Prayerful Reading

I heard a class last weekend on prayerful reading by HG Narayani devi dasi, a disciple of Srila Prabhupada who has taught Bhakti Sastri, Bhakti Vaibhava and Bhaktivedanta courses in the VIHE in Vrindavana. Felt like I needed to hear more on the proper way to approach Srila Prabhupada's books. We have had a lot of inspiration and practice in our counsellee meetings recently in terms of going deeper into Srila Prabhupada's books. There is an unlimited ocean of nectar in these books and I need to and want to dive deeper into them for my own spiritual well-being and to be able to carry out my services and other duties more effectively. Wanted to share some simple, but effective, points mentioned in the class I listened to.

Some steps to practice prayerful reading (from HG Narayani devi dasi's class):

• The goal of prayerful reading is not so much an intellectual gathering of information but it is to allow sastra to affect us

• We should deeply associate with Srila Prabhupada. We want to listen to Krishna's message and let the potent transcendental words sink deeply to the core of our consciousness 

• Srila Prabhupada's books are our guru. If we have questions, then we will be able to find the answers in the books

• Srila Prabhupada's books are non-different from him. Srila Prabhupada said that he will live forever in his books

• We should take time to cultivate an appropriate attitude of approach to our reading. When we start reading, we will soon associate with Krishna through the transcendental words of Srila Prabhupada and other great Gaudiya acaryas. Our mood should be that of a soul in need of association, guidance and mercy

• Before starting to read, we may offer prayers to those we will associate with in our reading. For example, Srila Prabhupada, Guru and Gauranga, Radha and Krishna, Krishna and Arjuna in Bhagavad Gita, Rupa Goswami in Nectar of Devotion, Lord Caitanya in Caitanya Caritamrta, whoever is in the lila, etc

• Whilst we are reading, when there is an idea, word or phrase that strikes us or catches our attention, we should stop at that point, and repeat it over and over. Repetition can help stimulate insight and assists deep assimilation. We should think about it until it no longer catches our attention and then move on

• Another method if we don't understand a verse is to stop, chant and then resume reading, and we can get realisations from that verse that way

• We should have prayers of thankfulness for any realizations we have received

I hope I can start to put the above into practice. As Srila Prabhupada says:

“In my books the philosophy of Krishna Consciousness is explained fully so if there is anything which you do not understand, then you simply have to read again and again. By reading daily the knowledge will be revealed to you and by this process your spiritual life will develop… You may please me the most by reading my books and following the instructions therein and by becoming fully Krishna Conscious in this life time”

Srila Prabhupada, Letter to Bahurupa, Bombay, 22 November 1974

Happy reading! :-)

(Devaki dd)