In theory, the key to becoming happy is to find an uttama bhakta and stay in his association and serve him by hearing from him regularly. In practice, our founder-acarya wants us to apply this first and most critical principle of good sadhu sanga, by regularly hearing from him personally in his book manifestation. Continue reading…
2. The Second Principle of good sadhu sanga: DISCUSS Srila Prabhupada’s purports with other devotees.
Many of us already read Srila Prabhupada’s books or listen to his lectures. Despite that, we are still not happy. What adjustment can we make? Srila Prabhupada recommends that we discuss his purports:
“Generally, people cannot understand. But if one understands, he becomes liberated. If some way or other….it is not very difficult; simply we have to associate with devotees and discuss this literature. Then we will understand Krishna very easily.” Lecture on SB 6.1.39-Los Angeles, June 5, 1976 Continue reading…
3. The Third Principle of good sadhu sanga: discuss Srila Prabhupada’s books REGULARLY.
If we want to start experiencing the benefits of discussing Srila Prabhupada’s books and begin feeling happier, we need to discuss them regularly. Minimum once a week and ideally gradually building up to once a day. The best ideal is to be doing two discussions a day, the Srimad Bhagavatam in the morning and the Bhagavad-gita in the evening. But even if we start with one a week we will start feeling some benefit which will encourage us to gradually increase. Continue reading…
4. The Fourth Principle of good sadhu sanga: discuss Srila Prabhupada’s books SYSTEMATICALLY.
I have heard different opinions regarding how best to approach Srila Prabhupada’s books. Many devotees favour the ‘thematic’ approach. They like to research on topics like ‘varnashrama’, ‘women’s role’, ‘creation’, ‘sambandha’, etc and they will search through all of Srila Prabhupada’s teachings to extract quotes on their chosen theme. Others like to start with short apparently ‘easy’ books like Nectar of Instruction. Continue reading…
5. The Fifth Principle of good sadhu sanga: to REPEAT in our own words the meaning of the sentence we read.
If we want to understand something, passive hearing will not help us. We need to hear ACTIVELY. That is to say, we need to hear, think, and then repeat what we understood. When we practice active hearing, our association with Srila Prabhupada’s books will begin to bear fruit. Continue reading…
6. The Sixth Principle of good sadhu sanga: SCRUTINIZE, or in other words, unpack the meaning of the sentence phrase by phrase or word by word if necessary.
Instead of trying to understand a whole chapter or even a whole purport or paragraph in one go, focus on understanding one sentence at a time. Of course, you can read the chapter, purport, or paragraph first, but then go back and analyse each sentence. In understanding each sentence, focus on key words or phrases and unpack their meaning in the context of that sentence. This practice helps us to more deeply assimilate Srila Prabhupada’s intended meaning. Continue reading…
7. The Seventh Principle of good sadhu sanga: ACCEPT there can be different valid understandings. Don’t debate.
There can be many different legitimate meanings of each text. Lord Chaitanya illustrated this by giving sixty one different meanings to the atmarama verse of the Srimad Bhagavatam 1.7.10. He then instructed that every verse of the Bhagavatam can similarly be legitimately understood in many different ways: Continue reading…
8. The Eighth Principle of good sadhu sanga: try to HELP our discussion partner develop their own understanding by using empathic hearing skills.
When we first started discussing Srila Prabhupada’s purports at home we would often feel frustrated by the end of a discussion due to subtle rivalry between us. There are so many ways we can make each other feel alienated, and we tried them all. For example, we would marginalize the other person’s understanding. This is so easy to do with little throw away comments like, “yes, but that’s not the main point”. Continue reading…
9. The Ninth Principle of good sadhu sanga: discuss with HUMILITY, gratitude, mutual appreciation and respect.
Personally I think this is one of the most important principles. I don’t know if you are anything like me, but my thinking processes seize up in the presence of people I fear may be combative in their discussion style. Instead of feeling psychologically empowered, I feel psychologically suffocated. Continue reading…
10. The Tenth Principle of good sadhu sanga: ASK QUESTIONS that help clarify Srila Prabhupada’s intended meaning.
For assimilation of Srila Prabhupada’s teachings to fully take place, questions are required. Or in other words, asking questions is a vital part of the assimilation process.
“In this verse, both blind following and absurd inquiries are condemned. Not only should one hear submissively from the spiritual master, but one must also get a clear understanding from him, in submission and service and inquiries.” Bg 4.34 purport. Continue reading…
11. The Eleventh Principle of good sadhu sanga: Don’t accept blindly. BRING UP your doubts, confusions and misgivings.
As well as asking questions that clarify the meaning of the text (see Principle 10), we also need to ask questions if we doubt the truth of something Srila Prabhupada writes. This kind of doubt can be very disconcerting. We often don’t like to acknowledge such doubts even to ourselves, let alone reveal them to other devotees, because we fear doing so may constitute an offence, or expose us as being faithless. Many readers will be familiar with the following verse which is cited numerous times by Srila Prabhupada and which emphasises the importance of implicit faith: Continue reading…
12. The twelfth principle of good sadhu sanga: Ask your questions in a SUBMISSIVE MOOD; not a challenging mood.
“tad viddhi praṇipātena / paripraśnena sevayā
upadekṣyanti te jñānaṁ jñāninas tattva-darśinaḥ
Just try to learn the truth by approaching a spiritual master. Inquire from him submissively and render service unto him. The self-realized souls can impart knowledge unto you because they have seen the truth.” Bg 4.34 verse. Continue reading…
13. The thirteenth principle of good sadhu sanga: Ask questions that help you understand the APPLICATION of what you have understood.
As well as asking questions that help clarify Srila Prabhupada’s intended meaning and questions that address our doubts and misgivings, we also need to ask how we are personally going to apply the truths we have understood.
“We just have to try to understand by hearing and then try to put the process to practice in our daily lives. By becoming submissive, hearing from the right source, and trying to apply the teachings in our daily lives, we can become conquerors of the Supreme. For one who does this, Lord Krishna becomes easily available.” Path of Perfection 9: Destination After Death
“One who follows the principles and instructions enjoined by the great sages of the past can utilize these instructions for practical purposes. Such a person can very easily enjoy life and pleasures.” SB 4.1.4 verse. Continue reading…
14. The fourteenth principle of good sadhu sanga: CITE SASTRA to support your statements.
According to Bhagavad Gita 17.15 there are two essential principles in discussing sastra. One is to speak pleasantly (see Principle 9), and the other is to cite sastric evidence:
“The process of speaking in spiritual circles is to say something upheld by the scriptures. One should at once quote from scriptural authority to back up what he is saying. At the same time, such talk should be very pleasurable to the ear. By such discussions, one may derive the highest benefit and elevate human society.” Bg 17.15 purport. Continue reading…
15. The fifteenth principle of good sadhu sanga: CHANT Hare Krishna mantra regularly and FOLLOW the four regulative principles.
In this article I share three truths that I have understood:
- Chanting Hare Krishna and discussing Srila Prabhupada’s books are both kirtan.
- If we are sinful, we cannot chant Hare Krishna purely. But just by trying to understand Bhagavad-gita we will become pious and our chanting will become purified.
- Similarly, our ability to understand Bhagavad-gita and Srimad Bhagavatam is enhanced by chanting Hare Krishna maha mantra. Continue reading…
16. The sixteenth principle of good sadhu sanga: PRACTICE and THEN PREACH the principles of good sadhu sanga.
When my eldest daughter did the bhakti sastri course in Mayapur, she skyped me one day. “Mum, what is more important: practicing or preaching?” My reply, as she knew it would be, was, “practice”. “Well”, she replied “the answer I am meant to give is ‘preach'”.
How would you answer her question? Did you say, ‘preach’? If so, how importantly do you rate your own practice? Do you think it’s okay to fall behind with your rounds to go out and preach?
In my view the most important thing is our personal practice. As long as we maintain our own practice, then we can aspire for the next and higher stage which is to preach. But to preach without maintaining our personal practice is hypocrisy and will lead to our fall down. Also such preaching will be ineffectual. Continue reading… or return to top of page
Improving Our Sadhu Sanga 