12/24/97 - 1425

Response To Bhakti Tirtha Swami

USA (VNN) - by Gauridasa Pandita Dasa

After all these years, 20 to be exact, I'm surprised to see three articles appear in the Priti-laksanam on the ritvic issue. As a personal witness to Srila Prabhupada's instructions in this regard I feel it's my duty to respond to some of the points made. The article 'Quiet the Ritvik Rhetoric' really didn't say anything so I'll skip to Bhakti Tirtha Swamis'speech to the GBC from the 1997 meetings. First I would like to commend the Swami for being the only one to respond to my request for a GBC meeting on the guru issue in Volume 21 of P.L. We met in L.A. in November of 97 and had a very nice discussion on the guru issue. I'm sure his speech to the GBC will be different regarding the ritvic issue in the future. It's inspiring to know that we have a few ISKCON leaders that are willing to discuss these delicate issues with a cool head and the honest concern that I experienced from B.T. Swami. Now with all due respect I would like to respond to the Swamis' speech to the GBC that appeared in the last issue of P.L.

The Swami said that Srila Prabhupadas' house was being burnt down by the ritvic philosophy. He said That the ritvic philosophy is like a monster we've created due to not taking proper care of the devotees and that if Srila Prabhupada came back he would say, "What is this ritvic philosophy?" I am far from a great pandita but would like to respond in a simple way. I was one of Srila Prabhupada's personal servant's in the summer of 1977. I was there in Hrishikesh when he first decided to leave the planet on the night of May 15, 1977 and went to Vrndavana with him where he gave his final instructions for the future of ISKCON. I heard Srila Prabhupada say that he wanted the devotees to initiate new devotees in the ritvic system after his departure. I told Yasodanandan Swami at the time who wrote it in his diary and confirmed it with Srila Prabhupadas' secretary at the time. This is also documented on the May 28th tape wherein Satsvarupa Swami asked Srila Prabhupada how initiations would go on after his departure. Srila Prabhupada responded that he would appoint some officiating acaryas, ritvics, that would initiate new devotees as his disciples. He named the ritvics on July 7,1977 and sent out a letter on July 8th to all Temple Presidents and GBC's that this ritvic initiation system was to continue henceforward in ISKCON. As we all know this has never happened. This is what needs to happen to fulfil the order of the spiritual master.

If there is a fire in ISKCON it is due to not following the order of the spiritual master to continue the ritvic initiation system that he started. Remember this system had been in place years before his departure and hundreds of his disciples never saw him personally but were recommended and initiated by the temple presidents etc. on behalf of Srila Prabhupada. The monsters that were created were not the ritvic philosophy but those who tried to replace Srila Prabhupada instead of represent him. If Srila Prabhupada reappeared he would not ask what is the ritvic system because he ordered it. He would say, " can't you see that most of our problems were caused by disobeying my orders to continue the ritvic initiation system for my movement?"

Srila Prabhupada said that you should not try to be a diksa guru in your gurus' temple. He wanted us all to become qualified gurus' and preach. He wanted us to become siksa gurus within ISKCON and if we wanted to give diksa on our own it should be done in our own temples. I hope and pray again that the GBC will meet on this most important issue. It will not hurt but will help ISKCON more than most of us can imagine. We will show our love for him by how we cooperate. Can we work together to understand this issue and please His Divine Grace Srila Prabhupada, the Jagat Guru.

Your menial servant,
Gauridasa Pandita Dasa