Why We Should Regularly Read Srila Prabhupada’s Books and Hear His Lectures| HG Radheshyam Prabhu|Iskcon Newtown Kolkata

HG Radheshyam Prabhu gave today’s, 7th June 2026, Srimad Bhagavatam class at ISKCON Newtown Temple. Prabhuji started the class by reciting the verse SB 1.8.36.

“O Kṛṣṇa, those who continuously hear, chant, and repeat Your transcendental activities, or take pleasure in others’ doing so, certainly see Your lotus feet, which alone can stop the repetition of birth and death.”

In the class, Prabhuji spoke about the importance of reading Srila Prabhupada’s books and hearing his lectures.

Below are a few important points from the class:

Srila Prabhupada’s books and lectures keep us spiritually healthy

Hearing Srila Prabhupada for 15 minutes is equal to hearing others for 2–3 hours.

One person wanted to call me for a program which was going on for 2 years, but no one had even started chanting. Many preachers fear that if we give Srila Prabhupada’s books or beads to others, then what others will think.

We are just like postmen. We have to take Prabhupada’s books and give them to others.

Devotees should that they are conditioned souls under the influence of the 3 modes of material nature. So, they cannot do what Prabhupada did. Prabhupada He went to the Western world, established so many temples, and wrote books. If we do not have appreciation for Prabhupada, we will not give Prabhupada’s books to others.

If we just want to impress people, then they will not become devotees.

Generally, people hear from unauthorized persons who may be learned. In Coimbatore, South India, a lady of around 55 years is a famous speaker. She appears on TV too. My sister told me to hear her lecture. I heard her speaking for about 15 minutes. She was speaking powerfully, and people were clapping. I thought it would be nice if she became a devotee. But later I came to know that she glorifies anyone; she does not know the difference between the demigods and Krishna.

One professor in the West did a doctorate on Gita Govindam and a PhD on Jiva Goswami. HH Satswarupa Das Goswami Maharaj went to meet him. As soon as he saw him, Maharaja said, “Haribol.” The professor could not understand anything. Although he was an expert on the subject, he was not a devotee.

We want to become devotees and not scholars. A devotee becoming a scholar is not a problem.

It is required that devotees present philosophy expertly.

Without reading Srila Prabhupada’s books, realization becomes weak.

Masses of people are misled by Mayavadis. If you are hearing from an unauthorized person, then time is wasted and it will kill the propensity for seva.

Most important is hearing Srila Prabhupada’s lectures. Recently, I started hearing Prabhupada’s lecture on Prahlada’s prayers. I was thrilled by it. We should hear Prabhupada’s lectures and make notes. It will benefit you and others too.

We have contamination of karma, jnana, and yoga. When the hearing process is perfect and complete, then practice becomes perfect.

First, we should hear Kurukshetra lila of Krishna to know the greatness of Krishna, and then we can hear the playful pastimes of Krishna in Vrindavan.

Many people just want to talk about Krishna dancing with the gopis.

There are 3 types of sound — transcendental sound, mundane sound, and seemingly transcendental sound.

Prabhupada says, “If you want to know me, read my books.”

Without reading, realization becomes weak.

For devotees, leadership without deep study is dangerous.

Without studying Prabhupada’s books, they start facing problems and they start blaming everyone.

When we are weak in spiritual life, material demands increase.

People start focusing on cars, houses, finances, and going to different places for vacation.

A spiritually satisfied person is satisfied even eating a little khichdi.

One devotee may use Krishna for name and fame, while another may want to be conducted by Krishna and His internal potency.

If we have to manage others, then first let Krishna manage our heart.

Reading Prabhupada’s books is not personal bhakti but leadership management. To guide others, first we should be properly guided.

Reading Srila Prabhupada’s books purifies us

By daily hearing, the heart is purified, which is now muddy with material desires. When the heart is impure, one may think, “Why are others praised and not me?”

When you are spiritually healthy, you manage yourself and others also.

It is our responsibility to keep ourselves spiritually healthy.

If we read and hear regularly, then we can preach fluently.

A doctor cannot treat patients without studying medicine. In the USA, it takes 14 years to become a surgeon.

Similarly, a preacher cannot nourish others without regularly hearing and reading sastras.

Most people read books while going to give class. Sometimes people even read from WhatsApp and preach.

If we read, then we can remember Krishna; otherwise, worldly attraction will revisit us.

We should read and hear to develop attachment for Krishna. The more we hear, the more affection we develop for Krishna. By daily reading about Krishna, the heart becomes attached to Krishna.

Read & Hear Srila Prabhupada to stay spiritually alive

Feeding Krishna Consciousness to a new person is like feeding medicine to a horse.

If we hear more, our taste for Krishna gradually increases.

We should see things through sastra caksu.

Without scriptures, we judge situations emotionally. Through sastra caksu, we begin seeing life the way Krishna wants us to see it.

A doctor may give sweet tonic and injections to a patient depending on the need. Both are for the patient’s benefit. Similarly, Krishna knows what is good for us. He may give us something sweet or something bitter.

We should read and hear regularly to stay spiritually alive. Just as we charge our mobile daily, similarly we should charge ourselves daily by reading Prabhupada’s books and hearing his lectures.

If a devotee is not reading Prabhupada’s books, then he faces the following symptoms:

• Irritation increases
• Inspiration decreases
• Offense increases
• Politics increases
• Compassion decreases

The root cause of all problems is not reading Prabhupada’s books and hearing his lectures.

We should read Prabhupada’s books deeply; casual reading gives information, but focused reading gives realization.