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EDITORIAL December 30, 1998 VNN2761 See Related VNN Stories Bhaktin Catherine's Rittvik Initiation BY MAHALAKSMI DASI EDITORIAL, Dec 30 (VNN) — Dear Bhaktin Catherine, All glories to Srila Prabhupada, all glories to Sri guru and Gauranga. Please accept my humble obeisances, please accept also my blessings. I am curious if you have ever seen the letter which Srila Prabhupada wrote in December of 1969 (12-3-69) It is in the book of letters, here is an excerpt from it: "Next January there will be an examination on this Bhagavad Gita. Papers will be sent by me to all centers, and those securing the minimum passing grade will be given the title as Bhaktishastri. Similarly, another examination will be held on Lord Chaitanya's Appearance Day in February, 1970, and it will be upon Srimad Bhagavatam and Bhagavad Gita. Those passing will get the title of Bhaktibaibhava. Another examination will be held sometimes in 1971 on the four books, Bhag. Gita, Srimad Bhag. Teachings of Lord Chaitanya and Nectar of Devotion. One who will pass this examination will be awarded with the title of Bhaktivedanta. I want that all of my spiritual sons and daughters will inherit this title of Bhaktivedanta so that the family transcendental diploma of Bhaktivedanta will continue through the generations. Those possessing the title of Bhaktivedanta will be allowed to initiate disciples. Maybe by 1975, all of my disciples will be allowed to initiate and increase the numbers of the generations. That is my program. So we should not simply publish these books for reading by outsiders but our students must be well versed in all of our books so that we can be prepared to defeat all opposing parties in the matter of self-realization. Please keep me informed as to the progress of the prasadam program. I hope that this finds you in good health. Your ever well-wisher," The reason that I am offering you this reference is that you can consider the fact that Srila Prabhupada DID INDEED present something new to this western country, which has now come to be termed "ritvik initiation". I personally believe that he had this in mind back in 1969, when he wrote this letter, and the final letter, (called "The Final Order" summarizing how things were to continue in the future, also follows this same line of reasoning. More and more there is evidence that the persons who are considering themselves to be "guru", and take persons back home to the spiritual world, are charlatans in disguise of sadhus. Several years ago, one very dear disciple of my Spiritual master, Srila Prabhupada, named Sudama, lived in Badger. He was a sannyasi at one time. He left his body, about two years ago, in L.A. While living in Badger, (just prior to leaving his body) he spent some time with my husband, and revealed some very sad truths about the final days in Vrndavan prior to Srila Prabhupada's departure. The day before Srila Prabhupada departed, Sudama was preparing to leave; he was told to stay because "tomorrow we are going to split up the world--aren't you going to stay and get a piece of the pie?" His response was that he'd rather go out and engage in his homosexual nonsense, (he died of Aids) than do what these persons were about to do. Sudama died a glorious death; my husband and I were in L. A. when he passed. He was directly across the street from the deities, had been having their darshan daily, and left his body surrounded by kirtan and Vaisnavas. All the proper ceremonies were performed for him. I personally had a dream, sometime after his departure, of him standing next to Srila Prabhupada, and the two of them, as well as four or five other devotees whom I didn't recognize, looking down on me as I stood in the bottom of a shallow well. (I am still sunk in that deep well of material life). I believe that there are certainly persons, perhaps yourself, that would do better in their spiritual progress with an individual who is embodied physically, able to chastise them for blunders, push the disciple more immediately toward higher levels, etc. However, in view of the fact that there are two documents supporting Srila Prabhupada's disciples initiating ON HIS BEHALF, I am inclined to think that he wanted this system. I do not see how you can fault Kapindra for his strong faith that you ARE a disciple of A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami. If I was in his position, certainly I would agree, the "annulment" has nothing to do with me (or him) , if you reject the presence of the bona fide guru, Srila Prabhupada, that is your choice, and no one else has any need to be involved in that. Personally, I don't believe that he "half-agreed", I would like to hear his side of that accusation. If you decide to take shelter of a different individual as diksha guru, I wish you the best in your spiritual progress. Please try to go deep into your heart and ask if you are doing it for the sake of being accepted in the realm of a materialistic society, which operates only in the parameters of time, space, and "you scratch my back, I'll scratch your. Hoping this meets you in the best of health, your servant, Mahalaksmi Dasi See Related VNN Stories | Comment on this Story This story URL: http://www.vnn.org/editorials/ET9812/ET30-2761.html
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