© 1998 VNN
| WORLD December 1, 1998 VNN2597 See Related VNN Stories Srila Prabhupada Coined The Term Ritvik BY PITA DAS USA, Dec 1 (VNN) — As heard by Pita das Hare Krishna! Please accept my humble obeisances at the feet of all the assembled Vaishnava Devotees of the Lord who are just like desires trees fulfilling the desires of everyone. All glories to His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Srila Prabhupada. The fact of the matter was Srila Prabhupada made himself very clear on how new devotees coming into his movement were to be accepted into it after his disappearance. The word ritvik was first heard by me from Srila Prabhupada's Lotus mouth and His Divine Grace used the term many times during his last two weeks in Vrindaban. I remember this clearly because I didn't know what a ritvik was. Srila Prabhupada called this ritvik acharya transparent to the previous acharya. This is the position His Divine Grace bestowed upon his 11 disciples who he said gave up the most to serve him establishing ISKCON. Srila Prabhupada spoke many times about how these devotees should carry on the movement after his departure, many times I was to hear him say: "Is that clear do you understand?" Yes, Srila Prabhupada its all clear Tamal Krishna Goswami would say, no questions, Srila Prabhupada, you have made everything clear. All of this was recorded and heard by many devotees at the time. Now what has happened to all these tape recordings was the responsibility of Srila Prabhupada's secretary at the time. I saw a great amount of tapes from that period in his tape ministry 1978. This is a fact and he knows this well regardless of what he may say now. After Srila Prabhupada's Mahasamadhi these 11 and others were very swift in establishing their new ritvik acarya transparent to the previous acaryas position with no regard or respect for the feelings of their god-brothers. But then they weren't calling themselves as ritviks acaryas but gurus with big big Vyasasana, 6 months after Srila Prabhupada's Mahasamadhi. Bhagavan was having his feet washed in milk. With some of his godbrothers saying we are recording every word he says we aren't going to make a mistake with him like we did with Srila Prabhupada. Bhagavan asked me in April of 1978 how do you like the temples I have inherited? When I was sent to Southern Europe to collect for India BBT library party. What they did and are still doing now for the last almost 22 yrs was to place themselves in a position incapable for themselves to maintain. We cannot jump over Srila Prabhupada's head. In China this is called crossing the bridge and burning it. On one morning walk with devotees along a beach Bhavananda Prabhu used to tell the story that they were all walking with Srila Prabhupada and they came to a log thrown across the path, so Bhavananda extended his arm to assist Srila Prabhupada in crossing. As soon as Srila Prabhupada crossed it safely he took Bhavananda's hand and threw it down with anger and Bhavananda of course was very upset and uncertain what he had done to make Srila Prabhupada so angry with him. Then Srila Prabhupada looked at him and said: "This is the mood of the Mayavadi, I use the Guru until I cross and then I kick him away. Has this not happened in ISKCON? Disembodied entities blasphemous statements directly stated towards His Divine Grace? About 3 to 4 days before His Divine Grace's departure when many of the devotees were in Srila Prabhupada's room Srila Prabhupada told us: "Of my disciples I see no one who has my qualities but if I look at this or that one, I see some percentage of my qualities there, so I have some faith that this movement can go on." "The test of your love for me will be shown at how well you work together." The last part of this statement became almost a slogan in ISKCON after Srila Prabhupada's departure. The first part I have only heard from Srila Prabhupada's Lotus mouth. Where did this idea of Ritvik come from Prabhujis? From Srila Prabhupada and only from His Divine Grace. Because this order was misunderstood and thousands of devotees are now seeing themselves as the disciples of our godbrothers. It isn't that it wasn't correct - Acinca beda beda tatva simultaniously one and different. Yes, they are ritvik gurus and if they are transparent to the previous acarya they are directing the current of Spiritual electricity - guru parampara. The problem has been though that we have imitated Srila Prabhupada without having His Divine Graces qualities. Once one creates something he is no longer transparent and the electricity will not flow it is broken, thus no guru parampara connection. So it has been going on now for so long, this imitation. We all have heard devotees then even trying to imitate Srila Prabhupada's voice His Divine Grace way of speaking and like a transvestite we all know its a fake, the transvestite knows clearest of all , so it simply needs to be corrected. All new devotees should wait and not hurry for diksa from anyone for at least a year or more. Let us all pray to Srila Prabhupada for guidance. More tapes may be discovered, more confessions may unfold. Only when the truth returns can we trust each other again. Frankly speaking, I can only trust a handful of my godbrother, but I love them all dearly because I have seen them sincerely serve Srila Prabhupada. They acted as ritvik to me and they helped me understand Srila Prabhupada, they brought before Srila PRABHUPADA? Rabindra Swarupa gave me the flower and taught me to offer it to Srila Prabhupada's Lotus feet - he is my guru bai (my first attendance of Gurupuja). Offer this flower and bow down he told me. Tamal Krishna Goswami taught how to cook for Srila Prabhupada (deity form) he is my guru bai. This subji is too salty. This one is too dry, it needs to be more like...? I know all the tastes he would say. Vishnu Jana Swami got me to join Srila Prabhupada's movement he is my guru-bai. Radha Krishna Radha Krishna in life and death I have nothing but you! Teajas Prabhu showed me how to give up everything to serve Srila Prabhupada he is my guru-bai. Teajas there is no food in the temple, Gour Govinda Maharaja is eating goard vines and soaked tapioca. Don't bother me with your material considerations!!! I'm busy and he really was. Kavichandra Swami took care of me and helped me to get to Vrindaban to be with Srila Prabhupada he is my guru bai. Surabi Prabhu showed how one can use all of their talents in serving Srila Prabhupada with every last ounce of his strength he is my guru bai. Guru Kripa Prabhu shows me even now how Srila Prabhupada is always with him he is my guru bai. Narahari gave me my first service among the pots and pans of Miami he is my guru bai. Patit Udaran Prabhu taught me how to survive in India he is my guru bai. Matanga Prabhu shows me what a real devotee should be like, he is my guru bai. Its now time for us all to lighten up but be grave at what the future of our movement is. This movement is being directed by Lord Chaitanya Himself, but are we listening to Him? If we listen the path will be made so clear and we can easily walk. As Srila Prabhupada would often say the dogs may bark but the caravan will pass . See Related VNN Stories This story URL: http://vaishnava-news-network.org/world/WD9812/WD01-2597.html |
