Posted on December 22, 2009 in http://www.brahmacarya.info

The following is an email message Balarama Prabhu received from His Holiness Prahladananda Swami regarding Maharaja’s reading program. Balarama Prabhu’s message is quoted by “>”.

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Dear Balaram dasa,
Please accept my greetings and the blessings of Lord Sri Krishna. All
glories to Srila Prabhupada!

> Maharaja, I was emailing you regarding your reading program ,how you study
> Srila Prabhuapada’s books.How many hours a day do you study? How many of
> Prabhupadas books do you study in a year? etc. I am seeking Any
> information that will help me.

Thank you for your letter. My daily reading program is:

10 verses from the Bhagavada Gita. Sanskrit, translation, purport.
Reciting 1 chapter from the BG by memory.
1 chapter from the Nectar of Devotional
10 verses from the SB
1 chapter of the Krishna Book
25 verses from the Caitanya Caritamrta.

> I do not recall if you were mentioning it in one of your classes or if one
> of your disciple’s told me. I would really like to memorize krishna lila
> ,stories in general.So I was just seeking some advice,how to,some tips?

Practice regularly memorizing Krishna lila and review constantly what you
have memorized.

> Also a devotee was saying that reading keeps us philosophically fit in
> krishna consciousness ,why is this important? why is it important to read
> and deeply study Srila Prabhupada’s book’s? Also how do I get a deep
> attraction and taste for reading?

We are trying to see reality through the eyes of the scriptures so we
may perform pure devotional service in Krishna consciousness.

As we become purified, gradually taste and attraction will develop.
When that taste and attraction has not fully developed, we can read and
study to strengthen our intelligence and further our conviction and
practical service to our spiritual master, Srila Prabhupada, and Lord
Caitanya Mahaprabhu’s mission.

Hope all is well.

Yours in the service of Srila Prabhupada,
Prahladananda Swami

In a similar letter written to me Maharaja had stated

>.. what is the sequence that a
> devotee should read Srila Prabhupada’s books?  And if you don’t mind, what
> is your reading schedule? Thank you very much.

Generally we start with Bhagavad-gita, then NOD, then Srimad
Bhagavatam, then CC.

My reading schedule:
10 verses from Bhagavad-gita–Translation, Sanskrit, purport
Reciting one chapter of Bhagavad-gita from memory (sanskrit and English)
1 chapter NOD
10 verses SB
1 Chapter Krsna Book
25 verses from CC

+other books if I have time

Hope all is well
Your well-wisher,
Prahladananda Swami

I have been here in Melbourne, Australia for over a week, which lately is a long time for me to spend in one place.  The article that was recently published on the “Sampradaya Sun” was written by me about 4 or 5 years ago for the European Leadership and Management meeting that takes place each year.  The idea was not to criticize the leadership of ISKCON, but to see ways of improving it.

Upon arriving in Melbourne, I went to the New Nandagram farm about 2 hours away and give a yoga seminar with lectures on Krishna consciousness to about 15-20 people.  As Kali-yuga progresses, we can only expect people to become more and more receptive to Krishna consciousness.

Tommorrow, I go to Sydney and to the project at Govinda Valley where I will give lectures to the devotees and teach them some yoga.  This year I passed my certification test for Iyengar yoga.

Yours in the service of Srila Prabhupada,

Prahladananda Swami

By Madhavendra Puri Dasa

Thursday 31st, January 2009.
I awoke. It was the final day of the year so there was some means to celebrate, at least sentimentally. Prahladananda Swami gave a brilliant class. It was so witty and impacting that, at the end, everyone was speechless. The sweetness only continued when, after class, Mahavana gave me some honey coconut balls (one of my favourite)….

to read more click here

Currently I’m in Portland and today I will give an ayurveda class at temple we have in Hillsboro. Tommorrow I’ll give a Bhagavad class at the same temple. I leave for Los Angeles on Monday. On Tuesday evening I fly to Auckland, New Zealand.

I’m preparing for the GBC meetings in Mayapur which go from February 6-17. Eleven devotees sent me requests to become candidates for sannyasa and this alone requires time to go through the procedures so that their candidacy can be reviewed by the Sannyasa Standing Committee in Mayapur.

Plus, as the Chairman of the GBC Appointment Committee and the Guru Services Committee, I have enough service in preparing for the meetings, what to speak during the meetings.

            I am pleased to announce that there are two new ISKCON sannyasis.  Purnachandra dasa is now Purnachandra Goswami and Jagat Guru dasa is now Bhakti Narasimha Swami.
In the service of Srila Prabhupada,
Prahladananda Swami
Posted by Prahladananda Swami on 10/4/08;