Guest guest Posted September 13, 2000 Report Share Posted September 13, 2000 > Sri Ram Prabhu wrote: > > I think there is no choice but to have a group with responsibility for > > settling theological disputes. My cautions would be: Bhaktarupa Prabhu answered: > But from what you say below, they actually won't be settling philosophical > disputes. So then what is the point of the group? Krsna-kirtana's comment: Prabhu, in my proposal on GBC Restructure, that HBC or Higher Brahminical Council will settle theological disputes. It will be their main duties and this board will not be made of gurus only. A few of them will be part of it, that's all. > > 1) Every effort must be made to see that the group responsible for these > > matters has no conflict of interest. When we, as we have done in the > > past, decide theological questions with an eye to managerial > > considerations, everything becomes spoiled. Doctrine should never become > > the servant of practicality. > a. But as soon as the group has to be appointed by some managerial body > then immediately they will be affected by managerial considerations. It's > unavoidable. No. In my proposal, it is an independant jury who is appointing anybody. Not the GBC themselves. Would you kindly agree to join GBC Restructure conference? We badly need your input there. Thanks in advance for your answer to me on this issue. > b. Srila Prabhupada never suggested such a body. Although he sometimes > would request individual GBC members to instruct the devotees in spiritual > matters, or for a few of them to deliberate on a particular subject, that > is a far cry from him setting up a body to settle theological issues. You are right, sure, but HE was there personally, at that time, to correct the numerous GBC's deviations and speculations. Now, nobody is correcting or rather "allowed" to correct their numerous 'fall down' and wrong decisions according to Hari, Guru, sastra, and sadhus. This has to change ASAP. That is why we need such a board, as "checks and balance" according to Ajamila Prabhu and Sri Rama Prabhu. > Rather, he always instructed us to be individually thoughtful. Yes, that is why we want a pure, sharp, qualified, and impartial jury. As it is now, nobody is allowed to correct the GBC's bad decisions and that is not proper according to my humble understanding. > c. Generally such a body will fill up with those that want to be known as > philosophically astute individuals as opposed to those who are actually > astute. Not true, Prabhu. Please allow me to doubt your own statement here. If we have a genuine jury, that will not be so, you can rest assured. Krsna is also in the heart of a qualified jury, and He always makes sure the truth is exposed to pure and sincere devotees. I am positive on that one. > > 2) Experience has demonstrated that a group's determinations is not > > necessarily equivalent to truth. Therefore, such decisions should never > > be considered written in stone. They might not be considered written in stone, but they should certainly be evaluated honestly, followed in the meantime, and be subjected to review, if necessary, at the next Mayapura meeting. Noone is infaillible in this world, I do agree with that, but we can set sufficient safeguards to avoid the worst. > If it is not written in stone, then what is the value? The philosophy > might change later? What you are really saying here is that if there is > some argument on a theological issue, then all the devotees who don't want > to take the trouble to approach guru-sadhu-sastra themselves for help on > the issue will have it easy. They simply have to wait for this body to > tell them what to believe. That means the management, the whole > management, and nothing but the management. For this kind of work, let the > managers do. I only get worried when the managers start saying, "No one in > ISKCON is allowed to preach any different understanding ..." Of course, > sometimes they may have to say such a thing, but the problem is when the > managers think they have to settle ANY theological dispute in this way. In our proposal no managers will settle any theological dispute. That is only the priviledge of an elected brahmanical council, by a pure, qualified and impartial jury. > Your servant, Bhaktarupa Das Please, Prabhu, would you kindly get someone to register you on GBC Restructure? That would be very helpful for all of us, who are trying to present proposals. Your points are very valuable and need to be evaluated by all of us, not only on this unmoderated conference. Your faithful servant, Krsna-kirtana dasi. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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