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Re: SRI MANI'S REQUEST

From the Bhakti List Archives

KESHAVA PRASAD • July 27, 1997 


	SALUTATIONS TO BHAGAVATHOTHAMAS

Some time ago Sri Mani requested that the Bhakti contributors consider spacing
out their postings to allow time for study and comprehension. Some people
thought that it was a little strange coming from the host. Some others thought
it was justified. Lest people should lose sight of the significance of this
development, I thought I would humbly present my point of view. 

To me, the request did not sound strange. I thought it was long time coming, if
not from Mani, from some member who is familiar with the group's activities and
postings on various subjects for any period of time. 

Frankly, when I joined the group, I was very enthusiastic about being able to
participate productively and felt being privileged to be in the good company of
so many erudite people. Now and then, I was able to express my voice about a
topic under discussion. The enthusiasm has now worn off however,  partly because
time and again I have felt out of place with the group's objectivity. If there
was one, I think the group  has lost it. I have tried but unsuccessfully,  to
get some of the youth members of our society to subscribe to the group. They
came forward but backed off after a short while. The reason given to me was that
the postings were too lengthy, repetitive, too abstract and at times too
outdated in some ways. Though I do not totally agree with this point of view, I
surely think that there is more truth to it than meets the eye.

The discussions and parables that figure in the discussions do  not seem to have
a message for them. It might be argued that only if one is interested and stays
long enough will appreciate the depth of information being put out. The purpose
of the discussions does not seem to focus on  winning new followers but for some
of us to savor and regurgitate the information that we already have or come to
grow with. There is no emphasis on  how and when one can actually adopt the
moral, philosophical or religious import that a story or an event in the life of
an Alwar or Acharya, in our own lives on this earth and how the same can be
passed on to the progeny. It may also be claimed that the information is out
there for anyone to take advantage  of but it is not the responsibility of the
information giver to find out if it has an effect if any on the receiver. The
information being put out however, will have to deserve attention before anybody
can really take advantage of it. If the format  or the material is the same as
or similar to what can be found in any book,  we do not need a mailing list such
as this. On the other hand, if the postings can focus on showing how the ways of
our religion can carry us through our lives as mortals, it will be not only of
practical help but more interest can perhaps be generated and we can expect more
lively discussions of contemporary relevance from many more members than now.

Adiyen.

Keshava Prasad