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| EDITORIAL November 9, 1998 VNN2480 Let's Dispense With Inflammatory Rhetoric BY RADHA KRISHNA DAS EDITORIAL, Nov 9 (VNN) — Some Prabhus have admonished others about speaking politely, and of course, the rule goes with everybody, and so I kindly request for everyone to quit using inflammatory words like "heresy." These kind of "buzz words" only incite prejudice, and have no factual merit, which will be proven shortly. This particular accusation of heresy is not an offense to reform devotees, but to Srila Prabhupada himself, because reform devotees are not interested in inventing some concoction, but are only interested in the words and orders of Prabhupada himself. Whatever Srila Prabhupada orders or instructs is not heresy or concoction, and likewise, those devotees who are only trying to follow the desire of Prabhupada are not heretics either. So we wish devotees would kindly dispense with inflammatory rhetoric and conduct the discussion like gentlemen. The Reform devotees are arguing in a gentlemanly fashion, as they state in the beginning of their thesis, that there is no need of conspiracy theories, but the only aim of the discussion is what Prabhupada said and what he wanted. This collective discussion should not result in hatred, rather it should result in positive exchanges, because we are all trying to enlighten each other on the essence of Srila Prabhupada's true vani and final desires for the process of initiation. We should feel glad upon receiving any enlightenment from fellow godbrothers, and if we are not engladdened, then perhaps we are harboring separate interests. This brings me around to the point of this paper. Drutakarma prabhu talked of some kind of banishment for "those who don't follow Srila Prabhupada's words." I read Krishna Kant's reply to Drutakarma, and wish to add a few points. When I study the style of both authors, I conclude that Drutakarma das unfortunately often resorts to the childish rhetoric of name calling. I say this because kids will repeat silly names to each other, while presenting absurd reasoning and no proof. You can almost hear the proverbial sandbox "nah-nanna-na-nah" prattle of children in the background. He expects the reader to blindly accept his fallacious heresy premise with no proof, and then we should swallow wholesale the rest of the thesis based on false premises. His points are made with intellectual intimidation that seems to say that if you don't agree with him, then you automatically fall into the abyss of stupidity. And he writes like he has effortlessly closed the case, while never addressing essential points made by reform devotees. On the other hand, Krishna Kant Prabhu does not stoop to childish name calling, but conducts the debate in a logical and Vaisnava fashion. I have to agree that the class of 75 in Mayapur does encourage all disciples to be siksa gurus, by the millions, as does the purport to the "amara ajnaya guru" verse, and I also agree with Krishna Kant about not seeing the word "initiate" or "diksa" anywhere in the transcript. The assumption that he meant for so many disciples to be regular diksa gurus is only wishful thinking. I say this with authority, as there are many quotes to substantiate: "You can cheat, but it will not be effective. Just see our Gaudiya Matha. Everyone wanted to be guru. A small temple and "guru." What kind of Guru?" - and - "Our mission is to serve, bhakta vishesha, and live with devotees. Not that you take the place of guru. That is all nonsense. Very DANGEROUS, then everything will be SPOILED. As soon as you become ambitious to take the place of GURU -gurusu narah matih. That is material disease." (4/21/77, one month before May 28) I also agree that it is a ridiculous assumption made by Drutakarma das, that "the July 9th letter was not from Prabhupada," when it has his signature, as if, Srila Prabhupada just whimsically signed his secretary's concoction and orders it to be sent all over the world. I have to say that anyone who falls for this absurdity is, well, I will not engage in childish name calling, right after I have admonished others for doing so. Also his big argument is that the letter does not mention after departure. Exactly, so where is your authority to terminate his authorized system upon departure? Srila Prabhupada never said to terminate, but said in his legal will to continue without change. I do believe that intelligent devotees can understand this clear point. Others who still argue, are still stumbling in the clouds of childish rhetoric. Drutakarma das makes this emphatic request- "The most important statements that we must consider are those statements in which Srila Prabhupada directly and in his own words states what he intended to happen after his departure from this world." And "We should let Prabhupada speak directly on this issue and listen to him, and him only." VERY TRUE! I would like to suggest that there are two categories here: 1. General quotes on the nature of Guru, - and 2. Prabhupada's direct words of reference on the imminent historical event, that is, what was to happen with the process of initiations after departure. 1. The first category of general quotes from Srila Prabhupada are largely about siksa gurus, especially in the the "amara ajnaya guru" purports, and unless they mention the words "initiation" and "diksa" in the same sentence, then we cannot directly infer that they authorize any kind of diksa siddhanta. We all agree that Srila Prabhupada wanted us all to be siksa gurus, "even a child can do." But what is not agreed, is how, and who, Srila Prabhupada wanted to be full diksa guru, or a guru who accepts worship as good as God. This is the issue causing all the stir in our society, which is so many gurus receiving worship good as God, and then disrupting the whole society, especially their disciples, by revealing that they were not up to standard. So, the arguing of these quotes are not so much helping the main problem. The following quotes may shed more light on the issue, hopefully, because they will be shown to have direct reference. 2. This second category of quotes are those of direct reference to the historical event mentioned above, and these quotes, as Drutakarma das says, are the ones that "are the most important and we must consider." The following are just a few of the many we find: A. "They did not even consider common sense - that if guru maharaja had wanted to APPOINT somebody as acharya, why he did not say? He said so many things and this point he missed? The main point? And they insisted on it. They declared, 'Come on unfit persons to become acharya,' then another man comes, then another, then another. So better to remain a foolish person perpetually to be directed by guru maharaja. So that is perfection. And as soon as it was announced that, 'Guru maharaja is dead, now I am so advanced that I can kill my guru and become [guru]'." (CONV 8/15/76) Note- Srila Prabhupada did not say these things to make interesting conversation, but to instruct us on how to avoid the pitfalls of what the Gaudiya Math did, and not to repeat history. This quote directly refers to the time of departure and directly parallels our situation, that we should use our "common sense" and examine the fact that Srila Prabhupada would have said if he wanted to appoint acharyas. He would have talked on it for days, (like TKG said that he would) not just a few scattered words on a hissing tape which is under suspicion. He would not have missed this vital point, which is factually the "main point." We should know that he wanted us to not to repeat history and perpetrate this "come on unfit persons, become acharya, then another, then another." This statement is a conclusive, DEFINITIVE quote on how he did NOT want a society of hundreds of persons to artificially assume the post of acharya. B. "The result is that now everyone is claiming to be [guru] acharya even though they may be kanistha adhikary [spiritual neophytes], with no ability to preach. In some camps, the [guru] acharya is being changed three times a year. Therefore, we may not commit the same MISTAKE in our ISKCON camp." (4/28/74) Note- Here Srila Prabhupada is directly warning us and telling us NOT to make the same MISTAKE. Which is, to open the floodgates for unauthorized people to "claim to be acharya." In other words, a bona fide diksa guru can only be authorized by his predecessor guru, and him only, as confirmed in Cc. C. (July 19) Srila Prabhupada instructs Tamala Krishna, "continue to be a ritvik and act on my charge". Note: If Srila Prabhupada had already appointed some successors, (or regular gurus) then why would he say, "continue to be a ritvik"?, which is a few months later? This July 19th statement alone, totally proves that- 1. Srila Prabhupada never appointed them "regular gurus, on my order," not at the time of the May 28th conversation. 2. Otherwise, why did he say "continue to be ritvik" on July 19th? He did say "WHEN I order," but this does not mean that he actually ordered them. This is an obvious fact we all are coming to understand, that after all the falldowns, of the 7 of 11, that they were never ordered to be regular gurus. 3. It only proves that he wanted them to "continue to be ritvik," and NEVER SAID at any point in time thereafter that the ritvik order was terminated. D. The most direct words by Srila Prabhupada himself on the issue is most direct answer we have in our records to the most direct question of how initiations of the future are to be conducted. This question was point blank, and the answer couldn't have been any more direct- Satsvarupa das Goswami: Then our next question concerns initiations in the future, particularly when you are NO LONGER WITH US. we want to know how first and second initiations would be conducted? Srila Prabhupada: Yes. I shall recommend some of you. After this is settled up I shall recommend some of you to act as officiating acaryas. Tamal Krishna Goswami: Is that called ritvik acarya? Srila Prabhupada: Ritvik. Yes.' Note: And after this very concise answer, still Drutakarma has the audacity to lambaste the sincere disciples of Srila Prabhupada for believing in these direct words of Srila Prabhupada. An intelligent devotee cannot make any sense in his rantings. Yes Drutakarma das, we will "let Prabhupada speak directly on this issue and listen to him, and him only." Just as you requested. You can rant all you want, but it will never change the eternal fact that Prabhupada answered this very direct question of Satsvarupa das Goswami very concisely and directly, saying directly that his plans for initiations in the future was for officiating acharyas (which he confirmed to be ritviks), and then made the same thing an official policy with the July 9th letter, which was HIS order, made directly and definitely made BY HIM, and him alone, and which has no termination clause therein or thereafter, and it was confirmed to continue by his legal will. We think that it is you who are making the real insult and Guru aparadha to Srila Prabhupada, and not others, and we are very concerned for your spiritual well being, and pray that you change your disastrous course, for your own sake, and for the sake of the readers who are bewildered by your rhetoric. Thank you. Begging to remain, Your simple servant. NEWS DESK | EDITORIALS | TOP |
