SERVICE AND STUDY MAKES YOU STEADY

(1)
1. What is service?
2. What is the effect of service?
3. What is the connection between service and study?
4. How does study help one to become steady?

(2) STEADINESS – definition: Bhagavad Gita. (13.8-12): “amanitvam adambitvam……

STHAIRYAM…” (PURPORT)

“ STEADINESS means that one should be very determined to make progress in spiritual life.
Without such determination one cannot make tangible progress.”

(3) DETERMINATION – according to previous definition of steadiness, this is the most important
criterion for spiritual progress.

In the Ajamil pastime, after being saved by the Vishnudutas, Ajamil makes a new beginning to his spiritual
endeavors and displays the following five very important characteristics needed to advance in spiritual life

1. Regret – he regrets his sinful past, which led him astray, from his spiritual principles.
2. Awareness – he is now aware of the reactions and hellish destinations that awaited him for
his past activities.

3. Gratitude – he expresses heart felt gratitude to the Vishnudutas for having given him a fresh
lease of life

4. Appreciation – now he also appreciates the patch of devotional service that has been
awarded to him by the causeless mercy of the Lord.

5. Determination – all the above four is fruitless without developing this most important
quality of determination, which alone finally helps one to translate everything else into action.

Similarly for us, the sadhakas, the quality of determination is of paramount importance to make steady
progress in the path of spiritual life.

(4)
Question: When we read Bhagavatam or Bhagavad Gita, externally we may become scholar, but
how to understand that we can apply whatever we are reading in our life also?
Answer: (H.H. Jayadvaita Maharaj): Reading means doing also. When the book is
Bhagavad Gita, it is spoken with some directions, with some injunctions. “ Do this”. Just
like Krishna says, “ tad viddhi pranipatena pariprasnena sevaya ..”. “ You should
surrender to a bonafide spiritual master and ask your questions and render service”. So
the whole science of Bhagavad Gita is practical, not simply theoretical. There are so
many books about life, which are theoretical only. There are no practical things in it. You
read it, but how do you practically know? I remember I read Bhagavad Gita before
coming, in some other edition. I thought it was a great book, but I had no idea what to do.
“ You sit in lotus posture. You meditate. You become detached”. But how to do that? It is
all in the air. So one has to be properly guided in the association of devotees. The
devotees are those who are actually following the lessons of Bhagavad Gita. We have
to pick up the science from them. We have to place ourselves in the association of
 devotees and take guidance from experienced and mature devotees of Krishna. And
then do the thing finally. Otherwise simply reading and not doing. Just like a person who
studies surgery. But he never picks up a knife. He never walks into a operation theatre.
He never places himself under the guidance of an experienced surgeon. But he has read
every book on surgery. Would you undergo any operation by such a person?. Risk of life.
Because it is theoretical knowledge only. So theoretical knowledge becomes practical
knowledge in the association of devotees. Satam prasanga mama viryo
samvidobhavanti hrda karnarasyana katha. When we hear and take up to Krishna
Consciousness in the association of devotees, it becomes powerful.

(5) STUDY

 Foundation of a structure / building is important. ‘ Books are the basis’. They are the foundation of
spiritual life.
 Chanakya Pandit: when money is in others hand and you don’t have access, then no use for yourself.
Similarly though one may have all books of Srila Prabhupada, but is he studying them scrutinizingly?
 Srila Prabhupada wrote them with sleepless nights with the expectation that his disciples will read and
study them. (a cook will be disappointed if he cooks a feast and nobody eats it)
 For one book Srila Prabhupada used the commentary of 12 acharyas and 10 commentaries of Srimad
Bhagavatam for own commentary.
 He used dictaphone and spoke once and didn’t crosscheck. All of it is printed.

(6) QUOTES

 “ Study at least one or two hours daily and try to understand the subject from different angles”
 “ Temple life is going on without change. We should become habituated to read books more
profoundly”.
 “Study from different angles and discuss with god brothers”.
 “ Understand the Siddhanta or else you will be misled by bogus philosophies. I am happy that you are
studying. This will make you happy and successful”
 (Story of 4 sannyasis banned by Prabhupada for claiming that Prabhupada is God)
 “ In my books the philosophy of Krishna Consciousness is explained fully. If anything you don’t
understand, then you simply have to read again and again. By reading daily the knowledge will be
revealed to you. You may please me the most by reading my books and following the instructions in
them”.

(7) PREMISES OF STUDY

Srimad Bhagavatam study is not mechanical. E.g. of an envelope without the senders name and address.
You cannot understand the books even though you might have the best of the language.

Premise – 1: Srimad Bhagavatam is Krishna, the Supreme Personality Of godhead.

Permise – 2: the philosophy within the Srimad Bhagavatam is developed systematically.
Premise - 3: Srimad Bhagavatam contains the vani of Srila Prabhupada. Therefore we should study Srimad
Bhagavatam looking to apply Srila Prabhupada’s words in our own lives
“ Bhaktivedanta purports are devotional ecstasies”.

(8) STUDY METHOD

1. Attentive reading
2. Philosophical continuity ( connection between chapters)
3. Practical application

 Don’t think by becoming expert in your profession, you will be able to do away with institutional
breakdown, problems, etc. therefore be prepared and armed with the knowledge of Bhagavad Gita and
Srimad Bhagavatam.