Types of Bhakti and how they affect the interpretation of scriptures

[Guest guest]

Dear Family

 

A few weeks ago we were all discussing "Devotion" on the group - do

you remember? Swamiji said that the Devi Gita defines four types of

devotion:

 

Tamasic: the object of your prayer is negative, e.g., you pray that

your enemies suffer.

Rajasic: the object of your prayer is to fulfill your own selfish

desires.

Sattvic: The object of your prayer is to purify your self.

Para Bhakti: You pray because you love Her. You feel that it is a

privilege to worship and pray. You are not asking Her for anything.

 

Every person has a mix of the three gunas. When we read scriptures,

we interpret them in accordance with the guna that is predominant in

us. Similarly, when Sadhus translate scriptures, they choose

meanings and interpretations based on their ideals and goals. For

example, in most of Thakur Ramakrishna's books we frequently see

Thankur talk about "kamini" and "kanchan" -- these words are often

translated as "woman" and "gold". In Maa and Swamiji's book on Sri

Ramakrishna, "kamini" is translated as "desires and attachments"

and "kanchan" as "resources needed to fulfill these desires".

 

Similarly, in every Sahasranama there are several meanings for each

sanskrit name. For example, in Kali Sahasranaam, we find many names

containing the word "Shukra". If you look in the Monier-William's

Sanskrit - English Dictionary, you will find several inches of

meanings for Shukra -- pure, bright, resplendent, spotless ... and

name of a month, the planet Venus, sperm, a good action, and so on.

If we are Sattvic Devotees, which meaning would we use? I would

think "pure" as opposed to "sperm"!

 

The main point is that the translator chooses that meaning that is

consistent with Her ideal of perfection, the type of Bhakti that She

feels for Her Beloved. It is also important that the translation

be consistent throughout the scripture -- Here again we see that

Swamiji consistently translates Shukra as purity and we have so many

beautiful names coming forth - which inspire us to rise higher and

feel pure love for our Beloved.

 

I look forwrad to your comments on this.

 

with love and prayers

srini

[Guest guest]

Namaste Sriniji,

Though I would agree with most of the idea you are getting at, I think

one has to be careful with such generalizations in regards to

translations of Sanskrit into English or any other language. I think

different translators, regardless of Their Bhav or Spiritual

Stature/Realization, translate things in different ways for different

reasons, and not only to be "consistent with Her ideal of perfection".

I think sometimes they are trying to capture what the original author

was intending. I don't think there is anything impure about the word

"sperm". I've seen our esteemed Swamiji use it quite a few times.

Just look at even the 108 names of Shiva. It is there.

By the way, I miss all of you at the Mandir so much. You and your

wife Ramya, and everyone else was so incredibly kind and gracious

towards me during my stay. It has had a profound effect on me still.

Jai Maa!

Surya

-

srini_sadhu

Wednesday, April 12, 2006 5:25 PM

Types of Bhakti and how they affect the interpretation of scriptures

Dear FamilyA few weeks ago we were all discussing "Devotion" on the

group - do you remember? Swamiji said that the Devi Gita defines four

types of devotion:Tamasic: the object of your prayer is negative,

e.g., you pray that your enemies suffer.Rajasic: the object of your

prayer is to fulfill your own selfish desires.Sattvic: The object of

your prayer is to purify your self.Para Bhakti: You pray because you

love Her. You feel that it is a privilege to worship and pray. You

are not asking Her for anything.Every person has a mix of the three

gunas. When we read scriptures, we interpret them in accordance with

the guna that is predominant in us. Similarly, when Sadhus translate

scriptures, they choose meanings and interpretations based on their

ideals and goals. For example, in most of Thakur Ramakrishna's books

we frequently see Thankur talk about "kamini" and "kanchan" -- these

words are often translated as "woman" and "gold". In Maa and

Swamiji's book on Sri Ramakrishna, "kamini" is translated as "desires

and attachments" and "kanchan" as "resources needed to fulfill these

desires". Similarly, in every Sahasranama there are several meanings

for each sanskrit name. For example, in Kali Sahasranaam, we find

many names containing the word "Shukra". If you look in the

Monier-William's Sanskrit - English Dictionary, you will find several

inches of meanings for Shukra -- pure, bright, resplendent, spotless

.... and name of a month, the planet Venus, sperm, a good action, and

so on. If we are Sattvic Devotees, which meaning would we use? I

would think "pure" as opposed to "sperm"!The main point is that the

translator chooses that meaning that isconsistent with Her ideal of

perfection, the type of Bhakti that Shefeels for Her Beloved. It is

also important that the translationbe consistent throughout the

scripture -- Here again we see that Swamiji consistently translates

Shukra as purity and we have so many beautiful names coming forth -

which inspire us to rise higher and feel pure love for our Beloved.I

look forwrad to your comments on this.with love and prayerssrini

[Guest guest]

I appreciate such posts Sriniji, good for contemplation and

discussion. You said....

 

"The main point is that the translator chooses that meaning that is

consistent with Her ideal of perfection, the type of Bhakti that She

feels for Her Beloved."

 

This makes sense...that the translator would choose meaning that is

consistent with Her ideal of perfection. I think sadhaks also hear

according to our own ideal of perfection, Bhakti, experiences, stage

of growth. Understanding changes over time, layers are revealed. I

suppose once Citta Suddhi is attained, the translator will see all as

truth, each with its place and audience and choose according to

dharma. As students approach Citta Suddhi, I think the kaleidoscope

of true meanings will reveal to us the beauty of Her world.

 

Isn't it wonderful that we all get to choose the color of glasses we

want to look through!

 

Jai Maa!

Sadhu Maa

 

, "srini_sadhu" <srini_sadhu

wrote:

>

> Dear Family

>

> A few weeks ago we were all discussing "Devotion" on the group - do

> you remember? Swamiji said that the Devi Gita defines four types of

> devotion:

>

> Tamasic: the object of your prayer is negative, e.g., you pray that

> your enemies suffer.

> Rajasic: the object of your prayer is to fulfill your own selfish

> desires.

> Sattvic: The object of your prayer is to purify your self.

> Para Bhakti: You pray because you love Her. You feel that it is a

> privilege to worship and pray. You are not asking Her for anything.

>

> Every person has a mix of the three gunas. When we read scriptures,

> we interpret them in accordance with the guna that is predominant

in

> us. Similarly, when Sadhus translate scriptures, they choose

> meanings and interpretations based on their ideals and goals. For

> example, in most of Thakur Ramakrishna's books we frequently see

> Thankur talk about "kamini" and "kanchan" -- these words are often

> translated as "woman" and "gold". In Maa and Swamiji's book on Sri

> Ramakrishna, "kamini" is translated as "desires and attachments"

> and "kanchan" as "resources needed to fulfill these desires".

>

> Similarly, in every Sahasranama there are several meanings for each

> sanskrit name. For example, in Kali Sahasranaam, we find many

names

> containing the word "Shukra". If you look in the Monier-William's

> Sanskrit - English Dictionary, you will find several inches of

> meanings for Shukra -- pure, bright, resplendent, spotless ... and

> name of a month, the planet Venus, sperm, a good action, and so

on.

> If we are Sattvic Devotees, which meaning would we use? I would

> think "pure" as opposed to "sperm"!

>

> The main point is that the translator chooses that meaning that is

> consistent with Her ideal of perfection, the type of Bhakti that She

> feels for Her Beloved. It is also important that the translation

> be consistent throughout the scripture -- Here again we see that

> Swamiji consistently translates Shukra as purity and we have so

many

> beautiful names coming forth - which inspire us to rise higher and

> feel pure love for our Beloved.

>

> I look forwrad to your comments on this.

>

> with love and prayers

> srini

>