Question
For example: “The set of instructions found in the Vedas is a very technical explanation on how to fast on these five days, but even though is very interesting, it is also very complicated for one who has a complicated mind.”
Answer
It is not necessary to follow all of those suggestions, steps, or recommendations. The spiritual master will tell us what to do and what not.
However, it’s necessary to publish them (and other information as well).
In the past, we had serious concerns about what and how much we said.
About the first concern, one of the reasons why it was so was that it could be misunderstood by non-devotees or by devotees who are too neophyte, leading them the wrong way. Like for instance, speaking about intimate pastimes; if someone is not even just a little advanced, instead of getting inspired, that person could become envious of Krishna and try to imitate him.
Of course, we find a lot of intimate pastimes in Srila Prabhupada’s books. Also, times have changed, and nowadays everyone can find anything freely on the Internet, even very intimate books like the Gita Govinda.
For this reason, I think it is necessary if we tell some of those stories putting some philosophy into them, like Srila Prabhupada did in the Krishna book. That way we make ourselves available to answer any questions or concerns.
About how much we said, just lately a devotee expressed that she felt discouraged because she thought she would never be able to understand or to teach such a profound philosophy. I explained that it’s not expected that everyone becomes a philosopher but rather, that everyone becomes a devotee. A pure-hearted devotee cleaning the temple’s floor is no doubt dearer to Krishna than a big, arrogant, so-called intelligent philosopher.
The point is that sometimes we have to give people the perspective of how incredibly elevated and beautiful the Vedic Vaisnava culture is. We can’t hide it for fear that someone may become discouraged. Again, it is not expected that everyone be able to speak about (for instance) Nyaya, or the Vedanta-sutras, or explain the creation of the universe. It takes a natural talent to delve into such matters.
But chanting Hare Krishna, everyone can do it, become happy, and go back to Krishna in this very lifetime.
This is a section of the book “A Sidelong Glance”.
To buy the complete book, click above
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