THE PROCESS OF 1ST AND 2ND INITIATIONS IN ISKCON
BY: MAHESH RAJA
The process of 1st and 2nd Initiations in ISKCON ON BEHALF of Srila Prabhupada the current PROMINENT acarya in accordance with July 9th 1977 Ritvik Order -HENCEFORWARD- under the guidance of RITVIK REPRESENTATIVE
Madhya 24.330 The Sixty-One Explanations of the Atmarama Verse
Similarly, a disciple’s qualifications must be observed by the spiritual master before he is accepted as a disciple. In our Krsna consciousness movement, the requirement is that one must be prepared to give up the four pillars of sinful life-illicit sex, meat-eating, intoxication and gambling.
IN WESTERN COUNTRIES ESPECIALLY, WE FIRST OBSERVE WHETHER A POTENTIAL DISCIPLE IS PREPARED TO FOLLOW THE REGULATIVE PRINCIPLES. THEN HE IS GIVEN THE NAME OF A VAISNAVA SERVANT AND INITIATED TO CHANT THE HARE KRSNA MAHA-MANTRA, AT LEAST SIXTEEN ROUNDS DAILY. IN THIS WAY THE DISCIPLE RENDERS DEVOTIONAL SERVICE UNDER THE GUIDANCE OF the spiritual master OR HIS REPRESENTATIVE FOR AT LEAST SIX MONTHS TO A YEAR. HE IS THEN RECOMMENDED FOR A SECOND INITIATION, DURING WHICH A SACRED THREAD IS OFFERED AND THE DISCIPLE IS ACCEPTED AS A BONA FIDE BRAHMANA.
Note:
- First Initiation(Hari Nama) is liberal
- Second Initiation(Brahmana) is strict
760822r2.hyd
Mahāṁśa: There’s only five first initiations. Those ladies, I told them to wait some more time. Those ladies, I told them to wait for some more time because they were still drinking tea and coffee until yesterday.
Prabhupāda: No, if they promise they will give up, then we can give.
Mahāṁśa: I already told them, “You please…” They said they will give up but I said that you…
Prabhupāda: No, if they promise you can give.
Mahāṁśa: But, they are waiting, what shall I tell them now? I just now told them…
Prabhupāda: No, tell them that, “If you promise from today you will give up…”
Mahāṁśa: They promised.
Prabhupāda: Then we shall give it.
Mahāṁśa: All five of them?
Prabhupāda: OH, YES. IF THEY HAVE PROMISED, WE SHALL GIVE. SIMPLY YOU DON’T BREAK PROMISE. YOU HAVE PROMISED—DO IT. THAT’S ALL.
Mahāṁśa: I’ll tell them. Another thing was those, what is, I don’t know what is the position of ladies being initiated. They are young girls. They may get married. They may get married to someone outside the society.
Prabhupāda: But she can chant and observe the rules and regulations—what is that.
Mahāṁśa: EVEN IF HER HUSBAND DOES NOT FOLLOW?
Prabhupāda: THAT DOES NOT MATTER. IT IS INDIVIDUAL.
Mahāṁśa: Then there’ll be five more.
Prabhupāda: My sister, while she was married, her father-in-law’s house, they were all eating fish. So a new girl, ten years, eleven years old. So she was given this foodstuff with fish and everything. So she was crying. So her mother-in-law, “Why you are crying?” “No, we do not touch all these things.” She immediately arranged special cooking for her. So her husband and other members they were taking fish, but she never touched. She never touched. She does not know what is fish. IF ONE WANTS TO KEEP ONESELF PURE, HE OR SHE CAN KEEP HERSELF PURE IN ANY CIRCUMSTANCES.
Mahāṁśa: Okay. And there’ll be two second initiations, two devotees from here. So I will talk to them again because just now I’ve told them “You must wait one month more.” They were willing to.
Prabhupāda: If they’ll promise, that’s all right.
Mahāṁśa: So I’ll tell them like that. Okay. Then the names and beads will be given downstairs by Your Grace? You’ll be coming down?
Prabhupāda: Yes.
Hari-śauri: They should be wearing their neckbeads before. At least two lines.
750708mw.chi Conversations
Devotee: What is to become of those devotees that leave ISKCON and take to breaking the regulative principles, and stop chanting sixteen rounds?
Prabhupada: Explain.
Devotee: There are even brahmanas in our temple who have left the temple and they are acting just like karmis.
Prabhupada: So they were wrongly initiated. We want recommendation from the authority, whether one should be initiated, but they gave wrong information. That is the defect of the informer. (break)
Tamala Krsna: …HARI-NAMA INITIATION CAN BE A LITTLE MORE LIBERAL.
Prabhupada: YES.
Tamala Krsna: BUT BRAHMANA INITIATION SHOULD BE STRICT.
Prabhupada: VERY STRICT. VERY STRICT MEANS HE MUST BE OBSERVED THAT HE IS ACTUALLY CHANTING SIXTEEN ROUNDS, FOLLOWING THE REGULATIVE PRINCIPLES. THAT’S ALL.
74-01-23. Letter: Sahadeva
Regarding second initiations, I have become very concerned lately, that some of our older students who have been given the second initiation, have not been strictly following the rules and regulations. So from now on I want our presidents to be very sure about the devotees they are recommending to me for second initiation. I think sometimes in the past devotees have been recommended chiefly because some more helpers were required in maintaining the deity work. Of course, necessity is there. It is just like in government, the government has need for a number of men to fill important posts, but first the persons must be qualified before they can award the post. Even though there may be a pressing demand, first the man must be qualified.
OUR SYSTEM IS THAT AFTER ONE YEAR FROM THE FIRST INITIATION, IF THE DEVOTEE IS STRICTLY FOLLOWING OUR PRINICPLES WITHOUT DEVIATION, AND IF HE WILL SIGN A STATEMENT IN SERIOUSNESS, THAT HE WILL NOT DEVIATE FROM THE CHANTING AND REGULATIVE PRINCIPLES, THEN, ON YOUR MATURE CONSIDERATION YOU CAN RECOMMEND HIM TO ME. IT IS NOT THAT WE ARE STOPPING SECOND INITIATION, BUT I WANT TO BE SURE IT DOES NOT BECOME A FARCE AND NAMES BE SENT TO ME WITHOUT PROPER QUALIFICATION.
We are criticizing the caste brahmanas for saying that the Americans and Europeans cannot be awarded brahmana initiation, because according to Vedic sastra, anyone who is properly trained up under a bonafide spiritual master, can become twice born. But if our brahmanas do not take their second initiation seriously, then we will be deserving of criticism. So on this basis, if your think the men you have recommended are still eligible, you can resubmit their names to me and I will accept them.
You have also submitted two names for first initiation. With this first initiation, we can more readily give them a chance. Provided they are enthusiastic and you observe they are following the devotional practices then you can submit their names.
Madhya 15.108 The Lord Accepts Prasada at the House of Sarvabhauma Bhattacarya
“In the morning, afternoon and evening, one should worship the Deity, chant the Hare Krsna mantra, offer oblations, perform a fire sacrifice, and feed the brahmanas. These five activities constitute purascarya. To attain full success when taking initiation from the spiritual master, one should first perform these purascarya processes.”
The word purah means “before” and carya means “activities.” Due to the necessity of these activities, we do not immediately initiate disciples in the International Society for Krishna Consciousness.
FOR SIX MONTHS, A CANDIDATE FOR INITIATION MUST FIRST ATTEND ARATI AND CLASSES IN THE SASTRAS, PRACTICE THE REGULATIVE PRINCIPLES AND ASSOCIATE WITH OTHER DEVOTEES. WHEN ONE IS ACTUALLY ADVANCED IN THE PURASCARYA-VIDHI, HE IS RECOMMENDED BY THE LOCAL TEMPLE PRESIDENT FOR INITIATION. IT IS NOT THAT ANYONE CAN BE SUDDENLY INITIATED WITHOUT MEETING THE REQUIREMENTS. WHEN ONE IS FURTHER ADVANCED BY CHANTING THE HARE KRSNA MANTRA SIXTEEN ROUNDS DAILY, FOLLOWING THE REGULATIVE PRINCIPLES AND ATTENDING CLASSES, HE RECEIVES THE SACRED THREAD (BRAHMINICAL RECOGNITION) AFTER THE SECOND SIX MONTHS.
Note: Srila Prabhupada’s introduction of Ritvik Initiations (PANCARATRIKI) is fully justified as the formalities may be changed ” can also be initiated according to circumstances.”
SB 4.8.54 Purport:
Those who are not actually in the line of acaryas, or who personally have no knowledge of how to act in the role of acarya, unnecessarily criticize the activities of the ISKCON movement in countries outside of India. The fact is that such critics cannot do anything personally to spread Krsna consciousness. If someone does go and preach, taking all risks and allowing all considerations for time and place, it might be that there are changes in the manner of worship, but that is not at all faulty according to sastra. Srimad Viraraghava Acarya, an acarya in the disciplic succession of the Ramanuja-sampradaya, has remarked in his commentary that candalas, or conditioned souls who are born in lower than sudra families, can also be initiated according to circumstances. The formalities may be slightly changed here and there to make them Vaisnavas.
68-06-12. Letter: whom it may concern
In each center we have got hundreds of disciples and followers, and our initiated disciples are strictly following the restrictions as principle, as follows: (1) no illicit sex life, (2) no intoxication, including coffee, tea, and cigarettes, (3) no gambling, (4) no meat eating. We have got both Brahmacaris and Householders as disciples, and all of them are following the above mentioned principles. THE STUDENTS AND DISCIPLES ARE INITIATED ACCORDING TO AUTHORIZED PANCARATRIKI REGULATIONS. According to Srimad-Bhagavatam and Bhagavad-gita, anyone, including so-called low born men, who may take shelter unto the Lotus Feet of Lord Krishna or His devotees, is sanctified by initiation process.
kirāta-hūṇāndhra-pulinda-pulkaśā
ābhīra-śumbhā yavanāḥ khasādayaḥ
ye ’nye ca pāpā yad-apāśrayāśrayāḥ
śudhyanti tasmai prabhaviṣṇave namaḥ
How such thing can be possible is explained in the Srimad-Bhagavatam that by special all-pervading power of Visnu this is possible.
721027ND.VRN Lecture
So we are trying to follow Sanatana Gosvami. By diksa-vidhanena, by imitating persons any, from anywhere. It does not matter. Because in this age, Kali-yuga, the diksa-vidhana is performed according, according to Pancaratrika-vidhi. Not Vaidika-vidhi. Vaidika-vidhi is very strict. Unless one is bona fide son of a dvija, the initiation was not given. To the sudras, there was no initiation. A brahmana ksatriya, vaisya. So these are the Vedic process. SO IN THE KALI-YUGA, BECAUSE IT IS TO BE UNDERSTOOD THAT EVERYONE IS A SUDRA, THEREFORE VAIDIKA-VIDHANA CANNOT BE APPLIED. VAIDIKA-VIDHANA REQUIRES THAT ONE MUST BE BORN BY A BRAHMANA, KSATRIYA. THEN HE’S ELIGIBLE FOR BEING INITIATED. BUT IN THE KALI-YUGA, THAT IS NOT POSSIBLE. THEREFORE THE PANCARATRIKI-VIDHI IS ACCEPTED.
680724IN.MON Lecture
śruti-smṛti-purāṇādi- /pañcarātra-vidhiṁ vinā
aikāntikī harer bhaktir / utpātāyaiva kalpate
TRANSLATION: “Unless one refers to śāstra (śruti, smṛti and purāṇādi), one’s spiritual activity simply disturbs society. There is no king or government to check people, and therefore society has fallen into a chaotic condition as far as spiritual understanding is concerned. Taking advantage of this chaotic condition, many rascals have appeared and proclaimed themselves incarnations of God. As a result, the entire population is indulging in sinful activities such as illicit sex, intoxication, gambling and meat-eating. Out of many sinful people, many incarnations of God are emerging. This is a very regrettable situation, especially in India.“ (CC Madhya 20.353)
This is the definition given by Srila Rupa Gosvami, that to become a devotee of the Lord, Krsna, one has to follow the principles of sruti and smrti, and pancaratriki-vidhi. Especially in this age, Kali-yuga, there is no Vedic vidhi. Because Vedic vidhi is lost. Formerly, initiation was offered to a person who is actually born of a brahmana father. Otherwise… Or the higher caste, the brahmanas, the ksatriyas, and the vaisyas, they were offered initiation, and the sudras were not offered. That was the Vedic system. But in this age the sastra says that kalau sudra sambhava.
IN THIS AGE OF KALI PRACTICALLY THERE IS NO MORE ANY BRAHMANA, KSATRIYA, OR VAISYA. MAYBE BY NAME, BUT IN QUALIFICATION THEY ARE NOT EXISTING. EVERYONE IS SUPPOSED TO BE SUDRA. SO IN KALI-YUGA THE PANCARATRIKI-VIDHI IS ACCEPTED.
The pancaratriki-vidhi is also Vedic vidhi, corollary, given by Narada Mahamuni. But it is accepted by the Vedic followers, pancaratriki-vidhi. Pancaratriki-vidhi means if any one has a little inclination for spiritual development, he should be given chance. This initiation means to give chance. The Bhagavata says that kirata-hunandhra-pulinda-pulkasa abhira-sumbha yavanah khasadayah. These are the list of the candalas or less than the sudras. So Bhagavata gives open road for everyone. Even one is kirata… Kirata means… Generally they are called aborigines, or the very black aborigines living in the jungles, they are called kirata.
710329BG.BOM Lecture
Our Sanatana Gosvami gives direction in the Hari-bhakti-vilasa that one man can become a brahmana by the regular process of diksa. Diksa, this initiation, cannot be offered to a sudra. Diksa cannot be offered to a sudra. But in this age, Kali-yuga, it is the statement of the sastras that in the Kali-yuga most of the population are sudras. Kalau sudra sambhavah. How they can be initiated? This initiation is offered not according to the Vedic rules, because it is very difficult to find out a qualified brahmana. DIKSA IS OFFERED TO A QUALIFIED BRAHMANA. THEREFORE THIS DIKSA IS OFFERED ACCORDING TO PANCARATRIKI-VIDHI. THAT IS RECOMMENDED IN THIS AGE. MY SPIRITUAL MASTER INAUGURATED THIS PANCARATRIKI-VIDHI, AND WE ARE FOLLOWING HIS FOOTSTEPS. Anyone who is inclined to devote his life for Krsna, he should be accepted as brahmana.
75-08-04. Letter: Madhudvisa:
The GBC should all be the instructor gurus. I AM IN THE INITIATOR GURU, and you should be the instructor guru by teaching what I am teaching and doing what I am doing. This is not a title, but you must actually come to this platform. This I want.
Srila Prabhupada Radio Interview, 12/3/1968
“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.”
28th January, 1977, Room Conversation
“Guru-mukha-padma-vakya, cittete koriya aikya, ara na koriho mane asa. Don’t think of any nonsense. Simply execute what your guru has said. That is success.”
68-04-12. Letter: Dayananda
Regarding parampara system: there is nothing to wonder for big gaps. Just like we belong to the Brahma Sampradaya, so we accept it from Krishna to Brahma, Brahma to Narada, Narada to Vyasadeva, Vyasadeva to Madhva, and between Vyasadeva and Madhva there is a big gap. But it is sometimes said that Vyasadeva is still living, and Madhva was fortunate enough to meet him directly. In a similar way, we find in the Bhagavad-gita that the Gita was taught to the sungod, some millions of years ago, but Krishna has mentioned only three names in this parampara system–namely, Vivasvan, Manu, and Iksvaku; and SO THESE GAPS DO NOT HAMPER FROM UNDERSTANDING THE PARAMPARA SYSTEM. WE HAVE TO PICK UP THE PROMINENT ACARYAS, AND FOLLOW FROM HIM. There are many branches also from the parampara system, and it is not possible to record all the branches and sub-branches in the disciplic succession. We have to pick up from the authority of the acharya in whatever sampradaya we belong to.
Shriman KK of IRM and many others believe in the reform of the present Iskcon management back to the Original state as Srila Prabhupada orders for its continuation via the Ritvik process of the PANCARATRIKI-VIDHI as per July 9 th letter.
The question remains that is there any possibility that the present management shall reform and bring Iskcon back to the Original state in the future ? To me it looks like a wishful thinking, isn’t it ?
Since Srila Prabhupada authorizes only to these eleven representatives who may add or subtract the Representative in order to continue the process. But those of US who are out side supporter of the Ritvik System how the Initiation via the Pancaratriki Vidhi remains to be continued because none of the personal had been authorized by Srila Prabhupada even though there are many Independent temples are being run by the faithful followers of Srila Prabhupada ?
Is there any such provision or any instructions from Srila Prabhupada authorizing the Individual to carry forward such Initiation via the Pancaratriki Vidhi as it is going on in the Bangalore Temple ?
Hope some body does shed some light on these questions please.
Hari BOL.
All Glories to Srila Prabhupada.
Amar Puri Prabhu:
Is there any such provision or any instructions from Srila Prabhupada authorizing the Individual to carry forward such Initiation via the Pancaratriki Vidhi as it is going on in the Bangalore Temple ?
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Mahesh:
“A devotee should have intelligence to know who is deviating. Surrender by your intelligence but don’t surrender your intelligence.” (SP to Bali Mardana, 1974)
Srila Prabhupada wants us to USE our intelligence – not simply follow blindly.
710106SB.CAL Lectures
Vicara means you just try to understand the gift of Lord Caitanya by logic, vicara. Don’t follow blindly. Following blindly something, that is not good. That will not stay. But one should take everything with logic.
1977-2014 is 37 years now. You can NOT expect to wait for everyone from the bogus group of GBC CON men to die until this is sorted:
Yes!!! – under Emergency and NIYAMAGRAHA that provision is acceptable for Bangalore Temple to Initiate disciples for 1st and 2nd initiations ON BEHALF of Srila Prabhupada under the Ritvik Order of Srila Prabhupada as Per July 9th 1977. The disciples so initiated are Srila Prabhupada’s. Srila Prabhupada is THE ACTUAL INITIATOR as the Holy Name is PURE devotees property and ONLY a PURE devotee CAN give the HOLY NAME. The FORMALITIES so conducted are by the Ritvik Representatives of the Acarya: Srila Prabhupada.
ALL the Bangalore Temple authorities are doing is FORMALITY as per Srila Prabhupada’s July 9th 1977 Order.
The Ritvik Initiation situation today is under EMERGENCY and the principle is NIYAMAGRAHA
Emergency and NIYAMAGRAHA
660808BG.NY Lectures
Atyaharah prayasas ca prajalpah. Prajalpa means for nothing talking nonsense. People are accustomed to talk so many things unnecessarily just in clubs, amongst friends’ circle, which has no benefit either spiritually or materially. So that sort of talking should be avoided.
Atyaharah prayasas ca prajalpo niyamagrahah. NIYAMAGRAHA MEANS TO STICK TO THE RULES REGULATION. SUPPOSE IN YOUR FAITH OR IN MY FAITH THERE ARE CERTAIN RULES AND REGULATIONS TO BE OBSERVED. BUT IF I GO TO SOME OTHER PLACE WHERE THE RULES AND REGULATIONS CANNOT BE STRICTLY OBSERVED, AND IF I WANT TO OBSERVE SUCH RULES AND REGULATIONS, THEN MY MAIN BUSINESS IS SUFFERING. SO WE SHOULD NOT STICK TO THE RULES AND REGULATIONS. WE SHOULD SEE TO THE BUSINESS.
Just like I am an Indian sannyasi. I have come to your country, at your country. Oh, there are many rules and regulations in India which is different from your rules and regulations. But if I follow, if I stick to rules and regulations of Indian conception, then it is impossible to remain here. So I have to propagate this mission, Krsna consciousness, so I am not so much attached to the rules and regulations, but I am attached to the preaching work. So therefore niyamagraha. Atyaharah prayasas ca prajalpo niyamagrahah. This four, this niyamagraha, is also against Krsna consciousness. AND NIYAMAGRAHA. AND WHEN YOU ARE IN A QUITE CONVENIENT POSITION, IF YOU DO NOT OBSERVE THE RULES AND REGULATIONS, THAT IS ALSO AGAINST KRSNA CONSCIOUSNESS. Atyaharah prayasas ca prajalpo niyamagrahah.
And laulyam. Laulyam means greediness. That is against Krsna consciousness. Laulyam, and jana-sangas ca. Jana-sanga means to associate with persons who are not interested in Krsna consciousness. We should avoid. We should avoid association of persons who are not interested in Krsna consciousness. If we make more association with persons who are not interested in Krsna consciousness, then it will go against me.
681129BG.LA Lectures
Similarly there are six things which should be avoided. What are those? Atyaharah prayasas ca prajalpo niyamagrahah, laulyam jana-sangas ca sadbhir bhaktir vinasyati. Atyahara, too much eating or too much, I mean to say, keeping bank balance or money, or collecting more than the necessities. Atyahara. Generally, too much eating is prohibited. We have to eat simply just to keep the body and soul nicely to execute Krsna consciousness. Atyaharah prayasas ca. Prayasa means taking some risky work which will require too much endeavor. We should avoid that. Atyaharah prayasah, prajalpa, nonsense talking which has no connection with Krsna consciousness. Atyaharah prayasah prajalpo niyamagrahah. Following the rules, but actually I’m not very much careful in executing the work. SO NIYAMAGRAHA. NIYAMAGRAHA MEANS NOT TO ACCEPT THE RULES AND REGULATION, AND ANOTHER MEANING IS SIMPLY TO ACCEPT THE RULES AND REGULATION WITHOUT GOOD EFFECT. Atyaharah prayasas ca prajalpo niyamagrahah laulyam, greediness, and jana-sangas ca, and associating with nondevotees. These things are against execution of devotional service, and the first thing, the patience, enthusiasm, and confidence, these six things are favorable. So we have to take notice of the don’ts and dos. Then it will be all right. Do this, don’t do this. There are six kinds of “don’t do this,” and six kinds of “do this.” So that will be nice. Yes?
660328BG.NY Lectures
Pranasyati means “It is lost.” “The spiritual path is lost by the second six principles.” And what are these? Now, atyahara. Atyahara means to eat more than what you need or to accumulate more than what you need. Ahara means eating, and ahara means accumulation. So, of course, any householder, he requires some deposit in the bank for emergency. That is, of course, allowed for householders. But just for us, we are sannyasi; we are renounced order of… We haven’t got to accumulate any money. You see? That is the system of Indian philosophy. But those who are householder, family men, they may have some deposit for emergency. Otherwise, those who are renounced order, those who are brahmacari, for them to keep money separately for his maintenance or for accumulating bank balance is not allowed. Atyahara. Similarly, ahara, eating. You have to eat only things which can maintain your body properly. Now, say, for human being. Say, human being, the eating things are grains, vegetables, fruits, milk and so many things which are given by God for human eating. So we should be satisfied with those things which are meant for humanity. We should not simply… For the pleasure of the tongue we should not eat anything. That is called atyahara. So atyahara and then prayasa. Prayasa means to labor very hard to achieve a thing. Life should be conducted in such a way that our necessities of life may come not with great effort, easily, easily. We should not encumber ourself, our life, living policy, in an encumbered way. Then our spiritual progress will be hampered. The modern society has practically encumbered the whole human activities, and therefore they have no time for spiritual culture. You see? But the conception of Vedic civilization was that people used to be satisfied on agricultural produce and for three months working during rainy season. So they get some agriculture produce and they used to eat the whole year. So nine months they were free to advance in spiritual culture and only three months they used to work for accumulating their foodstuff. You see? So atyaharah prayasas ca prajalpa. Prajalpa means talking nonsense. We assemble and go on talking for nothing, neither for this life, neither for that life. We should not talk… Suppose if we are gaining something materially, we may go on talking. Or if you are gaining some spiritually, we may talk. But if there is no gain, simply wasting time, that should not be done. Atyaharah prayasas ca prajalpo niyamagrahah. Niyamagraha means simply to stick up to the rituals. Just like people… In every religion there are some rituals that… In our Hindu religion the people are advised to observe some ceremonies. In every religion the same system is there. They go to temple, you go to church, and the Mohammedans, they go to mosque, and similarly, there are different systems. BUT IF ONE IS SIMPLY STICKING UP TO THE SYSTEM WITHOUT SEEING “HOW MUCH PROGRESS I AM MAKING IN MY LIFE?” THEN THAT IS WASTE OF TIME. THAT IS CALLED NIYAMAGRAHA, SIMPLY OBSERVING THE RULES. AND NIYAMAGRAHA ALSO MEANS THAT YOU SHOULD NOT NEGLECT ALSO THE RULES. YOU SHOULD NOT NEGLECT THE RULES AND REGULATION; AT THE SAME TIME YOU SHOULD NOT STICK UP TO THE RULES AND REGULATION. So atyaharah prayasas ca prajalpo niyamagrahah laulyam. Laulyam means to be, to be greedy, to be greedy. You should not be greedy, that “I want so much. I want so much. I want so much.” No, not like that. Atyaharah prayasas ca prajalpo niyamagrahah laulyam and jana-sangas ca. Jana-sangas ca means the persons who are not interested in spiritual matter, we should not associate with them. This should be… These are the, these six things, which retrograde the progress of spiritual life, and the other six things which I previously, just moment, I described, they will help us in our progressive life to the spiritual path.should avoid it. We should avoid it.
SB 1.17.16 P Punishment and Reward of Kali
There are regular scriptural injunctions for different persons engaged in different occupational duties, and one who follows them is called svadharma-stha, or faithful in one’s prescribed duties. In the Bhagavad-gita (18.48) it is advised that one should not give up his occupational prescribed duties, even if they are not always flawless. SUCH SVA-DHARMA MIGHT BE VIOLATED IN CASES OF EMERGENCY, IF ONE IS FORCED BY CIRCUMSTANCES, BUT THEY CANNOT BE VIOLATED IN ORDINARY TIMES. The state executive head is to see that such sva-dharma is not changed by the follower, whatever it may be, and he should give all protection to the follower of sva-dharma. The violator is subject to punishment in terms of the sastra, and the duty of the king is to see that everyone strictly follows his occupational duty, as prescribed in the scripture.
SB 4.14.39-40 P The Story of King Vena
The saintly persons and great sages killed King Vena out of emergency, but they did not choose to take part in the government in order to subdue the uprising of thieves and rogues, which took place after the death of King Vena. IT IS NOT THE DUTY OF BRAHMANAS AND SAINTLY PERSONS TO KILL, ALTHOUGH THEY MAY SOMETIMES DO SO IN THE CASE OF AN EMERGENCY. They could kill all the thieves and rogues by the prowess of their mantras, but they thought it the duty of ksatriya kings to do so. Thus they reluctantly did not take part in the killing business.
70-04-21.Sat Letter: Satsvarupa
In the beginning I was seriously corresponding with Indian friends to get some good mrdanga players, but when I found it too difficult to get a man from India some of my students were given the rudimentary lessons in playing and simply by practice they are putting on Sankirtana Party everywhere. MY GURU MAHARAJA USED TO SAY THAT IN A FOREIGN LAND WHERE YOU CANNOT SPEAK THE LANGUAGE WITH THE NATIVES VERY NICELY, WHAT DO YOU DO WHEN THERE IS A FIRE IN YOUR HOUSE JUST TO GET THEIR HELP? IN SUCH EMERGENCY ONE HAS TO EXPRESS HIMSELF SOMEHOW OR OTHER TO HIS FOREIGN FRIENDS AND GET THEIR HELP TO EXTINGUISH THE FIRE. BUT IF HE WANTS TO LEARN THE LANGUAGE FIRST AND THEN TALK WITH THE FOREIGN FRIENDS TO GET HELP, THEN EVERYTHING IN THE MEANTIME WOULD BE FINISHED. Similarly if we have to learn and then paint, it will be a long-term affair. But immediately we want so many pictures for all of our books, so all the artists may always be engaged in painting works and that painting itself will gradually teach them how to make things nice
Srila Prabhupada is THAT Acarya who first Initiates us with the MAHA-MANTRA
Adi 1.34 The Spiritual Masters
Krsnadasa Kaviraja Gosvami has composed this Sanskrit verse for the beginning of his book, and now he will explain it in detail. He offers his respectful obeisances to the six principles of the Absolute Truth. Gurun is plural in number because anyone who gives spiritual instructions based on the revealed scriptures is accepted as a spiritual master. Although others give help in showing the way to beginners, THE GURU WHO FIRST INITIATES ONE WITH THE MAHA-MANTRA IS TO BE KNOWN AS THE INITIATOR, AND THE SAINTS WHO GIVE INSTRUCTIONS FOR PROGRESSIVE ADVANCEMENT IN KRSNA CONSCIOUSNESS ARE CALLED INSTRUCTING SPIRITUAL MASTERS.
Srila Prabhupada is the ONE initiator Spiritual Master
KB 80 The Meeting of Lord Krsna with Sudama Brahmana
“If a man is sufficiently educated in student life under the guidance of a proper teacher, then his life becomes successful in the future. He can very easily cross over the ocean of nescience, and he is not subjected to the influence of illusory energy. My dear friend, everyone should consider his father to be his first teacher because by the mercy of one’s father one gets this body. The father is therefore the natural spiritual master. Our next spiritual master is he who initiates us into transcendental knowledge, and he is to be worshiped as much as I am. The spiritual master may be more than one. The spiritual master who instructs the disciples about spiritual matters is called siksa-guru, and the spiritual master who initiates the disciple is called diksa-guru. Both of them are My representatives. There may be many spiritual masters who instruct, BUT THE INITIATOR SPIRITUAL MASTER IS ONE.
Srila Prabhupada is THAT PURE devotee who GIVES Krsna
SB 7.9.42 P Prahlada Pacifies Lord Nrsimhadeva with Prayers
Here the words priya janan anusevatam nah indicate that the Supreme Lord, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, is very favorable to devotees who act according to the instructions of His own pure devotee. In other words, one must become the servant of the servant of the servant of the Lord. If one wants to become the servant of the Lord directly, this is not as fruitful as engaging in the service of the Lord’s servant. This is the direction of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, who shows us the way to become gopi-bhartuh pada-kamalayor dasa-dasanudasah. One should not be proud of becoming directly the servant of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Rather, one must seek a pure devotee, a servant of the Lord, and engage oneself in the service of such a servant. The more one becomes the servant of the servant, the more one becomes perfect in devotional service. This is also the injunction of Bhagavad-gita: evam parampara-praptam imam rajarsayo viduh. One can understand the science of the Supreme Personality of Godhead simply by the parampara system. In this regard, Srila Narottama dasa Thakura says, tandera carana sevi bhakta-sane vasa: “Let me serve the lotus feet of the devotees of the Lord, and let me live with devotees.” Janame janame haya, ei abhilasa. Following Narottama dasa Thakura, one should aspire to be a servant of the Lord’s servant, life after life. Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura also sings, tumi ta’ thakura, tomara kukura, baliya janaha more: “O my Lord, O Vaisnava, please consider me your dog.” One must become the dog of a Vaisnava, a pure devotee, for a pure devotee can deliver Krsna without difficulty. Krsna se tomara, krsna dite para. KRSNA IS THE PROPERTY OF HIS PURE DEVOTEE, AND IF WE TAKE SHELTER OF A PURE DEVOTEE, HE CAN DELIVER KRSNA VERY EASILY. Prahlada wants to engage in the service of a devotee, and therefore he prays to Krsna, “My dear Lord, kindly give me the shelter of Your very dear devotee so that I may engage in his service and You may then be pleased.” Mad-bhakta-pujabhyadhika (Bhag. 11.19.21). The Lord says, “Engaging in the service of My devotee is better than trying to engage in My devotional service.
Srila Prabhupada is THE ONE INITIATING Spiritual Master:
Adi 1.35 The Spiritual Masters
If one develops love for Krsna by Krsna conscious activities, one can know the Supreme Absolute Truth, but he who tries to understand God simply by logical arguments will not succeed, nor will he get a taste for unalloyed devotion. The secret is that one must submissively listen to those who know perfectly the science of God, and one must begin the mode of service regulated by the preceptor. A devotee already attracted by the name, form, qualities, etc., of the Supreme Lord may be directed to his specific manner of devotional service; he need not waste time in approaching the Lord through logic. The expert spiritual master knows well how to engage his disciple’s energy in the transcendental loving service of the Lord, and thus he engages a devotee in a specific devotional service according to his special tendency. A DEVOTEE MUST HAVE ONLY ONE INITIATING SPIRITUAL MASTER BECAUSE IN THE SCRIPTURES ACCEPTANCE OF MORE THAN ONE IS ALWAYS FORBIDDEN. There is no limit, however, to the number of instructing spiritual masters one may accept. Generally a spiritual master who constantly instructs a disciple in spiritual science becomes his initiating spiritual master later on.
NoD 8 Offenses to Be Avoided
The offenses against the chanting of the holy name are as follows: (3) To disobey the orders of the spiritual master.
Madhya 24.330 The Sixty-One Explanations of the Atmarama Verse
MAHA-BHAGAVATA-srestho
brahmano vai gurur nrnam
sarvesam eva lokanam
asau pujyo yatha harih
maha-kula-prasuto ‘pi
sarva-yajnesu DIKSITAH
sahasra-sakhadhyayi ca
na guruh syad avaisnavah
((The guru MUST be situated on the topmost platform of devotional service. There are three classes of devotees, and the guru MUST be accepted from the topmost class. The first-class devotee is the spiritual master for all kinds of people. ….When one has attained the topmost position of MAHA-BHAGAVATA, he is to be accepted as a guru and worshiped exactly like Hari, the Personality of Godhead. Only such a person is eligible to occupy the post of a guru.))
Note The word DIKSITAH refers to Diksa and ONLY Maha Bhagavata is the one mentioned WHO give this BY DEFINITION.
75-08-04. Letter: Madhudvisa:
The GBC should all be the instructor gurus. I AM IN THE INITIATOR GURU, and you should be the instructor guru by teaching what I am teaching and doing what I am doing. This is not a title, but you must actually come to this platform. This I want.
Srila Prabhupada Radio Interview, 12/3/1968
“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.”
28th January, 1977, Room Conversation
“Guru-mukha-padma-vakya, cittete koriya aikya, ara na koriho mane asa. Don’t think of any nonsense. Simply execute what your guru has said. That is success.”
Note: Founder-Acarya His Divine Grace AC Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada. The hyphen means Srila Prabhupada IS the ACARYA of ISKCON not simply its Founder consequently, one who wants to accept the position of formality of initiating others can ONLY do so ON BELHALF of Srila Prabhupada the ACARYA. THERE IS NO OTHER WAY. Srila Prabhupada’s Diksa giving position in ISKCON as long as it exists is IRREPLACEABLE.
Srila Prabhupada’s introduction of Ritvik Initiations (PANCARATRIKI) is fully justified as “conditioned souls who are born in lower than sudra families, can also be initiated according to circumstances. The formalities may be slightly changed here and there to make them Vaisnavas.”
SB 4.8.54 Purport:
Those who are not actually in the line of acaryas, or who personally have no knowledge of how to act in the role of acarya, unnecessarily criticize the activities of the ISKCON movement in countries outside of India. The fact is that such critics cannot do anything personally to spread Krsna consciousness. If someone does go and preach, taking all risks and allowing all considerations for time and place, it might be that there are changes in the manner of worship, but that is not at all faulty according to sastra. Srimad Viraraghava Acarya, an acarya in the disciplic succession of the Ramanuja-sampradaya, has remarked in his commentary that candalas, or conditioned souls who are born in lower than sudra families, can also be initiated according to circumstances. The formalities may be slightly changed here and there to make them Vaisnavas.
68-06-12. Letter: whom it may concern
In each center we have got hundreds of disciples and followers, and our initiated disciples are strictly following the restrictions as principle, as follows: (1) no illicit sex life, (2) no intoxication, including coffee, tea, and cigarettes, (3) no gambling, (4) no meat eating. We have got both Brahmacaris and Householders as disciples, and all of them are following the above mentioned principles. THE STUDENTS AND DISCIPLES ARE INITIATED ACCORDING TO AUTHORIZED PANCARATRIKI REGULATIONS. According to Srimad-Bhagavatam and Bhagavad-gita, anyone, including so-called low born men, who may take shelter unto the Lotus Feet of Lord Krishna or His devotees, is sanctified by initiation process.
kirata-hunandhra-pulinda-pulkasa
abhira-sumbha yavanah khasadayah
ye ‘nye ca papa yad-apasrayasrayah
sudhyanti tasmai prabhavisnave namah
How such thing can be possible is explained in the Srimad-Bhagavatam that by special all-pervading power of Visnu this is possible.
Dear Readers,
I put up the questions deliberately in my posting to which Shriman Mahesh Raja Prabhu has replied very nicely in order that a new seeker may know and understand as to how HDG. Srila Prabhupada desires and intends the Initiation Instructions being carried forward and followed by all the Presidents of the Temple regardless, and as such how Srila Prabhupada accepts the New Disciples during His Presence or Absence.
For example HDG. Srila Prabhupada says in His letter dated Jan. 23, 74 to Sahadeva ;
“ …….So from now on I want our presidents to be very sure about the devotees they are recommending to me for second initiations …… “ which is clear that upon the recommendation of the Temple President, Srila Prabhupada accepts the new disciple.
Further in the same letter, Srila Prabhupada makes it very clear about the acceptance of new disciples which reads ;
“ ……… So on this basis, if your think the men you have recommended are still eligible, you can resubmit their names to me and I will accept them.”
From the above Instructions of Srila Prabhupada, it is abundantly clear that the Temple Presidents indeed do have the necessary authority or authorization from Srila Prabhupada for which Shriman KK of IRM and others wrongfully believe and promote in the reform of the present Iskcon because of the Eleven Original named authority ALONE in the July 9th letter does indeed become a FARCE i.e. totally MISLEADING.
Thus, Shriman KK of IRM and others play politics to safe guard their own vested interest under the disguise of serving Srila Prabhupada’s mission whereas all the Rtvik Temple Presidents indeed follow the Initiation Instructions of HDG. Srila Prabhupada as He desires.
Srila Prabhupada Radio Interview, 12/3/1968
“I AM THE SPIRITUAL MASTER OF THIS INSTITUTION, AND ALL THE MEMBERS OF THE SOCIETY, THEY ARE SUPPOSED TO BE MY DISCIPLES. THEY FOLLOW THE RULES AND REGULATIONS WHICH I ASK THEM TO FOLLOW, AND THEY ARE INITIATED BY ME SPIRITUALLY.”
All Glories to Srila Prabhupada.
Hari BOL. OM TAT SAT.