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EDITORIAL  Darkness Slinks In As Subtle Shades Of Gray BY GANDIVA DAS  EDITORIAL, Jun 22 (VNN) — Sometimes we see that a preacher finds a necessity to manufacture new terminology, new expressions and new analogies that were heretofore unused by the great acharyas. It is part of an attempt to make some unique contribution in a literary fashion to the philosophy, to preaching and to Vaishnava thought. Then, to re-speak the Bhagavad-gita, the purports and make additions and deletions to the version given by the acharya. Thus, somehow feeling a need to make his own mark on the movement, achieve prominence and offer new thinking and viewpoints regarding Krishna consciousness, he devises a new version of the presentation.However, there comes a need to question the validity and authencity of this line of thinking and ask why would a sincere disciple of the acharya feel it so necessary to edit and alter the language of the acharya? Is it really proper and acceptable for a disciple to manufacture new terminology, new analogies and new phrases that have not been sanctioned and contributed by the acharya? A good example would be something like this new idea that; Krishna consciousness is not a black and white understanding of lila or philosophy, rather we must come to appreciate the many shades of gray that make-up the canvas and art which constitutes the "underpinning" of the philosophy. Really, if we examine these kinds of statements we have to ask about which acharya of the Six Goswamis, Bhaktivinode Thakur, Saraswati Goswami, Srila Prabhupada, Srila Sridhar Maharaja etc. has ever spoken in these terms to express this kind of conception? Where does any of the great Goswamis or acharyas make these kinds of statements? This kind of preaching is up for immediate scrutiny since it is a departure from any previous statements of the authentic preceptor acharyas. Srila Prabhupada has stated explicity that "you, all of my disciples can also be spiritual master if you repeat exactly word for word what you have heard from your spiritual master". So, this is the standard given by Srila Prabhupada; "exactly, word for word". He never says that we should manufacture a new lingo, a new verbalism, a new commentary, a new edition or a new translation of anything. He clearly and unequivocally says that we should "repeat exactly, word for word what we have heard from our spiritual master". This is how Srila Prabhupada says we become spiritual master, not by concocting a new message or a new metaphor in a whole new language of expression. Considering this, we must therefore conclude that these new expressions and new analogies are not acceptable to Srila Prabhupada, neither are they necessary or useful in d! isseminating Krishna consciousness. The best path and the best presentation has already been chartered by the great acharyas. Trying to improve, alter or edit the message of Srila Prabhupada is not an improvement. Such efforts will not impress or attract those who are acquainted with the teachings of A.C. Bhaktivedanta Prabhupada. If one wants to breed a whole new stock of devotees who are unfamiliar with the books and teachings of Srila Prabhupada then there might be some utility in this characteristic departure from his language, expressions and books. This effort therefore will be immediatly scrutinized for it's legitimacy and authenticity and subsequently rejected by those seeking shelter at the lotus feet of Srila Prabhapada either in this world or the next. In conclusion, it seems that while a flowery presentation of Krishna consciousness in a new jargon of self-styled expression might deceive on into thinking that he has made some unique contribution and revealed new light, it might not really be as it appears. While Krishna consciousness is only about light, how can we say that Krishna conciousness is about shades of gray against a contrast of black and white? Considering Srila Prabhupada's emphasis on repeating exactly word-for-word, we must therefore conclude that a genuine spiritual master in the line of Srila Prabhupad will not imagine some new dialect with which to present his teachings, rather he will simply repeat what Srila Prabhupada has said word for word by teaching from his books. This is Prabhupada's own description of how his disciples can become spiritual master, not by inventing a new jargonistic lingo for preaching Krishna consciousness. Sometimes we find that a sannyasi disciple of Srila Prabhupada will borrow information for his writtings and preaching from a Sanskrit scholar who was once a disciple of Srila Prabhupada but who rejected him to adopt a scholastic, independent study of Gaudiya Vaishnavism. The end product is a mixture of Prabhupada's teachings combined with the translations from a scholar who has rejected Srila Prabhupada in favor or his own interpretation of Krishna consciousness. Such a blend of interpretations is very unpalatable like a mixture sand and sweet rice. In this medicine there is a fly in the ointment. As far as the black and white of Krishna lila and the canvas that makes up it's art through the philosophical underpinning, it might be better said that "darkness slinks in as subtle shades of gray". Contact VNN about this story  Send this story to a friend
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