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EDITORIAL January 18, 1999 VNN2874 See Related VNN Stories Officiating Acharya BY JEEVANMUKTA DASA EDITORIAL, Jan 18 (VNN) — While in Vrindavan during Srila Prabhupada's Disappearance day festival 1998, I was finally exposed to the 'Ritvik argument' rather forcefully. A team of six Indian devotees from Bangalore temple tried to win me over to their camp. I was surprised by their intensity and rather aggrieved. Bright young boys, having taken the first bold step of joining Iskcon, had now taken a second and perhaps misguided bold step. The next three days I spend examining this issue, for I admit I was more than a little shaken, not by the controversy, rather by its potent domino effect. I studied the 'appointment' tape transcript, as well as the letter' for some clue and as some relevant points did surface, I though I'll share it. A group of senior disciples disturbed by the eventuality of Srila Prabhupada's weakened condition and the uncertainty of the issue of eventual leadership of Iskcon, approached Srila Prabhupada and carefully questioned him. The question itself is note worthy. A specific word used,(especially) perhaps merely for the sake of form, breaks the question into two. "What about initiation etc. especially when you are no longer with us?" The two segments of the question where: (a) While you are in this weakened state, immobilized in Vrindavan. (b) While you are no longer with us. Srila Prabhupada answered that he would appoint 11 officiating Acharyas. This was immediately followed up by one of the Seniors clarification. He introduces the terminology "ritvik" and asked Srila Prabhupada whether officiating Acharya would refer to ritvik? Readers would please note the word 'ritvik' was introduced by a disciple, while Srila Prabhupada himself chose to call this curious post "Officiating Acharya". Readers are also reminder that "ritvik" was not an unknown term to Srila Prabhupada. The disciple who introduced the term seems to have had rather fixed ideas associated with this term or title. We are not sure whether Srila Prabhupada subscribed to the same ideology (conveyed by this terminology ritvik) as the said disciple. Sanskrit being a complicated language, with words meaning vastly differing in varying contexts, plus Srila Prabhupada's preference to use a self-coined terminology, 'officiating Acharya' and his irritation points to the fact that he did not care for this term. Readers may discern that in fact both these terms (a) Officiating Acharya (b) ritvik, conveyed two different ideas. Let us examine them. The first one 'officiating Acharya' was Srila Prabhupada's, who combined two conflicting words to coin this new term. Readers be cautioned, 'Officiating Acharya' may convey a new idea. Perhaps on the line of "Achintya bada abada tattva". Simultaneously yes and no. For what can be more negating that officiating and Acharya? While officiating conveys the meaning of a clerk or priest, the other word, 'Acharya', conveys complete authority. Srila Prabhupada perhaps had his reasons to come up with this new term. Disciples familiar with his mood may readily agree. After all the most crucial decision was being made and time-scale had ceased to be dependable. The term 'ritvik' was introduced by a disciple as mentioned earlier. And again it must be understood, this term conveyed to him and perhaps his group a specific meaning. Where they derived their meaning is not known. Yet, just as distinctly as 'officiating Acharya' meant something to Srila Prabhupada so did 'ritvik' mean to the said disciple and his group. It seems 'ritvik' to the disciple and his group meant 'priest' and nothing else. Thus officiating as a priest for Srila Prabhupada was what the disciples interpreted. While Srila Prabhupada himself may have had something else on mind. When pressed, Srila Prabhupada was mildly irritated and reluctantly agreed to the term Ritvik being similar or same as Officiating Acharyas. It is not difficult to understand why Srila Prabhupada gave in to this term. After all, he was still around to guide personally, and sometimes it is just to difficult to push through an idea as subtle as 'officiating Acharya' through a whole mountain of crowding disciples. In any case, the appointment letter conveys the term 'ritvik' and here the reason given too may not be entirely Srila Prabhupada's. The letter mentions the fact that, what formerly was carried out by the temple presidents, will now be done by the newly appointed 'ritviks'. In other words, the disciples understanding of the term 'ritvik' as a officiating priest, was firmly established. It may not have been exactly What Srila Prabhupada intended. Okay, I can see I may be confusing people, so let me explain. Srila Prabhupada intended to appoint Officiating Acharyas. Not ritviks. Let me explain the difference. Ritviks specifically means priests. No power no potency. So does officiating. However, 'officiating Acharya' is mule! It conveys both. Perhaps a period of officiating, followed by full and automatic transition to Acharyaship. In other words, a period of trial followed by the real thing. Or mentoring. Or change of the guards. Appointing the heirs. All over the world, outgoing rulers, CEO's often allow the heir apparent to take over the reins fully. Yet, the outgoing ruler or authority continues to provide guidance from behind and remains the titular head until the end. In the case of a disciplic succession, matters are slightly more complicated as the new appointee cannot become Acharyas as long as the current Acharya was alive. This is Spiritual etiquette whether it involves Moses to Joshua, Elijah to Elisha or Siddhanta Saraswati To Srila Prabhupada or Srila Prabhupada to Newly appointed eleven, 'not here not there, officiating Acharyas'. This dilemma is age old. It seems futile to fight it. Thus, it can be seen the term 'officiating Acharya' does convey a certain 'achintya bada abada tattva! And, has to be recognized as vintage Srila Prabhupada. It is a pity he was muscled into dropping it, by our editor in chief! What complicated matters was the term 'ritviks' and the understood meaning of the word. An appalling lack of intelligence seems unfortunately evident. For, the disciples inadvertently, thought that they were mere priests, officiating for Srila Prabhupada. They did not see themselves as heir appointees (at least the think tank did not). What Srila Prabhupada intended was that they will commence initiate disciples, though while he was still alive, the disciples thus initiated would be registered in his book as his disciples, but eventually when he passes away, the officiating Acharyas would automatically become Acharyas eligible to accept their own disciples. That was the intended arrangement. What actually happened was this. The 'ritvik' ideology did not permit this automatic transition. A priest does not become an Acharya. He cannot officiate for someone who has passed away. Readers, the mindset of the disciples involved has to be clearly understood for these subtle mysteries to be understood. Yet, no other 'final order was forthcoming. So, they quietly usurped the post of the Acharyas that all along actually belonged to them! Of course, it involved minor deception, which is why the whole lot of them becomes utterly miserable when so accused! My advice is rise, the eleven chosen ones, put an end to this crippling infighting. Your humble servant, Jeevanmukta Dasa Gandhinagar, Gujarat nrjames@hotmail.com See Related VNN Stories | Comment on this Story This story URL: http://www.vnn.org/editorials/ET9901/ET18-2874.html
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