Several years ago, upon completing a major part of this…
““Several years ago, upon completing a major part of this treatise, I decided that I had better shelve the thing, despite my deep conviction about the need for this dimension of open and frank dissertation in contemporary Vaishnava society. I was thinking that perhaps the best place for it would be in a granthasamadhi. After all, Srila Prabhupada had requested me to write a book. He didn't say anything about taking it to the press. I thought it better to safeguard the peaceful prosecution of my bhajana by avoiding the likelihood of provoking certain anticipated institutional and interpersonal hostilities toward myself.””
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
The author paused a major work to avoid conflict, fearing institutional backlash against his open discussion of Vaishnava topics.
In simple terms: He delayed publishing to protect himself from expected hostility.
Key Takeaway
Consider timing and audience before releasing controversial ideas.
Themes
caution
conflict avoidance
religious discourse
Mood
anxious
reflective
Type
cautionary
personal
When to use this quote
- academic publishing
- religious community discussions
- personal reputation management
Key Concepts
institutional pressure
personal safety
public perception
Questions to Reflect On
- What risks do you face when sharing controversial views?
- How might you mitigate backlash while staying true to your purpose?
A Different Perspective
Delaying can limit impact and allow issues to persist unaddressed.