The initiation of Michael Stein is approved and beads are being sent in separate cover.
" Make your own field and continue to be Ritvik and act on my behalf." - Śrīla Prabhupāda: July 31, 1977.
Showing posts with label ritvik initiation. Show all posts
Showing posts with label ritvik initiation. Show all posts
Friday, 24 May 2013
Thursday, 11 April 2013
Srila Prabhupada : "On My Behalf"
1972 Correspondence
The initiation of Michael Stein is approved and beads are being sent in separate cover.
Letter to Ravindra Svarupa -- Nairobi 25 January, 1972:
The initiation of David and Susan Shomaker, Bruce
Jacobs and Daryl Nauyokas are approved by me and their beads are
following in a separate cover.
Letter to Satsvarupa -- Nairobi 29 January, 1972:
The initiation of David and Susan Shomaker, Bruce Jacobs and Daryl Nauyokas are approved by me and their beads are following in a separate cover.
*4 initiations.Your ever well-wisher,
A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami
MS/jdb
SPIRITUAL NAMES BELOW
D. Shomaker—Bir Raghava
S. Shomaker—Birmala
B. Jacobs—Bir Krishna
D. Nauyokas—Bir Laksmana
Regarding the second initiation for Paramahamsa
das, I approve and his thread and copy of mantra have been sent under
separate post.
Letter to Gargamuni -- Honolulu 11 May, 1972:
Regarding the second initiation for Paramahamsa das, I approve
and his thread and copy of mantra have been sent under separate post.
Now you hold a fire yajna, and there have been several other threads
recently sent to Bombay, so you hold yajna and give them all threads. I
think Dayananda can send you copy of tape of me reciting Gayatri mantra,
and this can be heard through the right ear by earphones during the
yajna.
1973 Correspondence
It is becoming very expensive to send so many sets
of beads such long distance, and it has become little bothersome for me
also, so I think now you may be appointed by me to give first
initiations to new disciples by chanting on their beads on my behalf. In
America Kirtanananda Swami is going that.
Letter to Revatinandana -- Bombay 4 January, 1973:
Please
accept my blessings. Just now I have received some more requests for
giving first initiation from Dhananjaya, and now I am receiving weekly
not less than ten to fifteen such requests from new students. So it is
becoming very expensive to send so many sets of beads such long
distance, and it has become little bothersome for me also, so I think
now you may be appointed by me to give first initiations to new
disciples by chanting on their beads on my behalf.
In America Kirtanananda Swami is going that. So now if there are two of
you that will give me great relief. Kirtanananda will chant on the
beads for new devotees in America, Canada, like that, you can chant on
the beads for the European continent new disciples. They shall, of
course, still be considered as my disciples, not that they shall become
your disciples, but you will be empowered by me to chant their beads and
that is the same effect of binding master and disciple as if I were
personally chanting. They may continue to send me their letters of
request, along the President's recommendation, and I shall give them
name and it will be entered by my Secretary in our records, only I will
send my letter of reply to you and you will purchase beads there and
chant them and send, along with my letter to the new initiates. Is that
all right?
I shall continue to deal with the matter of second initiations. The
sacred threads do not require so much postage to send airmail.
I have delegated Kirtanananda Swami to chant on the
new devotees' beads on my behalf in your country. In Europe,
Revatinandana Swami will chant on the new devotees' beads on my behalf.
Letter to Bhutatma -- Bombay 5 January, 1973:
I
am very happy to hear from you that everything is going nicely in the
San Francisco temple. Upon your recommendation I am very glad to accept
the six new students as my duly initiated disciples. Their letter is
enclosed herewith. As for chanting on their beads, I have delegated
Kirtanananda Swami to chant on the new devotees' beads on my behalf in your country. In Europe, Revatinandana Swami will chant on the new devotees' beads on my behalf.
Because it is such long distance, therefore it is very expensive to
send beads airmail from here, and there are so many instances of the
beads being lost in that way. And I am getting now requests up to 20 or
30 each week, so it is practically becoming impossible for me to chant
the beads when I am so far distant. Therefore the new devotees may send
their beads to Kirtanananda in New Vrindaban, and he will chant the
beads and send back to them. Is this all right?
Now hold the fire yajna and give also second initiation to
Sarvadarsan, Yajnapati, and Hari Ballav. Enclosed please find three
sacred threads, duly chanted by me, along with three copies of Gayatri
mantra. Now hold the fire yajna for all nine devotees, and for the
second initiates teach them how to chant on the finger divisions and
play for them the tape of me reciting Gayatri mantra into their right
ear.
You may send your beads to Kirtanananda in New
Vrindaban for chanting on them on my behalf. There is no difference if I
chant them or he chants them; I have authorized him in that way.
Letter
to Krsnakatha (Kris Carlson), Anala (Anna Carlson) Riddha (Roger May),
Maharddhi (Morley Walkowski), Rohita (Randy Hyndeman), Kala (Carl
Mulder) -- Bombay 5 January, 1973:
Please
accept my blessings. Upon the recommendation of Bahudak I have gladly
accepted all of you as my duly initiated disciples. You may send your
beads to Kirtanananda in New Vrindaban for chanting on them on my behalf.
There is no difference if I chant them or he chants them, I have
authorized him in that way. I have given you the spiritual names as
follows:
- Kris Carlson/ KRSNAKATHA DAS ADHIKARI
- Anna Carlson/ ANALA DEVI DASI
- Roger May/ RIDDHA DAS
- Morley Walkowski/ MAHARDDHI DAS
- Randy Hyndeman/ ROHITA DAS
- Carl Mulder/ KALA DAS
Now I am getting so many requests to take first
initiation from temples in your country, and once before I had empowered
you to chant the beads on my behalf, so henceforth, as long as I am
away from America and Canada, I am requesting all of the temple
presidents in that zone of North America and South America to send the
beads of the new devotees to you at New Vrndaban.
Letter to Kirtanananda -- Bombay 5 January, 1973:
Please
accept my blessings. Now I am getting so many requests to take first
initiation from temples in your country, and once before I had empowered
you to chant the beads on my behalf,
so henceforth, as long as I am away from America and Canada, I am
requesting all of the temple presidents in that zone of North America
and South America to send the beads of the new devotees to you at New
Vrndaban. The candidates for new devotees will send me their letters as
usual, and I will give them names myself and enter in our records,
simply you must chant on their beads and then return to them. Is that
clear? Or, if you think it is better arrangement, I think that Bali
Mardan has got many many beads in New York which we have sent him from
Mayapur, so if you like you may get from him many sets of beads and you
may chant them and, whenever requested by my letter only, you may send
the new beads directly to the new devotees. Henceforth, then, I shall
send copies of my letters of reply to the new devotees, wherever I am in
the world, to you, and besides that the new devotees themselves will
write to you and send you their beads. Similarly, I have appointed
Revatinandana Maharaja in England to chant the beads of the new devotees
on European Continent. Otherwise, in other parts of the world, I shall
chant them as always.
You may send your beads to Kirtanananda in New
Vrindaban for chanting them, as I have empowered him to act on my
behalf. Or you may write him and request him to send you new beads, as
you arrange.
Letter
to Hasyakari (Howard Bernd), Rathangapani (Randy Buchert), Varuthapa
(Warren Havens), Laksmivan (Lawson Knight), Bhaktavatsala (Barry
Butler), Bhaktilila (Linda Butler) -- Bombay, India 9 January, 1973:
Upon
the recommendation of Damodara I have gladly accepted all of you as my
duly initiated disciples. Now you may send your beads to Kirtanananda in
New Vrindaban for chanting them, as I have empowered him to act on my behalf. Or you may write him and request him to send you new beads, as you arrange. I have given you the spiritual names as follows:
- Howard Bernd/ HASYAKARI DAS
- Randy Buchert/ RATHANGAPANI DAS
- Warren Havens/ VARUTHAPA DAS
- Lawson Knight/ LAKSMIVAN DAS
- Barry Butler/ BHAKTAVATSALA DAS
- Linda Butler/ BHAKTILILA DASI
You may request them to send their beads to Kirtanananda in New Vrndavana for chanting on them on my behalf.
Letter to Damodara -- Bombay, India 9 January, 1973:
Upon
your recommendation I am happy to accept the six applicants as my duly
initiated disciples, and their letter is enclosed herewith. You may
request them to send their beads to Kirtanananda in New Vrndavana for
chanting on them on my behalf. I
have given that responsibility as it is too costly to send so many beads
such great distance by air mail. Now I am getting so many requests for
first initiation, therefore I have given that responsibility to
Kirtanananda, and Revatinandana will chant on the beads for the European
devotees.
Will you please send one copy of this letter to
Kirtanananda Swami along with their beads of the aspiring devotees for I
have authorized him to chant on the beads on my behalf.
Letter to Kurusrestha -- Melbourne 10 February, 1973:
Second
initiations of Sudarsani dasi and Madhurya-lilananda dasi are duly
approved by me. Enclosed you will find the Gayatri Mantra slips. You may
have one fire ceremony and they may listen to the tape of me chanting
the Gayatri Mantra in their right ear and repeat it. Regarding the first
initiations, they are also approved by me and their names are as
follows. Dan Swanson is now Dvijati Pujaka das, Christopher Beard is now
Carucandra das, Phillip West is now Prabala das and Rebecca Strowger is
now Rupa Ramesvari dasi. Will you please send one copy of this letter
to Kirtanananda Swami along with their beads of the aspiring devotees
for I have authorized him to chant on the beads on my behalf.
You may send one letter to Kirtanananda Swami along
with their beads for chanting on. I have authorized him to chant on the
beads on my behalf.
Letter to Nityananda -- Melbourne 11 February, 1973:
The
initiation that you have recommended are approved by me. Victor
Mistretta is now to be called Vrikodara and Darrel Martin is now
Dvibhuja. You may send one letter to Kirtanananda Swami along with their
beads for chanting on. I have authorized him to chant on the beads on my behalf. I hope this finds you in good health.
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Letter to: Sukadeva 2
— Calcutta 29 January, 1973 | ||
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My dear Sukadeva das,
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I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter dated
1/8/73, and I have noted the contents with satisfaction. Thank you very
much for your kind sentiments. This attitude of serving first the
spiritual master is the correct one, for only by the mercy of the
spiritual master can one obtain the mercy of Krsna. Just as we sing
every morning yasya prasadad bhagavad-prasado yasya prasada na gatih
kuto 'pi, in this way the disciple advances more and more in
understanding God. So if you simply execute with full faith the
instructions that I have already given you, then you will see so many
people will be sent by Krsna to become devotees because of your
sincerity. So as you are my appointed leader, you must also see that
the others are following very strictly the regulative principles like
chanting 16 rounds, reading my books regularly, rising early for mangala
aratrika, these things will keep us purified for advancing more and
more in Krsna Consciousness.
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So far your request for initiations for Patrick and
Jane, that is approved by me. So far the infant is concerned, let him
wait until he is older. You may receive the beads chanted upon by
Kirtanananda Maharaja and hold the fire sacrifice. Concerning the
second initiations for Ojasir das Brahmacari, Smaranananda das Adhikary
and his wife Samsaramochan Devi Dasi, that is also approved, and you
will find enclosed the Gayatri threads. So hold the fire yajna and for
those who are initiated as brahmanas, teach them how to count on the
finger divisions, and play the Gayatri mantra tape in their right ear
and have them repeat it along with my vibration word for word, then hang
sacred thread on his neck as usual. Girls don't require thread but can
responsively chant the Gayatri mantra. In each individual case the
instruction should be given and the mantra replayed. The giving of the
Gayatri mantra can be held after the fire yajna and each devotee can
come alone to you to receive the thread.
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Yes, the spiritual master is also present in his
picture, though more importantly he is present in his teachings. I
think this is explained in one letter that has already been distributed.
If you have further questions try to get them resolved by your GBC
man, Karandhar, because now I wish to spend all of my time for
translating my books like Srimad-Bhagavatam, so I may give them to you.
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Thank you very much for assisting me in this way. Hope this finds you in good health.
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Your ever well wisher,
A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami
Your request for initiation is approved by me, and I have sent a letter in this regard.
Letter to Gunagrahi -- Calcutta 31 January, 1973:
Krsna
Consciousness means always increasing, so I am glad to see that you are
remaining enthusiastic to push on this Krsna Consciousness movement
more and more. Your request for initiation is approved
by me, and I have sent a letter in this regard. You are president of
Buffalo temple, so in consultation with your GBC man you may discuss how
to push on the spreading of this Krsna Consciousness movement through
street sankirtana, book distribution, etc., whatever is practical for
you to follow. In regard to preaching the glories of the Lord there are
no hard and fast rules, we must simply always remain ourself fixed in
Krsna Consciousness and then Krsna will give us the good guidance how to
push things on. So since Rupanuga Maharaja is coming there you may
discuss with him. I am desiring now to turn over the management of the
society to my disciples, the temple presidents and GBC men especially,
so cooperatively you may work out the management details.
Regarding the question of your wife's initiation, that is certainly approved by me.
Letter to Rajiblocan -- Calcutta 31 January, 1973:
Regarding the question of your wife's initiation, that is certainly approved
by me. You may arrange with Kirtanananda Maharaja for receiving beads
duly chanted upon by him. Now both of you cooperate for pushing on this
Krsna Consciousness movement as this is our only business in this human
form of life.
Second initiations of Sudarsani dasi and Madhurya-lilananda dasi are duly approved by me.
Letter to Kurusrestha -- Melbourne 10 February, 1973:
Second initiations of Sudarsani dasi and Madhurya-lilananda dasi are duly approved
by me. Enclosed you will find the Gayatri Mantra slips. You may have
one fire ceremony and they may listen to the tape of me chanting the
Gayatri Mantra in their right ear and repeat it. Regarding the first initiations, they are also approved
by me and their names are as follows. Dan Swanson is now Dvijati Pujaka
das, Christopher Beard is now Carucandra das, Phillip West is now
Prabala das and Rebecca Strowger is now Rupa Ramesvari dasi. Will you
please send one copy of this letter to Kirtanananda Swami along with
their beads of the aspiring devotees for I have authorized him to chant
on the beads on my behalf.
The initiation of Bhakta Olaf das is duly approved by me and his new name is Asok Kumar.
Letter to Guru-gauranga -- Melbourne 11 February, 1973:
The initiation of Bhakta Olaf das is duly approved
by me and his new name is Asok Kumar. You may also have him send his
beads along with a cover letter from you to Rebatinandan Swami, who is
in London and has been authorized by me to chant on the beads. I hope
this finds you in good health.
I am in due receipt of your letter and I approve of
the initiations of Bill Allan who is now to be called Balaji das, Paul
Terry who is now to be called Parambrahma das, Richard Selvin who is now
Radhanatha das and Tom Meyers who is now Taru das.
Letter to Kirtanananda -- Melbourne 11 February, 1973:
Please accept my blessings. I am in due receipt of your letter and I approve of the initiations
of Bill Allan who is now to be called Balaji das, Paul Terry who is now
to be called Parambrahma das, Richard Selvin who is now Radhanatha das
and Tom Meyers who is now Taru das. I hope this meets you in good
health.
The initiation that you have recommended are approved by me.
Letter to Nityananda -- Melbourne 11 February, 1973:
The initiation that you have recommended are approved
by me. Victor Mistretta is now to be called Vrikodara and Darrel Martin
is now Dvibhuja. You may send one letter to Kirtanananda Swami along
with their beads for chanting on. I have authorized him to chant on the
beads on my behalf. I hope this finds you in good health.
You may consult with Karandhara das and request him to approve your second initiation. I hope this meets you in good health.
Letter to Tosana -- Melbourne 11 February, 1973:
Please
accept my blessings. I am in due receipt of your letter dated January
25th. and have noted the contents carefully. Your dedication to Srimati
Tulasi-devi is very laudable and I am sure that if you consult with
Karandhara das he will give you all assistance to help make your dream
come true. But carving tulasi beads should not be your sole occupation.
You should also go out for street sankirtana and distribute my
literature for the cripple minded masses, and whatever spare time you
have you can carve some tulasi beads for me to sanctify. But whatever
you do should be done with wholehearted enthusiasm and strict adherence
to the principles of chanting 16 rounds, rising for mangala arati,
following the four basic principles, always remaining clean etc. You may
consult with Karandhara das and request him to approve your second initiation. I hope this meets you in good health.
I am approving of the initiation of John Favors who is now to be called GHANASYAMA DASA.
Letter to Satsvarupa -- Sydney 15 February, 1973:
I am approving of the initiation
of John Favors who is now to be called GHANASYAMA DASA. From your
description he is to be a very nice and intelligent boy so please train
him up properly. You may send his beads on to Kirtanananda Maharaja for
chanting. I hope this meets you in good health.
I am approving of the first initiation of Debra
Hillard. However it is not our policy to give first and second
initiations at once.
Letter to Nityananda -- Sydney 18 February, 1973:
I am approving of the first initiation of Debra Hillard. However it is not our policy to give first and second initiations at once. It is better she wait some time. Her new name will be DEBRAJA DASI and also I am agreeing to the second initiation
of Shanti dasi. Now you please arrange it so that the Deities are
worshiped very very properly and always remain humble in their presence.
I am approving of second initiation for Hari-puja dasi as you requested.
Letter to Bali-mardana -- Calcutta March 7, 1973:
I am approving of second initiation for Hari-puja dasi as you requested.
Also I give approval for the one brahminical initiation. Please find one Gayatri mantra enclosed.
Letter to Govardhan 2 -- Los Angeles 8 May, 1973:
Upon
your recommendation I am glad to accept these devotees as my initiated
disciples. So now you may hold a fire yajna and send their beads to
Kirtanananda Swami for chanting. Also I give approval for the one
brahminical initiation. Please
find one Gayatri mantra enclosed. After the fire yajna you may play the
tape of me chanting Gayatri mantra into the right ear in private.
Teach how to count on the finger divisions.
1974 Correspondence
I have accepted the devotees recommended by you for first initiations, and their spiritual names are as follows.
Dan McGready—Divyanga dasa
Michelle—Maharajani devi dasi
Paula—Pramada devi dasi.
Letter to Batu Gopala -- Bombay 23 March, 1974:
Dear Batua Gopala,
Please accept my blessings. I have accepted the devotees recommended by you for first initiations, and their spiritual names are as follows.Dan McGready—Divyanga dasa Michelle—Maharajani devi dasi Paula—Pramada devi dasi Their beads may be chanted on by Jagadisa Prabhu. Please impress upon them that their chant must avoid the ten offenses, and that they must chant the minimum 16 rounds without fail, and be very careful to keep themselves free of the four sinful activities. They are in your charge so you must set the example. I am also sending gayatri and sacred thread for Rasikhananda das Brahmacari for his second initiation, and also Gauranga devi dasi. Your ever well-wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/sdg
Concerning the initiation of your wife,
Revatinandan Swami has approved her being recommended for first
initiation, and he has been informed accordingly of her spiritual name.
Letter to Tarun Kanti Ghosh -- Los Angeles 9 June, 1976:
Concerning the initiation of your wife, Revatinandan Swami has approved her being recommended for first initiation,
and he has been informed accordingly of her spiritual name. As
disciples you must strictly chant 16 rounds of japa, Hare Krishna
Maha-mantra, daily. Also strictly avoid the unwanted habits of illicit
sex-life, meat-eating, gambling, and intoxication, and in this way make
progress in Krishna Consciousness and be happy.
1977 CorrespondenceLetter from Tamala Krishna Goswami (on Srila Prabhupada's behalf) to Hansadutta.My Dear Hansadutta Maharaja, Please accept my most humble obeisances at your feet. I have been instructed by His Divine Grace Srila Prabhupada to thank you for your letter dated July 25th 1977. You have written to Srila Prabhupada saying you do not know why Srila Prabhupada has chosen you to be a recipient of his mercy. His Divine Grace immediately replied, "It is because you are my sincere servant. You have given up attachment for a beautiful and qualified wife and that is a great benidiction. You are a real preacher. Therefore I like you. (Then laughing) Sometimes you become obstinate, but that is true of any intelligent man. Now you have a very good field. Now organize it and it will be a great credit. No one will disturb you there. Make your own field and continue to become ritvik and act on my behalf." Srila Prabhupada listened with great enthusiasm as I read to him the newspaper article. His Divine Grace was very pleased: "This article will increase your prestige. It is very nice article. Therfore the newspaper has spared so much space to print it. It is very nice. It must be published in Back to Godhead. Now there is a column in Back to Godhead called "Prabhupada Speaks Out". Your article may be entitled "Prabhupada's Disciple Speaks Out". Yes, we shall publish this article certainly. Let this rascal be fool before the public. I have enjoyed this article very much. I want my disciples to speak out...backed by complete reasoning. "Brahma sutra sunisthita", this is preaching. Be blessed. All my disciples go forward. You have given the challenge. They cannot answer. This Dr. Kovoor should be invited...For Dr. Svarupa Damodara"s convention on "Life comes from Life". He can learn something at this scientific convention." Yes, you should certainly get some ISKCON Food Relief money. For your program American money collected and sent for food distribution. That is my proposal. Three hundred people coming is no joke. You mentioned so many nice preperations. I would like to eat but I cannot. At simply hearing these names (of preperations) it is satisfying. Just thinking this morning of you, and now you have written me. (last paragraph illegible) Your Servant Tamala Krishna Goswami Secretary to Srila Prabhupada (signature appears on the original) Letter From Ramesvara, July 21 1977THE BHAKTIVEDANTA BOOK TRUST Founder - Acarya: His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada July 21st, 1977
ALL GLORIES TO SRI GURU AND GOURANGA!
Dear GBC Godbrother Prabhus,Please accept my most humble obeisances in the dust of your feet. All glories to Srila Prabhupada! I have just received some letters from Tamal Krishna Maharaja, and am enclosing herein two documents: 1) Srila Prabhupada's final version of his last will, and 2) Srila Prabhupada's initial list of disciples appointed to perform initiations for His Divine Grace. This initial list is also being sent to all centers. From Tamal"s letter it seems that Srila Prabhupada is enthusiastic despite poor health, and is translating full force. He especially becomes enthused when reports arrive from different GBC men and temples with preaching results, general good news, etc. and Tamal Krishna Maharaja has stressed that we should all be sending such reports, as His Divine Grace often asks, "What is the news?" An outstanding example of Srila Prabhupada's mood was shown after receiving an encouraging preaching report from Hansadutta Swami in Ceylon. Srila Prabhupada said, "I want to go to Ceylon. I can go. I can go anywhere by chair. It is difficult only in the imagination. The swelling is touching the skin, not my soul. More than anything else, Tamal has stressed the genuine need for a visiting GBC member to come every month for personal service. Since Srila Prabhupada has recently said that now this regular visiting is very important, all GBC members should be anxious to do this, as it not only involves important work which will help relieve Prabhupada from management, but also involves attending Srila Prabhupada personally, giving him massages and many other nectarian services, and in general affords an unusual amount of personal association, even more than in the past. Out of over 23 GBC members there should never be one month not filled up. One final news report is that Srila Prabupada has appointed a new GBC member for North India (including Delhi but not Vrndavana) - His Holiness Bhakti Caitanya Swami. Tamal Krishna Maharaja said that His divine Grace appointed him to encourage him for the outstanding preaching work he is doing in Punjab. Jai, I hope this finds you all well, and fully absorbed in preaching and thus satisfying Srila Prabhupada fully. Your most unworthy servant, (signature appears on the original document) Ramesvara dasa Swami
Letter to Kirtanananda July 11th, 1977
ISKCON
Founder-Acharya His Divine Grace A.C.Bhaktivedanta Swami PrabhupadaINTERNATIONAL SOCIETY FOR KRISHNA CONSCIOUSNESS July 11th 1977 My dear Kirtanananda Maharaja, Please accept my most humble obeisances at your feet. His Divine Grace Srila Prabhupada has just received the latest issue of Brijabasi Spirit, Vol.IV,No.4, which brought Him great joy. As He looked at the cover showing Kaladri performing a fire ceremony, He said, "Just see his face how devotee he is, so expert in everything". When Srila Prabhupada opened the first page, His eyes fixed on the picture of Radha- Vrindavana Chandra, and He said, "Vrindavana Bihari - so beautiful. There is no danger wherever Vrindavana Chandra is." After enjoying the whole magazine throughly Srila Prabhupada said, "It is printed on their own press. It is very good progress." His Divine Grace very much appreciated the article "How I Was Deprogrammed" by the young devotee boy. Prabhupada was feeling great sympathy when he heard his story and said, "If one man is turned like this boy then this movement is successful. There is good prospect, good hope. You all combine together and push this movement on and on. Now I am assured that it will go on." While going through the magazine, Srila Prabhupada also saw your good photo on the page "Istagosthi" and Srila Prabhupada bestowed a long loving look upon your good self expressing his deep appreciation for how you have understood this Krishna Consciousness. A letter has been sent to all the Temple Presidents and GBC which you should be receiving soon describing the process for initiation to be followed in the future. Srila Prabhupada has appointed thus far eleven representitives who will initiate new devotees on His behalf. You can wait for this letter to arrive (the original has been sent to Ramesvara Maharaja for duplicating) and then all of the persons whom you recommened in your previous letters can be initiated. His Divine Grace has been maintaining His health on an even course and most amazingly has doubled His translation work keeping pace with the doubling of book distribution. Hoping this meets you well. Your servant, Tamala Krishna Goswami Secretary to Srila Prabhupada (signature appears on original) His Holiness Kirtanananda Swami c/o ISKCON New Vrndavana Letter to Hamsadutta July 10th, 1977
ISKCON
INTERNATIONAL SOCIETY FOR KRISHNA CONSCIOUSNESS Founder-Acharya: His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada July 10th 1977 My dear Hamsadutta Maharaja, Please accept my humble obeisances at your feet. Srila Prabhupad has received your letters dated July 4th and July 5th, 1977 respectively, and has instructed me to reply to them. Srila Prabhupad was very pleased to hear how you have organized everything in Ceylon, and that so many people are now taking interest seriously is proof of the effectiveness of your preaching. His Divine Grace said, “You are a suitable person and you can give initiation to those who are ready for it. I have selected you among eleven men as “rittvik” or representative of the acharya, to give initiations, both first and second initiation, on my behalf.” (A newsletter is being sent to all Temple Presidents and GBC in this regard, listing the eleven representatives selected by His Divine Grace. Those who are initiated are the disciples of Srila Prabhupada, and anyone who you deem fit and initiate in this way, you should send their names to be included in Srila Prabhupada’s “Initiated Disciples” book. In this way the Temple Presidents will send their recommendations for initiation direct to the nearest representative who will give a spiritual name or chant on the Gayatri thread just as Srila Prabhupada has been doing.) Srila Prabhupad smiled very broadly when he heard of the successful program organized by the local people in which 2000 persons attended. When he heard that you have introduced a full feasting program on Sundays, he said, “You are a good cook, so teach others now how to cook just as I taught you.” Regarding the printing going slowly, His Divine Grace stated, “Never mind. Go surely. It doesn’t matter slowly.” I inquired from Pradyumna Prabhu about the Sinhalese translation which you mentioned. He said that “On Chanting Hare Krishna Mantra” was translated into Sinhalese, and that translation is in his trunk in Bombay. We will try to get it to you as soon as possible. I do not know if Gopal Krishna has any Tamil manuscript, but if he does, when I see him in about ten days, I will tell him to send it to you. You may also write him directly. Pradyumna says it will be faster just to get a new translation – it is only 1 page. Srila Prabhupada was very glad to know that you would try to bring some Ceylonese devotees to Mayapur and said, “Oh, that is very good!” He did not know whether the story about Bhaktisiddhanta’s disciples seeing a man eating a rat was true or not. Regarding the exact position of Sri Lanka, this is the opinion of some people. Srila Prabhupad advised that we not discuss this matter publicly at this time. Prabhupad also recommended that from Hari Sauri you take ghee. He said that you could have one fifth of whatever Hari Sauri sends to India. Regarding whether you should use the name Swami or Goswami, Srila Prabhupad said, “Stick to one. Swami is better.” Your servant, (signature appears on the original document) Tamal Krishna Gosvami Secretary to Srila Prabhupad His Holiness Hamsadutta Swami c/o ISKCON Colombo Letter Of July 9, 1977
Original Letter Of July 9, 1977
Letter to: All G.B.C., All Temple Presidents
Vrindaban9 July, 1977 77-07-09 To All G.B.C., and Temple Presidents Dear Maharajas and Prabhus, Please accept my humble obeisances at your feet. Recently when all of the GBC members were with His Divine Grace in Vrndavana, Srila Prabhupada indicated that soon He would appoint some of His senior disciples to act as ritvik - representative of the acarya, for the purpose of performing initiations, both first initiation and second initiation. His Divine Grace has so far given a list of eleven disciples who will act in that capacity: His Holiness Kirtanananda Swami His Holiness Satsvarupa dasa Gosvami His Holiness Jayapataka Swami His Holiness Tamala Krsna Gosvami His Holiness Hrdayananda Gosvami His Holiness Bhavananda Gosvami His Holiness Hamsaduta Swami His Holiness Ramesvara Swami His Holiness Harikesa Swami His Grace Bhagavan dasa Adhikari His Grace Jayatirtha dasa AdhikariIn the past Temple Presidents have written to Srila Prabhupada recommending a particular devotee's initiation. Now that Srila Prabhupada has named these representatives, Temple Presidents may henceforward send recommendation for first and second initiation to whichever of these eleven representatives are nearest their temple. After considering the recommendation, these representatives may accept the devotee as an initiated disciple of Srila Prabhupada by giving a spiritual name, or in the case of second initiation, by chanting on the Gayatri thread, just as Srila Prabhupada has done. The newly initiated devotees are disciples of His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupad, the above eleven senior devotees acting as His representative. After the Temple President receives a letter from these representatives giving the spiritual name or the thread, he can perform the fire yajna in the temple as was being done before. The name of a newly initiated disciple should be sent by the representative who has acceted him or her to Srila Prabhupada, to be included in His Divine Grace's "Initiated Disciples" book. Hoping this finds you all well. Your servant, Tamala Krsna Gosvami Secretary to Srila Prabhupada Approved:(signed) A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami (Prabhupada signature appears on the original) The above is the Original Letter Of July 9, 1977 of His Divine Grace Srila Prabhupada, his originally signed and approved paper for appointing some of His senior disciples to act as ritvik - representative of the acarya |
Wednesday, 10 April 2013
Saturday, 23 June 2012
ISKCON leader contradicts ISKCON Founder-Acarya!
HH Bhakti Caru Swami, ISKCON GBC voted in Guru:
(Bhagavad gita Lectures 1975)
(Morning Walk, Seattle, 2.10.68.)
"Later on, someone came up with the theory that Srila Prabhupada wanted his disciples to give initiation on his behalf as ritvik acaryas, and that all the initiates would be Srila Prabhupada's disciples. As a matter of fact, Srila Prabhupada was very much against this concept. At one point he mentioned this was the flaw of Christianity. Christianity does not accept the system of a present Guru. They think Jesus is the only one and no one is coming to give initiation, or no one is coming as acarya. Therefore, there is no system of continuation of spiritual knowledge..."His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, Founder Acarya of ISKCON and living Guru:
(Spiritual Connections,Vol. 13, Jan-Apr 1996, p.6)
Girl devotee:
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Is Jesus in the parampara? |
Srila Prabhupada:
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He says, "there is God. I am son of God". That is parampara. |
| Tamal Krishna: | Can a Christian in this age, without a Spiritual Master, but by reading the Bible, and following Jesus's words, reach the... |
| Srila Prabhupada: | When you read the Bible, you follow the Spiritual Master. How can you say without? As soon as you read the Bible, that means you are following the instruction of Lord Jesus Christ. That means that you are following the Spiritual Master. |
| Tamal Krishna: | I was referring to a living Spiritual Master. |
| Srila Prabhupada: | Spiritual Master is not question of...Spiritual Master is eternal...[...] As you say that "by reading bible", when you read Bible that means you are following the Spiritual Master represented by some priest or some clergyman in the line of Lord Jesus Christ. |
Srila Prabhupada: Actually, one who is guided by Jesus will certainly get liberation.
(Perfect Questions, Perfect Answers, chapter 9)
Srila Prabhupada: "This is called Guru parampara, disciplic succession..This is our process. We are getting knowledge from Krsna, the most perfect. Or you get knowledge from Jesus Christ, that is also perfect, because source is perfect."
(Conversation, Germany 19.6.74)
"You must follow one acarya, like Christians, they follow Christ, acarya. [...] You must follow some acarya ... Evam parampara praptam."
(Room Conversation, Melbourne, May 20th, 1975)
Friday, 18 May 2012
GBC vs. Srila Prabhupada
Heresies of the Governing Body Commission Rejected
By Vikramasingha das
The Iskcon GBC philosophy on guru-tattva and initiations has evolved over the years. In the late 1970s and early 80s, they conceded, due to the insistence of a few leading members, that eleven individuals had been appointed and empowered by Srila Prabhupada to act as zonal acharyas in Iskcon.
The GBC conceded that these eleven could create their own authority structure called “The Acharya Board”. The GBC agreed that only these eleven could be initiating spiritual masters in Iskcon and, in the future, only they could appoint other spiritual masters, or diksa-gurus, from among their disciples or Godbrother followers.
In the latter part of the 1980s, after few of the “chosen eleven” fell down and went insane, these contentions were overturned under mounting pressure from a so-called guru reform movement. GBC reformists decided that these eleven “Iskcon acharyas” could no longer be zonal autocrats above the authority of the GBC. The GBC resolved that only a majority vote of the GBC body would have authority to sanction and regulate initiating spiritual masters in Iskcon.
They resolved that any devotee sanctioned by the GBC could initiate his own disciples in Srila Prabhupada’s mission, and they recommended that “diksa-gurus” no longer accept elaborate public worship in Iskcon temples and titles and prayers meant for maha-bhagavatas. They thus tried to reduce the power and ritual status of “Iskcon acharyas” while opening the door for all senior preachers “in good standing” to covet the post of “Iskcon guru”. In this way the GBC quelled the “guru reform movement” within Iskcon.
GBC resolutions regarding initiations and guru-tattva have been inconsistent and contradictory. It is hard to find two “Iskcon gurus”, GBC members, or Iskcon devotees with the exact same views on these topics. New devotees often doubt whether the praises they sing to the spiritual master at mangala-arotika and guru-puja should be directed toward their so-called Iskcon guru or to Srila Prabhupada.
Should they hear primarily from Srila Prabhupada, or more from their “living guru”? Should they offer prayers and worship to a picture of their “guru” on the altar before doing Deity worship or offering food? If so, would he even know? Are all prayers to the spiritual master just ritualistic hyperbole that can be applied to any so-called Iskcon (or gaudiya math) “guru”?
Below is summary of the stance of the GBC today and in the recent past, with samples of their clearly implied philosophical ideas that are against the teachings of Srila Prabhupada. Immediately after each GBC idea, we have provided the correct understanding of guru-tattva and diksa according the Srila Prabhupada’s books, conversations, letters, and classes. Authorized references are cited at the end. Throughout Srila Prabhupada’s books there are many dozens of references similar to the few cited below.
GBC: The spiritual master may be a self-made guru who is nominated by his peers or followers and sanctioned by the GBC, an ecclesiastical board. There is no need for a direct, specific order from Srila Prabhupada to become a diksa-guru in Iskcon.
Srila Prabhupada’s siddhanta:“A guru can become guru when he is ordered by his guru. That’s all. Otherwise nobody can become guru.” (See below references 1, 2 and 10.)
GBC: Srila Prabhupada authorized the GBC to sanction and dismiss diksa-gurus in ISKCON.
SPS: “Mundane votes have no jurisdiction the elect a Vaisnava acharya. A Vaisnava acharya is self-effulgent, and there is no need of any court judgment.” Prabhupada authorized the GBC to select (or dismiss) representatives (ritviks), who initiate on His behalf. No one can be guru without the direct order of Krishna or His perfect devotee. (See below references 1, 2, 10 and 15.)
GBC: Lord Caitanya gave a blanket order for every devotee to initiate his own disciples.
SPS: Lord Caitanya ordered His followers to become “gurus” by asking everyone they meet to chant Hare Krishna. He never ordered all devotees to initiate their own disciples. Even Lord Caitanya’s eternal associates, like Sri Gadadhara Pandita, refused to initiate disciples without a direct order from Lord Caitanya. Many great devotees never initiated their own disciples. (References 2 and 3.)
GBC: Persons who are not self-realized souls or topmost Vaisnavas can be diksa-gurus if the GBC approves.
SPS: “Only a topmost devotee, a maha-bhagavata, is eligible to occupy the post of guru.” (See below reference 4.)
GBC: Spiritual masters must be sanctioned, overseen, regulated and, if necessary, disciplined by the GBC.
SPS: The genuine spiritual master is never to be regulated or disciplined by ecclesiastical boards. (See below reference 5.)
GBC: A spiritual master may sometimes fall down and become demoniac.
SPS: “There is no possibility that a first-class devotee will fall down…” – “The bona fide spiritual master is in the disciplic succession since time immemorial.” (See below references 6 and 18.)
GBC: One may ignore, neglect, or reject his spiritual master who falls from grace with the GBC.
SPS: A genuine disciple never rejects his spiritual master. (See reference 7.)
GBC: A student of Krishna consciousness may select any spiritual master, according his or her personal tastes and the ecclesiastical conventions current in Iskcon.
SPS: “Srila Jiva Goswami advised that one not accept a spiritual master in terms of hereditary or customary social and ecclesiastical conventions. One should simply try to find a genuinely qualified spiritual master for actual advancement in spiritual understanding.” (See below reference 8.)
GBC: There are dozens of gurus in Iskcon and each is entitled to his or her own ideas and opinions.
SPS: “Guru is one. He has no independent ideas or opinions.” (See reference 9.)
GBC: Iskcon gurus who have fallen down, if rectified, may be reinstated by the GBC.
SPS: “A bona fide spiritual master is in the disciplic succession from time eternal, and he does not deviate at all from the instructions of the Supreme Lord.”(See below reference 10.)
GBC: There are various levels of spiritual masters, or diksa-gurus, and not all are uttama-adhikaris.
SPS: “The spiritual master is always considered either one of the confidential associates of Radharani or a manifested representation of Sri Nityananda.” Only such a Vaisnava can impart transcendental knowledge into the heart of a disciple. (See below references 4, 7 and 11.)
GBC: The bona fide spiritual master dies, like all mortal men, and thus becomes useless in the matter of initiating and guiding students of Krishna consciousness.
SPS: “The spiritual master is eternal…” — “He lives forever through his divine instructions, and his follower lives with him.” — “He reasons ill who tells that Vaisnavas die!” (See reference 12.)
GBC: One must accept as one’s diksa-guru a man or woman who is living. A posthumous spiritual master, one dead and gone, cannot offer diksa and impart transcendental knowledge.
SPS: “The spiritual master is eternal.” — “Although a physical body is not present, the vibration should be accepted as the presence of the spiritual master. Vibration—what we have heard from the spiritual master—that is living.” (See references 10 and 12.
GBC: Students of Krishna consciousness whose spiritual masters have fallen from grace with the GBC may shop around for another Iskcon guru and accept “re-initiation” as many times as required for them to find an “Iskcon guru” who is steady.
SPS: “A devotee must have only one initiating spiritual master because in the scriptures acceptance of more than one is always forbidden.” (Cc. Madhya, 22.71, Purport)
GBC: Every senior Iskcon devotee, even a dependent woman or neophyte with no ability to preach, is eligible to initiate his or her own disciples. Srila Prabhupada, however, is ineligible because he cannot posthumously offer diksa. One needs a guru who is alive. A fully transcendental guru with a spiritual body is useless in the matter of initiating devotees after he is dead (posthumous).
SPS: “The spiritual master is eternal.” He is not limited by material considerations of time and space. “A perfect Vaisnava is all-powerful, just like the Supreme Lord.” (See references 7, 12 and 13.)
GBC: Not all of Srila Prabhupada’s instructions and orders are to be accepted literally or permanently. Some may be interpreted, altered, edited–or rejected as being outdated. For instance, his final order on initiations (July 9th, 1977), which he ordered sent to all ISKCON leaders and temples, is now obsolete and must therefore be rejected in favor of the current system for initiations created by the GBC.
SPS: A genuine disciple of the spiritual master always accepts his instructions wholeheartedly. He never tries to dodge, ignore or subvert his instructions. (References 7, 12, 13, 14.)
GBC: At the time of his demise, Srila Prabhupada’s instructions and ideas regarding the future of initiations in ISKCON were vague or contradictory. He left it to the GBC to sort out the details.
SPS: Prabhupada specifically responded to the question of how initiations would be continued in ISKCON after his departure by dictating, reviewing and signing an official directive establishing ritvik initiations. He ordered that this directive be sent to all leaders and GBC members in ISKCON. Ritvik initiations were nothing new for ISKCON. The ritvik system of initiations and all standards had been current in ISKCON for several years prior. Nonetheless, through this official directive and numerous conversations thereafter, Srila Prabhupada clarified it in detail and institutionalized the procedure to operate without his personal supervision. For sincere disciples, there is nothing vague or contradictory in His numerous instructions. (See below reference 15.)
GBC: Iskcon is meant for recruiting disciples for living Iskcon gurus. Those who claim to be direct disciples or aspiring direct disciples of Srila Prabhupada are deviant upstarts if they accepted initiation or joined Iskcon after 1977. In the history of Vedic culture posthumous ritvik initiations have never been seen.
SPS: In Srimad-Bhagavatam and other Puranas there are many stories of ritvik priests conducting Vedic sacrifices under the auspices of a great rishis who were not present on the same planet. There are no injunctions barring so-called “posthumous” ritvik initiations. Prabhupada clearly stated that all ISKCON leaders and trustees now and in the future must be “my initiated disciples”. (See Prabhupada’s “Final Order on Initiations”, July 9th, 1977, Srila Prabhupada’s “Final Will” and “Directions for Management” and Conversation, May 28, 1977
GBC: Post-1977 Iskcon devotees may accept Prabhupada as their instructing guru and param-guru, but they need to take initiation from a living guru to get Prabhupada’s blessings and mercy.
SPS: Srila Prabhupada is both the diksa-guru and siksa-guru for all serious students of Krishna consciousness. Advanced disciples may also act as “instructing guru” by teaching devotees to accept Srila Prabhupada and follow his instructions. (See below references 8, 15 and 16.)
GBC: Vaisnava gurus are ordinary men who sometimes make common mistakes, and even great devotees sometimes become degraded under the Lord’s external maya-shakti.
SPS: < “One should consider the Acharya to be as good as the Supreme Personality of Godhead. In spite of these instructions, if one considers the spiritual master an ordinary human being, one is doomed. His study of the Vedas and his austerities and penances for enlightenment are useless, like the bathing of an elephant.” (See below reference 17 and 18.)
GBC: Although Prabhupada accepted what he had at the time, his books had many errors. Although hundreds of senior devotees have chanted these verses and translations in Prabhupada’s presence and afterwards for many years, these sayings needed several revisions done by expert pundits.
SPS: “Mistakes, illusions, cheating, and defective perception do not occur in the sayings of authoritative sages.” (See below references 14 and 17.)
GBC: Unless the GBC sanctions diksa-gurus, the disciplic succession cannot continue. Srila Prabhupada is dead; he cannot order anyone to become guru.
SPS: The disciplic succession is continued not by the manipulations of blind clerics but by genuine disciples. “The Supreme Lord said, My dear Arjuna, because you are never envious of Me, I shall impart to you the most secret wisdom, knowing which you shall be relieved of the miseries of material existence.” (Bhagavad-gita As It Is, 9.1) When repeatedly asked who would be His successor, Srila Prabhupada replied, “My success is always there. Yes. Just like the sun is there always. It may come before your vision or not—the sun is there. But if you are fortunate you come before the sun… The sun is open to everyone.” (Conversation, February 12, 1975, Mexico City) – “Only Lord Caitanya can take my place. He will take care of the movement.” (Conv., Nov. 2, 1977, Vrindaban.) (See reference 7.)
Summary Conclusions:
It is truly said, “One bad apple spoils the bunch!” In this case, at least three or four bad apples polluted the entire GBC body, most Iskcon leaders and most senior preachers. Due to the poisonous ideas introduced by a few foolish individuals, leaders in Iskcon and the vitiated Gaudiya Math temples diverted these institutions from the correct understanding of Gaudiya Vaisnava siddhanta and sadhana-bhakti, particularly with regards to guru-tattva and diksa.
In the later part of the 1980s, the GBC officially banned all scriptural and philosophical discussions on the topic of initiations in ISKCON and labeled all devotees who wanted to follow Srila Prabhupada’s system for ritvik initiations as heretics, fools or fallen rascals. Today the Iskcon GBC is comprised mostly of disciples and followers of “Iskcon gurus”. Most GBC members and “Iskcon acharyas” from the 1980s have resigned, retired, died, become incapacitated, gone insane, or fallen from the path of Krishna consciousness. Others are preaching a sahajiya hodge-podge of Krishna consciousness and Hinduism. (Only one former “zonal acharya” has admitted his mistake and rectified it.) On the other hand, by Krishna’s grace, almost all of the original proponents for Srila Prabhupada’s ritvik system are still actively preaching Krishna consciousness as it is.
Some devotees ask, “What is the harm if I accept an Iskcon guru as my so-called diksa-guru as long as I follow Srila Prabhupada’s instructions?” The problem with this approach is that it involves conceding dangerous philosophical misconceptions and contradictions. It involves impure diet and association. The GBC’s disobedience is not an innocent mistake but rather a conspiracy to utilize Srila Prabhupada’s mission for personal prestige and gain. Such motives have polluted Srila Prabhupada’s movement with false ambitions, guru-aparadha, Vaisnava-aparadha and sadhu-ninda. Srila Prabhupada’s name, fame, temples and institutions are being exploited by deviant upstarts, and some of his important teachings are being twisted, minimized or ignored by Iskcon leaders as official policy.
References:
1. “Mundane votes have no jurisdiction the elect a Vaisnava acharya. A Vaisnava acharya is self-effulgent, and there is no need of any court judgment.” (Cc. Madhya 1.220, Purport)
2. “A guru can become guru when he is ordered by his guru. That’s all. Otherwise nobody can become guru.” (Conversation, Oct. 28, 1975, Nairobi)
3. “Vallabha Bhaṭṭa wanted to be initiated by Gadādhara Paṇḍita, but Gadādhara Paṇḍita refused, saying, ‘The work of acting as a spiritual master is not possible for me. I am completely dependent. My Lord is Gauracandra, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu. I cannot do anything independently, without His order.’” (Cc. Antya 7.150,151)
4. “When one has attained the topmost position of maha-bhagavata, he is to be accepted as guru and worshiped exactly like Hari, the personality of Godhead. Only such a person is eligible to occupy the post of guru.” (Cc. Madhya, 24.330, Purport, citing Padma Purana.)”
5. “The spiritual master is never to be an object of disciplinary action…”
6. “A bona fide spiritual master is in the disciplic succession from time eternal, and he does not deviate at all from the instructions of the Supreme Lord…” (Bhagavad-gita As It Is, 4.42, Purport.)
7. “He opens my darkened eyes and fills my heart with transcendental knowledge. He is my lord birth after birth. From him ecstatic prema emanates; by him ignorance is destroyed. The Vedic scriptures sing of his character.” (Sri Guru Vandana, Verse 3)
8. “Srila Jiva Goswami advised that one not accept a spiritual master in terms of hereditary or customary social and ecclesiastical conventions. One should simply try to find a genuinely qualified spiritual master for actual advancement in spiritual understanding.” (Cc. Adi, 1.35, Purport) — “One should take initiation from a bona fide spiritual master coming in disciplic succession who is authorized by his predecessor spiritual master. This is called diksa-vidhana. (Bhagavad-gita As It Is, 4.8.54, Purport)
9. “Guru is one. He has no independent ideas or opinions.”
10. “A bona fide spiritual master is in the disciplic succession from time eternal, and does not deviate at all from the instructions of the Supreme Lord…” (Bhagavad-gita As It Is, 4.42, Purport)
11. “The spiritual master is always considered either one of the confidential associates of Radharani or a manifested representation of Sri Nityananda.” (Cc. Adi. 1.46, Purport)
12. “The spiritual master is not the question of [‘living’ or ‘dead’]… The spiritual master is eternal–the spiritual master is eternal.” (Lecture, Oct. 2, 1968, Seattle, WA) — “I will never die. I shall live from my books, and you will utilize.” (Interview, July 16, 1975, Berkeley, CA) — “Although a physical body is not present, the vibration should be accepted as the presence of the spiritual master. Vibration—what we have heard from the spiritual master—that is living.” (Lecture, Jan. 13, 1969, LA, CA) – “One should consider the Acharya to be as good as the Supreme Personality of Godhead. In spite of these instructions, if one considers the spiritual master an ordinary human being, one is doomed. His study of the Vedas and his austerities and penances for enlightenment are useless, like the bathing of an elephant.” (Srimad-Bhagavatam 7.15.26, Purport)
13. “Regarding the disciplic succession, there is nothing to wonder for big gaps. We have to pick up from the prominent acarya and follow from him.” (Letter, April 12, 1968.) — “…one has to associate with the liberated persons not directly, physically, but by understanding, through philosophy and logic…” (Srimad-Bhagavatam 3.31, Purport.) — “Although the physical body in not present, the vibration should be accepted as the presence of the spiritual master. Vibration–what we have heard from the spiritual master –that is ‘living’.” (Lecture, January 13, 1969, Los Angeles.)
14. “So we follow that ‘No Change Policy’. Not that because I think I have become now advanced, I change this to that. That means I am not advanced. My knowledge is imperfect. Therefore I am changing.”
15. “They did even consider with common sense—that if Guru Maharaja wanted to appoint somebody as acarya, why he did not say? He said so many things, and this point he missed? The real point? And they insisted upon it. The declared some unfit person to become acarya. And then another—‘Acarya!’ Another—‘Acarya!’ So better to remain a foolish [simple] person perpetually to be directed by Guru Maharaja. That is perfection. And as soon as he [the upstart] learns that Guru Maharaja is dead, ‘Now I am so advanced that I can kill my guru and I become guru.’ Then he’s finished.” (Conv. Aug. 16, 1976, Bombay) — “If everyone just initiates, then there will only be contradictory results. As long as it goes on there will only be failure.” (From Phalguna Krishna Pancami, 1961.) — “I shall recommend some of you to act as officiating acaryas. Ritvik. Yes.” (Conv. May 28, 1977, Vrindaban.) — “So, deputies… These initiations –I have deputed my disciples. Is it clear or not?” (Conv. Oct. 18, 1977, Vrindaban.) See Prabhupada’s “Final Order on Initiations”, July 9th, 1977 at www.harekrishnasociety.com .
16. “I am the initiator guru, and you should be the instructor guru by teaching what I am teaching and doing what I am doing. This is not a title, but you should actually come to this platform. This I want. “ (Letter, August 4, 1975.)
17. bhrama pramada viralipsa karanapatava, arsa-vijna-vakye nahi dosa ei saba:
“Mistakes, illusions, cheating, and defective perception do not occur in the sayings of authoritative sages.” (Cc. Adi 2.86)
18. “There is no possibility that a first-class devotee will fall down…” (Cc. Madhya 22.71, Purport)
By Vikramasingha das
The Iskcon GBC philosophy on guru-tattva and initiations has evolved over the years. In the late 1970s and early 80s, they conceded, due to the insistence of a few leading members, that eleven individuals had been appointed and empowered by Srila Prabhupada to act as zonal acharyas in Iskcon.
The GBC conceded that these eleven could create their own authority structure called “The Acharya Board”. The GBC agreed that only these eleven could be initiating spiritual masters in Iskcon and, in the future, only they could appoint other spiritual masters, or diksa-gurus, from among their disciples or Godbrother followers.
In the latter part of the 1980s, after few of the “chosen eleven” fell down and went insane, these contentions were overturned under mounting pressure from a so-called guru reform movement. GBC reformists decided that these eleven “Iskcon acharyas” could no longer be zonal autocrats above the authority of the GBC. The GBC resolved that only a majority vote of the GBC body would have authority to sanction and regulate initiating spiritual masters in Iskcon.
They resolved that any devotee sanctioned by the GBC could initiate his own disciples in Srila Prabhupada’s mission, and they recommended that “diksa-gurus” no longer accept elaborate public worship in Iskcon temples and titles and prayers meant for maha-bhagavatas. They thus tried to reduce the power and ritual status of “Iskcon acharyas” while opening the door for all senior preachers “in good standing” to covet the post of “Iskcon guru”. In this way the GBC quelled the “guru reform movement” within Iskcon.
GBC resolutions regarding initiations and guru-tattva have been inconsistent and contradictory. It is hard to find two “Iskcon gurus”, GBC members, or Iskcon devotees with the exact same views on these topics. New devotees often doubt whether the praises they sing to the spiritual master at mangala-arotika and guru-puja should be directed toward their so-called Iskcon guru or to Srila Prabhupada.
Should they hear primarily from Srila Prabhupada, or more from their “living guru”? Should they offer prayers and worship to a picture of their “guru” on the altar before doing Deity worship or offering food? If so, would he even know? Are all prayers to the spiritual master just ritualistic hyperbole that can be applied to any so-called Iskcon (or gaudiya math) “guru”?
Below is summary of the stance of the GBC today and in the recent past, with samples of their clearly implied philosophical ideas that are against the teachings of Srila Prabhupada. Immediately after each GBC idea, we have provided the correct understanding of guru-tattva and diksa according the Srila Prabhupada’s books, conversations, letters, and classes. Authorized references are cited at the end. Throughout Srila Prabhupada’s books there are many dozens of references similar to the few cited below.
GBC: The spiritual master may be a self-made guru who is nominated by his peers or followers and sanctioned by the GBC, an ecclesiastical board. There is no need for a direct, specific order from Srila Prabhupada to become a diksa-guru in Iskcon.
Srila Prabhupada’s siddhanta:“A guru can become guru when he is ordered by his guru. That’s all. Otherwise nobody can become guru.” (See below references 1, 2 and 10.)
GBC: Srila Prabhupada authorized the GBC to sanction and dismiss diksa-gurus in ISKCON.
SPS: “Mundane votes have no jurisdiction the elect a Vaisnava acharya. A Vaisnava acharya is self-effulgent, and there is no need of any court judgment.” Prabhupada authorized the GBC to select (or dismiss) representatives (ritviks), who initiate on His behalf. No one can be guru without the direct order of Krishna or His perfect devotee. (See below references 1, 2, 10 and 15.)
GBC: Lord Caitanya gave a blanket order for every devotee to initiate his own disciples.
SPS: Lord Caitanya ordered His followers to become “gurus” by asking everyone they meet to chant Hare Krishna. He never ordered all devotees to initiate their own disciples. Even Lord Caitanya’s eternal associates, like Sri Gadadhara Pandita, refused to initiate disciples without a direct order from Lord Caitanya. Many great devotees never initiated their own disciples. (References 2 and 3.)
GBC: Persons who are not self-realized souls or topmost Vaisnavas can be diksa-gurus if the GBC approves.
SPS: “Only a topmost devotee, a maha-bhagavata, is eligible to occupy the post of guru.” (See below reference 4.)
GBC: Spiritual masters must be sanctioned, overseen, regulated and, if necessary, disciplined by the GBC.
SPS: The genuine spiritual master is never to be regulated or disciplined by ecclesiastical boards. (See below reference 5.)
GBC: A spiritual master may sometimes fall down and become demoniac.
SPS: “There is no possibility that a first-class devotee will fall down…” – “The bona fide spiritual master is in the disciplic succession since time immemorial.” (See below references 6 and 18.)
GBC: One may ignore, neglect, or reject his spiritual master who falls from grace with the GBC.
SPS: A genuine disciple never rejects his spiritual master. (See reference 7.)
GBC: A student of Krishna consciousness may select any spiritual master, according his or her personal tastes and the ecclesiastical conventions current in Iskcon.
SPS: “Srila Jiva Goswami advised that one not accept a spiritual master in terms of hereditary or customary social and ecclesiastical conventions. One should simply try to find a genuinely qualified spiritual master for actual advancement in spiritual understanding.” (See below reference 8.)
GBC: There are dozens of gurus in Iskcon and each is entitled to his or her own ideas and opinions.
SPS: “Guru is one. He has no independent ideas or opinions.” (See reference 9.)
GBC: Iskcon gurus who have fallen down, if rectified, may be reinstated by the GBC.
SPS: “A bona fide spiritual master is in the disciplic succession from time eternal, and he does not deviate at all from the instructions of the Supreme Lord.”(See below reference 10.)
GBC: There are various levels of spiritual masters, or diksa-gurus, and not all are uttama-adhikaris.
SPS: “The spiritual master is always considered either one of the confidential associates of Radharani or a manifested representation of Sri Nityananda.” Only such a Vaisnava can impart transcendental knowledge into the heart of a disciple. (See below references 4, 7 and 11.)
GBC: The bona fide spiritual master dies, like all mortal men, and thus becomes useless in the matter of initiating and guiding students of Krishna consciousness.
SPS: “The spiritual master is eternal…” — “He lives forever through his divine instructions, and his follower lives with him.” — “He reasons ill who tells that Vaisnavas die!” (See reference 12.)
GBC: One must accept as one’s diksa-guru a man or woman who is living. A posthumous spiritual master, one dead and gone, cannot offer diksa and impart transcendental knowledge.
SPS: “The spiritual master is eternal.” — “Although a physical body is not present, the vibration should be accepted as the presence of the spiritual master. Vibration—what we have heard from the spiritual master—that is living.” (See references 10 and 12.
GBC: Students of Krishna consciousness whose spiritual masters have fallen from grace with the GBC may shop around for another Iskcon guru and accept “re-initiation” as many times as required for them to find an “Iskcon guru” who is steady.
SPS: “A devotee must have only one initiating spiritual master because in the scriptures acceptance of more than one is always forbidden.” (Cc. Madhya, 22.71, Purport)
GBC: Every senior Iskcon devotee, even a dependent woman or neophyte with no ability to preach, is eligible to initiate his or her own disciples. Srila Prabhupada, however, is ineligible because he cannot posthumously offer diksa. One needs a guru who is alive. A fully transcendental guru with a spiritual body is useless in the matter of initiating devotees after he is dead (posthumous).
SPS: “The spiritual master is eternal.” He is not limited by material considerations of time and space. “A perfect Vaisnava is all-powerful, just like the Supreme Lord.” (See references 7, 12 and 13.)
GBC: Not all of Srila Prabhupada’s instructions and orders are to be accepted literally or permanently. Some may be interpreted, altered, edited–or rejected as being outdated. For instance, his final order on initiations (July 9th, 1977), which he ordered sent to all ISKCON leaders and temples, is now obsolete and must therefore be rejected in favor of the current system for initiations created by the GBC.
SPS: A genuine disciple of the spiritual master always accepts his instructions wholeheartedly. He never tries to dodge, ignore or subvert his instructions. (References 7, 12, 13, 14.)
GBC: At the time of his demise, Srila Prabhupada’s instructions and ideas regarding the future of initiations in ISKCON were vague or contradictory. He left it to the GBC to sort out the details.
SPS: Prabhupada specifically responded to the question of how initiations would be continued in ISKCON after his departure by dictating, reviewing and signing an official directive establishing ritvik initiations. He ordered that this directive be sent to all leaders and GBC members in ISKCON. Ritvik initiations were nothing new for ISKCON. The ritvik system of initiations and all standards had been current in ISKCON for several years prior. Nonetheless, through this official directive and numerous conversations thereafter, Srila Prabhupada clarified it in detail and institutionalized the procedure to operate without his personal supervision. For sincere disciples, there is nothing vague or contradictory in His numerous instructions. (See below reference 15.)
GBC: Iskcon is meant for recruiting disciples for living Iskcon gurus. Those who claim to be direct disciples or aspiring direct disciples of Srila Prabhupada are deviant upstarts if they accepted initiation or joined Iskcon after 1977. In the history of Vedic culture posthumous ritvik initiations have never been seen.
SPS: In Srimad-Bhagavatam and other Puranas there are many stories of ritvik priests conducting Vedic sacrifices under the auspices of a great rishis who were not present on the same planet. There are no injunctions barring so-called “posthumous” ritvik initiations. Prabhupada clearly stated that all ISKCON leaders and trustees now and in the future must be “my initiated disciples”. (See Prabhupada’s “Final Order on Initiations”, July 9th, 1977, Srila Prabhupada’s “Final Will” and “Directions for Management” and Conversation, May 28, 1977
GBC: Post-1977 Iskcon devotees may accept Prabhupada as their instructing guru and param-guru, but they need to take initiation from a living guru to get Prabhupada’s blessings and mercy.
SPS: Srila Prabhupada is both the diksa-guru and siksa-guru for all serious students of Krishna consciousness. Advanced disciples may also act as “instructing guru” by teaching devotees to accept Srila Prabhupada and follow his instructions. (See below references 8, 15 and 16.)
GBC: Vaisnava gurus are ordinary men who sometimes make common mistakes, and even great devotees sometimes become degraded under the Lord’s external maya-shakti.
SPS: < “One should consider the Acharya to be as good as the Supreme Personality of Godhead. In spite of these instructions, if one considers the spiritual master an ordinary human being, one is doomed. His study of the Vedas and his austerities and penances for enlightenment are useless, like the bathing of an elephant.” (See below reference 17 and 18.)
GBC: Although Prabhupada accepted what he had at the time, his books had many errors. Although hundreds of senior devotees have chanted these verses and translations in Prabhupada’s presence and afterwards for many years, these sayings needed several revisions done by expert pundits.
SPS: “Mistakes, illusions, cheating, and defective perception do not occur in the sayings of authoritative sages.” (See below references 14 and 17.)
GBC: Unless the GBC sanctions diksa-gurus, the disciplic succession cannot continue. Srila Prabhupada is dead; he cannot order anyone to become guru.
SPS: The disciplic succession is continued not by the manipulations of blind clerics but by genuine disciples. “The Supreme Lord said, My dear Arjuna, because you are never envious of Me, I shall impart to you the most secret wisdom, knowing which you shall be relieved of the miseries of material existence.” (Bhagavad-gita As It Is, 9.1) When repeatedly asked who would be His successor, Srila Prabhupada replied, “My success is always there. Yes. Just like the sun is there always. It may come before your vision or not—the sun is there. But if you are fortunate you come before the sun… The sun is open to everyone.” (Conversation, February 12, 1975, Mexico City) – “Only Lord Caitanya can take my place. He will take care of the movement.” (Conv., Nov. 2, 1977, Vrindaban.) (See reference 7.)
Summary Conclusions:
It is truly said, “One bad apple spoils the bunch!” In this case, at least three or four bad apples polluted the entire GBC body, most Iskcon leaders and most senior preachers. Due to the poisonous ideas introduced by a few foolish individuals, leaders in Iskcon and the vitiated Gaudiya Math temples diverted these institutions from the correct understanding of Gaudiya Vaisnava siddhanta and sadhana-bhakti, particularly with regards to guru-tattva and diksa.
In the later part of the 1980s, the GBC officially banned all scriptural and philosophical discussions on the topic of initiations in ISKCON and labeled all devotees who wanted to follow Srila Prabhupada’s system for ritvik initiations as heretics, fools or fallen rascals. Today the Iskcon GBC is comprised mostly of disciples and followers of “Iskcon gurus”. Most GBC members and “Iskcon acharyas” from the 1980s have resigned, retired, died, become incapacitated, gone insane, or fallen from the path of Krishna consciousness. Others are preaching a sahajiya hodge-podge of Krishna consciousness and Hinduism. (Only one former “zonal acharya” has admitted his mistake and rectified it.) On the other hand, by Krishna’s grace, almost all of the original proponents for Srila Prabhupada’s ritvik system are still actively preaching Krishna consciousness as it is.
Some devotees ask, “What is the harm if I accept an Iskcon guru as my so-called diksa-guru as long as I follow Srila Prabhupada’s instructions?” The problem with this approach is that it involves conceding dangerous philosophical misconceptions and contradictions. It involves impure diet and association. The GBC’s disobedience is not an innocent mistake but rather a conspiracy to utilize Srila Prabhupada’s mission for personal prestige and gain. Such motives have polluted Srila Prabhupada’s movement with false ambitions, guru-aparadha, Vaisnava-aparadha and sadhu-ninda. Srila Prabhupada’s name, fame, temples and institutions are being exploited by deviant upstarts, and some of his important teachings are being twisted, minimized or ignored by Iskcon leaders as official policy.
References:
1. “Mundane votes have no jurisdiction the elect a Vaisnava acharya. A Vaisnava acharya is self-effulgent, and there is no need of any court judgment.” (Cc. Madhya 1.220, Purport)
2. “A guru can become guru when he is ordered by his guru. That’s all. Otherwise nobody can become guru.” (Conversation, Oct. 28, 1975, Nairobi)
3. “Vallabha Bhaṭṭa wanted to be initiated by Gadādhara Paṇḍita, but Gadādhara Paṇḍita refused, saying, ‘The work of acting as a spiritual master is not possible for me. I am completely dependent. My Lord is Gauracandra, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu. I cannot do anything independently, without His order.’” (Cc. Antya 7.150,151)
4. “When one has attained the topmost position of maha-bhagavata, he is to be accepted as guru and worshiped exactly like Hari, the personality of Godhead. Only such a person is eligible to occupy the post of guru.” (Cc. Madhya, 24.330, Purport, citing Padma Purana.)”
5. “The spiritual master is never to be an object of disciplinary action…”
6. “A bona fide spiritual master is in the disciplic succession from time eternal, and he does not deviate at all from the instructions of the Supreme Lord…” (Bhagavad-gita As It Is, 4.42, Purport.)
7. “He opens my darkened eyes and fills my heart with transcendental knowledge. He is my lord birth after birth. From him ecstatic prema emanates; by him ignorance is destroyed. The Vedic scriptures sing of his character.” (Sri Guru Vandana, Verse 3)
8. “Srila Jiva Goswami advised that one not accept a spiritual master in terms of hereditary or customary social and ecclesiastical conventions. One should simply try to find a genuinely qualified spiritual master for actual advancement in spiritual understanding.” (Cc. Adi, 1.35, Purport) — “One should take initiation from a bona fide spiritual master coming in disciplic succession who is authorized by his predecessor spiritual master. This is called diksa-vidhana. (Bhagavad-gita As It Is, 4.8.54, Purport)
9. “Guru is one. He has no independent ideas or opinions.”
10. “A bona fide spiritual master is in the disciplic succession from time eternal, and does not deviate at all from the instructions of the Supreme Lord…” (Bhagavad-gita As It Is, 4.42, Purport)
11. “The spiritual master is always considered either one of the confidential associates of Radharani or a manifested representation of Sri Nityananda.” (Cc. Adi. 1.46, Purport)
12. “The spiritual master is not the question of [‘living’ or ‘dead’]… The spiritual master is eternal–the spiritual master is eternal.” (Lecture, Oct. 2, 1968, Seattle, WA) — “I will never die. I shall live from my books, and you will utilize.” (Interview, July 16, 1975, Berkeley, CA) — “Although a physical body is not present, the vibration should be accepted as the presence of the spiritual master. Vibration—what we have heard from the spiritual master—that is living.” (Lecture, Jan. 13, 1969, LA, CA) – “One should consider the Acharya to be as good as the Supreme Personality of Godhead. In spite of these instructions, if one considers the spiritual master an ordinary human being, one is doomed. His study of the Vedas and his austerities and penances for enlightenment are useless, like the bathing of an elephant.” (Srimad-Bhagavatam 7.15.26, Purport)
13. “Regarding the disciplic succession, there is nothing to wonder for big gaps. We have to pick up from the prominent acarya and follow from him.” (Letter, April 12, 1968.) — “…one has to associate with the liberated persons not directly, physically, but by understanding, through philosophy and logic…” (Srimad-Bhagavatam 3.31, Purport.) — “Although the physical body in not present, the vibration should be accepted as the presence of the spiritual master. Vibration–what we have heard from the spiritual master –that is ‘living’.” (Lecture, January 13, 1969, Los Angeles.)
14. “So we follow that ‘No Change Policy’. Not that because I think I have become now advanced, I change this to that. That means I am not advanced. My knowledge is imperfect. Therefore I am changing.”
15. “They did even consider with common sense—that if Guru Maharaja wanted to appoint somebody as acarya, why he did not say? He said so many things, and this point he missed? The real point? And they insisted upon it. The declared some unfit person to become acarya. And then another—‘Acarya!’ Another—‘Acarya!’ So better to remain a foolish [simple] person perpetually to be directed by Guru Maharaja. That is perfection. And as soon as he [the upstart] learns that Guru Maharaja is dead, ‘Now I am so advanced that I can kill my guru and I become guru.’ Then he’s finished.” (Conv. Aug. 16, 1976, Bombay) — “If everyone just initiates, then there will only be contradictory results. As long as it goes on there will only be failure.” (From Phalguna Krishna Pancami, 1961.) — “I shall recommend some of you to act as officiating acaryas. Ritvik. Yes.” (Conv. May 28, 1977, Vrindaban.) — “So, deputies… These initiations –I have deputed my disciples. Is it clear or not?” (Conv. Oct. 18, 1977, Vrindaban.) See Prabhupada’s “Final Order on Initiations”, July 9th, 1977 at www.harekrishnasociety.com .
16. “I am the initiator guru, and you should be the instructor guru by teaching what I am teaching and doing what I am doing. This is not a title, but you should actually come to this platform. This I want. “ (Letter, August 4, 1975.)
17. bhrama pramada viralipsa karanapatava, arsa-vijna-vakye nahi dosa ei saba:
“Mistakes, illusions, cheating, and defective perception do not occur in the sayings of authoritative sages.” (Cc. Adi 2.86)
18. “There is no possibility that a first-class devotee will fall down…” (Cc. Madhya 22.71, Purport)
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