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EDITORIAL January 25, 1999 VNN2909 See Related VNN Stories Tweaking The Ritvik Theorem BY J. M. DASA EDITORIAL, Jan 25 (VNN) — Ritvik-vadis have a valid argument after all. Essential their argument is to 'cash in' on Srila Prabhupada's Jagat Guru stature. Clearly, we cannot hope to find another personality of his caliber in the near future. Perhaps even for the next ten thousand years. Therefore, what they are trying to say is that ISKCON needs to refocus on its Founder-Acharya for a least a little while longer. Considering the fact that immediately after his demise, the eleven 'whatever' Acharyas burdened the planet with their collective divinity, which, apart from creating an intolerable situation for the god-brothers, managed to eclipse the Founder Acharya as well. Besides, before the god-brothers could gather their wits, grand disciples had stealthily wormed their way into positions of power, while they (god-brothers) where left distributing candy sticks at the stoplights. The Founder-Acharya too was conveniently fibreglass-ed and left to gather dust in a corner. And, if he cared to turn his head around, he would have been surprised to see well groomed and effulgent (scrubbed) Acharyas firmly ensconced on Vyasa Asanas barely half an inch lower than his, delicately sniffing roses, nibbling on peeled grapes, smartly quipping vedanta (that would have bewilder a parrot), followed by hordes of fawning disciples. Perhaps the world has yet to see a more efficient 'change of guards'; perhaps the world has yet to see a more shameless one. Of course, that was only the beginning. It was soon followed by a meteor shower. Blazing trails of falling Acharyas ejected off the Vyasa Asanas! A curious phenomenon indeed and when examined revealed the mystery as to why sadhus are generally depicted sitting on a 'bed of nails'. No, it's not to show the world that they are ashtanga yogis, rather it serves essentially to 'keep off' the monkeys! Thus, I am glad the Ritvik-vadi have finally found their voice. And while they are busy finding their feet, framing their policies, guided as it where, by fiery rhetoric and yes, Amogalila's dreams, a word of caution. Take your time people, try not to become a sahajiya or a 'hippy'-sampradaya. (Haven't forgotten that word have you?) Books are the basis Remember Srila Prabhupada? Okay, you do. Right. Remember what he constantly did whether it rained or shined? Right again. He wrote books. And, remember his pet line? Yes, Books are the basis. Very good! Guess then, what it makes him for the next ten thousand years? THE SIKSA GURU FOR ALL TIMES, OF COURSE! Come now, brighten up guys, the founder Acharya as you will agree, was rather a shrewd gentleman. As he used to say, "I am a Calcutta boy!" I am sure he was smart enough to figure out, the day after, his disciples were going to scramble for the Vyasa Asana, nails or no nails. But, disseminating world class spiritual knowledge, present Vaishnava literature with authority, that was another ball game altogether. So, he wrote, and wrote, and wrote, day in, day out, and distributed his books profusely. Some of them fell on fertile soil and immediately sprouted, others fell on less fertile soil, yet managed to find shelf space in dusty corners. Others found their way into libraries all over the world. Yet, he was aware, they too will germinate, perhaps not today, but later. Like antipersonnel mines, profusely scattered all over the world, some of them will lay dormant waiting to be stepped on - and completely transform someone's life. The expiry date on these products is not the year 2000, or even the year 3000. They are good for 10,000 years! Anyone can open them and immediately get self-realised. And, if the reader, in his spiritually awakened state, desires to know his teacher's name, he only needs to look at the cover of the book. Printed on the cover would be the name of his teacher or his new found Siksha guru, "His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Srila Prabhupada." Founder-Acharya: International Society for Krishna consciousness The year could well be 12,000 AD. Examining the mechanics of how someone comes to Krishna Consciousness. Grand disciples would amply testify to the fact that Srila Prabhupada's books alone are responsible. Thus, it is bewildering when they (eager neophytes) come swimming to the shores from the ocean of nescience, (reeled in by Srila Prabhupada's books and nothing else) are clubbed and claimed by rubber-stamp Acharyas! This initial impetus which involves tremendous amount of faith and commitment, represents a quantum leap in the growth one's spiritual life. Compared to this metamorphosis, the rest of our spiritual life pales into insignificance. It is in this phase, Dhruva Maharaj catches a glimpse of the Supreme Lord. And, as you will note, even the Lord acknowledges its potency and warned Dhruva Maharaj, "That he may not accomplish this feat (of seeing him) again, however hard he tries. Who can tell, perhaps this primordial cry for spiritual succour alone reverberates in the corridors of Goloka. As you can see this is hardly the time for harvesting disciples. Indeed, be warned that in this vulnerable stage you are liable to indelible scar the psyche of that individual. Krishna may not favor them with an appearance, but at the very least, Srila Prabhupada should be allowed to gradually wean that washed up soul. After his books bought them in. Thus, he is their spiritual master in the complete sense of the term. They accept him in their hearts as such. To deny this would lead to their spiritual suicide or force them to lead a lusterless and unstable spiritual life. Indeed, no amount of Sastric evidence can convince them of any other relationship. Thus, somehow we need to formalize this very real and vibrant spiritual connection to Srila Prabhupada. And my humble suggestion is that we allow first initiation or harinama initiation to be officially recognized as given by Srila Prabhupada. There is nothing unnatural or unreal about this. In fact, by reading the books, most people take up chanting, or 'chanting the Mahamantra is initiated', long before they come face to face with any other devotee. You may throw in a ceremony if necessary, but unofficially, Srila Prabhupada is the one who actually initiates you to chant. We merely need to recognize and formalize it now. Siksha vs Diksha Having said that, we need to examine the concept of the Siksha guru and that of the Diksha guru and how they fit into the sampradaya. Diksha gurus have stolen a march over the Siksha guru under the aegis of the new Acharyas. Essentially, this is a conspiracy. Srila Prabhupada's diksha phase lasted for barely 10 years. And, by focusing on the Diksha guru tradition, the new Acharyas have effectively phased Srila Prabhupada out for all practical purpose. Yet, through his books Srila Prabhupada, has staked his claim to the position of Siksha Guru for the next ten thousand years! Who is more important? Siksha guru, or Diksa guru? We need to examine our sampradayic tradition regarding this issue. During the time of Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, many of his followers had different Diksha guru. Yet, he was everybody's Siksha guru, and he offered harinama to everyone! Moreover, the focus was entirely no him! Of course, diksha guru relationships existed and were privately nurtured on a low key, but the Vaishnava society's focus was always on the effulgent Mahaprabhu. Similarly, our sampradaya has always accommodated the rarely appearing '24-carat' Jagat gurus. It makes no sense in hiding him under a bushel or hastily retiring him. "No man, when he hath lighted a candle, putteth it in a secret place, neither under a bushel, but on a candlestick, that they which come in may see the light." (Luke11:33: Jesus Christ) That alone, has always been the criteria. Indeed 'leading lights' illuminate the sampradaya exactly as brighter stars alone are linked to form the constellations in the skies. It is my humble suggestion that we lay emphasis on the 'bright stars' alone. Recognize and formalize the 'Harinama initiation' offered by Srila Prabhupada through the via media of his books. Toned-down second initiation (like third) can be offered by the Diksha gurus in the unbroken disciplic succession style. Finally, if in doubt, you may test this model. Distribute the book 'The Science of Self-Realization' to a group of individuals and ask them to read it. Do not tell him any thing else. In any case as someone once said, "What will your three minute speech do?" Step back into your marble palaces and wait and watch a miracle unfold. Good time now to look up that verse, " He who thinks a Vaishnava dies." Before long... Knock, knock. Oh, hello, remember me? You had given me a book titled "The Science of Self Realization" a couple of days back? Well, I read it and now I am chanting sixteen rounds and... Srila Prabhupada has miraculously initiated yet another disciple. Your humble servant, J.M.Dasa mirrorquest@yahoo.com See Related VNN Stories | Comment on this Story This story URL: http://www.vnn.org/editorials/ET9901/ET25-2909.html
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