IF ONE GIVES AURAL RECEPTION
TO THE SOUND VIBRATED
BY GREAT DEVOTEES AND ACARYAS,

THAT ALONE WILL GIVE HIM RELIEF
FROM ALL MATERIAL CONTAMINATION.
 
 
In the Fourth Canto of Srimad-Bhagavatam, Twenty-ninth Chapter, verse 40, the importance of hearing of the pastimes of the Lord is stated by Sukadeva Gosvami to Maharaja Pariksit: "My dear King, one should stay at a place where the great acaryas [holy teachers] speak about the transcendental activities of the Lord, and one should give aural reception to the nectarean river flowing from the moonlike faces of such great personalities. If someone eagerly continues to hear such transcendental sounds, then certainly he will become freed from all material hunger, thirst, fear and lamentation, as well as all illusions of material existence."

Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu also recommended this process of hearing as a means of self-realization in the present age of Kali. In this age it is very difficult to follow thoroughly the regulative principles and studies of the Vedas which were formerly recommended. However, if one gives aural reception to the sound vibrated by great devotees and acaryas, that alone will give him relief from all material contamination. Therefore it is the recommendation of Caitanya Mahaprabhu that one should simply hear from authorities who are actually devotees of the Lord. Hearing from professional men will not help. If we hear from those who are actually self-realized, then the nectarean rivers, like those which are flowing on the moon planet, will flow into our ears. This is the metaphor used in the above verse.

(N.O.D. Chapter 10)

The above quote is taken from the book ALL OF US SHOULD HEAR PRABHUPADA which is a compilation of quotes from the teachings of HIS DIVINE GRACE A.C. BHAKTIVEDANTA SWAMI PRABHUPADA on the importance of hearing from a self realized soul. The simple practice of hearing Srila Prabhupada lecture twice daily in association, puts His Divine practically in the center of all our lifes. By hearing from Srila Prabhupada all misconceptions will be cleansed from our hearts. Then we can unite and spread the Sankirtana Movement in every town and village in the world.

 

"Every devotee who follows Prabhupada's teachings should have this book!" 

 Rukmini Devi Dasi (USA)

 

We must admit that we have realized definitely that the divine message from his holy lips is the congenial thing for suffering humanity. All of us should hear him patiently. If we listen to the transcendental sound without unnecessary opposition, he will surely have mercy upon us. The Acarya's Message is to take us back to our original home, back to God. Let me repeat, therefore, that we should hear him patiently, follow him in the measure of our conviction, and bow down at his lotus feet for releasing us from our present causeless unwillingness for serving the Absolute and all souls.

(Srila Prabhupada's Vyasa Puja offering, 1936)

 

 
 
ALSO AVAILABLE