Srila Prabhupada had just been preaching for 30 minutes to some wealthy life members in front of me and now the gentlemen had just left the room.
“Can you quote the verse I just said?” Srila Prabhupada suddenly asked me.
Srila Prabhupada retorted, “Just see! You are not reading my books!
Everyday you have to study my books; you have to study my books and learn my books just like a lawyer learns the law books. You must know everything, chapter and verse.
If you do not know, how will you preach. How will you teach these men unless you know my books?
Do you know that everyday, even I read my own books?”
He asked, sternly, “Do you know why I read my books?”
Once again, I didn’t dare to venture any answers.
Everyday you have to study my books; you have to study my books and learn my books just like a lawyer learns the law books. You must know everything, chapter and verse.
If you do not know, how will you preach. How will you teach these men unless you know my books?
Do you know that everyday, even I read my own books?”
He asked, sternly, “Do you know why I read my books?”
Once again, I didn’t dare to venture any answers.
Srila Prabhupada replied himself, “I read my books everyday because even I learn something new when I read my books!”
“Do you know why I learn something new when I read my books? Because these are not my books. I do not write these books.”
When Srila Prabhupada started to speak at this moment, it was like something came over him, something so mystical.
Srila Prabhupada continued, “Every morning, when I sit here to write my books, Krishna comes personally and He dictates to me what to write. So I simply take dictation from Krishna. Therefore, when I read them, even I learn something new.”
—Bhagavat dasa sent by Damaghosa das
—Bhagavat dasa sent by Damaghosa das