Pranam to Sri Vaishnava, please bless me a lot. Please bless me that I will be able to easily avoid offence number 1(blasphemy to Devotees)
I have a question based on a quote.
It is stated in the Preface of Srimad Bhagavatam "Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam begins with the definition of the ultimate source. It is a bona fide commentary on the Vedānta-sūtra by the same author, Śrīla Vyāsadeva, and gradually it develops into nine cantos up to the highest state of God realization. The only qualification one needs to study this great book of transcendental knowledge is to proceed step by step cautiously and not jump forward haphazardly like with an ordinary book. It should be gone through chapter by chapter, one after another. The reading matter is so arranged with its original Sanskrit text, its English transliteration, synonyms, translation and purports so that one is sure to become a God-realized soul at the end of finishing the first nine cantos".
Maybe earlier I just jumped through the Srimad Bhagavatam.
I did not read the Srimad Bhagavatam from the beginning.
I have a question. Will I be able to listen to the lecture titled "Love Krishna, Hate Vaishnavas" by HH Bhakti Vikas Swami? I am asking this question because I did not complete Canto 1 of Srimad Bhagavatam, and the lecture is covering Srimad Bhagavatam 2.5.42 . Attached is the lecture: https://youtu.be/iYMMbgxjCyk?si=aOVxMTsRkckSEeDF
Please guide me, and bless me.
How do I choose which lecture to begin from to listen to Sri Vaishnava lecture?
Replies
Hare Krsna
It doesn't matter what all you have read or heard. The seriously sincere render should then begin from the first word of the Srimad Bhagavatam and proceed step by step as mentioned in the quote you posted. In the beginning one may be inquisitive to know the subject matter of all Cantos but once you become serious to understand everything then the continuity is important. You must begin from Preface, Introduction and then the whole text. You can listen to any lecture but you must make reading in sequence your own personal endeavor.
Hari Bol
Please begin reading all small books of Srila Prabhupada first and then jump to BG. After completing at least one reading of BG then only one is qualified to read SB.
1. At the end of BG.. 18.66 sloka says.:- Abandon all varieties of religion and just surrender unto Me. I shall deliver you from all sinful reactions. Do not fear.
Lord said SURRENDER UNTO ME. I WILL SEE THAT ALL UR SINS ARE REMOVED.
If you don't read this part and understand whole gita and just jump to SB .. you have missed much.
In BG, Arjuna asked various questions and Lord keeps answering them and finally gives a small hint .. that Just Surrender to ME.
Lord's answers to Arjuna's questions are basically our questions as well. Let us put ourselves in the shoes of Arjuna and understand what is Lord saying to us.
WHO IS BHAGWAN?? WHOM SHOULD YOU SURRENDER TO?? is answered by Lord in BG.
In SB, We are provided many devotees examples: like Bali maharaj, Dhruva, Prahalada and Bharata. etc etc. who did something to please Lord.. What is their method of surrender we get to know.
so, SB is more of explaining HOW TO SURRENDER to Krishna.
Once you know how to surrender. What are the prescibed methods to surrender. how did various devotees in different yugas surrendered to krishna in what methods. You are almost ready.
FINAL step is.. How to Love Krishna?
This is a Phd. level For this You must seek shelter of guru. and do study as per guru's advice and develop love for Krishna by reading Chaitanya Charitamrita. Here we get to know that How Lord Himself became His own devotee to attain Lord's love. That need a big leap and Love is not so easy.
We need some divine intervention to understand Love.
Love to a mortal is very easy. We can love them by seeing them with mateiral eyes, feeling them with mateiral bodies. But to Love God who is not visible to us nor we can feel His presence nor we can talk to Him directly. It is so tough to love Krishna. We might need an advanced devotee help here to guide us.
Hare Krishna
Hare Krsna
I did not read the Srimad Bhagavatam from the beginning.
This is the likely cause of confusion.
https://iskcondesiretree.com/profiles/blogs/suggested-orderscheme-of
The above is the suggested order of reading Srila Prabhupada books. This can help in avoiding confusion.
How do I choose which lecture to begin from to listen to Sri Vaishnava lecture?
Please start with Bhagavad Gita lectures given by Srila Prabhuapda.
Hare Krsna
https://audio.iskcondesiretree.com/index.php?q=f&f=%2F01_-_Sril...