Reading and Tapasya - Part II

I am very much stressing at this point that all of my students shall be very much conversant with the philosophy of Krishna Consciousness, and that they should read our books very diligently at least one or two hours daily and try to understand the subject matter from varieties of angles. We have got ample stock for acquiring knowledge. And if the students get knowledge more and more they will automatically become convinced and very easily perform their duties for tapasya or renunciation of the material bondage, and that will be their successful advancement in Krishna Consciousness.
— Letter to Madhudvisa, 16 June, 1972.

Reading and Tapasya

The more we become renounced from this material world the more we advance in Krishna Consciousness. But we are only able to make such sacrifices and perform tapasya if we have got knowledge. So first thing is to become knowledgeable in Krishna Consciousness, then the tapasya or voluntary life of austerity will result automatically. So I am requesting all of my students to read my books very seriously every day without fail. In this way, if your mind becomes absorbed at least one or two hours daily in the ranscendental subject matter of Shrimad Bhagavatam, Bhagavad-gita, and other books then very easily you will make your advancement in Krishna Consciousness.
— Letter to Bhargava, 13 June, 1972

CHANTING, NOT DEBATING

Although Lord Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu and His devotees in disciplic succession can defeat all kinds of learned scholars, scientists and philosophers in arguments, thus establishing the supremacy of the Personality of Godhead, their main business as preachers is to introduce sankirtana everywhere. Simply to defeat scholars and philosophers is not the occupation of a preacher.
Preachers must simultaneously introduce the sankirtana movement, for that is the mission of the Chaitanya cult. •
Purport to Cc. Adi 16.8

An elderly Indian gentleman who visited Prabhupada in his room became gradually critical of Shrila Prabhupada’s preaching.
Gentleman: Swamiji, you should not criticize so many persons. You should see everyone equally. The Bhagavad-gita says, pandita sama darshina: you should see everybody equally.
Prabhupada: That is a higher stage. I am not on that stage. I distinguish. On the higher stage you don’t distinguish between pious activity and sinful activity. But I distinguish. I say, ‘You are sinning and you should stop.
As the discussion continued, Prabhupada kept referring to the previous acaryas in order to support his viewpoint. I have my Bhagavad-gita, I have my acaryas. I stand on their authority.
Gentleman: What have you done beyond that? You are just repeating what they’ve done. What have you done?
Prabhupada: I’ve not done anything. I’m simply repeating. So my contribution is that I have made this knowledge available to people all over the world. Without discrimination, I have given Krishna consciousness to everyone. That is my contribution and that is my version of pandita sama darshina
Prabhupada concluded the interview with those words, and the man expressed gratefulness.
Later in the hall, while leaving, the man was remarking out loud to himself, “Very interesting … He sees everyone equally … ”

TWO KINDS OF SPEAKERS

There are two kinds of speakers:
Saraga-Vakta – One who has material desires. Saraga speakers are lusty and greedy and their words do not touch the heart because although they give instructions they do not give careful consideration. That instruction which is given without thorough study and careful consideration brings about the destruction of the people.

Niraga Vakta – One who has no material desires. A person whose speech brings liberation even when heard by one filled with lust, anger, and a host of other vices, or by a miser, or by a person filled with despair, is the topmost spiritual master.

- Shrila Jiva Goswamipada

Note: We should not judge others (especially seniors) on the above basis otherwise due to our immature vision we may commit offences. Instead we ourselves should try to come to the plateform of niraga vakta.