BOOKS AND THE DISCIPLIC SUCCESSION

I find it helpful to be reminded that writing and books
are a fairly recent thing. Up and until a few thousand years ago
messages of godhead were transmitted from guru to disciple
via aural reception.
In light of this we can understand the vital necessity 
of a pure disciplic succession.

Now that written records are there the tendency may be
to disregard disciplic succession. Simply read a book
and consider the perfection of the goal of life has been achieved.
This is a double edged sword.

Yes the messages of godhead are there in the books.
But even books over time become adulterated... unfortunately.
As we are seeing even within our ISKCON society
as the need for constantly "improving" what is already perfect
has ushered in almost countless changes in the original wording.
And that... in only 40 years since the disappearance
of the empowered author.

What to speak of what may be getting lost in translations
into the hundreds of other languages being spoken on the planet.
Something always gets lost in a translation,
if only it is the mood and flavor of the culture at the time
that adds color and flavor to the presentation.

Hence the absolute necessity of disciplic succession
is still with us. This has not been replaced by written words.
Now there is book Bhagavata and Person Bhagavata.
How this would be expressed before written words...
Would be something like... The message and the messenger.
The words and the speaker of the words.

Now in this age of short memory and even shorter attention span
we have the written words and the writer of the words.

When hear from the lips of a pure devotee the message
can be perfectly and fully understood and realized.
And when discussed in the association of devotees
new lights come out.

"The thoughts of My pure devotees dwell in Me,
their lives are surrendered to Me, and they derive
great satisfaction and bliss enlightening one another
and conversing about Me. " 10.9

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