Category:Authoritative Literature
Theme Analysis
Śrīla Prabhupāda explains that Kṛṣṇa, although unlimited and far away in His eternal abode, has subjected Himself to being known through authoritative scriptures like the Vedic literatures. He emphasizes the principle of sastra-caksusa—that our blunt material eyes are useless for understanding the Absolute, and we must instead use authoritative literature as our eyes. Śrīla Prabhupāda clarifies that the Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement is solid because it is backed by the most authoritative books, such as the Bhagavad-gita and Srimad-Bhagavatam. He warns that any method of devotional service that is not bona fide or mentioned in the authorized sastras must be rejected, specifically citing the "bhagavata-saptaha" as a manufactured business not found in authoritative literature. Instead, he recommends the process of associating with sadhu, sastra, and guru, and serving the Bhagavata daily (nityam bhagavata-sevaya). Ultimately, by continuously hearing from and reading these authoritative literatures, the practitioner can understand the position of the spiritual world, the nature of the subtle body, and the superhuman activities of the Lord, thereby achieving liberation from all material suffering.
- The Eyes of Sastra: Real knowledge is attained through sastra-caksusa, meaning that authoritative literature should be our eyes to evaluate reality rather than our imperfect material senses.
- Verification of Truth: All spiritual realizations, including the identity of Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu and the nature of Brahman, must be verified by evidence from authoritative Vedic literatures.
- The Process of Association: To return to one's original Kṛṣṇa consciousness, one must strictly associate with a saintly person (sadhu), authoritative literature (sastra), and a bona fide spiritual master (guru).
- Scientific Authority: Authoritative Vedic literatures like the Pinda-siddhi provide scientific understandings of gross and subtle phenomena that are beyond the reach of modern instruments like telescopes.
- Daily Service vs. Manufactured Rituals: Genuine spiritual progress comes from serving the Bhagavata daily (nityam), whereas rituals like the bhagavata-saptaha are manufactured and lack an authoritative basis.
- Explore the synthesized essence of this category in this Vanipedia article: Understanding Kṛṣṇa through Authoritative Literature.
Pages in category "Authoritative Literature"
The following 29 pages are in this category, out of 29 total.
I
- If one wants to understand Krsna, he must follow the regulative principles described in the authoritative literature. One can perform penance in accordance with those principles. BG 1972 purports
- If we want to become saintly persons, or if we want to return to our original Krsna consciousness, we must associate with sadhu (a saintly person), sastra (authoritative Vedic literature) and guru (a bona fide spiritual master). This is the process
- In spite of His (God's) being unlimited, He has subjected Himself to being known from the authoritative scriptures like the Vedic literatures. As it is said, sabda-mulatvat: He can be known through the sabda-brahma, or Vedic literature
- In the authoritative transcendental literature which we have published as The Nectar of Devotion, it is stated that one can be liberated from all material suffering simply by seeing the Ratha Yatra cart passing
- It is understood from the authoritative source of Vedic literature that especially in this age, Kali-yuga, people are generally short-living, extremely bad in their habits, and inclined to accept methods of devotional service that are not bona fide
S
- Sadhu means who speaks strictly on the sastra. Guru also speaks strictly on sastra. Sastra is the media. Therefore we protest. Unless there is something mentioned in the authorized sastras, we don't accept it
- Sastra-caksusa. Authoritative literature should be the eyes, not these blunt eyes. What is the value of these eyes
T
- The descriptions of Brahman as the effulgence of Lord Caitanya, the Paramatma as His partial representation, and the SP of Godhead Krsna as identical with Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu must be verified by evidence from authoritative Vedic literatures
- The form of Krsna is described in the authoritative Vedic literature Brahma-samhita: His abode is made of cintamani stone, and the Lord plays there as a cowherd boy and is served by many thousands of gopis
- The Krsna consciousness movement is a spiritual movement; it is not material movement. And from scriptures, from authoritative Vedic literature, we understand that Krsna, although He is living in His abode far, far away from us, He is also everywhere
- The Supersoul, or Paramatma, however, being present everywhere & within everyone, is also conscious of everyone's existence. The theory that the soul & the Supersoul are one is not acceptable because it is not confirmed by authoritative Vedic literature
- The upper planetary system and its opulences is to be understood from authoritative scriptures like the Vedic literatures. Telescopes and the other imperfect instruments of scientists are inadequate for evaluating the upper planetary system
- There are so many rules and regulations, and if one at all wants to understand Krsna, he must follow the regulative principles described in the authoritative literature. BG 1972 purports
- There is an authoritative Vedic literature called Pinda-siddhi in which the scientific understanding of pregnancy is very nicely described
- There is no more better form of worship than it was conceived by the damsels of Vraja. Srimad-bhagavatam amalam puranam. And the books, authoritative literature, to understand Krsna and His service is Srimad-Bhagavatam
- These (Krsna killing Putana and lifting the Govardhan Hill) are some of the superhuman activities of the Lord described in the authoritative Vedic literatures like the Puranas, Itihasas (histories) and Upanisads
W
- We have published Bhagavad-gita As It Is, Teachings of Lord Caitanya, Srimad-Bhagavatam, Krsna, Easy Journey to Other Planets, Nectar of Devotion. So we request everyone to understand this movement by reading authoritative literatures in this connection
- We have to take information from the authoritative literature what is the position of this material world, the spiritual world, God and His relationship with us, our position. This is real knowledge
- We have to understand from authoritative literature. The subtle body is working, just like when you sleep your gross body is not working, but the subtle body, the mind, intelligence and ego, is working; therefore you dream
- We request that everyone read authoritative literature in order to understand this movement. We have published Bhagavad-gita As It Is; Teachings of Lord Caitanya; Srimad-Bhagavatam; Krsna, the Supreme Personality of Godhead; and The Nectar of Devotion
- We should ourself also continuously hear from authoritative literature, person, and continuously go on chanting the same thing, repetition. That's all. Then everything will be happy atmosphere
- When you form this society, Krsna conscious society, and you discuss about this apavarga from the authoritative literature, just we are doing, then it becomes relishable
- When you form this society, Krsna conscious society, and you discuss about this apavarga from the authoritative literature, just we are doing, then it becomes relishable. You cannot discuss all these thing with a storekeeper