WHERE THE RITVIK PEOPLE ARE RIGHT
BY: H.H. JAYADVAITA SWAMI
From my point of view, it’s easy to see where the ritvik people are wrong. Their theories are supported by matchsticks and held together with Scotch tape. They tell us what Srila Prabhupada “must have” intended, not what he clearly and repeatedly said. In short, they are speculating, and their speculations are defective.
But what concerns me at this point is not where they’re wrong but where they’re right. What is it they see about ISKCON’s present way of doing things that makes them want to go in for even such a poor alternative as the ritvik one?
Some are just “sour grapes.” They have rendered themselves unfit to serve as gurus, and now that they can’t be gurus, no one can.
Others, clearly, have simply been warped by the material energy. Their brains are in their feet and their tongues in their armpits, at best.
But some, it’s equally clear, are sincere, intelligent, thoughtful, and devoted to Srila Prabhupada and Krsna.
So scratch the first two bunches. What’s driving these other people? Even if we reject the point they’ve come to, how did they get there?
In part, of course, they are responding to history, both old and recent. Let’s take a look at some unpleasant facts:
FACT: ISKCON gurus in good standing have fallen.
FACT: The ISKCON GBC has supported even fallen gurus and tried to paper over their falldowns.
FACT: ISKCON gurus have opposed, oppressed and driven out many sincere godbrothers and godsisters.
FACT: ISKCON gurus have usurped and misused money, and diverted other ISKCON resources for their own personal prestige and sense gratification.
FACT: ISKCON gurus have had illicit sexual intercourse with both women and men, and possibly children as well.
FACT: Some ISKCON gurus still in good standing have had such serious personal difficulties that the GBC has been obliged to suspend them from initiating.
FACT: Other ISKCON gurus have snapped back into line only after “narrow misses.”
FACT: ISKCON gurus recently led a movement advocating a premature and inappropriate emphasis on rasika-bhakti.
FACT: Some ISKCON devotees have felt obliged to accept a new guru twice or even three times over.
In contrast, Srila Prabhupada was staunch, unfailing, always perfect in his discretion and determination. He was indisputably an exalted and empowered acarya, a pure and intimate personal associate of Krsna.
Is it any wonder, then, that some devotees feel that only Srila Prabhupada can give them shelter and that no one else deserves the same surrender and trust?
And when it comes to the subject of gurus, who trusts the spiritual guidance of the GBC?
First the GBC gave us the “eleven pure devotees appointed by Srila Prabhupada,” each deserving the fealty of his godbrothers and destined to be your guru if you joined the Hare Krsna movement in his zone.
Then the GBC told us the gurus were never appointed. Or, rather, members gave us at least two different stories, some GBC men declaring emphatically that Srila Prabhupada never appointed anything more than ritviks, others sure, to this day, of having been appointed “regular gurus.”
The GBC itself then appointed new gurus–or did it? The word “appointed” is never used. But there are “candidates for initiating guru,” votes are taken, and those who make it through the procedures become “ISKCON-approved” or “ISKCON-authorized” gurus.
To boost your confidence: On one hand the GBC encourages you to be initiated by a bona fide, authorized ISKCON guru and worship him like God.
On the other, it has an elaborate system of laws to invoke from time to time when your ISKCON-authorized guru falls down.
One might perhaps be forgiven for thinking that for all the laws and resolutions the role of guru is still a perplexity even for the GBC.
Some devotees have no problem with any of this. They have their guru. They trust him. They are making advancement. They are happy.
But others can only lament the passing of the days when Srila Prabhupada was the only guru and the position of guru was sure.
Merely to “smash” the theories of the post-samadhi ritvik people, then, will not make such theories go away. We must honestly fact the underlying issues.
Who is a bona fide spiritual master? What qualifications must he have? Are the gurus in ISKCON factually qualified–all of them, some of them, or any of them? If all or any of them are less than fully fit, what implications does this have for their disciples and for ISKCON? In ISKCON today, how can one be sure that the spiritual master to whom one is surrendering is genuine and infallible? Above all, how can every member of ISKCON be connected with Srila Prabhupada as his disciple, his follower, in a true and legitimate sense?
The spiritual leaders of ISKCON ought to recognize the importance of these questions and deal with them honestly, openly, sincerely, and deeply.
Hare Krsna.
The ritvik movement came about because it is the order of ÅšrÄ«la PrabhupÄda:
“Recently when all of the GBC members were with His Divine Grace in Vrndavana, Srila Prabhupada indicated that soon He would appoint some of His senior disciples to act as “rittik“-representative of the acarya, for the purpose of performing initiations, both first initiation and second initiation.[…] 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 …†(July 9th 1977)
“…the process for initiation to be followed in the future.†(July 11th )
“…continue to become ritvik and act on my charge.†(July 19th )
“…continue to become ritvik and act on my behalf.†(July 31th)
In these documents we find words such as ’continue’ and ’future’ which along with the word ’henceforward’ all point to the permanency of the ritvik system. There is no statement from ÅšrÄ«la PrabhupÄda that even hints that this system was to terminate on his departure.
As ÅšrÄ«la PrabhupÄda emphatically stated in the second paragraph of his Will:
“The system of management will continue as it is now and there is no need of any change.â€
Simple as that.
Prem niddhi das you are a fool number one, since you dare to think to be more wise than sampradaya Acarya, H.D.G. A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Srila Prabhupada. The ritvik idea seems to be concocted out of nothing, that is rather a fact, yet yours accusation towards the acarya, who allegedly presented something twisted to His belowed followers in the matter of GM most recent history is a proof of you being bigger rascal and demon than anyone else known to me! So it means you were careless while executing devotional service, in result you have become ignorant, proud and offensive.
All around the world hundreds, and thousands of His disciples, and grand disciples on different levels of devotion give proof to His status of nitya mukta and a perfect master of pure bhakti, while they follow and get benefited practicing the path of freedom given freely by Him to everyone. If you look at the acarya as on a common man than you are fallen and not better than an ass (that’s what shastra says) . Please go to hell, instead of poisoning the poor souls of Kali yuga with your mayavada black snake like mentality. Give them a chance! If you like to harm yourself, be doomed, but don’t take away from the suffering people their only chance! H.D.G. A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Srila Prabhupada, the perfect master and acarya of Brahma Madhva Gaudiya Sampradaya is our only chance, that’s a practical and yet transcendental experience of maybe not so many, but rare and blessed souls! (…sa mahatma sudurlabha) So my opinion about you stands!!!
ps. your opinion about Srila Prabhupad’s disciples needs to be specified. For me His disciples are those devotees who follow Him with sincerity and love, not rascals who exploid His movement and spoil everything, producing only garbage of all kinds, including poore envious souls like you, or me perhaps:( We gonna see, that is obviously a very difficult time and serious tests to pass for all of us! We have to be humble servants of the acarya (acaryopasanam)
Prabhu, please consider it kindly, the real things, love to Krishna, and His devotee especially, beginn at the stage of brahma bhuta, on the way up to this stage all kinds of delusions may allure and divert the soul from the attempt to follow the caitya-guru. It is very difficult in this age to reach to that stage! Srila Prabhupada, following His Master, Bhaktisiddhanta Ssarasvati Maharaj, never claimed to be anyone else but a humble servant, so He pointed many times that if just one person would achieve pure love to Krishna because of His efforts, He would consider it a great succes! This humillity, or sense of reality, makes all blames or critical estimations about His preaching activities null and void automatically. One moon of Jayananda Prabhu is the proof of succes of Srila Prabhupada and His mission, and this alon makes Srila Prabhupada above all critics! There are many of course who hope and try hard to become His true followers, either this live or next, the dharma of the soul knows no limits, but the rare gift of love to Krishna needs time to fructify! We can’t blame the gardener for the bad soil on one side, or inattentive or careless apprentice on the other, otherwise we would have to blame Krishna as well, isn’t He then the source of everything?! This kind of mentality must be erradicated from our hearts, otherwise the Lord will not manifest Himself to us.
y.s. Jd
Sridhara Maharaja says acharyas go mad after money, women and followers; Narayana Maharaja said that the eleven were “monkeys” — at the same time gurus — because evidently he believes that monkeys are acharyas; and Jayadvaita says the in the GBC system gurus have illicit sex with men, women and children. If Prem Nidhi is independent of these people, what system is he supporting and what guru is he endorsing? He seems to be simply dawdling around — but has no process of his own? What lineage is he supporting and who is the current acharya of his system? ys pd
@Prem Nidhi dasa: Regarding Jiva Goswami topic : Jiva Goswami wrote over 400,000 verses. From which one of his book did the above Q/A come from ? Who did the translation ?
Thanks Puranjana, right Prem Nidhi cannot name his guru because there is none. While Prabhupada brought the chanting of the Holy Name to the Western world, Prem Nidhi’s so called “genuine guru” was doing what, feasting subjee and poori in Nabadvipa – eating and sleeping – snoring like a bear in the Holy Dham?
Without Prabhupada’s preaching Prem Nidhi would have never heard anything about bhagavat-dharma. So this is Prem Niddi’s intelligence to bite the hand that feeds you, to join those who won’t lift a finger to spread the Holy Name.
And thinking that those who stay in their home are real followers of Lord Caitanya’s global Sankirtan movement. Very good prakrita-sahajiya intelligence!
Prema nidhi das reading your naradhama offenses make me feel sick to my stomac to the point of unsubscribe me ,for the sake of not having to hear anymore offenses against my gurumaharaja my pranam guru and all the parampara, your dry arguments are very easy to debate but i will not lost my time whit such a rascal like you, only tell you that to offend the mahabaghavats and the Bhaghavattam itself is very risky.You are a jewell of a logician nyaya-ratna. Then disguised as a vaisnava, you indulge in long, dull arguments based on logic and reasoning, considering such logic to be yourbest object of pursuit. However, such time wasting arguments are exactly like the meaningles croaking of a small frog in the wilderness. In other words such a sound is an unneccesary disturbance to the ears. You forget fool who SRILA BHAKTISIDHANTA SARASVATI THAKUR was, not other than the son of JAGAD GURU SRILA BHAKTIVINODA THAKUR,and you forget fool that our SRILA PRABHUPADA is still delivering millions upon millions of conditioned soul with his wonderfull books and you forget fool that SRI KRISHNA IS YOGESVARA THE MASTER OF ALL MISTIC POWERS,and only by His will can make million of universes to float what tospeak of lifting Govardhana hill and King Ugrasena can gie trillions of cows and have billions of personal guards like the Bhagavatam says, because the spiritual world is unlimited and like our pranam guru says GOLOKA and GOKULA are the same and DWARKA and MATHURA also are in the spiritual world ,but you can not see that with your frog eyes. ALL GLORIES TO SRILA PRABHUPADA.
Hare Krishna, Iam not sure whether this article was written by HH JAS as this does not appear in the JAS website. But the facts are to be really addressed by GBC, they have to intelligently deal with all these.
Just because there are some problems in the Guru and disciple relations, we cannot remove guru and disciple system. Just like because there are problems with marriage system, lets come up with live in relation. This will create more problematic
Hope in coming years these things will be resolved
Thanks and Regards
Sreenath Pendu
ANTI-RITVIKS ARE UNHOLY BUNCH OF CROOKS THEY DO NOT WANT SRILA PRABHUPADA AS DIKSA GURU WHY? BECAUSE THEY WANT TO SCREW MONEY AND MAKE INNOCENT DEVOTEES INTO SLAVES OF THE DEMONS WHO WANT WORSHIP AS DIKSA GURU(AS GOOD AS GOD).
The following STANDS AS IT IS – REQUIRES NO FURTHER EXPLANATION – IT IS CLEAR FOR ANYONE WHO IS SINCERE:
SG — My question still stands. Are not the rest of the instructions
given in July 9th 1977 letter just as important? Are they not relevant
also?
Mahesh: SG you have to read PROPERLY:
Now that Srila Prabhupada has named these representatives, Temple Presidents may henceforward send recommendation for first and second initiation to whichever of these eleven representatives are nearest their temple. After considering the recommendation, these representatives may accept the devotee as an initiated disciple of Srila Prabhupada by giving a spiritual name, or in the case of second initiation, by chanting on the Gayatri thread, just as Srila Prabhupada has done. The newly initiated devotees are disciples of His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupad
SG -When an instruction is given by the spiritual master, does his disciple/s
pick and choose and follow according to their liking, convenience or
desire or are they suppose to accept the complete instruction end to end
and follow accordingly.
Mahesh: SG do not be a hypocrite read and ACCEPT the following conclusion:
Conversations : 1968 Conversations : March, 1968 : Radio Interview — March 12, 1968, San Francisco : 680312iv.sf :
Prabhupāda: Yes, 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.
Letters : 1975 Correspondence : August : Letter to: Madhudvisa: — Detroit 4 August, 1975 : 75-08-04 :
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.
Mahesh Prabhu, no matter how many times any body and/or you may write the same message of the Instructions of Srila Prabhupada over and over again, it seems that it does fly over the head of those who refuse and reject to accept that Srila Prabhupada is the Initiator Spiritual Master in His Spiritual Organization named Iskcon world wide.
So I find these people are the Mudha Matti – Murkha because they are desirous for the Labha, Puja and Prathistha despite the facts that Srila Prabhupada’s Instructions are very very very CLEAR as quoted by you.
Mahesh Raja says:
26. July 2013 at 12:41 am
Mahesh: SG you have to read PROPERLY
SG — Are you trying to say that when the spiritual master gives
an order or an instruction, the disciple can choose and pick the
part of the instruction he likes or suits him and ignore the part
he does not like.
In your case, Mahesh Raja, I am referring to your quote above from
the July 9th 1977 letter.
Mahesh: SG do not be a hypocrite read and ACCEPT the
conclusion
SG — You don’t even know when to say that a person is a hypocrite.
Your above quote from the radio interview and 1975 Correspondence
Letter to Madhudvisa , is this suppose to be an order, an instruction
or a directive given by Srila Prabhupada to the members of GBC?
How is this suppose to be part the instruction of the July 9th
1977 letter?
Tell us, that is if you can read properly, what is the conclusion or
the last and final line of instruction given by Srila Prabhupada in
that July 9th 1977 letter or directive or document and be honest
about it.
HARE KRSNA
SG You are going round circles. FIRST learn to UNDERSTAND the meaning of the word “disciple” in context to July 9th 1977 wherein it is clearly stated:
Now that Srila Prabhupada has named these representatives, Temple Presidents may henceforward send recommendation for first and second initiation to whichever of these eleven representatives are nearest their temple. After considering the recommendation, these representatives may accept the devotee as an initiated disciple of Srila Prabhupada by giving a spiritual name, or in the case of second initiation, by chanting on the Gayatri thread, just as Srila Prabhupada has done. The newly initiated devotees are disciples of His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupad
One who is accepting discipline from Srila Prabhupada is Srila Prabhupada’s disciple.
In ISKCON we are ALL being DISCIPLINED by Srila Prabhupada (we receive instructions (DISCIPLINE) FROM Srila Prabhupada’s books. Even the most basic discipline, 16 rounds of Hare Krishna Mantra and four Regulative Principles are coming FROM Srila Prabhupada. Common sense — if you ARE being disciplined BY Srila Prabhupada then it follows you ARE Srila Prabhupada’s disciple. How can it be otherwise?
The MEANING of the word “disciple”
Srila Prabhupada’s Morning Walk, March 8, 1976 in Mayapur:
Prabhupada: “Discipline… Disciple means discipline. The word discipline comes from disciple, or disciple comes from discipline. So unless there is discipline, there is no question of disciple. This discipline must… That should be uniform. Otherwise, sisya… sisya, the word sisya, it comes from the root, verb, sas-dhatu. sas. sas means ruling. From this word, sasana. Sasana means government. sastra. sashtra means weapon, and sastra, scripture, and sisya… These things have come from the one root sas-dhatu. So sas-dhatu means ruling under discipline. There is another English word, that “Obedience is the first law of discipline,” or something. They say, “Obedience is the first law of discipline”? So I am right? “Obedience is…”? That is the…
Tamala Krsna: Yes, that’s more or less what it is.
Prabhupada: No, what is the word, exact. There is an English word. “Obedience is the first law of discipline.” So unless there is obedience, there cannot be any discipline. And unless there is discipline, there is no question of disciple. DISCIPLE MEANS ONE WHO FOLLOWS DISCIPLINE.”
Discipline comes from Srila Prabhupada. We are actually being disciplined by Srila Prabhupada. It is Srila Prabhupada who has given us the regulative principles of no meat, fish or eggs; no intoxication (including tea and coffee), no illicit sex, and no gambling. It is Srila Prabhupada who has made it a regulative principle for us to chant sixteen rounds on the beads HARE KRSNA HARE KRSNA KRSNA KRSNA HARE HARE /HARE RAMA HARE RAMA RAMA RAMA HARE HARE.
Srila Prabhupada’s books contain all the instructions, the guidance required for us to get ourselves out of the clutches of the modes of material nature. In fact, Srila Prabhupada is personally present as his books.
Caitanya-caritamra, Adi 1, Text 35:
“There is NO DIFFERENCE between the spiritual masters instructions and the spiritual master himself.”
Since the instructions of the spiritual master and the spiritual master are not different, one can be the disciple of Srila Prabhupada by following his discipline and can be considered Srila Prabhupada’s disciple. Another point is he can be considered both direct disciple and not direct simultaneously, because Srila Prabhupada is still present in his instruction form (his books). The following example will illustrate the point.
Srila Krsnadasa kaviraja is the example of both direct and not direct disciple simultaneously. (THE PHILOSOPHY OF SIMULTANEOUS ONENESS AND DIFFERENCE).
Caitanya-caritamra, Adi 1:
“A direct disciple of Srila Rupa Gosvami was Srila Raghunatha dasa Gosvami. The author of Sri Caitanya-caritamrta, Srila Krsnadasa Kaviraja Gosvami, stands as the DIRECT DISCIPLE of Srila Rupa Gosvami and Srila Raghunatha dasa Gosvami. The direct disciple of Srila Krsnadasa Kaviraja Gosvami was Srila Narottama dasa Thakura, who accepted Srila Visvanatha Cakravarti as his servitor. Srila Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakura accepted Srila Jagannatha dasa Babaji, who initiated Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura, who in turn initiated Srila Gaurakishore dasa Babaji, the spiritual master of Om Visnupada Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Gosvami Maharaja, the divine master of our humble self. Since we belong to this chain of disciplic succession from Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, this edition of Sri Caitanya-caritamrta will contain nothing newly manufactured by our tiny brains, but only remnants of food originally eaten by the Lord Himself.”
Caitanya-caritamra, Antya 19.102:
Krsnadasa Kaviraja Gosvami was not actually a direct disciple of Srila Rupa Gosvami, but he FOLLOWED THE INSTRUCTIONS given by Srila Rupa Gosvami in Bhakti-rasamrta-sindhu. He therefore ACTED ACCORDING TO THE DIRECTIONS of Rupa Gosvami and prayed in every chapter for his mercy.
Who is Srila Prabhupada’s Disciple?
Srila Prabhupada’s Morning Walk, June 13, 1976, Detroit:
Prabhupada: “Who is my disciple? First of all let him FOLLOW STRICTLY THE DISCIPLINED RULES.
Devotee (2): As long as one is following, then he is…
Prabhupada: Then he is all right.”
Srila Prabhupada Letter to Bhaktijana, September 21, 1972:
“You do not require to worry as I shall never leave you, you are my disciple and I am your spiritual master, so there is no question, AS LONG AS you follow my instructions, that I shall ever leave you. Just remember under all circumstances to chant sixteen rounds of japa daily, offer your prasadam to Krsna, and do all of the things which you already know, as you are senior disciple. These things will protect you under all conditions, without any doubt.”
Srila Prabhupada Letter to Madhudvisa, November 7, 1975:
“SO LONG AS one follows the principles, he continues to be my disciple.”
Srila Prabhupada Letter to Tusta Krsna, November 9, 1975:
“SO LONG AS one continues to follow the rules and regulations, he continues to be my disciple wherever he may be.”
Srila Prabhupada Letter, July 9, 1969:
“Out of the ten kinds of offenses, the number one offense is to disobey the orders of the Spiritual Master. The instructions given to the disciple by the Spiritual Master at the time of initiation should be strictly followed. That will make one advance to the spiritual path. But if one deliberately defies such instructions, then his advancement is hampered from the very beginning. THIS DEFYING MEANS TO DISCONNECT THE RELATIONSHIP WITH THE SPIRITUAL MASTER. AND ANYONE WHO DEFIES AND THEREFORE DISCONNECTS THE RELATIONSHIP WITH THE SPIRITUAL MASTER can hardly expect the assistance of the Spiritual Master life after life.”
Srila Prabhupada Letter to Cidananda, November 25, 1973:
“Please always try to REMEMBER ME BY MY TEACHINGS AND WE SHALL ALWAYS BE TOGETHER. Just like I have written in the first publications of Srimad-Bhagavatam, “The spiritual Master lives forever by His divine instruction and the disciple lives with him.”, because I have always served my Guru Maharaja and followed His teachings I am now even never separated from Him. Sometimes Maya may come and try to interfere but we must not falter, we must always follow the chalked out path layed down by the great acharya’s and in the end you will see.”
Who is NOT Srila Prabhupada’s disciple?
Initiation does not bear any meaning
Srila Prabhupada Letter, January 11, 1970:
“Regarding your question of an initiated person falling prey to the maya, the answer is that so long we are in this material world, there is always chance of being spoiled by Maya, so we must stick with vow to the Lotus Feet of Krishna. An initiated devotee is given the chance for becoming free from the entanglement of karma wheel. Initiated means beginning, not perfection. The Spiritual Master’s business is to guide him to the perfectional point. But if one does not strictly follow the guidance of a bonafide Spiritual Master HIS INITIATION DOES NOT BEAR ANY MEANING. The initiation performance is an agreement by the disciples to abide by the order of the Spiritual Master. Therefore, if the Spiritual Master is bonafide and the disciple is serious to abide by His order, then the success is sure.”
Otherwise they are NOT my disciples
Srila Prabhupada Letter to Raja Laksmi, February 17, 1976:
“My advise is always chant 16 rounds minimum and follow the four regulative principles. All of my disciples must agree on this point OTHERWISE THEY ARE NOT MY DISCIPLES.”
Against the principle
Srila Prabhupada Letter to Dhrstaketu, July 17, 1976:
“Unless absolutely necessary, one should keep head shaven and not allow the hair to grow long. If absolutely necessary, one can dress like an American gentleman, with short hair, but long hair is prohibited. The reason that one with long hair is not my disciple is because he is AGAINST THE PRINCIPLE. Unless absolutely necessary one should keep hair short, and if necessary one can dress like an American gentleman with short hair. It is not expected that everyone will join. For that reason we can’t compromise. The tendency is there to be hippy. When the acaryas are seen with beard, that is during Caturmasya, July-September. If observed strictly there is not simply a beard. There are so many rules and regulations. One can’t eat a variety of foods. Only kitri prepared and poured on the floor, and then licked up. There are so many other rules also. THAT IS NOT ALWAYS THAT THEY KEPT BEARD.”
There are many so-called Prabhupada disciples – but only in name. They in fact decline to follow Srila Prabhupada’s discipline hence they are Srila Prabhupada disciples in name only. They show superficial lip service to Srila Prabhupada.
Disciple in name only
Srila Prabhupada Morning Walk, New York, July 10, 1976:
Prabhupada: And the Bon Maharaja is his follower. HE’S IN NAME a disciple of Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati, BUT HE’S A SERVANT OF Vivekananda.
Tamala Krsna: He’s very similar to him.
Prabhupada: He’s a great appreciator of Vivekananda. He has put in his curriculum Vivekananda philosophy, Gandhi philosophy. Rascal, what philosophy they have got?
STEALING SRILA PRABHUPADA’S DISCIPLES, HIS PROPERTIES, FOR ONESELF (BECOMING SELF MADE GURU-BY BOGUS GBC APPOINTMENT OF 2/3 MAJORITY VOTES) HAS GRAVE CONSEQUENCES:
Krsna Book, Chapter 64 – The Story of King Nrga:
At this time, Lord Krsna was present among His relatives who were members of the ksatriya class. To teach them through the exemplary character of King Nrga, He said, “Even though a ksatriya king may be as powerful as fire, it is not possible for him to usurp the property of a brahmana and utilize it for his own purpose. If this is so, how can ordinary kings, who falsely think of themselves as the most powerful beings within the material world, usurp a brahmana’s property? I do not think that taking poison is as dangerous as taking a brahmana’s property. For ordinary poison there is treatment–one can be relieved from its effects; but if one drinks the poison of taking a brahmana’s property, there is no remedy for the mistake. THE PERFECT EXAMPLE IS KING NRGA. HE WAS VERY POWERFUL AND VERY PIOUS, BUT DUE TO THE SMALL MISTAKE OF UNKNOWINGLY USURPING A BRAHMANA’S COW, HE WAS CONDEMNED TO THE ABOMINABLE LIFE OF A LIZARD. Ordinary poison affects only those who drink it, and ordinary fire can be extinguished simply by pouring water on it; BUT THE ARANI FIRE IGNITED BY THE SPIRITUAL POTENCY OF A BRAHMANA CAN BURN TO ASHES THE WHOLE FAMILY OF A PERSON WHO PROVOKES SUCH A BRAHMANA.” (Formerly, the brahmanas used to ignite the fire of sacrifice not with matches or any other external fire but with their powerful mantras, called arani.) “IF SOMEONE EVEN TOUCHES A BRAHMANA’S PROPERTY, HE IS RUINED FOR THREE GENERATIONS. HOWEVER, IF A BRAHMANA’S PROPERTY IS FORCIBLY TAKEN AWAY, THE TAKER’S FAMILY FOR TEN GENERATIONS BEFORE HIM AND TEN GENERATIONS AFTER HIM WILL BECOME SUBJECT TO RUINATION. On the other hand, if someone becomes a Vaisnava, or devotee of the Lord, ten generations of his family before his birth and ten generations after will become liberated.”
Lord Krsna continued: “If some foolish king who is puffed up by his wealth, prestige and power wants to usurp a brahmana’s property, it should be understood that such a king is clearing his path to hell; he does not know how much he has to suffer for such unwise action. If someone takes away the property of a very liberal brahmana who is encumbered by a large dependent family, then such a usurper is put into the hell known as Kumbhipaka; not only is he put into this hell, but his family members also have to accept such a miserable condition of life. A PERSON WHO TAKES AWAY PROPERTY WHICH HAS EITHER BEEN AWARDED TO A BRAHMANA OR GIVEN AWAY BY HIM IS CONDEMNED TO LIVE FOR AT LEAST 60,000 YEARS AS MISERABLY AS AN INSECT IN STOOL. THEREFORE I INSTRUCT YOU, ALL MY BOYS AND RELATIVES PRESENT HERE, DO NOT, EVEN BY MISTAKE, TAKE THE POSSESSION OF A BRAHMANA AND THEREBY POLLUTE YOUR WHOLE FAMILY. IF SOMEONE EVEN WISHES TO POSSESS SUCH PROPERTY, LET ALONE ATTEMPTS TO TAKE IT AWAY BY FORCE, THE DURATION OF HIS LIFE WILL BE REDUCED. HE WILL BE DEFEATED BY HIS ENEMIES, AND AFTER BEING BEREFT OF HIS ROYAL POSITION, WHEN HE GIVES UP HIS BODY HE WILL BECOME A SERPENT. A SERPENT GIVES TROUBLE TO ALL OTHER LIVING ENTITIES. My dear boys and relatives, I therefore advise you that even if a brahmana becomes angry with you and calls you by ill names or curses you, still you should not retaliate. On the contrary, you should smile, tolerate him and offer your respects to the brahmana. You know very well that even I Myself offer My obeisances to the brahmanas with great respect three times daily. You should therefore follow My instruction and example. I shall not forgive anyone who does not follow them, and I shall punish him. You should learn from the example of King Nrga that even if someone unknowingly usurps the property of a brahmana, he is put into a miserable condition of life.”
It has been a common practice among Srila Prabhupada’s Godbrothers to steal Srila Prabhupada’s disciples by trickery. Sridhara Maharaja and Puri Maharaja are also known to have re-initiated Srila Prabhupada’s disciples. Narayana Maharaja is also a culprit in this deplorable un-Vaisnava, offensive, insulting conduct. This act proves they are conditioned souls.
From the letter below one can see that history repeats itself; because they are conditioned souls they ventured to initiate Srila Prabhupada’s disciples. Thus, they were caught out as Srila Prabhupada clearly says of the action: “SO IT IS DELIBERATE TRANSGRESSION OF VAISNAVA ETIQUETTES AND OTHERWISE A DELIBERATE INSULT TO ME. I DO NOT KNOW WHY HE HAS DONE LIKE THIS BUT NO VAISNAVA WILL APPROVE OF THIS OFFENSIVE ACTION.”
Srila Prabhupada Letter to Mukunda, March 26, 1968:
“In meantime, I have also received one letter which is very depressing from Hrsikesa. I understand that he has been induced by Bon Maharaja to be initiated by him for giving him shelter, and this foolish boy has accepted his inducement. This isn’t very happy news, and I have replied Hrsikesa’s letter in the following words, which please take note, and in the future, we shall be very cautious about them. “My Dear Hrsikesa, Please accept my blessings. I am in due receipt of your letter of March 14, 1968, and I am greatly surprised. I AM GREATLY SURPRISED FOR BON MAHARAJA’S INITIATING YOU IN SPITE OF HIS KNOWING THAT YOU ARE ALREADY INITIATED BY ME. SO IT IS DELIBERATE TRANSGRESSION OF VAISNAVA ETIQUETTES AND OTHERWISE A DELIBERATE INSULT TO ME. I DO NOT KNOW WHY HE HAS DONE LIKE THIS BUT NO VAISNAVA WILL APPROVE OF THIS OFFENSIVE ACTION. I very much appreciate your acknowledgement of my service unto you and you will always have my blessings, BUT YOU MUST KNOW THAT YOU HAVE COMMITTEE. A GREAT BLUNDER. I do not wish to discuss on this point more elaborately now, but if you are desirous to know further about it, I shall be glad to give you more enlightenment. Mukunda is not here. He has gone to L.A. Hope you are well.” If Hrsikesa writes you letter I think you may avoid reply. I DO NOT APPROVE BOTH HRSIKESA’S AND BON MAHARAJA’S THIS OFFENSIVE ACTION. Hoping you are both well.”
In venturing to initiate Srila Prabhupada’s disciples —they could not even have understood the philosophy properly. As It is clearly stated: A DEVOTEE MUST HAVE ONLY ONE INITIATING SPIRITUAL MASTER BECAUSE IN THE SCRIPTURES ACCEPTANCE OF MORE THAN ONE IS ALWAYS FORBIDDEN. For them to Initiate Srila Prabhupada’s disciples they would be falling into a trap of REJECTING Srila Prabhupada as the Initiating Guru—DIRECT INSULT-committed BOTH by the so-called disciple of Srila Prabhupada and their conditioned soul “gurus”.
Caitanya-caritamra, Adi 1.35:
The Spiritual Masters
“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.”
ALL GLORIES TO OUR BONAFIDE JAGAT DIKSA
AND SIKSA GURU SRILA PRABHUPADA!
HARE KRISHNA HARE KRISHNA KRISHNA KRISHNA HARE HARE
HARE RAMA HARE RAMA RAMA RAMA HARE HARE
Srila Prabhupad said all along since the 1960s, after he departs there will only be a GBC, and do not make bogus gurus like the Gaudiya Matha. And he said that at least thousands of times since the late 1960s. I know I heard it many times. And the July 9th letter is simply one example of that instruction. That process is the whole instruction he gave all along, (A) GBC — yes, (B) Bogus gurus — no. And that is what he ordered over and over and over and over and over and over and over, and … over. There was no other order or we would have seen it by now. ys pd
(Letter to Hansadutta, October 1, 1974)
The self-motivated GBC/”guru” boneheads actually have the audacity to quote the above as evidence for their bogus multiple guru system! In other words, they are saying that Srila Prabhupada is no longer “present” within ISKCON, and that, even though it wasn’t OK to “create factions” before November 14, 1977, it’s OK afterwards! Does that make any sense whatsoever to any sane, rational person???