In our present day society, children (and sometimes adults), play a party game called Chinese whisper. A certain sentence is whispered into the ears of one of the party guests and asked to pass on the same to another guest. He or she in turn passes it on to another, and then to another. In about two hours, the original sentence would have passed through about a dozen or more guests and finally the last guest who heard it will be asked to announce what he or she had heard. To everyone’s amazement and amusement, the original sentence would have become so badly and humorously distorted! This game demonstrates the frailties of human communication.
The Chinese Whisper is a startling example of how a single-line message can get distorted in just about one or two hours during a party, as it is passed from one person to another. This should bring us to the question how will the solemn conversation between Lord Sri Krishna and His devotee Arjuna, be accurately captured, preserved and perpetuated over thousands of years in the human society that is caught in the inescapable turbulence of social, political, economic and cultural hurricanes? What is the methodology or process? How is this transmission ensured without dependence on any of the modern technological facilities available?
Srila Prabhupada has taught what ensures the faithful transmission of the original message is the transcendental parampara system. His favorite analogy was that of the postal system where the envelope is passed on from one postman to another without changing the contents of the envelope. Srila Prabhupada compared himself and other acharyas of the parampara to the transcendental postmen who pass on the “envelope” as it is.
“This is our business, just like a postman’s business is to deliver it as it is. Similarly, our business is to present Kṛṣṇa’s message as it is. This is the duty of the spiritual master…He delivers the message as it is, like a postman who delivers a letter to the addressee without opening it and changing what it says.” (Srila Prabhupada’s article An Ancient Science for Modern America in BTG 1970)
On closely examining Srila Prabhupada’s teachings on the parampara system, we discover what constitutes the “envelope” that is passed on as it is.
1. The true meaning or sense or import of the Vedic texts is captured and passed on:
The nature of Sanskrit language is such that one can make many meanings out of the original Sanskrit texts in the scriptures. Srila Prabhupada mentioned this on more than one occasion:
“Almost anyone expert in studying grammar interprets the śāstras in many ways by changing the root meanings of their words. A student of grammar can sometimes completely change the meaning of a sentence by juggling grammatical rules.” (CC Ādi 16.32 purport)
“In Sanskrit, the grammatical jugglery is a great puzzle, there are many words which can be changed into different meaning by grammatical root derivations and affixing and prefixing pratyayas.” (SPL to Jayapataka, 21st January, 1969)
So how does one get the correct meaning, understanding and sense of the Sanksrit text? Srila Prabhupada teaches that it is through the parampara system:
“Such veda-vāda-ratas search out meanings in every word of the Vedas to suit their own purposes. They do not know that the Vedic literature is a collection of extraordinary books that can be understood only through the chain of disciplic succession.” (Iso mantra 9 purport)
“All the unauthorized interpretations of the Gītā by the class of māyayāpahṛta-jñāna, outside the purview of the paramparā system, are so many stumbling blocks in the path of spiritual understanding.” (Bhagavad Gita 7.15 purport)
In other words, one can get to know the true meaning or imports or the sense of the Sanskrit texts – the semantics of the Vedic text - from the parampara system. This semantic integrity is one of the features of the parampara system: to preserve and transmit the original meaning and sense of the Sanskrit texts with enormous integrity.
2. The intent or purpose of the Vedic Texts are captured and passed on as it is:
Srila Prabhupada also teaches that Krishna had a certain intention when He spoke the Bhagavad Gita to Arjuna. The parampara system captures the intent of the original text and it is preserved and passed on as it is.
Srila Prabhupada gave the example of a brilliant High Court lawyer in Calcutta who made a cogent argument in the court in a certain case interpreting the Bengal Rent Tax Act. The judges were impressed and gave a verdict. But in doing so the lawyer had defeated the original purpose of the very act. The government was forced to reenact the act.
“When I was in Calcutta, there was a rent tax passed by the government, and some expert lawyer changed the whole thing by his interpretation. The government had to reenact, you see, because the purpose was foiled by the interpretation of the lawyer. You see? So we are not out for foiling the purpose of Kṛṣṇa for which the Bhagavad-gītā is spoken. These persons, these unauthorized persons, they are practically trying to foil the purpose of Kṛṣṇa.”( Bhagavad-gītā 4.1 and Review -- July 13, 1966, New York)
3. The standard understanding of the Vedic texts are preserved and passed on:
In science, there is standard understanding of the subject matter, like the chemical composition of water. The educational system ensures that the standard understanding is imparted to the students in schools and colleges. Similarly there is a standard understanding of the scriptural texts. The parampara system preserves and transmits the standard understanding of the scriptures:
“According to them, one interpretation of the scriptures is as good as another, for they do not believe in a standard understanding of the scriptural injunctions.” (Bhagavad Gita 16.8 purport)
“If one wants standard transcendental knowledge, not upstart knowledge, one must receive it from the paramparā system, the disciplic succession.” (The Quest for Enlightenment 3a, based on Śrīla Prabhupāda’s lecture given in Mumbai in November of 1974)
4. The essence or the conclusion of the Vedic wisdom is captured and presented as it is:
The Vedic wisdom is vast and many branched. However there is a single, well-settled essence and conclusion of this vast body of knowledge. The parampara system captures and transmits the essence or final conclusion of the Vedic wisdom:
“So therefore, the spiritual essence is very confidential. Dharmasya tattvaṁ nihita guhyayam.[?] Therefore we have to follow the mahājana, great personality. That is the system, Vedic system, guru-paramparā.” (Evening Darśana -- August 12, 1976, Tehran)
“The conclusions which we have tried to explain in our Bhagavad-gita As It Is are the same as those conclusions of Arjuna.” (SPL to Ktrtanananda, 25th January, 1969)
5. The spirit of the Vedic text is captured and passed on:
There was a certain spirit, a certain emphasis, a certain intensity, a certain urgency conveyed in the conversation between Krishna and Arjuna. The parampara system captures and preserves that spirit of the knowledge as it is:
“...just to establish the true spirit of the knowledge, the Lord again explained the same knowledge to Arjuna” (SB 2.2.27 purport)
“Therefore Rūpa Gosvāmī says for advancing in spiritual life, the first principle is utsāha. Utsāha means enthusiasm: "Yes, Kṛṣṇa says, sarva-dharmān parityajya mām ekaṁ śaraṇaṁ vraja [Bg. 18.66]. I will accept it and work enthusiastically on the principle as Kṛṣṇa has said." Kṛṣṇa says, man-manā bhava mad-bhakto mad-yājī māṁ namaskuru [Bhagavad Gita 18.65], and we have to do it, execute it enthusiastically: "Yes, I shall always think of Kṛṣṇa.” Kṛṣṇa says directly, man-manā bhava mad-bhaktaḥ, "You just become My devotee." So we have to be enthusiastic, "Yes, I shall become Kṛṣṇa's devotee." Man-manā bhava mad-bhakto mad-yājī. Kṛṣṇa says, "Worship Me," so we should be very much enthusiastic to worship Kṛṣṇa, offer maṅgala-ārati, rise early in the morning. These are all examples of enthusiasm, utsāha.” (Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 3.26.30 class -- January 7, 1975, Bombay)
6. The spiritual potency is captured and passed on:
There is a certain spiritual potency in the scriptural texts and the parampara system captures and passes on the same:
“Here it is stated that satāṁ prasaṅgān mama vīrya-saṁvido bhavanti hṛt-karṇa-rasāyanāḥ kathāḥ [SB 3.25.25]. If it is discussed in the association of pure devotees, then the potency of that spiritual language will be revealed.” (Bhagavad-gītā 10.1 -- December 30, 1966, New York)
“As soon as the paramparā is lost, sa kālena yoga naṣṭo parantapa, immediately finished. The spiritual potency finished.” (Srila Prabhupada SB lecture February 27th, 1977, Mayapur).
7. The heart of the Lord is captured and transmitted as it is:
In the confidential sections of the Vedic scriptures, the heart of the Lord, His inner desire has been revealed. The parampara system seeks to capture the heart of the Lord and transmit the same as it is.
“Śrī-caitanya-mahāprabhu mano 'bhiṣṭaṁ sthāpitaṁ yena bhū-tale. His (Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu’s) ambition was propagated, or established, by Śrīla Rūpa Gosvāmī, Sanātana Gosvāmī.” (Sunday Feast Lecture -- July 25, 1976, London)
“The special function of Śrīla Rūpa Gosvāmī is to establish the feelings of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu. These feelings are His desires that His special mercy be spread throughout the world in this Kali-yuga.” (Chaitanya Charitamrita Antya 1.117)
8. The mission of the Lord is captured and transmitted:
Another meaning of the word mano-'bhīṣṭam is the expressed mission of the Lord. The parampara system captures the mission of the Lord and is transmitted:
Rūpānuga means the followers of Rūpa Gosvāmī. So why we should become followers of Rūpa Gosvāmī? Because śrī-caitanya-mano 'bhīṣṭaṁ sthāpitaṁ yena bhū-tale: he wanted to establish the mission of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu. Mano 'bhīṣṭam. Śrī-caitanya-mano 'bhīṣṭam, the same thing. This is called disciplic succession.” (Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 5.5.2 -- April 13, 1975, Hyderabad)
9. The Lord’s point-of-view is presented as it is:
There are many philosophies in the world and the different philosophers have expressed their different points of view on various subjects. The parampara system captures the Lord's point of view and that is transmitted as it is:
“This position we shall maintain. "No 'view' from you, sir. Only Kṛṣṇa's view shall we accept—only God's view.” (Bhubaneshwar, Feb 3rd, 1977)
10. A certain conviction that Vedic wisdom brings about is transmitted:
There is a certain conviction that the Vedic wisdom or the scriptures or the tradition embodies and fosters. This is captured and transmitted as it is by the parampara system:
Satsvarupa asked the question, "Is there a stage in spiritual advancement from which one won't fall back?" Prabhupāda replied, "Yes." And his answer convinced me. And the conviction with which Srila Prabhupada answered made a deep impression. (Recollections of Satsvarupa Dasa Goswami)
“I think very confidently that this Krsna Consciousness Movement will solve all the problems of the world—political, social, economic, etc.” (Letter to: Nevatiaji — Los Angeles 16 July, 1970 )
In summary, we are so fortunate that by coming in touch with Srila Prabhupada who is representing the bona fide parampara, we have come in touch with the true sense and imports of Vedic texts, we have become aware of the intent of the Lord when He spoke to Arjuna five thousand years ago, we are able to come in touch with the standard understanding of the Vedic literatures, we are able to identify the essence or final conclusion of the entire body of Vedic literatures, we are able to apprecaite the true spirit of the message that Krishna spoke to Arjuna, we are able to come in contact with the spiritual potency flowing from the Lord’s words in the Vedic literatures, able to know the inner desire of the Lord, we are able to participate in and serve the mission of the Lord, sift through the myriad opinions of various philosophers and understand the Lord’s point of view, aspire to develop the real conviction that true Vedic knowledge brings about – this is simply Srila Prabhupada’s causeless mercy that we have become recipients of such immense fortune!