View source for Sometimes people ask where Swami Prabhupada get his meanings for different words, because they would differ, they would disagree and pick some other word

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[[Category:Prabhupada Responding to Comments]]
[[Category:Prabhupada Responding to Comments... 1975]]
[[Category:Prabhupada Speaks - Responding to Comments, 1975]]
[[Category:Prabhupada Speaks - Room Conversations, 1966 - 1977]]
[[Category:Prabhupada Speaks - Room Conversations, 1975]]
[[Category:Prabhupada Speaks - in Australasia, Perth]]
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<div id="Conversations_and_Morning_Walks" class="section" sec_index="5" parent="compilation" text="Conversations and Morning Walks"><h2>Conversations and Morning Walks</h2>
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<div id="1975_Conversations_and_Morning_Walks" class="sub_section" sec_index="8" parent="Conversations_and_Morning_Walks" text="1975 Conversations and Morning Walks"><h3>1975 Conversations and Morning Walks</h3>
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<div id="EveningDiscussionMay61975Perth_0" class="quote" parent="1975_Conversations_and_Morning_Walks" book="Con" index="59" link="Evening Discussion -- May 6, 1975, Perth" link_text="Evening Discussion -- May 6, 1975, Perth">
<div class="heading">Krsna says. You take that meaning. Where is the difficulty? You do not know, and neither you accept Krsna's words. Therefore you remain foolish. You foolishly... First of all you do not know, you are imperfect. And one who knows, you do not take his words. Then you remain foolish. What can we do? What is the answer? You are foolish. So you have to know from others. When we say that you take from others who are perfect, then you will not take. And you are foolish, so remain foolish. What can we do? Hmm?
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<mp3player>https://s3.amazonaws.com/vanipedia/clip/750506ED-PERTH_clip1.mp3</mp3player>
<span class="link">[[Vanisource:Evening Discussion -- May 6, 1975, Perth|Evening Discussion -- May 6, 1975, Perth]]: </span><div class="text"><p style="display: inline;">Prabhupada: Where is difficulty to understand? If it is not understood, put your question and try to understand.</p>
<p>Amogha: In verses like this one, when there is the multi-use of one word, like the word atma is mentioned here to refer to four potential meanings. Sometimes professors and some scholars argue on the point, how do we know which one of the meanings is used in this verse?</p>
<p>Prabhupada: Any one you can take, and it will be explained.</p>
<p>Amogha: So any of the four meanings is also the same true meaning.</p>
<p>Prabhupada: Yes.</p>
<p>Amogha: Sometimes they claim that we should not claim that our choice is the true choice, but they don't understand that any of those meanings can be true at the same time.</p>
<p>Prabhupada: Yes, this body is true. We have got body. We don't say it is false. It is true. Bodily pains and pleasures we feel, so how can I say that the body is false? The body means bodily pains and pleasures, then we are affected, so how you can say it is false? Similarly the mind, and soul is absolute thing. Factually. So any item you take, you can understand by thorough study.</p>
<p>Paramahamsa: In some cases, in a more controversial case, the word chosen, or the meaning chosen for a particular Sanskrit word, may change the whole meaning of the verse, but because...</p>
<p>Prabhupada: Therefore you have to take the parampara meaning. Because we are foolish, we cannot understand properly. Tad vijnartham sa gurum evabhigacchet. Therefore, one has to go to guru and understand the meaning by parampara. You cannot make your own meaning. The meaning is already there. But if you cannot understand, then you should approach guru and understand the meaning by parampara.</p>
<p>Paramahamsa: Sometimes people ask where Swami Prabhupada get his meanings for different words, because they would differ, they would disagree and pick some other word. But they don't know that you are simply taking the verse and the meaning of the words word for word, as the previous acaryas have done.</p>
<p>Prabhupada: Krsna says. You take that meaning. Where is the difficulty? You do not know, and neither you accept Krsna's words. Therefore you remain foolish. You foolishly... First of all you do not know, you are imperfect. And one who knows, you do not take his words. Then you remain foolish. What can we do? What is the answer? You are foolish. So you have to know from others. When we say that you take from others who are perfect, then you will not take. And you are foolish, so remain foolish. What can we do? Hmm?</p>
<p>Paramahamsa: Sometimes people ask, though, they say, "Why is it that even among the acaryas sometimes we find there is a difference of opinion?"</p>
<p>Prabhupada: They are not acaryas. They are not acaryas. There is no difference of understanding between acaryas. What Madhvacarya understands, we also understand. Suppose you are present also. So there is no difference. What Ramanujacarya understands, we also understand. What Caitanya Mahaprabhu understand, we also understand. So where is the difference? Difference should be that the fact that he is not acarya. As soon as he differs from the previous acaryas, that means he is not acarya. Otherwise there is full agreement between all the acaryas. Just like Krsna is the Supreme Person, all acaryas agree. Where is the difference? Does Ramanujacarya differ from Madhvacarya, or Madhvacarya differ from Sri Caitanya, Caitanya differs from -- no. There is no difference. That is Vaisnava. All the Vaisnavas understand that Visnu is the Supreme. There may be, sometimes, such as Krsna is understood as incarnation of Visnu, and sometimes they understand Visnu as the incarnation of Krsna. That is sampradaya. That is sampradaya. But either Krsna or Visnu, He is Supreme, that is accepted by all.</p>
<p>Paramahamsa: So that point is not so important whether Krsna is coming from Visnu or Visnu is coming from Krsna.</p>
<p>Prabhupada: Yes, that is not important. Because, actually both of them the same, the Supreme. That example we give that candle, two candles, that so far the power of lighting is concerned, both of them equal. Now, you may say this is first candle, I say if it is first candle. But so far the power is concerned, there is no difference of opinion. If I love somebody, I'll say he is first. And if you love somebody, you'll say he is first. But both of them same. Just like devotees, some devotees are very... Hanumanji, he'll never accept Krsna. And the gopis will never accept Rama or Visnu. So far the Krsna and Visnu, they are all the same. What do you think?</p>
<p>Paramahamsa: I think perhaps (indistinct) So actually the differences, whatever little differences may arise, those differences amongst the acaryas, they are due to different feelings of love for Krsna or His manifestations.</p>
<p>Prabhupada: You'll find in some, among some devotees, they will criticize, "Why you are worshiping Ramacandra? He could not save even His wife." (laughter) And some will, "Ah, you are worshiping Krsna. He was so fond of women." Like that. In Vrndavana you'll find they are different. Somebody will say, "Hare Krsna," another will say, "Sita Rama." There will be competition. There is not difference. Both of them know that either I worship Rama or Krsna, They are the same. That's all.</p>
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