© 1998 VNN
|
EDITORIAL January 6, 1999 VNN2797 See Related VNN Stories Facts Or Fiction BY GAURIDASA PANDITA DASA EDITORIAL, Jan 6 (VNN) — Srila Prabhupada's Statements on Sridhara Maharaja Dear Gopa Kumara Prabhu, please accept my respectful obeisances. All glories to Sri Guru & Gouranga! In your response to my response to Tripurari Swami you said, "Please note that this in no way tries to be a comprehensive reply to the article" and you are right on this point. You did not use any quotes at all to back up your claims. If you have the exact quote from Sridhara Maharaja about his ritvik appointment why don't you use it? Then the Vaisnavas can judge for themselves what he actually meant. I don't have the book, "Sermons... but if you don't come up with the exact quotes, I will. Also, I would like to see the proof of the much talked about allegation that Srila Prabhupada wanted us to go to Sridhara Maharaja for philosophy, especially since their are major differences such as the origin of the soul and how many rounds we need to chant. My understanding is that Srila Prabhupada did respect Sridhara Maharaja despite their differences but only wanted him consulted on the philosophical points dealing with the Samadhi preparations. We need the whole conversation so we don't take it out of context. Srila Prabhupada said so many times that all of the answers we need are in his books; and if we read the books we will find them. Of course we need to chant nicely to better understand . Here is my response to your numbered statements: (1) I don't have the book with me now but I recall Sridhara Maharaja saying that Govinda Maharaja would be his ritvik 'after' his departure. Can someone with the book send us the exact quotes? (2) I've heard this before from your side that we should go to Sridhara Maharaja for 'questions of philosophy' but where is it on tape? or letter? Where's the facts? It's been taken out of context if it was said at all. (3) No Srila Prabhupada didn't want the devotees to go To Sridhara Maharaja after his departure for 'questions of philosophy' save and except for questions on the Samadhi. Tamal KG sent a few devotees to him because they wanted to be appointed as gurus and they knew they would get the answers they wanted. They also twisted his answers. And again I'd like you to use the quotes and not have everybody look for them. (4) I never said that all of the Gaudiya Math members were condemned! Just the one's who deviated from Bhaktisidhanta's orders. I wouldn't say the Gaudiya Math mistakes were nothing and ISKCON's are worse. Both missions have had plenty of mistakes. The devotees who left ISKCON to go to the Gaudiya Math are always criticizing ISKCON. Some of it vicious and some true. They have criticized Srila Prabhupada and minimized his position. Tripurari Swami wrote in his magazine that ISKCON's mistake is they over-emphasize Srila Prabhupada. You can never do that! Srila Prabhupada said that his Godbrothers were satisfied with a little temple but had no ability to preach and spread Krsna Consciousness. (5) I am part of ISKCON. I have never been kicked out! I go to the ISKCON Temple everyday. I guess you haven't been around an ISKCON Temple for awhile. The GBC have no potency to do anything because they have deviated from the orders of the spiritual master. If they kicked out all of the ritviks there wouldn't hardly be anybody left and they would have more lawsuits than they could handle. As long as a ritvik is nice he/she can go to the temples. Living there could be more problematic these days but we are working on reforming that situation now. Believe it or not there are alot of ritvik believers living in the temples undercover. They don't want to be kicked out so they stay quite. That is unfortunate but better than leaving altogether. The day will come soon when the house where the whole world can live will be so. Yes, Srila Prabhupada always invited his Godbrothers to cooperate with him but none did! The GBC have made so many mistakes it's ridiculous; they should be replaced. I say the solutions will come not from the institution necessarily, but from Srila Prabhupada, not Sridhara Maharaja with all respect, or anyone else. You have admitted that the GBC haven't followed Srila Prabhupada's instructions; we agree on something! Srila Prabhupada never sent you over there either! But if that's what you want; go for it. I hope you become fully Krsna Conscious whatever path you follow. Just avoid minimizing Srila Prabhupada whatever you do. I didn't misunderstand the fact that Srila Prabhupada ordered the ritvik initiation as you allege. I was standing 3 feet away from him when he did it! He talked about it for months before his 'passing'! It's documented in black and white in the July 9th 1977 letter to all Temples and GBC's. Srila Prabhupada had the greatest Vaisnava etiquette and showed respect to Sridhara Maharaja and the others. At the same time he warned us to avoid them in writing. So far you have shown no proof of anything you have said. Let's see some quotes! As far as quotes about the Gaudiya Math it's not just a couple. It's a lot. If you want more contact PADA. You will see soon that the most intelligent devotees are accepting the fact that Srila Prabhupada ordered a ritvik initiation system as did Sridhara Maharaja before their passing. You will see ISKCON accept it within your lifetime. Mark my words. Hoping this meets you well, Your servant, Gauridasa Pandita Dasa About the Author | Other VNN Stories by this Author See Related VNN Stories | Comment on this Story This story URL: http://www.vnn.org/editorials/ET9901/ET06-2797.html
NEWS DESK | EDITORIALS | TOP |
