Importance of Hearing

Aug 23, 2026

Hearing is presented as the decisive factor for spiritual progress in devotional service. The text explains that simply giving aural reception to Vedic literature, especially Srimad Bhagavatam, awakens loving devotion to Lord Krishna and extinguishes lamentation, illusion, and fear. It argues that lack of association and hearing is why practitioners do not advance. The document further warns against “selective hearing” that indulges gossip or irrelevant talk, insisting that ears should remain open only to Krishna katha from authorized sources, even in daily life and amidst Kali-yuga’s distortions.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryReligion & Spirituality

FormatPDF

Pages4

Reading Time10 min

AccessFree to download

Importance of Hearing

Hearing as the path to devotion

Selective hearing and distractions

Authorized hearing of Krishna katha

Knowledge, lineage, and divine source

Kali-yuga and deliverance through hearing

Importance of Hearing Date: 22 Dec 2008 Author: Tushta Krishna das Hare Krishna Prabhujis and Matajis, Please accept our humble pranams. All glories to Srila Prabhupada and Srila Gurudev. Last week, we were extremely fortunate to have the association of H G Sajjan Priya Prabhu at Sharjah who took a thought provoking class on Srimad Bhagavatam verse 1.7.7 which very nicely brings out the importance of hearing. yasyāṁ vai śrūyamāṇāyāṁ kṛṣṇe parama-pūruṣe bhaktir utpadyate puṁsaḥ śoka-moha-bhayāpahā Simply by giving aural reception to this Vedic literature, the feeling for loving devotional service to Lord Krsna, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, sprouts up at once to extinguish the fire of lamentation, illusion and fearfulness. Srimad Bhagavatam is for our benefit. The main cause we are not progressing in devotional service is due to lack of association and hearing. Hearing is the main factor of our liberation or bondage. We have this tendency of selective hearing.Our ears open wide when someone talks about a big malls or when someone glorifies us or gossips about others. We should actually close our ears for all these nonsensical things as these are not going to relieve us from lamentation, illusion or fear. These topics only immerse us more and more into illusion and anxiety. Instead of opening our ears for these rubbish talks, we should keep our ears open only for Krishna katha. Even while hearing Krishna katha it is important that we hear from the authorized source only. Contemporary to Vyasadeva or even prior to him there were many other great sages, such as Gautama, Kanada, Jaimini, Kapila, Astavakra and Patanjali all of them have presented a philosophical path by themselves. All these six great rsis have their own way of thinking, exactly like the modern philosophers and mental speculators. The difference between the six philosophical paths put forward by the renowned sages above mentioned and that of Sukadeva Goswami, as presented in the Srimad-Bhagavatam is that, all the sages mentioned above speak the facts according to their own thinking. The great sages mentioned above may be great thinkers, but their knowledge by mental speculation is not perfect. However perfect an empiric philosopher may be in presenting a philosophical thesis, such knowledge is never perfect because it is produced by an imperfect mind. Such great sages also have their disciplic successions, but they are not authorized because such knowledge does not come directly from the independent Supreme Personality of Godhead, Narayana. No one can be independent except Narayana. therefore no one's knowledge can be perfect, for everyone's knowledge is dependent on the flickering mind. Mind is material and thus knowledge presented by material speculators is never transcendental and can never become perfect. but Sukadeva Goswami presents the knowledge which comes down directly from Brahmaji, who is known as atma-bhuh, or born of and educated by the Almighty Personality of Godhead. Srila Prabhupada explained in his purport that loving devotional service to the Lord begins with hearing about the Lord. Sense of hearing is so powerful that one can protect himself from the hands of an enemy while awake, but while asleep one is protected by the ear only. Our ears are always active and get never tired where as other senses have limited capacity. Shaunaka Rshi says if we don’t hear Krishna katha then it is like snake hole. By hearing the Vedic literature Srimad-Bhagavatam, one can have direct connection with the Supreme Personality of Godhead Sri Krishna, and thereby one can attain the highest perfection of life. Srila Prabhupada has made the process so sublime and easy for us by painstakingly translating this wonderful literature in English. So we should at least endeavor to hear him by reading his books sincerely. We pray at the lotus feet of Lord Krishna, Srila Prabhupada and Gurudev to bestow Their mercy upon us so that we take advantage of

FAQs

Why is hearing considered essential for progress in devotional service?

The text states that practitioners often fail to progress due to lack of association and hearing. Hearing is described as the main factor for liberation or bondage.

What should be listened to, and why?

Ears should be kept open for Krishna katha only, and hearing should come from authorized sources. The document warns that gossip and nonsensical topics deepen illusion and anxiety.

How does hearing Srimad Bhagavatam affect the heart and emotions?

By receiving the Vedic sound of the Bhagavatam, the feeling for loving devotional service sprouts immediately and extinguishes lamentation, illusion, and fearfulness.

Aug 23, 2026

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