In our effort to derive meaning or application from a text, we must rely on some kind of interpretation. What determines text interpretation? In order to guide interpretation of texts in India, lineages using the texts employ “commentary” which maintains the relevancy of the text according to the historical, social, and political circumstances.

Our exploration of sacred speech is largely informed by our interest in the transcendental or mystical aspects of Indian culture. Our goal of this exploration of speech and sacred speech is to find handles with which we may know ourselves and the world we live in which we recognize as reflections of each other. Our conversation begins with a discussion of “authorial intention.”

Baba Rampuri talks about the privileging of the printed and published text in the post enlightenment West and how that differs from the oral text.

Commentary – Literary Criticism

The interpretation of text and how commentary differs from literary criticism.

The Text

The Text