Exclusively reserved for gaudIya-sajAtiya-sAdhu-saGga!
Origin of the term 'Krishna Consciousness' -
DharmaChakra - Sat, 06 Nov 2004 04:02:26 +0530
Does anyone know who first coined the term 'Krishna Consciousness'? I know its a translation of a technical sanskrit term, but I wonder who chose this particular english phrase?
I'm suspecting it was either BSST or ACBS, but I have no source.
Its a very curious term, and not one that I ever particularly connected with. It has either a very '60s ring to it, true to the manpower base of ISKCON in the early days, a 'hippy' feel. There is an IAM, self-consciousness feel to it. The few times I've used the term with outsiders, I've felt like the very term itself gave a 'cultish' impression.
On the other hand, I could also see it offered by BSST as a counter to turn of the century Freudian terminology...
Its a strange term, as it has come to represent not only an ideal state of mind, but in more common usage as a blanket term for Gaudiya Vaisnavism in the west, the KCM, Krishna Consciousness Movement.
Madhava - Sat, 06 Nov 2004 04:11:36 +0530
As far as I know, it is not a translation of any particular technical Sanskrit term used in our canon.
I could think of several possible loose equivalents, but none of them are the kinds of buzz-words that "Krishna Consciousness" is, used anywhere and everywhere.
Madanmohan das - Sat, 06 Nov 2004 04:35:12 +0530
I once heard a katha by A C Bhaktivedanta that he coigned the phrase frm the sloka "krsnabhakti rasa bhAvanA mati....
Madhava - Sat, 06 Nov 2004 04:49:42 +0530
That would be Krishna-bhakti-rasa-contemplation Consciousness, then!
DharmaChakra - Sat, 06 Nov 2004 05:53:42 +0530
QUOTE(Madanmohan das @ Nov 5 2004, 07:05 PM)
I once heard a katha by A C Bhaktivedanta that he coigned the phrase frm the sloka "krsnabhakti rasa bhAvanA mati....
Ok.. something similar must have sunken into that vast repository of completely trivial information I carry around between my ears...
braja - Sat, 06 Nov 2004 06:14:23 +0530
QUOTE(Madanmohan das @ Nov 5 2004, 06:05 PM)
I once heard a katha by A C Bhaktivedanta that he coigned the phrase frm the sloka "krsnabhakti rasa bhAvanA mati....
I've heard others, including Bhakti Caru Swami, explain this phrase as the origin also.
Jagat - Sat, 06 Nov 2004 08:57:07 +0530
That does not sound particularly persuasive. This may be because the "back formation" into Bengali, etc., is "kRSNa-bhAvanA" (at least where Iskcon is concerned. But this is a poor back-formation. The actual translation would be "kRSNa-caitanya."
I find that I am most persuaded to use the expression when translating the anyAbhilASita-zUNyam verse to explain "kRSNAnuzIlanam", which I usually convert into "the culture of Krishna consciousness."
braja - Sat, 06 Nov 2004 09:54:49 +0530
QUOTE
Srila Prabhupada is quoted in the book Journey to Self-Discovery: "In another verse, Rupa Gosvami says, krsna-bhakti-rasa-bhavita matih kriyatau yadi kuto ’pi labhyate. I have translated the words Krsna consciousness from krsna-bhakti-rasa-bhavita. Here Rupa Gosvami advises, 'If Krsna consciousness is available, please purchase it immediately. Don’t delay.' It is a very nice thing." Also, in Vrndavana, March 13, 1974, Prabhupada stated: "Rupa Gosvami advised, krsna-bhakti-rasa-bhavita matih kriyatam yadi kuto ’pi labhyate. He advises that, 'If Krsna consciousness is available, you should purchase it. You should purchase it anywhere it is available.'" In Seattle, Washington, Oct. 4, 1968, Srila Prabhupada stated: "Krsna-bhakti-rasa-bhavita matih. Matih means intelligence or status of mind, that 'I’ll serve Krsna.' If you can purchase this status of mind anywhere, please immediately purchase it."
From:
http://www.purebhakti.com/lectures/lecture20030221.shtml
Madanmohan das - Sat, 06 Nov 2004 14:30:08 +0530
Must dissagree with "culture of Ksrna consciousness". anisilan surely is cultivation and culture has more implications boiling down to cult.
Anyway the question as to the original coignage is clear. What abou the International Society for Thinking about Krsna?
DharmaChakra - Sat, 06 Nov 2004 16:18:43 +0530
QUOTE(Madanmohan das @ Nov 6 2004, 05:00 AM)
Must dissagree with "culture of Ksrna consciousness". anisilan surely is cultivation and culture has more implications boiling down to cult.
Anyway the question as to the original coignage is clear. What abou the International Society for Thinking about Krsna?
Ok, well, lets try a little test. Here's a translation of Sri Gaura Ganoddesha Dipika, Verse 2 I found on the net (http://www.dharmakshetra.com/sages/Saints/ganodesa%20dipika.html), no credit to a translator. I don't have the original, but maybe Madhava or someone can post it here. What term is is translated here as 'Krsna-consciousness'? (I'm guessing krsna-prema or some such)
QUOTE(Sri Gaura Ganoddesha Dipika @ Verse 2)
2. We offer respectful obeisances to Lord Advaita and the other dear associates of the Lord, who are all full of compassion for the fallen souls. We offer our respectful obeisances to Srila Svarupa Damodara Gosvami and the other companions of the Lord. As the Lord Himself is full of auspicious transcendental qualities, so are they. As the Lord Himself is full of mercy, so are they. These great devotees are filled with the sweet nectar of Krsna-consciousness. These great devotees remove the grave sins of this material world.
Jagat - Sat, 06 Nov 2004 16:31:58 +0530
culture.
3a. Development of the intellect through training or education.
b. Enlightenment resulting from such training or education.
4. A high degree of taste and refinement formed by aesthetic and intellectual training.
Madhava - Sat, 06 Nov 2004 16:52:02 +0530
QUOTE(DharmaChakra @ Nov 6 2004, 11:48 AM)
Ok, well, lets try a little test. Here's a translation of Sri Gaura Ganoddesha Dipika, Verse 2 I found on the net (http://www.dharmakshetra.com/sages/Saints/ganodesa%20dipika.html), no credit to a translator. I don't have the original, but maybe Madhava or someone can post it here. What term is is translated here as 'Krsna-consciousness'? (I'm guessing krsna-prema or some such)
QUOTE(Sri Gaura Ganoddesha Dipika @ Verse 2)
2. We offer respectful obeisances to Lord Advaita and the other dear associates of the Lord, who are all full of compassion for the fallen souls. We offer our respectful obeisances to Srila Svarupa Damodara Gosvami and the other companions of the Lord. As the Lord Himself is full of auspicious transcendental qualities, so are they. As the Lord Himself is full of mercy, so are they. These great devotees are filled with the sweet nectar of Krsna-consciousness. These great devotees remove the grave sins of this material world.
It is translated by Kusakratha, like many other e-texts being circulated.
namasyAmo’syaiva priya-parijanAn vatsala-hRdaH
prabhor advaitAdIn api jagad-aghaugha-kSaya-kRtaH |
samAna-premAnaH sama-guNa-gaNAs tulya-karunAH
svarUpAdyA ye’mI sarasa-madhurAs tAn api numaH ||2||
"Obeisance to the dear associates, whose hearts are filled with tender affection;
To Prabhu Advaita and others, who deliver the world from an ocean of sins;
Who are all filled with equal prema, who all have good qualities alike and are equally merciful;
To Svarupa and others, pools of sweetness, I offer my respects."
Most of the time the word Krishna consciousness is totally uncalled for in these translations. Sometimes you'll find terms like
kRSNa-smRti, of which it is a more legitimate translation. Most of the time, however, it is just stuck in for whatever odd reason.
And I would like to add that "Krishna consciousness" does not equal a loving devotional attitude. Kamsa and Jarasandha were very Krishna conscious. The element of
anukUlya must be there to make it something desirable for us. And even then, mere consciousness reminds me of
zAnta-bhAva, contemplation of paramAtma and the
virAt-rUpa, and so forth.
DharmaChakra - Sat, 06 Nov 2004 17:05:30 +0530
QUOTE(Madanmohan das @ Nov 6 2004, 05:00 AM)
Must dissagree with "culture of Ksrna consciousness". anisilan surely is cultivation and culture has more implications boiling down to cult.
Anyway the question as to the original coignage is clear. What abou the International Society for Thinking about Krsna?
Actually, I like the 'culture' terminology, and don't see any negative connotations coming out of it. My hangup is with the term 'consciousness'. To my ears it sounds dated and out of place. Not that I have a lot of counter recommendations. Thats why I was wondering if it was a translation of a particular phrase (or got its origins from a particular word/phrase), to begin to explore alternatives.
Does anyone share my feelings on the word 'consciousness', or have you all become so conditioned to the term it just rolls off your tongues
DharmaChakra - Sat, 06 Nov 2004 17:07:44 +0530
QUOTE(Madhava @ Nov 6 2004, 07:22 AM)
It is translated by Kusakratha, like many other e-texts being circulated.
Figured as much... its got his minimalistic (?) touch...
Madhava - Sat, 06 Nov 2004 17:09:08 +0530
QUOTE(DharmaChakra @ Nov 6 2004, 12:35 PM)
Actually, I like the 'culture' terminology, and don't see any negative connotations coming out of it. My hangup is with the term 'consciousness'. To my ears it sounds dated and out of place. Not that I have a lot of counter recommendations. Thats why I was wondering if it was a translation of a particular phrase (or got its origins from a particular word/phrase), to begin to explore alternatives.
Does anyone share my feelings on the word 'consciousness', or have you all become so conditioned to the term it just rolls off your tongues
I practically never use the term. As I said, there is no such single buzz-word that would need to be translated in such a way. We already have fair translations for most of the terms being loosely translated as "Krishna consciousness", though often we seem to be content with the original terms, such as "prema" or "bhakti".
Madanmohan das - Sun, 07 Nov 2004 03:30:59 +0530
Indeed there's nothing wrong with "culture" only my lack of it.
