My ISKCON Diksha-initiation Status
BY: SADHUDASA ANUDASA DASA
[Editor’s Note: The following article was submitted to the Sun several weeks ago by Sadhudasa Anudasa prabhu, who recently suffered a violent attack in Mayapur Dham.]
Dear Braja Bihari Prabhu, Please accept my obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada!
In your category as a representative of the ISKCON Resolve Dept., I’m sending you the following enquiry, which is of fundamental importance to me –and the whole ISKCON-Mumbay or the ISKCON GBC-West Bengal Society– as you would appreciate after reading this letter. Please redirect it to the ISKCON authorities it may be needed. I thus wait for a formal reply.
A little more than a year ago I was formally informed that I’m not officially recognised as a duly initiated disciple of ISKCON Founder-acharya A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada. The reason being is that my ritualistic Diksha-initiation ceremony took place hours after the physical departure of Srila Prabhupada from the planet. Please find below the official document stating the initiation date of 13th of November 1977 as Srila Prabhupada Diksha-disciple, corroborated by the same ISKCON authorities in the enclosed letter of October of 1989. Below these documents you’ll find a series of correspondence discussing the issue with some ISKCON authorities involved.
After yeas of discussions (literally), when Srimati Mahamaya d.d. (the Compiler of ISKCON SP’s Disciples Database) informed me that my Diksha-initiation was not recognised didn’t affect me, since I thought it to be a minor managerial disagreement. However, with the passing of time it affected me that many of my older Godbrothers began broadly spreading that I’m not a duly initiated disciple of Srila Prabhupada. Obviously, experiencing these events gradually turned into a permanent social and emotional disturbance. Particularly after hearing devotees of the new generations in administrative positions — here at Sri Mayapura Dhama were I live — declaring me as someone who has claimed something that is false.
I’ve never professed, neither supported, the wrongly denominated “ritvik” (post-mortem “representative” initiation) philosophy. However, I always sympathised with its followers, since they are solely inspired by Srila Prabhupada as ISKCON ADI-Shiksha-guru, or ISKCON primordial instructing-guru exclusively (which is SP’s natural position –even after his physical departure– as ISKCON Founder-acharya, anyway!). Nonetheless my present situation may prove that such philosophical and spiritual status only as Prabhupada’s direct Shiksha-disciple, could acquire broad awareness to validate from now on the predominance of SHIKSHA over DIKSHA even within ISKCON (which has been the process in our Guru SHIKSHA-Parampara always).
By having embraced Srila Prabhupada as my most important instructing guru in Gaudiya Vaishnavism –although having accepted some of his most intimate Godbrothers as my shiksha-gurus also– and until recently being declared as NOT been qualified as a “duly” Diksha-initiated disciple of SP in the DIKSHA-Parampara, opens-up a new paradigm among the various ISKCON “sects” in India: ISKCON-Mumbay vs. ISKCON-Bangalore, or ISKCON-WB GBC Society vs. ISKCON-Bangalore GBC Trust.
It should be noticed, however, that I heard the Gayatri-mantra recorded by Srila Prabhupada on the old cassette-tape system. Somehow I do still have a copy of his Gayatri-mantra on the tape–now defunct–magnetic system. During the historical dark ISKCON period, which manifested right after SP’s physical departure, I took shelter under Srila Prabhupada’s intimate friend and Godbrother, Srila B.R. Sridhara Maharaja from Sri Navadwip. I acted as Srila Sridhara Maharaja’s Ritvik-guru until his departure in August 1988. I heard also his Gayatri-mantra recorded on magnetic tape. However, my allegiance to Srila Prabhupada as my Diksha and main Shiksha-guru has been always predominating. Besides, I do NOT hold any kind of official initiation with Srila Sridhara Maharaja. He made me one of his few Ritvik-gurus out of his infinite compassion.
The fact is that for the last 35 years I have been OFFICIALLY linked to Srila Prabhupada as my initiator/instructing spiritual master; also ACTING as an ISKCON dedicated member who CONTRIBUTED with many valuable services to SP’s ISKCON society; having directed various architectural projects in Brazil and USA, and actively served at the ISKCON Portuguese and Spanish BBT Publishing divisions in Brazil and USA. However only a year ago I was informed that I’m not accepted as a duly initiated Diksha-disciple of Srila Prabhupada, although originally confirmed by the ISKCON-Brazil authorities–were I joined.
Somehow, only recently the whole situation began to incommode my mind due to my new (outcasted) social status. Consequently, I humbly request an official declaration about my status in the ISKCON society from the ISKCON authorities in India (the official ISKCON GENERAL BODY COMMISSION SOCIETY – Reg No.:S/74662 under the West Bengal Societies Registration Act). Please state through an official document the GBC’s conclusion about my Diksha-initiated position. Please explain according to such conclusion, what is my factual position as an ISKCON member? Finally, what would be my official ISKCON position before the whole community of thousands of ISKCON’s new generation of devotees worldwide?
Please find below copies of my original ISKCON-Brazil Diksha Initiation Diploma, and a letter written in 1989 by the same ISKCON-Brazil authorities declaring I am a duly Diksha-initiated disciple of Srila Prabhupada. Please notice that the same ISKCON-Brazil authority signing such official letter (Sripad Loka Saksi Dasa, a.k.a. Lucio Varela) is still holding administrative positions since then — and until today recognises me as Srila Prabhupada’s Diksha-disciple.
After the documents below, you’ll find various email exchanges between Srimati Mahamaya d.d. and other devotees implicated on this issue. For your clarification, my civil name is Ricardo A. Palleres, my Diksha-initation name was Ravanari Dasa Brahmachari, and after exchanging my previous sannyasa vows –by revoking the “swami” title and brahminical sacred thread– I’m presently known as Sadhudasa Anudasa Dasa.
Kindly observe that I’ll only wait until the next Gaura-Purnima festival at Sri Mayapura (or March 214) for a conclusive answer from the ISKCON ultimate managerial authority (ISKCON-W.B. General Body Commission Society) regarding my status as being one of Srila Prabhupada duly Diksha-initiated disciples or not.
Presently, my status as Srila Prabhupada’s Shiksha-disciple since 1976, offers plentiful validity (philosophically and practically) to the spiritual outlook claimed by the wrongly denominated “ritviks,” which is exclusively practised by ISKCON-Bangalore and their many branches throughout India. NOT having discussed all of this with Sripad Madhu Pandit Dasa yet, I sincerely wonder what the Indian civil legal system would have to conclude about this situation?
CONCLUSION 1: I’m OFFICIALLY declared a direct Diksha-disciple of Srila Prabhupada by the authorities of ISKCON-Brazil, and my senior Godbrothers there — even though my CONVENTIONAL Diksha-initiation took place hours AFTER Prabhupada’s physical departure from the planet.
CONCLUSION 2: I’m declared a NOT initiated Diksha-disciple of Srila Prabhupada by the official Compiler of ISKCON SP’s Disciples Database of ISKCON-W.B. GBC-Society, and many of my senior Godbrothers in India and abroad — once my CONVENTIONAL DIKSHA-initiation took place hours AFTER Prabhupada’s physical departure from the planet.
CONCLUSION 3: Excerpted from Srila Kaviraja Goswami’s Cc., and Srila Prabhupada’s eternal Bhaktivedanta Purports:
(OBS.: Capitals and in between parenthesis added, to stress meanings)
Cc. Adi-lila, 1.47
shiksha-guruke ta’jani krishnera svarupa / antaryami, bhakta-shrestha,—ei dui rupa
“One should know the instructing spiritual master TO BE the Personality of Krishna. Lord Krishna manifests Himself as the Supersoul and as the greatest devotee of the Lord.”
Bhaktivedanta Purport: “Srila Krishnadas Kaviraj Gosvami states that the instructing (SHIKSHA) spiritual master is a bona fide representative of Sri Krishna. Sri Krishna HIMSELF teaches us as the instructing spiritual master from WITHIN and WITHOUT. From WITHIN He teaches as Paramatma, our constant companion, and from WITHOUT He teaches from Bhagavad-gita as the instructing spiritual master. There are two kinds of instructing spiritual masters. One is the liberated person fully absorbed in meditation in devotional service (BHAJANANANDI), and the other is he who invokes the disciple’s spiritual consciousness by means of relevant instructions (GOSTHYANANDI). Thus the instructions in the science of devotion are differentiated in terms of the OBJECTIVE and SUBJECTIVE ways of understanding. The acharya in the true sense of the term, who is AUTHORISED to deliver Krishna, enriches the disciple with FULL spiritual knowledge and thus awakens him to the activities of devotional service.
When by learning from the SELF-REALISED spiritual master one actually engages himself in the service of Lord Vishnu, functional devotional service begins. The procedures of this devotional service are known as abhidheya, or action one is duty-bound to perform. Our ONLY shelter is the Supreme Lord, and one who teaches how to approach Krishna is the FUNCTIONING form of the Personality of Godhead. There is NO DIFFERENCE between the shelter-giving Supreme Lord and the initiating and instructing spiritual masters. If one foolishly discriminates between them, he commits an offence in the discharge of devotional service.”
OBS.: An actual difference between the ONLY Diksha-guru one may accept as a Vaishnava scriptural CONVENTION (TATTVA), and the main Shiksha-guru amongst innumerable Shiksha-gurus (instructing authorities) one has unavoidably embraced throughout one’s material or devotional life, is based on RASA (INNERMOST PERSONAL FEELINGS EXCLUSIVELY AROUSED BY INDIVIDUAL EXPERIENCE). This is the formula that accomplishes simultaneous diversity and unity within the achintya-bhedabheda-tattva tenets of Sri Chaitanya regarding guruship. Thus, no sane person would try to equate oneself to Srila Prabhupada –being ISKCON Founder-acharya and fundamental Shiksha-guru for the entire society, as in our particular case.
Please notice that declaring my status as a duly Diksha-initiated student within Gaudiya Vaishnavism AFTER Prabhupada’s physical departure, becomes a precedent to consider the position of ISKCON-Bangalore also. If my case was an exceptional case, or an “emergency situation,” it is still valid for those who may wish to OFFICIALLY adhere to ISKCON as direct Shiksha-disciples of SP through some particular ISKCON Diksha-agents, who would officiate as “Conventional Diksha-gurus” — as ISKCON-Bangalore has implemented it. The only thing that becomes adjusted by the disciple as an ISKCON Member is the dynamics of the Diksha conventional acceptance, and the predominating Shiksha-guru position of SP. Thus, the relationship guru-disciple is the exclusive matter of every individual disciple and guru (either chaita, shiksha, diksha)–and it should remain strictly confidential anyway.
On the other hand, please notice that declaring my status as a NON officially Diksha-initiated student of Srila prabhupada, puts me in the awkward position of NEVER being initiated in Gaudiya Vaishnavism. This means that during the last 35 years I was mislead about my Diksha-initiation —causing perjury by ISKCON institutional mismanagement. Obviously one argument would be that was due to the “emergency situation” required to spread Srila Prabhupada’s mission through his “different” ISKCON corporations or societies worldwide at the time. Just like now, we have ISKCON-New York, ISKCON-Mumbay, ISKCON GBC-WB Society, ISKCON-Brazil, ISKCON-Bangalore, etc.
Furthermore, this “emergency situation” prompted Srila Prabhupada himself to protect everyone of us –who have surrendered to him at his ISKCON society worldwide– while he was physically present. This is a REAL FACT, since he instructed us to follow the sacred observance of Ekadashi on the SAME day that it was observed at Sri Vrindavana — even though we were thousands of miles away, and in totally different time-zones. This factually means that without his blessings and protection, we would have broken the observance of the Scriptural injunction on Ekadashi days — therefore reducing our status to NON initiated individuals. The question stands: Those who joined Prabhupada’s ISKCON society while he was physically present, and never denied him as their spiritual master until now, and followed his precepts, are NOT his Diksha or DIRECT disciples — besides their Shiksha-disciples status?
Please consider carefully and attentively all the above requested, and inform me about the ISKCON-W.B. GBC Society conclusions via an official document, NOT later than March 2014. Kindly, be notified that legal civil procedures within India are under study and consideration, which may take place accordingly.
Thank you,
Sincerely,
Sadhudasa Anudasa dasa
Begin forwarded message:
From: “hr@ivs.edu”
Subject: Re: Regarding Ravanari´s initiation
Date: 12 September 2011 8:15:45 PM IST
To: Isvara Prabhu
Cc: “R.A. Sadhudasa Anudasa” , Mahamaya DD , “ricardopalleres@me.com” , Lilananda dasa
Dear Mahamaya Prabhu and Isvara Prabhu,
Jaya Srila Prabhupada. Thank you for your letter. I stated earlier to the concerned devotees that if Prabhupada had approved Ravanari’s initiation, then even if the ceremony was performed after Prabhupada’s departure, I felt that would still be valid.
Since at that time, we were using the ‘rtvik’ system, one could argue that my accepting Ravanari for Prabhupada-diksa, in my capacity as Prabhupada’s authorized representative, was the functional equivalant of Prabhupada accepting him for diksa.
Clearly this is a somewhat gray area, but I wanted to share those thoughts.
With best wishes,
Your servant,
Hridayananda das Goswami
From: “R.A. Sadhudasa Anudasa”
Date: Mon, 12 Sep 2011 20:00:21 +0530
To: Loka Saksi , Lilananda dasa , Cc: “hr@ivs.edu”
Subject: Fwd: Regarding Ravanari´s initiation
Begin forwarded message:
From: Eneas Guerriero
Subject: Regarding Ravanari´s initiation
Date: 12 September 2011 2:22:38 PM GMT+05:30
To: mahamayadasi@yahoo.com
Cc: ricardopalleres@me.com
Dear Mahamaya Mataji,
Please accept my obeisances. All glorie sto Prabhupada.
I just happended to see this letter below, about the controversy about Ravanari´s initiation. Let me say first that I am writing this letter on my own desire, and not to the knowledge of Ravanari or anybody else.
I was there personally, and I remember exactly the situation. Ravananri and a couple of other devotees were already supposed to receive the initiation, it was just a question of days to arrange the cerimony. And then we got the news of Prabhupada´s disappearence. Hridayananda Maharaja left the same night to India and gave the instructions to Alanatha das (the now Paramadvaiti Maharaja) to perform the initiation. And he was clear enough to say these devotees were already supposed to be initiatiated and should be now.
So, now I question the value of the long distance initiations (first Prabhupada did it through letters and at that time through some sannyasis around the world). I understand that by the time Prabhupada wrote the letter or the sannyasi agreed on giving the initiation, the protocol was already there, no matter how long the letter would take to arrive to its destination (and I think it also applies for the sannyasi giving himself the the diksha in name of Prabhuada´s). Is that not so?
If it isn´t, than I am really confused.
So, I can testify that in the case of Ravanari and a few other devotees at that time, in their minds and in the minds of everyone present at Sao Paulo at that day, they were disciples of Prabhupada. Should now they reprogram themselves?
I beg to remain
your servant
Iswara das
Dear Ravanari Prabhu,
PAMHO. AGTSP! I wrote to you on May 29, 2011 to ask for clarification about your initiation:
Question: Was this your first or second initiation? If this was the second initiation, when and where was the first?
In your answer of May 29th, you wrote:
I got the chance to discuss the matter of my initiation with Hridayananada Mj. and knowing that Prabhupada was very sick I humbly requested to receive both initiations, to which he agreed. Nonetheless, after Prabhupada’s departure we had the ceremony initiation, and I was there for both initiations.
You are stating here that your initiation was after the departure of Srila Prabhupada:
“Nonetheless, after Prabhupada’s departure we had the ceremony initiation, and I was there for both initiations.” [emphasis added]
This is also confirmed by Paramahamsa in the email below.
———- Forwarded Message ———-
Letter PAMHO:21683494 (76 lines) [W1]
From: Internet: “paulo santos”
Date: 29-May-11 07:53 -0400 (04:53 -0700)
To: Lilananda (das) ACBSP (Alachua, FL – US)
Subject: Res: Pergunta sobre a iniciação de Ravanari Prabhu
——————————
Hari bol Lilananda!!! Reverências.
Todas as glórias a Srila Prabhupada!
Karana não chegou a receber 2ª iniciação. Junto com Rananari Dasa tambem recebeu 1ª iniciação Mandaracala Dasa. Nesta cerimônia Sriman Ravanari Dasa recebeu as duas iniciações, o mesmo foi proposto para Sriman Mandaracala Dasa que recusou a segunda, ficando só com a primeira. Isto aconteceu as pressas, logo após Srila Prabhupada partir deste mundo.
Paramahamsa Dasa.
_____________________________________________
In this email Paramahamsa corroborates your statement by writing:
“Isto aconteceu as pressas, logo após Srila Prabhupada partir deste mundo.”
In conclusion on this point: There is no question (or controversy) about when your initiation took place. Clearly, it was after Srila Prabhupada’s physical departure. The question is this: What is the status of devotees such as yourself who were initiated after Srila Prabhupada’s departure? In our service as the compiler of the Srila Prabhupada Disciple Database, we have always considered that anyone initiated after Srila Prabhupada left the planet is not his direct diksa disciple. We wrote a letter to Hridayananda dasa Goswami specifically regarding your situation and below is his reply: whatever I or anyone else said at the time, it seems to me that a person initiated one day, or one thousand years, after Prabhupada departed, is not a Prabhupada disciple, according to our understanding.
With the information presented above by you and verified by Paramahamsa, and the current conclusion of the local GBC at that time, we regret to inform you that we are unable toinclude you in the Srila Prabhupada Disciple Database as a duly-initiated disciple of Srila Prabhupada.
Hope this find you well.
Your servant,
Mahamaya-devi dasi
Compiler, Srila Prabhupada Disciple Database
The fact that you received this ”official” letter from someone by the name of Mahamaya devi dasi is not so surprising! Is Mahamaya a servant of FISKCON? or is FISKCON a servant of Mahamaya?……..Hmmmm!
Why do you care about some bullshit “database”? and why are you looking for some “official” (rubber stamp) recognition by a bunch of cheaters and rascals?
ISKCON means ‘disciple’s of Srila Prabhupada’, that is what Srila Prabhupada wanted! Is it that you are now looking for ‘sympathy’ because your ‘false prestige’ (in the eyes of FISCKON fools and rascals) has been taken away? or that you genuinely understand what Srila Prabhupada desired for the future of ISKCON?
Daso Smi
Sudarsana
Sudarsana prabhu, is right —-what her name Maha maya and not yoga maya —one is to drag you down whereas yoga maya is covering up —thought not being in maya —mother Yasoda was covered by yoga maya ,and time to time the gopis and so forth —and as Arjuna was covered by yoga maya —not Maha maya —-this mata whom I know years is hey truly Mahamaya —–rightly said why worry about this rubber stamping .I was intiated by Srila Prabhupada but the ceremony never took place jaya tirtha had been busy playing with his fiddle after srila prabhupada leaves us then jaya tirtha does the fire sacrifice and says now you are my discipl —those days this is how I accepted it thinking this is how Srila prabhupada arranged it untill I wake up bad time and see how so many of are duped –by gbc and now this woman —–.woman should not lead or direct ,threir position is always subserviant ,not to be exploited —they cannot be gurus or leaders bas .
ys servant Rsi Kumar dasa
The title of this article is truly shocking: “We regret to inform you, that you are NOT Srila Prabhupada’s disciple.” Who has the right to make such a determination other than Srila Prabhupada himself? This reminds me of the story in the Krsna Book about the smarta brahmanas who refused the cowherds boys’ request to feed Krsna and Balarama. But the wives of the brahmanas immediately acted to fulfill the desire of Krsna and Balarama without hesitation because they understood the ultimate purpose of all Vedic rituals which is to please the Supreme Personality of Godhead by serving the wishes of His confidential devotees.
“Although the companions of Lord Krsna and Balarama were simple cowherd boys, they were in a position to dictate even to the high class brahmanas engaged in the Vedic rituals of sacrifices. But the smarta brahmanas, who were simply sacrificial-minded, could not understand the dictation of the transcendental devotees of the Lord. They could not even appreciate the begging of the Supreme Lord, Krsna and Balarama. Although they heard all the arguments on behalf of Krsna and Balarama, they did not care for them, and they refused to speak to the boys. Despite being highly elevated in the knowledge of Vedic sacrificial rites, all such nondevotee brahmanas, although they think of themselves as very highly elevated, are ignorant, foolish persons.”
(Krsna Book, Chapter 23: http://krsnabook.com/ch23.html)
Initiation is not simply a ceremonial ritual of throwing a banana and a handful of rice into a fire. Initiation is first and foremost an affair of the heart based on love and surrender. Recently one initiated disciple of Srila Prabhupada told me that he didn’t believe that Prabhupada was infallible. Is he then really a “disciple” of Srila Prabhupada? George Harrison was never formally initiated, but Prabhupada wrote:
“I think George does not require to become my formal disciple because he is already more than my disciple. He has sympathy for my movement and I have all blessings for him.”
(Srila Prabhupada letter, April 12, 1970)
During his final pastimes in Vrindavan, 1977, Srila Prabhupada removed his gold ring and requested that it be given to George Harrison. Due to his sincere devotional service, George had pleased Lord Krsna’s pure devotee, Srila Prabhupada:
“The relationship between Srila Prabhupada and George Harrison was very close, and Srila Prabhupada regarded George as his son. When Bhaktivedanta Manor was donated, Srila Prabhupada said of George, ‘Because he has given shelter to Krsna by providing this temple, Krsna will surely provide shelter for him.’ Just before Srila Prabhupada left this world in 1977, he removed the ring on his right hand and said to the disciples around him, ‘This is for George, give it to him.'”
(From the Bhaktivedanta Manor website)
So who is the real disciple? It is he who has pleased the spiritual master by serving the spiritual master’s order and fulfilling his desire. Srila Prabhupada did not give his ring to any of the leaders by his side, but he remembered the service of George Harrison who he called “my uninitiated devotee” and “more than my disciple.” Here are a few more relevant quotes in this connection:
“Yes, I am the spiritual master of this institutlon, 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.”
(Srila Prabhupada radio interview, March 12th, l968)
Prabhupada: “Who is my disciple? First of all let him follow strictly the disciplined rules.”
Devotee: “As long as one is following, then he is…”
Prabhupada: “Then he is all right.”
(Srila Prabhupada morning walk, June 13th,1976)
“A disciple means one who is always following the orders of the spiritual master. So I instruct my disciples to refrain from four prohibitions, namely no eating of meat, fish or eggs, no illicit sex life, no taking of intoxicotion, including tea, coffee, cigarettes, etc., and no gambling. Besides that my students must chant sixteen rounds of japamala of Hare Krsna mantra daily. So if you are able to follow these principles without fail, then you are as good as my disciple.”
(Srila Prabhupada letter, August 11th, 1972)
“In 1972, when Prabhupada gave a series of lectures on The Nectar of Devotion for one month in Vrindavan, a thought was plaguing me. When I first joined, I’d been taught that the parampara system is like a chain, and if you’re not initiated, if you’re not linked up to this chain, then you can’t go back to Godhead. I thought, ‘We’re distributing so many books, but if the people who read them are not initiated, then they can’t go back to Godhead.’ So, one day I followed Prabhupada from Rupa Goswami’s samadhi, where he lectured, and just before Prabhupada stepped onto his courtyard, I said, ‘We’re distributing so many books but if people aren’t initiated, then they can’t go back to Godhead.’ Prabhupada turned, looked at me right in the eyes and said, ‘Just by reading my books they are initiated.’
(Vaikunthanatha das, Prabhupada Memories)
“And when I came out on the street, this my friend asked me, ‘What is your opinion of this sadhu?’ Then I said that ‘Here is the right person who has taken up Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu’s message, and now it will be distributed…’ So I was at that time a fool, but I opined like this. And I accepted him as my spiritual master immediately. Not officially, but in my heart.”
(Srila Prabhupada lecture, December 13, 1972)
Srila Prabhupada’s disciple
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
The pure Vaisnavas are exceptionally kind and compassionate towards the fallen conditioned souls of this world (vancha kalpaturbyhas ca). And even though they hope their disciples will completely surrender to their instructions immediately, they are not callous or merciless if there are some problems along the way. Srila Prabhupada stated that the spiritual master is willing to take birth again to save his disciple, but he also cautioned, “Don’t take advantage.” Yet sometimes accidents happen even on the best of roads, and so if that happens, one should get up, brush himself off, and re-dedicate himself to the spiritual master with renewed vigor. Srila Prabhupada always preached and maintained the highest standard, but when his disciples faltered, he also never failed to hold out his hand to them in pure love and compassion. If one is sincere, there is always hope on the spiritual path.
As we’ve read in a previous article by Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura published on this website (“Initiation into Spiritual Life”):
“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.”
(Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura, Sajjana Toshani, December 1928)
Srila Prabhupada demonstrates his humility and forgiveness in Mexico:
“I had the good fortune to be in Srila Prabhupada’s room when he was visiting the Mexico City temple in 1974. At that time a disciple who had strayed away had returned and was asking Srila Prabhupada to forgive him. He said he was afraid that Srila Prabhupada might have rejected him forever. The entire room fell silent. Srila Prabhupada lowered his head thoughtfully for a moment. Then he looked up and said, ‘Krsna is God, and if He likes He can spread Krsna consciousness all over the world in a second, without the help of anyone. But I am not God. I am simply a servant of God, so I require assistance. If someone helps me even a little, I am eternally indebted to him. You have helped me very much, so how can I reject you?’ We were all moved by Srila Prabhupada’s humility and forgiveness.”
(Sita devi-dasi, Back to Godhead magazine)
“Whatever you have done, I forgive you”:
“One afternoon the devotees went to see Srila Prabhupada and everybody began settling into the living room to listen to him speak. Just as Prabhupada was about to begin there was some commotion at the door. Yamunacharya was there and he didn’t want to come inside and sit down. He was feeling very low and fallen because that morning he had snuck a cigarette. He didn’t feel worthy of joining his godbrothers and sisters and just wanted to stand outside the door and listen. Srila Prabhupada asked what was the cause of the commotion and somebody told him that Yamunacharya didn’t want to come in because he felt unworthy and too sinful. Prabhupada laughed and called to him, saying, ‘Whatever you have done, I forgive you. . . now come inside and join us.'”
(Swarup Das)
Srila Prabhupada’s disciple shows his own brand of kindness:
“Jayananda decides to implement his compassion for fallen souls into tangible and practical actions, something he does 24/7, and thus he goes to some hotel to rescue a wayward devotee. Jayananda knocks on the door, and a boy answers, and says ‘Hi Jayananda’ and looks down to the floor, feeling ashamed. Jayananda says, ‘Don’t worry about a thing, prabhu, we all miss you so much, I even got some cigs for you, look, it’s your brand of Camels… so come on back, we miss your association and we need your help with the carts. Lord Jagannatha wants you back… He doesn’t care what you’ve done, He is all merciful and forgiving, as does His devotees forgive and forget the past, and Srila Prabhupada always forgives his disciple… we miss you so much prabhu, please come back, come with me right now, leave whatever behind.’ The boy is moved by Jayananda’s love, and he picks up a few things and follows Jayananda out of the hotel room.”
(Vishoka das, Jayananda Rescues the Lost Sheep)
I’m still trying to find the reference online, but there’s a well known story where one married male disciple of Srila Prabhupada ran off with another woman. The man’s wife went to Prabhupada and told him what happened. Srila Prabhupada replied that she should tell the man to come back: “Tell him” he said, “that Prabhupada always forgives.”
There are many such instances. There was once a thief who stole some money from the temple and the devotees asked Prabhupada, “What should we do, have him arrested?” Srila Prabhupada replied, “No, forgive him.”
Prabhupada almost never sent anyone away – only those who blasphemed his spiritual master, the pure devotees, or Krsna Himself. Otherwise he has always forgiving – a pure manifestation of Lord Nityananda’s mercy upon the fallen souls of Kali-yuga. Without his mercy, we can only weep.
Nice story about Jayananda Prabhu. Such an exceptional vaisnava, always working tirelessly and without seeking any limelight or praise. Such vaisnavas are on at least, madhyam/madhyam platform performing the most menial and humble tasks behind the scenes and seemingly accomplishing miracles by the grace of Lord Sri Krishna. Such personalities are Siksha Guru always setting the highest standard of surrender and love for Srila Prabhupada with kindness and compassion. True Siksha always points the way to Diksha guru and sets the highest standards and glorification of Acharyas in our Guru Varga.
I have just started to read Aindra Prabhu’s book. This is a most erudite and magnificent work. Everyone who has ‘mature understanding’ of vaisnava philosphy should read it. It is not meant for GBC mendacious pretenders and those who tried to tried to give him (and many others) much grief whilst feining to be ”big authority” and bogus “gurus” or those in the bondage of sycophancy. Nor is it meant for beginners or ‘collaborators’ of a corrupt regime who are the fools and rascals of the world.
Such great vaisnavas such as Jayananda and Aindra Prabhu’s are such an inspiration because they show us what is possible by truly accepting our only Diksa Guru Acharya, His Divine Grace AC Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada who is the ONLY BONA-FIDE DIKSHA GURU OF ISKCON BY HIS OWN ORDER, AND ALL THE DEVOTEES WITHIN ISKCON!
Thank you LW Prabhu for presenting such nice points. Many thanks also to Mahesh Raja Prabhu for delivering so many accurate, shastric examples. When the words are coming straight from the lips of Srila Prabhupada, how can this be countered, ignored or disputed?
Daso Smi
Sudarsana
Nice comments by LW pabhu. Srila Prabhupada is OUR SPIRITUAL MASTER for SURE. One need not to wait for FISKCON’s approval that he is/isn’t disciple of Srila Prabhupada. One can feel it by hearing, reading and serving Srila Prabhupada that he is leading our way back to home back to Godhead.
Your Servant
Bhakta John