I think a good exercise would be to discuss, elaborate and further consider things that come up on the call each week with a thread here in Classroom: "Swami call notes" (insert date)
Here are some things that have stuck with me from this week's call.
In answering Karnamrta's detail/principle question, GM referenced Prabhupada's NOD statement about adjusting number of rounds for chanting. That made me dive in and look around to find more details. I was with GM, at my in-laws house probably 2005ish when this topic was on GM's mind because people were objecting to GM's initiation adjustment to number of rounds chanted per individual. The objection was that Prabhupada's standard was 16 rounds and how dare he make adjutments to this "principle." While discussing this I found this quote in NOD that GM referenced in the call this week:
QuoteIn the Nāradīya Purāṇa it is directed, "One should not accept more than necessary if he is serious about discharging devotional service." The purport is that one should not neglect following the principles of devotional service, nor should one accept the rulings of devotional service which are more than what he can easily perform. For example, it may be said that one should chant the Hare Kṛṣṇa mantra at least one hundred thousand times daily on his beads. But if this is not possible, then one must minimize his chanting according to his own capacity. Generally, we recommend our disciples to chant at least sixteen rounds on their japa beads daily, and this should be completed. But if one is not even able to chant sixteen rounds, then he must make it up the next day. He must be sure to keep his vow. If he does not strictly follow this out, then he is sure to be negligent. That is offensive in the service of the Lord. If we encourage offenses, we shall not be able to make progress in devotional service. It is better if one fixes up a regulative principle according to his own ability and then follows that vow without fail. That will make him advanced in spiritual life.
GM's explanation on the call this week clarifies details and principles, and applied to this topic we should understand that the number of rounds a disciple commits to chanting is a detail to be determined in relationship with the guru, whereas the principle is a commitment to chanting.
In the call GM said he didn't know what part of Bhakti-rasamrta-sindhu Prabhupada was commenting on with this statement, so I was curious to look it up and cross reference for context.
continued soon....
Here is what Prabhupada is summarizing and commenting on from BRS 1.2.108
QuoteYavad arthānuvartitā—
yāvatā syāt sva-nirvāhaḥ svīkuryāt tāvad artha-vit |
ādhikye nyūnatāyāṁ ca cyavate paramārthataḥ ||108||
Translation: Living with minimal material needs (verse 76), from Naradīya Purāṇa:
The person with wisdom concerning material objects accepts as much as is necessary for maintenance of bhakti. By accepting more or less than that, the person will fail to attain the highest goal.Jīva Gosvāmī’s Commentary
Sva-nirvāhaḥ means for the survival of one’s bhakti (rather than one’s body).”
Thanks for starting this topic Madan Gopal and making a contribution. I do believe that Gurumaharaja will be greatly pleased by our sincere efforts to discuss these topics. Tattva Viveka is a unique forum that allows for discussion of Krishna Consciousness in a favorable environment that is free from advertising and other distracting elements. It allows our little group to bind together here and have Krishna Katha despite our being scattered so widely across the surface of the globe. Perhaps most importantly we have the benefit of experienced and learned devotees here such as Gurumaharaja himself, Swami B. A. Ashrama, Dulal Chandra Prabhu, Padmanabha Mahraja and your good self to help guide the development of our understanding of Guadiya Siddhanta and how to think in a Krishna Conscious way.