Using the Terminology of the Vedas to Discover Siddhanta
BY: ACARYAVILASA DASA
Feb 07, LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA, USA (SUN) — Upon reading some of the recent Sun postings, such as 32, on the subject of guru, or spiritual master, one notices a presence that is alarming and, simultaneously, an absence that speaks deafeningly. Srila Prabhupada presented himself in the role of postman delivering the message of the parampara unchanged. A bona fide guru doesn't open the envelope and change the content of the letter. He doesn't rub out words and phrases that he doesn't agree with and, by way of substitution, interpolate his own words and phrases. His pride is in presenting the letter unchanged, not in changing the content. He delivers "As It Is".
Famously, Srila Prabhupada stated, "My only credit is that I did not change anything." And conversely, "My fear is that you will change things. My disciples have got the Changing Disease!" [paraphrased quotes] Some recent guru-subject postings make one wonder just how well the basic principles of a bona fide disciplic succession have been understood by such writers, and just how much such writers are referring to the books of Srila Prabhupada for their knowledge rather than indulging their imagination.
Alarming Presence
What is that alarming presence, one asks? Well, there is a unsettling presence of all sorts of new phraseology: current link, direct link, primary link, prominent link, between links, singular guru, gurus in the plural, living guru, next link diksa gurus, living guru definition, next link, etc.
Deafening Absence
What is that absence, one asks? Well, there is a notable absence of the terms actually used in the Vedas, and by Srila Prabhupada himself: chaitya-guru, vartmapradaksa-guru, siksa-guru, diksa-guru, acarya, sampradaya-acarya, founder-acarya, etc.
Sanskrit is the language of the Vedas and by using Sanskrit, the Vedas have manifest for the enlightenment of all. The above terms concerning 'guru' found in the Vedas are precisely defined and these definitions are the standard of knowledge in the subject matter. They are one's building blocks in constructing an understanding of guru-siddhanta. And they are the terms used not only by Srila Prabhupada, but by all the acaryas of the Brahma Sampradaya. This is not to say that they should not be translated into other languages for the modern day. Yet, whether in Sanskrit or a modern vernacular, the point is that the Vedic Terms are well defined and leave little room for re-interpretation. Most importantly, the different functions of guru, when understood on the basis of their Vedic definitions, soon clarify guru-siddhanta, most satisfactorily. Thus, the Vedic Terminology is the correct building material for arriving at siddhanta, the perfect conclusion.
No Need of Concocted Links
In contrast, however, these new arrivals on the scene, for example, current link, direct link, primary link, prominent link, etc., patently do not help in realising Vedic Siddhanta. In fact, trying to come to a scientific, well-defined, well-accepted Vedic-guru-siddhanta using these terms is a bit of a headache. Some of the recent postings evidence this fact; a large component in such posting is trying to find a common agreement on the meanings of these new terms. The participants in these strained discussions are blithely unaware that spending one's time in a vain attempt to define these terms is a misuse of time and energy. If the participants want to spend their time fruitfully, then they should be absorbed in Vedic Siddhanta by basing their discussion on the different types of gurus, and their roles, as elucidated thoroughly in the Vedas, such as chaitya-guru, siksa-guru, etc. These Vedic definitions are clear and to the point, and we should use the language of these definitions. There is no need of concoction and invention. In fact, that is exactly what Srila Prabhupada presciently warned his followers about. Instead of talking about "this link" and "that link", and writing mental platform papers about the whole strange caboodle, the well-guided aspirant becomes absorbed in the perspective of the Vedas, which is complete and comprehensive. And by studying the words of the Vedas and the acaryas, his vocabulary will reflect that study, as will his conclusions. He will be on the Royal Road.
Confuse Not Clarify
All this circular talking of "this link" and "that link", well, are any of these terms ‘linked' to the Vedic definitions of diksa-guru, vartmapradaksa-guru, etc? We think not, at the very least it is certainly a headache to divine some kind of scientific linkage. For example, Srila Prabhupada perfectly translated "diksa-guru" as "initiating spiritual master", not as "prominent link" or "current link", etc. Once the Vedic definition is accepted, then what is the need for imaginative invention, which is obviously just mental speculation? As such, a discussion based on all these new terms will confuse rather than clarify. The intelligence would be more fruitfully engaged in the words and siddhanta of the Vedas and acaryas, rather than in the creation of a new world order of siddhanta, which is ultimately only an illusory material concoction.
Illusory Agendas
So why use these new phrases? What's the motive? The learned Vaisnava readers will have their own thoughts and realisations in answer to these questions. And an examination of such motives is not the primary concern of this essay. Yet, some points are obvious. These new terms and links are colored by covert meanings, often very motivated and political in nature. Thus, this is plainly the intention of the authors of such concoctions. Rather than repeating the words of the Vedas and acaryas, As They Are, the speculators apparently have an agenda, which under illusion they consider most praiseworthy, of course. They consider their agenda most necessary according to this current time and circumstance in ISKCON, but the simple fact is that learned Vaisnavas can easily perceive that their conclusions are full of apasiddhanta and as such, simply represent a demoniac attack on the principles of the pure sampradaya as described in the Vedas. All these new terms only act to distract the aspirant from the eternal definitions of the various functions of guru propounded in the original Vedas and as presented by the acaryas of the sampradaya. Put simply, these concoctions are a distraction from the Vedas.
Conclusion: Follow Srila Prabhupada And Use His Words
Noticeably, "this link" and "that link" are not the phrases used by Srila Prabhupada, when he teaches on these matters. His talks are an elucidation of the original Sanskrit Vedic terms, not an invention of new phrases and the questionable ideas attendant upon such phrases. Srila Prabhupada presents the Vedas, As They Are – in their own language without subtraction or addition. The result is that when we study Srila Prabhupada – without personal motivation – then we quickly come to the correct Vedic Siddhanta. The intelligent followers of Srila Prabhupada would be well advised to continue studying Srila Prabhupada and his perfect words directly and thus become enlightened, full of knowledge, and not waste time on the word jugglery of motivated or dumb mental speculators obviously far removed from the perfection of Vedic Siddhanta.
Aum Tat Sat
