I recently became aware of an editorial on my Gurudev's thesis that he wrote in conjunction with Krishna Ksetre Prabhu for his Phd.
Disregarding the 'editorial comments' and bizarre race references. I wanted to post the link here and would appreciate any comments feedback on the actual thesis.
I had never read it and just read it quickly but took it as strong confirmation that I am in the right sanga here! and going in the right direction.
The link is http://www.harekrsna.com/sun/editorials/06...torials4610.htm
First of all: this is obviously not Maharaja's thesis (which was about how Srila Prabhupada wrote about Krishna, if I am not mistaken), but a short article. The person who posted this obviously doesn't have a clue about what an academic thesis is.
I recently became aware of an editorial on my Gurudev's thesis that he wrote in conjunction with Krishna Ksetre Prabhu for his Phd.Disregarding the 'editorial comments' and bizarre race references. I wanted to post the link here and would appreciate any comments feedback on the actual thesis.
I had never read it and just read it quickly but took it as strong confirmation that I am in the right sanga here! and going in the right direction.
The link is http://www.harekrsna.com/sun/editorials/06...torials4610.htm
Thanks for posting this Gandiva. Lots of good points worth discussing.
After a quick read one of my first thoughts was that it's too bad TKG passed when he did; I think he and GM would have been able to carry on some very interesting and productive dialogue. Mukunda seems to fit squarely into the "naive realist" category and clearly has nothing of value to add to an intelligent discussion; he appears quite uninterested in constructive theologizing.
In the essay itself I found many interesting and insightful points, basically confirming what GM has been teaching us for years. It's good to see that he's not the only one putting forth a more broad, mature, and rational interpretation of the tradition.
One point I particularly liked was this:
Whether a clearly nineteenth-century Bengali bhadralok hermeneutic responding to historically and culturally specific assumptions is any longer appropriate is not the issue; that a person who is widely credited with inaugurating modern Chaitanya Vaishnavism makes every effort to accommodate modern intellectualism is. More important than the particular hermeneutic is its motive and method. Similar progressive theologizing may be necessary if ISKCON is to embody Shri Chaitanya’s mood of magnanimity (audarya).
Bhaktivinoda obviously understood that to put out a literalist interpretation of Gaudiya Vaisnavism would be completely counterproductive among the bhadraloka. In his brilliant execution of his broader interpretation of the tradition (a prime example being Sri Krsna Samhita) he clearly demonstrates permission--and more, the necessity--for those following him to do the same if the tradition was to escape a descent into permanent obscurity (or at least irrelevancy). The statement that "More important than the particular hermeneutic is its motive and method" is refreshing to see; as GM has demonstrated there are many ways to look at and to explain the various truths without compromising them.
The statement that "More important than the particular hermeneutic is its motive and method" is refreshing to see; as GM has demonstrated there are many ways to look at and to explain the various truths without compromising them.
Bizarrely, some interpret multiple angles of vision as a kind of compromise, rather than as a method that enriches understanding of the truths under consideration.
Bizarrely, some interpret multiple angles of vision as a kind of compromise, rather than as a method that enriches understanding of the truths under consideration.
Yes preaching to bhadraloka or "faulty intellectual people" is seen as indirect and compromised preaching. SP 's preaching is supposed to be "as it is" and direct. This is a standard theme repeated everywhere in ISKCON
First of all: this is obviously not Maharaja's thesis (which was about how Srila Prabhupada wrote about Krishna, if I am not mistaken), but a short article. The person who posted this obviously doesn't have a clue about what an academic thesis is.
Thanks , Do you know if this article was ever published? It is the work of Tamal Krishna Goswami and Krishna Ksetre P.?
Thanks for posting this Gandiva. Lots of good points worth discussing.
After a quick read one of my first thoughts was that it's too bad TKG passed when he did; I think he and GM would have been able to carry on some very interesting and productive dialogue. Mukunda seems to fit squarely into the "naive realist" category and clearly has nothing of value to add to an intelligent discussion; he appears quite uninterested in constructive theologizing.
In the essay itself I found many interesting and insightful points, basically confirming what GM has been teaching us for years. It's good to see that he's not the only one putting forth a more broad, mature, and rational interpretation of the tradition.
One point I particularly liked was this:
Bhaktivinoda obviously understood that to put out a literalist interpretation of Gaudiya Vaisnavism would be completely counterproductive among the bhadraloka. In his brilliant execution of his broader interpretation of the tradition (a prime example being Sri Krsna Samhita) he clearly demonstrates permission--and more, the necessity--for those following him to do the same if the tradition was to escape a descent into permanent obscurity (or at least irrelevancy). The statement that "More important than the particular hermeneutic is its motive and method" is refreshing to see; as GM has demonstrated there are many ways to look at and to explain the various truths without compromising them.
Thanks for your comments, Yes I wonder what year TKG worked on this? and did he or Krsna Ksetre Prabhu contact Tripurari Swami for input/ comments on any of his academic work?
First of all: this is obviously not Maharaja's thesis (which was about how Srila Prabhupada wrote about Krishna, if I am not mistaken), but a short article. The person who posted this obviously doesn't have a clue about what an academic thesis is.
This was my first thought as well. This doesn't appear to be even a chapter in a thesis, although it could eventually be developed into one.
Thanks for posting this Gandiva. Lots of good points worth discussing.
After a quick read one of my first thoughts was that it's too bad TKG passed when he did; I think he and GM would have been able to carry on some very interesting and productive dialogue. Mukunda seems to fit squarely into the "naive realist" category and clearly has nothing of value to add to an intelligent discussion; he appears quite uninterested in constructive theologizing.
In the essay itself I found many interesting and insightful points, basically confirming what GM has been teaching us for years. It's good to see that he's not the only one putting forth a more broad, mature, and rational interpretation of the tradition.
One point I particularly liked was this:
Bhaktivinoda obviously understood that to put out a literalist interpretation of Gaudiya Vaisnavism would be completely counterproductive among the bhadraloka. In his brilliant execution of his broader interpretation of the tradition (a prime example being Sri Krsna Samhita) he clearly demonstrates permission--and more, the necessity--for those following him to do the same if the tradition was to escape a descent into permanent obscurity (or at least irrelevancy). The statement that "More important than the particular hermeneutic is its motive and method" is refreshing to see; as GM has demonstrated there are many ways to look at and to explain the various truths without compromising them.
Well said Citta
Just for the record I think I found the source of the article :
The Hare Krishna Movement: The Postcharismatic Fate of a Religious Transplant edited by Edwin Bryant, Maria Ekstrand 2004
The article( if copied accurately) was indeed by Thomas Herzig (TKG) and Kenneth Valpey (Krsna Ksetre )
Apparently the Phd thesis will not be released for a couple of years still.