|

His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
The Final Order' discussion paper pointed out that aside
from the fact that four different transcripts of this conversation had
been offered, and that the GBC had given four different 'official'
interpretations of this very same evidence. The conversation itself only
factually supported the idea that the ritvik system was meant to be
continued.
Rather than accept defeat and re-instate
the ritvik system, the GBC are now desperately rummaging around the
archives for new evidence.
Certainly he would have made sure it was duplicated
and sent to the entire movement if it was really meant to replace or
supplement the July 9th order, which WAS sent out to the entire
society just prior to his departure.
As early on as 1968 Srila Prabhupada
hinted at his future plans to set up an officiating or proxy
initiation system. In letters to Hansadutta and Kirtanananda
(12/1/69) he predicted that by 1975 he will have devotees
performing initiations. We know he must have been referring to some
type of proxy system since he was still on the planet in 1975.
If Srila Prabhupada was talking about diksa
activity post-departure why would he even consider limiting these
'initiators' to only first initiation? Remember as fully-fledged Diksa
Gurus, they would now be 'the sum total of all the demi-gods', and it is
nonsensical to even think that they should be restricted from
giving brahmin initiation.
Nowhere in the above lecture does Srila
Prabhupada ever mention the term 'diksa', or the term 'initiate' or
'initiation'. This is a vital pre-requisite to any evidence meant to
supplant or modify the final order on initiation.
If the GBC really believe this passage is
referring to diksa, how is it there are no female or child initiating
acaryas ISKCON?
If there are NO general
instructions to the whole society authorising the M.A.S.S. then it is
just totally unbelievable that Srila Prabhupada would only have
mentioned it in passing, and then leave the statement to be discovered
by chance some 26 years later, and at least twenty years too late.
At the time of the
above conversation Sarasvati was only 8 years old. Following the GBC's
reasoning on the new quote, they must obviously believe that Srila
Prabhupada was then and there telling a small infant to accept disciples
and good as God worship -
"A bona fide spiritual master is
in the disciplic succession from time eternal and he does not deviate at
all from the instructions of the Supreme Lord." (BG
4:42)
...We think not. Thus it is shown that the
term `guru' does not always refer to DIKSA Guru. Diksa gurus are rare
and exceptional, whereas anyone- man, woman or child can become an
INSTRUCTING guru.
We would encourage this particular
anonymous 'champion' to actually ANSWER the points made in 'Chakra's Army
Fires Blanks', in particular to provide evidence to support modifications
A & B as mentioned in 'The
Final Order'.
1.
Does the paper in question produce any quotes from an IRG paper?
2. If so, does the quote actually support the proposition they are trying
to 'defeat'?
|

CHAKRA'S
'ARMY' FIRES BLANKS.
There are two newly transcribed tapes
posted on the GBC-backed CHAKRA website which are being used to support
ISKCON'S current 'multiple acarya successor system' (M.A.S.S.). We shall
herein show that these new weapons, whilst obviously directed at
supporters of the final order (July
9th 1977), merely support the ritvik conclusion, and are
thus self-defeating.
Just to re-cap. For the last twenty years
the GBC have relied on just one astra to support their disbanding of the
ritvik system, and the subsequent transformation of the original eleven
ritviks into fully fledged diksa gurus (modifications A and B from 'The
Final Order'). That astra was the famous May
28th conversation. Even as recently as last year a GBC paper
(disciple of my disciple) relied totally on this conversation to support
it's position. 'The Final Order' discussion paper pointed out that aside
from the fact that four different transcripts of this conversation had
been offered, and that the GBC had given four different 'official'
interpretations of this very same evidence. The conversation itself only
factually supported the idea that the ritvik system was meant to be
continued.
This May 28th astra has now been completely
disabled. Under the auspices of the GBC, the tape from which the
conversation was extracted was given a preliminary analysis. This analysis
showed the recording exhibited 'strong signs suggestive of falsification'.
Some GBC members tried to argue that although parts of the tape may have
been edited, the section in question seemed to be all right. When this was
put to the forensic examiner himself his response was clear and
unequivocal:
|
"If the copy contains SIGNS
SUGGESTIVE OF FALSIFICATION, that copy could not be relied upon as a
faithful and accurate rendition of the original."
"If the preliminary analysis
discovers any area that is significantly suggestive of
falsification, then the ENTIRE recording is in question and a
Forensic Analysis should be done".
(N.Perle, 13/10/97 &
14/10/97. In response to query as to whether ANY portion of the May
28th tape can be taken as authentic and 'intact', after a
preliminary analysis had discovered irregularities). |
Thus the May 28th conversation, already
highly dubious evidence to start with, is now completely inadmissible. The
only way this conversation could even be considered, as any type of
evidence at all is if a full forensic analysis is done on the ORIGINAL
tape. For some reason the GBC seem reluctant or incapable of doing this.
Rather than accept defeat and re-instate
the ritvik system, the GBC are now desperately rummaging around the
archives for new evidence. And hence the excitement when they discovered
the following:
|
QUOTE 1:- "Conversation with the
GBC," May 25, 1972 in Los Angeles.
Prabhupada: (...) Ah, no
problem. G.B.C. means now they should travel very extensive. That is
the first principle. Not sit down in one place and pass resolution.
No, they must be active. They must act like me. As I'm old man
travelling all over the world. Now to give me relief the G.B.C.
members... I shall expand into twelve more so that they can exactly
work like me. GRADUALLY THEY WILL BE INITIATORS. At least first
initiation. You must make advance. That is my motive. So, in that
way I want to divide it in twelve zones (...). |
On the strength of the above passage the GBC
seem to now be saying they were perfectly justified in stopping the
ritvik system, and have the ritviks change into diksa gurus. (For the
sake of argument we will for the time being assume these tapes have not
also been tampered with). In reality the above quote can only support
the ritvik position for the following reasons:
- Leaving aside content for a moment, if
this brief snippet of conversation were really so pivotal to the
future of ISKCON for possibly the next ten thousand years, it seems
unbelievable that Srila Prabhupada would have just blithely left this
statement to be unearthed some 26 years later. What if it had never
been discovered? Certainly he would have made sure it was duplicated
and sent to the entire movement if it was really meant to replace or
supplement the July 9th order, which WAS sent out to the entire
society just prior to his departure. To even suggest otherwise is to
invite howls of derision. Remember this is now the only evidence being
put forward directly relating to the future of initiations, since the
May 28th tape is currently inadmissible. Thus since this conversation
was not made generally available before Srila Prabhupada's departure
it can at best only constitute SUPPORTING evidence, not PRINCIPAL
evidence. Unfortunately, as was demonstrated in 'The Final Order',
there is nothing for this evidence to support, since there is no
general instruction to the whole society which says anything about
GBC's or anyone else initiating their own disciples after Srila
Prabhupada's departure. That was supposed to have been stated in the
May 28th conversation which is now inadmissible.
- Looking now at the content of the above
quote. It is clear Srila Prabhupada can only be referring to a proxy
initiation role for these GBC disciples since:
- As early on as 1968 Srila Prabhupada
hinted at his future plans to set up an officiating or proxy
initiation system. In letters to Hansadutta and Kirtanananda
(12/1/69) he predicted that by 1975 he will have devotees
performing initiations. We know he must have been referring to some
type of proxy system since he was still on the planet in 1975. To
have disciples initiate their own disciples whilst he was physically
present would have violated 'the law of disciplic succession' which
the GBC is so fond of repeating.
- In the above mentioned letter to
Kirtanananda Srila Prabhupada said that devotees who passed the
Bhaktivedanta examinations would be 'empowered to initiate'. In 1972
he said it would be the GBC's; and in 1977 on July
7th he said that 'senior sanyasis' would be suitable
candidates.
History shows that Srila
Prabhupada did actually put in action these plans. He did set up
senior men to 'gradually be initiators'. Firstly he had devotees such
as Gaurasundara and Kirtanananda chant on new initiates beads. Then
more devotees such as Brahmananda and Achyutananda got involved, often
performing the fire yajna too. Eventually, as the Movement became
large and greater numbers of new disciples were requiring initiation,
all these ceremonial functions were performed by Srila Prabhupada's
more senior disciples. This is what the word 'gradually' must be
referring to. 'Gradually' they were given more and more of the
ceremony to perform until on July 9th 1977 Srila Prabhupada delegated
FULL responsibility for accepting and initiating new disciples to 11
ritviks. At no stage was there ever any question as to whom the
disciples belonged. They were all Srila Prabhupada's disciples. The
ritviks WERE initiators. They were initiators on Srila Prabhupada's
behalf. We want to know how they themselves became diksa gurus. The
quote in question sheds no light on this matter whatsoever.
- In the quoted conversation Srila
Prabhupada is referring to how he wanted the GBC's to act
imminently. Although the word 'gradually' is used, there is no
mention of Srila Prabhupada's departure needing to occur before they
could act as initiators. Thus he could only be talking about them
acting in a representational manner.
- The very term 'gradually' rules out
the possibility that Srila Prabhupada could have been talking about
what was to happen IMMEDIATELY after his departure. The very second
Srila Prabhupada left the planet the ritviks believed themselves
authorised diksa gurus. One second is not 'gradual', it is
immediate. It makes no sense to say you gradually immediately become
a diksa guru.
However, the fact that the ritvik
system was 'gradually' developed over a number of years is just
historical fact. Thus Srila Prabhupada must have been speaking of
GBC's who would gradually act as initiators on his behalf.
- It should also be pointed out that
there is a vast difference between the qualification necessary to
act as a diksa guru, and that needed to become a GBC member
A GBC member is voted into
office.
A diksa guru must be a maha-bhagavat,
and must NOT be appointed or approved by some ecclesiastical
convention or mundane voting procedure. (for supporting evidence see 'The
Final Order').
To link diksa guru status to any
practising devotee who happens to have some managerial acumen is
unsupported by Srila Prabhupada's teachings, though one could argue he
might make a good ritvik.
- In this conversation Srila Prabhupada
says:
'Gradually they will be
initiators. AT LEAST FIRST INITIATION'.
If Srila Prabhupada was talking about diksa
activity post-departure why would he even consider limiting these
'initiators' to only first initiation? Remember as fully-fledged Diksa
Gurus, they would now be 'the sum total of all the demi-gods', and it is
nonsensical to even think that they should be restricted from
giving brahmin initiation.
Who would do second initiation?
How would it be decided when they might be
ready to do second initiation if Srila Prabhupada had already departed?
We wonder if these questions have even
occurred to the mighty army of CHAKRA. Certainly this statement can only
be made sense of in a pre-departure context, namely the gradual delegation
of ceremonial function to representatives who may eventually perform all
procedures on Srila Prabhupada's behalf.
To summarise our points for quote 1:
- The term 'initiator' can be readily
applied to a ritvik, since he initiates on Srila Prabhupada's behalf,
and indeed Srila Prabhupada had previously spoken in this way.
- History supports our interpretation of
the term 'gradually' and can relate only to the setting up of a proxy,
representational, officiating or ritvik system.
- The conversation is not restricted to
GBC duties post-departure, and therefore their 'initiating' duty can
only be representational, since otherwise it would violate 'the law of
disciplic succession' which the GBC accept as a very important
principle.
- The term 'gradually' rules out
'immediately after departure' which is what the GBC have always
claimed; namely that the 11 ritviks were authorised to initiate one
split second after Srila Prabhupada's departure.
- The qualification of a diksa guru is way
beyond that required of a GBC member (with all due respect), therefore
Srila Prabhupada must only have been expecting them to act as humble
representatives.
- The fact that Srila Prabhupada would
even consider limiting these 'initiators' to first initiation only,
proves they were never intended to be fully fledged diksa gurus.
Now for the second quote which appeared on
CHAKRA:
|
August 22, 1973 in London on
Prabhupada's Vyasa Puja day:
Prabhupada:
Therefore, a so-called philosopher, scientist's knowledge is
always imperfect. The perfect knowledge can be received through
this parampara system. From Krsna, Krsna to Brahma, Brahma to
Narada, Narada to Vyasa, Vyasa to Madhvacarya. In this way, from
Caitanya Mahaprabhu, six Gosvames, then our Guru Maharaja, in
this way. And our business is just to present whatever we have
heard. This is very important point.
[ ... rest of quote is quite
long, and can be seen on Chakra's website ... ]
.... Then you become
spiritual master. That's all."
So I hope that all of you, men,
women, boys and girls, become spiritual master, and follow this
principle. Spiritual master, simply, sincerely, follow the
principles and speak to the general public. Then Krsna immediately
becomes your favourite. Krsna does not become your favourite; you
become Krsna's favourite. Krsna says in the Bhagavad-gita, na ca
tasmad manunyenu kaccin me priya-kattamau: "One who is
doing this humble service of preaching work, Krsna consciousness,
nobody is dearer than him to Me." So if you want to become
recognized by Krsna very quickly, you take up this process of
becoming spiritual master, present the Bhagavad-gita as it is. Your
life is perfect. Thank you very much. (end) |
Of course no-one is complaining that all
this wonderful new material is coming to light. We are very grateful to
the archives for all their painstaking work. However does this quote
revoke the ritvik system and set up the M.A.S.S. We think not for the
following reasons.
- Again this quote was not available prior
to Srila Prabhupada's departure, but rather some 26 years later, and
can thus only be used as SUPPORTIVE evidence. But supporting what
exactly? The May 28th tape is currently inadmissible, and it was the
dubious interpretation of this tape which formed the very foundation
of the GBC's position on gurus within ISKCON for the last twenty
years.
- Nowhere in the above lecture does Srila
Prabhupada ever mention the term 'diksa', or the term 'initiate' or
'initiation'. This is a vital pre-requisite to any evidence meant to
supplant or modify the final order on initiation. Everyone already
accepts that Srila Prabhupada wanted all his disciples to become gurus
or teachers. That is not what is at issue here.
- Srila Prabhupada repeats the 'amara'
verse when describing the type of gurus he is authorising: "He
says, amara ajnaya. "Whatever I say, amara ajnaya, by My order,
you become a spiritual master." As is explained in the paper 'Best
not to accept disciples' this can only refer to siksa or
instructing guru.
- Srila Prabhupada is encouraging devotees
there and then to act as guru. There is no mention of them only acting
in this capacity after his departure. Therefore he must have been
ordering siksa or vartma pradasaka gurus since to do otherwise
would violate the 'law of disciplic succession' the GBC are so fond
of.
- There is no mention of the necessity of
first attaining maha-bhagavata status before acting as guru, a
vital pre-requisite for diksa (C.c. Madhya, 24.330, purport).
Therefore Srila Prabhupada can only have been ordering teachers or
instructing gurus.
- Throughout the passage Srila Prabhupada
constantly stresses how easy it is to be the type of guru he is
ordering; how anyone can do it- even a rascal:
|
"That is the bona fide spiritual
master. And that is very easy. To become spiritual master is not
very difficult thing. You'll have to become spiritual master. You,
all my disciples, everyone should become spiritual master. It is not
difficult." |
There is no mention that one must first
attain the topmost platform of devotional service, or receive a majority
vote from a committee in Mayapur. Thus we fail to see how this can be
authorising bona fide diksa gurus, what to speak of the concocted
M.A.S.S., currently in operation within ISKCON.
|
"So I hope that all of you, men,
women, boys and girls, become spiritual master, and follow this
principle. Spiritual master, simply, sincerely, follow the
principles and speak to the general public". |
If the GBC really believe this passage is
referring to diksa, how is it there are no female or child initiating
acaryas ISKCON?
In conclusion, the GBC will need to equip
their army with more effective weaponry than this if they have any hope of
defeating the ritvik position. All glories to Srila Prabhupada.
CHAKRA'S
ARMY STILL OFF-TARGET!
The
champions of Krishna's army have recently unleashed onto their web site
yet another newly found conversation with the aim of damaging the ritvik
position. Although the GBC clearly hope this new evidence will prove that
Srila Prabhupada authorised all of his 10,000 disciples to be diksa gurus
immediately on his departure, in actuality it hits well wide of the mark,
as we shall now attempt to demonstrate.
Before we analyse the
new quote's content please consider the following:
- Practically every single quote offered
by the GBC so far in support of their M.A.S.S. (multiple acarya
successor system) are applicable only to SIKSA gurus, or teachers of
Krsna Consciousness, not DIKSA gurus. This point has already been
established in previous papers such as "The
Final Order" and "Best
Not To Accept Disciples". Instead of answering this
objection the GBC instead choose to present further quotes which do
nothing more than re-confirm a fact which everyone on both sides of
the issue already agree on. Namely that Srila Prabhupada wanted all
his followers to teach Krishna Consciousness, and in that way become
instructing gurus. The GBC, or in this case their 'friends', seem to
be hoping that by merely re-stating a position everyone already agrees
with, they will somehow convince devotees not to follow Srila
Prabhupada's final order regarding DIKSA initiation (the July 9th
policy document). Thus we apologise to the reader if our arguments now
appear repetitive - until the GBC answer our points, or come up with
evidence which is actually relevant to the issue at hand, we are left
with no other option but to expose their fallacious and misleading
argumentation.
- Also, as we pointed out in 'Chakra's
Army Fires Blanks', since these quotes have only just been
found, they are approximately 20 years too late to be considered as
DIRECT evidence confirming the GBC's legitimacy in disbanding the
ritvik system. Such quotes could be used SUPPORTIVELY should
the GBC ever discover an instruction that was sent to the whole
society prior to Srila Prabhupada's departure authorising the M.A.S.S.,
currently in operation within ISKCON. So we are left asking where
these authorising quotes, supporting a system that has been in
operation (in one form or another) for the last twenty years, might be
?
a) If such quotes or policy
documents DO exist, then this new quote would not change anything, so
why make such an issue of it?
b)
If there are NO general
instructions to the whole society authorising the M.A.S.S. then it is
just totally unbelievable that Srila Prabhupada would only have
mentioned it in passing, and then leave the statement to be discovered
by chance some 26 years later, and at least twenty years too late.
If Srila Prabhupada HAD
issued a clear directive to ISKCON's leaders authorising ALL his disciples
to initiate on their own behalf immediately after his departure; how is it
that everyone believed he had only authorised eleven diksa gurus in May
1977? This belief was obstinately defended by all of ISKCON's senior most
champions, including those now writing for Chakra, for nearly an entire
decade. How could such a mistake have been made if the instructions for
the M.A.S.S. were so clear- even as early as 1972 ? (the date of the new
quote). As with so much that appears on this particular web site, it just
doesn't add up.
Let us now examine the
content of the new quote. Since it is available in full on Chakra we shall
only re-produce a couple of sections (once more we thank the archives for
their painstaking work):
|
'Srila Prabhupada:
"So far
designation is concerned, the spiritual master authorises every one
of his disciple. But it is up to the disciple to carry out the
order, able to carry out or not. It is not that spiritual master is
partial and he designates one and rejects other. He may do that. If
the other is not qualified, he can do that. (...) If you are
incapable of raising yourself to the standard of becoming spiritual
master, that is not your spiritual master's fault, that is your
fault. He wants, just like Caitanya Mahaprabhu says, amara ajnaya
guru hana, "By My order, every one of you become a guru."
If one cannot carry out the order of Caitanya Mahaprabhu, then how
he can become a guru? The first qualification is that he must be
able to carry out the order of Caitanya Mahaprabhu. Then he becomes
guru. So that carrying out the order of Caitanya Mahaprabhu depends
on one's personal capacity. Amara ajnaya guru hana...." (Room
Conversation, 29/6/72) |
In
the above quote, as with many other similar ones, Srila Prabhupada clearly
links the type of guru he is authorising to the famous 'amara ajnaya'
verse. However this verse actually only encourages teachers/preacher,
vartma-pradasaka gurus, as the following illustrates:
"Srila Prabhupada: Therefore
Caitanya Mahaprabhu... Yare dekha tare kaha 'krsna'-upadesa: "You
become guru. No qualification required. Simply you repeat what Krsna has
said." Just see how simplified. Don't talk anything nonsense. Yare
dekha tare kaha 'krsna'--bas. So who cannot do it? Anyone can do it,
even a child. (laughs) Our Syamasundara's daughter. She was preaching,
"Do you know Krsna?" They said, "No I have got
no..." "The Supreme Personality." This is preaching,
simply if you say that "Krsna is the Supreme Personality, supreme
controller. Just be obedient to Him." Where is the difficulty?
Anyone can preach. Chant Hare Krsna. Bas. Three words: Krsna is the
Supreme Personality of Godhead; surrender unto Him; and chant Hare
Krsna. Your life will be successful. What is the difficulty in preaching
these three words? Hm? Is there any difficulty? Even a child like
Sarasvati, she can preach. Then what to speak of others? Those who are
educated, grown-up, advanced, they can put the matter more nicely, more
convincingly, more philosophically. That is another thing. But these
three words, that "Krsna is the Supreme Lord; you are servant; and
chant Hare Krsna"--bas, preaching complete. Very simple thing and
the sublime instruction. Everyone can become guru by simply teaching
these three words."
(Room Conversation, Puri,
25/1/77)
(Further evidence for Lord Caitanya's order
referring to preacher/vartma-pradaksa-guru is given in "The
Final Order", and "Best
Not To Accept Disciples".)
At the time of the
above conversation Sarasvati was only 8 years old. Following the GBC's
reasoning on the new quote, they must obviously believe that Srila
Prabhupada was then and there telling a small infant to accept disciples
and good as God worship - (nowhere in these quotes does he tell the
prospective gurus to wait till after his departure before they act, or
even to hold on till they get a bit older). Can it really be true that on
all these numerous occasions Srila Prabhupada was really ordering
everyone, even tiny eight year old girls, to give first and second
initiation to new bhaktas? If Srila Prabhupada WAS doing this then it
seems strange that he remained the only initiating guru in ISKCON right up
until his departure.
Sadly, as far as we know,
Sarsavati is no longer active in Krsna Consciousness. Nevertheless it is
clear that at the time of this conversation she was definitely a guru
according to Srila Prabhupada. But is an 8 year old girl who need only
preach 3 words, and who later maybe no longer active in Krsna
Consciousness, the following type of Guru...?
"A bona fide spiritual master is
in the disciplic succession from time eternal and he does not deviate at
all from the instructions of the Supreme Lord." (BG
4:42)
"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."
(C.c. Madhya, 24.330, purport)
"When one has attained the
topmost position of maha-bhagavata, he is to be accepted as a guru and
worshipped exactly like Hari, the Personality of Godhead. Only such a
person is eligible to occupy the post of a guru."
(C.c. Madhya, 24.330, purport)
...We think not. Thus it is shown that the
term `guru' does not always refer to DIKSA Guru. Diksa gurus are rare
and exceptional, whereas anyone- man, woman or child can become an
INSTRUCTING guru.
Thus it is clear that
there are definitely different types of 'guru'. In addition to a Diksa
Guru, Srila Prabhupada mentions two other types of 'spiritual
masters':
"There are two kinds of
instructing spiritual masters. One is the liberated person fully
absorbed in meditation in devotional service, and the other is he who
invokes the disciple's spiritual consciousness by means of relevant
instructions". (C:C, Adi,
1:47)
Thus the kind of guru that
Sarasvati was, and the one that Srila Prabhupada always speaks of, who is
minimally qualified and simply repeats '3 words', who is referred to by 'amara
ajnaya guru hana', is "he who invokes the disciple's
spiritual consciousness by means of relevant instructions".
Since the word 'guru'
or phrase 'spiritual master' does not generally refer to diksa, the
following guidelines will make it clear which type of guru Srila
Prabhupada can be referring to on any given occasion?
Diksa Guru - Definitely
being referred to
- The context that the word 'guru' is used
in will contain the terms 'diksa' or 'initiating'.
- The quote will make clear that the guru
will only function in their particular capacity after Srila Prabhupada's
physical departure.
- It will be made clear that the gurus are
to initiate on their own behalf, not act as ritviks or proxies.
- The guru will be described as having
already attained the topmost platform of devotional service.
When
any of the elements below appear in a quote we know the guru in question
is definitely NOT a diksa guru:
Diksa Guru Eliminators
- The qualification described will be very
basic - just preaching and teaching. Anyone can do it, one only need
learn three words etc. (A diksa
guru must be a maha-bhagavata)
- There will be no mention of
time-constraint - this is a vital clue since the GBC accept the
principle that Srila Prabhupada would not allow diksa gurus other than
himself to operate whilst he was still physically present. If the guru's
activity is not limited to after departure we know Srila Prabhupada was
ordering him to act only in an instructing capacity.
Quotes comprising the
following elements point conclusively to siksa or instructing gurus.
Siksa Guru - Evidences
- The context that the word 'guru' is used
in will contain the terms siksa or instructing.
- There will be no time constraints on when
the guru can act.
- The 'amara ajnaya' verse will be
mentioned.
- The qualification needed is basic, linked
to preaching and following strictly, but not to any specific level of
realisation (e.g. prema etc).
- Instruction has wide applicability - the
prospective guru need not even be initiated himself. (For example whilst
lecturing in India Srila Prabhupada would often order entire audiences
of uninitiated people to become guru then and there).
In reality then, the
general use of the word `guru' on its own by Srila Prabhupada is simply an
order to be a `teacher'. That is actually also its basic meaning. A
teacher or instructing guru simply teaches what he or she knows. Such a
person does not need to be a mahabhagavat or wait till his own guru leaves
the planet or any such thing. He can just tell other people that Krishna
is God, bas. If the GBC would simply apply the above criteria to any
future quotes they uncover they would save themselves, and everyone else,
a great deal of time and embarrassment. (The handful of isolated incidents
where Srila Prabhupada does specifically refer to Diksa (Tusta Krishna
etc) are dealt with in `The
Final order' and `Best
Not To Accept Disciples").
IN CONCLUSION
When
we look again at the new quote offered on Chakra we observe the following:
1. No time constraints are mentioned.
2. Only one qualification is needed: he
is a devotee of God, that's all.
3. The 'amara ajnaya' verse is quoted
twice.
Thus the quote cannot
be used to displace a system specifically set up to facilitate diksa
initiation (ritvik), since the type of gurus being discussed, designated
and ordered into being by Srila Prabhupada are instructing/teacher/siksa/vartma
pradarsaka gurus, NOT diksa gurus. In other words the quote is irrelevant
to the issue at hand. In our humble opinion the GBC will hit their target
more readily by applying the above mentioned criteria to any future
evidence they might wish to present. In the meantime it would seem that
the final order still stands.
All glories to Srila Prabhupada.
Chakra's Champions Evade
Combat.
CHAKRA recently posted a brief item
entitled - 'VNN Refutes Srila Prabhupada?' - a supposed rebuttal of - 'Chakra's
Army Fires Blanks' - an article earlier posted on VNN.
Unfortunately rather than deal with the content of the article, CHAKRA
substitutes character assassination for proper philosophical argument.
This is interesting, in that it appears to be an admission that they can
not actually answer the points made in the article. Instead they enlist an
anonymous 'champion' to state the following:
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"The article reflects
typical Krishnakant writing. I have already tried to have a dialogue
with him, but it is impossible. His trick is to keep you busy
unravelling his twisty-turny logic, and this way you have no time to
really say anything because you are always too busy explaining he is
illogical." |
Does CHAKRA then make an attempt to show
why the article in question is "typical" of "twisty-turny"
logic or why it is "illogical". No such luck I'm afraid. In fact
the only part of the above statement they are actually able to demonstrate
is that they do indeed not - "really say anything", although one
assumes they would have had ample time! Also THEY are the ones who now
seem to lack the capability "to have a dialogue".
The anonymous 'champion' then enlists
the help of an anonymous 'friend' to try and further belittle the author.
The main point, which was curiously a great source of mirth for him and
his nameless friend, relates to Srila Prabhupada's use of the phrase
'...they will be initiators'. He seems to feel this phrase alone somehow
justified the GBC's dismantling of the officiating acarya system, which
was personally put in place by His Divine Grace with no countermanding
order for it's termination. Unfortunately these valiant warriors have
overlooked the simple fact that ritviks ARE initiators; but they initiate
on Srila Prabhupada's behalf! This point of course is conclusively
demonstrated in the article in question. The very article they refuse to
answer.
We would encourage this particular
anonymous 'champion' to actually ANSWER the points made in 'Chakra's Army
Fires Blanks', in particular to provide evidence to support modifications
A & B as mentioned in 'The
Final Order'. If he cannot do this, then simply resorting to
childish insult will not impress anyone. The anonymous champion complains
that my arguments are full of 'twisty-turny logic'. I sincerely hope the
above is not too complicated for him. For now it seems that CHAKRA'S
inability to offer any argumentation based on philosophy, proves that
CHAKRA'S Army are now no longer even "Firing blanks", but have
run out of ammunition altogether!
Chakra's
Web Of Deceit
BY IRG INDIA
Feb 20 - The GBC mouthpiece web site CHAKRA constantly posts articles that
systematically misrepresent the IRG position on Srila Prabhupada's rightful
status as ISKCON's diksa guru. This misrepresentation must be deliberate since,
although we have repeatedly pointed it out, they have never once apologized or
written a retraction. Following the GBC's latest horrendously misjudged
resolutions there has been a flurry of articles by MASS adherents all seeking to
jump on the ritvik bashing bandwagon.
As readers will know, the one thing all the GBC approved authors whose papers we
have critiqued share in common, is a pathological incapacity to present what we
actually say. Instead they present endless straw man arguments, and defeat them
instead. They will say 'ritviks say this' or 'ritviks say that' but practically
never quote from any of our papers on the authorized IRG web site. They feel
they can get away with it because CHAKRA's dishonest editorial policy never
allows its readers to read any response. It is becoming quite tedious to have to
keep pointing this out, but we find it hard not to speak out when devotees are
being deliberately deceived on practically a daily basis. Looking at just two of
these recent items perfectly illustrates our point.
For instance, Danavir Goswami's whole paper is based on the premise that the
'ritviks' want to 'eliminate' or 'jump' the process of diksa. Of course he never
quotes us proposing such a thing, because we never have.
It is pure fabrication and lies, as he very well knows. Our position is that
diksa must go on in an authorized form, and that ISKCON's diksa guru is Srila
Prabhupada. Thus it is the GBC, not us, who have sought to eliminate the bona
fide, authorized diksa guru and replace him with inferior models who cannot even
honestly present another persons position.
Virtually all of his paper is full of such deceitful 'straw man' arguments.
Bhadra Balaram does the same thing in his most recent article. His whole paper
rests on the allegation that we insist that an 'order' from Srila Prabhupada
must have the word 'order' in it. Again we have never said this.
Thus we would urge those who venture into CHAKRA's treacherous web to adopt the
following checklist next time they read something that is supposed to be
'defeating' the 'ritvik theory'.
1. Does the paper in question produce any quotes from an IRG paper?
2. If so, does the quote actually support the proposition they are trying to
'defeat'?
If 1 and 2 are not present then they are not addressing the issue at hand, and
their paper does not actually move the issue forward, and thus can be discarded.
In this way the vast majority of CHAKRA's items on this matter can be best
stored in the circular file.
Yours in the service of Srila Prabhupada
IRG India
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