A few of us know the true story. On his death bed His Divine Grace AC Bhaktivedanta Swami was asked to dispell his disciple’s confusion about the mechanics of parampara.*1
His Grace Satsvarupa dasa Maharaja asked
“Is this Rtvik?”
His Divine Grace replied “Yes”.
Again His Grace Satsvarupa Maharaja asked “After you are gone the initiators will make disciples–whose disciple will he be?”
His Divine Grace replied “His disciple–my grand disciple.”
Seems obvious, direct–AC Bhaktivedanta confirmed what he taught us for 12 years in his books, letters, tapes.
He confirmed what all acharyas of the parampara taught and practiced throughout this creation and all other creations.
But some years later an ex ISKCON devotee wrote a book claiming the word “rtvik” uttered by the founder-acharya of ISKCON before he left this mortal world was a special revelation, a new teaching.*2
He claimed that His Divine Grace, with that one word (spoken by His Grace Satsvarupa Maharaja), had ended the parampara and ushered in a new system of posthumous initations (effectively making His Divine Grace the final guru.)
This ex-devotee went further and claimed that His Divine Grace had been murdered by his disciples to keep him from speaking further on this new system of making himself the ‘last guru’ so that they, his disciples, could continue the parampara system, for material purposes. *3
Let us analyze this claim of the “rtviks” and judge whether it contains an ounce of validity.
We shall do so by making 3 simple observations.
1) The word Rtvik is not new. We find it in Manu Samhita, Visnu Samhita, Vedas, Puranas, etc.
Rtviks were all duly Parampara-initiated brahmanas, some of whom were famous acharyas.
Therefore it is dishonest of the modern “Rtvik” faction to invent a new meaning to the word denoting “substitute guru” or “proxy guru” or “posthumous initiator”.
2) The “Rtvik” faction have unceremoniously awarded powers to His Divine Grace AC Bhaktivedanta Swami that he does not possess.
a) They have awarded him in their fertile minds the power to commit one of the offenses to the Holy Name yet remain inoffensive (It is one of the offenses against the Holy Name to reject the conclusions of Vedic scripture, one such conclusion being the command that knowledge be received through the parampara process.) *4
b) The “Rtviks” do not understand logically that HDG AC Bhaktivedanta’s authority is the parampara–therefore if at any moment he attempted to act above of or outside of the parampara he would necessarily lose the very authority bestowed upon him. *5
3) As in the current FDG controversy the “Rtviks” base their their entire house of cards upon a single letter. However this letter was neither written by nor dictated by His Divine Grace AC Bhaktivedanta.
The said letter was written by His Grace Tamal Krishna Maharaja.
In the YouTube video titled Disciple of my disciple, HG Tamal Krishna Maharaja explains that he wrote the letter in question and he further explains that His use of the word “henceforward” was not intended to mean “forever” but only meant “while His Divine Grace was still with us”.
In this way we can analyze the claims made by the modern “Rtvik faction” and reveal their invalidity. *6
…………………………
*1 Parampara means the “supreme path.”
Lord Krsna speaks to Brahma, Brahma to Narada, Narada to Vyasadeva…in this way from guru to disciple the original teaching is transmitted.
*2 The exISKCON devotee’s name was Nityananda dasa. He has claimed to have had His Divine Grace’s hair tested.
This claim is problematic:
a) there is no ‘chain of custody’ for said hair.
b) there is doubt any test was performed (and if so on whose hair.)
c) Nityananda dasa has changed the diagnosis of arsenic poisoning from arsenic to cadmium…though he had declared 100% certainty formerly and similarly declares 100% certainty now.
*3 This new breakaway faction of persons label themselves “Rtvik” or “Prabhupadanugas”
We can note how their claim, if accepted, immediately turns the parampara system from being the purest form of spiritual revelation into a mere money making enterprise.
*4 Lord Krishna and Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu both, though not requiring a guru, accepted guru. In this way they taught by example that the parampara system is the only genuine method of obtaining pure knowledge.
*5 By analyzation we see that the “Rtvik” faction first make HDG the greatest offender while simultaneously making him the final guru.
*6 The claim that HDG was murdered then becomes a separate issue. It is troublesome that in 50 years since his departure from this world devotees have not read the Vedanta Sutra which declares that a pure soul’s body undergoes unusual swelling presaging his exit from the body.
Dear Mayesa Prabhu,PAMHO,AGTSP! Thank you very much for nice text .Ritvics are diviated from Guru Parampara and that s also more clear after reading your text.It s good to not mix issue of possible cause of Srila Prabhupadas passing away,since it may cause more confusion. Could you kindly supply some hard evidence about conversation regarding conversation you mentioned in your text? What date was when conversation took place,who was present and do you have audio file of that discussion since everything was recorded?If not do you have exact transcription and could you kindly upload it here? What we know for shure about this most important subject is this- Srila Prabhupada: “Try to understand. Don’t go very speedily. A GURU CAN BECOME GURU WHEN HE’S ORDERED BY HIS GURU. That’s all. Otherwise nobody can become guru. (Srila Prabhupada Lecture on Bhagavad-gita 7.2, Nairobi, October 28, 1975) and ofchourse this -Srila Prabhupada:”WHEN I order, “You become guru,” he becomes regular guru. That’s all. He becomes disciple of my disciple. That’s it.” Srila Prabhupada Conversation, May 28, 1977, Vrindavan).Then.“Self-made guru cannot be guru. HE MUST BE AUTHORIZED BY THE BONA FIDE GURU. Then he’s guru. This is the fact. Similarly, bonafide guru means he must be authorized by the superior guru.” (Srila Prabhupada Lecture on Nectar of Devotion, October 31. 1972).Then,“One should take initiation from a bona fide spiritual master coming in the disciplic succession, who is AUTHORIZED BY HIS PREDECESSOR SPIRITUAL MASTER. This is called diksa-vidhana.” (Srimad Bhagavatam 4.8.54, purport)Then Srila Bhaktisidhanta Saraswati Thakur wrote-No one is a good preceptor who has not realised the Absolute. One who has realised the Absolute is saved from the necessity of walking on the worldly path. The good preceptor who lives the spiritual life is, therefore, bound to be wholly good. He should be wholly free from any desire for anything of this world whether good or bad. The categories of good and bad do not exist in the Absolute. In the Absolute everything is good. We can have no idea in our present state of this absolute goodness. Submission to the Absolute is not real unless it is also itself absolute. It is on the plane of the Absolute that the disciple is required to submit completely to the good preceptor. On the material plane there can be no such thing as complete submission. The pretence of complete submission to the bad preceptor is responsible for the corruptions that are found in the relationship of the ordinary worldly guru and his equally worldly-minded disciples.
So from above we humbly ask a question,dear Mayesa prabhu,could you kindly supply some evidence who, from Srila Prabhupadas disciples, so far received order from Srila Prabhupada to serve as regular Guru ? Any letter,audio file,few witness….
Additional ,we want to make it clear that we do not accept ritvik wrong conclusions,since to us it is clear that Srila Prabhupada wanted ritviks-officiating Acaryas to initiate new disciples on Srila Prabhupadas behalf till HDG is still present!Not after that! But what is also clear to us that HDG also wanted that first any of his disciples first must complete training by HDG which mean nista level, or brahma bhuta level minimum,before receive order from HDG to become regular Guru! First qualification must be present,HDG was clear about this from begining till end.
This is root issue wich we must face and clarify first before proceed further.Neglecting this clear orders from Srila Prabhupada is one big cause for huge mess wich we have already from March 1978 ! Neglecting this clear orders from Srila Prabhupada,Maha Bhagavata devotee of Lord Sri Krishna is huge aparadha which is insurmountable
block and obstical which in fact practically cut off all ISKCON from Brahma Madhva Gaudia Vaishnava sampradaya!!!
Second thing is that main ritvics are Srila Prabhupadas initiated disciples,so they are Srila Prabhupadas children as well ! Good thing is that they all have faith in Srila Prabhupada which is very rare in today world !!! Everyone should respect this clear facts ! But there is need to clear philosophical deviations which they have,as well as there is need to clear and curbe dogmas and philosophical deviations from most of the ISKCON members ,starting from the top to bottom!!! Without this step which can be called- back to square one,or back to bassis,or admitting huge aparadhas to Sri Guru, from ISKCON top mans.Truthfulness and honesty -this is last leg of dharma in this age and without that,there is no question of spiritual life, .
Daso smi, ys PVdasa
Dear Mayesa Prabhu,PAMHO,AGTSP! Thank you very much for nice text
.Ritvics are diviated from Guru Parampara and that s also more clear
after reading your text.It s good to not mix issue of possible cause of
Srila Prabhupadas passing away,since it may cause more confusion. Could
you kindly supply some hard evidence about conversation regarding
conversation you mentioned in your text? What date was when conversation
took place,who was present and do you have audio file of that
discussion since everything was recorded?If not do you have exact
transcription and could you kindly upload it here? What we know for
shure about this most important subject is this- Srila Prabhupada: “Try
to understand. Don’t go very speedily. A GURU CAN BECOME GURU WHEN HE’S
ORDERED BY HIS GURU. That’s all. Otherwise nobody can become guru.
(Srila Prabhupada Lecture on Bhagavad-gita 7.2, Nairobi, October 28,
1975) and ofchourse this -Srila Prabhupada:”WHEN I order, “You become
guru,” he becomes regular guru. That’s all. He becomes disciple of my
disciple. That’s it.” Srila Prabhupada Conversation, May 28, 1977,
Vrindavan).Then.“Self-made guru cannot be guru. HE MUST BE AUTHORIZED BY
THE BONA FIDE GURU. Then he’s guru. This is the fact. Similarly,
bonafide guru means he must be authorized by the superior guru.” (Srila
Prabhupada Lecture on Nectar of Devotion, October 31. 1972).Then,“One
should take initiation from a bona fide spiritual master coming in the
disciplic succession, who is AUTHORIZED BY HIS PREDECESSOR SPIRITUAL
MASTER. This is called diksa-vidhana.” (Srimad Bhagavatam 4.8.54,
purport)Then Srila Bhaktisidhanta Saraswati Thakur wrote-No one is a
good preceptor who has not realised the Absolute. One who has realised
the Absolute is saved from the necessity of walking on the worldly path.
The good preceptor who lives the spiritual life is, therefore, bound to
be wholly good. He should be wholly free from any desire for anything
of this world whether good or bad. The categories of good and bad do not
exist in the Absolute. In the Absolute everything is good. We can have
no idea in our present state of this absolute goodness. Submission to
the Absolute is not real unless it is also itself absolute. It is on the
plane of the Absolute that the disciple is required to submit
completely to the good preceptor. On the material plane there can be no
such thing as complete submission. The pretence of complete submission
to the bad preceptor is responsible for the corruptions that are found
in the relationship of the ordinary worldly guru and his equally
worldly-minded disciples.
So from above we humbly ask a question,dear
Mayesa prabhu,could you kindly supply some evidence who, from Srila
Prabhupadas disciples, so far received order from Srila Prabhupada to
serve as regular Guru ? Any letter,audio file,few witness….
Additional
,we want to make it clear that we do not accept ritvik wrong
conclusions,since to us it is clear that Srila Prabhupada wanted
ritviks-officiating Acaryas to initiate new disciples on Srila
Prabhupadas behalf till HDG is still present!Not after that! But what is
also clear to us that HDG also wanted that first any of his disciples
first must complete training by HDG which mean nista level, or brahma
bhuta level minimum,before receive order from HDG to become regular
Guru! First qualification must be present,HDG was clear about this from
begining till end.
This is root issue wich we must face and clarify
first before proceed further.Neglecting this clear orders from Srila
Prabhupada is one big cause for huge mess wich we have already from
March 1978 ! Neglecting this clear orders from Srila Prabhupada,Maha
Bhagavata devotee of Lord Sri Krishna is huge aparadha which is
insurmountable block and obstical which in fact practically cut off all ISKCON
from Brahma Madhva Gaudia Vaishnava sampradaya!
Second thing is that main ritvics are Srila Prabhupadas initiated disciples,so
they are Srila Prabhupadas children as well ! Good thing is that they
all have faith in Srila Prabhupada which is very rare in today world !!!
Everyone should respect this clear facts ! But there is need to clear
philosophical deviations which they have,as well as there is need to
clear and curbe dogmas and philosophical deviations from most of the
ISKCON members ,starting from the top to bottom!!! Without this step
which can be called- back to square one,or back to bassis,or admitting
huge aparadhas to Sri Guru, from ISKCON top mans.Truthfulness and
honesty -this is last leg of dharma in this age and without that,there
is no question of spiritual life, .
Daso smi, ys PVdasa
The
bona-fide teacher of religion is neither any product of, nor the
favourer of, any mechanical system. In his hands no system has likewise
the chance of denigrating into a lifeless arrangement. The mere pursuit
of fixed doctrines and fixed liturgies cannot hold a person to the true
spirit of doctrine or liturgy. The idea of an organized church in an
intelligible form, indeed, marks the close of the living spiritual
movement. The great ecclesiastical establishments are the dikes and dams
to retain the current that cannot be held by any such contrivances.
They, indeed, indicate a desire on the part of the masses to
exploit a spiritual movement for their own purpose. They also
unmistakably indicate the end of the absolute and unconventional
guidance of the bona-fide spiritual teacher.
If you have bona fide spiritual master, representative of Krsna, it
is also not very difficult. Everyone can become representative of Krsna.
How? If you simply carry the message of Krsna without any adulteration.
That’s all. Just like Caitanya Mahaprabhu said, amara ajnaya guru hana
(CC Madhya 7.128), “You become a spiritual master under My order.” So if
you carry out the order of Caitanya Mahaprabhu, Krsna, then you become
guru. Amara ajnaya guru hana.
Unfortunately, we do not
wish to carry out order of the acaryas. We manufacture our own ways. We
have got practical experience how a great institution was lost by
whimsical ways. Without carrying out the order of the spiritual master
they manufactured something, and the whole thing was lost. Therefore
Vishvanatha Cakravarti Thakura stresses very much on the words of the
spiritual master. Vyavasayatmika buddhir ekeha kuru-nandana (BG 2.41).
If you stick to the order of spiritual master, then, without caring for
your own convenience or inconvenience, then you become perfect.
yasya deve para bhaktir
yatha deve tatha gurau
tasyaite kathita hy artha?
prakasante mahatmana?
(ŚU 6.23)
This is the confirmation of all authorities. We have to carry out very
faithfully the order of the bona fide representative of Krsna. Then our
life is successful. Then we can understand Krsna in truth. Vadanti tat
tattva-vidas tattvam (SB 1.2.11). We have to hear from the tattva-vit,
not from the so-called scholars and politicians. No. One who knows the
truth, you have to hear from him. And if you stick to that principle,
then you understand everything very clearly. HDG ACBSSP SB1.2.11. class
Vrindavana 22.October 1972.