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| EDITORIAL November 22, 1998 VNN2538 See Related VNN Stories Dhanavir's Letter About "The Humble Guru" BY KRSNA AVATARA DASA EDITORIAL, Nov 22 (VNN) — Dear Prabhus, I would like to respond to HH Danavir's response to "The Humble Guru". HH Dhanavir Goswami wrote: "The American tendency for unnecessarily changing and tampering with Vedic culture is flourishing and The Humble Guru,"although lacking" any scriptural basis, gives lots of so-called logical reasons for accepting ritvik philosophy or something similar." First of all albeit Srila Prabhupada said that Americans tend to change things, HHD should not single out American devotees as the only ones, as it is biased. Secondly, there is nothing in Dhira Govindas' paper that advocates the ritvik philosophy. He further quotes sastra saying: "All the sastras describe the guru as being on an equal basis with Krsna, for he is the representative of Krsna. Therefore he is worshiped as Krsna. Being the most confidential servant of Krsna" With all due respects, many of the ISKCON gurus do not fit this description. Sometimes it is hard to understand who they are representing. This is not to say all gurus are like that, but enough of them to beg the questions that Dhira Govinda addresses in his paper. He further writes: "More alarming is that this is all done in the name of Srila Prabhupada just as some politicians who use Bhagavad-gita to expound their own imaginative philosophies. Ritvik proponents, whether blatant or covert," suggest straw gurus who don't "interfere" in the lives of their disciples? I don't think demonizing the author or the devotees who agree with the authors views are constructive. Furthermore, Dhira Govinda does not state that we should embrace ritvik philosophy nor that gurus should not interfere. HH Dhanavir Swami further states: "We should note that the trend toward creating a guruless ISKCON is paralleling the "New Age" movements' activities exactly. In the beginning some devotees liked Srila Prabhupada's teachings but because of their strong inclination toward sense gratification and Mayavadi tendency, they now reject them in favor of their own imaginative theories, such as ritvik, reiki, three regulative principles, etc, etc" Again the insults. Who is he referring to as a Mayavadi, and who is referring to when he accuses devotees of breaking the principles? This sounds rather judgmental. He continues: It is painful to hear Dhira Govinda dasa try to create polemics by the use of terms "Prabhupada-centered choices" and "non-Prabhupada-centered choices." Dhira Govinda is one of the least polemic devotees I know. To try to discredit him this way is unbecoming of your stature. He continues: "By continuously coaxing granddisciples to choose between honoring their spiritual master or honoring Srila Prabhupada" I don't see that we have to make a choice-you can both. They are not mutually exclusive. Besides Dhira Govinda did not say that. He continues: "Recently one devotee argued in favor of ritvik or similar "guru reform" measures by saying that, "we have tried the guru system for twenty years, but it didn't work." This is like a child deciding to discontinue his doctor's medicine after a few days because "it doesn't feel like it is working." Srila Prabhupada and the disciplic succession have prescribed principles meant to guide society perpetually. They do not give us some quick medicine to last twenty years and then be rejected by modern-thinking disciples and granddisciples. " Again, Dhira Govinda said nothing about ritvik. I don't understand why you persist in wrapping him in the Ritvik flag. Besides I know many GBC's who believe the system is not working. Are they ritviks too? Finally he shifts the blame on the lay devotees "The real problem which "The Humble Guru" proponents ignore is that devotees do not apply Srila Prabhupada's instructions like rising early, attending mangala aratrika, guru puja, Srimad Bhagavatam class, following four regulative principles, chanting sixteen rounds daily, attending the evening temple program, and reading Srila Prabhupada's books regularly. Those who are deficient in these areas are part of the problem of ISKCON, and instead of trying to reform the society, they should concentrate on reforming themselves." Dhanavir Goswami is implying that those who try to make positive changes do not chant nor follow the principles. He presents no evidence to support his innuendo. I know the author attends the program and chants. I don't think he should be pointing fingers at other devotees because I know sannyasis and gurus who don't go to the program regularly. So if he wants to throw stones he should start with them. Throwing false allegations, and false arguments, and making Dhira Govinda out to be a ritvik is unbecoming of you. Rather we should all strive for a positive solution to our problems. Devotees are tired of gurus falling down and taking money with them. Humbly yours, Krsna Avatara dasa See Related VNN Stories This story URL: http://vnn.org/editorials/ET9811/ET22-2538.html NEWS DESK | EDITORIALS | TOP |
