By Madhava Smullen

Up till now, one of the main methods of getting your Bhakti Sastri Degree in ISKCON involved taking six months off from your job or service to study in person in Mayapur or Vrindavan. This made it elusive and difficult for many to get the “family transcendental diploma” based on Srila Prabhupada’s books which Prabhupada wanted all his “spiritual sons and daughters” to inherit.

This system also required anyone who taught the Bhakti Sastri program to have a Bhakti Sastri degree

Books Are the Basis Week

Mark your calendars. Books Are the Basis festival is being celebrated on September 22nd-28th, 2021, immediately after Bhadra Purnima on September 21st, 2021.  

Read more: https://iskconnews.org/announcement-books-are-the-basis-week-september-22-28,8012/

“Please try to understand our philosophy through various books that I have already published and sometimes after you will have to carry out this order of disciplic succession.”
Srila Prabhupada Letter to Prahladananda -- Hawaii, 14 March 1969

We have 3 important announcements to make on this week's Newsletter.

SYMPOSIUM: Viplavah 2021 Global Education Symposium will be held online between July 29th and August 1st 2021. Please register here to participate. If you would like to present on a topic

Books are the Basis with Shraddha Devi Dasi
GBC Strategic Planning Team invites you to learn Bhakti alphabets (ABCDE) in their 8-day Sadhana series special talks.
Day 2 of our series with alphabet “B” with Shraddha Devi Dasi.
About Shraddha Devi
Shraddha Devi Dasi is located in the Silicon valley in California, USA where she first came into contact with Srila Prabhupada’s books which transformed her life completely. She is a Software Engineer by profession, and utilizes the mundane experience f

Video: Click here

“Please try to understand our philosophy through various books that I have already published and sometimes after you will have to carry out this order of disciplic succession.”
Srila Prabhupada Letter to Prahladananda -- Hawaii, 14 March 1969

Source: https://www.facebook.com/Dandavats/posts/2011406895690883

“If he reads the book he is benefitted still more, or if he gives the book to someone else for reading, both he and the other person is benefitted. Even if one does not read the book but simply holds it and sees it, he is benefitted. If he simply gives small donation towards the work of Krsna consciousness he is benefitted. And anyone who distributes these transcendental literatures, he is also benefitted.”

Srila Prabhupada Letter to German Disciples -- Bombay, 6 May 1977.

Source: https://www.

“Yes, as a Sannyasi and GBC your first duty is to read my books. Otherwise how will you preach? In order to remain steadily fixed in Krishna consciousness there must be a sound philosophical understanding. Otherwise it will become only sentiment. Whenever you find time please read my books”
Srila Prabhupada Letter to Satsvarupa — Nellore, 5 January 1976

Source: http://www.dandavats.com/?p=95736

“Thank you for appreciating my books. Read them carefully and you will preach very nicely”
Srila Prabhupada Letter to Candramukhi– Honolulu, 2 February 1975

Source: http://www.dandavats.com/?p=94593

“Has anyone ever become convinced in Krishna Consciousness by listening to this record? No. He will simply think it is nice magical sounds, that’s all. But, if he reads one book, he will be convinced about spiritual life. That is our success”
Letter to Brahmananda — Bombay January 07, 1975

Source: http://www.dandavats.com/?p=93903

“You can associate with me by reading my books.” Srila Prabhupada Morning Walk — Toronto, 7 August 1975.

Source: http://www.dandavats.com/?p=93686

Video: Click here

“As a matter of principle, devotees should read, speak and hear Srimad-Bhagavatam persistently, twenty-four hours daily if possible. That is the recommendation of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu” Srila Prabhupada Srimad Bhagavatam 5.6.16, Translation and Purport

Source: http://www.dandavats.com/?p=93430

 “All of my students should read our books very diligently at least one or two hours daily and try to understand the subject matter from varieties of angles”

Srila Prabhupada Letter to Madhudvisa – Los Angeles, 16 June 1972

Video: Click here

Source: http://www.dandavats.com/?p=91562

Dear ISKCON Leaders and Devotees,

Please accept my humble obeisances. All glories to Śrīla Prabhupāda.

“I am requesting all of my students to read my books very seriously every day without fail”

Letter to Bhargava – LA, 13-06-72

I submit to you, with immense gratitude, this short report on the recently concluded International Shravanam Week, 2020. The objective of the festival was to glorify the reading of Srila Prabhupada’s books every day. By all of your support, it exceeded all of our expecta

Books are the Basis

(https://iskconeducation.org/books-are-the-basis/)

On 13th August 2020, we celebrated the most auspicious appearance day of our beloved and respected Srila Prabhupada. Every faithful follower of ISKCON certainly wishes to have Srila Prabhupada present in his or her life, always. In this regard, we are reminded of the following excerpt from a press conference that was held on July 16, 1975, San Francisco:
Reporter (2): What will happen to the movement in the United States whe

Dear GBCs’ and members of the leadership conference,
Please accept my humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada.

With prayers from Sridham Mayapur that you are safe amidst the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Through the chaos and turmoil we are currently experiencing, one thing that we learn is that the teachings of our Founder-Acharya, His Divine Grace Srila Prabhupada, are our only true saving grace. So we at the Ministry of Education wanted to take the opportunity to share with you a ver