Discussion and Philosophy

[Guest guest]

> Tell that to Calvin, Martin Luther and a whole bunch of other

> protestant pioneers. ;-)

 

The above mentioned people are hardly worthy reference material

regarding Vaishnava philosophy. That would be like comparing a

tricycle with a BMW.

 

> But seriously, every religion has its progressive/liberal wing and

> it's conservative/fundamentalist wing, who usually call each other

> much worse terms than "fools". Personally, I think it's a healthy

> sign (not the name calling, but the fact that they coexist) that

> will prevent stagnation.

 

You don't seem to understand the dynamics of a spirtual movement like

ISKCON. You simply cannot judge spiritual dynamics by the same

standards you would judge anything mundane. Vaishnava philsophy is

perfect and absolute and it can only be properly understood through

guru-sadhu-sastra. Srila Prabhupada has clearly explained that any

idea or statement must be properly backed up by scriptural evidence.

If you don't accept that you have nothing to do in ISKCON.

 

"But ignorant and faithless persons who doubt the revealed scriptures

do not attain God consciousness; they fall down. For the doubting soul

there is happiness neither in this world nor in the next." (Bg. 4.40)

 

Note that this verse appears in the 4th chapter which is called

Transcendental Knowledge. Transcendental knowledge has nothing to do

with conservatism or liberalism, nor is it ever stagnant. It is ever

dynamic as a devotee can expand his realization of it endlessly.

 

> Not everyone will interpret all sastra the

> same way.

 

That's right. That's why we in ISKCON stick to Srila Prabhupada's

interpretations. Srila Prabhupada's interpretations are carefully

presented according to guru-sadhu-sastra. You can question Srila

Prabhupada's version in all humility in order to broaden your

understanding of it, but you cannot challenge it. If you challenge

Srila Prabhupada it means you are bereft of all intelligence and have

understood nothing of the path of bhakti.

 

> Yet, this is supposed to be a philosophy the whole world

> can take to. If you restrict its adherent too only conservatives, or

> only liberals, you will never see that happen.

 

Your division into liberals and conservatives have no place in

Vaishnava theology as it is purely speculative and founded on mundane

sentiments. There is only one way to understand the absolute truth and

that is through bhakti. The way we perform bhakti has been clearly

deliniated by the acharyas, and there is nothing to doubt. In fact if

you doubt the process it means you don't follow it properly and your

opinion is considered completely useless.

 

"Those who are thus bewildered are attracted by demonic and atheistic

views. In that deluded condition, their hopes for liberation, their

fruitive activities, and their culture of knowledge are all defeated."

(Bg. 9.12)

 

I hope this is very clear.

 

Your servant

Jahnu das