Argument with a Tar Baby

[Guest guest]

Robert Cope wrote:

 

> [Text 2367633 from COM]

>

> >Further, in defense of Hare Krsna dd's footnote idea (I do not agree with

> the

> >changes, but she is not alone in this idea) there is the following from

> >Hridayananda M.:

> I know she is not alone in her ideas and that is what is a bit scary.

>

> In regards to the quote from Hridayananda Mja. it is difficult to comment

> because his reply does not specify what points he is responding to so why

> speculate?

 

Hare Krsna dasi comments:

 

To footnote a book does not mean to change the text. In both versions of the

Bhagavad-gita As It Is -- Hayagriva's and Jayadvaita Maharaja's -- Srila

Prabhupada's words have already been changed -- and *with* his authorization.

A

footnote to each changed verse would explain why there is a difference between

the two versions.

 

Presently, a number of devotees are highly upset because of the changes between

the two editors. If an annotated or footnoted version of the Bhagavad-Gita As

It Is could be published, readers could be reassured because they could judge

for themselves why changes were made between Hayagriva's and Jayadvaita Swami's

versions.

 

But, it is not my main purpose in life to crusade for a footnoted or annotated

edition of the Bhagavad-gita.

 

But to get to my point, Vyapaka prabhu, it seems futile to continue a

discussion

with you on this issue. It is like trying to win an argument with a tar baby.

In African American folk tales, there is the story of Brer Rabbit and the Tar

Baby. The story goes like this:

 

Brer Rabbit was ambling through the woods and he came upon a figure of a man

(made of tar) sitting on a log. He said "Hello, how are you?" to the Tar Baby,

but the Tar Baby (being only made of tar and not a live person) said nothing.

Thinking that the Tar Baby was a little bit deaf, he repeated his greeting,

only

louder. The Tar Baby said nothing. Again he repeated the greeting. Still the

Tar Baby did not acknowledge that he heard anything. He just sat there like a

bump on a log.

 

At this point, Brer Rabbit became offended that Tar Baby was so rude that he

did

not even acknowledge Brer Rabbit's friendly greeting. So he hit the Tar Baby

in

the face. Unfortunately, his hand got stuck in the tar. "Let go of my hand,

Tar Baby, before I hit you again!" yelled Brer Rabbit. But the Tar Baby would

not let go. So Brer Rabbit hit him with his other hand. That got stuck also.

"Let go of both my hands, or I'll kick you!" yelled Brer Rabbit. But the Tar

Baby would not let go. So Brer Rabbit kicked him. His foot got stuck in the

tar.

 

Eventually, by trying to defeat the Tar Baby, Brer Rabbit became completely

stuck to the Tar Baby -- hands, feet, and head. At this time, Brer Fox and

Brer

Bear, who had built the Tar Baby just to trap Brer Rabbit, stepped out of the

bushes and captured him. (As the story goes, they were talking about boiling

up

Brer Rabbit and eating him for dinner, but he got away by tricking them into

throwing him into a briar patch.)

 

Anyway, the point here is that I have tried to present my case clearly, but

just

like the Tar Baby, you never actually acknowledge what I am saying. You never

really respond to it. Instead, you use a technique like Sita's where you ask

more and more questions as a set-up to lure your opponent (for that is what the

person is in your mind) into saying something. And, when they make a sincere

response, you take it as an opportunity to misconstrue their points, ignoring

their real points even further.

 

So, anyone -- like me -- who is gullible enough to engage in this kind of

argument is just as foolish as Brer Rabbit trying to win his fight with the Tar

Baby. Anyone who is as foolish as Brer Rabbit is in maya. So it is maya for

me

to continue this exchange with you any further. At this point, I will have to

excercize sufficient self-control and delete all your further posts on this

subject. To do otherwise would be foolish of me.

 

I now grant you the opportunity to have the final word on how I am trying to

lead ISKCON to spiritual ruination by proposing the publication of a footnoted

edition of the Bhagavad-gita. -- But could you at least spell Madhusudani

Radha's name correctly?

 

yours in Srila Prabhupada's service,

 

Hare Krsna dasi