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EDITORIAL  About the AuthorOther Stories by this Author Prabhupada: "Explane The Meaning In Your Own Words" BY BRAHMA DAS  EDITORIAL, Jun 24 (VNN) — A reply to the editorial "Darkness slinks in as subtle shades of gray"Presenting Krishna consciousness effectively requires practical insight into the essential teachings of the previous acharyas as well as the ability to disseminate those teachings according to time, place, and circumstance, and in consideration of the eligibility of the candidate.
"Directions should be taken from scriptures. But there are many scriptures. So acarya means, just like Gosvamis, they would read all the scriptures and take the essence of it and give it to his disciples. He knows what to give and how to manipulate, so that his ekantatah sreyas (ultimate goal) will be achieved. Therefore the acarya knows how to adjust things, at the same time keep pace with the spiritual interest. That is acarya. It is not that the same thing is to be applied everywhere. He is eager to engage actually the people in the real benefit of life, but the means may be different. The real purpose is how one will take to spiritual consciousness, or Krsna consciousness. (Lecture 73-2-20) A relevant presentation of the philosophy requires more than just a repetition of quotes. Relevancy requires that information from the scriptures be presented in a way that will make it understandable and meaningful to the student. In order to do this Prabhupada said a number of times that his disciples should learn how to explain Krishna consciousness in their own words. Prabhupada wrote, "Just read from my books and try and explain the meaning in your own words." (Letter 73-01-26) "You must all study all of the books so that when the need arises you can repeat in your own words their purport." (Letter 72-01-06) "The process is that you should memorize the purports of my books and then speak them in your own words." (Letter 75-11-15) Prabhupada also wrote that Krishna consciousness is unlimited and he encouraged his disciples to write articles and books presenting their realizations in their own words. Effective writing generally requires one to consider the subject matter in greater depth then discussion does. Thus writing is can be helpful in removing the doubts of both the writer and the reader. Prabhupada wrote: "By writing according to our realization we become more and more convinced and all doubts are destroyed." (Letter 75-11-15) "Chant Hare Krsna Mantra day and night, read books and expressing the philosophy in your own words write articles for publishing" (Letter 75-11-15) "You ask one question about the nature of books. I want you to write as my disciples; on this point, Krsna Consciousness is not limited. Persons like all of the Gosvamis wrote so many books, Visvanatha Cakravarti, and all the acaryas wrote books, and still I am writing books. Similarly, also my disciples will write." (Letter 72-2-15) Prabhupada also expressed that an acharya need not conform to a stereotypical presentation of Krishna consciousness (Adi 7.33) because the real principal behind any presentation of the philosophy is to spread the Krishna consciousness movement (Madhya 14.6). In that mood, he encouraged his disciples to assimilate the philosophy and "present it in a different way". In a way that would entice people to take up chanting and practice regardless of their social consciousness or conditioning. "Tamala Krsna: There was a newspaper article about a few weeks ago, and you had said that something could be written on this subject. Is there any subject that would be good to write on? Prabhupada: We have got so many subjects, positive. Read our books and present in a different way. You can write intelligently. That's not bad. Just to induce them." "That was ‚rila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati's opinion, and he specifically told his disciples to write books. He actually preferred to publish books rather than establish temples. Temple construction is meant for the general populace and neophyte devotees, but the business of advanced and empowered devotees is to write books, publish them and distribute them widely. According to Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura, distributing literature is like playing on a great mŒda"ga. Consequently we always request members of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness to publish as many books as possible and distribute them widely throughout the world. By thus following in the footsteps of Srila Rupa Gosvami, one can become a rŸpanuga devotee." (Madhya 19.133) The term acharya is a designation and not every devotee who writes down his realizations about Krishna is an acharya. The ability of a devotee to consistently practice and present the philosophy in a way that inspires others to take Krishna consciousness seriously is what distinguishes a devotee as an acharya. Prabhupada wrote that the preaching of an acharya need not conform to stereotype and similarly Srila Bhaktisiddhanta wrote that teachers of eternal religion (acharyas) are not bound to a conventional or mechanical presentation of Krishna consciousness. Eternal religion (Bhagavat Dharma) has life and gives life when propagated by a bonafide acharya even though the presentation may at times seem new or unconventional. Bhaktivinode Thakura was an acharya noted as unconventional for his time but his approach to preaching laid the foundation for the modern Krishna consciousness movement. "The Supreme Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, in pursuance of the teachings of the scriptures enjoins all absence of conventionalism for the teachers of the eternal religion. It does not follow that the mechanical adoption of the unconventional life by any person will make him a fit teacher of religion. Regulation is necessary for controlling the inherent worldliness of conditioned souls. But no mechanical regulation has any value, even for such a purpose. The bonafide Teacher of religion is neither any product of nor the favourer of any mechanical system. In his hands no system has likewise the chance of degenerating into a lifeless arrangement. The mere pursuit of fixed doctrines and fixed liturgies cannot hold a person to the true spirit of doctrine or liturgy." (Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Thakur) Thakura Bhaktivinoda has been specifically kind to those unfortunate persons who are engrossed in mental speculation of all kinds. This is the prevalent malady of the present Age. The other acaryas who appeared before Thakura Bhaktivinoda did not address their discourses so directly to the empiric thinkers. They had been more merciful to those who are naturally disposed to listen to discourses on the Absolute without being dissuaded by the specious arguments of avowed opponents of Godhead. (Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Thakur (The Harmonist, December 1931) Prabhupada, Bhaktisiddhanta, and Bhaktivinode were all unconventional preachers and each presented Krishna consciousness in their own words using different style and vernacular. That they did so is undeniable but not surprising considering the challenges of preaching in ever changing cultures and times. In our time the same principal can be applied to preaching that was used by acharyas in times past. According to Prabhupada, that principal is utility and purity is the force that gives potency to this important principal. Devotees' practice Krishna consciousness in accordance with their sincerity and purity of purpose and to that level will be effective in presenting the teachings in a convincing way that inspirers others. The principal of utility requires to one extent or another that devotees "explain the meaning in their own words" in this way Mahaprabhu works through sincere devotees to spread his message to people of all mentalities in every town and village. brahmadasa@yahoo.com About the Author Other Stories by this AuthorContact VNN about this storySend this story to a friend
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