A suggestion for group study.

[Guest guest]

Hare Krishna!!!

Dear Devotees

Please accept my obesiances unto your lotus feet.

 

This is perhaps the most efficient way we can utilize the forum

for enhancing our knowledge of Gaudiya Vaishnava Siddhanta

so that we can preach it to others and defend it against others as

well.

 

However I had few suggestions to make -

 

1) All of us must go through the Gaudiya Vaishnava canon of

literature in a particular sequence which can be established on

basis of how various acaryas of our succession have treated

various Vedic Literatures.

For example -

Although on account of being on the same transcendental

platform both Bhagavad Gita and Srimad Bhagavatam are equal

yet we can clearly see Bhagavatam is given higher status on

account of the detailed knowledge it provides about the Supreme

Person Sri Krishna. Srila Prabhupada has written in his

introduction to Srimad Bhagavatam -

 

" The Srimad-Bhagavatam is the science of Krsna, the Absolute

Personality of Godhead of whom we have preliminary

information from the text of the Bhagavad-gita. "

 

And in his introduction to Bhagavad Gita he has written -

 

" The Gita should be taken as the most perfect presentation of

Vedic knowledge. "

 

So as clear from the above quote of Srila Prabhupada that the

best introduction possible to Vedic Knowledge is through

Bhagavad Gita only. So if we want to start this group study with

any serious intention then we should start with the most perfect

presentation of Vedic Knowledge[ which alone will make us fit for

entering Krsna's realm].

 

So my opinion is that we must start with Holy Gita and then move

on to Srimad Bhagavatam. Rest of the scriptures can be derived

from these two. Sriman Mahaprabhu has said --

 

" Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu has said that anyone, regardless of

what he is, who is well versed in the science of Krsna (Srimad-

Bhagavatam and Bhagavad-gita) can become an authorized

preacher or preceptor in the science of Krsna. "

 

The entire Gaudiya Vasihanava philosophy can be found in

these two only. So we must start with Bhagavad Gita and follow

up with Srimad Bhagavatam as our acaryas have guided us.

Although we can start from any Vedic literature because all of

them are at the same transcendental platform but still if we wish

our study to be fruitful we must do as directed by our acaryas

who are perfect followers of Sriman Mahaprabhu. Then only we

can get their & krsna's grace which is most important as far as

our well being is concerned.

 

2) It will be best if all of us follow the same pattern -- discuss

the

same book at one time. This will have maximum participation

and the devotees can focus on one thing at a time. This will also

ensure that we will understand the material better.

 

If devotees find this approach sensible then kindly follow it.

 

Your Servant Always

OM TAT SAT

Sumeet.

[Guest guest]

achintya, chandra_sumeet@h... wrote:

 

> So my opinion is that we must start with Holy Gita and then move

> on to Srimad Bhagavatam. Rest of the scriptures can be derived

> from these two. Sriman Mahaprabhu has said --

 

I am agreeable in principle. However, from a more practical

standpoint, I think we should see how this works out using a smaller

book first (like NOI, Isopanisad, etc). Once we have got used to

using this forum for study group discussions, and we have got plenty

of commitment, we can tackle a larger book like Gita.

 

yours,

 

- K

[Guest guest]

Hare Krishna

Please accept my humble obesiances unto your lotus feet:

 

achintya, "Hari Krishna Susarla" <krishna@a...> wrote:

 

> > So my opinion is that we must start with Holy Gita and then move

> > on to Srimad Bhagavatam. Rest of the scriptures can be derived

> > from these two. Sriman Mahaprabhu has said --

>

> I am agreeable in principle. However, from a more practical

> standpoint, I think we should see how this works out using a

smaller

> book first (like NOI, Isopanisad, etc). Once we have got used to

> using this forum for study group discussions, and we have got

plenty

> of commitment, we can tackle a larger book like Gita.

 

First of all thank you for finding my opinion correct in principle.

However, after some contemplation I thought that your idea of

starting with a smaller book to see how this plan actually works out

seems to be more appealing than starting with Holy Gita itself. I

support your view and wish to see this plan implemented as soon as

possible.

 

Your Servant Always

OM TAT SAT

Sumeet.