A few months back, while reading scriptures, I was contemplating – Am I being selfish in reading scripture for my own nourishment? Am I denying responsibilities that have been given to me anytime I hold a book in my hand? What is more pleasing to my guru and SP – reading books or doing practical service for them?

Generally whatever we do in our spiritual life, the essence is – Always remember Krishna, never forget Krishna. 

Also, whatever activity we do, it has to be under the anugatya of guru. A mere study of scriptures doesn’t help us attain Krishna. Krishna’s mercy cannot be attained by our own efforts. It has to be received, and it is received to the degree we submissively try to please Krishna. When and how is study of scriptures pleasing to Krishna, and when it is not?

Why do we study scriptures?

1] Our acaryas primary contribution has been their books. Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Thakura would call them brhat mrdanga. The voice of clay mrdanga will only be heard for a very short distance. But what about the brhat mrdanga? It can be heard everywhere! Shrila Prabhupada spent sleepless nights to write books. Did he not want us to read them? When we read it considering it as the grace of our guru parampara, that is pleasing to them. 

HH Radhanatha Maharaja recollects, 

Another devotee named Janardan asked Srila Prabhupada, “Sometimes people say that, ‘I don’t need a guru because God speaks to me within my heart.’ What do we say to such a person?” Prabhupada became very grave and heavy. He said, “You don’t know how to answer this question? You don’t read my books? Why can’t you answer this question, you rascal?” He chastised Janardan severely and then explained that in the Bhagavad-gita, Krishna says that He speaks only to the person who constantly serves Him with love, who worships Him with complete devotion, and who does not fall down under any circumstance. “Why don’t you answer this? Why don’t you know these verses?” He went on and on, chastising Janardan. It was so heavy that everyone was paralyzed. We couldn’t cope with Prabhupada’s anger. A devotee named Kulashekar asked Prabhupada a simple question to change the subject, but Prabhupada just went back to Janardan and continued to chastise him. He said, “You are a rascal. You have simply come to disturb me.” In this way Srila Prabhupada stressed that we should know his books and be able to preach accordingly. He had given so much of his life and energy to write these books for us. He speaks through his books. We don’t have to ask him these things personally. That was the lesson he taught us that day.

2] What is the ultimate goal of practicing Krishna Consciousness? To develop love of God and go back to Krishna. If we have to go back to Krishna, don’t we need to know Him? By scriptural study, we can establish connection with Krishna. That is called as sambandha jnana. 

3] Reading with Faith gives Pleasure: In the song boro kripa koile krishna, Shrila Prabhupada mentions the entire list of slokas from 1st chapter, 2nd canto of Srimad Bhagavatam that emphasize on the power of hearing Srimad Bhagavatam. Prabhupada had total faith on those words of Srimad Bhagavatam. And we also should have total faith on these words of Srimad Bhagavatam. When we read Srimad Bhagavatam and our scriptures with total faith, that gives pleasure to our gurus and Krishna. 

4] Association of Most Exalted Devotees: While reading scriptures, we are associating with the exalted devotees mentioned therein. If we are reading a verse spoken by Sukadeva, we are associating with Sukadeva. While reading Shrila Prabhupada’s translation or purport, we are associating with Prabhupada. 

5] Prabhupada wanted devotees to become expert in scriptures like lawyers are in their field. 

6] Scriptures correct us in the best way possible, without humiliating us in the public!! If we desire to know how far we are from the standards, then also we should read scriptures. 

7] To Protect Oneself: If we don’t regularly equip ourselves with reading SP books, we may be a victim to maya anytime!! Study of scriptures equips us with the discretion and intelligence to not indulge in sensual gratification. Not only that, we are also protected from swaying into erroneous philosophies and unbecoming conclusions that are not supported by our acharyas. 

What all should happen and what should not happen on reading SP books or scriptures?

1] Reading of books should give us inspiration to preach KC. If compassion doesn’t arise in the heart, then reading is not worth it. 

Radhanatha Swami: The depth of Srila Prabhupada’s compassion was something that invoked a mood of surrender from my hard heart. He was willing to extend himself and sacrifice himself to give us Krishna consciousness. The compassion and the concern and the love he had for conditioned souls was something that I had never seen before. I lived with several of Srila Prabhupada’s God-brothers who were, like Srila Prabhupada, extremely learned in the sastra. But Srila Prabhupada’s deep, deep merciful nature to give his life for us was something that I had never experienced before anywhere in anyone.

Acaryas out of deep compassion wrote all books. Vyasa’s compassion, Suka’s compassion, Suta’s compassion, Rupa Goswami’s compassion – if the essence of their heart while speaking the scriptures is not entering our heart, it may be because our reading is personally motivated. 

2] Reading of scriptures should not make us proud. Reading of scriptures, if done in a way and manner to show off to others our erudition, our knowledge, our skills etc., it doesn’t please anyone. The nature of a tree laden with fruits is that it bends down. HH Radhanatha Maharaja says, “Knowledge should help us transcend ego, and not be ornament of ego”

3] If we are engaged in reading scriptures at the cost of our responsibilities, then it doesn’t please the guru parampara. Ultimately, when will realization come? Only when the guru parampara is pleased. If, without wanting to please them, we feel that just by reading we will attain a very high status or we will get realizations, it is a total mismatch. That knowledge will be just a burden on our head. HG Radheshyam Prabhu had once mentioned to me – “Our study of scriptures should not be at the cost of making committed devotees.” Mahaprabhu’s dhara, Bhaktivinode dhara has to go on! 

4] Reading of scriptures to gather knowledge is not good. Reading of scriptures to come again and again to the same conclusion that Shrila Prabhupada has given to us is perfect. We should be able to see through Prabhupada’s vision when we are reading the books of other acaryas.