The game of broken telephone easily describes how knowledge can be lost or misinterpreted over time. As children we play a game of whispering a message into the ear of the person next to us, who then passes it to the next person in the circle.
After being passed all the way around the group, we listen to the final message to hear if it came out as the original. Often the original message is lost and a new one replaces it, based upon words heard incorrectly during transmission.
This is the way that ancient Wisdom used to be passed down from teacher to student - by hearing and repetition. That's why receptive hearing was so important. Along with memory.
The mission was to carry the message forward unaltered down the generations of students. Ancient Wisdom practices like martial arts and meditation were taught by word of mouth, and only to qualified and worthy students.
Today we have so many recording devices that our memory is weaker than it used to be in previous generations, due to being used less. All information is at our fingertips today.
Another challenge is that of misinformation, a popular word recently. In the attempt to control the narrative, and thereby the opinions of the masses, the government controls the mainstream media and uses it to spin their desired narrative, while blocking opposing narrative and free speech.
Similar acts have occurred over time with the ancient Wisdom, where unscrupulous commentators have taken the ancient writings and misinterpreted them for selfish purposes, or purposes contrary to their original intent.
Sometimes it occurs after wars when the new rulers wish to adjust the narrative to their ends. And sometimes it occurs when just one person goes on their own mission for personal name and fame, and uses the collective tradition and wisdom for personal gain.
When times are bad, cheaters take up the positions of priests and politicians, negatively influencing the masses and potentially setting their society back years. It's something to constantly be aware of.
Bhagavad Gita ch4:2
evaṁ paramparā-prāptam
imaṁ rājarṣayo viduḥ
sa kāleneha mahatā
yogo naṣṭaḥ parantapa
SYNONYMS
evam—thus; paramparā—disciplic succession; prāptam—received; imam—this science; rājarṣayaḥ—the saintly kings; viduḥ—understood; saḥ—that knowledge; kālena—in the course of time; iha—in this world; mahatā—by great; yogaḥ—the science of one's relationship with the Supreme; naṣṭaḥ—scattered; parantapa—O Arjuna, subduer of the enemies
TRANSLATION
This supreme science was thus received through the chain of disciplic succession, and the saintly kings understood it in that way. But in course of time the succession was broken, and therefore the science as it is appears to be lost.
PURPORT
It is clearly stated that the Gītā was especially meant for the saintly kings because they were to execute its purpose in ruling over the citizens. Certainly Bhagavad-gītā was never meant for the demonic persons, who would dissipate its value for no one's benefit and would devise all types of interpretations according to personal whims. As soon as the original purpose was scattered by the motives of the unscrupulous commentators, there arose the need to reestablish the disciplic succession. Five thousand years ago it was detected by the Lord Himself that the disciplic succession was broken, and therefore He declared that the purpose of the Gītā appeared to be lost. In the same way, at the present moment also there are so many editions of the Gītā (especially in English), but almost all of them are not according to authorized disciplic succession. There are innumerable interpretations rendered by different mundane scholars, but almost all of them do not accept the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Kṛṣṇa, although they make a good business on the words of Śrī Kṛṣṇa. This spirit is demonic, because demons do not believe in God but simply enjoy the property of the Supreme. Since there is a great need of an edition of the Gītā in English, as it is received by the paramparā (disciplic succession) system, an attempt is made herewith to fulfill this great want. Bhagavad-gītā—accepted as it is—is a great boon to humanity; but if it is accepted as a treatise of philosophical speculations, it is simply a waste of time.
Reference: Bhagavad Gita As It Is, translation and commentary by Swami A C Bhaktivedanta, original MacMillan 1972 edition, freely available at prabhupadabooks.com
Image: https://pixabay.com/photos/stained-glass-window-church-holy-6562907/
Edited on my mobile device and published onto the Hive blockchain in order to keep the chain of succession in tact for future seekers.
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