# Hidden Gems In ancient times, sacred scriptures were few and far between, hand-copied, and in the possession of only the most fortunate. One saint’s manuscript of Srimad- Bhagavatam was blotted, smudged and rendered practically unreadable due to the tears of love which were shed during his reading. Today, such priceless books are readily available at our fingertips and we can read them anywhere and at any time on our smartphones, tablets, e-readers and laptops. Our shelves are lined with the published copies – big books, small books, deluxe collectors’ items and ‘all-in-one’ versions – a veritable library of wisdom! But how much quality time have we devoted to reading them? And when we do, are we in the right headspace to draw the unlimited inspiration that is available? With improved access we must simultaneously intensify our deep absorption and contemplation of the subject matter. After all, a few short sentences, properly digested, can change one’s entire life. *“I am requesting all of my students to read my books very seriously every day without fail. In this way, if your mind becomes absorbed at least one or two hours daily in the transcendental subject matter of Srimad-Bhagavatam, Bhagavad-gita, and other books then very easily you will make your advancement in Krishna consciousness.”* [(Srila Prabhupada, Letter, June 13, 1972)](https://vedabase.io/en/library/letters/letter-to-bhargava/) --- # Agent Instructions: Querying This Documentation If you need additional information that is not directly available in this page, you can query the documentation dynamically by asking a question. Perform an HTTP GET request on the current page URL with the `ask` query parameter: ``` GET https://bhagavata.keshavaswami.com/introduction/hidden-gems.md?ask= ``` The question should be specific, self-contained, and written in natural language. The response will contain a direct answer to the question and relevant excerpts and sources from the documentation. Use this mechanism when the answer is not explicitly present in the current page, you need clarification or additional context, or you want to retrieve related documentation sections.