Srila Prabhupada - Methods & Goals

[Guest guest]

>

>

> Maybe we need to distinguish between Srila Prabhupada's Goals, which are

> transcendental, and his Methods which may not always have worked. My goal

may

> be to go the the temple for a Govardhana Puja celebration. So, I get in my

car

> and drive away. The car breaks down.

 

Easy to understand example. Thanks.

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 10/28/99 5:06:31 PM Central Daylight Time,

Hare.Krsna.dasi (AT) bbt (DOT) se writes:

 

<< But maybe we have to have the honesty to admit that some of the methods

that he laid out do not effectively work to achieve the goals he wanted.

It's very

difficult for us to consider changing any of Srila Prabhupada's methods,

but to actually reach the goals he set before us, maybe we have to re-assess

how well the

methods actually work. >>

 

Well stated. As you said, even Prabhupada was able to do this.

 

However, this must be done carefully because it some cases the method we

propose to change may be a transcendendental activity that should never be

changed. Instead of changing the method, we would have to learn how to

execute that activity in a better way to get the desired results. Of course

I could imagine that in some cases there would be a controversy over whether

we can change the method or whether it is a transcendental (or

sacred)activitiy that should not be changed.

 

One example that comes to mind (because I am involved in education) is the

format of the Bhagavatam class. Some devotees feel that it would be best to

stucture SB class in a more academic way because devotees would get a more

comprehensive and systematic understanding of the SB. Plus, more devotees

would probably attend class. Others feel that the format Prabhupada set is a

sacred standard that should not be tampered with.

 

Ys, Md