Do You Want an Explanation or Do You Want to Debate?

[Guest guest]

On 2 Oct 1999, Vraja Kumara wrote:

> Whilst it was nice to hear this well-presented missive supporting HH

> Narayana Maharaja, it would feel more complete to hear a similar

> presentation explaining his re-initiating of both Prabhupada's and 'ISKCON

guru''s disciples.

 

Dear Vraja Kumara,

 

Your inquiry is very pertinent to the concerns of many ISKCON leaders and

members who feel that Narayan Maharaja's activities threaten the integrity of

the Society. The allegation, as you say, that that Narayan Maharaja is

"re-initiating both Prabhupada's and 'ISKCON guru''s disciples" would

certainly seem completely antagonistic to ISKCON's welfare, and the idea

itself evokes tremendous amounts of suspicion and alarm -- nothing short of a

declaration of war.

 

I would suggest,however, that how we pose our questions predicates the answer.

In other words, if our foregone conclusion is presumed within the question,

how is it really a question? It becomes "rhetorical," or a statement

of *fact*. Rather, the burden of proof lies with the respondent to refute the

premises of the so-called question.

 

Do you see the position of anyone who tries to answer such a query? The

rspondent has to start at zero and arduously renegotiate the truth of every

so-called basic *fact*, point by point. It is not easy. Plus, as a matter of

polemical technique, it places the respondent at a decided disadvantage.

Debates are won or lost by expert use of such shrewdly worded "questions."

 

Yet some devotees here on this conference and elsewhere criticize and mock us

when we take the considerable effort required to respond to such "loaded

questions." There is no question of a proper discussion. It is a kangaroo

court.

 

In short, do you to increase your *understanding* or do you want to *debate*

(and initiate an unfair debate at that)?

 

I am happy to respond in earnest, but if you have your mind made up already,

then what is the point? We will simply waste each other's time.

 

Sincerely,

 

Srila dasa

 

PS: Forgive me for any misjudgment of your question, but I am responding not

so much as to you personally (who I trust are sincere) but to the general mood

in ISKCON as witnessed on this conference.