epistemology and hermeneutics

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> This all requires fine, purified intelligence. We need acaryas. Any amount

> of wrangling is insignificant before the conclusive understandings of true

> acaryas, persons directly inspired by Krsna. In the physical absence of

> such acaryas, sober, sincere, learned brahmanas should come together,

> discuss, pray, and come up with answers. This is the Vedic system; not

> that there is "free speech" and everyone who has read half a page of

> Bhagavad-gita asserts themselves as an authority.

 

Thank you Maharaja for that excellent analysis. We have to act even when the

self realised soul is not present before us, so discussing and analysing the

teachings of guru, sadhu, sastra, with a lot of sincere prayer and

introspection, is the only way to move forward.

>

> But before even brahmanas can discuss, they have to have a mutual and

> clear understanding of epistemology and hermeneutics. Without that, there

> cannot be systematic dialectic exchanges and therefore there cannot be a

> clear conclusion.

 

Surely though ultimately brahmin *means* self realised, in which case the

above two qualifications or understandings are directly imbued by Krsna

himself. Anyone who is not self realised although qualified in so many other

brahminical ways, would need himself to take shelter of a self realised

devotee to attain the full siddhanta and thus also receive the direct

understanding from the perfect source. Without that one cannot always expect

agreement. In fact we find that even among completely realised souls there

are differences, but for the disciple, he is sold on the conclusion of his

pure devotee guru (siksa or diksa), and by pleasing him, he becomes self

realised, which is the goal after all. We dont have to worry about the

opinions of others, humility and introspection being the key. So the

wrangling of non self realised persons, could be seen as a useless waste of

time, better to save oneself first, and then actualy be a qualified

authority.

 

Surely it would have been better when Srila Prabhupada left us, if all the

devotees had gathered together, in their respective yatras, studied &

discussed Srila Prabhupadas books and instructions with great dilligence,

and had a worldwide sankirtana of prayer, begging the Lord to send us

another perfected sadhu, who could guide us and reveal to us the mystery

that lies within Srila Prabhupadas teachings, that results in us

interpreting them in different ways. The result of not doing this is that no

one can agree! It seems that no one wants authoritative answers!

 

The principle of course being that we don't need to leave ISKCON to find

that acarya, rather if we are actualy sincere in our hearts, and greedy for

the understanding that will lead us to the Lord, then the Lord will

reciprocate, as He promises to do so, and we would have that acarya. If we

are complacent with our comfortable situation, why the Acarya will come?

 

Your servant

Samba das