Does study of philosophy in Prabhupada’s books automatically awaken rasa?
So, Prabhupada's book seems to have more philosophy than rasa. Even lectures also.
So, is it that philosophy will eventually lead to rasa? Or can philosophy make one dry or hard-hearted? Actually, Prabhupada gave us a connection with the Gaudiya Vachana tradition. There are two extremes which can happen. One is that we because we don't find advanced subjects in Prabhupada's books, we may think, oh, Prabhupada has given only preliminary things and we just should go and read the previous Acharya's books.
That will be not only disrespectful to Prabhupada, but it will also be very superficial. Ultimately, rasa is not just a matter of content. There are sahajiyas who read very rasic literature, but that content does not transform their hearts.
So, the real transformation happens or transformation of heart happens by the contact with a pure devotee. So, when we are studying previous Acharya's books, we are not just studying them for the books. We are actually associating with those great devotees.
So, Prabhupada had a very strong intent. Intent that everyone should love Krishna. And that intent will come to us through his books.
Even that content is not very advanced. So, if we associate with Prabhupada in the mood of service, strong desire to serve Krishna comes in our hearts, that itself will propel us in our spiritual journey. So, certainly we should not be disrespectful to Prabhupada and his books.
And, at the same time, one extreme is to just say that Prabhupada's books are preliminary. The other extreme is to say that because Prabhupada has given us everything, there is no need to read any other books. No, that is not true.
Prabhupada himself always recommended reading the Piyasacharya's books. And Prabhupada did not start a personality cult. He connected us with the tradition.
So, devotees should also read Piyasacharya's books. Now, when one should start reading Piyasacharya's books, that may vary according to devoted devotee. One can consult senior devotees.
One should be rooted in Prabhupada's understanding, Prabhupada's presentation of Gaudiya Vaishnavism, and we can, with his blessings, read Piyasacharya's books also. So, is Prabhupada's books not enough for getting that rasa? See, is Prabhupada's books not enough for getting rasa? I'd say this is a very… This is a very firstly loaded question. Secondly, it's a very… It's a question that doesn't take into account the individuality of bhakti.
We are all individuals. Krishna is individual. We have an individual relationship with Krishna.
So, there are some devotees who have read Krishna hundreds of times. They practically memorize the Krishna book. And they get so much taste from Krishna book.
Now, there are others who have studied the 10th canto. And they just recite 10th canto verses. They may never quote Krishna book at all.
They quote 10th canto verses and they quote other commentaries on the 10th canto. And then they relish it. So, it's not that one is right and other is wrong.
Bhakti rasa, how it will be invoked in which person, we can't say. So, are the… Because Prabhupada has given the 10th canto translation in a summary study in Krishna book. Does that mean we should not study the Gopi Gita in Sanskrit? No.
It's just a source of pressure. So, rather than saying that… I'm trying to make a judgmental statement whether everyone will get rasa from Prabhupada's books or not. What we should focus on is that we all have to find out how we can advance in bhakti.
And we need to take the guidance of Prabhupada and the previous Acharyas. If by reading Shri Prabhupada's books we feel adequately spiritually nourished and inspired, that is excellent. But if we do not feel adequately nourished, if we feel that reading previous Acharyas' books inspires us, then certainly we can read those books.
When we read previous Acharyas' books, we understand that it is by Prabhupada's mercy that we have become connected with those Acharyas. And by his mercy that we are getting their mercy also. It's a little imbalanced to to either say that to bypass Prabhupada is not correct.
But at the same time to limit everyone to Prabhupada is also not correct. So, if somebody feels inspired by reading previous Acharyas' books, wonderful. In general, our reading should be in the mood of service.
That is very important. That means, quite often, when we study books, the mind says, every book is interesting except the book which I am reading right now. So, if we are reading a particular book, we should make a plan.
If I am going to read, say, Krishna Chakradakar's Bhagavad Gita commentary or Chakrathipa's Bhagavatam commentary, then we make a commitment. Now I have started reading this, for the next one month, I am going to read this every day. It's not that, one day I read this book, second day I read that book, third day I read that book.
That will… That is not really in the mood of service. That is basically, we are following the mind, whichever way it wants to go. So, if we read in the mood of discipline, in the mood of service, with some discipline, then we are serving the previous Acharyas.
We are serving Srila Prabhupada, we are serving the previous Acharyas. So, by reading different Acharyas' books, different books for different times, we will ourselves get an understanding of what nourishes us the most. And then accordingly, we can move onwards in our bhakti.
Thank you.