Category:Studying Scriptures
Theme Analysis
Śrīla Prabhupāda presents the study of scriptures as an indispensable and lifelong pillar of devotional life, inseparable from initiation, the guidance of the spiritual master, and sincere engagement in Kṛṣṇa's service. The Six Gosvāmīs stand as the supreme exemplars of this principle, having scrutinizingly studied all revealed scriptures with one purpose alone: to establish eternal religious principles for the benefit of all human beings. Against the dangers of partial study, neglect of śāstra, and motivated interpretation, Śrīla Prabhupāda consistently upholds genuine and submissive scriptural study as the surest means of dissipating doubt, recognizing Kṛṣṇa as the Supreme, and advancing steadily on the path back to Godhead.
- Initiation and the Beginning of Scriptural Study: The moment of initiation marks the beginning of the student's formal engagement with Vedic literature. Through dīkṣā, transcendental knowledge is awakened and sinful reactions are vanquished, and the newly initiated devotee takes up the study of śāstra as the natural continuation of this spiritual awakening. The brahmāṇa class, ever independent, is perpetually engaged in studying and preaching śāstra for the benefit of society.
- The Six Gosvāmīs as the Supreme Model of Scriptural Study: The Six Gosvāmīs of Vṛndāvana — Rūpa, Sanātana, Raghunātha Bhaṭṭa, Gopāla Bhaṭṭa, Raghunātha Dāsa, and Jīva — are repeatedly held up as the ideal of how scriptures should be approached. Expert in scrutinizingly studying all revealed scriptures across many traditions, they synthesized this vast learning into a coherent foundation for bhakti, establishing sad-dharma for all of humanity.
- The Dangers of Partial Study and Neglect of Śāstra: Śrīla Prabhupāda warns against two opposing errors: studying scriptures superficially merely to accumulate references for argument, and abandoning śāstra altogether in favor of temporary material activities. A materialistic devotee who does not purposefully study the śāstra cannot recognize the standard of pure devotional service, show proper respect to advanced devotees, or make genuine spiritual progress.
- Scriptural Study as the Path to Recognizing Kṛṣṇa: The ultimate fruit of genuine scriptural study is the firm recognition of Kṛṣṇa as the Supreme Personality of Godhead. A learned person who has thoroughly studied the scriptures cannot hesitate to accept this conclusion. By accepting the words of saintly persons, the spiritual master, and the śāstra in a spirit of surrender — following the principle of sādhu-śāstra-guru-vākya — the devotee dissipates all doubts and advances decisively toward the Supreme.
- Explore the synthesized essence of this category in this Vanipedia article: Scrutinizing the Revealed Scriptures - Studying Scriptures as a Foundation of Devotional Life.
Pages in category "Studying Scriptures"
The following 33 pages are in this category, out of 33 total.
A
- A learned man who has thoroughly studied the scriptures cannot hesitate to accept Sri Krsna as the Supreme Personality of Godhead. If such a man argues about this matter, certainly he must be doing so to agitate the minds of his opponents
- A prakrta-bhakta, or materialistic devotee, does not purposefully study the sastra and try to understand the actual standard of pure devotional service. Consequently he does not show proper respect to advanced devotees
- After initiation, one is engaged in study of the sastra, which teaches the student how to gain release from materialistic life and return home, back to Godhead
F
- Follow the rules and regulations and avoid the ten offenses in chanting the Holy Name, study the Scriptures like Bhagavad Gita As It Is and always stay engaged in Krishna's service
- Furthermore, due to his wisdom and study of sastras (scriptures), he can understand also that Krsna is the Supreme Personality of Godhead
I
- I am surprised. You are not a literary student and do not have long experience in studying the sastras. How have You been able to explain all these critical points?
- I have studied the Muslim scripture very extensively, but from it I cannot conclusively decide what the ultimate goal of life is or how I can approach it
- I offer my respectful obeisances unto the six Gosvamis, who are very expert in scrutinizingly studying all the revealed scriptures with the aim of establishing eternal religious principles for the benefit of all human beings
- If a person engaged in Krsna consciousness, however, is also afraid of giving up his body, what is the use of his having labored to study the sastras? It was simply a waste of time
- If someone is fortunate enough to understand Bhagavad-gita in that line of disciplic succession, without motivated interpretation, then he surpasses all studies of Vedic wisdom, and all scriptures of the world. BG 1972 purports
- If we choose, we can immediately become great souls by surrendering to Krsna, but because we have doubts whether or not Krsna is actually the Supreme we have to take time to dissipate these doubts through study of the scriptures
- If you want to learn by studying scriptures, Vedic literature, you will find different scriptures, - Sama, Yajur, Rg, Atharva, then different Puranas. There are eighteen Puranas, Mahabharata. That is also impossible; means you cannot understand
S
- Siddhanta, what is Krsna, if you study from the sastras, then siddhanta boliya citte, don't be lazy in understanding Krsna
- Srila Narottama dasa Thakura says, sadhu-sastra-guru-vakya, cittete kariya aikya. One should accept a thing as genuine by studying the words of saintly people, the spiritual master and the sastra
- Studying scriptures
T
- The 6 Gosvamis - Raghunatha Dasa Gosvami, Sri Jiva Gosvami & Gopala Bhatta Gosvami - are very expert in scrutinizingly studying all the revealed scriptures with the purpose of establishing eternal religious principles for the benefit of all human beings
- The 6 Gosvamis - Sri Sanatana Gosvami, Sri Rupa Gosvami, Raghunatha Bhatta Gosvami - are very expert in scrutinizingly studying all the revealed scriptures with the purpose of establishing eternal religious principles for the benefit of all human beings
- The brahmana is always independent and busy studying sastra and preaching sastra to subordinate social members such as ksatriyas and vaisyas
- The devotee in the first or uppermost class is described as follows. He is very expert in the study of relevant scriptures, and he is also expert in putting forward arguments in terms of those scriptures
- The six Gosvamis are very expert in scrutinizingly studying all the revealed scriptures with the aim of establishing eternal religious principles for the benefit of all human beings
- The twelfth item is to give up the company of nondevotees. (13) One should not accept an unlimited number of disciples. (14) One should not partially study many scriptures just to be able to give references and expand explanations
- The word budhah specifically refers to one who is well-versed in the study of scripture. The results of such realization and scriptural learning are thus described in Bhagavad-gita
- The words of scriptures consist of variegated vibrations. If a foolish rascal leaves aside the study of these sastras to engage in temporary activities, what will be the result?
- There are many varieties of scriptures, and in all of them there are many prescribed duties, which can be learned only after many years of study in their various divisions
- These regulative functions of chanting the rounds sixteen daily, rising early in the morning to attend Mangala Arati, holding classes for studying our scripture and gong on Sankirtana, these items must not be neglected
- They (Gosvamis) had no collection. And they had no preaching mission. They were simply writing books. Nana-sastra-vicaranaika-nipunau, very expert to study different scriptures, just to get the essence of scripture and give to the people
- They (the Six Gosvamis) were very, very expert in studying sastra very scrutinizingly. Why they studied so much? Because they wanted to establish sad-dharma, real type of religion, bhakti. They are quoting, therefore, from so many, nana-sastra
- Transcendental realization, pious activities, worshiping the Deities, charity, mercifulness, nonviolence and studying the scriptures under strict disciplinary regulations are always helpful
W
- We can see from His (Krishna's) presentation of this Bhagavad-gita how supreme He is. He spoke this truth five thousand years before, and continually, for five thousand years, all scholars are studying this scripture, and studying very devotedly
- When Sankaracarya was only eight years old, he completed his study of all scriptures and took sannyasa from Govinda, who was residing on the banks of the Narmada