1. Tdasa ; We consider ourselves simply the modern followers of HDG A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupad, as he taught and set the perfect examples. There is no such thing as "ritvik philosophy", per se, as we are simply following Prabhupada's philosophy.
Srila Prabhupada ;
" From now on unless I order you do something change or in addition, go on with the usual standard way. "
"Kṛṣṇa consciousness does not meant to be one-sided. Kṛṣṇa is all-pervading, the Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement also should be all-pervading. It should touch everything, even politics, sociology, everything, if required. That is the aim. Because Kṛṣṇa’s mission is: yadā yadā hi dharmasya glānir bhavati bhārata [Bg. 4.7], paritrāṇāya sādhūnāṁ vināśāya ca duṣkṛtām [Bg. 4.8]."
"Make your own field... and continue to be Ritvik... and act on my behalf." - Śrīla Prabhupāda: July 31, 1977.
-(Conv. 2.11.77)
Quote from ISKCON’s Certificate of Incorporation
“ It is declared that His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada is the Founder-Acarya of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness of the Bay Area. He shall be the supreme power with respect to all matters of the Society, and that status shall not be occupied by or shared with any other individual, either during his lifetime, OR AFTER HIS DEATH. His name and title must appear on all documents, letterheads, publications and buildings of the Society or Corporation.”
From The Bhagavat, Its Philosophy, its Ethics and its Theology, By Srila Bhaktivinode Thakur
" Two more principles characterize the Bhagavata which is liberty and progress of the soul throughout eternity. The Bhagavat teaches us that God gives us truth as he gave it to Vyasa, when we earnestly seek for it. Truth is eternal and unexhausted. The soul receives a revelation when it is anxious for it. The souls of the great thinkers of the by-gone ages, who now live spiritually, often approach our enquiring spirit and assist it in its development. Thus Vyas was assisted by Narada and Brahma. "
Tdasa; This corroborates everything the "ritviks" and those following Srila Prabhupada without change have been saying! "The soul receives a revelation when it is anxious for it. The souls of the great thinkers of the by-gone ages, who now live spiritually, often approach our enquiring spirit and assist it in its development." The word "approach " is used. The spiritual masters approach the enquiring soul. This is active, this is ALIVE, this is now, this is the living words of Srila Bhaktivinode Thakura our great great guru, and Lord Sri Krishna.
The ceremony of diksha or initiation is that by which the spiritual Preceptor admits one to the status of a neophyte on the path of spiritual endeavour. The ceremony tends to confer spiritual enlightenment by abrogating sinfulness. Its actual effect depends on the degree of willing co-operation on the part of the disciple and is, therefore, not the same in all cases. It does not preclude the possibility of reversion on the novice to the non-spiritual state, if he slackens in his effort or misbehaves. Initiation puts a person on the true track and also imparts an initial impulse to go ahead. It cannot, however, keep one going for good unless one chooses to put forth his own voluntary effort. The nature of the initial impulse also varies in accordance with the condition of the recipient. But although the mercy of the good preceptor enables us to have a glimpse of the Absolute and of the path of His attainment, the seed that is thus sown requires very careful tending under the direction of the preceptor, if it is to germinate and grow into the fruit-and-shade-giving tree. Unless our soul of his own accord chooses to serve Krishna after obtaining a working idea of his real nature, he cannot long retain the Spiritual Vision. The soul is never compelled by Krishna to serve Him.
But initiation is never altogether futile. It changes the outlook of the disciple on life. If he sins after initiation, he may fall into greater depths of degradation than the uninitiated. But although even after initiation temporary set-backs may occur, they do not ordinarily prevent the final deliverance. The faintest glimmering of the real knowledge of the Absolute has sufficient power to change radically and for good the whole of our mental and physical constitution and this glimmering is incapable of being totally extinguished except in extraordinarily unfortunate cases.
WHY WAS SRILA PRABHUPADA MARTYRED ?
Prabhupada: ‘I know. I came here to take their suffering.
Even when I leave, I will keep continuing taking their suffering, and make them free so they can keep chanting Hare Krishna"
Prabhupāda: ".. In this institution, I am guru, and if everyone becomes guru, then who will carry out the order of guru? There must be disciple also, who will carry out the order of guru. So it is not required..."
Room Conversation with Press Representative -- March 21, 1975, Calcutta:
"Now you have a very good field. Now organize it and it will be a great credit. No one will disturb you there. Make your own field and continue to become ritvik and act on my behalf."
(Śrīla Prabhupāda to Hansadutta : July 31, 1977)
ANYONE who tries to con you and says that formal diksha is not Srila Prabhupada's orders for us all, is lying
Dasa Tamohara
ANYONE who tries to con you and says that formal diksha is not Srila Prabhupada's orders for us all, is lying;
Srila Prabhupada said "You must take diksha!" He travelled the world doing dikshas. He appointed ritivks to do dikshas. He said don't change anything. All who took formal diksha are written into his book of disciples' names, no one else. All our acaryas did dikshas, Even Mahaprabhu Himself took formal diksha and was transformed. Puri Maharajaha says SP appointed ritviks, but the cons have no process, being unqualified, so they say not necessary to take diksha. They are making this nonsense up. Without brahminical diksha and mantras there is no Deity worship nor preaching to other brahmanas. Thus it ends our movement like a knife in the back.
The bhakti train runs on two rails; bhagavata dharma and pancaratriki vaidhi, ie pure spirit life, and formal rules etc. for us in this world and culture. You are wrecking our train with this nonsense! Brahmanas are to guide, and they are all duly initiated, not just "read some books."
FIRST INITIATION IS DIKSHA - SRILA PRABHUPADA OUR DIKSHA GURU
My dear Satsvarupa Maharaja,
Please accept my humble obeisances at your feet. I have been instructed by His Divine Grace Srila Prabhupada to reply your letter dated July 25th, 1977.
Srila Prabhupada explained the difference between first and second initiation as follows: “Why do you believe in rumors, that first initiation is not so important as second? I have already said that it is equally important, but you say rumor. Actually first initiation is more important. You can go without second initiation; if the first initiation is executed very thoroughly that is sufficient. First initiation stands strong. The spiritual master accepts the disciple’s sinful reactions upon giving first initiation. The Vedic system was to give the sacred thread at the first initiation. We are following Pancaratriki. Vedic initiation was given to a person born to a brahmana. That is not possible in this age. Therefore he has to be prepared by Hari Nam initiation and then second initiation. He is given a chance. Therefore others protest that I am giving initiation: He is not born of a brahmana, how can he be initiated?”
YOU MUST TAKE DIKSHA, OR YOUR SERVICE IS USELESS !
Paramahaṁsa: Śrīla Prabhupāda, it appears that there is a group of persons here in Australia who think, judging from the different questions that are being asked, they are thinking that it is not required to formally accept...
Prabhupāda: There are so many rascal svāmīs come. They say like that, "There is no need of guru."
Paramahaṁsa: Yeah, right. They think that Kṛṣṇa is in the heart, and you can accept initiation by that way.
Prabhupāda: You do not know where to find out Kṛṣṇa in the heart. [end]
"Unless one takes shelter of a bonafide, fully Krsna conscious spiritual master, there is no chance of understanding Krsna... ....Only one who has surrendered to a pure devotee of Krsna can understand Krsna." [SB 7-5-32]
"Unless one is initiated by a bonafide spiritual master, ALL his devotional activities are USELESS.
A person who is not properly initiated can again descend into the animal specie." [Madhya Lila 15 .
"One should take initiation from a bonafide spiritual master coming in the disciplic succession, who is AUTHORIZED by his predecessor spiritual master. This is called dikshan-vidhana. [SB 4.8.54]
"Unless one takes shelter of a bonafide, fully Krsna conscious spiritual master, there is no chance of understanding Krsna.... Only one who has surrendered to a pure devotee of Krsna , and has taken the dust of his lotus feet can understand Krsna..... One must take shelter of a self-realized spiritual master, that is the way to return home, back to Godhead." [SB 7.5.32 purport]
According to the Vaiṣṇava regulative principles, one must be initiated as a brāhmaṇa. The Hari-bhakti-vilāsa (2.6) quotes the following injunction from the Viṣṇu-yāmala:
adīkṣitasya vāmorukṛtaṁ sarvaṁ nirarthakam
paśu-yonim avāpnotidīkṣā-virahito janaḥ
“‘Unless one is initiated by a bona fide spiritual master, all his devotional activities are useless. A person who is not properly initiated can descend again into the animal species.’”
Hari-bhakti-vilāsa (2.10) further quotes:
ato guruṁ praṇamyaivaṁsarva-svaṁ vinivedya ca
gṛhṇīyād vaiṣṇavaṁ mantraṁdīkṣā-pūrvaṁ vidhānataḥ
“‘It is the duty of every human being to surrender to a bona fide spiritual master. Giving him everything — body, mind and intelligence — one must take Vaiṣṇava initiation from him.’”
"One should not proudly think that one can understand the transcendental loving service of the Lord simply by reading books... One must accept a Vaisnava guru (adau gurv-asrayam), and then by questions and answers one should gradually learn what pure devotional service to Krsna is. That is called the parampara system." (Cc. Antya-lila 7.53, purp.) — AC Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
** Srila Prabhupad is not a dead Guru. He is always present to guide us provided we are sincere and serious. **
Indian lady: Can the death of a spiritual master take to us, or I can get... Is that spiritual master still guiding after the death? (?)
Prabhupāda: Yes, yes. Just like Kṛṣṇa is guiding us, similarly, spiritual master will guide. We are being guided by Kṛṣṇa, by the Bhagavad-gītā. Although Kṛṣṇa is not physically present, so-called... Kṛṣṇa is present always. But even if we say that Kṛṣṇa is not physically present as He was present before Arjuna, still, His book, Bhagavad-gītā, is there. And that Bhagavad-gītā is non different from Kṛṣṇa. Kṛṣṇa and Kṛṣṇa's teaching, the same, absolute. That is Absolute Truth. Kṛṣṇa and Kṛṣṇa's... Here form, the same. It is not that we are making show of offering Kṛṣṇa some food. No, we are offering directly to Kṛṣṇa and He's eating. Kṛṣṇa being absolute, He can perform through anything provided we are sincere and serious. All right.
(Srila Prabhupada's Lecture on the Appearance Day of Srila Bhaktivinoda Ṭhākur London, September 3, 1971)
Kṛṣṇa Kṛpā Srī Mūrti
The Embodiment of Kṛṣṇa's Mercy
in glorification of Śrīla A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda by Śrīla Gour Govinda Swami on Śrīla Prabhupāda's disappearance day 6th November, 1994, Bhubaneswar, India.We should understand a Vaiṣṇava never dies. A Vaiṣṇava has no birth and no death like an ordinary jīva. He is no ordinary jīva, he is beyond birth and death. As the Supreme Lord appears and disappears, similarly His dear devotee, Vaiṣṇava Thākura, appears and disappears.
na karma-bandhunaṁ janma vaiṣṇavānāṁ ca vidyate viṣṇur anucaratvaṁ hi mokṣam āhur manīṣiṇaḥ“A Vaiṣṇava does not take birth under the jurisdiction of karmic law. His birth and disappearance are transcendental. The wise have declared that the servants of Viṣṇu are eternally engaged in the liberated service of the Lord and hence are free from the laws of material nature.” (Hari-bhakti-vilāsa, 10.113)
Gopala Krsna: Srila Prabhupada, I am just trying to clarify -- I don't want to offend anyone -- but no disciple of yours should call himself diksa-guru or siksa-guru. Am I right?
Prabhupada:.." Well, everyone is engaged to become siksa-guru, but one should become perfect. The attempt is -- what is called? -- probationer. When probationer period is finished, then he is naturally, automatically, bona fide guru. Not in the probationer period. That is immature attempt. That will failure. Amara ajnaya [Cc. Madhya 7.128], Caitanya Mahaprabhu said: "By My order." So all my disciples are expected to become siksa-guru on my order, not by his own order."
Srila Prabhupada's room conversation May 30 1976 Honolulu, Hawaii.
2 - I myself am not too keen on the so-called July 9 letter etc., as they are written by a madman, or a group of madmen, Tamal Krshna and poisoner usurper party men; we prefer to see what Srila Prabhupada himself actually did in the actual real course of his lifetime, and what he wrote in his books, as opposed to fallacious legalistic documents meant to disempower and usurp.
RM Devi Dasi "In our society everyone, either a brahmacari or sannyasi or grhastha, who has dedicated his life and soul for this movement, they are all on the same level of sannyasi. For the present moment, nobody can claim an extra honor from his Godbrothers. Everyone should treat his Godbrothers as Prabhu. But nobody should try to claim any extra honor on account of an official position."
- In the past Temple Presidents have written to Srila Prabhupada recommending a particular devotee’s initiation; ."In the past Temple Presidents have written to Srila Prabhupada recommending a particular devotee’s initiation. Now that Srila Prabhupada has named these representatives, Temple Presidents may henceforward send recommendation for first and second initiation to whichever of these eleven representatives are nearest their temple. After considering the recommendation, these representatives may accept the devotee as an initiated disciple of Srila Prabhupada by giving a spiritual name, or in the case of second initiation, by chanting on the Gayatri thread, just as Srila Prabhupada has done."
Srila Prabhupada said that for one godbrother to sit in a position of honor and dictate charity to other godbrothers is nonsense, maya. tdasa
-3 Srila Prabhupada is eternally the founder-acarya and initiating Guru of ISKCON, and we are but his servants' servants' servants. He is perfect, and has made good arrangements for all who would follow him. Srila Prabhupada is eternally the diksha Guru in all of his temples. We the followers will attempt to provide pure siksha.
15. sri-caitanya-pravartita sankirtana yajna ihate laiya diksa bhajibena vijna
“A wise person will worship the Lord after taking initiation in the sacrifice of the holy name inaugurated by Sri Krishna Chaitanya and His associates.” SBSS
"The GBC should all be the instructor (siksa) gurus. I am the initiator (diksa) 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.”(Srila Prabhupada Letter, August 4th, 1975)
"So we should associate by vibration, and not by the physical presence. That is real association.". Srila Prabhupada lecture, Srimad Bhagavatam, August 18, 1968
"So far as personal association with Guru is concerned, I was only with Guru Maharaj 4 or 5 times, but I have never left his association, not even for a moment. Because I am following his instruction, I have never felt any separation. There are some of my God brothers here in India, who had constant personal association with Guru Maharaja, but who are neglecting his orders. This is just like the bug who is sitting on the lap of the king. He may be very puffed up by his position but all he can succeed in doing is biting the king. Personal association is not so important as association through serving."
"I went to your country for spreading this information of Krishna Consciousness and you are helping me in my mission, although I am not physically present there but spiritually I am always with you." - Srila Prabhupada letter to Nandarani, Krishna Devi and Subala, October 3, 1967
"I am always with you. Never mind if I am physically absent."� - Srila Prabhupada letter to Jayananda, September 16, 1969"
"....My success is always there!"
Hanuman: One thing he's saying, this gentleman, and I would like to know, is your successor named or your successor will...
Prabhupada: 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. Otherwise you remain in darkness. Sun is open to everyone. Our Krsna consciousness movement--Krsna is open to everyone. But if you are fortunate, you come to the light. If you are unfortunate, do not. That is your choice.
[Srila Prabhupada Room Conversation with Sanskrit Professor, other Guests and Disciples, February 12, 1975, Mexico]
I will never die!
Reporter: Who will succeed you when you die?
Srila Prabhupada: I will never die!
Devotee’s: Jaya! Haribol!
Srila Prabhupada: I will live forever for my books and you will utilise.
[Interview, Berkley, 1975]
May 28, 1977, Vrndavan
Satsvarupa Maharaja:"Then our next question concerns initiations in the future, PARTICULAR AT THE TIME WHEN YOU ARE NO LONGER WITH US . We want to know how initiations would be conducted."
Srila Prabhupada:"Yes, I shall recommend some of you to act as officiating acarya." [ 'Officiating' is the performance of a function on behalf of another]
Tamal Krsna Maharaja: "Is that called ritvik-acarya?"
Srila Prabhupada: "Ritvik. Yes".
Tom Garden said; The GBC should all be the instructor (siksa) gurus. I am the initiator (diksa) 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.” (Srila Prabhupada Letter, August 4th, 1975)
....accept some bogus person as perfect, that is your fault. You must be assured that "The person from whom I am asking, he is perfect. Then you take it. Otherwise don't take." Caracas, February 19, 1975
Heidi Lipis; "Based on this quote, defend the perfect! Defend Srila Prabhupdada! Do not waste your time defending the imperfect. We show compassion to victims, to the innocent, but not to those who take positions of leadership and wrongfully mislead innocents."
The GBC should all be the instructor (siksa) gurus. I am the initiator (diksa) 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.”(Srila Prabhupada Letter, August 4th, 1975)
"So we should associate by vibration, and not by the physical presence. That is real association.". Srila Prabhupada lecture, Srimad Bhagavatam, August 18, 1968
"I am always with you. Never mind if I am physically absent." - Srila Prabhupada letter to Jayananda, September 16, 1969"
"....My success is always there!"
Hanuman: One thing he's saying, this gentleman, and I would like to know, is your successor named or your successor will...
Prabhupada: 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. Otherwise you remain in darkness. Sun is open to everyone. Our Krsna consciousness movement--Krsna is open to everyone. But if you are fortunate, you come to the light. If you are unfortunate, do not. That is your choice.
[Srila Prabhupada Room Conversation with Sanskrit Professor, other Guests and Disciples, February 12, 1975, Mexico]
I will never die!
Reporter: Who will succeed you when you die?
Srila Prabhupada: I will never die!
Devotee’s: Jaya! Haribol!
Srila Prabhupada: I will live forever for my books and you will utilise.
[Interview, Berkley, 1975]
May 28, 1977, Vrndavan
Satsvarupa Maharaja:"Then our next question concerns initiations in the future, PARTICULAR AT THE TIME WHEN YOU ARE NO LONGER WITH US . We want to know how initiations would be conducted."
Srila Prabhupada:"Yes, I shall recommend some of you to act as officiating acarya." [ 'Officiating' is the performance of a function on behalf of another]
Tamal Krsna Maharaja: "Is that called ritvik-acarya?"
Srila Prabhupada: "Ritvik. Yes".
Prabhupada: No, no, I can understand. The thing is that everyone can take advantage of this statement that "I am perfect." Just like so many rogues and bogus persons come. But it is your duty to know whether he is perfect. It is your duty to test whether he is perfect. That requires intelligence. If you unintelligently accept some bogus person as perfect, that is your fault. You must be assured that "The person from whom I am asking, he is perfect." Then you take it. Otherwise don't take. Caracas, February 19, 1975 Heidi Lipis; "Based on this quote, defend the perfect! Defend Srila Prabhupdada! Do not waste your time defending the imperfect. We show compassion to vicitms, to the innocent, but not to those who take positions of leadership and wrongfully mislead innocents."
Avadhoot Maharaj said; Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Thakur compiled his shiksha guru-parampara to demonstrate how the real guru manifests. His father In the Tattva-sutra , Srila Bhaktivinode Thakur writes that, 'Devotees of the Supreme Lord are not controlled by the scriptures. since their activities are congenial to divine wisdom. Therefore, when the self-realized devotees ordain any new arrangement, this should be followed as a religious code , even if such new arrangements are not found in the scriptural dictums of the previous sages."
- 4 There is no such thing as a written authorization to be Guru, in current ISKCON. All should simply humbly serve the spiritual master, and if one is so advanced that Krsna Himself calls someone out to be a new diksha Guru, then they can leave Srila Prabhupada's temples to do so, pl, they cannot sit on the vyasasana in Srila Prabhupada's temples of Krsna. Srila Prabhupada and Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu want us all to be guru to the extent we are capable, without changes, so there is a general call.I hope all will prefer to remain in Prabhupada's service eternally. Sri Guru shines like the pure sun, no rubber stamp approval committees required.
Śrīla Prabhupāda Says - [On leadership in his ISKCON society]
"...after you, who will take the leadership?" And "Everyone will take, all my disciples. If you want, you can take also. (laughter) But if you follow. They are prepared to sacrifice everything, so they'll take the leadership. I may, one, go away, but there will be hundreds, and they'll preach. If you want, you can also become a leader. We have no such thing, that 'Here is leader.' Anyone who follows the previous leadership, he's a leader. 'Indian,' we have no such distinction, 'Indian,' 'European.' "
Brahmānanda: They wanted an Indian to be the leader?
Prabhupāda: Yes. (laughs) "Everyone, all my disciples, they are leaders. As purely as they follow, they become leader. If you want to follow, you can become a leader. You are Indian. But you don't want." I told them that.
Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: Yes, they probably wanted to propose somebody who would take over our movement.
Prabhupāda: Yes. Leaders. All nonsense. Leader means one who has become first-class disciple. He is leader. Evaṁ paramparā-prāpta... One who is perfectly following... Our instruction is ara na kariha mane asa **. You know this? What is that? Guru-mukha-padma-vākya, cittete kariyā aikya, ara na kariha mane asa **.
Who is leader? A leader, to become leader, is not very difficult, provided one is prepared to follow the instructions of a bona fide guru.
[Room Conversation: Vṛndāvan 2 Nov 1977]
Srila Prabhupada had no written authorization to be guru, but was sent by his spiritual master alone to the West with a few books, to preach, and instruction to preach in English. General authorization implied. Srila Prabhupada told us his spiritual master ordered him, just as did Gour Govinda Swami.
- 5 There are many pure devotees! Even in our own lifetime after Srila Prabhupada's disappearance, Srila Gour Govinda and possibly others, are there. Pure devotees do not agree on all things, just the essentials. The followers also will not agree on fine points, in fact, it is likely they will always disagree on something! But we all serve the Sri Guru, and each other. Srila Gour Govinda set a nice example by trying to work nicely within and reform deviant Iskcon, for which he was castigated. I accept him as a siksha guru, though spi members in general do not necessarily.
His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada once remarked to his disciples, "You must become a general like me. I cannot be defeated."
Darshana, France 18 July 1986
Devotee: What happens when. . . .
Gour Govinda Swami: His instructions are there, vapu rūpa, vāṇī rūpa. Guru means pure devotee, Vaiṣṇava. Guru means very, very intimate associate of Lord Krishna. He isguru, spiritual master. When he is physically present, that is his presence is here, but inaprakata līlā when he disappears, at that time one should not think that guru is not there. He is always there. Krishna is always there. If you have eye you can see Krishna,
premāñjana-cchurita-bhakti-vilocanena santaḥ sadaiva hṛdayeṣu vilokayanti yaṁ śyāmasundaram acintya-guṇa-svarūpaṁ govindam ādi-puruṣaṁ tam ahaṁ bhajāmiI have already spoken. If you have that bhakti-cakṣu, eye of devotion, and you have developed kṛṣṇa-prema, then you can see Krishna everywhere, yāṅhā yāṅhā netra pade tāṅhā kṛṣṇa sphure. You look and see Krishna. How could Prahlad Maharaja see Krishna in a stone pillar whereas his father couldn’t?
tasyāhaṁ na praṇaśyāmi sa ca me na praṇayśatiBhagavad-gītā. 6.30
Krishna says. “He always sees Me. I always see him. Spiritual master is always there. Don’t think that he is not physically present, that he is not there. He is there. He is always there. If you have developed love for the spiritual master, if you have developed that eye, you can see him, you can talk to him and he is also present in this form (banging the book), vāṇī–rūpa, his instructions are there. Don’t think so, when he is away.
- 6 Srila Prabhupada's teaching are the best for the world. He left us an ongoing process and his mercy is not diminished, rather he is fully available and is accepting followers. It is best if all simply followed and served Srila Prabhupada.
Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati;422.How does a genuine disciple think?(p.338)
For the genuine devotee of a spiritual master, the genuine disciple, the spiritual master is his entire life, his ideal. His vow is to serve the spiritual master, and though he adores both Krishna and the spiritual master equally, he gives special preference to his spiritual master.
- All books of the Goswamis may be read, should be read. For new devotees, and for true bhaktas of deep heart, they may choose to read only Srila Prabhupada's books, and that is enough and a good determination. However, for a mature student, there is no bar on reading all the works of the acaryas.
"Within the past five hundred years, many erudite scholars and ācāryas like Jīva Gosvāmī, Sanātana Gosvāmī, Viśvanātha Cakravartī, Vallabhācārya, and many other distinguished scholars even after the time of Lord Caitanya made elaborate commentaries on the Bhāgavatam. And the serious student would do well to attempt to go through them to better relish the transcendental messages." Srila Prabhupada's purports
Srila Prabhupad SB 1.1.2.12
These quotes are in his purports to the canto 1, part 1, chap 2, verse 12..
"A sincere devotee must, therefore, be prepared to hear the Vedic literature like the Upanisads, Vedanta and other literatures left by the previous authorities or Gosvamis, for the benefit of his progress. Without hearing such literatures, one cannot make actual progress." Srila Prabhupad SB 1.1.2.12
courtesy HG Visvambhara Priya dd.
- 7 Initiation is a MUST, except when there is no sanga around to work with to receive same. Currently, there are no shortages of devotees who could assist new followers. Herein at spi, we have elected temple presidents, two current, and administrators, all of whom can recommend new followers to the temple president for diksha as Srila Prabhupada's duly authorized disciples. There is a process, and its not an easy one.... but easy for those who are of pure intent.
Prabhupāda: No, that is not possible. Therefore Rūpa Gosvāmī said, ādau gurv-āśrayam [Brs. 1.1.74]. First business is to accept spiritual master. Ādau gurv-āśrayam. Who will train him? He is already fool, rascal. He must be trained up. So he must be trained up by the representative of Kṛṣṇa.
Devotee (9): Is second initiation necessary, Śrīla Prabhupāda?
Prabhupāda: Second or first initiation.
" From now on unless I order you do something change or in addition, go on with the usual standard way..." Srila Prabhupada .
"Yes. Anyway, follow the instruction. That is required. Follow the instruction. Wherever you remain, it doesn't matter. You are secure. Follow the instruction. Then you are secure anywhere. It doesn't matter. Just like I told you that I saw my Guru Maharaja not more than ten days in my life, but I followed his instruction. I was a gṛhastha, I never lived with the Maṭha, in the temple. It is practical."
According to the Vaiṣṇava regulative principles, one must be initiated as a brāhmaṇa. The Hari-bhakti-vilāsa (2.6) quotes the following injunction from the Viṣṇu-yāmala:
adīkṣitasya vāmorukṛtaṁ sarvaṁ nirarthakam
paśu-yonim avāpnotidīkṣā-virahito janaḥ
“‘Unless one is initiated by a bona fide spiritual master, all his devotional activities are useless. A person who is not properly initiated can descend again into the animal species.’”
Hari-bhakti-vilāsa (2.10) further quotes:
ato guruṁ praṇamyaivaṁsarva-svaṁ vinivedya ca
gṛhṇīyād vaiṣṇavaṁ mantraṁdīkṣā-pūrvaṁ vidhānataḥ
“‘It is the duty of every human being to surrender to a bona fide spiritual master. Giving him everything — body, mind and intelligence — one must take Vaiṣṇava initiation from him.’”
"One should not proudly think that one can understand the transcendental loving service of the Lord simply by reading books... One must accept a Vaisnava guru (adau gurv-asrayam), and then by questions and answers one should gradually learn what pure devotional service to Krsna is. That is called the parampara system." (Cc. Antya-lila 7.53, purp.) — AC Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
- 8 I have no objections to other Gaudiya Vaisnava associations, or indeed any pure spiritual associations, and do not reject their teachers, though i may not have much to do with them directly, either, as their activities are mostly not my concern, except inasmuch as we can enjoy kirtana and prasadam together sometimes.
"We never compromise. All my students, they will never compromise. Why shall I compromise? If I am confident that I am speaking the truth, why shall I make compromise? Those who are not confident of his position, they will make compromise. One who does not know where he stands, he will make compromise. And if I know where I am standing, why shall I make compromise? Let others do whatever he likes. This is our position."
- 9 I beleive, in no changes; so far as possible in all things ISKCON.
" From now on unless I order you do something change or in addition, go on with the usual standard way..." Srila Prabhupada .
- 9 1/2 In regards GBCs; we have none currently at spi, not needed.
"United Nations is trying to come to Oneness, ONENESS of all Nation, they have no acheived it, but instead they are increasing their plans..." Srila Prabhupada, Columbus, Ohio, May 12, 1969
" The Great Sinister Movement has come to be within our ISKCON Hare Krishna Movement..." SP paraphrased
In a July 9, 1971 letter to Umapati Das, Srila Prabhupada wrote:
"GBC members are simply to see that things are going on. Other centers have got president, secretary, etc. and they are managing separately. That is the formula. So how is it that the GBC are the final authority? They are simply to examine that things are going on nicely, that is all."
“GBC men should not dictate very much, simply supervise and see that the
standards are maintained.”
(Srila Prabhupada Letter, February 14th, 1972)
“What will happen when I am not here, shall everything be spoiled by GBC? So for the time being, let the GBC activities be suspended until I thoroughly revise the whole procedure.”
(Srila Prabhupada Letter, April 11th, 1972)
“I made the GBC to give me relief, but if you do like this, then where is the relief. It is anxiety for me. This is the difficulty, that as soon as one gets power, he becomes whimsical and spoils everything.”
(Srila Prabhupada Letter, September 12th, 1974 )
“I am training some of my experienced disciples how to manage after my departure. So if instead of taking the training, if in my lifetime you people say I am the Lord of all I survey, that is dangerous conspiracy.”
(Srila Prabhupada Letter, October 8th, 1974)
“But the difficulty is that our GBC men are falling victim to maya. Today I trust this GBC and tomorrow he will fall down. That is the difficulty. If the GBC men are so flickering then what to speak of the others. Unless this problem is solved whatever we may resolve it will not be very useful. “
(Srila Prabhupada Letter, December 16th, 1974)
“The GBC should all be the instructor (siksa) gurus. I am the initiator (diksa) 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.”(Srila Prabhupada Letter, August 4th, 1975)
“The GBC (Governing Body Commission) has been established by His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada to represent Him in carrying out the responsibility of managing the International Society for Krishna Consciousness of which He is the Founder-Acarya and supreme authority. The GBC accepts as its life and soul His divine instructions and recognizes that it is completely dependent on His mercy in all respects. The GBC has no other function or purpose other than to execute the instructions so kindly given by His Divine Grace and preserve and spread his Teachings to the world in their pure form.”;(GBC Resolution No.1, 1975)
“Now has the GBC become more than Guru Maharaja? As if simply GBC is meant for looking after pounds, shilling, pence. The GBC does not look after spiritual life. That is a defect.”
(Srila Prabhupada Letter, November 10th, 1975)
"It is now evident that some of our top men are very much ambitious and there has been so many fall-downs.”
(Srila Prabhupada Letter, January 27th, 1975)
"Our mission is to serve bhakta-visesa and live with devotees. Not that you take the place of the guru. That is nonsense, very dangerous. Then everything will be spoiled. As soon as you become ambitious to take the place of guru—gurusu nara-matih. That is the material disease.”( Srila Prabhupada Conversation, April 20th, 1977)
And yes, the following is for real;
"We must not rest until we have fully implemented a NEW WORLD KC ORDER!" Jayapataka Swami, GBC letterhead sent to all GBC, Sept. 5, 1985.
Further evidences;
May 28, 1977, Vrndavan
Satsvarupa Maharaja:"Then our next question concerns initiations in the future, PARTICULAR AT THE TIME WHEN YOU ARE NO LONGER WITH US . We want to know how initiations would be conducted."
Srila Prabhupada:"Yes, I shall recommend some of you to act as officiating acarya." [ 'Officiating' is the performance of a function on behalf of another]
Tamal Krsna Maharaja: "Is that called ritvik-acarya?"
Srila Prabhupada: "Ritvik. Yes".
Prabhupada: No, no, I can understand. The thing is that everyone can take advantage of this statement that "I am perfect." Just like so many rogues and bogus persons come. But it is your duty to know whether he is perfect. It is your duty to test whether he is perfect. That requires intelligence. If you unintelligently accept some bogus person as perfect, that is your fault. You must be assured that "The person from whom I am asking, he is perfect." Then you take it. Otherwise don't take. Caracas, February 19, 1975 Heidi Lipis; "Based on this quote, defend the perfect! Defend Srila Prabhupdada! Do not waste your time defending the imperfect. We show compassion to vicitms, to the innocent, but not to those who take positions of leadership and wrongfully mislead innocents."
Srila Prabhupada: "Ritvik. Yes" ;
purport)
"There is no possibility that a first-class devotee will fall down,
even though he may mix with non-devotees to preach. Conviction and
faith gradually increase to make one an uttama-adhikari, a first-class
devotee." (Sri Caitanya-caritamrta, Madhya-lila 22.71, purport]
"When one has attained the topmost position of maha-bhagavata, he is
to be accepted as a guru and worshipped exactly like Hari, the
Personality of Godhead. ONLY such a person is eligible to occupy the
post of a guru." (Sri Caitanya-caritamrta, Madhya-lila 24.330,
purport)
"It is to be understood that the conditioned soul is tightly tied by
the ropes of illusion. [...] Because the bound cannot help the bound,
the rescuer must be liberated. Therefore, only Lord Krishna, or His
bona fide representative the spiritual master, can release the
conditioned soul." (Bhagavad-gita As It Is 7.14, purport, 1972 ed.)
"A bona fide spiritual master is in the disciplic succession from time
eternal, and he does not deviate at all from the instructions of the
Supreme Lord [...]"
(Bhagavad-gita As It Is, 4.42, purport)
"A spiritually advanced person who acts with authority, as the
spiritual master, speaks as the Supreme Personality of Godhead
dictates from within. Thus it is not he that is personally speaking.
When a pure devotee or spiritual master speaks, what he says should be
accepted as having been directly spoken by the Supreme Personality of
Godhead in the parampara system."
(Sri Caitanya-caritamrta, Antya-lila 5.71, purport)
"You are correct when you say that when the Spiritual Master speaks it
should be taken that Krishna is speaking. That is a fact. A Spiritual
Master must be liberated."
(Srila Prabhupada Letter, June 10th, 1969)
".... such an acarya, or spiritual master, should be considered
non-different 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 [...] 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." (Sri Caitanya-
caritamrta, Madhya-lila 25.9, purport)
"Unless one is a resident of Krishna Loka, one cannot be a Spiritual
Master. That is the first proposition. A layman cannot be a Spiritual
Master, and if he becomes so then he will simply create disturbance
[...] So to summarize the whole thing, it is to be understood that a
bona fide Spiritual Master is a resident of Krishna Loka." (Srila
Prabhupada Letter, June 10th, 1969)
"One should understand the Spiritual Master to be as good as I am,
said the Blessed Lord [...] `the Spiritual Master is the sum total of
all demigods. That is, the acarya has been identified with God
Himself." (Srila Prabhupada Lecture, February 1936)
"The spiritual master, or acarya, is always situated in the spiritual
status of life. Birth, death, old age and disease do not affect him
[...] therefore, after the disappearance of an acarya, his body is
never burnt to ashes, for it is a spiritual body. The spiritual body
is always unaffected by material conditions." (Srimad-Bhagavatam
10.4.20, purport)
"The conclusion is that a spiritual master who is authorized and
empowered by Krishna and his own guru should be considered as good as
the Supreme Personality of Godhead Himself. That is the verdict of
Visvanatha Cakravarti: saksad-dharitvenasa. [...] As Hari is free to
act as He likes, the empowered spiritual master is also free. As Hari
is not subject to mundane rules and regulations, the spiritual master
empowered by Him is also not subject." (Sri Caitanya-caritamrta,
Madhya-lila 10.136, purport)
"Unless one takes shelter of a bonafide, fully Krsna conscious spiritual master,
there is no chance of understanding Krsna... ....Only one who has surrendered to a pure devotee of Krsna can understand Krsna." [SB 7-5-32]
"Unless one is initiated by a bonafide spiritual master, ALL his devotional activities are USELESS.
A person who is not properly initiated can again descent into the animal specie." [Madhya Lila 15 .
"One should take initiation from a bonafide spiritual master coming in the disciplic succession, who is AUTHORIZED by his predecessor spiritual master. This is called dikshan-vidhana. [SB 4.8.54]
"A siksa guru [instructing guru or priest] who instructs against the instructions of the spiritual master
he is not a siksa guru. He is a demon! Sometimes the diksa guru [initiating guru] is not present
always. Therefor one can take learning, instructions from an advanced devotee. That is called siksa-guru.
But siksa-guru does not mean he is speaking something against the teachings of the diksa-guru. He is not a siksa-guru. He is a rascal. Because that is offense. Guru avjna, defying the authority of guru.
This is the first offense. So, one who is offensive, how can he make advance in chanting? He cannot make. Then everything is finished, in the beginning!" [Bg. 17:1-3, 07-4-74, Hawaii]
"Guru cannot be self-made. No. There is NO such single instance throughout the whole vedic literature.
And nowadays, so many rascals they are becoming guru without any authority. That is NOT guru.
You MUST be authorized!" [Bg. 4.2]
"As for your next question, can only a pure devotee deliver others,.......anyone
if he is a pure devotee he can deliver others, he can become spiritual master. But unless he is on that platform he should not attempt it. Then both of them will go to hell, like the blind man leading the blind." [letter to Tusta Krsna dasa, 12-14-72]
"Therefore, having a bonafide spiritual master and serving him, and pleasing him, and getting his mercy is essential. Otherwise there can be NO advancement in Krsna consciousness. And unless the spiritual master is a pure devotee of Krsna, then he has no potency to give Krsna. He is simply a cheating rascal!
So, in fact, above all the rules and regulations and offenses I have mentioned, the most important thing, the essential thing, which is required, if you want to come to the stage of purely chanting the Hare Krsna mantra,
is, you MUST have a bonafide spiritual master, who is a pure devotee of Krsna. Without having a bonafide spiritual master you can chant Hare Krsna forever, but will not be able to advance, because Krsna does
not reveal Himself in this way. He ONLY reveals Himself to those devotees who surrender to, and serve, and please His pure devotee!" [letter to his London disciples, July 1969]
"Unless one takes shelter of a bonafide, fully Krsna conscious spiritual master, there is no chance of understanding Krsna.... Only one who has surrendered to a pure devotee of Krsna , and has taken the dust of his lotus feet can understand Krsna..... One must take shelter of a self-realized spiritual master, that is the way to return home, back to Godhead." [SB 7.5.32 purport]
"It is illegal to become a spiritual master if one is unable to deliver the disciple". [S.B. 28.7]
May 28, 1977, Vrndavan
Satsvarupa Maharaja:"Then our next question concerns initiations in the future, PARTICULAR AT THE TIME WHEN YOU ARE NO LONGER WITH US . We want to know how initiations would be conducted."
Srila Prabhupada:"Yes, I shall recommend some of you to act as officiating acarya." [ 'Officiating' is the performance of a function on behalf of another]
Tamal Krsna Maharaja: "Is that called ritvik-acarya?"
Srila Prabhupada: "Ritvik. Yes".
Prabhupada: No, no, I can understand. The thing is that everyone can take advantage of this statement that "I am perfect." Just like so many rogues and bogus persons come. But it is your duty to know whether he is perfect. It is your duty to test whether he is perfect. That requires intelligence. If you unintelligently accept some bogus person as perfect, that is your fault. You must be assured that "The person from whom I am asking, he is perfect." Then you take it. Otherwise don't take. Caracas, February 19, 1975 Heidi Lipis; "Based on this quote, defend the perfect! Defend Srila Prabhupdada! Do not waste your time defending the imperfect. We show compassion to vicitms, to the innocent, but not to those who take positions of leadership and wrongfully mislead innocents."
SBSSP; “We should not become subordinate (nicata) to non-devotees, but to devotees, from whom we should beg mercy and show respect. The mahajanas instructed us not to display humility before everyone. To show humility towards envious atheists like Ravana and the pretentious brahmana is not vaishnave-seva or trnad-api-suhisnuna. If we transgress this instruction we will never become qualified to chant the holy name or attain name ruci; rather, our actions will result in becoming envious of them. Rama bhakta Hanumans burning of lanka is real trnad-api-suhisnuna." ( Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati - Sri Bhaktisiddhanta Vaibhava 2.222 ).
SP; Tṛṇād api sunīcena does not mean that if a Vaiṣṇava is insulted or Viṣṇu is defamed, you remain silent, "I am tṛṇād api sunīcena." No. At that time you should become fire. That is the teaching of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu. Just like Hanumānjī, he's Vaiṣṇava. But when there was need for the service of Lord Rāmacandra, he set fire in the Lanka. So when there is viṣṇu-vaiṣṇava-ninda,defamation, you should not remain tṛṇād api sunīcena. You should take steps. This is the instruction. Anyway, Vaiṣṇava is never angry, but that does not mean that you tolerate insult to Viṣṇu and Vaiṣṇava. No. He should be angry. Bhakta-dveṣi. Just like our student Govinda dāsī in Hawaii. In a meeting she became very angry when the so-called incarnation of God and God... Perhaps you know this incident. And the people did not say, of course, Govinda dāsī, but they heard her husband, Gaurasundara. But she became very angry, that "These rascals," and so many things she spoke. (chuckles) So she did right, like a heroine. I very much liked it. So we should be very much angry. When? When there is anything against God and God's devotee." Srila Prabhupada Lecture on SB 1.3.26 -- Los Angeles, October 1, 1972Srila Prabhupada..."Ah. So this is our one of the items, to vanquish all these rascals, so-called swamis. They say that "Why you criticize others also?" Because we have to vanquish them. Now these people cannot rise. When there is sunrise, there is no use of these glowworms. So this Krsna consciousness movement is Krsna Himself. Therefore they must be finished, all over the world. So-called religionists, so-called philosophers, so-called avataras, swamis, yogis -- finished."
Srila Prabhpada's Morning Walk
Bombay, May 2, 1974
ācāryopāsanam, following THE ACARYA. So we have got RECOGNIZED ācārya, just like you said, Rāmānujācārya, Madhvācārya, Nimbārka, Viṣṇu Svāmī, Caitanya Mahāprabhu. Or Śaṅkarācārya even. You follow ONE ACHARYA , like Christians, they follow Christ, ācārya.
The Mohammedans, they follow ācārya, Mohammed. That is good. You must follow some ācārya. But don't give your opinion. That is our process. Evaṁ paramparā-prāptam."
Room Conversation with Dr. Copeland,
Professor of Modern Indian History
—————————
"Suppose we are in a group, this, our International Society. If everyone becomes ruler or ācārya, then how it can be managed? No. There must be some head. That is the principle in our practical life. We follow our political leaders. We cannot say that "I belong to this party" unless I follow a leader. That is natural."
Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Ādi-līlā 7.7
—
Māyāpur, March 9, 1974
—————————
“I AM THE Spiritual Master of this institution, and all the members of the Society, they’re supposed to be MY DISCIPLES . They follow the rules and regulations which I ASK THEM to follow, and THEY ARE INITIATED BY ME SPIRITUALLY.”
Srila Prabhupada~ (Radio interview, March 12, 1968,SanFrancisco)
—————————-
"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."
(Srila Prabhupada Conversation 1975, Ookala, Hawaii)
—————————-
FOLLOW ONLY ONE ACHARYA, Srila Prabhupada. And his instructions
Comments