The Living Disciple

Hasti Gopal Dāsa – Toronto, Canada.

Srila Prabhupada’s teachings, his books and lectures are understood by all bona fide Vedic authorities to be non different from his physical presence. Srila Prabhupada’s formally initiated disciples prior to his physical departure can and do continue to relate to him non differently in the same manner as when he was physically present. To deny this fact is to deny the existence of an original bona fide relationship presently taking place with their guru Srila Prabhupada, confirming this fact means to confirm that the disciple is relating to Srila Prabhupada in the present therefore confirming the present existence of Srila Prabhupada on an equally valid level. That the first generation of disciples are living in relation to Srila Prabhupada also indicates the presence of a living Srila Prabhupada in relation to his disciples. Those, to whom the disciples are willing to relate a living Srila Prabhupda to, are representing a living Srila Prabhupada. One cannot remove the non different Srila Prabhupada from the vapu of a living disciple.

Living means – “available to”. Available means – “accessible to”. Being ‘accessible to’, means that one may live by Srila Prabhupada’s original books and instructions via the bona fide disciplic representative, the bona fide formally initiated disciple, thereby allowing anyone to live by Srila Prabhupada, live with Srila Prabhupada and to live for Srila Prabhupada. The bona fide disciple of Srila Prabhupada is a living representative of a bona fide living spiritual master.

Therefore, the present physically living bona fide disciple may, upon review and with understood qualifications via Srila Prabhupada’s instructions and books, introduce the potential disciple to Srila Prabhupada. Then, if qualified, the follower can take initiation from Srila Prabhupada, formally.

Srila Prabhupada’s disciples are “living disciples” just as much as Srila Prabhupada is a “living guru”.

They’re Prabhupada’s disciples

GUEST: So did you actually hear him use that word “ritvik“?

HANSADUTTA: It’s in the letter.

... GUEST: It’s in a letter?

HANSADUTTA: Yeah, it’s in a letter. He used that word. And then he wrote to me within two weeks. He said, “Now you have got a very good field (in Sri Lanka), continue to be ritvik, and make your own field.” Something like that. He wrote a similar letter to Kirtanananda. So he reiterated his formal letter to everyone several times, in a personal letter to myself and to Kirtanananda… I don’t know who else, but these two persons definitely.

GUEST: So how is it that everyone suddenly became getting their feet washed and became gurus and acharyas? How did that all come about?

HANSADUTTA: Well, it’s just like children, they put on their father’s shoes and hat and coat. So we laugh about it. Right? The child wants to be, to imitate his father. That’s okay, but he can’t actually wear those shoes or hat or coat, because they don’t fit. Isn’t it? So we humor the child, but we can’t, don’t take it serious. So this is an unfortunate… unfortunately, I was part of that to a certain degree, or a large degree, but better late than never to understand, and to adjust or rectify.

GUEST: So really Prabhupada never told these people to be acharyas and gurus and have foot baths.

HANSADUTTA: No..

GUEST: So they were never supposed to be their disciples; they were Prabhupada’s disciples.

HANSADUTTA: Yeah, they’re Prabhupada’s disciples. Just like you go to the bank, you give your money to the teller. Does the teller put the money in his pocket? Is it his money? Would you give your friend next door or upstairs, would you give them five thousand dollars to hold for you? Would you give it to your son to hold for you? No, you wouldn’t. But you don’t feel bad to give it to the teller. Because the teller has been qualified and authorized to accept money on behalf of the bank director or the bank chairman or president or the institution, whatever you want to call it. You don’t even know the man’s name, but you’ll give him five thousand dollars and say, “Put this in my account.” Right?

GUEST: Right, right.

HANSADUTTA: You don’t say, “Oh, take a thousand for yourself and put the rest in my account.” No. Or if that man takes the money, puts it in his pocket and goes home, what do you think?

GUEST: No, it’s thievery, really. Stealing. Stealing.

HANSADUTTA: Okay. So…

GUEST: So Prabhupada….

HANSADUTTA: It’s the same thing. It’s Prabhupada’s institution. He empowered some men, he gave them conditional authority to extend or to initiate new people into the line of devotional service under his auspices. That’s basically what it is.