Sounds like a bit rajasic nature. Work on sattvic sadhana.

Greetings baker,

I have excactly the same problem as you describe. This is the way I am handling it. I divided my study into two parts: One part is a systematic study of a foundational text, the Bhagavad-gita. The other part is non-systematic study of devotional literature to satisfy my curiosity.

For the systematic side, I purchased Bhagavad-gita commentaries by the main acaryas of each sampradaya plus the other extra few available from the Gaudiya-Vaishnava sampradaya and study them verse by verse alongside of Srila Prabhupada's purports. With the non-systematic side, I purchased full versions of the Mahabharata, Puranas, Ramayana, Upanishads, of course all of Prabhupada books, and some other Gaudiya vaishnava literature suitable to my level of progress and I read that as it suits me, e.g. in my leisure time or if I want to research a particular topic in detail.

One thing I will advise though: it is important that you decide what you want out of your study before you start. What is your purpose? This reason you can find inside yourself with a little introspection. Studying just because you are told to isn't going to be a strong long term motivational factor. For me, I decided that my long term goal and motivation is to learn to preach in the same style as Prabhupada. From Prabhupada's lectures, you can see he knows the Bhagavad-gita inside and out and used it as the basis for his preaching for his 12 year preaching tour, even in classes in Bhagavatam and Caitanya-Caritamrta. In most of his classes he uses at least three or four Gita slokas and always uses very simple analogies or metaphors to explain complex philosophical points. So my serious study is on the Bhagavad-gita, and this study includes studying Prabhupada's Bhagavad-gita classes not only for the content but for his style and how he has put the classes together, how one point expands to another, and how he uses verses and how each verse expands to another.

I found this two-fold approach suits me well. When I don't feel like such a strict systematic focus or I want to research a specific topic in more detail, I can still immerse mind in bona-fide Vedic literature.

I would second Kula-pavana's advice too: The Bhagavad-gita really is an ever-growing wealth of information. Especially when you see it through the light of acarya's commentaries, it really is an ocean of unlimited knowledge and inspiration. I sincerely believe that if I can just become expert in this one text and preach nicely on the basis of it, then I have done justice to Srila Prabhupada's legacy and may have possibly repaid a small fraction of the debt I owe him for bringing this knowledge to my attention.

"The Supreme Lord said: Oh Partha, the Gita is My heart, the Gita is My supreme essence, and the Gita is intense, imperishable knowledge of Me." (Sri Vaisnahava tantra-sara)

Haribol VEDAji. No, not difficult. After a 5 minute Google search....

Sridhara Swami's commentary: http://www.matchless-gifts.com

Sankaracarya's commentary: http://amazon.com

Ramanuja-acarya's commentary: http://www.matchless-gifts.com

Baladeva Vidyabhusana's commentary: http://www.thekrishnastore.com

Bhaktivinode Thakur's Bhagavad-gita Gita translation: http://www.exoticindiaart.com

Kula-pavana:

Baker, concentrate on Bhagavad-gita. There is a tremendous wealth of concepts there. The more I read, the more I go back to Gita and discover new things... forget about the rest, just keep reading Gita.

But how do you go about that study? Do you just read, in the hopes something will stick in your memory?

Baker:

[quote]

Kula-pavana:

Baker, concentrate on Bhagavad-gita. There is a tremendous wealth of concepts there. The more I read, the more I go back to Gita and discover new things... forget about the rest, just keep reading Gita.

But how do you go about that study? Do you just read, in the hopes something will stick in your memory?[/quote]

I think we all learn in a bit different way. I have a few simple rules for my studies: 1. Don't try to read too much - two to four verses at one time at the most. 2. Always read each verse in the context of the conversation (read the preceding verses). 3. Think about the verse BEFORE you read the purport. 4. If you have other editions of BG read their translation of the same verse to see how others understand that passage - it is often very useful tactic to expand our understanding of the meaning.

I said sattvic sadhana. Its part is sastra adhyaya, study.

Check this Java applet: http://www.veda.harekrsna.cz/encyclopedia/gunas.htm

VEDA:

I said sattvic sadhana. Its part is sastra adhyaya, study.

[br]Check this Java applet: http://www.veda.harekrsna.cz/encyclopedia/gunas.htm

I thought that if there is faith, action, charity, renunication etc. according to the three modes, then "study of scriptures" would also be according to the three modes. Ie a sattvic way to study scriptures, a rajasic way to study scriptures, and a tamasic way to study scriptures.

>But how do you go about that study? Do you just read, in the hopes something will stick in your memory?

along with the already provided link (http://www.vihe.org/boox/VTEBS_StudentHandbook.pdf), listen to the BS lectures by Bhurijana Prabhu (it uses the same sub chapter classification) http://audio.iskcondesiretree.info/index.php?q=f&f=%2F03_-_ISKCON_Prabhujis%2FHis_Grace_Bhurijana_Prabhu%2FBhakti_Sastri_Course%2FBhagavad_Gita_overview

the total runtime is about 30 hours - he brings our key points from Srila Prabhupada's purport - he provides information on how the chapters are connected. just print the chapter classifications from the PDF and listen to the lecture serious couple of times.

Bhagavad Gita As It Is, Original Edition -www.asitis.com
Chapter 10 Text 34 Purport by His Divine Grace AC Bhaktivedanta Swami Srila Prabhupada

"After studying, if one can remember the subject matter, he is gifted with good memory, or smrti. One need not read many books on different subject matters; the ability to remember a few and quote them when necessary is also another opulence."

Antony Brennan: If you have heard of Vanipedia you will know about this team of devotees, lead by Visnu Murti Dasa, who are creating a dynamic, interactive, encyclopedia of Srila Prabhupada’s words. Vanipedia will eventually include everything Srila Prabhupada wrote and said, the entire record of Prabhupada Vani. “Read my books” is an instruction given many times by Srila Prabhupada. It can often be found in his correspondence to devotees and others. In a ‘garden conversation’ in Los Angeles, USA, on June 25, 1975, Prabhupada says “Some way or other, if they read my books, they will be benefited. There is no doubt about it.” “So far we have found there are at least 42 different ways that Srila Prabhupada has instructed the devotees to read his books,” Visnu Murti Prabhu says in a recent email.
For the benefit of everyone, here are the many ways Srila Prabhupada told us that we should read his books.
“Always,” “again and again,” “as much as possible,” “attentively,” “at least one hour daily,” “at least three hours a day,” “by discussing them,” “carefully,” “constantly,” “continuously,” “daily,” “devotedly,” “diligently,” “faithfully,” “from different lights of directions,” “from all angles of vision,” “intensely,” “in small installments,” “in the association of devotees,” “minutely,” “more and more,” “nicely,” “one after another,” “over and over,” “penetratingly,” “persistently,” “philosophically,” “profoundly,” “profusely,” “regularly,” “repeatedly,” “scientifically,” “scrutinizingly,” “seriously,” “sincerely,” “submissively,” “thoroughly,” “thoughtfully,” “to understand the subject matter from different angles of vision,” “with adherence,” “very deeply,” and “with the help of your senior God-brothers and sisters.”
All glories to Srila Prabhupada Pick out a few ways you can read his books and soak yourself in Prabhupada Vani here
www.vanipedia.org

>How to organize one's studies of spiritual literature?

Study means, once you understood the book, you throw the book away in the garbage. It is an aggressive approach towards the scriptures. Hard to understand spiritual literature with this approach.