Question: It is mentioned in the lecture that showing-off devotional service is useless; it is only a disturbance to devotional service. Is this about reading Śrīla Prabhupāda’s books? In theory, I know that reading Śrīla Prabhupāda’s books is very important, but the interest in reading is limited, let alone studying Śrīla Prabhupāda’s books. Interest for kīrtana and food is larger than for reading. Is it spiritually perfect to do other services without reading? In China, lots of elderly devotees and devotee managers do not read much and do not participate in scripture training courses. They are also advanced and excellent.
Answer by Romapada Swami：
What Śrīla Prabhupāda is teaching is from scripture. This is what Rūpa Gosvāmī writes:
śruti-smṛti-purāṇādi
pañcarātra-vidhiṁ vinā
aikāntikī harer bhaktir
utpātayaiva kalpate
which means that Devotional Service which makes no reference to scripture is simply a disturbance.
That does not mean do not have kīrtana or do not serve prasāda, just read. If somebody is just a good cook and sings nicely but does not have a scriptural background, their service can be misguided, and thus a disturbance. Without scriptural guidance, eventually, the direction that such service will move in over time, and the example that it sets, would mislead people. Such a person will unavoidably go in an unwholesome direction. Followers will follow them, likewise in an unwholesome direction.
All forms of devotional service are to be guided by scripture. That is the important point.
The last comment, inserted within your question, sounds a little bit like fault-finding.
It is true that young and old managers and followers are like to not sufficiently study Prabhupāda’s book. That is a problem.
More reading please. Do not find fault. Instead, encourage more reading.
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Bhakti-rasāmṛta-sindhu 1.2.101. Translation: Devotional service of the Lord that ignores the authorized Vedic literature like the Upaniṣads, Purāṇas and Nārada Pañcarātra is simply an unnecessary disturbance in society. (Reference: Bhagavad-gītā As It Is 7.3 purport)
