IF SP WAS HERE TODAY - suggested topic

[Guest guest]

Dear Giri-nayaka Prabhu,

 

Please accept my humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada.

 

>> "One should not attempt to surpass the previous acarya. Rather, one must

>> have full confidence in the previous acarya, yet at the same time he must

>> realize his mission and mood so nicely that he can present his teachings

>> for the particular circumstances, country, culture and nation in a

>> suitable manner. However, the acarya's original purpose and mood must be

>> maintained. One should not try to extract obscure meanings from his words

>> and deeds, yet his teachings should be presented in an interesting and

>> appropriate manner for the understanding of the particular audience, time

>> or country. This is called realization".

>>

>> What do you think about this?

>

>I think that I have no real idea what to think about it. I thought till now

>that adjusting SP is rascaldom. Now, if you say that very senior ISKCON

>devotee has different opinion on the topic, then also ok. I can accept that

>as truth, if Srila Prabhupada wants me to do that.

 

Please forgive me, Giri-nayaka Prabhu, for my having been somewhat insidious

with you here. That was just a trap.

 

The above quote, which I have attributed to "a very senior ISKCON devotee"

is, in fact, spoken by "THE very senior ISKCON devotee", Srila Prabhupada

himself, in SB 1.4.1 purp. I have just slightly rephrased it to make it less

booklike.

 

Here is what he originally says:

 

"Personal realization does not mean that one should, out of vanity, attempt

to show one's own learning by trying to surpass the previous €c€rya. He must

have full confidence in the previous €c€rya, and at the same time he must

realize the subject matter so nicely that he can present the matter for the

particular circumstances in a suitable manner. The original purpose of the

text must be maintained. No obscure meaning should be screwed out of it, yet

it should be presented in an interesting manner for the understanding of the

audience. This is called realization". -- SB 1.4.1 purp.

 

>Can somebody please

>kindly tell me, how Srila Prabhupada wants us to look on this subject?

 

I hope now that you have a straight and clear statement from Srila

Prabhupada, you can answer this question for yourself.

 

>And if fulfilling all above requirements is realization,

>what hope is there for me. I better jump under the first truck passing by,

>and finish this futile attempt to understand anything in regard to Srila

>Prabhupada.

 

And hopefully, by now you may also want to concede that this suicidal

desperation is premature -- since realizing his mission and applying it

properly to the world is something Srila Prabhupada might still what us to

do. :-)

 

 

Begging to remain

 

your servant,

Madana-mohana das