Time, Place and Circumstance

Krishna unequivocally states that scripture should be the ultimate evidence and guiding light for living beings. Indeed, He declares that “He who discards scriptural injunctions and acts according to his own whims attains neither perfection, nor happiness, nor the supreme destination.” (BG 16.23). In relation to this, a critical question arises: How do we understand and apply scripture in today’s day and age?

Scriptures document principles – eternal, unchanging truths that stand the test of time and must be followed and honoured without deviation. The application of principles according to time, place and circumstance are considered details. They invariably change. In the Nectar of Instruction, Rupa Goswami outlines the different things that corrode one’s spirituality. Amongst them he highlights niyamagraha, which has a double meaning. In one sense it means to neglect the injunctions of bhakti (i.e. to mistake principles as details, and to whimsically ignore them). In another sense it means to fanatically hold on to the injunctions of bhakti (i.e. to mistake details as principles, and dogmatically hold to that standard). Thus, one must be able to maturely distinguish between principles and details, and thus preserve the tradition while suitably adapting to the current environment.

One of the great innovators of the modern age was Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Thakura. When he made ingenious adjustments to the details of Vaisnavism so the tradition could be spread further afield, he became the object of harsh criticism and disapproval. He remained unfazed, however, and once commented: “The Ganges river shifts its course all the time. If you bathe in a dry bed arguing ‘This is where we have always bathed’ what can be said?” Taking that spirit, he kept the Vaisnava mission on the cutting edge.

Making that judgement, however, is not always easy. Once, Srutakirti Prabhu asked Srila Prabhupada how he could distinguish between a principle and a detail. After a long pause, Srila Prabhupada thoughtfully replied – “That requires a little intelligence.”

“Bhismadeva, who was the best amongst the eight Vasus, received and welcomed all the great and powerful rishis who were assembled there, for he knew perfectly all the religious principles according to time and place.” (SB 1.9.9)

In the purport to this verse, Srila Prabhupada explains: “Expert religionists know perfectly well how to adjust religious principles in terms of time and place. All the great acaryas or religious preachers or reformers of the world executed their mission by adjustment of religious principles in terms of time and place. There are different climates and situations in different parts of the world, and if one has to discharge his duties to preach the message of the Lord, he must be expert in adjusting things in terms of the time and place.”