Srila
Prabhupada is my diska guru
Date:19 Oct. 1999
Respected H.H. Bhakticharu Swami Maharaj,
Please accept my most humble obeisances at your lotus feet. Hare Krishna.
All glories to Srila Prabhupada, the spiritual Master of Hare Krishna Movement.
Few months ago, a devotee from Mumbai, Juhu, Hare krishna Temple gave me a book,
"Prabhupada's Order", A reply to "The Final Order" by the GBC. After reading
this book, I became inquisitive to read the book, "The Final Order" by Sriman
Krishna Kant Prabhu. After reading the book, "The Final Order", it was clear
to me that the GBC failed to answer ''The Final
Order" in the book "Prabhupada's Order".
Srila Prabhupada empowered Sriman Krishnakant Prabhu to write such a fantastic
book ”THE FINAL ORDER", which is like "THE ROD OF CHASTISEMENT" for the deviant
disciples of Srila Prabhupada and "THE SAVIOUR" for the sincere disciples of
Srila Prabhupada. I accept the book ''The Final Order" as the genuine book on
Srila Prabhupada's instructions for initiation within ISKCON. By the grace of
this book, I came to know that Your Holiness was the officiating
priest (ritvik) of my initiation ceremony and was NEVER my initiating spiritual
master. Actually the ocean of mercy, who opened my eyes which were blinded
by the darkness of ignorance with the touchlight of knowledge - SRILA
PRABHUPADA IS MY INITIATING SPIRITUAL MASTER (DIKSHA - GURU). Srila Prabhupada
will be the initiator within ISKCON for as long as the society is extant. The
paper "GBC Fail To Answer The Final Order" a reply to "Prabhupada's Order" -
GBC- August 1998, crushed all the spurious arguments of the GBC rendered in
"Prabhupada's Order".
The GBC members made a shocking attack on Srila Prabhupada in the book "Prabhupada's
Order" by misrepresenting the private-letters of Srila Prabhupada to some of
his deviant disciples and also by misrepresenting the conversation, lectures
& purports of Srila Prabhupada. The book, "Rtvik Mayavada Sata Dusani- 100 Deviations
of Rtvikism", a project inspired by H.H. Jayapataka Maharaj gave me a very bad
picture of the GBC. In this book, the GBC Members have shamelessly and unauthorizedly
promoted all their material defects as the qualifications of the great acharyas
and mahajanas. Also, I personally spoke to many senior & junior devotees regarding
the ritvik-system finally ordered by Srila Prabhupada.
I found that those who have sincerely studied the books of Srila Prabhupada
are very much in favour of the ritvik system, but are unable to speak openly
because the GBC has made our ISKCON, "THE ABATTOIR OF PRABHUPADANUGAS". What
a tragedy!!. And those who are arrogant, fanatic, stupid, "CHAMCHAAS" and materially
ambitious are NOT in favour of the ritvik-system because instead of following
Srila Prabhupada, they follow his deviant disciples. Thus, the "anti-ritvik"
people have achieved such rotten qualities.
I have written a big letter to H.G. Bhima Prabhu, Temple President, ISKCON Juhu,
Mumbai, stating that "THE GBC MUST FOLLOW THE RITVIK SYSTEM FOR THE PROTECTION
OF ISKCON." I have already forwarded a copy of this letter to the secretary
of Your Holiness, H.G. Chaitanya Prabhu (Prof. Bhaumick ) at Calcutta. I have
written the said big letter to H.G. Bhima Prabhu after studying the papers supporting
the ritvik system, the papers opposing the ritvik system and personally speaking
to many senior and junior devotees within ISKCON. Thus, after knowing all the
"FACTS" I have written the said big letter to H.G. Bhima Prabhu. Please give
me REPLY only after reading my said big letter to H.G. Bhima Prabhu, otherwise
Your Holiness may underestimate my knowledge about ritvik system and may give
me some advice.
Srila Prabhupada established a "ritvik representative of the acharya, for the
purpose of performing initiation" system, wherby "the newly initiated devotees
are disciples of His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada." This
particular system was established by Srila Prabhupada within ISKCON in "HIS
LAST SIGNED DIRECTIVE ON THE MATTER, HIS FINAL ORDER ON INITIATION, ISSUED ON
JULY 9TH 1977." The statements mentioned in this strong written evidence are
confirmed in another strong written evidence, viz, "SRILA PRABHUPADA'S LAST
WILL AND TESTAMENT". Please note the following statements from Srila Prabhupada's
Declaration of Will, 4th June 1977:-
STATEMENT 2:-
"The system of management will CONTINUE as it is now and there is no need of
any change."
STATEMENT 3:-
"The executive directors who have herein been designated are appointed for life.
In the event of the DEATH or failure to act for any reason of any said directors
(my comments: the event which can obviously happen after the disappearance of
Srila Prabhupada) a SUCCESSOR DIRECTOR OR DIRECTORS may be appointed by the
remaining directors provided the new director is MY INITIATED DISCIPLE following
strictly all the rules and regulations of the International Society For Krishna
Consciousness as detailed in MY BOOKS, and provided that there are never less
that three (3) or more than five (5) executive directors acting at one time."
STATEMENT 9:-
"I have made this WILL this 4th day of June, 1977, IN POSSESSION OF FULL SENSE
AND SOUND MIND, WITHOUT ANY PERSUATIONS, FORCE OR COMPULSION FROM ANYBODY."
The above mentioned statements of the said will clearly proves that Srila Prabhupada
wanted the ritvik system to continue even after his disappearance, because in
possession of full sense & sound mind, Srila Prabhupada mentioned the words-
" MY INITIATED DISCIPLE" instead of "disciple of my disciple". Since, such statements
are mentioned in the Last Will & Testament, the ritvik system should continue
till the Society is extant. In the same Will, Srila Prabhupada gave importance
to HIS BOOKS. So let us see what Srila Prabhupada speaks about his books:-
(a) Reporter: What will happen to the movement in the United States when you
die?
Srila Prabhupada: I WILL NEVER DIE.
Devotees: Jaya! Haribol! (Applaud)
Srila Prabhupada: I WILL LIVE FROM MY BOOKS AND YOU WILL UTILISE. (SP Press
Conference, 16/7/75, San Francisco)
(b) These are not ordinary books. It is recorded chanting. ANYONE WHO READS,
HE IS HEARING. (SP letter to Rupanuga - 19/10/74)
(c) The eternal bond between disciple and spiritual master begins from the first
day he HEARS. (SP letter to Jadurani - 4/9/72).
(d) Devotee: Srila Prabhupada WHEN YOUR'RE NOT PRESENT WITH US, how is it possible
to receive instructions? For example in question that may arise….. Srila Prabhupada:
Well the questions are answ…. Answers are there in my books. (SP Morning walk
, 13/5/73, Los Angeles)
(e) So utilise whatever time you find to make a thorough study of MY BOOKS.
Then ALL your questions will be answered. (SP letter to Upendra, 7/1/76)
(f) In my books the Philosophy of Krsna Consciousness is explained FULLY, so
if there is anything which you do not understand, then you simply have to read
again and again. By reading daily THE KNOWLEDGE WILL BE REVEALED TO YOU and
by this process your spiritual life will develop. (SP letter to Bahurupa, 22/11/74)
(g) Paramahamsa: My question is : a pure devotee, when he comments on Bhagavad-Gita,
SOMEONE WHO NEVER SEES HIM PHYSICALLY, but he just comes in contact with the
commentary, explanation, is this the SAME THING?
Srila Prabhupada: YES. You can associate with Krsna by reading Bhagavad-Gita.
And these saintly persons, they have given their explanations, comments. So
where is the difficulty? (SP morning walk , 11/6/74, Paris)
(h) After 80 years, no one can be expected to live long. My life is almost ended.
So you have to carry on, and THESE BOOKS WILL DO EVERYTHING. (SP Room Conversation,
18/2/76)
In his books, Srila Prabhupada specifically set out how THE INITIATIONS would
be carried out in the institution of ISKCON. Please see page numbers 7 & 8 of
" NO CHANGE IN ISKCON PARADIGM" by H.G. Adridharan Prabhu & H.G. Madhupandit
Prabhu.
PLEASE NOTE THAT, I AM NOT COMMITING " MARYADA VYATIKRAMA" BY CONSIDERING MY
SELF, "THE JUNIOR GODBROTHER" OF YOUR HOLINESS, BECAUSE I STRICTLY FOLLOW THE
FOLLOWING INSTRUCTION OF SRILA PRABHUPADA, OUR GURU MAHARAJ:- SRILA PRABHUPADA
SIKSAMRITA (Page No. 1896):-
"To answer your last point, one who teaches can be treated as spiritual master.
It is not that after we became initiated we become perfect. No. It requires
teaching. So if we take instruction from them, ALL SENIOR GODBROTHERS MAY BE
TREATED AS GURU, there is no harm. Actually, you have only one spiritual master,
who initiates you, just as you have only one father. But every Vaisnava should
be treated as a Prabhu, master, higher than me, and in this sense, if I learn
from him, he may be regarded as guru. It is not that I disobey my real spiritual
master and call someone else as spiritual master. That is wrong. IT IS ONLY
THAT I CAN CALL SPIRITUAL MASTER SOMEONE WHO IS TEACHING ME PURELY WHAT MY INITIATING
SPIRITUAL MASTER HAS TAUGHT.
Do you get the sense" (SP letter to Galim das, November 20th , 1971)
Srila Prabhupada wanted one big happy family built on love and trust. That's
why he established the ritvik system with him in the centre. That's why he spent
days and nights writing the law books for the next ten thousand years. Please
note the following instruction of Srila Prabhupada:- "I wish that each and every
Branch shall keep their independent identity and co-operate keeping the Acharya
(Srila Prabhupada) in centre. On this principle we can open any number of Branches
all over the world. The Ramakrishna Mission works on this principle and thus
as organization they have done wonderfully". (SP letter to kirtanananda - 11/2/67),
Thus Srila Prabhupada wanted all his first class disciples, even of future generations
to act as officiating-acharyas (ritviks). This way the teachings of Srila Prabhupada
will remain as it is, otherwise there is always the chances of interpolation
in the pure teachings due to conditioned souls acting as maha bhagavatas due
to the influence of the age of kali.
E.g. The present unauthorized M.A.S.S. have rendered the following interpolation
in Bhagavad-Gita As it is.:-
ORIGINAL BY SRILA PRABHUPADA.
(Bg. 4.34 purport):- In complete Edition. "…..Therefore, mental speculation
or dry arguments cannot help one progress in spiritual life. One has to approach
a bonafide spiritual master to receive the knowledge."
INTERPOLATION (in Capitals) :- in Revised and Enlarged Second Edition.
"….Therefore, mental speculation or dry arguments cannot help LEAD ONE TO THE
RIGHT PATH. NOR BY INDEPENDENT STUDY OF BOOKS OF KNOWLEDGE CAN ONE PROGRESS
IN SPIRITUAL LIFE. One has to approach a bona fide spiritual master to receive
the knowledge."
This misinterpretation
is an insult to Srila Prabhupada's books.
Srila Prabhupada said, "THESE ARE NOT ORDINARY BOOKS. IT IS RECORDED CHANTING.
ANYONE WHO READS, HE IS HEARING. (SP letter to Rupanuga 19/10/74). So, here
we come to know the unauthorized action of the unauthorized gurus. By looking
at the record, it is crystal clear that all the unauthorized gurus within ISKCON
are subject to the four frailties common to all conditioned souls: imperfect
senses, a tendency to make mistakes, a tendency to fall into illusion and a
PROPENSITY TO HEAT.They all became "THE SHAMS" after consulting a person, who
was addressed a "DEAD MAN" by Srila Prabhupada. The same "DEAD MAN" made them
the "THE SHAMS".
Thus, all the "LIVING GURUS", within ISKCON are actually the "DEAD GURUS". "SRILA
PRABHUPADA ALONE IS OUR LIVING GURU"Thus all the unauthorized initating gurus
must stop acting as initiating gurus. For the protection of ISKCON they must
act as officiating acharyas (ritviks) to please Srila Prabhupada.Otherwise they
have to please YAMARAJ by taking the punishment from him. Please note that ,
"THE BOGUS RE-INITIATION SYSTEM" which is extremely against Guru, Sadhu, and
sastra is very much noted by YAMARAJ. It is note worthy that the GBC members
who are the excellent "GOD LOVING ACTORS" are not even "GOD FEARING".
I had a great respect for the GBC of ISKCON, considering them as the powerful
disciples of Srila Prabhupada, but today when I found them influenced by an
envious temperament and dissatisfied because of an attitude of sense gratification,
I got a heavy shock.
Please note that the spiritual leaders of other bonafide sampradayas, viz, Sri
Govindacharya, H.H. Rangapriya Swami and Sri LaxmiTatachar strongly support
Srila Prabhupada's decision for ritvik representatives. Please note the following
conversation with Sri LaxmiTatachar, who belongs to Sri Ramanuja Sampradaya.:-
ISKCON DEVOTEE: In the Bhagavad Gita, Srila Prabhupada gives the guru parampara-Brahma,
Narada, Vyasa and so on till Srila Prabhupada. In the ritvik system, who comes
after Srila Prabhupada?
SRI LAXMITATACHAR:- Srila Prabhupada himself. Only the ritvik system continues
and Srila Prabhupada is the guru.
ISKCON DEVOTEE:- When that happens, is the parampara not stopping?
SRI LAXMITATACHAR:- No. What can be done? Srila Prabhupada has not
appointed an acharya. The parampara continues through a chain of ritviks.
Please note that Sri LaxmiTatachar was also approached by H.G. Basu Ghosh Prabhu
(Anti-ritvik person) in connection with the vidvat goshti. Now please note the
concluding part of the report by Sri LaxmiTatachar. The report is already forwarded
to the GBC. Please note the following:- "Besides the very concept of Ritvik
has special significance here. In the olden days there would be a Yajamana who
could engage Ritvik. Adhvaryus etc., for the performance of sacrifice. These
people after performing the sacrifice would get some dakshina. But the net result
of the sacrifice would go to the Yajaman himself, as he was mainly responsible
for the performance. The ritiviks were entitled only to initiate disciples into
the Hare Krishna Movement. But the disciples thus initiated by these representatives
are always considered to be the disciples of Srila Prabhupada only. Since he
is he Yajamana who has engaged these ritviks for the performance of initiation.
Again I have to stress that the letter makes it amply clear that the disciples
thus initiated by the representatives of Srila Prabhupada are only the disciples
of Srila Prabhupada only, not of the representatives. I ALSO WANT TO CONFIRM
THAT THIS SYSTEM CAN CONTINUE PERPETUALLY EVEN IN THE PHYSICAL ABSENCE OF SRILA
PRABHUPADAJI AS IT HAS CONTINUED IN RAMANUJA'S TRADITION."
Maharaj, now you are making a T.V. serial on Srila Prabhupada. Do you know the
following instructions of Srila Prabhupada in this matter. Please see the istructions:-
"All programs must go on but it is a fact that this book distribution program
is very, very, important. It is real preaching work but I think this program
for TV and Radio is NOT so important. There are so many TV programs, SOMEONE
WILL SEE US ON TV AND THEN RIGHT AFTER THEY WILL SEE SOME OTHER NONSENSE AND
THEY WILL FORGET. Therefore, it is better for them to read my books" (SP letter
to Rupanuga, 14th February 1973). Maharaj, you are giving the biggest disservice
to Srila Prabhupada by making this T.V. serial. THERE ARE MANY SCENES IN YOUR
T.V. SERIAL WHICH ARE NOT AUTHENTIC.
Your holiness is a very good preacher. Please, preach everyone from Srila Prabhupada's
books and please don’t do anything which is out of Srila Prabhupada's teachings.
I am still having very deep respect for Your Holiness. Your Holiness is very
kind hearted, soft hearted and very learned disciple of Srila Prabhupada. So,
I humbly request Your Holiness to follow the following instruction of our beloved
Guru Maharaj- Srila Prabhupada:- "So better remain a foolish person perpetually
to be directed by Guru Maharaj. That is PERFECTION. And as soon as he learns
that Guru Maharaj is dead, Now I so advanced that I can kill my Guru and I become
guru. Then he is FINISHED." (SP conversation, 16th August 1976, Mumbai.)
My apologies for any offensive statement made by me in this letter, but what
to do, you GBC members hurted us by becoming the disciple thieves of Srila Prabhupada.
It is always my duty to humbly request my senior God Brother, who was an officiating
priest of my initiation, to strictly follow the instructions of our Gurudev
Srila Prabhupada.
Lastly, I pray to the Supreme Lord Sri Krishna to give proper intelligence to
all of you GBC members to re-establish and follow the ritvik-system within ISKCON,
otherwise our Alma-mater will always remain the Hot Bed of Politics. I have
taken a Vow in front of the Lord, that I will bring back the ritvik system within
ISKCON, my Alma mater. Srila Prabhupada gave me Sri Krishna and it is my duty
to see harmony in his institution, so that his desire to elevate the fallen
souls for another ten thousand years gets fulfilled. Srila Prabhupada is a Mahabhagavat
and he alone can do this job. Those who occupied his post have broken the heart
of many innocent devotees. Due to this, Srila Prabhupada is very hurted. Now,
I don’t want to see His Divine Grace in this Shocking State.
So, even if I die, I will take another birth, to keep my vow.
Thanking you,
Your Servant,
Sri Krishna Chaitanya Das
(KERSI MEHTA)
Telephone: 91 22 8731788
91 22 8722632.
http://www.harekrsna.org/Bhakti-Charu-hist.htm