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EDITORIAL February 24, 1999 VNN3155 See Related VNN Stories Three Nasty Questions To Both Sides From A Fence Sitter BY JAGAT CANDRA DAS EDITORIAL, Feb 24 (VNN) — ONE: Where is the Order for present GURU system or for Ritvik system? The word ORDER can be replaced by any other appropriate word like instruction, injunction, etc. To the Guru Vadi Redundant question, the whole Ritvik issue , isn't it? Like the Ritviks are saying, there seems to be no specific Order or directive that automatically transforms the Officiating Acharyas into Acharyas . All the arguments from the Guruvadis so far are general in nature and can apply to all Prabhupada disciples why only the 11? (who were asked to be Ritviks but were never asked to be initiating Gurus) The directives put forth by the Guruvadis are in the same vein as the instruction "it is best not to accept disciples". So which one do we follow? As in the "Topanga Confessions" by TKG, there is nothing that asked the 11 to be Gurus as they all are now. This , remains a Great point from the Ritviks that has never been refuted well and has remained unresolved since the 50-man committee days. Bundling the Ritviks out of ISKCON using the Probation Stick and the new laws without actually refuting their main argument is not very much in keeping with the Traditions our Parampara is known for. They were fearless and they bundled out wrong and erroneous deviations using Logic and Shastra, NOT hastily created additions to By-laws. The present Guru system is more or less based on a speculatory twist of the July 9 letter, with new twists added each time a guru falls and now, New Twists in the by-laws!! This must be accepted in all its bitterness and looked at in the face if one is Honest to oneself. To the Ritvik Vadi On the other hand neither does the July 9 letter stand up to being the Final Order ö though to date it is the only directive that deals with initiation in "future"- It leaves a lot to be desired to be accepted as the final directive for the next 10,000 years. Simply because , 1. It does not say so ( this in itself is good enough to stump any attempt to refute the above point ö the letter does not say that it is the Final Order) 2. The fact that it is after all not a directive from Srila Prabhupada directly unlike the will or other important letters. It is not even on HIS LETTER HEAD with his seal that we all know he had ( as in the will ) . This is, all said and done, just a letter from the secretary on a subject that was not perceived as a crucial thing then. It lacks the gravity and stature of a directive for the next 10,000 years. 3. Will the future of the movement for the next 10,000 years hinge only on the word "Henceforward"? 4. If any kind of time frame was meant in this letter it should have come in the first sentence which simply stops after saying " for the purpose of performing initiation, both first and second initiation."- simple phrases like- "in the future". Or "from now on". Or "for the next 10,000 years" etc would have been really nice. ( Guru vadis please note : it does not specify a temporary period either like say " till srila Prabhupada is feeling better" or " for as long as Srila Prabhupada is with us" etc.) One can understand there are many solutions in a Ritvik system as suggested by the Ritvik vadis for many of ISKCON's present problems. But can the July 9 letter be given the status of the Final Order ? TWO: Whose personal responsibility are the disciples of the future? To the Ritvik Vadi Srila Prabhupada has shown us by example the personal commitment that he took in cultivating a devotee's spiritual advancement by personally tending to individuals on their first tottering steps towards a spiritual maturity. Like a caring father to his children. This Personal tending-to is VERY important and is the reason for the existence of the Parampara. If Books alone were sufficient ö why a parampara? So who will do this for Srila Prabhupada for all those He continues to send to ISKCON even today and in the future? Neither Temple President , nor Sannyasi nor a Ritvik has this role in their job description. So who will do it? The Ritvik system has no scope for such PERSONAL commitments. It is quite cold and impersonal , if all that a Ritvik has to do is to check out a Bhakta and merely perform a ceremony and leave! The Officiating Acharya's main duty is probably transferring that Personal commitment on behalf of Srila Prabhupada. What else can it be? Merely checking out if the bhakta is chanting his rounds and following regulative principles, etc. are jobs anyone can do from a sankirtan leader, to TP, etc. Why did Srila Prabhupada only choose a few as Officiating Acharyas if the task was merely to check out and perform a ceremony? Lets face it. The eleven were Srila Prabhupadas show case devotees at that time ö the best from the Garden he personally tended to. A statement Srila Prabhupada is making saying " I want you all to be like them . And since they are my show pieces, they will know best what I want of the rest of the new souls joining up " However they were to remain Exemplary, Live Devotees who will best be able to pass on His personal concern. New disciples will need a figure in flesh who they can see is personally committed to guiding them just as Srila Prabhuada did and who is someone they can look up to for an interactive feed back, for chastisement and encouragement regarding their spiritual life just as every one once looked up to Srila Prabhupada!! The Books and Tapes of Srila Prabhupada alone will be NOT yield a advancement as much as the same books and tapes along with a personal commitment by a mature Devotee of Srila Prabhupada to cultivate the new disciple FOR SRILA PRABHUPADA'S SAKE - just as He did for the Parampara. Without THIS kind of PERSONAL commitment and a PERSONAL involvement there is no meaning to the Vaisnava Parampara where even Sound Vibrations and Energies are personalities capable of personal relationships and attachments . Just because some of the Eleven Officiating Acharya blew it does not mean we neglect this aspect that is being illustrated above. So how will the RITVIK system accommodate this? Who will take the personal RESPONSIBILITY of representing Srila Prabhupada's personal concern for every devotee who joins? What Post in the Ritvik system has this as a Job description? Or is this not important? To the Guru vadi The point made above cannot be the basis of an anti Ritvik stance by the new Gurus because Just how much can a present Guru personally tend to disciples today when all that most disciple get is an hour or so to see him with a crowd once in a year as he flies by? Please do not bring up the argument that a planetary presence is important for Diksha . ( lets not get into that, as then it will reduce all our Srila Prabhupada murthis into idols) ö Srila Prabhupada is Present with us all the time. A personal presence is important for that personal cultivation and care beyond that initial stages of the new Bhakta program. It can never be a prerequisite for Diksha. Hardly anyone joins ISKCON having read anything else or having been inspired by anyone else other than Srila Prabhupada's books. While there seems to be great enthusiasm and a system to develop a relationship between present Initiators and the new disciples, there is no system to even accommodate a deep and wonderful relationship every grand disciple already has with Srila Prabhupada - as the one who changed his heart! There is NO defined relationship apart from the Guru pooja in the morning - in the life of the grand disciples. Who is Srila Prabhupada for a Grand Disciple? What exactly are the positions of the initiating Gurus and Srila Prabhupada for a grand disciple? AS of now, there is just a kind of substitution - the new Guru in place of Srila Prabhupada . Why is Srila Prabhupada's murti kept and worshipped in our temples? Is he actually present there? If he is , then why not get initiated by him as the Ritviks say? None of the sensible grand disciples equate the new Gurus with Srila Prabhupada. Even the new Gurus do not think so. But there is unhealthy competition on a petty level to get more disciples, push pet projects over that of ISKCON's common agenda. This is one of the real dangers of ISKCON today that the Ritviks vadis are worried about. There is also this very subtle but strong system in operation that attempts to transfer the feelings generated towards Srila Prabhupada in a grand disciple to the present Gurus. They are guilty of basking in the gratitude and reverence a grand disciple feels for Srila Prabhupada. Present Initiating Gurus clearly see how Srila Prabhupada is the one who continues to bring souls to ISKCON and if they, as sincere disciples of Srila Prabhupada take on this responsibility and be as concerned about the spiritual quality of the grand disciple as they are of his own advancement, then it seems appropriate. They must recognize that the grand disciples are indeed in a sense already initiated into the process by Srila Prabhupada and in many ways are already Srila Prabhupada's disciples. It is the responsibility of the Officiating Acharya now to groom them and their gratitude and eagerness to serve Srila Prabhupada further. There is this argument that if the grand disciples are ( in a way ) Srila Prabhupada's disciples, then why not jump further and become Srila Bhakti Siddhanta Maharaja disciples? Or Lord Chaitanya's? Or Krsna's ? The fact is we all have come to know of Krsna and Lord Chaitanya ONLY after reading Srila Prabhupada's books. He is the first link in the whole chain. That seals the position of Srila Prabhupada in a grand disciple's life as his Guru. He is the first link to the Parampara. Just because the present gurus are younger or here on the planet or are Prabhupada Disciples does not make them GURU- that crucial personality who has wrought that crucial change in the life of the grand disciple. If anyone is impressed enough to join the movement having read or heard about Krsna - ONLY from a present Guru, then sure, that present Guru is to that person what Srila Prabhupada is to him. But as long as it is Srila Prabhupada's books that inspire a person to join, then as sure as Goloka Vrndavan, Srila Prabhupada is his Guru. What else is there left for anyone else to do as Guru? Srila Prabhupada is present in his books as Siksha Guru and in the Heart as the person who inspired the change of heart - the Diksha Guru, and if a planetary presence is needed he is there as the Murti ! ( or was the murti just for a Guru pooja? ) For finer tweaking of one's devotional life, there are Devotees whom He personally groomed as guides for further Siksha. How can there be another Guru? another surrender? But a Personal commitment means GURU! So we have Srila Prabhupada as the Guru and we also have the person who will groom each individual for the sake of Srila Prabhupada and the Parampara. Is not that Person like a Guru too? YES. Even Guru vadi Grand disciples must admit that they do not equate their Present Guru to Srila Prabhupada! There seems to be a hierarchy already in place in the minds of Guruvadi Grand disciples anyway. SO WHY NOT FORMALIZE IT ????? THREE If there was a system that accepted the following will both the Ritvik Vadis and the Guru Vadis find it acceptable enough to get on with the real thing? To the GURU VADIS. The Ritvik side is small, they are being bulldozed around and as such cannot do much except carry on in their convictions. Poor chaps. If there is any kind of compromise to be reached it must come from the Guruvadis as only they are a position to compromise. After all the Ritviks do have some great points and they are motivated by a genuine desire to correct the mess that the ISKCON Guru system is in ( The mess is not a Guru falling down ö after all they do have the right to fall in peace to be able to work on it somewhere quiet. What is messy is that each time a guru falls, it brings down a whole section of ISKCON. Why cant a guru fall in peace? ) So rather than stifling the riot why not really investigate why the Ritviks are what they are and what motivates them? So please set aside your rage and your conviction that you are absolutely right and see what can be done ? To the Ritviks vadis Since neither side can claim absolute correctness why not weave in what the essence of the Ritvks issue is and offer the Guruvadis an alternative to the Ritviks system accommodating what the Guruvadis hold dear ö at least for now as the points in the above two nasty questions are quite valid ? 1. A system that accepted the existence of a relationship between those who join the movement having read Srila Prabhupada's books and Srila Prabhupada , as Guru and Disciple. ( as to what kind of Guru is left to debate between learned factions on both sides) 2. A system that saw the need for a senior Vaisnava , who will have take on personal responsibility to groom these devotees Srila Prabhupada has sent while remaining exemplary and worthy of respect . Occupying the highest position, status and protocol in the society but less opulent than that given to Srila Prabhupada. An Acharya ( exemplary devotee) who clearly sees that he initiates on behalf of Srila Prabhupada while the disciple also see how Srila Prabhupada is his Guru. ( This does sound like a Guru - yes. But Not a GURU like Srila Prabhuada !) ( if there is no respect and honour given to these Officiating Acharyas' , how will the mood of service and respect be prevalent?. Puffed up little "Prabhupada disciples" will always be rebellious and will never advance spiritually ö one of the probable dangers of the Ritvik system. Offering respects to senior vaisnavas alone can transfer one back home , back to Godhead. Even a new Bhakta is worthy of respect what to speak of close associates of Srila Prabhupada who ö whatever their stance on the Ritvik issue ö have done and are doing a lot for the movement ? So a revival of respect both for the Officiating Acharyas and the new disciples who join is IMPORTANT. The Ritvik attitude is that there can be no more Maha-Bhagavatas. Srila Prabhupada is the ONLY one. BUT Srila Prabhupada himself has indicated that The ISKCON will and Must grow so well that Maha-Bhagavatas from around the Universes should desire to be born on Earth to join this Glorious Movement ! It probably calls for a well defined and exacting hierarchy of GURUs - something like the Madhva Mutta has ( Moola Guru, etc.) or even like the Catholic Church like Srila Prabhupada always pointed out. Some thing people more expert at this could get into for details. This must also automatically tone down the New Guru profiles and roles enough to 1. Not bring down whole sections of the Movement each time some Guru takes a break. 2. Satisfy the devotees on the Ritvik side of the issue . 3. Reinstate the Authority of the GBC over a Guru club and bolster up ISKCON's aims and focus. 4. Reinstate Srila Prabhupada's role in the personal lives of present grand disciples and those to come. There is no ABSOLUTE GURUVADI nor is there an ABSOLUTE RITVIK VADI. I have friends on both sides in South India and in Bombay whose intelligence and dedication I respect. I meet them often. And I know that there is no such thing as the ABSOLUTE anything. I know for a fact that even the toughest Ritvik hard-core is NOT entirely convinced with JULY 9th letter and neither does the Hardcore Guruvadi thinks that The RITVIKS are Absolutely Wrong. In the face of this the probation comes as a hurried defense mechanism rather than a decision based on Shastra. The Guruvadis did ask for a middle path that could accommodate what was good in both the sides thing did not quite work out. Perhaps the Guruvadis did not ask hard enough and the Ritviks did not try well enough. But the Solution SURELY lies in a Compromise setup carefully and openly without fears with devotees from either sides. But with the new by-laws , there is no scope for anyone coming out fearlessly and honestly anymore. AND so this monster will live on to rear its head once again in the future - if all goes well. If not, we may well be witnessing the beginnings of the break up ISKCON. Thank you for having read so much. Lets not forget the amount of time and money all of you all are spending , away from real preaching , on this issue. Time to sit, swallow prides, be ready to concede here and there a little and sort things out for Srila Prabhupada's sake. Hare Krishna. Your servant Jagat Candra Das (mmw@vsnl.co) Jagad Candra Das was initiated on the Gour Poornima of 1982 at Sri Mayaur Dham by HH Jayapataka Swami. He was a full time devotee first at Bangalore and later at Sri Mayapur Dham where he worked on the EXPO. Later he worked with the Bangalore Temple as their Conceptual Architect. He meets devotees often doing a little Architecture and Multimedia for ISKCON but lives outside ISKCON ( !!! - now he tells us! But hey! the fight is best gauged by those outside the ring ) In the process of making ends meet in the small town of Cochin in Kerala, I chant 6 rounds daily and follow ekadasis and have not broken any of the regulative principles by the mercy of Srila Prabhupada. This in no way qualifies me to give unsolicited opinions to full time devotee but I am just expressing my concern for the movement. A movement that I dream of Joining once again every morning since the day I had to leave . See Related VNN Stories | Comment on this Story This story URL: http://www.vnn.org/editorials/ET9902/ET24-3155.html
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