastimes. We pray for this benediction life after life, in different bodily forms and on different planets.” SB 4.30.33 verse
“Whenever pure topics of the transcendental world are discussed, the members of the audience forget all kinds of material hankerings, at least for the time being. Not only that, but they are no longer envious of one another, nor do they suffer from anxiety or fear.” SB 4.30.35 verse
“My dear Nārada, actually I do not reside in My abode, Vaikuṇṭha, nor do I reside within the hearts of the yogīs, but I reside in that place where My pure devotees chant My holy name and discuss My form, pastimes and qualities.” SB 4.30.35 purport
“Actually, when one chants or discusses the transcendental activities of the Lord, he immediately becomes nonenvious.” SB 4.30.36 purport
“Śukadeva Gosvāmī continued: O best of the Pāṇḍu dynasty [Mahārāja Parīkṣit], the King of the Sindhu and Sauvīra states [Mahārāja Rahūgaṇa] had great faith in discussions of the Absolute Truth.” SB 5.10.15 verse
“If one does not discuss that which is important in life, one is put into darkness and must struggle for existence.” SB 6.5.18 purport
“…..by discussing the disadvantages of accumulating wealth one should give up greed, and by discussing the truth one should give up fear.” SB 7.15.22 purport
“By discussing spiritual knowledge one can conquer lamentation and illusion,….” SB 7.15.23 verse
“Vyāsadeva has given this literature so that everyone may understand one’s transcendental position simply by discussing bhāgavata-kathā.” SB 10.11.58 purport
“We should gradually come to the sattva-guṇa, so that we may avoid the two lower guṇas. This can be done if we regularly discuss Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam and hear about Krishna’s activities. Naṣṭa-prāyeṣv abhadreṣu nityaṁ bhāgavata-sevayā (Bhāg. 1.2.18). All the activities of Krishna described in Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, beginning even with the pastimes concerning Pūtanā, are transcendental. Therefore, by hearing and discussing ŚrīmadBhāgavatam, the rajo-guṇa and tamo-guṇa are subdued, so that only sattva-guṇa remains. Then rajo-guṇa and tamo-guṇa cannot do us any harm.” SB 110.13.53 purport
“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).” SB 10.13.54 purport
“The Lord here informs His father that people should perform a particular ceremony or activity only after thoroughly understanding it through discussion with friends. We should not be blind followers of tradition. If a person doesn’t even know what he’s doing, how can he be successful in his work? This, essentially, is the Lord’s argument in this verse.” SB 10.24.6 purport
“By following Lord Caitanya’s blissful process of chanting, dancing, feasting and discussing spiritual philosophy, anyone can easily go back home, back to Godhead, for an eternal life of bliss and knowledge.” SB 10.61.25 purport
“Maunam, or “silence,” means that one should not speak on worthless or frivolous topics, but should discuss the actual issues of human life such as going back home, back to Godhead.” SB 11.3.24 purport
“The devotees of the Lord constantly discuss the glories of the Personality of Godhead among themselves. Thus they constantly remember the Lord and remind one another of His qualities and pastimes. In this way, by their devotion to the principles of bhakti-yoga, the devotees please the Personality of Godhead, who takes away from them everything inauspicious. Being purified of all impediments, the devotees awaken to pure love of Godhead, and thus, even within this world, their spiritualized bodies exhibit symptoms of transcendental ecstasy, such as standing of the bodily hairs on end.” SB 11.3.31 verse
Evidence from Caitanya Caritamrta
“A sincere student should not neglect the discussion of such conclusions, considering them controversial, for such discussions strengthen the mind. Thus one’s mind becomes attached to Śrī Krishna.” CC Adi 2.117 verse
“The desired change of heart referred to above is visible in the reluctance to do anything not congenial to the devotional way. To create such a change of heart, conclusive discussion about Śrī Krishna and His potencies is absolutely necessary.” CC Adi 2.117 purport
Evidence from other books by Srila Prabhupada
“Therefore I advise you to read our books daily as far as possible and try to understand the subject matter from different angles of vision by discussing it frequently with the devotees at the New York temple. In this way you will gradually become convinced, and by your sincere attitude and devotional service you will make progress.” Perfect Questions, Perfect Answers; chp 8
“In this way, Sri Balarama instructed Rukmini in spiritual knowledge. He further addressed His sister-in-law thus: “Sweet, smiling Rukmini, do not be aggrieved by false notions caused by ignorance. Only because of false notions does one become unhappy, but one can immediately remove this unhappiness by discussing the philosophy of actual life. Be happy on that platform only.” KB 54: Krsna Defeats All the Princes and Takes Rukmini Home to Dvaraka