Category:Consulting Books
Theme Analysis
Śrīla Prabhupāda teaches that the defining characteristic of a human being is the ability to consult books of knowledge to understand the Absolute Truth. Unlike animals, who act on instinct, humans can consult scriptures like the Bhagavad-gītā and Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam to solve the problems of life and understand their relationship with God. In the Age of Kali, consulting books is mandatory because human memory has diminished; in previous ages, hearing once from the spiritual master was sufficient. Śrīla Prabhupāda compares the śāstras to law books, dictionaries, or postal guides—authoritative references that give perfect direction without mistake or cheating. However, he also warns that one should not simply be intent on consulting books mechanically but must assimilate the knowledge and simultaneously execute the order of the spiritual master.
- Human vs. Animal: Animals cannot know God, but humans can if they consult books of knowledge. This is the special prerogative of the human form.
- The Necessity in Kali-yuga: Due to poor memory in this age, Śrīla Vyāsadeva wrote down the Vedic wisdom. Now, we must consult these written records to be protected from ignorance.
- Śāstra as Authority: Just as one consults a dictionary for a word's meaning or a law book for legal action, one must consult the Vedas to discern religious principles from non-religious ones.
- Assimilation of Knowledge: While consulting is necessary, Śrīla Prabhupāda points out that a preacher should know the philosophy. If one always has to say, "Let me consult my book" for every question, that knowledge has "no value"—implying the need for realization alongside reference.
- Explore the synthesized essence of this category in this Vanipedia article: Consulting Books - The Guide for Human Life.
Pages in category "Consulting Books"
The following 25 pages are in this category, out of 25 total.
A
- A human being, if he tries, if he consults books of knowledge just like Bible or Bhagavad-gita or similar other scriptures, he can know what is God, how great He is, how omnipotent He is, and what is our relationship with God
- Animals, they cannot know what is God, how God is great, how God is all-powerful. But a human being, if he tries, if he consults books of knowledge just like Bible or Bhagavad-gita or similar other scriptures, he can know what is God
- Anyone wishing to be 2nd initiated will sit for examination once a year at Mayapur. Answers will be in essay form and authoritative quotations will be given a bigger score. During the exams books may not be consulted
I
- If one wants to be protected from the reactions of ignorance even in this age of Kali, one may consult the books left by Srila Vyasadeva
- If there is any difficulty to understand, we may consult persons who are in the understanding. We may consult books. We may consult authorities. That we can do because enquiry is always allowed. Tad viddhi pranipatena pariprasnena sevaya
O
- One may consult the books left by Srila Vyasadeva (for protection from reactions of ignorance), Upanisads, Vedanta-sutra (Brahma-sutra), Mahabharata, Srimad-Bhagavatam Maha-Purana (Vyasadeva's commentary on the Brahma-sutra) & the other seventeen Puranas
- One should not deviate from or surpass the instructions of the spiritual master. One should not be simply intent on consulting books but should simultaneously execute the spiritual master's order
S
- Sastra means direction - both past, present and future. Everything is there. Therefore we have to consult the Vedic literature. It is perfect. It is without any mistake, without any cheating. This is sastra
- Sastra means you can consult. Just like you consult dictionary, you consult encyclopedia, you consult so many authoritative books for understanding knowledge
T
- The book for consultation is Bhagavad-gita, in which the Supreme Lord gives directions
- The brahmanas' community, all saintly persons and learned scholars, brahmanas . . . there was a committee, and the king would take their advice how to manipulate the political affairs or administration, and they would consult standard books
- The government can give you the law book. You consult and do accordingly, you’ll be happy. And if you don’t, against, the government man is not coming to stop you. You do, and suffer
- The spiritual master delivered the Vedic hymns and their explanations to the student, who would then remember them forever, without consulting books - before the beginning of Kali-yuga
W
- We have written a summary study of Bhakti-rasamrta-sindhu entitled The Nectar of Devotion, and one may consult this book for more detailed information on the science of devotional service
- What Prabhupada said is that you have to consult the ancient law books which were written, which are part of Indian culture, thousands of years ago
- When somebody asks you some question, if you say: "Let me consult my book," that knowledge has no value
Y
- You have never gone to the moon planet, but you learn it from the books, authorized books. Simply you have to consult authorized books, you get learned yourself
- You have to consult sastra. There is direction. It is . . . practically it is the same. Just like Manu-samhita, it says that if one is a murderer then he should be killed. Life for life. He should be hanged. That is the old system