THANKS TO MAHESH RAJA PRABHU FOR THIS DOCUMENT:
SRILA PRABHUPADA : OUR ONLY DIKSA GURU FOR ISKCON
SRILA PRABHUPADA IS THE DIKSA GURU AS PER UNRECINDED JULY 9TH 1977 ORDER
What we have set out here is to address our point of view on Diksa from Srila Prabhupada as opposed to the bogus GBC voted in conditioned soul guru system. Many articles have already been written on the subject so where possible we will give references to those for our back-up points. It may at times be repetition but as Srila Prabhupada says:
Bg 2.25 P Contents of the Gita Summarized: Repetition of something is necessary in order that we understand the matter thoroughly, without error.
Question 1: What is your understanding of Diksa and how can we have Diksa from Srila Prabhupada?
There are two issues here. 1) FORMALITY Initiation( not very important thing).
2) Diksa SPIRITUAL INITIATION which is not a formality.
In the Madhyama Adhikari stage one is given SPIRITUAL INITIATION.
FORMALITY INITIATION on Srila Prabhupada’s BEHALF was conducted by his disciples. Srila Prabhupada did not have to be personally present.
We give the formality ON BEHALF of Srila Prabhupada as he wanted as per 9th July 1977 order which was never recinded by him . Srila Prabhupada the factual initiator gives the Holy Name. Krsna is the property of his PURE devotee to give to anyone - and Srila Prabhupasda is the one initiator throughout the process of Diksa from Kanistha Adhikari to Madhyama Adhikari. In Madhyama Adhikari stage Srila Prabhupada gives SPIRITUAL INITIATION and this is NOT formality (see CC Antya 4.192-4.194) Madhyama Adhikari advances to relish spiritual loving mellows with Krsna. To reach Madhyama Adhikari stage is not so simple: one has to progress from the stage of acquiring ALL the qualifications of a FULLY qualified Brahmana. Fully qualified brahmana is Kanistha(neophyte) then he has to advance further at this point he sees the Isvara(Paramatma). Given that Madhyama(middle) stage is such a high achievement – you have to accept that it may even take many,many births to come to that. Srila Prabhupada is our Guru to guide us to that Janme Janme prabhu sei. At that point of Madhyama Adhikari stage there is Diksa : Divya-jnana hrde prokasito. Divya –jnana is called transcendental knowledge so this is transcendental knowledge of our svarupa(constitutional position) santa, dasya,sakhya,vatsalya or Madurya) as eternal servant of Krsna is revealed in the heart(hrde prokasito). For graphical Illustration see SB 10.2.18 below.
1)Formality Initiation:
761016iv.cha Conversations Srila Prabhupada: Well, initiation or no initiation, first thing is knowledge. (break) ...knowledge. Initiation is formality. Just like you go to a school for knowledge, and admission is formality. That is not very important thing.
730222SB.AUC Lectures
Devotee (2): How important is formal initiation?
Prabhupada: Formal initiation means to accept, officially, to abide by the orders of Krsna and His representative. That is formal initiation. Officially accept, "Yes, sir, I shall accept. I shall do whatever you say." This is initiation, official acceptance of the job. That's all. Now, you formally accept, and if you do not do the duties, then where is the question of other function? There is no question. Initiation means this is the beginning of accepting the orders of Krsna and His representative to carry out. This is the beginning. That is initiation. Just like if you enter in an office establishment, so you accept the terms of service. That is initiation. Then you go on serving, you become promoted, you get salary increase. You become recognized. You become officer. You become big officer, like that.
That very word initiation suggests, "This is the beginning. 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."
2)SPIRITUAL INITIATION A madhyama-adhikari has received SPIRITUAL INITIATION from the spiritual master
NoI 5 In order to intelligently apply the sixfold loving reciprocations mentioned in the previous verse, one must select proper persons with careful discrimination. Srila Rupa Gosvami therefore advises that we should meet with the Vaisnavas in an appropriate way, according to their particular status. In this verse he tells us how to deal with three types of devotees--the kanistha-adhikari, madhyama-adhikari and uttama-adhikari. The kanistha-adhikari is a neophyte who has received the hari-nama initiation from the spiritual master and is trying to chant the holy name of Krsna. One should respect such a person within his mind as a kanistha-vaisnava. A madhyama-adhikari has received spiritual initiation from the spiritual master and has been fully engaged by him in the transcendental loving service of the Lord. The madhyama-adhikari should be considered to be situated midway in devotional service. The uttama-adhikari, or highest devotee, is one who is very advanced in devotional service. An uttama-adhikari is not interested in blaspheming others, his heart is completely clean, and he has attained the realized state of unalloyed Krsna consciousness. According to Srila Rupa Gosvami, the association and service of such a maha-bhagavata, or perfect Vaisnava, are most desirable.
Note: Madhyama Adhikari receives SPRITUAL INITIATION.
Relishing Spiritual mellows is possible when one realizes his constitutional position (svarupa) with Krsna. This is the difference between FORMALITY initiation where one is asked to chant 16rounds and follow strictly 4 regulative principles.
Antya 4.192 T Sanatana Gosvami Visits the Lord at Jagannatha Puri
diksa-kale bhakta kare atma-samarpana
sei-kale krsna tare kare atma-sama
sei-kale krsna tare kare atma-sama
TRANSLATION "At the time of initiation, when a devotee fully surrenders unto the service of the Lord, Krsna accepts him to be as good as Himself.
TEXT 193 sei deha kare tara cid-ananda-maya / aprakrta-dehe tanra carana bhajaya
TRANSLATION "When the devotee's body is thus transformed into spiritual existence, the devotee, in that transcendental body, renders service to the lotus feet of the Lord.
TEXT 194 martyo yada tyakta-samasta-karma/ niveditatma vicikirsito me /tadamrtatvam pratipadyamano/ mayatma-bhuyaya ca kalpate vai
TRANSLATION "The living entity who is subjected to birth and death, when he gives up all material activities dedicating his life to Me for executing My order, and thus acts according to My direction, at that time he reaches the platform of immortality, and becomes fit to enjoy the spiritual bliss of exchange of loving mellows with Me."
PURPORT This is a quotation from Srimad-Bhagavatam (11.29.34). At the time of initiation, a devotee gives up all his material conceptions. Therefore, being in touch with the Supreme Personality of Godhead, he is situated on the transcendental platform. Thus having attained knowledge and the spiritual platform, he always engages in the service of the spiritual body of Krsna. When one is freed from material connections in this way, his body immediately becomes spiritual, and Krsna accepts His service. However, Krsna does not accept anything from a person with a material conception of life. When a devotee no longer has any desire for material sense gratification, in his spiritual identity he engages in the service of the Lord, for his dormant spiritual consciousness awakens. This awakening of spiritual consciousness makes his body spiritual, and thus he becomes fit to render service to the Lord. Karmis may consider the body of a devotee material, but factually it is not, for a devotee has no conception of material enjoyment. If one thinks that the body of a pure devotee is material, he is an offender, for that is a vaisnava-aparadha. In this connection one should consult Srila Sanatana Gosvami's Brhad-bhagavatamrta (1.3.45 and 2.3.139).
Note: Madhyama adhikari chants offenseless where as Kanistha (FULLY qualified Brahmana) is TRYING to chant OFFENSELESS)
Adi 7.73 Lord Caitanya in Five Features -- In his Anubhasya, Sri Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Gosvami says that the actual effect that will be visible as soon as one achieves transcendental knowledge is that he will immediately become free from the clutches of maya and fully engage in the service of the Lord. Unless one serves the Supreme Personality of Godhead Mukunda, one cannot become free from fruitive activities under the external energy. However, when one chants the holy name of the Lord offenselessly, one can realize a transcendental position that is completely aloof from the material conception of life. Rendering service to the Lord, a devotee relates to the Supreme Personality of Godhead in one of five relationships--namely, santa, dasya, sakhya, vatsalya or madhurya--and thus he relishes transcendental bliss in that relationship. Such a relationship certainly transcends the body and mind. When one realizes that the holy name of the Lord is identical with the Supreme Person, he becomes completely eligible to chant the holy name of the Lord. Such an ecstatic chanter and dancer must be considered to have a direct relationship with the Lord.
NoI 5 In order to intelligently apply the sixfold loving reciprocations mentioned in the previous verse, one must select proper persons with careful discrimination. Srila Rupa Gosvami therefore advises that we should meet with the Vaisnavas in an appropriate way, according to their particular status. In this verse he tells us how to deal with three types of devotees--the kanistha-adhikari, madhyama-adhikari and uttama-adhikari. The kanistha-adhikari is a neophyte who has received the hari-nama initiation from the spiritual master and is trying to chant the holy name of Krsna. One should respect such a person within his mind as a kanistha-vaisnava. A madhyama-adhikari has received spiritual initiation from the spiritual master and has been fully engaged by him in the transcendental loving service of the Lord.
Madhya 16.72 The Lord' s Attempt to Go to Vrndavana Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura says that any Vaisnava who is constantly chanting the holy name of the Lord should be considered to have attained the second platform of Vaisnavism. Such a devotee is superior to a neophyte Vaisnava who has just learned to chant the holy name of the Lord. A neophyte devotee simply tries to chant the holy name, whereas the advanced devotee is accustomed to chanting and takes pleasure in it. Such an advanced devotee is called madhyama-bhagavata, which indicates that he has attained the intermediate stage between the neophyte and the perfect devotee.
760211SB.MAY Lectures In the madhyama-adhikari he can see four things. What is that? Four things means, first of all the Supreme Lord, isvara, the controller, he can see. He can see means he understands, he appreciates, he can conceive, "Yes, the Supreme Lord is there". There is no more theoretical.
Note: when one gets SPIRITUAL INITIATION (DIKSA) transcendental knowledge of his constitutional position(svarupa). Madhyama Adhikari stage this is when the sins are burned out see BG 4.19 it is this definition which we know that one has to be in a particular relationship svarupa(constitutional position) with Krsna – dasya,sakhya,vatsalya,madurya. Madhya 15.108 The Lord Accepts Prasada at the House of Sarvabhauma Bhattacarya. Srila Jiva Gosvami explains diksa in his Bhakti-sandarbha (283): divyam jnanam yato dadyat / kuryat papasya sanksayam / tasmad dikseti sa prokta / desikais tattva-kovidaih
"Diksa is the process by which one can awaken his transcendental knowledge and vanquish all reactions caused by sinful activity. A person expert in the study of the revealed scriptures knows this process as diksa."
Bg 4.19 T Transcendental Knowledge yasya sarve samarambhah / kama-sankalpa-varjitah / jnanagni-dagdha-karmanam / tam ahuh panditam budhah
SYNONYMS yasya--one whose; sarve--all sorts of; samarambhah--in all attempts; kama--desire for sense gratification; sankalpa--determination; varjitah--are devoid of; jnana--of perfect knowledge; agni--fire; dagdha--being burnt by; karmanam--the performer; tam--him; ahuh--declare; panditam--learned; budhah--of those who know.
TRANSLATION One is understood to be in full knowledge whose every act is devoid of desire for sense gratification. He is said by sages to be a worker whose fruitive action is burned up by the fire of perfect knowledge.
PURPORT Only a person in full knowledge can understand the activities of a person in Krsna consciousness. Because the person in Krsna consciousness is devoid of all kinds of sense-gratificatory propensities, it is to be understood that he has burned up the reactions of his work by perfect knowledge of his constitutional position as the eternal servitor of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. He is actually learned who has attained to such perfection of knowledge. Development of this knowledge of the eternal servitorship of the Lord is compared to fire. Such a fire, once kindled, can burn up all kinds of reactions to work.
We require to start with (Ritvik) formality Initiation 1st and 2nd then one has to progress to Madhyama stage taking further shelter from Srila Prabhupada in his books, tapes, cds. Detailed information to what is fully qualified Brahmana (Kanistha):
Srila Prabhupada is the ONLY ONE initiator spiritual master he gives transcendental knowledge in the heart (Divya-jnana hrde prokasito) being situated in (Suddha sattva) Transcendental Platform. Unless the spiritual master is on transcendental platform how can he initiate into transcendental knowledge(Divya-jnana hrde prokasito)? And how can any sane person worship some conditioned souls voted in by bogus GBC as good as God saksad-dharitvena?
Madhya 10.136 The Lord' s Return to Jagannatha Puri That is the verdict of Visvanatha Cakravarti: saksad-dharitvenasa. An authorized spiritual master is as good as Hari, the Supreme Personality of Godhead.
KB 80 Meeting of Lord Krsna with Sudama Brahmana "If a man is sufficiently educated in student life under the guidance of a proper teacher, then his life becomes successful in the future. He can very easily cross over the ocean of nescience, and he is not subjected to the influence of illusory energy. My dear friend, everyone should consider his father to be his first teacher because by the mercy of one's father one gets this body. The father is therefore the natural spiritual master. Our next spiritual master is he who initiates us into transcendental knowledge, and he is to be worshiped as much as I am. The spiritual master may be more than one. The spiritual master who instructs the disciples about spiritual matters is called siksa-guru, and the spiritual master who initiates the disciple is called diksa-guru. Both of them are My representatives. There may be many spiritual masters who instruct, but the initiator spiritual master is one.
SB 4.23.18 P Maharaja Prthu' s Going Back Home In this verse the word prabhu is also significant. As stated before, when one is completely self-realized and acts according to that position, he can be called prabhu. The spiritual master is addressed as "Prabhupada" because he is a completely self-realized soul. The word pada means "position," and Prabhupada indicates that he is given the position of prabhu, or the Supreme Personality of Godhead, for he acts on behalf of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Unless one is a prabhu, or controller of the senses, he cannot act as spiritual master, who is authorized by the supreme prabhu, or Lord Krsna. In his verses praising the spiritual master, Srila Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakura writes:
saksad-dharitvena samasta-sastrair / uktas tatha bhavyata eva sadbhih -- "The spiritual master is honored as much as the Supreme Lord because he is the most confidential servitor of the Lord."
SB 4.3.23 P Talks Between Lord Siva and Sati -- Therefore suddha-sattva, as described in this verse, is the transcendental position, which is technically called vasudeva. Vasudeva is also the name of the person from whom Krsna appears. This verse explains that the pure state is called vasudeva because in that state Vasudeva, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, is revealed without any covering. To execute unadulterated devotional service, therefore, one must follow the rules and regulations of devotional service without desire to gain material profit by fruitive activities or mental speculation.
In pure devotional service one simply serves the Supreme Personality of Godhead as a matter of duty, without reason and without being impeded by material conditions. That is called suddha-sattva, or vasudeva, because in that stage the Supreme Person, Krsna, is revealed in the heart of the devotee. Srila Jiva Gosvami has very nicely described this vasudeva, or suddha-sattva, in his Bhagavat-sandarbha. He explains that astottara-sata (108) is added to the name of the spiritual master to indicate one who is situated in suddha-sattva, or in the transcendental state of vasudeva.
760711CC.NY Lectures
Dhrstadyumna: Divya-jnana hrde prokasito.
Prabhupada: Divya-jnana hrde prokasito. What is that divya-jnana? Divya-jnana is that we are all servant of Krsna, and our only business is to serve Krsna. Divya-jnana. This is divya-jnana. It is not difficult at all. Simply we have... We have become servant of so many things--servant of society, servant of community, servant of country, servant of wife, servant of children, servant of dog and so many. "Now let me become servant of Krsna." This is divya-jnana. Diksa. Diksa means from this divya-jnana. That is di. And ksa means ksapayati, expands.
Note: How Divya jjnana (Diksa) is shown graphically:
SB 10.2.18 T Prayers by the Demigods for Lord Krsna in the Womb
TRANSLATION -- Thereafter, accompanied by plenary expansions, the fully opulent Supreme Personality of Godhead, who is all-auspicious for the entire universe, was transferred from the mind of Vasudeva to the mind of Devaki. Devaki, having thus been initiated by Vasudeva, became beautiful by carrying Lord Krsna, the original consciousness for everyone, the cause of all causes, within the core of her heart, just as the east becomes beautiful by carrying the rising moon.
PURPORT -- As indicated here by the word manastah, the Supreme Personality of Godhead was TRANSFERRED from the core of Vasudeva's mind or heart to the core of the heart of Devaki. We should note carefully that the Lord was TRANSFERRED to Devaki not by the ordinary way for a human being, but by diksa, initiation. Thus the importance of initiation is mentioned here. Unless one is initiated by the right person, who always carries within his heart the Supreme Personality of Godhead, one cannot acquire the power to carry the Supreme Godhead within the core of one's own heart.
Question 2: then what you are saying is Diksa can NOT be given by other than Uttama Adhikari(Mahabhagavata) Srila Prabhupada who has to have Krsna in his heart to TRANSFER to another so his servant relationship is revealed Divya-jnana hrde prokasito. Can you explain how Kanistha adhikari can give diksa to disciples in this quote?
Nectar of Instruction Chapter 5, purport
"In this verse Srila Rupa Gosvami advises the devotee to be intelligent enough to distinguish between the kanistha-adhikari, madhyama-adhikari and the uttama-adhikari. The devotee should also know his own position and should not try to imitate a devotee situated on a higher platform. Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura has given some practical hints to the effect that an uttama-adhikari Vaisnava can be recognized by his ability to convert many fallen souls to Vaisnavism. One should not become a spiritual master unless he has attained the platform of uttama-adhikari. A neophyte Vaisnava or a Vaisnava situated on the intermediate platform can also accept disciples, but such disciples must be on the same platform, and it should be understood that they cannot advance very well toward the ultimate goal of life under his insufficient guidance. Therefore a disciple should be careful to accept an uttama-adhikari as a spiritualmaster."
In the above quote:
1) There is no mention of Diksa it only states they “can also accept disciples” It does NOT say Kanistha gives Diksa- at all!!!.
2) Kanistha adhikari is a fully qualified brahmana but at that stage he is still conditioned soul (see SB 1.2.20). However, Divya-jnana is coming from TRANSCENDENTAL platform so this means Kanistha himself does not possess Divya jnana to give to another therefore Srila Prabhupada says “and it should be understood that they cannot advance very well toward the ultimate goal of life under his insufficient guidance”. Madhyama adhikari is in the process as being RECEPIENT of Divya Jnana (diksa) Srila Prabhupada says, “Therefore a disciple should be careful to accept an uttama-adhikari as a spiritual master."
3) In simple terms: You can NOT give what you do not have. Mahabhagavata(PURE devotee BONAFIDE spiritual master) has Krsna in his heart and consequently ONLY he can TRANSFER Krsna in your heart.
Once at the stage of Madhyama Adhikari the devotee receives SPIRITUAL INITIATION (DIKSA) he understands his constitutional position (svarupa) and karma is burned off.
Adi 11.59 The Expansions of Lord Nityananda
Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura has sung, krsna se tomara, krsna dite para, tomara sakati ache. In this song, Bhaktivinoda Thakura describes that a pure Vaisnava, as the proprietor of Krsna and love of Krsna, can deliver both to anyone and everyone he likes. Therefore to get Krsna and love of Krsna one must seek the mercy of pure devotees. Srila Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakura also says, yasya prasadad bhagavat-prasado yasyaprasadan na gatih kuto 'pi: "By the mercy of the spiritual master one is blessed by the mercy of Krsna. Without the grace of the spiritual master one cannot make any advancement." By the grace of a Vaisnava or bona fide spiritual master one can get both love of Godhead, Krsna, and Krsna Himself.
SB 1.2.20 T Divinity and Divine Service -- The fact is, however , that one cannot understand the science of the Personality of Godhead unless one is freed from the contamination of the material modes, even up to the stage of a brahmana. When a qualified brahmana factually becomes a Vaisnava, in the enlivened state of liberation he can know what is actually the Personality of Godhead.
4) Since Kanistha is not free from all material contamination HOW can he give Diksa “ by which he becomes freed from all material contamination”?
To say that kanistha gives Diksa contradicts the very definition of diksa:
Madhya 4.111 Sri Madhavendra Puri' s Devotional Service:
Diksa actually means initiating a disciple with transcendental knowledge by which he becomes freed from all material contamination.
Note: When you give Krsna Book to someone you are not the one actually giving Krsna BUT the personality who is within who is on the TRANSCENDENTAL (suddha sattva) platform ie. Srila Prabhupada the Mahabhagavata (uttama adhikari) who –factually- gives Krsna. Srila Prabhupada is the founder AND Acarya of ISKCON he is powerful to give Diksa as he chooses:
SB 1.7.22 P The Son of Drona Punished
The spiritual master, by his words, can penetrate into the heart of the suffering person and inject knowledge transcendental, which alone can extinguish the fire of material existence.
SB 2.9.8 P Answers by Citing the Lord' s Version
The potency of transcendental sound is never minimized because the vibrator is apparently absent.
690113LE.LA Lectures
Arcye sila-dhir gurusu nara-matir. Just like the statue of Krsna, to consider that "This is a stone..." Similarly, arcye sila-dhir gurusu na... Gurusu means those who are acaryas, to accept their body as ordinary man's body, this is denied in the sastras. So although a physical body is not present, the vibration should be accepted as the presence of the spiritual master, vibration. What we have heard from the spiritual master, that is living.
Adi 1.35 The Spiritual Masters
There is no difference between the spiritual master's instructions and the spiritual master himself. In his absence, therefore, his words of direction should be the pride of the disciple.
Without a doubt Mahabhagavata Srila Prabhupada is the only Diksa Guru for ISKCON - ONLY Mahabhagavata MUST be accepted:
Madhya 24.330 The Sixty-One Explanations of the Atmarama Verse -- maha-bhagavata-srestho / brahmano vai gurur nrnam / sarvesam eva lokanam / asau pujyo yatha harih / maha-kula-prasuto 'pi / sarva-yajnesu diksitah / sahasra-sakhadhyayi ca / na guruh syad avaisnavah
The guru must be situated on the topmost platform of devotional service. There are three classes of devotees, and the guru must be accepted from the topmost class.
Question 3 Did not Srila Prabhupada order regular gurus in 1977 to give diksa in ISKCON before he left?
What we will do is look at the conversation in reference *AS IT IS* then give a factual analysis:
770528me.vrn Conversations
Satsvarupa: By the votes of the present GBC. Then our next question concerns initiations in the future, particularly at that time when you're no longer with us. We want to know how first and second initiation would be conducted.
Prabhupada: Yes. I shall recommend some of you. After this is settled up, I shall recommend some of you to act as officiating acaryas.
Tamala Krsna: Is that called rtvik-acarya?
Prabhupada: Rtvik, yes.
Satsvarupa: Then what is the relationship of that person who gives the initiation and the...
Prabhupada: He's guru. He's guru.
Satsvarupa: But he does it on your behalf.
Prabhupada: Yes. That is formality. Because in my presence one should not become guru, so on my behalf, on my order... Amara ajnaya guru hana. Be actually guru, but by my order.
Satsvarupa: So they may also be considered your disciples.
Prabhupada: Yes, they are disciples. Why consider? Who?
Tamala Krsna: No, he's asking that these rtvik-acaryas, they're officiating, giving diksa. Their... The people who they give diksa to, whose disciple are they?
Prabhupada: They're his disciple.
Tamala Krsna: They're his disciple.
Prabhupada: Who is initiating. He is granddisciple.
Satsvarupa: Yes.
Tamala Krsna: That's clear.
Satsvarupa: Then we have a question concer...
Prabhupada: When I order, "You become guru," he becomes regular guru. That's all. He becomes disciple of my disciple. That's it.
We know Srila Prabhuapada emphasized in many places the Guru must be a PURE devotee Mahabhagavata, Uttama Adhikari eg Caitanya Caritamrta Madhya 24.330 and Nectar of Instruction Chapter 5 so how can he contradict by ordering a bunch of conditioned souls to be worshipped as regular gurus? This is just NOT possible----even from common-sense reasoning.
Srila Prabhupada states clearly “WHEN I order”. The FACT is - he did NOT order. There could NOT have been an order before 1977 because Satsvarupa and GBC went to Srila Prabhupada in 1977 for THAT PARTICULAR ORDER as indicated above otherwise WHAT were they doing there by asking Srila Prabhupada question on future of Initiation in ISKCON?
And the bottom line is Srila Prabhupada simply said “WHEN I order” THERE WAS NO ORDER – SIMPLE AS THAT! Accept the FACT! It is clear as daylight.
A number of articles have been written on this topic, which we include just four to clarify the issue further:
Question 4 What is your suggestion regarding harmony within all of ISKCON?
Accept Srila Prabhupada as Diksa Guru. If some have a hang-up or disinclination to use the term “Rtvik” then then they can use REPRESENTATIVE OF ACARYA SRILA PRABHUPADA FOR CONDUCTING 1ST AND 2ND INITIATIONS ON HIS BEHALF as this is what was stated in the Caitanya Caritamrta in reference to “or his representative” :
Madhya 24.330 The Sixty-One Explanations of the Atmarama Verse
Similarly, a disciple's qualifications must be observed by the spiritual master before he is accepted as a disciple. In our Krsna consciousness movement, the requirement is that one must be prepared to give up the four pillars of sinful life-illicit sex, meat-eating, intoxication and gambling. In Western countries especially, we first observe whether a potential disciple is prepared to follow the regulative principles. Then he is given the name of a Vaisnava servant and initiated to chant the Hare Krsna maha-mantra, at least sixteen rounds daily. In this way the disciple renders devotional service under the guidance of the spiritual master or his representative for at least six months to a year. He is then recommended for a second initiation, during which a sacred thread is offered and the disciple is accepted as a bona fide brahmana.
Note: It was Srila Prabhupada wish that he is the Initiator guru – that should be respected.
75-08-04. Letter: Madhudvisa:
The GBC should all be the instructor gurus. I am in the initiator guru, and you should be the instructor guru by teaching what I am teaching and doing what I am doing. This is not a title, but you must actually come to this platform. This I want.
SB 6.7.15 P Indra Offends His Spiritual Master, Brhaspati.
A disciple should never be a hypocrite or be unfaithful to his spiritual master. In Srimad-Bhagavatam (11.17.27), the spiritual master is also called acarya. Acaryam mam vijaniyan: the Supreme Personality of Godhead says that one should respect the spiritual master, accepting him as the Lord Himself. Navamanyeta karhicit: one should not disrespect the acarya at any time. Na martya-buddhyasuyeta: one should never think the acarya an ordinary person. Familiarity sometimes breeds contempt, but one should be very careful in one's dealings with the acarya. Agadha-dhisanam dvijam: the acarya is a perfect brahmana and has unlimited intelligence in guiding the activities of his disciple.
HOW can you have disciples who are taking discipline from Srila Prabhupada from his cds, tapes, mp3, belong to someone else? This is a question of COMMON-SENSE.
760308mw.may Conversations
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. Sastra 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 the discipline.
Further details on Srila Prabhuapada’s disciples in the two articles:
Suffice to say, Srila Prabhupada is OUR Diksa guru:
74-11-22. Letter: Bahurupa
In my books the philosophy of Krishna Consciousness is explained fully so if there is anything which you do not understand, then you simply have to read again and again. By reading daily the knowledge will be revealed to you and by this process your spiritual life will develop.
73-12-25.Letter: Gurukrpa , Yasodanandana
Whatever is to be learned of the teachings of Srila Bhaktivinode Thakura can be learned from our books. There is no need whatsoever for any outside instruction.
"We request you to chant HARE KRISHNA HARE KRISHNA, KRISHNA KRISHNA HARE HARE, HARE RAMA HARE RAMA, RAMA RAMA HARE HARE, and your life will be sublime."
Mahesh Raja,
ReplyDeleteWhat Ever u have written is 100% correct. My Initiation Experience by Srila Prabhupada Himself Testifies that Srila Prabhupada is Living in sound and guiding his sincere followers.
Please read my blog to know my complete Initiation Experience.
http://zaysen.blogspot.com/2010/09/how-i-was-initiated-into-mahamantra-by.html