Category:Authoritative Sources
Theme Analysis
Śrīla Prabhupāda explains that transcendental knowledge is not a product of mental manufacturing or experimental logic; it must be received through the descending process of hearing from authoritative sources. He emphasizes that in the current age of Kali, methods such as speculation, sacrifice, or yoga are no longer viable, leaving submissive hearing (sravana) as the only open path to perfection. Śrīla Prabhupāda clarifies that an authoritative source is the sole means of knowing transcendental subject matter definitely, and this process is verified by the parampara system, or disciplic succession. He warns that any knowledge received outside of these authorized sources is imperfect and often misleading. Furthermore, he teaches that even the highest spiritual truths, such as the rasa-lila, must be heard from a proper authority to ensure the vanquishing of material lust and the promotion to the platform of loving service. Ultimately, by abandoning mental speculation and submissively receiving the message of the Vedas through a realized soul, the forgetful living entity can come to his senses, understand Kṛṣṇa, and achieve the highest perfection of life.
- The Only Means of Knowledge: An authoritative source is the unique and indispensable means for definitely understanding transcendental subject matter; there is no alternative.
- Submissive Hearing (Śravaṇam): Simply by the process of hearing submissively from authorized sources, a person can become completely perfect and aware of their own imperfections.
- Rejection of Manufacturing: Real knowledge is received and repeated, not manufactured; the Vedic system rejects the concoctions of the mind as imperfect and misleading.
- The Two Bhagavatas: A devotee receives instructions from the authoritative sources of the Bhagavata: the personality of the devotee and the message of Godhead in the form of scripture.
- Effect of Authorized Hearing: Hearing about the Lord’s pastimes or the science of God from the proper source transforms the consciousness, mitigates material dissatisfaction, and awards transcendental pleasure.
- Explore the synthesized essence of this category in this Vanipedia article: Perfection through Submissive Hearing from Authoritative Sources.
Subcategories
This category has only the following subcategory.
Pages in category "Authoritative Sources"
The following 60 pages are in this category, out of 60 total.
1
A
- A third-class devotee has to receive the instructions of devotional service from the authoritative sources of Bhagavata. The number one Bhagavata is the established personality of devotee, and the other Bhagavatam is the message of Godhead
- According to Srila Jiva Gosvami's statement, in accordance with authoritative sources, Lord Krsna is the source of all other incarnations. It is not that Lord Krsna has any source of incarnation
- According to Vedic civilization, all knowledge is received from the Vedas, perfect authorized source. Sruti-pramana, evidence from the sruti, from the Vedas, that is perfect
- Although the gopis were village cowherd women and girls, they had extensive Vedic knowledge. Such is the effect of Vedic civilization. People in general would learn the highest truths of the Vedas simply by hearing from authoritative sources
- An authoritative source is the only means of knowing about transcendental subject matter definitely. There is no alternative
- Any knowledge, unless we receive it through the authoritative sources, it is not perfect. It is not perfect
F
- From authoritative sources it can be discerned that associates of Lord Visnu who descend from Vaikuntha do not actually fall
- From authoritative sources it is learned that Jaya and Vijaya were sent to this material world to fulfill the Lord's desire to fight
- From authoritative sources we learn that this chanting of Hare Krsna, Hare Krsna, Krsna Krsna, Hare Hare/ Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare is the embodiment of the perfection of yoga for this age
- From the authoritative sources of Vedic literature we have to understand both Him who is greater than the greatest and him who is smaller than the smallest
I
- If anyone wants to derive transcendental pleasure by hearing the pastimes of the Lord, he must hear from the authoritative source, as explained here
- If one hears rasa-lila from authoritative source, the result will be that he will be promoted to the transcendental platform of loving service to Krsna
- If one wants to have transcendental pleasure, he must find a person with authority. It is also stated in the Bhagavatam that simply by hearing from an authoritative source, with the ear and the heart, one can relish the pastimes of the Lord
- If you hear from authoritative sources, then you become perfect, simply by hearing. Therefore the first principle, hearing, is recommended, sravana
- In this age it is impossible to practice sacrifice, speculation or yoga. There is no way open to us but the way of hearing submissively from authoritative sources. This is the way the mahatmas received the most confidential knowledge
- It is estimated from authoritative sources of Vedic literature that Bhagavad Gita is eternal truth and was first revealed within our knowledge at least 120 millions of years ago
- 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
M
- Maitreya said: I have heard that after giving up the body she had received from Daksa, Daksayani (his daughter) took her birth in the kingdom of the Himalayas. She was born as the daughter of Mena. I heard this from authoritative sources
- Mayavadi philosophers say that we have to imagine the form of the Lord, but here Narada Muni does not say that. Rather, he gives the description of the Lord from authoritative sources
O
- One must know from the authoritative sources and preach that thing. Just like Arjuna was taught by Krsna, and that philosophy is going on
- One should know perfectly well from the authoritative sources of scriptures through the transparent medium of a bona fide spiritual master and by proper use of one's trained intelligence for meditating upon the Supersoul dwelling within every living being
- Our knowledge of a subject cannot be perfectionalized unless we receive it through authoritative sources
P
S
- So don't make a cheater and cheated society. Just follow the parampara system as it is prescribed in the Vedic literature, as it is recommended by Krsna. Try to understand it from the authoritative source and try to apply it in your life
- So far we understand from authoritative sources the dissatisfaction of the human race can be mitigated only by the acceptance of Krishna consciousness
- So if one hears rasa-lila from authoritative source, the result will be that he will be promoted to the transcendental platform of loving service to Krsna. And the material disease, lusty desires, will be vanquished
- So in the devotional service the first step is hearing, hearing submissively from the authoritative source and just to assimilate it and grasp it with our body, mind and intelligence
- Spiritual master is he who has to instruct the disciple in such a way that he may not be misled, and that is not possible because he will simply speak from authoritative sources
- Srotriyam means one who has perfectly heard the science of God from authoritative sources in disciplic succession
- Submissive hearing is so powerful that simply by hearing from authoritative sources we can become completely perfect. In becoming submissive, we become aware of our own imperfections
- Sukadeva Gosvami, a great personality, says, "What I am describing to you, O King (Pariksit), is what I have heard from authoritative sources." This is the Vedic system
T
- The living entity has to change that conception (of material desires). That change can be effected only by hearing from authoritative sources. The best example is here (BG): Arjuna is hearing the science of God from Krsna. BG 1972 purports
- The Nagapatnis said, "We have heard from authoritative sources that those who are blessed with the dust of Your lotus feet do not care even for the highest post within the universe, namely the post of Lord Brahma, or the kingship of the heavenly planets"
- The rascals posing themselves as mahatma, that is another thing. That is not authorized. You have to accept anything from the authorized source
- The seeing of oneself is described in the Vedic literatures, and it is confirmed in the SB that one has to see oneself and know what he is. As Kapiladeva explains to His mother, this "seeing" can be done by hearing from the proper authoritative source
- The Vedic understanding is different. It is sruti. Sruti means to hear from authoritative source. That is real knowledge
- The way to get out of illusory maya is to engage in the topics of Krsna. Lord Caitanya advocated a process whereby everyone may remain in his present position without change but simply hear from the proper authoritative sources about Krsna
- This fact (when Krsna comes as one of us, He is not in actuality "one of us") we must learn by submissive inquiry from authoritative sources, such as Bhagavad-gita or a spiritual master who is fully realized in Krsna consciousness
- Those who are rascals, they think that "Krsna has two hands, two legs; therefore I am also Krsna. I am also." So don't be misled by the rascals, pasandi. Take as there in the sastra, learn it from authorized sources, and be happy
- Try to understand it from the authoritative source and apply it in your life. Amongst the dying mortals, you will become the most intelligent because you are freed from sinful actions
W
- We don't need any material qualifications in order to attain the Supreme. All we have to do is hear from authoritative sources and repeat accurately what we hear
- We have explained this Bhagavad-gita in the parampara system as we have heard from authoritative sources. So it may be a new contribution to your country, because in every edition they have concocted some ideas about Bhagavad-gita
- We have to study Vedas through authoritative sources. We have to follow the rules and regulations. Then, in this life, we shall be able to understand what is God, what is Krsna
- We should become submissive and hear of the Supreme through the authoritative sources such as Bhagavad-gita or through the lips of a realized soul
- We understand from reliable sources, from authoritative sources, that Krsna is everywhere, although He is far far away in His abode, beyond this material world
- Whatever we learn of God from authoritative sources can be described, and that will help us make spiritual progress. This description is called kirtana
Y
- You can hear at any place. Even in the warfield, you can hear from the authoritative source. So that was the process of acquiring knowledge, hearing. Hearing means receiving the knowledge, not manufacturing
- You cannot practice sacrifice. You cannot practice speculation. You cannot practice yoga, nothing. You can simply practice this: submissively hear from authoritative sources, try to assimilate it, and become perfect