Reading Srila Prabhupada Straight

[Guest guest]

"WWW: Srila (Dasa) ACBSP (Berkeley CA - USA)" wrote:

 

> [Text 2760211 from COM]

>

> On 4 Nov 1999, Madhava Gosh wrote:

> > Actually, no matter what the consciousness of the gardener, the seed is

> unaffected, to follow the analogy. When I plant a seed, it will do it's

> thing regardless of me. I can, by good gardening methods, enhance it's

> growth, or by neglect, slow it's growth, but the actual fruit of the seed

is

> dependent on it's genetic code, not on me.

>

> Madhava Ghosh, I think you may be mixing up your analogies and thus becoming

> somewhat confused or unclear in your conclusions. The *seed* we need to

refer

> to in this case is likened to the human being, not the *gardening analogy.

 

Well, I don't think so. I think that Srila Prabhupada was well acquainted

with

gardening, and used the seed analogy in it's most direct meaning.

 

We are dependent on the mercy of the guru. That mercy comes in the form of the

seed of devotional service. We are like the gardener. There are so many

consistent series of examples about watering the root, weeding the creeper,

all

of which make sense if we have recieved a seed.

 

The perfection of the guru is in giving us true seed, unhybridized seed. The

human being is the gardener, not the seed.

 

Seed = teachings of parampara.

Seedsman = guru

Gardener = disciple

 

>

>

> The pertinent analogy is: the guru must be *potent* and the disciple must

> be *fertile*. BOTH are required for proer conception.

>

 

This conclusion is certainly correct in a very general way, but the guru is

not

the seed and the disciple is not the garden, as you seem to imply here, so I

would massage your statement and say the guru must have viable seed, and the

disciple must provide fertile ground for that seed.

 

>

> It is not just the "seed" -- both GRACE and EFFORT are required.

 

Yes, without reaching the seed (GRACE) nothing will grow, but without the

EFFORT of the gardener, it willnot come to fruition.

 

>

>

> Furthermore, after getting the seed from the bona fide guru and even the

> disciple was initially fertile, the seed can be ruined. Extending the

analogy:

> the pregnant mother can consume alcohol or take cocaine and thus the "baby"

> will come out with permanent brain damage (Fetal Alcohol Syndrome, Coke Baby,

> etc.).

 

Well, this is not an analogy from nature, as Srila Prabhupada tended to use,

but let's explore it.

 

The question is can the seed be ruined. Seed is a vehicle for DNA. While FAS

causes brain damage, does it cause DNA damage? Would the DNA of a FAS parent

produce a FAS child, even if the FAS parent was clean and sober?

 

The seed it self may be mishandled, but it's DNA is not effected by the poor

care

of the gardener.

[Guest guest]

On 6 Nov 1999, Mahananda Dasa wrote:

 

>

>

>

> yes, thank you. I agree. my gracious apologies to Virender. I t was a minor

> thing. We tend to get a little carried away on line over trivials.

 

There's an easy way to avoid this common pitfall of online dialog. Srila

Prabhupada often said that a gentleman thinks twice before speaking. Since

this discourse is conducted by writing, we have a natural opportunity to

reconsider, rethink, revise anything before posting it. Resist the temptation

to go right to the Send button while your bolld still boils. If necessary,

compose offline, let it sit overnight, and send it only if after cooling off

you still think it adds something essential to the conversation.

 

Of course, no one need feel compelled to follow this advice until I start to

do so myself.

 

Your servant,

Babhru das