Mar 25, 08 — A Response to Gokulananda Prabhu
The general criteria by which we must make our judgment calls is guru, sastra, sadhu. I suspect that all will agree on this. However, in such cases as when arguments can be effectively put from opposing viewpoints, supported even from sastra, and more easily still, by taking selective samples of opinions from the sadhus, then the guru's practical example must supercede the other sources of instructions, especially for the loyal disciples. To fail to do so would be to erringly minimize the guru's perfect authority.
Having said this, looking at Sri Gokulananada Prabhu's arguments in regards to initiation formalities, ie rtvik or not to ritvik, we can see that viewpoints based on sastra and sadhu can be made from many angles, thus we find no clear conclusions, except inasmuch as we have prejudiced ideas. However, within the recent times, a practical example was set by the maha-jagad-guru HDG A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Maharajah Thakura.
It is a known fact that almost none of his disciples fulfilled Gokulananda's requirements as argued, as taken from sastra, that one year is to be spent with the guru PERSONALLY AND LIVE, etc., before thought of formal initiation should be entertained. So, either Srila Prabhupada was incorrect and our initiations were not bonafide, including Gokulanandaji's, or we must accept the gurus benevolent practical example as superior to our arguments taken from sastra, etc.
Srila Prabhupada set up rtvik systems since the seventies onwards; our association with him was almost 100% in separation. Most of us spent perhaps an hour in the Spiritual Master's actual physical presence, and even that usually at the time of initiation. This is totally in contradiction of Gokulananda's sastric quotes and suggestion, therefore we take the guru's practical example as fully sastric, superceding his viewpoint. After all, we are interested in the meaning of the instruction, not the superficial face value only. Just like dung is normally impure strictly according to sastra, but in reality, cow dung is pure. We disciples must really realize and accept that the spiritual master is as good as God, therefore we accept his instruction without any quibbling or argument, even if it appears to contradict superficial sastra to our limited visions.
Therefore, I humbly suggest that we all continue to follow Srila Prabhupada, and reject the mind's weak arguments based on our wishful thinking, political allegiances, or lack of knowledge or insight.
As ever, let those serious enough to seek association take siksa instruction from Srila Prabhupada's initiated disciples, read Srila Prabhupada's unchanged books, and based upon this, decide to seek formal ties of initiation with the Sampradaya, or not. Upon recommendation of our Temple Presidents and siksa gurus, after a year or so of close association as recommended by sastra, let the recommendation be made, the fire sacrifice be done, and the heart further bonded to the UNQUESTIONABLY empowered fully advanced utthama sri-gurudeva, Srila Prabhupada, formally and forever. As it was, so let it continue. It worked then, it will work now. We Srila Prabhupada disciples are living testimonies to this fact, including our good friend Gokulananda Prabhu.
Comments