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THE RITVIK ACARYA CONCLUSION BACKED BY EVIDENCE
Letter to: Janardana
New York
26 April,
1968
68-04-26
The statements of Thakura Bhaktivinode are as good as scriptures because he is liberated person. Generally the spiritual master comes from the group of such eternal associates of the Lord; but anyone who follows the principles of such ever liberated persons is as good as one in the above mentioned group. The gurus from nature's study are accepted as such on the principle that an elevated person in Krishna Consciousness does not accept anyone as disciple, but he accepts everyone as expansion of his guru. That is very high position, called Maha-bhagavata. Just like Radharani, sometimes thinks a subordinate of hers as her teacher, to understand devotion of Krishna. A person who is liberated acharya and guru cannot commit any mistake, but there are persons who are less qualified or not liberated, but still can act as guru and acharya by strictly following the disciplic succession.
This is what Srila Prabhupada meant by giving the order to conditioned souls to act as Ritvik Guru/Acaryas "but there are persons who are less qualified or not liberated, but still can act as guru and acharya by strictly following the disciplic succession."
Next are statements regarding Srila Prabhupadas divine authority to impliment such a Ritvik system of Diksha initiations.
INDIAN MAN: When did you become the spiritual leader of Krishna
consciousness?
PRABHUPADA: What is that?
BRAHMANANDA: He's asking, When
did you become the spiritual leader of Krishna consciousness?
PRABHUPADA:
When my Guru Maharaja ordered me. This is the guru-parampara.
INDIAN MAN: Did
it...
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.
INDIAN WOMAN 2: (Hindi)
PRABHUPADA: (Hindi) Sadhi mam
prapannam. "I am surrendered to you. Whatever you say, I shall carry out."
That's all.
INDIAN MAN: When did he tell you to--
PRABHUPADA: What is the
business, when did he tell me? And why shall I disclose to you? It is so very
insignificant thing that I have to explain to you?
INDIAN MAN: No, I am just
curious when--
PRABHUPADA: You should be curious within your limit. You
should know that one can become guru when he is ordered by his guru, this
much.
Nairobi, October 28, 1975
New York
26 April,
1968
68-04-26
The statements of Thakura Bhaktivinode are as good as scriptures because he is liberated person. Generally the spiritual master comes from the group of such eternal associates of the Lord; but anyone who follows the principles of such ever liberated persons is as good as one in the above mentioned group. The gurus from nature's study are accepted as such on the principle that an elevated person in Krishna Consciousness does not accept anyone as disciple, but he accepts everyone as expansion of his guru. That is very high position, called Maha-bhagavata. Just like Radharani, sometimes thinks a subordinate of hers as her teacher, to understand devotion of Krishna. A person who is liberated acharya and guru cannot commit any mistake, but there are persons who are less qualified or not liberated, but still can act as guru and acharya by strictly following the disciplic succession.
This is what Srila Prabhupada meant by giving the order to conditioned souls to act as Ritvik Guru/Acaryas "but there are persons who are less qualified or not liberated, but still can act as guru and acharya by strictly following the disciplic succession."
Next are statements regarding Srila Prabhupadas divine authority to impliment such a Ritvik system of Diksha initiations.
INDIAN MAN: When did you become the spiritual leader of Krishna
consciousness?
PRABHUPADA: What is that?
BRAHMANANDA: He's asking, When
did you become the spiritual leader of Krishna consciousness?
PRABHUPADA:
When my Guru Maharaja ordered me. This is the guru-parampara.
INDIAN MAN: Did
it...
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.
INDIAN WOMAN 2: (Hindi)
PRABHUPADA: (Hindi) Sadhi mam
prapannam. "I am surrendered to you. Whatever you say, I shall carry out."
That's all.
INDIAN MAN: When did he tell you to--
PRABHUPADA: What is the
business, when did he tell me? And why shall I disclose to you? It is so very
insignificant thing that I have to explain to you?
INDIAN MAN: No, I am just
curious when--
PRABHUPADA: You should be curious within your limit. You
should know that one can become guru when he is ordered by his guru, this
much.
Nairobi, October 28, 1975
"So we have to follow Prahlada Maharaja. He is our guru, purva-acharya. Narada is purva-acharya. He is disciple of Narada. Therefore he is acharya, and his disciplic succession... There are sampradayas: Brahma-sampradaya, Kaumara-sampradaya...... Anyone who is bona fide acharya, he can create his own disciplic succession, but one disciplic succession and the other disciplic—they are not different. They are of the same conclusion."
(SB lecture Feb 19, 1976 Mayapur)
(SB lecture Feb 19, 1976 Mayapur)
"Every acarya has a specific means of propagating his spiritual movement
with the aim of bringing men to Krsna consciousness. Therefore, the method
of one acarya may be different than that of another, but the ultimate goal
is never neglected."
Sri Chaitanya-caritamrta,Adi-lila,7:37,purport
"Devotees of the Supreme Lord are not controlled by the scriptures since their activities are congenial to Divine Wisdom. When self-realized devotees ordain any new arrangement, this should be accepted as religious code, even if such new arrangements are not found in the scriptural dictums of the previous sages."
with the aim of bringing men to Krsna consciousness. Therefore, the method
of one acarya may be different than that of another, but the ultimate goal
is never neglected."
Sri Chaitanya-caritamrta,Adi-lila,7:37,purport
"Devotees of the Supreme Lord are not controlled by the scriptures since their activities are congenial to Divine Wisdom. When self-realized devotees ordain any new arrangement, this should be accepted as religious code, even if such new arrangements are not found in the scriptural dictums of the previous sages."
Bhaktivinoda Thakura from Sri Tattva Sutra
"Everyone is eager for adoration by others, not for the absolute truth. Those who make a show of being preachers do not disturb mankind, but rather maintain everyone's present mentality while busily protecting their own existence. Therefore there is no propagation of the truth, since one's popularity is not served by speaking or hearing the truth. Pure items are rare and not easily attainable, and so are not much appreciated. Similarly, there is no respect for those who do not misguide people but are busy trying through saṅkīrtana and Hari-kathā to turn them toward the Lord. At present it is fashionable to be cheated by those who in the name of dharma misguide people. Real devotees do not speak to satisfy their audiences. They do not cheat people. Rather, pure devotees reveal the defects of cheaters who love to compromise. Only fortunate persons learn to be cautious after hearing the words of saints. Although the words of genuine devotees may appear to contradict our present taste and experience, nonetheless they are most auspicious for us."
(Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura)
"Everyone is eager for adoration by others, not for the absolute truth. Those who make a show of being preachers do not disturb mankind, but rather maintain everyone's present mentality while busily protecting their own existence. Therefore there is no propagation of the truth, since one's popularity is not served by speaking or hearing the truth. Pure items are rare and not easily attainable, and so are not much appreciated. Similarly, there is no respect for those who do not misguide people but are busy trying through saṅkīrtana and Hari-kathā to turn them toward the Lord. At present it is fashionable to be cheated by those who in the name of dharma misguide people. Real devotees do not speak to satisfy their audiences. They do not cheat people. Rather, pure devotees reveal the defects of cheaters who love to compromise. Only fortunate persons learn to be cautious after hearing the words of saints. Although the words of genuine devotees may appear to contradict our present taste and experience, nonetheless they are most auspicious for us."
(Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura)
So now we have Srila Prabhupada exerting His divine authority...
Satsvarūpa: 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.
Prabhupāda: Yes. I shall recommend
some of you. After this is settled up, I shall recommend some of you to act as
officiating ācāryas.
Prabhupāda: Ṛtvik, yes.
Satsvarūpa: Then what is the
relationship of that person who gives the initiation and the...
Satsvarūpa: But he does it on your
behalf.
Prabhupāda: Yes. That is formality.
Because in my presence one should not become guru,
so on my behalf, on my order... Āmāra ājñāya guru hañā [Cc. Madhya
7.128]. Be actually guru, but by
my order.
Satsvarūpa: So they may also be
considered your disciples.
Prabhupāda: Yes, they are
disciples. Why consider? Who?
Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: No, he's asking that these ṛtvik-ācāryas, they're
officiating, giving dīkṣā. Their... The people who they give dīkṣā to, whose disciple are
they?
Prabhupāda: They're his
disciple.
Prabhupāda: Who is initiating. He
is granddisciple.
Satsvarūpa: Yes.
Satsvarūpa: Then we have a question
concer...
Prabhupāda: When I order, "You
become guru," he becomes regular guru. That's all. He becomes disciple of my disciple. That's
it.
Now it is clear that Srila Prabhupada wanted Ritvik(officiating)disciples to initiate others on his behalf in the future...
Satsvarūpa:"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." Where the confusion for most comes into to play is here...
Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: No, he's asking that these ṛtvik-ācāryas, they're officiating, giving dīkṣā. Their... The people who they give dīkṣā to, whose disciple are they?
Prabhupāda: They're his disciple.
Prabhupāda: Who is initiating. He is granddisciple.
Satsvarūpa: Yes.
Satsvarūpa: Then we have a question concer...
Prabhupāda: When I order, "You become guru," he becomes regular guru. That's all. He becomes disciple of my disciple. That's it.
When Srila Prabhupada says "Who is initiating. He is granddisciple." Is meant in the context of "When I order, "You become guru," he becomes regular guru. That's all. He becomes disciple of my disciple. That's it." However, Srila Prabhupada never gave the order for anyone of His disciples to become regular guru, thus creating any grand disciples. The only proof ever recorded of Srila Prabhupada giving any authorization to initiate was on his behalf...
Prabhupāda: Yes. I shall recommend some of you. After this is settled up, I shall recommend some of you to act as officiating ācāryas.
Prabhupāda: Ṛtvik, yes.
Now Srila Prabhupadas logic of creating a Ritvik System is self evident by his own descriptions of what qualities the bone fide spiritual master must possess...
Letter to Mukunda
by His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda
written at New Vrindaban 10 June, 1969
London
My Dear Mukunda,
The answer to your Istagosthi questions are as follows: Unless one is a resident of Krishna Loka, one cannot be a Spiritual Master. That is the first proposition. A layman cannot be a Spiritual Master, and if he becomes so then he will simply create disturbance. And who is a liberated person? One who knows Krishna. It is stated in BG, fourth chapter, anyone who knows Krishna in truth is immediately liberated, and after quitting the present body, he immediately goes to Krishna. That means he becomes a resident of Krishna Loka. As soon as one is liberated he is immediately a resident of Krishna Loka, and anyone who knows the truth of Krishna can become Spiritual Master. That is the version of Lord Caitanya. So to summarize the whole thing, it is to be understood that a bona fide Spiritual Master is a resident of Krishna Loka.
Your next question, whether the Spiritual Master was formerly a conditioned soul, actually a bona fide Spiritual Master is never a conditioned soul. There are three kinds of liberated persons. They are called 1) sadhan siddha, 2) kripa siddha, and 3) nitya siddha. Sadhan siddha means one who has attained perfection by executing the regulative principles of devotional service. Kripa siddha means one who has attained perfection by the special mercy of Krishna and the Spiritual Master, and nitya siddha means one who was never contaminated. The symptoms of nitya siddha is that from the beginning of his life he is attached to Krishna, and he is never tired of rendering service to Krishna. So we have to know what is what by these symptoms. But when one is actually on the siddha platform there is no such distinction as to who is sadhan, kripa, or nitya siddha. When one is siddha, there is no distinction what is what. Just like when the river water glides down to the Atlantic Ocean nobody can distinguish which portion was the Hudson River or some other river. Neither is there any necessity to make any such distinction. Actually, every living entity is eternally uncontaminated, although he may be in the material touch. This is the version of the Vedas. Asanga ayam purusha—the living entity is uncontaminated. Just like when there is a drop of oil in water you can immediately distinguish the oil from the water, and the water never mixes with the oil. Similarly, a living entity, although in material contact, is always distinct from the matter.
You are correct when you say that when the Spiritual Master speaks it should be taken that Krishna is speaking. That is a fact. A Spiritual Master must be liberated. It does not matter if he has come from Krishna Loka or he is liberated from here. But he must be liberated. The science of how one is liberated is explained above, but when one is liberated, there is no need of distinction whether he has come directly from Krishna Loka or from the material world. But in the broader sense everyone comes from Krishna Loka. When one forgets Krishna he is conditioned, when one remembers Krishna he is liberated. I hope this will clear up these points. I hope this will meet you in good health.
Your ever well-wisher,
A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami
by His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda
written at New Vrindaban 10 June, 1969
London
My Dear Mukunda,
The answer to your Istagosthi questions are as follows: Unless one is a resident of Krishna Loka, one cannot be a Spiritual Master. That is the first proposition. A layman cannot be a Spiritual Master, and if he becomes so then he will simply create disturbance. And who is a liberated person? One who knows Krishna. It is stated in BG, fourth chapter, anyone who knows Krishna in truth is immediately liberated, and after quitting the present body, he immediately goes to Krishna. That means he becomes a resident of Krishna Loka. As soon as one is liberated he is immediately a resident of Krishna Loka, and anyone who knows the truth of Krishna can become Spiritual Master. That is the version of Lord Caitanya. So to summarize the whole thing, it is to be understood that a bona fide Spiritual Master is a resident of Krishna Loka.
Your next question, whether the Spiritual Master was formerly a conditioned soul, actually a bona fide Spiritual Master is never a conditioned soul. There are three kinds of liberated persons. They are called 1) sadhan siddha, 2) kripa siddha, and 3) nitya siddha. Sadhan siddha means one who has attained perfection by executing the regulative principles of devotional service. Kripa siddha means one who has attained perfection by the special mercy of Krishna and the Spiritual Master, and nitya siddha means one who was never contaminated. The symptoms of nitya siddha is that from the beginning of his life he is attached to Krishna, and he is never tired of rendering service to Krishna. So we have to know what is what by these symptoms. But when one is actually on the siddha platform there is no such distinction as to who is sadhan, kripa, or nitya siddha. When one is siddha, there is no distinction what is what. Just like when the river water glides down to the Atlantic Ocean nobody can distinguish which portion was the Hudson River or some other river. Neither is there any necessity to make any such distinction. Actually, every living entity is eternally uncontaminated, although he may be in the material touch. This is the version of the Vedas. Asanga ayam purusha—the living entity is uncontaminated. Just like when there is a drop of oil in water you can immediately distinguish the oil from the water, and the water never mixes with the oil. Similarly, a living entity, although in material contact, is always distinct from the matter.
You are correct when you say that when the Spiritual Master speaks it should be taken that Krishna is speaking. That is a fact. A Spiritual Master must be liberated. It does not matter if he has come from Krishna Loka or he is liberated from here. But he must be liberated. The science of how one is liberated is explained above, but when one is liberated, there is no need of distinction whether he has come directly from Krishna Loka or from the material world. But in the broader sense everyone comes from Krishna Loka. When one forgets Krishna he is conditioned, when one remembers Krishna he is liberated. I hope this will clear up these points. I hope this will meet you in good health.
Your ever well-wisher,
A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami
When one has attained the topmost position of maha-bhagavata, he is to be accepted as a guru and worshiped exactly like Hari, the Personality of Godhead. Only such a person is eligible to occupy the post of a guru. (CC Madhya 24.330).
"So there were some discussions then about sannyasa. Prabhupada said, “Actually I have not given any of you sannyasa. But I am in a war with Maya, the material energy, and I need leaders.” He said, “It is called in wartime ‘battlefield commission.’ There are no qualified leaders, but someone has to lead the charge. So you take every fifth man, ‘You are now lieutenant of the squad.’ He is really a private, but we make him lieutenant for the day and he leads the charge.” Then Prabhupada said, “It is to be understood that you are not sufficiently equipped for this fight and most of you will go down.” I know what he means now that I’m older. We knew very little, but we were enthusiastic"
Srila Prabhupada conversation with Dhristadyumna das July 1976: NEW YORK CITY
"And this kind of hypocrisy—they have taken sannyāsa and m...ixing with woman. This is not to be allowed. If you want woman you get yourself married, live respectfully. We have no objection. But this hypocrisy should be stopped. There have been so many fallen down. First of all there will be no sannyāsī anymore. I have got very bad experience. And at least, we are not going to create new sannyāsīs."
Srila Prabhupada Room Conversation January 7, 1977, Bombay
Now after Srila Prabhupada admits that all the sannyasis are actually privates only a year before His departure, the GBC are telling us He all of a sudden made them generals(regular gurus)! Wow!
Prabhupada: What is the use of producing some rascal guru?
Tamala Krsna: Well, I have studied myself and all of your disciples, and it's clear fact that we are all conditioned souls, so we cannot be guru.
Prabhupada: Hm. (agrees confirmative)
Tamala Krsna: Maybe one day it may be possible... but not now.
Srila Prabhupada Room Conversation, Bombay, April 22, !977
Prabhupāda: And there is Narottama dāsa Ṭhākura-Prārthanā. Āśraya laiyā bhaje, kṛṣṇa nāhi tare tyāge: "One who takes āś...raya, shelter of a devotee, Kṛṣṇa does not give him up. Kṛṣṇa accepts him." Yasya prasādād bhagavat-prasādaḥ... **. Because if that person who is giving shelter, if he's pleased, Kṛṣṇa is immediately... If he recommends a fool, "Oh, Kṛṣṇa, here is a devotee," Kṛṣṇa will accept immediately. It doesn't matter whether he's a fool or rascal. Because he is recommended by representative, he will be accepted. Yasya pra... This is the meaning of yasya prasādad bhagavat-pra... Without his recommendation there is no entry in Kṛṣṇa's kingdom. Yasya-prasādad na gatiḥ kuto 'pi. If he displeases Kṛṣṇa's representative he has no entrance to the Kṛṣṇa's kingdom, however learned he may be or whatever he may be. Immediately rejected. In a business office, suppose a secretary is there. A clerk does not accept the order of the secretary. Immediately he should be dismissed. In my personal experience, when I was young manager in a big chemical concern, one correspondent clerk, he disobeyed me. I reported to the head boss. He immediately came and he said, "Get out immediately from the office." And he wanted to plead in so many ways. Said, "No, I don't want. If you don't go out, then I shall call my doorman. He will forcibly get you out. Get out." I was sorry because this man is dismissed immediately, but he took. Disobedient... "Obedience is first discipline." So if Kṛṣṇa's representative is disobeyed—"Get out immediately." Kṛṣṇa is very strict.
Srila Prabhupada Room Conversation December 12, 1970, Indore
Obedience is the first law of discipline. If there is no obedience, there cannot be any discipline. And if there is no discipline you cannot manage anything. That is not possible. Therefore this is very essential, that the students should b...e very disciplined. Disciple means one who follows discipline. This is disciple, śiṣya. The Sanskrit word is also the same, śiṣya. I have several times explained. Śiṣya, it comes from the verb śās, śāsana, ruling. So śiṣya means one who voluntarily accepts the ruling of the spiritual master. He is called śiṣya. Śiṣya, śāsana, śāstra, śāstra, śāsana—these things are the same, from the same root. So this is the instruction.
Srila Prabhupada Lecture on SB 7.12.3 Bombay, April 14, 1976
14. The guru must be situated on the topmost platform of devotional service. In the Padma Purana, the characteristics of the guru, the bona fide spiritual master, have been described:
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 aVaishnavah
The guru must be situated on the topmost platform of devotional service. There are three classes of devotees, and the guru must be accepted from the topmost class. The first-class devotee is the spiritual master for all kinds of people. (CC 24.330).
So far we have direct evidence supporting Srila Prabhupadas Ritvik Acarya Order for future initiations to be perform by conditoned souls/disciples who strictly follow the disciplic succession because none of His disciples were"situated on the topmost platform of devotional service". This fact that none of disciples were qualified is also supported thus...
"So there were some discussions then about sannyasa. Prabhupada said, “Actually I have not given any of you sannyasa. But I am in a war with Maya, the material energy, and I need leaders.” He said, “It is called in wartime ‘battlefield commission.’ There are no qualified leaders, but someone has to lead the charge. So you take every fifth man, ‘You are now lieutenant of the squad.’ He is really a private, but we make him lieutenant for the day and he leads the charge.” Then Prabhupada said, “It is to be understood that you are not sufficiently equipped for this fight and most of you will go down.” I know what he means now that I’m older. We knew very little, but we were enthusiastic"
Srila Prabhupada conversation with Dhristadyumna das July 1976: NEW YORK CITY
"And this kind of hypocrisy—they have taken sannyāsa and m...ixing with woman. This is not to be allowed. If you want woman you get yourself married, live respectfully. We have no objection. But this hypocrisy should be stopped. There have been so many fallen down. First of all there will be no sannyāsī anymore. I have got very bad experience. And at least, we are not going to create new sannyāsīs."
Srila Prabhupada Room Conversation January 7, 1977, Bombay
Now after Srila Prabhupada admits that all the sannyasis are actually privates only a year before His departure, the GBC are telling us He all of a sudden made them generals(regular gurus)! Wow!
Prabhupada: What is the use of producing some rascal guru?
Tamala Krsna: Well, I have studied myself and all of your disciples, and it's clear fact that we are all conditioned souls, so we cannot be guru.
Prabhupada: Hm. (agrees confirmative)
Tamala Krsna: Maybe one day it may be possible... but not now.
Srila Prabhupada Room Conversation, Bombay, April 22, !977
"If the GBC Body sees someone as a self-effulgent acarya who is completely aware of the Supersoul and Srila Prabhupada's desires and instructions they can and should follow his/her instructions. No one so far has been seen in that category."
(Prahladananda Swami, Wed, 30 Aug 2006 14:32)
And what to speak of a later recorded confession by Tamal Krishna himself...
Topanga Canyon Confessions December 3rd, 1980 Tamla Krsna Maharaja:
"I've had a certain realization a few days ago.(...) There are obviously so many statements by Srila Prabhupada that his Guru Maharaja did not appoint any successors.(...) Even in Srila Prabhupada's books he says guru means by qualification.(...)
The inspiration came because there was a questioning on my part, so Krishna spoke. Actually Prabhupada never appointed any gurus. He appointed eleven ritviks. He never appointed them gurus. Myself and the other GBC have done the greatest disservice to this movement the last three years because we interpreted the appointment of ritviks as the appointment of gurus."
So from a Shastric and logical point of view it is easy to understand Srila Prabhupadas motivation for implementing the Ritvik Acarya system of initiations for the future spiritual well being of so many fallen souls through out Kali Yuga.
"Unfortunately, when the acarya disappears, rogues and nondevotees take advantage and immediately begin to introduce unauthorized principles ......The acarya, the authorized representative of the Supreme Lord, establishes these principles, but WHEN HE DISAPPEARS, THINGS ONCE AGAIN BECOME DISORDERED. - Srimad-Bhagavatam 4.28.48, Purport.
"Our Krsna consciousness movement is that don't hear the cheaters and don't try to cheat others. Be honest, and hear from the authority. This is Krsna. Our Krsna consciousness movement is, that don't hear the cheaters and don't try to cheat others. Be honest and hear from the authorities. That is Krsna consciousness."
Srila Prabhupada Morning Walk May 10, 1975, Perth
"If you insult your ācārya, then you are finished. Yasya prasādād bhagavat-prasādo yasya aprasādāt na gatiḥ kuto 'pi **—finished. If you displease your ācārya, then you are finished. Therefore it is said, Caitanya Mahāprabhu says to all t...he ācāryas... Nityānanda Prabhu, Advaita Prabhu and Śrīvāsādi-gaura-bhakta-vṛnda, they are all carriers of orders of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu. So try to follow the path of ācārya process. Then life will be successful."
Srila Prabhupada Lecture on CC Adi-lila 1.13 Mayapur, April 6, 1975
Srila Prabhupada Lecture on CC Adi-lila 1.13 Mayapur, April 6, 1975
Srila Prabhupada Morning Walk May 10, 1975, Perth
Prabhupāda: And there is Narottama dāsa Ṭhākura-Prārthanā. Āśraya laiyā bhaje, kṛṣṇa nāhi tare tyāge: "One who takes āś...raya, shelter of a devotee, Kṛṣṇa does not give him up. Kṛṣṇa accepts him." Yasya prasādād bhagavat-prasādaḥ... **. Because if that person who is giving shelter, if he's pleased, Kṛṣṇa is immediately... If he recommends a fool, "Oh, Kṛṣṇa, here is a devotee," Kṛṣṇa will accept immediately. It doesn't matter whether he's a fool or rascal. Because he is recommended by representative, he will be accepted. Yasya pra... This is the meaning of yasya prasādad bhagavat-pra... Without his recommendation there is no entry in Kṛṣṇa's kingdom. Yasya-prasādad na gatiḥ kuto 'pi. If he displeases Kṛṣṇa's representative he has no entrance to the Kṛṣṇa's kingdom, however learned he may be or whatever he may be. Immediately rejected. In a business office, suppose a secretary is there. A clerk does not accept the order of the secretary. Immediately he should be dismissed. In my personal experience, when I was young manager in a big chemical concern, one correspondent clerk, he disobeyed me. I reported to the head boss. He immediately came and he said, "Get out immediately from the office." And he wanted to plead in so many ways. Said, "No, I don't want. If you don't go out, then I shall call my doorman. He will forcibly get you out. Get out." I was sorry because this man is dismissed immediately, but he took. Disobedient... "Obedience is first discipline." So if Kṛṣṇa's representative is disobeyed—"Get out immediately." Kṛṣṇa is very strict.
Srila Prabhupada Room Conversation December 12, 1970, Indore
Obedience is the first law of discipline. If there is no obedience, there cannot be any discipline. And if there is no discipline you cannot manage anything. That is not possible. Therefore this is very essential, that the students should b...e very disciplined. Disciple means one who follows discipline. This is disciple, śiṣya. The Sanskrit word is also the same, śiṣya. I have several times explained. Śiṣya, it comes from the verb śās, śāsana, ruling. So śiṣya means one who voluntarily accepts the ruling of the spiritual master. He is called śiṣya. Śiṣya, śāsana, śāstra, śāstra, śāsana—these things are the same, from the same root. So this is the instruction.
Srila Prabhupada Lecture on SB 7.12.3 Bombay, April 14, 1976
"Our mission is to serve (...).
Not that you take the place of the guru. That is nonsense, very dangerous. Then everything will be spoiled. As soon as you become ambitious to take the place of guru-gurusu nara-matih . That is the material disease."
(Srila Prabhupada Conversation, April 20, 1977)
"That is the difficulty. Everyone sees that "Some way or other, I become guru. Then so many persons will offer me respect. Somehow or other, create some situation. Then I become guru."
This is going on. Not bona fide guru. (...)
They will drink, they will hunt after woman and have some attractive singing or dancing and become guru. What is meaning of guru, they do not know. Somehow or other become popular and become guru. This is going on."
(Srila Prabhupada Conversation, May 2nd, 1976)
"If you become disobedient to guru, then your business is finished."
(Srila Prabhupada's Srimad-Bhagavatam Lecture, August 10th, 1974)
"Because that is offense. Guror avajna. First offense is guror avajna, defying the authority of guru. This is the first offense. So one who is offensive, how he can make advance in chanting? He cannot make. Then everything is finished in the beginning. Guroravajna. Everything is there. If one is disobeying the spiritual master, he cannot remain in the pure status of life. He cannot be siksa-guru or anything else. He is finished, immediately."
(Srila Prabhupada's Bhagavad-gita Lecture, July 4th, 1974)
"The devotee must therefore be very careful not to commit offenses against the spiritual master by disobeying his instructions. As soon as one is deviated from the instructions of the spiritual master, the uprooting of the bhakti-lata begins, and gradually all the leaves dry up."
(Sri Caitanya-caritamrta, Madhya-lila, 19.156, purport)
"A jealous person in the dress of a Vaisnava is not at all happy to see the success of another Vaisnava in receiving the Lord's mercy. Unfortunately, in this Age of Kali there are many mundane persons in the dress of Vaisnavas, and Srila BhaktivinodaThakura has described them as disciples of Kali. He says, kali-cela. He indicates that there is another Vaisnava, a pseudo Vaisnava with tilaka on his nose and kanthi beads around his neck. Such a pseudo Vaisnava associates with money and women and is jealous of successful Vaisnavas. Although passing for a Vaisnava, his only business is earning money in the dress of a Vaisnava." (Sri Caitanya-caritamrta, Madhya-lila, 1.218 purport)
"These rogues are the most dangerous elements in human society. Because there is no religious government, they escape punishment by the law of the state. They cannot, however, escape the law of the Supreme, who has clearly declared in Bhagavad gita (16.19-20) that envious demons in the garb of religious propagandists shall be thrown into the darkest regions of hell. Sri Isopanisad confirms that these pseudo religionists are heading toward the most obnoxious place in the universe after the completion of their spiritual master business, which they conduct simply for sense gratification."
(Sri Isopanisad, mantra 12, purport)
Unless one is perfectly anxious to inquire about the way of perfection, there is no necessity of approaching a spiritual master. A spiritual master is not a kind of decoration for a householder. Generally a fashionable materialist engages a so-called spiritual master without any profit. The pseudo spiritual master flatters the so-called disciple, and thereby both the master and his ward go to hell without a doubt.
Not that you take the place of the guru. That is nonsense, very dangerous. Then everything will be spoiled. As soon as you become ambitious to take the place of guru-gurusu nara-matih . That is the material disease."
(Srila Prabhupada Conversation, April 20, 1977)
"That is the difficulty. Everyone sees that "Some way or other, I become guru. Then so many persons will offer me respect. Somehow or other, create some situation. Then I become guru."
This is going on. Not bona fide guru. (...)
They will drink, they will hunt after woman and have some attractive singing or dancing and become guru. What is meaning of guru, they do not know. Somehow or other become popular and become guru. This is going on."
(Srila Prabhupada Conversation, May 2nd, 1976)
"If you become disobedient to guru, then your business is finished."
(Srila Prabhupada's Srimad-Bhagavatam Lecture, August 10th, 1974)
"Because that is offense. Guror avajna. First offense is guror avajna, defying the authority of guru. This is the first offense. So one who is offensive, how he can make advance in chanting? He cannot make. Then everything is finished in the beginning. Guroravajna. Everything is there. If one is disobeying the spiritual master, he cannot remain in the pure status of life. He cannot be siksa-guru or anything else. He is finished, immediately."
(Srila Prabhupada's Bhagavad-gita Lecture, July 4th, 1974)
"The devotee must therefore be very careful not to commit offenses against the spiritual master by disobeying his instructions. As soon as one is deviated from the instructions of the spiritual master, the uprooting of the bhakti-lata begins, and gradually all the leaves dry up."
(Sri Caitanya-caritamrta, Madhya-lila, 19.156, purport)
"A jealous person in the dress of a Vaisnava is not at all happy to see the success of another Vaisnava in receiving the Lord's mercy. Unfortunately, in this Age of Kali there are many mundane persons in the dress of Vaisnavas, and Srila BhaktivinodaThakura has described them as disciples of Kali. He says, kali-cela. He indicates that there is another Vaisnava, a pseudo Vaisnava with tilaka on his nose and kanthi beads around his neck. Such a pseudo Vaisnava associates with money and women and is jealous of successful Vaisnavas. Although passing for a Vaisnava, his only business is earning money in the dress of a Vaisnava." (Sri Caitanya-caritamrta, Madhya-lila, 1.218 purport)
"These rogues are the most dangerous elements in human society. Because there is no religious government, they escape punishment by the law of the state. They cannot, however, escape the law of the Supreme, who has clearly declared in Bhagavad gita (16.19-20) that envious demons in the garb of religious propagandists shall be thrown into the darkest regions of hell. Sri Isopanisad confirms that these pseudo religionists are heading toward the most obnoxious place in the universe after the completion of their spiritual master business, which they conduct simply for sense gratification."
(Sri Isopanisad, mantra 12, purport)
Unless one is perfectly anxious to inquire about the way of perfection, there is no necessity of approaching a spiritual master. A spiritual master is not a kind of decoration for a householder. Generally a fashionable materialist engages a so-called spiritual master without any profit. The pseudo spiritual master flatters the so-called disciple, and thereby both the master and his ward go to hell without a doubt.
72-12-14.Letter: Tusta Krishna
Srimad Bhagavatam 6.7.14
TRANSLATION
"Leaders who have fallen into ignorance and who mislead
people by directing them to the path of destruction [as described in the
previous verse] are, in effect, boarding a stone boat, and so too are those who
blindly follow them. A stone boat would be unable to float and would sink in the
water with its passengers. Similarly, those who mislead people go to hell, and
their followers go with them.
Lectures, December 23, 1970, Surat
Devotee (3): In regard to worshiping arca-vigraha form, you have explained that if one receives a mantra from a spiritual master who is not bona fide, that mantra has no effect. So I would like to ask if one is worshiping a Deity and his spiritual master is not bona fide, so that Deity cannot be considered the Supreme Lord?
Prabhupada: Well, first of all, thing is if the spiritual master is not bona fide, how his mantra can be bona fide? Your statement is contradictory. If you say the spiritual master is not bona fide, then how his mantra becomes bona fide? If he is bona fide, then his mantra is bona fide.
Devotee (3): Then why is he giving instruction to worship the Deity? If the spiritual master is not bona fide, then is the Deity also not bona fide?
Prabhupada: I do not follow. What does he say?
Tamala Krishna: His idea is that if one receives a mantra from a spiritual master, if the spiritual master is not bona fide...
Prabhupada: Then there is no question of mantra. There is no question of worshiping Deity. These are all bogus things. If you are not... Just like here is a young medical man. If he has not received instruction from a bona fide medical college, so what is the value of his medical, being... That is... What is called? What is the technical name?
Devotee (4): Quack.
Prabhupada: Quack! (laughter) (pronounces like "quark")
Devotees: Quack.
Prabhupada: A quack is not a medical man, however he may show all red bottles, white bottles. There is a Bengali proverb, naj jal yac curi tini ei daktar.(?) One stethoscope, naj(?), and some bottles, jala, and talking all nonsense, he becomes a doctor. That means the quack doctor, not a... Qualified doctor, he knows what is what. So naj jal yac curi tini ei daktar(?). In Bengali they say. And mostly in villages they go on like that. But of course, they have got some experience. I know in Allahabad there was a doctor, Dr. Kabhir. And because in my previous household life I was a chemist and druggist, I was supplying medicine, so he was my customer. This Dr. Kabhir was a compounder. Later on he practiced. So he had very, very big practice. He was my biggest customer. He was purchasing medicine like anything. But he had experience. He learned from an experienced doctor. He cannot be called a bogus, because whatever he learned, he was... But generally, one who is not a bona fide doctor, he is called a quack. So anything, experience required, not that you have to go to the medical college. If you are trained under a bona fide doctor, then also you can get the quality of a doctor. Similarly, the whole thing is tad-vijnanartham sa gurum evabhigacchet. One should go to the bona fide spiritual master to learn this transcendental science.
Thursday 17 April 2014
Mahaprabhu's advice to Brahmana Kurma
Śrī Caitanya Caritāmṛta Madhya 7.127
Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu replied, "Don't speak like that again. Better to remain at home and chant the holy name of Kṛṣṇa always.
It is not advisable in this Age of Kali to leave one's family suddenly, for people are not trained as proper brahmacārīs and gṛhasthas. Therefore Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu advised the brāhmaṇa not to be too eager to give up family life. It would be better to remain with his family and try to become purified by chanting the Hare Kṛṣṇa mahā-mantra regularly under the direction of a spiritual master. This is the instruction of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu. If this principle is followed by everyone, there is no need to accept sannyāsa. In the next verse Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu advises everyone to become an ideal householder by offenselessly chanting the Hare Kṛṣṇa mantra and teaching the same principle to everyone he meets.
Śrī Caitanya Caritāmṛta Madhya 7.128
"Instruct everyone to follow the orders of Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa as they are given in the Bhagavad-gītā and Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam. In this way become a spiritual master and try to liberate everyone in this land."
This is the sublime mission of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness. Many people come and inquire whether they have to give up family life to join the Society, but that is not our mission. One can remain comfortably in his residence. We simply request everyone to chant the mahā-mantra: Hare Kṛṣṇa, Hare Kṛṣṇa, Kṛṣṇa Kṛṣṇa, Hare Hare/ Hare Rāma, Hare Rāma, Rāma Rāma, Hare Hare. If one is a little literate and can read Bhagavad-gītā As It Is and Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, that is so much the better. These works are now available in an English translation and are done very authoritatively to appeal to all classes of men. Instead of living engrossed in material activities, people throughout the world should take advantage of this movement and chant the Hare Kṛṣṇa mahā-mantra at home with their families. One should also refrain from sinful activities — illicit sex, meat-eating, gambling and intoxication. Out of these four items, illicit sex is very sinful. Every person must get married...One can also produce many nice preparations to offer Kṛṣṇa — grain, fruit, flowers and milk. Why should one indulge in unnecessary meat-eating and maintain horrible slaughterhouses? What is the use of smoking and drinking tea and coffee? People are already intoxicated by material enjoyment, and if they indulge in further intoxication, what chance is there for self-realization? Similarly, one should not partake in gambling and unnecessarily agitate the mind. The real purpose of human life is to attain the spiritual platform and return to Godhead. That is the summum bonum of spiritual realization. The Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement is trying to elevate human society to the perfection of life by pursuing the method described by Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu in His advice to the brāhmaṇa Kūrma. That is, one should stay at home, chant the Hare Kṛṣṇa mantra and preach the instructions of Kṛṣṇa as they are given in the Bhagavad-gītā and Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam.
Śrī Caitanya Caritāmṛta Madhya 7.129
Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu further advised the brāhmaṇa Kūrma, "If you follow this instruction, your materialistic life at home will not obstruct your spiritual advancement. Indeed, if you follow these regulative principles, we will again meet here, or, rather, you will never lose My company."
This is an opportunity for everyone. If one simply follows the instructions of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, under the guidance of His representative, and chants the Hare Kṛṣṇa mantra, teaching everyone as far as possible the same principle, the contamination of the materialistic way of life will not even touch him. It does not matter whether one lives in a holy place like Vṛndāvana, Navadvīpa or Jagannātha Purī or in the midst of European cities, where the materialistic way of life is very prominent. If a devotee follows the instructions of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, he lives in the company of the Lord. Wherever he lives, he converts that place into Vṛndāvana and Navadvīpa. This means that materialism cannot touch him. This is the secret of success for one advancing in Kṛṣṇa consciousness.
Śrī Caitanya Caritāmṛta Madhya 7.130
At whosever house Śrī Caitanya accepted His alms by taking prasādam, He would convert the dwellers to His sańkīrtana movement and advise them just as He advised the brāhmaṇa named Kūrma.
The cult of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu is explained here very nicely. One who surrenders to Him and is ready to follow Him with heart and soul does not need to change his location. Nor is it necessary for one to change his status. One may remain a householder, a medical practitioner, an engineer or whatever. It doesn't matter. One only has to follow the instruction of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, chant the Hare Kṛṣṇa mahā-mantra and instruct relatives and friends in the teachings of the Bhagavad-gītā and Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam. One has to learn humility and meekness at home, following the instructions of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, and in that way one's life will be spiritually successful. One should not try to be an artificially advanced devotee, thinking, "I am a first-class devotee." Such thinking should be avoided. It is best not to accept any disciples. One has to become purified at home by chanting the Hare Kṛṣṇa mahā-mantra and preaching the principles enunciated by Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu. Thus one can become a spiritual master and be freed from the contamination of material life.
NOTE: Since most of the ISKCON Temples are under the care of devotees who are unfortunately deviating from Srila Prabhupada's final instructions, the above quotes clearly point out the immense transcendental benefit of practicing Krsna Consciousness at home.
All glories to Sri Guru and Sri Gauranga.
TRANSLATION:
PURPORT
Śrī Caitanya Caritāmṛta Madhya 7.128
TRANSLATION
PURPORT
Śrī Caitanya Caritāmṛta Madhya 7.129
TRANSLATION
PURPORT
Śrī Caitanya Caritāmṛta Madhya 7.130
TRANSLATION
PURPORT
NOTE: Since most of the ISKCON Temples are under the care of devotees who are unfortunately deviating from Srila Prabhupada's final instructions, the above quotes clearly point out the immense transcendental benefit of practicing Krsna Consciousness at home.
All glories to Sri Guru and Sri Gauranga.
The Goal of the Ritvik Acarya Sampradaya Association (RASA)
Hare Krsna. Please accept our humble obeisances. All glory to His Divine Grace, Srila A.C Bhaktivedanta Svami Prabhupada.
As many know already that there is an ongoing fight amongst all devotees regarding who is and isn't obeying the instructions of Srila Prabhupada in regards to management of His ISKCON Society. ISKCON will continue the way it is going today and the only way anything will change is through Divine intervention. Prabhupada says...
"Don't be disappointed. Kṛṣṇa will act through His movem...ent and kill them, these demons. How it will be done, that you cannot know now, but it will be done. Let us remain true soldiers. That's all. And if it is a fight, suppose we die in the fight. The fight means with vow, with determination either to gain victory or die. Because it is fight against māyā, why we shall be afraid of being killed? Where there is fight, one must know that "Either I am going to be killed or gain victory." Jīvo vā māro vā. Those who are devotees, either they live or they die—the same thing. While they live they are serving Kṛṣṇa; when they die they will serve Kṛṣṇa. Jīvo vā māro vā. Tyaktvā dehaṁ punar janma naiti mām eti (BG 4.9). He goes to Kṛṣṇa. (laughs) So what is the loss? We are working for Kṛṣṇa, and if we die we go to Kṛṣṇa. So what is the loss? Same business." Srila Prabhupada Evening Darsana February 15, 1977, Mayapura:
Due to this statement this tells me that there is absolutely no point to continue fighting within the ISKCON Society and simply let Krsna take care of these things. Sometimes we can convince some to take shelter of Srila Prabhupada by the teachings of guru-sadhu-sastra but most times it ends in an endless debate. Srila Prabhupada did not canvass a mass attack on His Godbrothers when they disobeyed Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura, He simply took up the instructions of His Guru Maharaja left India and came to the West and Founded ISKCON and due to this in every town and villiage throughout the world, the Holy Names of Hare Krsna, Hare Rama are chanted and glorified. Srila Prabhupada, on occasions, would speak of His Godbrothers disobedience and warned us to not associate with them so by His own example we wish to do the same. So with this in mind ISKCON has become a society of the cheated and the cheaters and we should not at all associate ourselves with these offenders." Milk touched by the lips of a serpent has poisonous effects" i.e infighting being one of them. They can not help any one on this path of bhakti until they surrender to the full instructions of His Divine Grace and accept their only position as servant of the servant, of the servant...
When one goes out on the street distributing books, prasad, the Holy Names etc the last thing we can do is state that there is all these discrepancies within ISKCON as in all reality who will take anyone seriously, or want to join a movement that is full of faults/fights/offenses etc. And if our distributing books etc awakens one to find out more where can they go. They can really only go to ISKCON. Basically we are simply preaching to send them to take shelter of the unqualified/unauthorized Guru and their followers. So the Ritvik Acarya Sampradaya Association (RASA) is a new Movement where the whole focus will be on farming communities, gurukuls, and prasad distribution and of course taking shelter of Srila Prabhupadas Books/Vani and the Holy Names of Lord Sri Krishna!
We do not care for opening Temples that cost millions and millions of dollars but will be emphasizing the great gain there is to be worshiping from home with programmes being held at the asramas of other grhasthas periodically. The farming communities will be for the purpose of cow protection, that will provide an abundance of milk for curd, ghee, yoghurt, cheese, and other dairy products. The lands will be used for growing fruits and vegetables and grains in order to maintain the prasad distribution cafes/restaurants throughout New Zealand, Basically all grhasthas will be self sufficient and all cafes will be taken care of via these farming communities. This is a long term plan and will take alot of devotees to work together to see this happen.
We are basing first here in Christchurch New Zealand and will be working hard to go door to door, markets, functions, the streets, any festivals etc to distribute Srila Prabhupada's books and prasad to help fund RASA. New Zealand is a beautiful country and a safe haven if there is to be another world war so anyone who desires to live here are more than welcome to come here and we will do all we can to accomadate them. Srila Prabhupada says when one is sincere Krsna sends all help.
So with all that has been said we ask that we no longer be involved with any more debates. We do not want others to try to convince us to surrender to ISKCON or what we are doing is not bona fide. Srila Prabhupada has asked us when we are unsure about a project or our service we are to approach our elder Godbrothers/sisters for advice. We have done this and we are supported and have the go ahead. So again please no longer tag us in debates, the discrepancies within ISKCON, Hare Krsna Society, Gaudiya Math, Prabhupadanugas. Simply surrender to Srila Prabhupada with the goal of pleasing Him.
Your servants
SrilaPrabhupada Siddhanta Das
Pancali devi dasi Acbsp.
As many know already that there is an ongoing fight amongst all devotees regarding who is and isn't obeying the instructions of Srila Prabhupada in regards to management of His ISKCON Society. ISKCON will continue the way it is going today and the only way anything will change is through Divine intervention. Prabhupada says...
"Don't be disappointed. Kṛṣṇa will act through His movem...ent and kill them, these demons. How it will be done, that you cannot know now, but it will be done. Let us remain true soldiers. That's all. And if it is a fight, suppose we die in the fight. The fight means with vow, with determination either to gain victory or die. Because it is fight against māyā, why we shall be afraid of being killed? Where there is fight, one must know that "Either I am going to be killed or gain victory." Jīvo vā māro vā. Those who are devotees, either they live or they die—the same thing. While they live they are serving Kṛṣṇa; when they die they will serve Kṛṣṇa. Jīvo vā māro vā. Tyaktvā dehaṁ punar janma naiti mām eti (BG 4.9). He goes to Kṛṣṇa. (laughs) So what is the loss? We are working for Kṛṣṇa, and if we die we go to Kṛṣṇa. So what is the loss? Same business." Srila Prabhupada Evening Darsana February 15, 1977, Mayapura:
Due to this statement this tells me that there is absolutely no point to continue fighting within the ISKCON Society and simply let Krsna take care of these things. Sometimes we can convince some to take shelter of Srila Prabhupada by the teachings of guru-sadhu-sastra but most times it ends in an endless debate. Srila Prabhupada did not canvass a mass attack on His Godbrothers when they disobeyed Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura, He simply took up the instructions of His Guru Maharaja left India and came to the West and Founded ISKCON and due to this in every town and villiage throughout the world, the Holy Names of Hare Krsna, Hare Rama are chanted and glorified. Srila Prabhupada, on occasions, would speak of His Godbrothers disobedience and warned us to not associate with them so by His own example we wish to do the same. So with this in mind ISKCON has become a society of the cheated and the cheaters and we should not at all associate ourselves with these offenders." Milk touched by the lips of a serpent has poisonous effects" i.e infighting being one of them. They can not help any one on this path of bhakti until they surrender to the full instructions of His Divine Grace and accept their only position as servant of the servant, of the servant...
When one goes out on the street distributing books, prasad, the Holy Names etc the last thing we can do is state that there is all these discrepancies within ISKCON as in all reality who will take anyone seriously, or want to join a movement that is full of faults/fights/offenses etc. And if our distributing books etc awakens one to find out more where can they go. They can really only go to ISKCON. Basically we are simply preaching to send them to take shelter of the unqualified/unauthorized Guru and their followers. So the Ritvik Acarya Sampradaya Association (RASA) is a new Movement where the whole focus will be on farming communities, gurukuls, and prasad distribution and of course taking shelter of Srila Prabhupadas Books/Vani and the Holy Names of Lord Sri Krishna!
We do not care for opening Temples that cost millions and millions of dollars but will be emphasizing the great gain there is to be worshiping from home with programmes being held at the asramas of other grhasthas periodically. The farming communities will be for the purpose of cow protection, that will provide an abundance of milk for curd, ghee, yoghurt, cheese, and other dairy products. The lands will be used for growing fruits and vegetables and grains in order to maintain the prasad distribution cafes/restaurants throughout New Zealand, Basically all grhasthas will be self sufficient and all cafes will be taken care of via these farming communities. This is a long term plan and will take alot of devotees to work together to see this happen.
We are basing first here in Christchurch New Zealand and will be working hard to go door to door, markets, functions, the streets, any festivals etc to distribute Srila Prabhupada's books and prasad to help fund RASA. New Zealand is a beautiful country and a safe haven if there is to be another world war so anyone who desires to live here are more than welcome to come here and we will do all we can to accomadate them. Srila Prabhupada says when one is sincere Krsna sends all help.
So with all that has been said we ask that we no longer be involved with any more debates. We do not want others to try to convince us to surrender to ISKCON or what we are doing is not bona fide. Srila Prabhupada has asked us when we are unsure about a project or our service we are to approach our elder Godbrothers/sisters for advice. We have done this and we are supported and have the go ahead. So again please no longer tag us in debates, the discrepancies within ISKCON, Hare Krsna Society, Gaudiya Math, Prabhupadanugas. Simply surrender to Srila Prabhupada with the goal of pleasing Him.
Your servants
SrilaPrabhupada Siddhanta Das
Pancali devi dasi Acbsp.
Tuesday 15 April 2014
Who is His Divine Grace Srila A.C Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada.
His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada was born in 1896 in Calcutta, India. He first met his spiritual master, Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Gosvami, in Calcutta in 1922. Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati, a prominent devotional scholar and the founder of sixty-four branches of Gaudiya Mathas (Vedic institutes), liked this educated young man and convinced him to dedicate his life to teaching Vedic knowledge in the Western world. Srila Prabhupada became his student, and eleven years later (1933) at Allahabad, he became his formally initiated disciple.
At their first meeting, in 1922, Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura requested Srila Prabhupada to broadcast Vedic knowledge through the English language. In the years that followed, Srila Prabhupada wrote a commentary on the Bhagavad-gita and in 1944, without assistance, started an English fortnightly magazine.
Recognizing Srila Prabhupada's philosophical learning and devotion, the Gaudiya Vaisnava Society honored him in 1947 with the title "Bhaktivedanta." In 1950, at the age of fifty-four, Srila Prabhupada retired from married life, and four years later he adopted the vanaprastha (retired) order to devote more time to his studies and writing. Srila Prabhupada traveled to the holy city of Vrndavana, where he lived in very humble circumstances in the historic medieval temple of Radha-Damodara.
There he engaged for several years in deep study and writing. He accepted the renounced order of life (sannyasa) in 1959. At Radha-Damodara, Srila Prabhupada began work on his life's masterpiece: a multivolume translation and commentary on the 18,000-verse Srimad-Bhagavatam (Bhagavata Purana). He also wrote Easy Journey to Other Planets.
After publishing three volumes of Bhagavatam, Srila Prabhupada came to the United States, in 1965, to fulfill the mission of his spiritual master. Since that time, His Divine Grace has written over sixty volumes of authoritative translations, commentaries and summary studies of the philosophical and religious classics of India.
In 1965, when he first arrived by freighter in New York City, Srila Prabhupada was practically penniless. It was after almost a year of great difficulty that he established the International Society for Krishna Consciousness in July of 1966. Under his careful guidance, the Society grew within a decade to a worldwide confederation of almost one hundred asramas, schools, temples, institutes and farm communities.
In 1968, Srila Prabhupada created New Vrndavana, an experimental Vedic community in the hills of West Virginia. Inspired by the success of New Vrndavana, then a thriving farm community of more than one thousand acres, his students founded several similar communities in the United States and abroad.
In 1972, His Divine Grace introduced the Vedic system of primary and secondary education in the West by founding the Gurukula school in Dallas, Texas. The school began with three children in 1972, and by the beginning of 1975 the enrollment had grown to one hundred fifty.
Srila Prabhupada also inspired the construction of a large international center at Sridhama Mayapur in West Bengal, India, which is also the site for a planned Institute of Vedic Studies. A similar project is the magnificent Krsna-Balarama Temple and International Guest House in Vrndavana, India. These are centers where Westerners can live to gain firsthand experience of Vedic culture.
Srila Prabhupada's most significant contribution, however, is his books. Highly respected by the academic community for their authoritativeness, depth and clarity, they are used as standard textbooks in numerous college courses. His writings have been translated into eleven languages. The Bhaktivedanta Book Trust, established in 1972 exclusively to publish the works of His Divine Grace, has thus become the world's largest publisher of books in the field of Indian religion and philosophy.
In the last ten years of his life, in spite of his advanced age, Srila Prabhupada circled the globe twelve times on lecture tours that took him to six continents. In spite of such a vigorous schedule, Srila Prabhupada continued to write prolifically. His writings constitute a veritable library of Vedic philosophy, religion, literature and culture.
Srila Prabhupada left us a veritable library of Vedic philosophy and culture. Highly respected by scholars for their authority, depth, and clarity, his books are used at colleges and universities around the world.
On the date of 14th November 1977 Srila Prabhupada left His physical Body and His Divine and merciful instructions for management of His ISKCON Movement was sadly neglected. Since then in the last 37 years ISKCON has become a Society of cheaters and the cheated. Many devotees have left and branched out creating their own factions trying to dedicate their lives according to the directives/standards taught by our beloved Spiritual Master, however these other branches have to failed to live up to Srila Prabhupada's legacy.
Unfortunately now ISKCON, Hare Krishna Society, Gaudiya Math, Prabhupadanugas are creating chaos among themselves by fighting each other, using Srila Prabhupada's teachings to win a debate rather than to execute them in their day to day lives. Srila Prabhupada asked us all to co-operate and due to the heavy influence of Maya this will not happen in the forseeable future. The purpose of RASA...Ritvik Acarya Sampradaya Association is to teach others to follow Srila Prabhupada's Divine teachings by following His instructions to chant 16 rounds of the Hare Krsna Maha Mantra, Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna, Hare Hare, Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare..and to strictly follow the four regulative principles which are as follows...
1) No meat eating, 2) No gambling, 3) No illicit sex, 4) No intoxication
While Srila Prabhupada was physically present His behavior was exemplary. No-one could fault Him and His mannerism was that of a complete Gentleman. Everything He did was solely in the service of His Guru Maharaja, Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura and our beloved Lord, Sri Krishna. He has no motivation for any personal desires and fully lived His life in dedication to the Absolute Truth. Our motivation is to simply live spreading the glories of Sri Guru and Sri Gauranga following in the footsteps of His Divine Grace by stepping outside of ISKCON, Hare Krishna Society, Gaudiya Math, Prabhupadanugas with the goal of teachings others the great gain there is to be found if one surrenders to the bona fide Guru, Srila Prabhupada, and sincerely/submissively take to this path of Bhakti Yoga.
We wish that all other Societies mentioned above the very best and we pray that one day you will all stop this infighting and remember your positions as the humble servant of the servant, of the servant, of the servant, a billion times the servant. We hope that our own behavior from here will inspire others to join and fully take shelter of Srila Prabhupada as His Ritvik disciple linking you to our bona fide and very strict disciplic succession via Srila Prabhupada's Ritvik Acarya Sampradaya Association...RASA...
Your humble servants at the Lotus Feet of our beloved Srila Prabhupada,
SrilaPrabhupada Siddhanta Das Acbsp
Pancali Devi Dasi Acbsp
At their first meeting, in 1922, Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura requested Srila Prabhupada to broadcast Vedic knowledge through the English language. In the years that followed, Srila Prabhupada wrote a commentary on the Bhagavad-gita and in 1944, without assistance, started an English fortnightly magazine.
Recognizing Srila Prabhupada's philosophical learning and devotion, the Gaudiya Vaisnava Society honored him in 1947 with the title "Bhaktivedanta." In 1950, at the age of fifty-four, Srila Prabhupada retired from married life, and four years later he adopted the vanaprastha (retired) order to devote more time to his studies and writing. Srila Prabhupada traveled to the holy city of Vrndavana, where he lived in very humble circumstances in the historic medieval temple of Radha-Damodara.
There he engaged for several years in deep study and writing. He accepted the renounced order of life (sannyasa) in 1959. At Radha-Damodara, Srila Prabhupada began work on his life's masterpiece: a multivolume translation and commentary on the 18,000-verse Srimad-Bhagavatam (Bhagavata Purana). He also wrote Easy Journey to Other Planets. After publishing three volumes of Bhagavatam, Srila Prabhupada came to the United States, in 1965, to fulfill the mission of his spiritual master. Since that time, His Divine Grace has written over sixty volumes of authoritative translations, commentaries and summary studies of the philosophical and religious classics of India.
In 1965, when he first arrived by freighter in New York City, Srila Prabhupada was practically penniless. It was after almost a year of great difficulty that he established the International Society for Krishna Consciousness in July of 1966. Under his careful guidance, the Society grew within a decade to a worldwide confederation of almost one hundred asramas, schools, temples, institutes and farm communities.
In 1968, Srila Prabhupada created New Vrndavana, an experimental Vedic community in the hills of West Virginia. Inspired by the success of New Vrndavana, then a thriving farm community of more than one thousand acres, his students founded several similar communities in the United States and abroad.
In 1972, His Divine Grace introduced the Vedic system of primary and secondary education in the West by founding the Gurukula school in Dallas, Texas. The school began with three children in 1972, and by the beginning of 1975 the enrollment had grown to one hundred fifty.
Srila Prabhupada also inspired the construction of a large international center at Sridhama Mayapur in West Bengal, India, which is also the site for a planned Institute of Vedic Studies. A similar project is the magnificent Krsna-Balarama Temple and International Guest House in Vrndavana, India. These are centers where Westerners can live to gain firsthand experience of Vedic culture.
Srila Prabhupada's most significant contribution, however, is his books. Highly respected by the academic community for their authoritativeness, depth and clarity, they are used as standard textbooks in numerous college courses. His writings have been translated into eleven languages. The Bhaktivedanta Book Trust, established in 1972 exclusively to publish the works of His Divine Grace, has thus become the world's largest publisher of books in the field of Indian religion and philosophy.
In the last ten years of his life, in spite of his advanced age, Srila Prabhupada circled the globe twelve times on lecture tours that took him to six continents. In spite of such a vigorous schedule, Srila Prabhupada continued to write prolifically. His writings constitute a veritable library of Vedic philosophy, religion, literature and culture.
Srila Prabhupada left us a veritable library of Vedic philosophy and culture. Highly respected by scholars for their authority, depth, and clarity, his books are used at colleges and universities around the world.
On the date of 14th November 1977 Srila Prabhupada left His physical Body and His Divine and merciful instructions for management of His ISKCON Movement was sadly neglected. Since then in the last 37 years ISKCON has become a Society of cheaters and the cheated. Many devotees have left and branched out creating their own factions trying to dedicate their lives according to the directives/standards taught by our beloved Spiritual Master, however these other branches have to failed to live up to Srila Prabhupada's legacy.
Unfortunately now ISKCON, Hare Krishna Society, Gaudiya Math, Prabhupadanugas are creating chaos among themselves by fighting each other, using Srila Prabhupada's teachings to win a debate rather than to execute them in their day to day lives. Srila Prabhupada asked us all to co-operate and due to the heavy influence of Maya this will not happen in the forseeable future. The purpose of RASA...Ritvik Acarya Sampradaya Association is to teach others to follow Srila Prabhupada's Divine teachings by following His instructions to chant 16 rounds of the Hare Krsna Maha Mantra, Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna, Hare Hare, Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare..and to strictly follow the four regulative principles which are as follows...
1) No meat eating, 2) No gambling, 3) No illicit sex, 4) No intoxication
While Srila Prabhupada was physically present His behavior was exemplary. No-one could fault Him and His mannerism was that of a complete Gentleman. Everything He did was solely in the service of His Guru Maharaja, Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura and our beloved Lord, Sri Krishna. He has no motivation for any personal desires and fully lived His life in dedication to the Absolute Truth. Our motivation is to simply live spreading the glories of Sri Guru and Sri Gauranga following in the footsteps of His Divine Grace by stepping outside of ISKCON, Hare Krishna Society, Gaudiya Math, Prabhupadanugas with the goal of teachings others the great gain there is to be found if one surrenders to the bona fide Guru, Srila Prabhupada, and sincerely/submissively take to this path of Bhakti Yoga.
We wish that all other Societies mentioned above the very best and we pray that one day you will all stop this infighting and remember your positions as the humble servant of the servant, of the servant, of the servant, a billion times the servant. We hope that our own behavior from here will inspire others to join and fully take shelter of Srila Prabhupada as His Ritvik disciple linking you to our bona fide and very strict disciplic succession via Srila Prabhupada's Ritvik Acarya Sampradaya Association...RASA...
Your humble servants at the Lotus Feet of our beloved Srila Prabhupada,
SrilaPrabhupada Siddhanta Das Acbsp
Pancali Devi Dasi Acbsp
RITVIK ACARYA SAMPRADAYA ASSOCIATION...(RASA)
Dear Devotees...Please accept our humble obeisances. All glory to His Divine Grace Om Vishnupada Paramahamsa Parivrajcarya Ashtotara Shata Sri Srimad A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Srila Prabhupada! It is our observation that due to all the controversy, hypocrisy, quarrel among devotees of ISKCON, Prabhupadanugas, the Hare Krishna society, ISKCON Bangalore, Gaudiya math, etc we wish to divorce ourselves from all these factions and according to Guru, Sadhu and Shastra create an independent society of like minded devotees under the one banner called RASA...Ritvik Acarya Sampradaya Association. Hence forward we want to be known and acknowledged as Ritvik devotees/disciples of his Divine Grace A.C Bhaktivedanta Swami Srila Prabhupada and no longer want to be labelled as X-ISKCON, Prabhupadanugas, Hare krishnas, etc when the plan fact is we are Ritvik Vaishnavs. Although even amongst other Rtvik devotees and Hare Krishnas alike the name "Ritvik" seems to have a lesser connotation as if it were a taboo word. We do not wish to debate with anyone on this matter and simply want ourselves and other like minded devotees to be recognized for who we really are, Ritvik disciples of Srila Prabhupada.
Srimad Bhagavatam, Canto 10, Chapter 2, TEXT 31
svayaṁ samuttīrya sudustaraṁ dyuman
bhavārṇavaṁ bhīmam adabhra-sauhṛdāḥ
bhavat-padāmbhoruha-nāvam atra te
nidhāya yātāḥ sad-anugraho bhavān
SYNONYMS
svayam—personally; samuttīrya—perfectly crossing; su-dustaram—which is very difficult to cross; dyuman—O Lord, who appear
exactly like the sun, illuminating the darkness of this world of ignorance;
bhava-arṇavam—the ocean of nescience; bhīmam—which is extremely fierce; adabhra-sauhṛdāḥ—devotees who are incessantly friendly to
the fallen souls; bhavat-pada-ambhoruha—Your lotus feet; nāvam—the boat for crossing; atra—in this world; te—they (the Vaiṣṇavas); nidhāya—leaving behind; yātāḥ—on to the ultimate
destination, Vaikuṇṭha; sat-anugrahaḥ—who are always kind and merciful to the
devotees; bhavān—You.
TRANSLATION
O Lord, who resemble the shining sun, You are always
ready to fulfill the desire of Your devotee, and therefore You are known as a
desire tree [vāñchā-kalpataru]. When ācāryas completely take shelter under
Your lotus feet in order to cross the fierce ocean of nescience, they leave
behind on earth the method by which they cross, and because You are very
merciful to Your other devotees, You accept this method to help them.
PURPORT
This statement reveals how the merciful ācāryas and the merciful Supreme Personality of Godhead
together help the serious devotee who wants to return home, back to Godhead. Śrī
Caitanya Mahāprabhu, in His teachings to Rūpa Gosvāmī, said:
brahmāṇḍa bhramite kona bhāgyavān jīva
guru-kṛṣṇa-prasāde pāya bhakti-latā-bīja
(Cc. Madhya 19.151)
One can achieve the seed of bhakti-latā, devotional
service, by the mercy of guru and Kṛṣṇa. The duty of
the guru is to find the
means, according to the time, the circumstances and the candidate, by which one
can be induced to render devotional service, which Kṛṣṇa accepts from a candidate who wants to be successful in
going back home, back to Godhead. After wandering throughout the universe, a
fortunate person within this material world seeks shelter of such a guru, or ācārya, who trains the devotee in the suitable
ways to render service according to the circumstances so that the Supreme
Personality of Godhead will accept the service. This makes it easier for the
candidate to reach the ultimate destination. The ācārya’s duty, therefore, is to find the means by which
devotees may render service according to references from śāstra. Rūpa
Gosvāmī, for example, in order to help subsequent devotees, published such
devotional books as Bhakti-rasāmṛta-sindhu. Thus it is the duty of the ācārya to publish books that
will help future candidates take up the method of service and become eligible to
return home, back to Godhead, by the mercy of the Lord. In our Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement, this same path is being
prescribed and followed. Thus the devotees have been advised to refrain from
four sinful activities—illicit sex, intoxication, meat-eating and gambling—and
to chant sixteen rounds a day. These are bona fide instructions. Because in the
Western countries constant chanting is not possible, one should not artificially
imitate Haridāsa Ṭhākura, but should follow this
method. Kṛṣṇa will accept a devotee who strictly
follows the regulative principles and the method prescribed in the various books
and literatures published by the authorities. The ācārya gives the suitable method for crossing the
ocean of nescience by accepting the boat of the Lord’s lotus feet, and if this
method is strictly followed, the followers will ultimately reach the
destination, by the grace of the Lord. This method is called ācārya-sampradāya. It is therefore said, sampradāya-vihīnā ye mantrās te niṣphalā matāḥ (Padma Purāṇa). The ācārya-sampradāya is strictly bona fide. Therefore one
must accept the ācārya-sampradāya; otherwise one’s endeavor will
be futile. Śrīla Narottama dāsa Ṭhākura therefore
sings:
tāṅdera caraṇa sevi bhakta sane vāsa
janame janame
haya, ei abhilāṣa
One must worship the lotus feet of the ācārya and live within the
society of devotees. Then one’s endeavor to cross over nescience will surely be
successful
Srimad Bhagavatam, Canto 10, Chapter 2, TEXT 31
svayaṁ samuttīrya sudustaraṁ dyuman
bhavārṇavaṁ bhīmam adabhra-sauhṛdāḥ
bhavat-padāmbhoruha-nāvam atra te
nidhāya yātāḥ sad-anugraho bhavān
SYNONYMS
svayam—personally; samuttīrya—perfectly crossing; su-dustaram—which is very difficult to cross; dyuman—O Lord, who appear
exactly like the sun, illuminating the darkness of this world of ignorance;
bhava-arṇavam—the ocean of nescience; bhīmam—which is extremely fierce; adabhra-sauhṛdāḥ—devotees who are incessantly friendly to
the fallen souls; bhavat-pada-ambhoruha—Your lotus feet; nāvam—the boat for crossing; atra—in this world; te—they (the Vaiṣṇavas); nidhāya—leaving behind; yātāḥ—on to the ultimate
destination, Vaikuṇṭha; sat-anugrahaḥ—who are always kind and merciful to the
devotees; bhavān—You.
TRANSLATION
O Lord, who resemble the shining sun, You are always
ready to fulfill the desire of Your devotee, and therefore You are known as a
desire tree [vāñchā-kalpataru]. When ācāryas completely take shelter under
Your lotus feet in order to cross the fierce ocean of nescience, they leave
behind on earth the method by which they cross, and because You are very
merciful to Your other devotees, You accept this method to help them.
PURPORT
This statement reveals how the merciful ācāryas and the merciful Supreme Personality of Godhead
together help the serious devotee who wants to return home, back to Godhead. Śrī
Caitanya Mahāprabhu, in His teachings to Rūpa Gosvāmī, said:
brahmāṇḍa bhramite kona bhāgyavān jīva
guru-kṛṣṇa-prasāde pāya bhakti-latā-bīja
(Cc. Madhya 19.151)
One can achieve the seed of bhakti-latā, devotional
service, by the mercy of guru and Kṛṣṇa. The duty of
the guru is to find the
means, according to the time, the circumstances and the candidate, by which one
can be induced to render devotional service, which Kṛṣṇa accepts from a candidate who wants to be successful in
going back home, back to Godhead. After wandering throughout the universe, a
fortunate person within this material world seeks shelter of such a guru, or ācārya, who trains the devotee in the suitable
ways to render service according to the circumstances so that the Supreme
Personality of Godhead will accept the service. This makes it easier for the
candidate to reach the ultimate destination. The ācārya’s duty, therefore, is to find the means by which
devotees may render service according to references from śāstra. Rūpa
Gosvāmī, for example, in order to help subsequent devotees, published such
devotional books as Bhakti-rasāmṛta-sindhu. Thus it is the duty of the ācārya to publish books that
will help future candidates take up the method of service and become eligible to
return home, back to Godhead, by the mercy of the Lord. In our Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement, this same path is being
prescribed and followed. Thus the devotees have been advised to refrain from
four sinful activities—illicit sex, intoxication, meat-eating and gambling—and
to chant sixteen rounds a day. These are bona fide instructions. Because in the
Western countries constant chanting is not possible, one should not artificially
imitate Haridāsa Ṭhākura, but should follow this
method. Kṛṣṇa will accept a devotee who strictly
follows the regulative principles and the method prescribed in the various books
and literatures published by the authorities. The ācārya gives the suitable method for crossing the
ocean of nescience by accepting the boat of the Lord’s lotus feet, and if this
method is strictly followed, the followers will ultimately reach the
destination, by the grace of the Lord. This method is called ācārya-sampradāya. It is therefore said, sampradāya-vihīnā ye mantrās te niṣphalā matāḥ (Padma Purāṇa). The ācārya-sampradāya is strictly bona fide. Therefore one
must accept the ācārya-sampradāya; otherwise one’s endeavor will
be futile. Śrīla Narottama dāsa Ṭhākura therefore
sings:
tāṅdera caraṇa sevi bhakta sane vāsa
janame janame
haya, ei abhilāṣa
One must worship the lotus feet of the ācārya and live within the
society of devotees. Then one’s endeavor to cross over nescience will surely be
successful
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