"Actually it's your zone"

Hare Krsna to all

Obeisances

All glories to Srila Prabhupada

 

Below you will find a detailed explanation from the Maadhva and  Ramanuja Sampradayas represented by a few of their scholars/sadhus. One will also find a very interesting parallel between the problems facing iskcon and these other sampradayas over the past centuries and how they dealt with managerial problems. 

The interviewed persons (Sri Tatachar-Ramanuja sampradaya, and Sri Bannanje Govindacarya-Maadhva sampradaya) clearly explain the difference between the material aspects of a Matha and the spiritual qualities reserved for only a Siddha purusha or Uttama Adhikari, such as Maadhva, Ramanuja and Srila Prabhupada.

But first we start with something I pulled out recently from reading the conversations books regarding the obvious material motivations of  Ramesvara das in talking with Srila Prabhupada. He is just one such disciple, we all have material ambitions, but the so called iskcon "leaders" were highly infested with the desire to control and manipulate a spiritual institution that was to be guided by the ritvik system for initiations in the future.

Srila Prabhupada set up his GBC to control the material assets, and he was to remain the sole guiding light with his Vani thru his books,  conversations, murtis, letters, etc for as long as his iskcon existed.

Please read below these scholars explanations of how these other sampradayas have developed over time. First a little side trip with Ramesvara...to set the tone of the discussion...

 

Hare Krsna

Damaghosa das

---

Ramesvara: [talking to Srila Prabhupada] Originally we told him [ a lawyer ] that all the GBC are executors, and he said, "But out of them, just pick a few. It is a technical thing."
'Cause the GBC are already mentioned as the heirs or the managers of what you are giving.

 

Here we see Ramesvara with a Freudian slip of his tongue referring to him and his GBC sidekicks as

"Heirs" to Srila Prabhupadas property. Nobody owns the guru's property. Especially neophytes!  Why isn't he in "his temples and zones" today-if he is the "Heir"?  Krsna simply kicked his butt out, thats all.

---

Ramesvara: Number two was Los Angeles with $87,000. Number three was Berkeley with $85,000.... zones for the month. Number one is Tamala Krsna, with $200,000. Number two was my zone. Actually it's your zone, but you've made me manage it a little. $182,000, very close to beating... West Coast was not divided this year into two zones... Formerly it was just one zone. All Berkeley, it was one zone. Now it is two zones.
So I noticed that if it had not been divided...

So in this above conversation with Srila Prabhupada, Ramesvara is giving his spiritual master a sankirtan report-but again another slip of his tongue and refers to Prabhupadas temples as "my zone"

---

So some may think this is trivial and not important, but the so called leaders of the Hare Krsna movement were control and power mongers , and Ramesvara was at the top of the heap along with TKG and others.

They never really understood correctly that all that they ever  "had" was  the blessings and mercy of Srila Prabhupada. Nobody owns anything in the Ashram of the Guru. They were allowed to become transformed from a mouse to a cat to a dog and then to a tiger--all on behalf of Srila Prabhupada and Krsna's mercy.

But when they decided they wanted his assets, namely the bricks and stones (temple properties), then again punar musiko bhava--once again return to your mouse like consciousness. So where are they all today? Just see ! Again mouse like  and ordinary joe on the street-people . Judge by the result !!

-----------------------------------

Another interesting development-I was re-reading the three letters posted  about ten years ago on VNN about when  Madhu pandit and some other ritviks approached  some leading Vaisnava Acaryas of the Ramanuja/Maadhva sampradayas in India regarding clarifiying the instructions which  Srila Prabhupada gave to us for the future of his movement.

They repeatedly make the point that Srila Prabhupada was not violating any sastric injunctions by  deputing ritviks to perform initiation on his behalf-both while present and after his disappearance. They gave as evidence how Sri Ramanujacarya did the same thing and it is still going on in  that Acaryas mathas up to the present.

 

below are all the links to these articles/interviews which appeared  years ago on VNN

 

http://www.vnn.org/world/WD9901/WD28-2925.html

 

http://www.vnn.org/world/WD9901/WD28-2924.html

 

http://www.vnn.org/world/WD9902/WD09-2979.html

 

http://www.vnn.org/editorials/ET9903/ET29-3449.html

 

 

Professor Tatachar, Director Academy of Sanskrit Research, Karnataka.says:

 

Iskcon devotee: You are saying that in spite of being some sort of guru, you are the disciple of Sri Ramanuja only?

Professor Tatachar: "Yes definitely. That is why we say that we Sri Ramanuja dasan only. I have to say, adiyen madhura kavi Laxshmi Tatacharya Ramanuja dasan, when I prostrate before anyone. Sri Ramanuja das is the common thing found in all the Sri Vaisnavas, though we have been initiated by one of the simhasana-adhipatis appointed by Sri Ramanuja himself who were considered to be gurus. In spite of this we are expected to state that we are disciples of Sri Ramanuja only." 

 

[so here we find a present day , and highly respected Vaisnava who has accepted Ramanujacarya, who physically disappeared long ago, as his diksa guru.] 

 

Iskcon devotee: In the Bhagavad Gita Srila Prabhupada gives the guru parampara-Brahma, Narada, Vyas and so on till Srila Prabhupada. In the ritvik system, who comes after Srila Prabhupada?

Sri Tatachar: " Srila Prabhupada himself. Only the ritvik system continues and Srila Prabhupada is the guru."

 

Iskcon devotee: When that happens, is the parampara not stopping?

Sri Tatachar: "No, What can be done? Srila Prabhupada has not appointed an acarya. The param para continues through a chain of ritviks." 

 

[Some will accept this, some will not-thats the material world for you]

 

Iskcon devotee: Can the absence of a physical body limit the functioning of the acarya, in terms of Srila Prabhupada  being able to impart knowledge and take karma of the disciples? Can Srila Prabhupada do this now?

 

Sri Tatachar: " Just because somebody has a physical body, can he take your karma? Is he competent to do it? The presence or the absence of the physical body is not the criteria to take away the karma of a particular person. On the other hand, it depends on the devotion of the disciple and the grace of the acarya. Say for instance, Srila Prabhupadas guru was not there when Srila Prabhupada was present. Do you mean to say that they are not capable of taking the karma of their disciple?

The interesting thing (quotes a verse in sanskrit from Yatindra vimsati composed by Sri Manavala Mamuni of Sri Vaisnava sampradaya, who appeared nearly 200 years after Sri Ramanuja) 

 

Iskcon devotee: So what is the import of this statement?

 

Sri Tatachar: " That means though the guru is not physically present, he can take away all the karmas of the disciple. That is the potency of the acarya.  In that way, it is not important whether the acarya is alive with a physical body or not. that is not important."

---

Interview With Sri Bannanje Govindacharya
BY ISKCON BANGALORE

BANGALORE, INDIA, Jan 28 (VNN) — It may be recalled that HG Vidvan Gauranga Dasa posted a report of his meeting two eminent vaishnavas in Bangalore, namely Vidyavacaspati Sri Bannaje Govindacharya (a grhasta madhva scholar). When devotees of ISKCON Bangalore showed the report to Sri Bananje Govindacharya, he said that the reporting was partial and did not completely represent his views. The devotees continued their discussion with him and it was recorded. Later the interview was transcribed, taken back to him for review so that he is satisfied that we represent his views properly this time. We provide the same here:

Below is an interview with Sri Bannanje Govindacarya, original tape available:

Sri Bannanje Govindacarya: Meaning of diksha is to give adhikara in a mantra or any system or in a faith. Who can give initiation? In fact if I want to initiate somebody into gayatri, I must be a realised person. Gayatri sakshatkara is the first requirement for a diksha guru. Siddhi or perfection.Mantra siddhi. Otherwise one cannot give mantra diksha to others, according to shastra.

[So here how do the people in iskcon explain all the falldowns of their so called gurus when this Vaisnava scholar is showing that diksa mantra must be given by a siddhi guru-one who is perfect?]

So simply giving Diksha and canceling and taking again another diksha - that is all ashastric, not according to shastra... So this is the problem when we institutionalize a faith. We have to face all these problems, because when you institutionalize faith then all the institutional and organizational problems enter and all the organizational problems will come. Actually according to shastra, none of these swamis can initiate… No swami unless he has attained sakshatkar or mantra siddhi he cannot initiate. That is what….told was correct. Unless he has that power to take the sishya into that height, that elevation, initiation becomes a mere mechanical procedure. It has no meaning. If I want to initiate you I must be able to bring you to that plane and you must be able to meditate upon that mantra and that power should be given. Initiation is not mere mechanical procedure. That is a transformation of a power, mantric and spiritual power and a person who has actually no spiritual power how can he give spiritual power to a sisya. It cannot be claimed by a mere post or institutional powers. Initiation is totally different.

ISKCON devotee: This ritvik system, where Prabhupada in his absence where they act, you know these ritviks as his representatives, and giving, conducting this ceremony while still Prabhupada as the diksha guru, if this process if we continue, is it violating any vedic sastra?

Sri Bannanje Govindacarya: You see it can be done like this. Everybody must take diksha before the vigraha of Prabhupada

ISKCON devotee: Prabhupada murthi's are kept everywhere in ISKCON temples.

Sri Bannanje Govindacarya: You have a temple of Prabhupada, and before Prabhupada himself, no others can give diksha and these people provide name and mala. The diksha should be in the presence of Prabhupada's vigraha. That will be better. That would be better. There will be no problem. Just to avoid problems, see so many gurus, they will leave peeta (the sacred seat), they are falling down. Just to avoid this, you take initiation before Prabhupada's vigraha. 

ISKCON devotee: We are actually not saying that this should be practiced because of a reaction for the fall down of gurus. Even if the gurus are not falling down we are saying you should still follow this because it is the acharya's ajna

 

Sri Bannanje Govindacarya: Yes, I have simply told… This can also be avoided. No, that is not the only reason because in fact that is my concept. People ask me who is your guru. I have been taught by so many swamji's . I have not been initiated into sanyasa. That is different. People ask me, "You are being an eminent scholar, who is your guru." Then I used to say, "Madhvacharya is my guru. None else." I don't accept anybody else as my direct guru. Even now if I have got any doubt, I put the question before Madhvacharya and he must send the message, the answer to my mind and I don't ask anybody! So this is a very powerful practice. Taking initiation from mula guru. See these people are instruments, to provide this and that, what ever is required.

[Or as Srila Prabhupada would say...."you read my books and all your questions will be answered and in this way your spiritual life will develop"]

ISKCON devotee: That Prabhupada has said GBC is the ultimate managing authority… 

Sri Bannanje Govindacarya: And this should not be mixed up with the spiritual practices. It is different

[Srila Prabhupada said "I am the initiating guru and you (GBC) are the instructing gurus']

ISKCON devotee: In other words siksha. You can always be siksha guru.

Sri Bannanje Govindacarya: I can teach others. But diksha guru….well, unless I have that power I cannot give diksha to others. So again how can I claim that I have that power. "You don't have that power. I will give you that power…" It is all again a controversy. There is no end to this controversy

[You can say that again]

Devotee: Do you agree that one can become guru only on the order of his guru? Or can he just become guru? How can he become guru? - giving diksha. Prabhupada says that it is a rule that he has to get an order to continue the parampara. What do you say?

Sri Bannanje Govindacarya: Through guru parampara giving initiation is in practice in so many systems. In Madhva system it is there, in Shankara and Ramanuja system. In all the systems now the person who is authorised to give initiation comes in the peeta (sacred seat of the institutional head).Whoever comes in the peeta is authorised to give. That tradition is there now. And in fact, this is just a managerial system, administrative system. Just to solve the administrative problem, they have adopted this method. Strictly speaking, in the spiritual field anybody can initiate who is siddha purusha and even if not entitled by guru. Traditionally this is not accepted. [compliments of the smarta brahmanas] If I am a mantra siddha, I need not have a sanction from my guru or any tradition. I can initiate anybody. This is sastric. But there are two things - institutional systems is that only the peeta-adhipati (the person presiding over the peeta) guru can initiate. That is the system in the Madhva mutts. In fact only siddha purusa can initiate and he need not be a siddha purusa who has come in the traditional way in the peeta.

[And also in iskcon only Srila Prabhupada-the siddha purusha- can initiate, since that is his order]

ISKCON devotee: If he is a siddha purusa, automatically the authorisation will be there for him.

Sri Bannanje Govindacarya: Yes, yes. That's what I am saying. If he is not siddha purusa, though he is there in the peeta, lineage, according to sastra he is not authorised. But the present system accepts that he is guru! [And here we have the divisions in their matha also] But according to the sastra, he need not come in the peeta, if he is a siddha purusa and he is realised, he can give diksha to anyone. There is no sanction of tradition that is necessary to accept him as guru. The only requirement for diksha is I must be a realised person, siddha purusa of that mantra which I am giving you. If it is Vishnu mantra, I must be siddha in that Vishnu mantra or Narayana mantra or whatever it is. This is not only giving mantra upadesa but this is accepting somebody into the fold of a certain system. Then some system must be there. Its again institutionalisation. Some system. Then whatever the tradition says that is to be accepted to accept him into this fold. So all the other sampradayas accept that there is a guru paramapara in the peetas and they are entitled to give diksha. According to sastra anybody can give mudra dharana. I can give mudra to my children. But according to the present practice in the mutts, sampradaya system, they do not accept it. They say, "Only we have the authority. Only we have the authority. We can give mudra dharana. But nobody else…" Some of our swamis say, "These people belong to Uttaradi mutt, they belong to Pejawar mutt.." and so on. Again there is division. "And you cannot take vaishnava diksha from some other swami. I am your mula vidya guru. You take diksha from me." No it has become a social right. Spirituality has nothing to do with this. This is again the present plight of the muttas. There are two things. One is the social aspect of traditional acceptance, another is spiritual practice.

[So the above is a very clear explanation of why  the ancient system of initiations/diksa as given by great Acaryas later become an institution.Besides giving mantra upadesa its accepting someone into the fold of a tradition-therefore people create a "tradition" and later formalize it into an institution and then give everybody "their rules" for diksa.But technically, and according to the sastra, only a siddha purusha can give the mantra. But since we live in a "society", in order to "get along , we have to go along"-hence we have the present day iskcon and all its myriad of rules, bylaws, and of course dont forget the rules for when your diksa guru falls down so bad you wished you had never met him....]

ISKCON devotee:That's interesting. So we understand that the spiritual component of diksha Prabhupada retains for himself.

Sri Bannanje Govindacarya: Yes that is what I am saying. It is safe. If we accept the spiritual diksha is Prabhupada, if we accept that then so many problems will be solved.

[When will iskcon accept this simple principle?]

ISKCON devotee: According to our Governing Body themselves, they agree that they cannot deliver the souls back to Krishna. It is Prabhupada only that much they agree. The only thing is they don't want to give Prabhupada the post of diksha guru

Sri Bannanje Govindacarya: In other sampradayas they say that only living guru can give diksha. Therefore they are also claiming the same thing. In other sampradayas the diksha guru must be a living guru. He cannot give diksha with his spiritual body, non material body. He must give with his gross material body only - that tradition is there.

This is not siddhanta or apasiddhanta. Tradition is a social system. It is nothing to do with the spiritual. Society accepted this just to have a control on disciples from the peeta or matha. Swami should have certain control of the disciples. So they have accepted certain rights - they are his copyrights! So that he can have certain control over the society. This is a social system presently accepted by the spiritual priests. Philosophy and practice have nothing to do with it.

["Of all the plagues with which mankind has been cursed, eccliastical tyranny --is the worst"]ISKCON devotee: In short, is the ritvik system against any vedic system?

Sri Bannanje Govindacarya: It is neither vedic nor non vedic. Just to have an international contact, Prabhupada himself created this system and he is the final authority. It is not against the preaching of the vedas. 

ISKCON devotee: So Prabhupada can remain a diksha guru and these people can conduct just like the ritviks?

Sri Bannanje Govindacarya: That can be done. There is no problem in this system. Because it is an international institution it is natural that all the people may not be scholars in sastras or sanskrit. But they will be managerial heads. That is why it is inevitable to accept Prabhupada as diksha guru. It is essential thing to accept him as diksha guru and these are the instruments.

Concluding remarks: In the above two interviews with Sri Tatachar and Sri Bannanje Govindacarya, they both agree that the ritvik system is bonafide, will work, will deliver mantra to the new candidates, and is the system that Srila Prabhupada has outlined for the future of his iskcon institution.I find it somewhat ironic that almost the same things that are happening in iskcon have already happened in the Gaudiya matha and the other sampradayas. As the saying goes, History repeates itself is certainly true again in this case. There will always be devotees who will gravitate to "institutions", and "societies",in order to make some "sense" in their lives. But this affinity towards rules and regulations, motivated originally by the material desire to control, is in effect a detriment to ultimate spiritual culture which has no material boundaries and no material limitations. Therefore even though we all have material desires and ambitions, these desires can all be neutralized eventually by the power of pure devotional service-and that item is the sole property of the siddha purushas or pure devotees of the Lord-not some earthly institution created by fallible men.

Hare Krsna

Damaghosa das

DISCUSSING SRILA PRABHUPADA IS THE DIKSHA GURU - PART-2

Letter: Upendra, February 13, 1968

My Guru Maharaja was in the 10th generation from Lord Chaitanya. We are 11th from Lord Chaitanya. The disciplic succession is as follows: 1. Sri Krishna, 2. Brahma, 3. Narada, 4. Vyasa, 5. Madhva, 6. Padmanabha, 7. Narahari, 8. Madhava, 9. Akshobhya, 10. Jayatirtha, 11. Jnanasindhu, 12. Purushottama, 13. Vidyanidhi, 14. Rajendra, 15. Jayadharma, 16. Purushottama, 17. Vyasatirtha, 18. Lakshmipati, 19. Madhavendra Puri, 20. Ishvara Puri (Advaita, Nityananda) 21. Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, 22. (Svarupa, Sanatana) Rupa, 23. (Jiva) Raghunath, 24. Krishna dasa, 25. Narottama, 26. Vishvanatha, 27. (Baladeva.) Jagannatha, 28. (Bhaktivinode) Gaura-Kishora, 29. Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati, Sri Barshabhanavidayitadas, 30. SRI SRIMAD BHAKTIVEDANTA. 

 

7) Note: It is ONLY Srila Prabhupada that fulfills the WORLD ACHARYA position: 

 

Madhya 25.9 How All the Residents of Varanasi Became Vaishnavas

 

“In Dvapara-yuga, devotees of Lord Vishnu and Krishna rendered devotional service according to the principles of pancharatrika. In this Age of Kali, the Supreme Personality of Godhead is worshiped simply by the chanting of His holy names. » Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura then comments: “Without being empowered by the direct potency of Lord Krishna to fulfill His desire and without being specifically favored by the Lord, NO HUMAN BEING CAN BECOME THE SPIRITUAL MASTER OF THE WHOLE WORLD. He certainly cannot succeed by mental concoction, which is not meant for devotees or religious people. Only an empowered personality can distribute the holy name of the Lord and enjoin all fallen souls to worship Krishna. By distributing the holy name of the Lord, he cleanses the hearts of the most fallen people; therefore he extinguishes the blazing fire of the material world. Not only that, he broadcasts the shining brightness of Krishna’s effulgence throughout the world. Such an acharya, or spiritual master, should be considered nondifferent from Krishna - that is, he should be considered the incarnation of Lord Krishna’s potency. Such a personality is krsnalingita-vigraha - that is, he is always embraced by the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Krishna. Such a person is above the considerations of the varnashrama institution. HE IS THE GURU OR SPIRITUAL MASTER FOR THE ENTIRE WORLD, A DEVOTEE ON THE TOPMOST PLATFORM, THE MAHA-BHAGAVATA STAGE, AND A PARAMAHAMSA-THAKURA, A SPIRITUAL FORM ONLY FIT TO BE ADDRESSED AS PARAMAHAMSA OR THAKURA.” 

 

8) Note: ONLY Srila Prabhupada will lay claim to be PROMINENT ACHARYA to be FOLLOWED because of his books, cds, tapes, disciples, temples so extensive over the world for FUTURE generations OF THOUSANDS OF YEARS:

 

Letter: Dayananda, April 12, 1968

 

Regarding parampara system: THERE IS NOTHING TO WONDER FOR BIG GAPS. Just like we belong to the Brahma Sampradaya, so we accept it from Krishna to Brahma, Brahma to Narada, Narada to Vyasadeva, Vyasadeva to Madhva and between Vyasadeva and Madhva there is a big gap. But it is sometimes said that Vyasadeva is still living, and Madhva was fortunate enough to meet him directly. In a similar way, we find in the Bhagavad-gita that the Gita was taught to the sun god, some millions of years ago, but Krishna has mentioned only three names in this parampara system--namely, Vivasvan, Manu, and Ikshvaku; and SO THESE GAPS DO NOT HAMPER FROM UNDERSTANDING THE PARAMPARA SYSTEM. WE HAVE TO PICK UP THE PROMINENT ACHARYAS, AND FOLLOW FROM HIM. There are many branches also from the parampara system, and it is not possible to record all the branches and sub-branches in the disciplic succession. WE HAVE TO PICK UP FROM THE AUTHORITY OF THE ACHARYA IN WHATEVER SAMPRADAYA WE BELONG TO.

 

9) Note: The Hare Krishna mantra is PURE DEVOTEE Srila Prabhupada’s Property to give and July 9th 1977 ORDER is simply discharge MANAGEMENT DUTY of giving conditioned souls Ritviks the privilege OF SERVICE to give Holy Name on BEHALF of PURE devotee Srila Prabhupada. The holy name is NOT conditioned souls property this is WHY it is given ON BEHALF of Srila Prabhupada: 

 

Srimad Bhagavatam 7.9.42  Prahlada Pacifies Lord Narsimhadeva with Prayers

 

Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura also sings, tumi ta’ thakura, tomara kukura, baliya janaha more: “O my Lord, O Vaishnava, please consider me your dog.” One must become the dog of a Vaishnava, A PURE DEVOTEE, FOR A PURE DEVOTEE CAN DELIVER KRISHNA WITHOUT DIFFICULTY. KRSNA SE TOMARA, KRSNA DITE PARA. KRISHNA IS THE PROPERTY OF HIS PURE DEVOTEE, AND IF WE TAKE SHELTER OF A PURE DEVOTEE, HE CAN DELIVER KRISHNA VERY EASILY.

 

10) Note: The Ritvik System is SYSTEM OF MANAGEMENT so the issue of HOLY NAME to be given on BEHALF of Srila Prabhupada the PURE devotee MUST continue as per Srila Prabhupada’s ORDER: Other WILL Srila Prabhupada’s Will

 

2. Each temple will be an ISKCON property and will be managed by three executive directors. THE SYSTEM OF MANAGEMENT WILL CONTINUE AS IT IS NOW AND THERE IS NO NEED OF ANY CHANGE.

 

11) Note: ONE INITIATOR Srila Prabhupada. There may be many spiritual masters who instruct, but the initiator spiritual master is one. Holy Name is given ON BEHALF of Srila Prabhupada by Ritvik REPRESENTATIVES:

 

Krishna Book 80 The Meeting of Lord Krishna with Sudama Brahmana

 

Our next spiritual master is he who initiates us into transcendental knowledge, and he is to be worshiped as much as I am. The spiritual master may be more than one. The spiritual master who instructs the disciples about spiritual matters is called siksa-guru, and the spiritual master who initiates the disciple is called diksha-guru. Both of them are My representatives. THERE MAY BE MANY SPIRITUAL MASTERS WHO INSTRUCT, BUT THE INITIATOR SPIRITUAL MASTER IS ONE.

 

12) Note: ONLY the Mahabhagavata Srila Prabhupada is to be ACCEPTED as Diksha Guru otherwise it is 3rd OFFENSE in chanting: 

 

Nectar of Devotion  8 Offenses to Be Avoided

 

The offenses against the chanting of the holy name are as follows: 

 

(3) TO DISOBEY THE ORDERS OF THE SPIRITUAL MASTER.

 

Madhya 24.330 The Sixty-One Explanations of the Atmarama Verse

 

MAHA-BHAGAVATA-srestho

brahmano vai gurur nrnam

sarvesam eva lokanam

asau pujyo yatha harih

maha-kula-prasuto ‘pi

sarva-yajnesu diksitah

sahasra-sakhadhyayi ca

na guruh syad avaisnavah

 

((The guru MUST be situated on the topmost platform of devotional service. There are three classes of devotees, and the guru MUST be accepted from the topmost class. The first-class devotee is the spiritual master for all kinds of people. ….When one has attained the topmost position of maha-bhagavata, he is to be accepted as a guru and worshiped exactly like Hari, the Personality of Godhead. ONLY SUCH A PERSON IS ELIGIBLE TO OCCUPY THE POST OF A GURU.))

 

Diksha Process:

 

13) Note: OR HIS REPRESENTATIVE is the Ritvik Representative as per July 9th 1977 Order 

 

Madhya 24.330 The Sixty-One Explanations of the Atmarama Verse

 

Similarly, a disciple’s qualifications must be observed by the spiritual master before he is accepted as a disciple. IN OUR KRISHNA CONSCIOUSNESS MOVEMENT, THE REQUIREMENT IS THAT ONE MUST BE PREPARED TO GIVE UP THE FOUR PILLARS OF SINFUL LIFE - ILLICIT SEX, MEAT-EATING, INTOXICATION AND GAMBLING. IN WESTERN COUNTRIES ESPECIALLY, WE FIRST OBSERVE WHETHER A POTENTIAL DISCIPLE IS PREPARED TO FOLLOW THE REGULATIVE PRINCIPLES. THEN HE IS GIVEN THE NAME OF A VAISHNAVA SERVANT AND INITIATED TO CHANT THE HARE KRISHNA MAHA-MANTRA, AT LEAST SIXTEEN ROUNDS DAILY. In this way the disciple renders devotional service under the guidance of the spiritual master OR HIS REPRESENTATIVE FOR AT LEAST SIX MONTHS TO A YEAR. HE IS THEN RECOMMENDED FOR A SECOND INITIATION, DURING WHICH A SACRED THREAD IS OFFERED AND THE DISCIPLE IS ACCEPTED AS A BONA FIDE BRAHMANA. 

 

Note: Ritvik can be replaced if he has a fall down:

 

14) Conversations, May 28, 1977, Vrindavan

 

Tamala Krishna: Of course, IF SOMEONE HAS A FALLDOWN, just like in the past some GBC men have fallen down…

 

Prabhupada: HE SHOULD BE REPLACED.

 

Tamala Krishna: Then he should be replaced. But that’s a serious fall down, not some minor discrepancy.

 

Prabhupada: THEY MUST BE ALL IDEAL ACHARYA-LIKE. IN THE BEGINNING WE HAVE DONE FOR WORKING. Now we should be very cautious. ANYONE WHO IS DEVIATING, HE CAN BE REPLACED. 

 

15) Note: The FORMALITY INITIATION of giving Holy Name on Behalf of Srila Prabhupada and fire sacrifice are just SYSTEM OF MANAGEMENT issues: That is not very important thing.

 

Conversation, October 16, 1976,  Chandigarh

 

Interviewer: What is the procedure of the movement? Do you initiate yourself all the disciples or do your other disciples also do that?

 

Prabhupada: Well, initiation or no initiation, first thing is knowledge. (break) …knowledge. Initiation is formality. Just like you go to a school for knowledge, and admission is formality. That is not very important thing.  

 

16) Srila Prabhupada gives Divya-jnana (DIKSHA). Divya means TRANSCENDENTAL and Jnana means KNOWLEDGE Hride means heart and Prokasito means revealed just as in prakasa – manifested Krishna becomes manifest in the heart of the Pure Devotee. 

 

Lectures, July 11, 1976, New York

 

Prabhupada: Divya-jnana hrde prokasito. What is that divya-jnana? Divya-jnana is that we are all servant of Krishna, and our only business is to serve Krishna. Divya-jnana. This is divya-jnana. It is not difficult at all. Simply we have… We have become servant of so many things--servant of society, servant of community, servant of country, servant of wife, servant of children, servant of dog and so many. “Now let me become servant of Krishna.” This is divya-jnana. Diksha. Diksha means from this divya-jnana. That is di. And ksa means ksapayati, expands.

When at the stage of Madhyama Adhikari one is RECEPIENT of THAT Diksha in the HEART from SRILA PRABHUPADA he becomes a SERVANT OF KRISHNA. He relishes a particular mellow (Rasa) of his relationship with Krishna. This point HE SEES KRISHNA and HIS RELATIONSHIP (svarupa) is established. So it is not so CHEAP to be Diksha guru. 

Did Srila Prabhupada break tradition?Contradicting Sastra? MAYBE NOT!

by Yashoda nandana dasa

 

Hare Krishna, Prabhus, obeisances, all glories to Srila Prabhupada. Please permit me to recommend some articles of interest, pertaining to these topics: --

WHETHER SRILA PRABHUPADA BROKE WITH TRADITION, CONTRADICTING SHASTRA (The argument of "NO PRECEDENT")

More Vaishnava Acharyas Accept Ritvik   - Madhu Pandit das

"There are several such instances in Sri Vaishnava Parampara (tradition). Take the example of Sri Ramanujacharya himself, who was the foremost amongst the Srivaishnavacharyas. He was initiated into the Srivaishnava texts and secrets by five great acharyas who are the disciples of Acharya Yamuna. That is why is called Panchacharya Pradarshita. Though he was a disciple of these five Acharyas, just like the Ritviks appointed by HH Srila Prabhupada ji, these ritviks never claimed that they were the Acharyas of Ramanujacharya."

(http://www.bhaktivedantas.com/ART_NAMHATTA/Sri-Sam-rittvik231107.php)

Srila Prabhupada is Shastra - Praghosa das

"[Prabhupada] IS THE SHASTRA. THE SHASTRA IS ONLY RELEVANT IF IT AUTHENTICATES THE REALITY OF THE FULL INDEPENDENCE OF THE LORD AND HIS PURE LOVING DEVOTEES!!"

(http://www.bhaktivedantas.com/ART_NAMHATTA/shastra190908.php)

What are the Shastras? - Hansadutta das

"In one essay [Thakur Bhaktivinode] Srila Bhaktisiddhanta says, 'What are the shastras? They are nothing but the words of the devotees (pure devotees) or sadhus.'"

(http://www.bhaktivedantas.com/ART_NAMHATTA/shastra210908.php)

Formalities - Mahesh Raja

"ALL Srila Prabhupada did was change FORMALITIES in the way initiation was to be conducted in first and second initiations: 'The formalities may be slightly changed here and there to make them Vaisnavas.'"

(http://www.bhaktivedantas.com/ART_NAMHATTA/rittvik-formalities190908.php)

Last Minute Thoughts - Hansadutta das

"If Srila Prabhupada is shaktavesha avatar (which we do recognise that he factually is), he can do anything, and it becomes LAW. Because the fully liberated soul is always in touch with Krishna, whatever he does or says is shastra, law, absolute, non-different from Krishna. Because we do not understand does not mean it is incorrect.

'Except for God, no one can establish the principles of religion. Either He or a suitable person empowered by Him can dictate the codes of religion.'-purport, Srimad-Bhagavatam 1.3.43

Many things were never done before. Ramanujacharya engaged dacoits for collection, then had them killed. Madhvacharya pummeled his opponents. Chaitanya Mahaprabhu sang and danced in public--never done before by sannyasis . Buddha rejected the Vedas. Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Prabhupada created a GBC to manage his preaching mission, leaving no successor acharya , as was traditionally done. Srila Prabhupada made the same arrangement. In both instances, the order was disobeyed, and in both instances the result was the same--chaos, confusion and disintegration of the Acharya's mission. Great acharyas like Srila Prabhupada do establish the principles of religion according to time, place and circumstances."

(http://www.bhaktivedantas.com/ART_NAMHATTA/SPMAY11.html)

WHETHER WE NEED A LIVING GURU

Living Guru - Hansadutta das

"What is your idea of living? A moving body? A warm body? The body is never living. It is the soul, the spirit within the body. ... 'You need a living guru.' What do they mean by 'living'? Do they mean to say that Srila Prabhupada is dead? Do they mean to say that Krishna is dead? Lord Chaitanya is dead? Vyasadeva is dead?

"If you say we need to have someone physically present giving instructions, that also is not a fact. That is helpful, but it is not a fact. It is not a fact. Because there are many examples of boys and girls who received Srila Prabhupada's books, and although he was not physically present, by reading and capturing the spirit, they became awakened to Krishna consciousness. It is not true that I need a living body through which this message, this spirit will come. It will come through the book, or it may come through the sincere servant..."

(http://www.bhaktivedantas.com/ART_NAMHATTA/livingguru180309.php)

QUESTION OF BREAKING THE PARAMPARA

Last Minute Thoughts - Hansadutta das

"First of all, neither Srila Prabhupada nor we say guru parampara should be abandoned. Rather, Srila Prabhupada has given specific instructions how it should be continued and its integrity preserved.

"Secondly, should we think that Srila Prabhupada has thrown aside volumes of evidence to contradict his spiritual master and the disciplic succession? Tamal's argument in ISKCON Journal (Vol. 1, No. 1) leads to that logical conclusion. It is Srila Prabhupada himself who has given the directive "Act as rittvik representative of the Acharya." Not anyone else has concocted this system of rittvik representation. Certainly Srila Prabhupada did not leave it to anyone to concoct or speculate what should be done. He gave the clear, specific order in his letter of July 9, 1977. Those who have concocted are the very persons who have set his order aside and gone ahead to become guru-acharyas.

"The guru parampara is broken not by following the acharya's order, but by disobeying and neglecting it. Having totally disregarded Srila Prabhupada's express wishes, ISKCON GBCs and guru-acharyas have effectively cut off ISKCON from its Founder-Acharya, Srila Prabhupada."

(http://www.bhaktivedantas.com/SPMAY11.html)

And of course, for those who have not already perused it, "Srila Prabhupada, His Movement and You" (http://www.bhaktivedantas.com/SPMAY.html).

Please read - Thank-you very much:

Since many of us support the  July 9th 1977 http://www.harekrsna.com/sun/editorials/10-07/editorials2084.htm  that Srila Prabhupada himself set-up AND NEVER RECINDED, I wish to respond to the above.

The Ritvik System is just FORMALITIES, so as per Srila Prabhupada's instructions: "The formalities may be slightly changed here and there to make them Vaisnavas."

It is being misconstrued as "introduce a new system", BUT--FACTUALLY--it is ONLY FORMALITIES.

Lets study the following in terms of FORMALITIES:

1) Srila Prabhupada as a sannayasi got his disciples married. There is no verification in sastra that a sannyasi can do this.

• Srimad Bhagavatam 5.1.24 Purport - The Activities of Maharaja Priyavrata:

"Sometimes we are criticized because although I am a sannyasi, I have taken part in the marriage ceremonies of my disciples. It must be explained, however, that since we have started a Krsna conscious society and since a human society must also have ideal marriages, to correctly establish an ideal society we must take part in marrying some of its members, although we have taken to the path of renunciation. This may be astonishing to persons who are not very interested in establishing daiva-varnasrama, the transcendental system of four social orders and four spiritual orders. Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura, however, wanted to reestablish daiva-varnasrama. In daiva-varnasrama there cannot be acknowledgement of social status according to birthright because in Bhagavad-gita it is said that the determining considerations are guna and karma, one's qualities and work. It is this daiva-varnasrama that should be established all over the world to continue a perfect society for Krsna consciousness. This may be astonishing to foolish critics, but it is one of the functions of a Krsna conscious society."

Srila Prabhupada's Vyasapuja Lecture, August 22, 1973, London:

"I'm sometimes criticized by my Godbrothers that I have become a marriage-maker, because a sannyasi does not take part in a marriage ceremony, but I get my disciples married. This is also unique in the history. So they criticize me that I have become a marriage-maker. But they, they do not know why I take this risk. I have got many disciples, they are married couples, but all of them, husband and wife, they are helping this movement. Here is Bhagavan dasa, he's also married man, children."

Srila Prabhupada's Letter to Satsvarupa, September 20, 1968:

"In your letter of the 17th instant, you have very frankly inquired from me about householder life, especially in the matter of sex relationship. A sannyasi is not supposed to be asked about anything sexual. But still, because you are so much dependent on my instruction, so I must give you information as far as possible. Married life is not for sex indulgence. The principle of marriage is on the background of getting good children. So the householder is allowed to have sex life once in a month, just after the menstrual period. The menstrual period prolongs at least for 5 days, so after this 5 days, one can have sex life provided he desires to get a child. And as soon as the wife is pregnant, no more sex life, until the child is born and is grown up at least for 6 months. After that, one may have sex life on the same principle. If one does not want more than one or two children, he should voluntarily stop sex life. But one should not strictly use any contraceptive method and at the same time indulge in sex life. That is very much sinful. If the husband and wife can voluntarily restrain by powerful advancement of Krishna Consciousness. That is the best method. It is not necessary that because one has got wife, therefore you must have sex life. The whole scheme is to avoid sex life as far as possible. And if one can avoid it completely then it is a great victory for him. Married life is a sort of license for sex life on condition of raising children. So you should try to understand these principles of married life and use your discretion. You should not imitate great personalities like Bhaktivinode Thakura, but you must follow His footprints. But it is not always possible to have the same success as great personalities like Bhaktivinode Thakura achieved. So in all circumstances you should try to follow the footprints of authorities but never to imitate them. Unless Jadurani develops a better health and strength, I do not advise her to become pregnant. I think you will understand the instruction as I have given and try to follow it as far as possible."

Srila Prabhupada's Letter to Sacisuta, July 5, 1969:

"Please accept my blessings. I thank you very much for your letter dated June 23, 1969, and I have carefully gone over the contents. I am so pleased to learn that you are feeling very nicely in Buffalo temple and you are working hard and sincerely to push on this sublime movement of Krishna Consciousness. Regarding your question about marriage, the thing is that as I am a sannyasi, I am not concerned with family life, but because I want to see my disciples very happy in Krishna Consciousness, therefore, those who are feeling some sexual disturbance are requested by me to get themselves married."

2) Srila Prabhupada had disciples hear the TAPE of him giving Gayatri Mantra at brahmana initiation. There is no verification in sastra of this.

• Srila Prabhupada's Letter to Gaura Hari, September 24, 1971:

"At your recommendation I have gladly consented to accept Guy as my duly initiated disciple. His letter and beads are enclosed herewith. Also enclosed are three sacred threads duly chanted by me as well as four papers with Gayatri mantra for the four devotees you have recommended for second initiation. You should secure the tape of me reciting Gayatri mantra from Makhanlal in Seattle. Let each devotee hear the tape privately, one at a time, and through the right ear. They should have the paper in front of them and hear and repeat each word. Beforehand you can show them how to count on the fingers, and beforehand hold a fire yajna and get the threads on the boys' bodies."

3) Srila Prabhupada had the WIFE of one disciple read Gayatri mantra to a devotee. There is no verification in sastra of this.

• Srila Prabhupada's Letter to Vaikunthanatha, Sardia, April 4, 1971:

"Even though you have had no gayatri mantra, still you are more than brahmana. I am enclosing herewith your sacred thread, duly chanted on by me. Gayatri mantra is as follows:

[TAKEN OUT]

Ask your wife to chant this mantra and you hear it and if possible hold a fire ceremony as you have seen during your marriage and get this sacred thread on your body. Saradia, or any twice-initiated devotee, may perform the ceremony.

What Srila Prabhupada did was unprecedented in the history of Vaisnava sampradaya. But this did NOT mean he transgressed the sastra. On the contrary, sastra fully support Srila Prabhupada's actions IN AS MUCH AS the Ritvik System is ALSO part and parcel of above FORMALITY, wherein the Ritvik Representatives are performing FORMALITIES, i.e., the fire sacrifice and name giving CEREMONIES. The formalities may be slightly changed here and there to make them Vaisnavas.

• Srimad Bhagavatam 4.8.54 Purport - Dhruva Maharaja Leaves Home for the Forest:

"Those who are not actually in the line of acaryas, or who personally have no knowledge of how to act in the role of acarya, unnecessarily criticize the activities of the ISKCON movement in countries outside of India. The fact is that such critics cannot do anything personally to spread Krsna consciousness. If someone does go and preach, taking all risks and allowing all considerations for time and place, it might be that there are changes in the manner of worship, but that is not at all faulty according to sastra. Srimad Viraraghava Acarya, an acarya in the disciplic succession of the Ramanuja-sampradaya, has remarked in his commentary that candalas, or conditioned souls who are born in lower than sudra families, can also be initiated according to circumstances. The formalities may be slightly changed here and there to make them Vaisnavas."

Srimad Bhagavatam 6.12.20 Purport - Vrtrasura' s Glorious Death:

"Therefore Sukadeva Gosvami says in Srimad-Bhagavatam (2.4.18):

• kirata-hunandhra-pulinda-pulkasa
  abhira-sumbha yavanah khasadayah
  ye 'nye ca papa yad-apasrayasrayah
  sudhyanti tasmai prabhavisnave namah

"Kiratas, Hunas, Andhras, Pulindas, Pulkasas, Abhiras, Sumbhas, Yavanas and members of the Khasa races, and even others addicted to sinful acts can be purified by taking shelter of the devotees of the Lord, for He is the supreme power. I beg to offer my respectful obeisances unto Him." Anyone can be purified if he takes shelter of a pure devotee and molds his character according to the pure devotee's direction. Then, even if one is a Kirata, Andhra, Pulinda or whatever, he can be purified and elevated to the position of a maha-paurusya."

Rocana Prabhu wrote:

"I don't think you can introduce a system that has no verification in sastra."

Yes we agree - ALL Srila Prabhupada did was change FORMALITIES in the way initiation was to be conducted in first and second initiations: "The formalities may be slightly changed here and there to make them Vaisnavas."

BUT Diksa per say, when MADHYAMA adhikari receives is unchanged, as that is NOT formality (see Diksa Given to Madhyama-adhikari is Not a Formality  http://www.harekrsna.com/sun/editorials/11-07/editorials2223.htm

Srila Prabhupada in the July 9th, 1977 ORDER is FORMALITY of HOW 1st and 2nd initiations were to be conducted - and THAT is ALL it was. And THIS was the change in terms of FORMALITY, nothing more.

The INITIATED disciples were to be Srila Prabhupada's DISCIPLES. How can you have disciples belonging to anyone else? Disciples belong to one who gives discipline. FACTUALLY we are ALL taking - DISCIPLINE - FROM Srila Prabhupada's books, CDs, Tapes. Common sense!

 

The Initiator is Eternally Present

Bhakta Mark – NY US: The secret is that one must submissively listen to those who know perfectly the science of God, and one must begin the mode of service regulated by the preceptor.  A devotee already attracted by the name, form, qualities, etc., of the Supreme Lord may be directed to his specific manner of devotional service; he need not waste time in approaching the Lord through logic.  The expert spiritual master knows well how to engage his disciple’s energy in the transcendental loving service of the Lord, and thus he engages a devotee in a specific devotional service according to his special tendency.

A devotee must have only one initiating spiritual master because in the scriptures acceptance of more than one is always forbidden. There is no limit, however, to the number of instructing spiritual masters one may accept.
Generally a spiritual master who constantly instructs a disciple in spiritual science becomes his initiating spiritual master later.

** (From the beginning we are constantly instructed by Srila Prabhupada’s books, lectures, and conversations, and will continue to be until death) **

One should always remember that a person who is reluctant to accept a spiritual master and be initiated is sure to be baffled in his endeavor to go back to Godhead. One who is not properly initiated may present himself as a great devotee, but in fact he is sure to encounter many stumbling blocks on his path of progress toward spiritual realization, with the result that he must continue his term of material existence without relief. Such a helpless person is compared to a ship without a rudder, for such a ship can never reach its destination. It is imperative, therefore, that one accept a spiritual master if he at all desires to gain the favor of the Lord. The service of the spiritual master is essential.
If there is no chance to serve the spiritual master directly, a devotee should serve him by remembering his instructions. There is no difference between the spiritual master’s instructions and the spiritual master himself. In his absence, therefore, his words of direction should be the pride of the disciple.
(Adi 1.35 purport.)
Today, Sunday, November 10, 1974-corresponding to the 10th of Kārtikka, Caitanya Era 488, the eleventh day of the dark fortnight, the Rāma-ekādaśī-we have now finished the English translation of Śrī Kṛṣṇadāsa Kavirāja Gosvāmī’s Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta in accordance with the authorised order of His Divine Grace Bhaktisiddhānta Sarasvatī Ṭhākur Gosvāmī Mahārāja, my beloved eternal spiritual master, guide and friend. Although according to material vision His Divine Grace Śrīla Bhaktisiddhānta Sarasvatī Ṭhākura Prabhupāda passed away from this material world on the last day of December, 1936, I still consider His Divine Grace to be always present with me by his vāṇī, his words. There are two ways of association-by vāṇī and by vapu. Vāṇī means words, and vapu means physical presence. Physical presence is sometimes appreciable and sometimes not, but vāṇī continues to exist eternally. Therefore we must take advantage of the vāṇī, not the physical presence. Bhagavad-gītā, for example, is the vāṇī of Lord Kṛṣṇa. Although Kṛṣṇa was personally present five thousand years ago and is no longer physically present from the materialistic point of view, Bhagavad-gītā continues…
… I think that His Divine Grace Bhaktisiddhānta Sarasvatī Ṭhākura is always seeing my activities and guiding me within my heart by his words. As it is said in Śrīmad Bhāgavatam, tene brahma hṛdā ya ādi-kavaye. Spiritual inspiration comes from within the heart, wherein the Supreme Personality of Godhead, in His Paramātmā feature, is always sitting with all His devotees and associates. It is to be admitted that whatever translation work I have done is through the inspiration of my spiritual master because personally I am most insignificant and incompetent to do this materially impossible work. I do not think myself a very learned scholar, but I have full faith in the service of my spiritual master, His Divine Grace Śrīla Bhaktisiddhānta Sarasvatī Ṭhakura. If there is any credit to my activities of translating, it is all due to His Divine Grace.
Certainly if His Divine Grace were personally present at this time, it would have been a great occasion for jubiliation, but even though he is not physically present, I am confident that he is very pleased by this work of translation.
He was very fond of seeing many books published to spread the Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement. Therefore our society, the International Society for Kṛṣṇa Consciousness, has formed to execute the order of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu and His Divine Grace Śrīla Bhaktisiddhānta Sarasvatī Ṭhakura.
(Cc. 1975: Concluding Words)
Indian Man (2): …like your company very much in Toronto and we feel like talk you so much, but we don’t have so much time to talk with you. You have so much mercy, so we have not… know so much about Kṛṣṇa from you.
Prabhupāda: So in my absence you read the books. What I talk, I have written in the books. That’s all.
Indian Man (2): Personally, we think more greater.
Prabhupāda: That’s all right. But still, you can associate with me by reading my books.
(Morning Walk — August 7, 1975, Toronto)
To answer your last point, one who teaches can be treated as Spiritual Master. It is not that after we become initiated we become perfect. No. It requires teaching. So if we take instruction from them, all senior godbrothers may be treated as guru, there is no harm. Actually, you have only one Spiritual Master, who initiates you, just as you have only one father. But every Vaisnava should be treated as prabhu, master, higher than me, and in this sense, if I learn from him, he may be regarded as guru. It is not that I disobey my real Spiritual Master and call someone else as Spiritual Master. That is wrong. It is only that I can call Spiritual Master someone who is teaching me purely what my initiating Spiritual Master has taught. Do you get the sense?
Letter to: Sri Galim — Delhi 20 November, 1971
The chanting Hare Krishna is our main business, that is real initiation. And as you are all following my instruction, in that matter, the initiator is already there. Now the next initiation will be performed as a ceremony officially, of course that ceremony has value because the name, Holy Name, will be delivered to the student from the disciplic succession, it has got value, ( Letter to: Tamala Krsna — Montreal 19 August, 1968)
The GBC should all be the instructor gurus. I am in 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 must actually come to this platform. This I want.
(Letter to: Madhudvisa: — Detroit 4 August, 1975)
Why distinguish between chanting and book distribution? These books I have recorded and chanted, and they are transcribed. It is spoken kirtanas. So book distribution is also chanting. These are not ordinary books. It is recorded chanting. Anyone who reads, he is hearing.
(Letter to: Rupanuga: — Mayapur 19 October, 1974)
On the whole, you may know that he is not a liberated person, and therefore, he cannot initiate any person to Krishna Consciousness. It requires special spiritual benediction from higher authorities.
(Letter to: Janardana — New York 26 April, 1968)
The initiating spiritual master is a PERSONAL MANIFESTATION of Śrīla Madana-mohana vigraha, whereas the instructing spiritual master is a PERSONAL REPRESENTATIVE of Śrīla Govindadeva vigraha.
(Adi 1.47 : PURPORT)
When one has attained the topmost position of maha-bhagavata, he is to be accepted as a guru and worshiped exactly like Hari, the Personality of Godhead. Only such a person is eligible to occupy the post of a guru.
( Madhya 24.330)
Satsvarūpa: By the votes of the present GBC. Then our next question concerns initiations in the future, particularly at that time when you’re no longer with us. We want to know how first and second initiation would be conducted.
Prabhupāda: Yes. I shall recommend some of you. After this is settled up, I shall recommend some of you to act as officiating ācāryas.
Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: Is that called ṛtvik-ācārya?
Prabhupāda: Ṛtvik, yes.
(room conv. May 28. 1977)
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.) (letter to Hamsadutta, July 10th 1977)
Tamala Krsna Maharaja: Upendra and I could see it for the last… [break]
Srila Prabhupada: “And nobody is going to disturb you there. Make your own field and continue to become ritvik and act on my charge. People are becoming sympathetic there. The place is very nice.” (Room Conversation, July 19th,1977)
Hamsadutta das: Srila Prabhupada replied my letter by paraphrasing my question and answering in a letter dated July 31st 1977 as follows:
“You have written to Srila Prabhupada saying you do not know why he 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 to a beautiful and qualified wife and that is a great benediction. 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 got 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 BE RITTVIK AND ACT ON MY BEHALF”
Prabhupada: “When it was not handed down. Simply understood by speculation. Or if it is not handed down as it is. They might have made some changes. Or they did not hand it down. Suppose I handed it down to you, but if you do not do that, then it is lost. Now the Krishna consciousness movement is going on in my presence. Now after my departure, if you do not do this, then it is lost. If you go on as you are doing now, then it will go on.” (Room conversations, May 9th,1975, Perth)
Nov 1977 – “The system of management will continue as it is now and there is no need of any change.”
(Section 1. Srila Prabhupada’s Last Will and Testament)
Nov 1977 – “In the event of death or failure to act for any reason of any of the said directors, a successor director or directors may be appointed by the remaining directors, provided the new director is my initiated disciple …”
(Section 3,  Srila Prabhupada’s Last Will and Testament)

Show proof were Srila Prabhupada appointed Diksa Gurus.

 Gaurangasundar dasa

“Unless it is there from me in writing, there are so many things that “Prabhupada said.” (Srila Prabhupada Letter, 2/9/75)
“…just like in our ISKCON there are so many false things: “Prabhupada said this, Prabhupada said that.” (Srila Prabhupada Letter, 7/11/72)
“Sometimes they say, “Prabhupada said it.” More misleading. Yes.” (Srila Prabhupada Morning Walk, 3/2/75)
“Just like in our society, sometimes they do something nonsense and they say, “Prabhupada said.” (Srila Prabhupada Conversation, 9/5/75)
 Srila Prabhupada: Try to understand. Don’t go very speedily. A guru can become guru when he is ordered by his guru. That’s all. Otherwise nobody can become guru. (SP Bg. Lecture, 28/10/75)
 ‎"Self-made guru cannot be guru. HE MUST BE AUTHORIZED BY THE BONA FIDE GURU.Then he's guru. This is the fact...Similarly, bona fide guru means he must be authorized by the superior guru."
(Srila Prabhupada Lecture on Nectar of Devotion, October 31. 1972)
  ‎"One should take initiation from a bona fide spiritual master coming in the disciplic succession, who is AUTHORIZED BY HIS PREDECESSOR SPIRITUAL MASTER. This is called diksa-vidhana."
(Srimad Bhagavatam 4.8.54, purport)
 “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)
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SRILA PRABHUPADA'S WRITTEN AND SIGNED ORDER TO THE ENTIRE SOCIETY WAS THE JULY 9TH RITVIK APPOINTMENT LETTER .
PLEASE PRODUCE A LETTER AFTER THIS DATE WRITTEN AND SIGNED BY SRILA PRABHUPADA STATING 2 THING
1)TO STOP FURTHER INITIATION VIA RITVIK.
2)AND THAT THE 11 DEVOTEES ARE NOW NO-LONGER RITVIKS BUT REGULAR DIKSHA GURUS  .


Follow the Latest Order

From a lecture by Śrīla Prabhupāda on the Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, Hyderabad, India, April 15, 1975:

I may say many things to you, but when I say something directly, "Do it", your first duty is to do that. You cannot argue, "Sir, you said me like this before." No, that is not your duty. What I say now, you do it. That is obedience.

Sad-Guru Nama-hatta or "Guru-hatta" Hati-mata?

By Vikramasingha das

In the market for a new guru? Recently in Russia devotees organized a Hare Krishna sankirtana festival, with many devotees from all over the country attending. To their surprise, 25 “iskcon-gurus” from around the world flew in uninvited and began canvassing for new initiates among the devotees, many of whom had already been initiated once or more by other “iskcon-gurus” (iskurus). Vishnu-murti, who was attending the event, reported, "Each elected iskuru is a vote of 'no confidence' for all other gbc-elected-gurus. Each is competing with all the others." He overhead a few iskurus talking: "This is great. We should do these festivals ourselves -- have our guys set them up. We'll call them 'guru-hattas'." From this report is appears that some iskcon leaders may be interested in promoting marketplaces for iskurus instead of true nama-hattas – marketplaces for the holy name.

"One should not try to be an artificially advanced devotee, thinking, 'I am a first-class devotee.' Such thinking should be avoided. It best not to accept any disciples." (Caitanya-caritamrta Madhya 7.130, Purport.) "If everyone just initiates, there will only be a contradictory result. As long as it goes on, there will only be failure." (From the Palguna Krishna Pancami, a poem by Srila Prabhupada, 1961.) "In all the Vedas it is seen that to cross the ocean of material existence, there is no alternative to the chanting of the holy name." (Caitanya-caritamrta Adi 7.76, Purport.)

The International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON), once powerfully united for cooperatively preaching the mission of the holy name, with Srila Prabhupada as Acarya, the Sad-Guru for all, has thus degenerated into dozens of camps of sentimentalists who have strayed from the strict path Krishna consciousness. New devotees in these camps are not trained to hear from Srila Prabhupada carefully, worship Him exclusively, or study His books with rapt attention. In fact, in most iskcon temples, if a second-generation disciple claims that Srila Prabhupada is his diksa-guru, he will be banned from the temple.

The genuine ISKCON is a place meant primarily for devotees serious about the path of full surrender to Lord Krishna and renunciation of ambitions based on the bodily concept of life. Specifically, it is meant for Srila Prabhupada's own disciples. In spite of misguided leadership throughout much of iskcon, a few sincere devotees may remain in iskcon trying to achieve pure devotional service. Everyone is an individual in unique circumstances. This is article is not meant to judge any iskcon or non-iskcon devotee or camp but to inspire those who are serious about going back to Godhead quickly and easily. Srila Prabhupada has assured us of that "Krishna consciousness is simple for the simple" and that it can be perfected in this lifetime. But we must know the path precisely.

In 1972 I read an Indian aerogram from His Divine Grace Srila Prabhupada to His Holiness Vishnujana Swami. I never forgot it. Surprisingly, even then, Srila Prabhupada was advising leading preachers not to constantly canvass for converts. Instead, He was asking Vishnujana Swami (and other leading preachers) to carefully train the existing Hare Krishna devotees in the science of Krishna consciousness. He warned, "When the waves of maya attack, your little sentiment for Krishna may not save you. All my disciples must be thoroughly trained in the philosophy of Krishna consciousness." (Letter, Visnujana Swami, 1972.) In a letter to another leading preacher of the day, He wrote, "What is the use of so many devotees if none of them are knowledgeable?" (Letter, 1972.)

Throughout Srila Prabhupada's books we find repeated recommendations urging sincere students of Krishna consciousness to accept only the topmost pure devotee as spiritual master. Unfortunately, however, neophytes, laity, women, sentimentalists and others who are ignorant or misled often prefer instead to find a guru who has a material body. The false doctrine that disciples must have a physically embodied guru to receive initiation in Krishna consciousness has ruined the reputation of iskcon and has led to deviations from the philosophy and practices of Krishna consciousness. It has thrust upon beginning students of Krishna consciousness the terrible task of having to choose a “guru” from among dozens of eccentric preachers and pretenders. The gbc's bogus policy of posting multiple upstarts to replace Srila Prabhupada as diksa-guru has severely fragmented the institutions Srila Prabhupada created. This misguided gbc policy has driven away many sincere souls from Srila Prabhupada's worldwide mission of transcendental mercy. The gbc's unauthorized policy of creating diksa-gurus artificially has greatly diminished iskcon's reputation while greatly boosting the business non-iskcon cults and pretenders.

All the scriptures proclaim that the body of Sad-Guru is eternal or purely transcendental, as are all of His instructions. Srila Prabhupada, Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati, Srila Gaura Kirsora Das Babaji, and Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura are empowered personalities who must be worshiped by all but never imitated. Such great personalities are extremely rare and are nothing like elected or self-appointed "gurus". They are omnipotent nitya-siddhas who descend from Goloka Dhama for the deliverance of all conditioned souls in the universe.

"A nitya-siddha devotee comes from Vaikuntha upon the order of the Supreme Personality of Godhead and shows by his example how to become a pure devotee... A pure devotee, therefore, is a practical example for all living entities, including Lord Brahma." (Srimad-Bhagavatam 7.10.3, Purport.)

The iskcon gbc and its indoctrinated clerics claims that Srila Prabhupada is dead (“posthumous”) and thus no longer available to initiate or guide devotees, who therefore need a "living guru”. Srila Prabhupada was asked specifically about the necessity of accepting a so-called "living guru”. He replied in similar ways to various questions in this regard. For example:

The spiritual master is not a question of ['living']... The spiritual master is eternal; the spiritual master is eternal..." (Lecture, Seattle, Oct. 2,1968.)

"The spiritual master is in the disciplic succession since time eternal, and he does not deviate at all from the instructions of the Supreme Lord." (Bhagavad-gita As It IS 4.42, Purport.)

"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, LA, CA.)

Those who are not very serious about solid, quick advancement in Krishna consciousness -- in other words, those who have more interest in the social aspect of the Hare Krishna movement -- often prefer a “guru” who lives on the same mundane plane as they do. They feel more comfortable with an easygoing, fun-loving guru. This phenomenon is what Srila Prabhupada called the fad of "accepting guru like pet." Sentimental or frivolous persons sometimes accept a guru as "pet", "buddy", "fellow dude in devotion", "rock star", or as an ordinary man who can be sometimes ignored or rejected. This is not the way to accept the genuine spiritual master.

"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." (Caitanya-caritamrta Madhya, 24.330, Purport, citing Padma Purana.)

Guru Buyers Beware!

There are many disadvantages for a student who accepts an elected iskuru or similar discount "diksa-guru" from another camp. For instance, one may not go back to Godhead for many lifetimes by this process, even while supposedly chanting "Hare Krishna". Srila Prabhupada and Srila Siddhanta Sarasvati Thakura have warned that it is quite possible to go on chanting for many lifetimes but remain in the material world due to material desires and offenses. A neophyte in Krishna consciousness who is jealous of a maha-bhagavata acarya and eager to occupy his post may not be qualified to deliver himself or his followers from the miseries of birth and death. Srila Prabhupada comments, "The whole world is in the blaze of material pangs, the threefold miseries, and a person who is authorized to deliver people from those material pangs -- he is called a spiritual master." (Lecture, August 17, 1968, Montreal.)

The iskcon gbc claims that anyone in iskcon except Srila Prabhupada can occupy the post of diksa-guru in the Krishna consciousness movement. Simply by volunteering, any devotee with a physical body, even a dependent woman, can become diksa-guru, as long as the gbc approves. This idea contradicts the specific sadhana Srila Prabhupada established for initiations. Furthermore, such an idea contradicts the siddhanta of all Vaisnava sastras.

Here are a few examples illustrating the actual Vaisnava siddhanta on guru-tattva: "Vallabha Bhatta wanted to be initiated by Gadadhara Pandita, but Gadadhara Pandita refused, saying, 'The work of acting as a spiritual master is not possible for me. I am completely dependent. My Lord is Gaurasundara, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu. I cannot do anything independently, without His order.'" (Caitanya-caritamrta Antya 150, 151.) "A guru can become guru when he is ordered by his guru. Otherwise nobody can become guru." (Conversation, October 28, 1975, Nairobi.) "The bona fide spiritual master is in the disciplic succession since time eternal, and he does not deviate at all from the instructions of the Supreme Lord." (Bhagavad-gita As It Is, 4.42, Purport.) “Therefore a disciple should be careful to accept an uttama-adhikari as spiritual master." (Nectar of Instruction, Text 5, Purport.) "...help can be given only by a spiritual master like Krishna. Therefore the conclusion is that a spiritual master who is one hundred percent Krishna conscious is the bona fide spiritual master, for he can solve the problems of life." (Bhagavad-gita As It Is, 2.8, Purport.) “He reasons ill who says that Vaisnavas die, when Thou art living still in sound.” (From a poem by Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura.) "One should not try to be an artificially advanced devotee, thinking, 'I am a first-class devotee.' Such thinking should be avoided. It best not to accept any disciples." (Caitanya-caritamrta Madhya 7.130, Purport.) "I shall recommend some of you to act as officiating acaryas." (Conversation, May 28, 1977, Vrindaban.) "These initiations. I have deputed my disciples. Is it clear or not?" (Conversation, Oct. 18, 1977, Vrindaban.)

There are many disadvantages for devotees who believe in the gbc's "anyone can be the acarya" mythology. As many devotees have learned firsthand, your "learn-on-the-job guru" who has "put on the dress", hoping "the dress will show him what to do", may experience sudden severe difficulties in his own life. He may get put on probation by the gbc after getting caught in some illicit activity, or he may leave the mission of Krishna consciousness entirely. You might need to find a replacement guru again and again. Iskcon's elected or self-appointed iskuru club members have been repeatedly punished by severe mishaps, weird misadventures, gross fall downs, violent attacks, violent accidents, madness, heart attacks, comas, sudden death, severe legal problems, constant ridicule by Vaisnavas, constant migraines, insanity, and public exposure for moral deviations that shock even gross materialists. If nothing more sensational happens to him, your iskuru may simply stop chanting Hare Krishna and leave the movement, or ignore you, unable to remember your name, face, service, or loving words of praise. Lord Krishna's maya-shakti has arranged quick punishment and exposure for many pretenders posing as Gaudiya Vaisnava acaryas, just to warn all upstarts.

Yet many uneducated neophytes remain eager to follow pretenders, or become pretenders, who gamble the spiritual lives of others and invite their own ruination. Some devotees have been initiated repeatedly by two, three, or four gbc-approved iskurus who have later grossly deviated and left the mission of Krishna consciousness. The scriptures clearly warn that one who imitates an uttama-adhikari will fall from the path of bhakti-yoga.

"However, one should not imitate the behavior of an advanced devotee or mahā-bhāgavata without being self-realized, for by such imitation one will eventually become degraded." (Nectar of Instruction, Text 5, Purport.)

"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." (Caitanya-caritamrta Adi 1.35, Purport)

Guru Sellers Beware!

Besides the disadvantages to the individual student that the "mass wannabe-guru philosophy" creates, there are numerous disadvantages to the worldwide preaching mission, It creates schisms and numerous sastric deviations. It ignores Srila Prabhupada's specific instructions for initiations in the Krishna consciousness movement. It changes the focus of the mission and specific sadhana Srila Prabhupada established. It burdens the new student with the useless task of wading through iskcon politics to choose a “guru” from a crowd of unknown and unproven persons. It creates needless obstacles, doubts and distractions on the path of surrender to Srila Prabhupada.

Another big disadvantage caused by the gbc's guru policy: disunity. Instead of practicing to become humble messengers and servants of Lord Chaitanya's mission, like Sriman Jayananda Prabhu, preachers learn to compete for followers and separate facilities for their own missions and disciples. The mood of pure service in the mission of the Sampradaya Acarya gets polluted with motives for personal prestige and profit, and Srila Prabhupada's loyal disciples are driven away. Nowadays in iskcon, even a dependent woman in the institution aspires to become a diksa-guru with her own disciples. Even neophytes whose iskuru is still alive are applying to the gbc to become initiating spiritual masters. Instead of learning to become humble servants of Srila Prabhupada and humble servants in the common mission of Lord Chaitanya, preachers are infected with the disease of ambition for followers, prestige and money. Srila Prabhupada has explained that such offenses are due to "envy of the exalted status of the spiritual master."

The gbc's mass iskuru successor system creates mundane politics in the spiritual mission and often divides followers of one iskuru against followers of another. There are innumerable disadvantages to the gbc's bogus ideas on guru succession. As mentioned above, the gbc policies regarding initiations are in direct opposition to Srila Prabhupada's specific instructions, established sadhana in ISKCON, and the Gaudiya Vaisnava siddhanta on guru-tattva.

Srila Prabhupada: “... So we follow that 'No Change Policy'. Not that because I think I have become now advanced, I change this to that. That mean I am not advanced. My knowledge is imperfect. Therefore I am changing.”

The gbc's mistaken ideas were, of course, derived from the vitiated gaudiya math. In defiance of Srila Prabhuapada's direct orders, leading gbc men began consulting with gaudiya math leaders immediately after Srila Prabhupada's disappearance. These men were obviously dissatisfied with Srila Prabhupada's instructions and directives officially establishing the continuance of ritvik initiations in the movement. They wanted to be acaryas without authorization, but they needed some inspiration from gaudiya matha leaders whom they tried, at first, to prop up as “higher authorities.” Later, when their main gaudya matha senior authority realized his mistake and sided with Srila Prabhupada, the gbc turned on him viciously. Since that that time, the gbc has several times modified or changed their official stance on various issues, particularly the issue of gurus and initiations in ISKCON.

"Why did this Gaudiya Matha fail? They wanted to create artificially someone as acarya, and everything failed... They declared some unfit person to become acarya. Then another man came. And then another--'acarya!' Then another --'acarya!' ...” (Conversation, August 16, 1976, Bombay.)

“Srila Bhaktisiddhānta Sarasvatī Ṭhākura, He said that 'When our men will be sahajiyā, oh, they'll be more dangerous.' So our men are becoming, some of them, sahajiyās. This very word He said, that 'When our men will be sahajiyās he'll be more dangerous'.” (Conversation)

Once I visited a "gaudiya matha" temple in the San Francisco Bay area. Staying there at the time were three initiating "gurus" and two disciples. Srila Prabhupada Himself mused at the irony of such discount diksa-gurus: "One temple and two disciples, and he is acarya?" The concept of accepting as "guru" a rubber-stamped, self-appointed upstart is risky business. Even more risky is the position of those eager to occupy the post of Vaisnava acarya without authorization, or by hook and crook voting.

"As soon as a foolish disciple tries to overtake his spiritual master and becomes ambitious to occupy his post, he immediately falls down." (Srimad-Bhagavatam 5.12.14, Purport.)

"And as soon as he learns that Guru Maharaja is dead, 'Now I am so advanced that I can kill my guru and I become guru'... then he is finished." (Conversation, August 16, 1976, Bombay)

"Mundane votes have no jurisdiction to elect a Vaisnava acarya. A Vaisnava acarya is self-effulgent, and there is no need of any court judgment." (Caitanya-caritamrta Madhya 2.218.)

A statistical analysis will show that the job of iskuru is one of the most dangerous jobs in the world, right up there with rodeo bull rider, motorcycle stuntman, and front-line, war-time Marine.

Sri Guru for the Golden Age

Srila Prabhupada left immense instructions in His numerous books, taped lectures, formal classes, morning walks, room conversations, bhajanas with purports, and videos. He left trained representatives in positions of authority to help guide the mission and train new devotees. He also established the sadhana for accepting Him as diksa-guru and approaching Him directly through physical service to His divine murti. Thus, today, for the serious student of Krishna consciousness, Srila Prabhupada is as much available as before His divine disappearance day in 1977. Simply by walking into a genuine ISKCON temple, everyone gets the immediate opportunity to bow down, offer obeisances, serve, and accept as one's personal guide and savior the most exalted, infallible and lovable Srila Prabhupada, the Supreme Personality of Servitor Godhead, Who is empowered by the disciplic succession, Lord Nityananda and Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu. Intelligent students of Krishna consciousness should never accept an upstart as a substitute for Srila Prabhupada.

Srila Prabhupada replied in similar ways to related questions such as "who will be the next acarya?" and "who will be your successor?" For instance: "Only Lord Chaitanya can take my place. He will take care of the movement." (November 2, 1977, Vrindaban) "After me, there will be no more acarya." (Conversation, New York, 1968) "I will never die. I will live forever from my books, and you will utilize." (Interview, July 16, 1975, Berkeley.) "I will always be the spiritual master for the entire Krishna consciousness movement; for anyone in this age willing to follow the principles I have given for the benefit of everyone." (Conversation 1975, Ookala, Hawaii.) "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.)

Srila Prabhupada's activities and symptoms prove that He is the predicted shakya-avesha-avatara who spreads the Hare Krishna maha-mantra all over the world. He was predicted by Lord Nityananda, the Supreme Lord. He was predicted by Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura, the incarnation of Lord Chaitanya's energy. Srila Prabhupada was directly or indirectly indicated by other great acaryas like Srila Vyasadeva and Srila Visvanatha Cakravati Thakura and by Lord Chaitanya Himself. Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura, Himself a shakya-avesha-avatara, concisely predicted Srila Prabhupada with these words:

"Without being empowered by the direct potency of Lord Krishna to fulfill His desire, and without being specifically favored by the Lord, no human being can become spiritual master for the whole word... Only an empowered personality can distribute the holy name of the Lord and enjoin all fallen souls to worship Krishna. By distributing the holy name of the Lord, He cleanses the hearts of the most fallen people; therefore He extinguishes the blazing fire of the material world. Not only that, He broadcasts the shining brightness of Krishna's effulgence throughout the world... Such a person is... guru or spiritual master for the entire world, a devotee of the topmost platform, the maha-bhagavata stage." (Cited in Cc., Madhya 25.9, Purport.)

Lord Chaitanya sent several great devotees in a short span of time to revive the mission and teachings of the Hare Krishna movement and to expand this knowledge worldwide. Such great personalities are extremely rare in any age. Srila Prabhupada said, "You can imitate but it will not be effective." These great teachers will always remain the true spiritual masters for the entire Krishna consciousness movement and the entire world. Tandera carana sevi bhakta-sane vasa, janame janame hoy ei abhilasa. Specifically, Srila Prabhupada Himself will always remain the spiritual master for those who accept His transcendental mission and instructions. The disciplic succession is continued not by pretenders or by ecclesiastical arrangements but by genuine disciples of the Sampradaya Acarya.

"I will never die. I will live from my books and you will utilize." (Interview, July 16, 1975, Berkeley.)

"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." (Caitanya-caritamrta Adi 1.35, Purport)

"I wish that each and every branch keep their independent identity and cooperate, keeping the Acarya in the center. On this principle we can open any number of branches all over the world." (Letter, February 11, 1967.)

"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." -- (Srila Prabhuapada in Mexico City, 1975.)

The GBC's "Guru-hatta" Hati-mata Philosophy

The iskcon gbc is directly responsible for numerous offenses against Srila Prabhupada and His disciples, particularly His second-generation disciples, who have been repeatedly told they cannot accept Srila Prabhupada as their primary spiritual master or diksa-guru. Srila Prabhupada and His position as Founder-Acarya are minimized by leading gbc smartas who write political papers that shape gbc policy on major issues while deliberately ignoring Srila Prabhupada's direct orders. These smarta pundits claim that Srila Prabhupada is dead and gone, and they imply that Srila Prabhupada neglected to offer clear instructions regarding initiations in ISKCON. These toxic smartas claim that Srila Prabhupada made omissions and mistakes in guiding the mission and that His disciples who want to keep Him as the diksa-guru in the Krishna consciousness movement are deviants, or worse. Meanwhile, under the gbc's watch, Krishna's cows have been sent for slaughter, Krishna's children sent to molesters, Krishna's farms and temple sold, Prabhupada's books changed, and Prabhupada's disciples abused or driven out.

Although Srla Prabhupada several times ordered that nothing be changed in ISKCON's sadhana or system of management, some leading gbcybergs decided it would be better to change the books, change the philosophy, change the Deity worship, change the guru-puja, change the devotees, change the focus, and replace Srila Prabhupada as diksa-guru.

Under the circumstances, the gbc body has become polluted by Vaisnava aparadha and guru -aparadha. The gbc has apparently become what Queen Srimati Kuntidevi described as a "vicious assembly." Anyone remaining complicit with the gbc today will likely be affected or infected by these offenses. Such infected persons may become ambitious to artificially gain the status of Vaisnava acarya, even if that means offending hundreds of devotees, ignoring Srila Prabhupada's orders, dividing the mission, changing established sadhana, and twisting the Gaudiya Vaisnava siddhanta on guru-tattva.

Srila Prabhupada: “Real law means there is no change. Just like day and night, it is coming. The fortnight, the dark period and the light period, it is coming for millions and millions and time immemorial. The same law is going...going on. You cannot change. So as soon as you change, that means it is imperfect.”

"My dear King, if a person, after hearing blasphemous propaganda against the Lord and His devotees, does not go away from that place, he becomes bereft of the effect of all pious activities." (Srimad-Bhagavatam 10.74.40) [Cited by Srila Prabhupada in Nector of Devotion, Chapter Nine, first paragraph.]

In Nector of Devotion, Chapter Nine under the heading "Blasphemy," Srila Prabhupada describes three ways to deal with insults to Lord Krishna, the spiritual master, or pure devotees. First option is to defeat the offenders by expert argument. Second option is to give up one's life. The third option, for those unable to follow either of the first two options, is to leave the place and go away. Srila Prabhupada comments, "If a devotee does not follow any of the above-mentioned three processes, he falls down from his position of devotion." Unfortunately, many senior devotees in iskcon have risked or ruined their spiritual lives by supporting the offensive statements, offensive actions and ever-morphing defiant policies of the maya-gbc. In so doing, they have helped disrupt the spiritual progress of thousands of innocent devotees.

Neophytes on the path of self-realization should not become forlorn due to seeing profusions of proliferating pretenders posing as preachers. In one sense, the proliferation of counterfeit bills indicates real currency of great value. For example, if there was no real gold, there would be no market for selling fake gold. As an aspiring poet once wrote:

“...Battle lines, saw the signs, knew which way to go,

Have you heard? Prabhupada lives! Nothing more to know...”

To avoid the “mad elephant” offenses generated out of “guru-hatta” chaos, sincere devotees should try to help revive the original Krishna consciousness movement, the true Sri Guru Nama-hatta, where Srila Prabhupada, the Acarya, sits firmly and forever at the center of the mission, distributing the mercy of the holy names to all conditioned souls in the universe.

"I wish that each and every branch keep their independent identity and cooperate, keeping the Acarya in the center. On this principle we can open any number of branches all over the world." (Letter, February 11, 1967.)

References:

"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." (Caitanya-caritamrta Adi 1.35, Purport)

"If everyone just initiates, there will only be a contradictory result. As long as it goes on, there will only be failure." (From the Palguna Krishna Pancami, a poem by Srila Prabhupada, 1961)

"But if everyone simply imitates your exalted status, there will be only a contradictory result. As long as this pretense continues, there will only be utter failure." (From Vaisistya-Astaka, a peom by Srila Prabhupada, 1961)

"Oh, shame! shame! my dear Godbrothers--aren't we embarrassed by what we are doing? In the manner of mundane businessmen we deceptively increase the numbers of our own disciples." (Vaisistya-Astaka, 1961)

“If one tries to mingle the worship of yogamaya with mahamaya, considering them one and the same, he does really show high intelligence.” (Cc. Madhya 8.90, Purport)

“Intermingling the spiritual with the material causes one to look on transcendence as material and the mundane as spiritual. This is all due to a poor fund of knowledge.” (Cc. Madhya 16.72, Purport)

"Presently people are so fallen they cannot distinguish between a liberated soul and a conditioned soul." (Srimad-Bhagavatam 4.18.5, Purport)

"One who considers the spiritual master an ordinary human being... is considered a naraki, a candidate for hellish life." (Caitanya-caritamrta Antya 6.294, Purport)

"As soon as a foolish disciple tries to overtake his spiritual master and becomes ambitious to occupy his post, he immediately falls down." (Srimad-Bhagavatam 5.12.14, Purport)

"Why did this Gaudiya Matha fail? ... They wanted to create artificially someone as acarya, and everything failed... They declared some unfit person to become acarya. Then another man came. And then another--'acarya!' Then 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 learns that Guru Maharaja is dead, 'Now I am so advanced that I can kill my guru and I become guru.' Then he is finished." (Conversation, August 16, 1976, Bombay.)

"A guru can become guru when he is ordered by his guru. Otherwise nobody can become guru." (Conversation, October 28, 1975, Nairobi.)

"Vallabha Bhatta wanted to be initiated by Gadadhara Pandita, but Gadadhara Pandita refused, saying, 'The work of acting as a spiritual master is not possible for me. I am completely dependent. My Lord is Gaurasundara, Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu. I cannot do anything independently, without His order.' " (Caitanya-caritamrta, Antya 150, 151.)