BY: VIDURA DAS
July 09, Montreal, Canada — This is a response to Rocana Das’ most recent article titled: “Evidence Tampering: Rtvik Sleight of Hand” on the Sampradaya Sun.
In the very beginning of his article, Rocana writes:
“Although the Rtviks today consider the July 9th Letter to be Absolute, when it comes to a misspelling of one of the single most important words in the entire document, that apparently causes them no concern at all.”
Yes, you’re right Rocana, a mere misspelling of a word causes us no concern at all. Rocana himself admits here that the term “Rittik” used in the July 9th letter is merely a grammatical error.
So why does he continue to accuse the Prabhupadanugas of manipulating the word or deceiving the public? If anything we should be accused of cutting to the point and not beating around the bush, which is just what he does throughout numerous articles in the recent weeks along with his newest article of 2430 words on the usage of “rittik”.
He goes on to write:
“Tamal Krishna Goswami composed the July 9th Letter and Srila Prabhupada signed it, and the letter he signed contained a word emphatically placed in quotations – “rittik” – which is a different word than the one Rtvik-vada relies upon.”
To understand the following paragraph by me, please see the relevant excerpt from the July 9th letter:
“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.”
So which is it Rocana, a misspelled word or a different word altogether? If it is a different word, then fine, but since the July 9th letter assigns it the specific meaning as the “representative of the acarya”, which is the same meaning as the word that the “Rtvik-vada” rely upon, then it is safe to call it a synonym and therefore our usage of the word “ritvik” is fully fluent with the word “rittik” in the July 9th letter. If he can label such an insignificant matter as “tampering of evidence”, then be sure to expect many, many more articles like this in the coming days. Please refer to the relevant excerpts from the May 28th conversation and the July 9th letter pasted below.
It is a fact that Rocana is very afraid of the may 28th conversation. He never fully addresses the simple obvious points made in the conversation. Now in his recent article he says that the word “rittik” (used in the July 9th letter) is different from the word “ritvik” (used in the May 28th conversation) which it technically and literally is, and that Prabhupadanugas deliberately try to hide this. What a joke!
The truth is that it is so insignificant of a subject that we don’t even bother bringing it up or using the misspelled word while trying to establish our main points. He will have you believe that out of the many points we have made on our position, the fact that we choose to ignore a simple misspelled word should play as a key example of how we lie and “tamper evidence”.
What is really important is what “recent” time the word in the July 9th letter is referring to. That time is the may 28th conversation. And within that conversation the word “ritvik” is used. Allow me to demonstrate:
May 28th conversation:
Satsvarupa Goswami:Then our next question concerns initiations in the future, particularly at that time when you are no longer with us. We want to know how first and second initiation would be conducted.
Srila Prabhupada: Yes. I shall recommend some of you. After this is settled up, I shall recommend some of you to act as officiating acarya.
Tamal Krishna Goswami: Is that called ritvik acarya?
Srila Prabhupada: Ritvik. Yes.
So with that in mind, please continue to read an excerpt from the letter that the GBC had sent to all temple presidents after the may 28th conversation, signed and approved by Srila Prabhupada:
July 9th letter:
“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.”
The May 28th Conversation took place just a month prior to the July 9th letter. Srila Prabhupada was asked how initiations would take place in the future, “particularly at that time when you are no longer with us.” He answered that there would be officiating acarya’s to do this, or “Ritvik” acarya, as He confirmed.
Thus, the unique (misspelled) term “rittik” used in the July 9th letter is clearly meant to have been “Ritvik”, since the whole letter itself is in reference to the May 28th conversation, where the term “Ritvik” is used and confirmed by Srila Prabhupada. To further question it’s meaning is illogical.
Even if the May 28th conversation hadn’t existed, still, the term “rittik” is defined in it’s letter as “representative of the acarya”, which is the same definition as the words variegated as “rtvik”, “ritvik” or “
The most important aspect of the July 9th letter’s use of the term “rittik” is the definition applied to it. Leave it up to Rocana to even bring this insignificant, minor detail up in the first place. His doing so is nothing but an effort to create confusion in the minds of the untrained student.
Rocana writes: “Praghosa, like all the Rtviks, is willing to ignore the 98% in favour of the 2%, on the basis of one word only: HENCEFORWARD.”
Do we really need that word at all? No, we do not. The May 28th conversation is even stronger evidence than the word “henceforward”, nor is it our only piece of evidence. So why does Rocana keep insisting that we only rely on that one word? It’s because he wants to narrow down our many evidences and arguments and thereby be able to counter as few as possible.
The fact is that Rocana is overwhelmed with evidence against his bogus philosophy and therefore is desperately trying to put all of us “Rtviks” in the same pot to cook. This, though, is impossible to do, as many of the people that he labels as “rtviks” do not actually share the same viewpoints at all.
To find the real “ritviks” or Prabhupadanugas, all you have to do is examine who comes the closest to Srila Prabhupada’s words. That’s all. If someone is engaging in some mental speculation about how initiations should take place according to their understanding, or whatever else the matter may be, then they are not in the true spirit of a Prabhupadanuga.
A real Prabhupadanuga does not concoct his/her own understanding of how things should be done in Srila Prabhupada’s movement. We know that Srila Prabhupada has left behind everything we need to know and we stick by that. We know that Srila Prabhupada left behind a perfect written plan for initiations in particular and we follow that plan without any distorted interpretation of any of the words he uses. Whoever shares this safe attitude and common understanding of the Spiritual Master’s instructions should be considered a Prabhupadanuga and a Rupanuga.
A day prior to the above article by Rocana, he wrote in an article:
“Overall I find that Praghosa dasa, like many of the Rtviks, holds a very strong degree of nostalgia for the ‘good old days’, when everything was simple.”
“Unfortunately, all that has changed. Today, the sincere seeker has to deal with the fact that there is a cornucopia of confusing alternatives.”
Yes, Rocana, us “Rtviks” do strive for days back when the GBC and people like you weren’t around to confuse everyone. Srila Prabhupada was the center. Now, you, the GBC, the GM and so many other offenders are preaching new things. Us “Rtviks” are not preaching anything new. Everything we say is transparent and can be supported with Srila Prabhupada’s books.
Everything really is simple, it’s just a matter of accepting it and refusing to be cheated by the more complicated matters. There certainly is a “cornucopia of confusing alternatives” (and Rocana is one to blame for this), but only to those who are looking for those alternatives.
If you are looking for the simple good ol’ days then stop reading what the atheists have to say and start listening to Srila Prabhupada. Srila Prabhupada gave a simple order. If the “Rtviks” are to be blamed for anything it is for repeating Srila Prabhupada’s words.
What really hurts me is the fact that the points i’ve made above regarding the connection between the May 28th and July 9th papers are hardly new points at all. They have been made countless times by various Godbrothers. The problem is that Rocana chooses to ignore them and continue writing his garbage regardless, as if his arguments were new.
Indeed, he can be accused of violating his very own so-called site policies of “chewing the chewed”. Shame on you Rocana. I say stop trying gain a high position by becoming some great philosopher against the Prabhupadanugas who are so honestly attempting to bring the simple truth out. You really don’t need to think too much at all when it comes to Srila Prabhupada’s plans for the future.
It’s very simple. On the contrary, with Rocana, he even admits that many readers have to pay very close attention and thoroughly read his articles in order to understand the deep underlying plan for ISKCON. One that is not even backed by Srila Prabhupada’s words, but rather by trying to eliminate the simple instructions He left behind.
This deceptive strategy of Rocana’s should be very clear by now from his most recent article. He wastes so much time and so many words trying to replace a simple instruction with his own speculative opinions. I hope that people are starting to recognize this behavior of his. I hope that people will just start listening to Srila Prabhupada.
All Glories to Srila Prabhupada. All Glories to our living Guru. May His instructions forever guide us toward Sri Krishna.
Your servant,
Vidura Das
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