Gaudiiya Vaishnavism and Sanaatana-dharma

[Guest guest]

It seems to me that, if we don't resolve this basic issue, no other

discussion about the legitimacy of the Gaudiiya-Saarasvata line will

bear fruit.

 

At the very heart of this discussion is the relationship between the

Gaudiiya Sampradaaya and the broader Vedic tradition, or Sanaatana-

dharma. Is the former merely an historical construct created at a

finite time and inspired by the latter? Or are they in reality

contiguous and non-different?

 

The answer determines how one accepts shaastra and the instructions

of the Six Gosvamis.

 

Proponents of the former view can accept that the Gosvamis will

contradict the shaastras, and preferentially accept the Gosvamis'

opinions without any attempt to reconcile them with the shaastras.

They see absolutely no problem with this.

 

Those who hold the latter view, will not attempt to see difference

between the instructions of the Gosvamis and those of the shaastras.

The philosophical legitimacy of a paramparaa is based on faithful

reproduction of the shaastric viewpoint. Thus, the Vedas are very

much a part of the tradition; they are not excluded as proponents of

the former view would have us believe.

[Guest guest]

Nityananda. Gauranga.

 

Krishna Susarla wrote:

 

>> At the very heart of this discussion is the relationship between

the Gaudiiya Sampradaaya and the broader Vedic tradition, or

Sanaatana-dharma. Is the former merely an historical construct

created at a finite time and inspired by the latter? Or are they in

reality contiguous and non-different? <<

 

The Gaudiya sampradaya was started by Mahaprabhu. It may draw from

the Vedic tradition in places as has been proved by Srila Jiva

Goswami and others, but it is not necessarily inspired by it.

 

Still, you need to specify exactly what "Vedic traditions" you are

referring to before this discussion can go any further. The term is

indeed very broad and indicative of a generalising nature.

 

I have a hunch that your reply will be connected to some or most of

the points being discussed in the "Satyanarayana" thread, but let me

wait and see.

 

>> The answer determines how one accepts shaastra and the

instructions of the Six Gosvamis. <<

 

Or rather, the sastras as viewed by the Six Goswamis.

 

>> Proponents of the former view can accept that the Gosvamis will

contradict the shaastras, and preferentially accept the Gosvamis'

opinions without any attempt to reconcile them with the shaastras.

They see absolutely no problem with this. <<

 

Again, you need to specify what exactly you are talking about when

you mention the sastras, before you make a statement about whether

the Goswamis contradict the sastras or not. The issues at hand are

not very clear here.

 

>> Those who hold the latter view, will not attempt to see difference

between the instructions of the Gosvamis and those of the shaastras.

<<

 

That all depends on whether there is a difference or not. Since your

term of "Vedic traditions" or "sastras" is as yet undefined, I don't

think anyone can be absolutely sure what you are talking about here.

The works of Srila Jiva Goswami as well as Srila Visvanatha

Cakravarti Thakura are abundantly clear about which elements of the

Vedas need to be accepted, modified or rejected in order to fit

Gaudiya philosophy.

 

Kind regards,

 

Jay