“All the devotees connected with this Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement must read all the books that have been translated (Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, Bhagavad-gītā and others); otherwise, after some time, they will simply eat, sleep and fall down from their position. Thus they will miss the opportunity to attain an eternal, blissful life of transcendental pleasure.”Chaitanya-caritamrta Madhya-lila 25.278 : Purport by Srila Prabhupada
“When one book is published I think I have conquered an empire. So try to publish as many books as possible and that will enhance the beauty and prestige of our society.”Srila Prabhupada correspondence, December 12, 1967
“Whenever there is any publication in any language, it enlivens me 100 times.”Srila Prabhupada correspondence, October 19, 1974
“The real preaching is selling books. You should know the tactic how to sell without irritating. What your lecture will do for three minutes, but if he reads one page his life may be turned.”Srila Prabhupada correspondence, September 30, 1972
“Books will always remain. That was the view of my Guru Maharaja, and I also have taken it. Therefore I started my movement with my books. And we shall be able to maintain everything with the sales of the books. The temples will be maintained by the book sales, and if there are no more temples, then the books shall remain.”Srila Prabhupada Letter to: Hamsaduta: — New Delhi 8 November, 1973
“Anyone who reads the books, that is also chanting and hearing. Why distinguish between chanting and book distribution? These books I have recorded and chanted, and they are transcribed. It is spoken kirtana. So book distribution is also chanting. These are not ordinary books. It is recorded chanting. Anyone who reads, he is hearing.” (letter from Srila Prabhupada, dated October 19,1974)
“So unless one is self-realized, there is practically no use writing about Krsna. This transcendental writing does not depend on material education. It depends on the spiritual realization. You’ll find, therefore, in the comments of Bhagavatam by different acaryas, even there are some discrepancies, they are accepted as asat-patha. It should remain as it is.” (Srimad-Bhagavatam 7.5.23-24, March 31, 1976, Vrindaban)
When one book is published I think I have conquered an empire.
So try to publish as many books as possible and that will enhance the beauty and prestige of our society.Srila Prabhupada correspondence, December 12, 1967
Whenever there is any publication in any language, it enlivens me 100 times.Srila Prabhupada correspondence, October 19, 1974
The real preaching is selling books. You should know the tactic how to sell without irritating. What your lecture will do for three minutes, but if he reads one page his life may be turned.Srila Prabhupada correspondence, September 30, 1972
Therefore, I recommend you to read books more and more and try to understand the subject matter from different angles of vision and be always discussing it with your godbrothers” (Letter to Bhargava, Los Angeles, 13 June 1972)
“And I am very much stressing nowadays that my students shall increase their reading of my books and try to understand them from different angles of vision. Each sloka can be seen from many, many angles of vision.”
(Letter to Tribhuvanatha dasa, Los Angeles, 16 June, 1972)“These books are the best advertising, they are better than advertising.
If we simply present Krishna Consciousness in a serious and attractive way,
without need to resort to fashionable slogans or tricks, that is sufficient.
Our unique asset is our purity. No one anywhere can match it.
That will be noticed eventually and appreciated, as long as we do not diminish or neglect
the highest standard of purity in performing our routine work,
not that we require to display or announce ourselves in very clever ways to get attention.
No, our pure standard is enough. Let us stand on that basis.”Srila Prabhupada letter December 28. 1971
Letters : 1977 Correspondence : May : Letter to: Dasanudasa — Hrsikesa 13 May, 1977 : 77-05-13 :
The two essays which you have sent are very nicely written. It appears that you have good talent for writing, so kindly continue to develop in this way and write more and more of your realizations based upon our books. There is no need to concoct anything new.You simply have to study carefully our books and then in your own words try to express what you have read. This will automatically make you a very successful preacher.
Letters : 1976 Correspondence : October : Letter to: Srutadeva — Vrindaban 30 October, 1976 : 76-10-30 :
If you want to stay in Krsna Consciousness you will have to develop firm faith in Guru and Sastra. Therefore, you must study mybooks very scrutinizingly, follow the four regulative principles very strictly and chant 16 rounds daily avoiding the ten offenses. Don’t take this movement as something cheap.
Letters : 1976 Correspondence : October : Letter to: Krsna Vilasini — Vrindaban 25 October, 1976 : 76-10-25 :
As long as the body will be there, there will only be pain. Pleasure is only a misconception. Do not be sorry if you are in an “unfortunate” situation. It can also be fortunate if you take advantage by becoming serious to become Krsna consciousness. Follow the regulative principles, chant 16 rounds and as far as possible render service and study my books. Success is sure.
Letters : 1976 Correspondence : October : Letter to: Bhadravardhana, Hrdayagovinda — Vrndavana October 25, 1976 : 76-10-25 :
Please perform your service of training up the new men very carefully. Present the philosophy of Krsna consciousness as it is. There is no need to add anything or take anything away. As it is. They must learn to strictly follow the four regulative principles and chant 16 rounds minimum every day, avoiding the 10 offenses. The new men should also go out for samkirtan, chanting or distributing my books. This will make them strong. Also, they must study my books at least three hours a day (including classes).
Letters : 1976 Correspondence : January : Letter to: Jayatirtha — Mayapur 22 January, 1976 : 76-01-22 :
All of the leaders should study my books books very carefully, since now everyone will have to appear for the examination. But I don’t get any time to go into seclusion. My Guru Maharaja also did not approve of seclusion. He used to say: “Dusta mana, tumi kisera Vaisnava? Pratisthara tare, nirjanera ghare, tava hari-nama kevala kaitava.” My dear mind, what kind of Vaisnava are you? Simply for cheap adoration you sit in a solitary place and pretend to chant the Hare Krishna maha-mantra, but this is all cheating.
Letters : 1976 Correspondence : January : Letter to: Yasomatinandana — Mayapur 18 January, 1976 : 76-01-18 :
I accept Sriman Ram das and Sriman Dayasara das for second initiation. Their sacred threads are duly chanted on and are enclosed. Brahmin means to be clean—inside by always chanting the Lord’s glories, and outside by regular bathing. Brahmin also means pandita, so they must be able to support their preaching by quoting sastric references. Particularly, they should study Bhagavad-gita, Sri Isopanisad, Nectar of Devotion and Nectar of Instruction as well as all the small paperbacks. There will be a yearly examination for all Brahmins based upon these books.
Letters : 1976 Correspondence : January : Letter to: Upendra — Nellore 7 January, 1976 : 76-01-07 :
As to your question concerning whether relationships between devotees are eternal, the answer is “yes.” This is confirmed by Sri Narottama dasa Thakura: “cakhudana dilo yei, janme janme prabhu sei”, he is my Lord birth after birth. In this way you have to understand, by studying carefully the philosophy. We have got so many books now and I want all of my disciples to read them carefully. Soon we shall be instituting Bhakti-sastri examinations and all brahmanas will have to pass. So utilize whatever time you find to make a thorough study of my books. Then all your questions will be answered.
Letters : 1975 Correspondence : November : Letter to: Jagadisa — Bombay 9 November, 1975 : 75-11-09 :
So study my books and reproduce the purports in your own language. You should instruct your temple presidents to preach like this. This is preaching. We haven’t got to invent something by our fertile brain for preaching. Everything is there. One who is expert for presenting these things before the audience so they can conveniently understand, this is a successful preacher. You have only to speak what Krsna has said. Then you become a preacher. I am also glad to learn that Sripati Prabhu is traveling with you. Keep him nicely.
Letters : 1975 Correspondence : April : Letter to: Bhakta Dennis — Mayapur 8 April, 1975 : 75-04-08 :
Please accept my blessings. I am in due receipt of your letter dated nil and have noted the contents. I think that the best thing for you is to study our books very carefully and then try to write something. Do not try to concoct your own theories. This is not the process. You must write just as you have heard from your Guru and nothing else. Otherwise, your writing is useless. I think you may contact Svarupa Damodara prabhu if you want to ask any questions. Most important thing is to make sure and follow all of the regulative principles and chant at least 16 rounds daily.
Letters : 1970 Correspondence : July : Letter to: Satsvarupa, Uddhava — Los Angeles 27 July, 1970 : 70-07-27 :
You are all my children and I love my American boys and girls who are sent to me by my spiritual master and I have accepted them as my disciples. Before coming to your country I took sannyasa in 1959. I was publishing BTG since 1944. After taking sannyasa I was more engaged in writing my books without any attempt to construct temples or to make disciples like my other Godbrothers in India. I was not very much interested in these matters because my Guru Maharaja liked very much publication of books than constructing big, big temples and creating some neophyte disciples. As soon as he saw that His neophyte disciples were increasing in number, He immediately decided to leave this world. To accept disciples means to take up the responsibility of absorbing the sinful reaction of life of the disciple.