Guruvani

So, here Prabhupada is expressing the prohibition that the acharya or acharyas should not be nominated by the GBC but SELECTED by the aspiring devotees who wanted to accept one of them as diksha guru. Prabhupada is clearly preaching against GBC nominated gurus. He is saying that the guru will be decided by the next generation of devotees and who they choose to be their spiritual master! So, when Prabhupada gave the GBC the authority to expand the rtvik representatives in ISKCON he surely was not giving them authority to nominate gurus. The logical conclusion here is that he intended the rtvik system to continue post-samadhi otherwise he would not have given the GBC authority to expand the list in the future. The GBC was the authorized agency to represent Srila Prabhupada in ISKCON not only as managing agency but as siksha gurus and rtvik authority as well.

Actually, Bhaktisiddhanta did reveal who his successor would be. He said "After I am gone, Sridhar Maharaja will be my mouthpiece". He also said "I am satisfied that after I am gone there will be at least one disciple, Sridhar Maharaja, left behind to represent my conclusions". However, his statements were ignored by many of the other disciples who went to court to fight over the properties. They did not feel that Sridhar Maharaja was to be the successor so they came up with their own candidate, which of course turned out to be a disaster. The truth is, of all the disciples of Bhaktisiddhanta, Sridhar Maharaja won the highest praise and honor of Saraswati Goswami and that should have been a clear indication as to who should have been the successor acharya to Gaudiya Math, though Sridhar Maharaja was too timid to accept such a position without extreme persuasion anyway. So, for the most part Bhaktisiddhanta appointed Sridhar Maharaja to be his spokesman after his departure. His wishes were neglected by the disciples who had control over the properties, though they never received the endorsement that Sridhar Maharaja received from Saraswati Goswami. Sridhar Maharaja was not a manager of properties in Gaudiya Math and he did not have control over that. He was however, the most qualified of all the disciples as far as his representing the actual ontological conceptions of Saraswati Goswami. He was the most qualified according to Saraswati Goswami and he should have been elevated to the post of acharya of Gaudiya Math, but the property controllers would never have agreed to that. They had their own agenda and it was all about becoming acharya themselves.

Bhaktisiddhanta did not appoint rtviks as Srila Prabhupada did, nor did he personaly pick and appoint a GBC. He advised his disciples to form a GBC and go on with the preaching and the acharya would be self-effulgent because he would would continue to make many Vaishnavas. A comparison with the Gaudiya Math is not relevant as there were no rtviks appointed by Saraswati Goswami.

Aryan means "progressive". An Aryan is anyone who is spiritually progressive by following the Vedic culture. Being born in India or even being born in a brahmin family does not make one an Aryan. An Aryan is someone who is following the Vedic religions of karma kanda, Jnana kanda or Upasana Kanda according to the Vedic principles. A Muslim born in India is not an Aryan, because he is not following a Vedic religion. A Christian born in India is not an Aryan because they are not following a Vedic religion . Anyone, be they African, European or American is an Aryan if they are "progressive" in human society by following the Vedic dharma of the Vedic scriptures as propounded by the Vedic acharyas and gurus.

Aryan means "progressive". An Aryan is anyone who is spiritually progressive by following the Vedic culture. Being born in India or even being born in a brahmin family does not make one an Aryan. An Aryan is someone who is following the Vedic religions of karma kanda, Jnana kanda or Upasana Kanda according to the Vedic principles. A Muslim born in India is not an Aryan, because he is not following a Vedic religion. A Christian born in India is not an Aryan because they are not following a Vedic religion . Anyone, be they African, European or American is an Aryan if they are "progressive" in human society by following the Vedic dharma of the Vedic scriptures as propounded by the Vedic acharyas and gurus.

The term rtvik, as it was used in reference to officiating over initiations in ISCKCON goes back to the 60's. I know that the term was in use in 1975 because I heard the term being used by a GBC and a temple president. Prabhupada introduced the term rtvik at the same time he introduced the rtvik function of the GBC. The GBC members were performing rtvik initiations since the late 60's and the term was in use as well at that time. The difference came when Prabhupada appointed 11 disciples to have rtvik authority to replace the previous system of Prabhupada's personal secretary (which changed every few weeks or months) having the only final approval for rtvik initiations after reporting the information to Srila Prabhupada. The term rtvik was not introduced in Prabhupada's last days or forgotten about for ten years after his departure. It took most disciples a few years after Prabhupada's departure to come to the conclusion that the GBC was corrupt and should not be followed. As more and more disciples realized this, the rtvik system started to get more and more publicity and the masses of devotees realized how they had been duped by the guru conspiracy. For a few short years after Prabhupada's disappearance most disciples tried strenuously to obey the GBC and work with the guru system, As the guru system failed it was quite apparent that the rtvik system was what Srila Prabhupada really wanted for ISKCON. The GBC propaganda did have many devotees duped for a long time and in fact they still do. However, as the truth gets out, more and more disciples of Prabhupada are realizing that rtvik is the only alternative for ISKCON.

When Prabhupada is no longer present in ISKCON, then it is proper to initiate disciples of our own. Who is it that feels that Prabhupada is no longer present in ISKCON? So, the day Prabhupada is no longer present in ISKCON is the day that ISKCON is no longer ISKCON. The day that Prabhupada is no longer present in ISKCON is the day ISKCON dies.

As I have already stated on another thread, the appointment to rtvik is not demeaning of the disciple or a belittling of his position. To be authorized as rtvik to the acharya is the greatest authority that a disciple can be given. In this transaction the acharya is saying that I back you up 100%. To be rtvik of the acharya is even more powerful than becoming a guru out of one's own volition. As a guru, one must take full responsibility of delivering his disciple and is limited by his own advancement and ability to do so. He must accept the karma of the disciples and burn it up with the power of his own purity. If there is the least of disqualifications on the part of the guru, there will not be success for either the guru or the disciple in the attempt to attain the highest goal of prema. When Prabhupada and Sridhar Maharaja appointed rtvik representatives they made an agreement to stand behind that disciple 100% and to accept full responsibility for their decisions that were made based upon the guidelines given. A rtvik of the acharya is therefore the most entrusted and the most empowered disciple who has been given the supreme authority to accept disciples on his behalf. This is hardly a withholding of authority or empowerment, rather it is the highest of honors and the greatest of responsibilities that the acharya can bestow upon his disciple. A genuine rtvik of the acharya is therefore more than an ordinary guru, as he has full sanction and authority from the acharya to accept disciples on behalf of the acharya even after his visible disappearance. The idea that a rtvik is a lower authority with less responsibility than a guru is a mistaken notion which has led to so much confusion and disturbance to the movement. We need to correct this misconception and realize the importance of the rtvik to the acharya.

A disciple who takes over the institution of his guru and establishes himself as THE NEW ACHARYA is something like a pirate who steals the booty and the bounty for himself. Ahoy matey! Let me show you the way to Prabhupada!

A guru is like a light in the darkness, showing the direction we want to go to get back to Godhead. The real acharya is like a great lighthouse shining his powerful light to the lost mariners on the Ocean who cannot see in the fog of darkness. The imitation acharya is a like a red light bulb on the door of a brothel, showing the way to the house of ill-repute and illicit sects.

Actually, a rtvik representative is more powerful than a guru. An ISKCON guru of today accepts his own disciples and must take full responsibility and have full power to deliver them back to Godhead. In most cases they probably don't have that much power and ability. A ritvik representative of Srila Prabhupada or Srila Sridhar Maharaja has more power than an ISKCON type guru (including other gurus outside ISKCON functioning independently). They have been given more authority and power than a regular guru. They can accept someone on behalf of Srila Prabhupada or Srila Sridhar Maharaja. They have the power to connect you to them and help you become THEIR disciples. A regular guru who just comes forward to act as guru on his own volition and authority can only accept disciples on his own behalf. Since, such lower order gurus are not as powerful as the Uttama-adhikari paramahansas, their ability to deliver their disciples depends on when and if they ever attain perfection in svarupa-siddhi. When an acharya empowers a rtvik representative, he is in effect giving that rtvik more power and authority than his other disciples. He is giving his rtvik representatives full power of attorney on his behalf. This is the ultimate authority that an acharya can bestow upon a disciple. It surpasses the authority for them to be guru own their own. This idea that a rtvik is less than a guru is quite the mistaken notion. A rtvik is more powerful and authorized than any other disciple. Ritvik is the ultimate endorsement a spiritual master can give his disciple. When Sridhar Maharaja appointed Govinda Maharaja as his rtvik representative he gave him the ultimate power and authority that an acharya can give a disciple. To be rtvik is not something demeaning or belittling. It is the ultimate compliment and authority that the acharya can give a disciple. A disciple who gets rtvik authority on behalf of the acharya is the most favored disciple and is empowered beyond the other disciples.

However, please don't misunderstand me. I actually like Tripurari Maharaja. He is a sweet soul and very dedicated to Krishna concsciousness. I am like a brother of his who is trying to save him from his own foolishness. I am not a brother to stand by and let a brother do something foolish without trying to intervene. He's made mistakes! We've all made mistakes! He needs to face up to some of his mistakes otherwise he will never learn from them and be able to get past them. I am helping him face up to his mistakes, so that he can rectify them, make the corrections and continue to make progress. Actually, I love Tripurari Maharaja. That is why I am so aggravated to hear him making all these controversial viewpoints known over the internet. He needs to find a better angle, get out on the street and do Hari-Nama, distribute Prabhupada's books, travel and preach by accepting some harship and quit trying to be "Ask Jeeves" of Krishna consciousness on the internet.

Is there something political about telling the truth about how Tripurari Maharaja related to Sridhar Maharaja. This is not politics. I have no agenda Tripurari Maharaja constantly and consistently makes outragious controversial waves with his opinions published on the internet. Are you suggesting that everybody must now shut-up and let him have his way without opposition? If he doesn't like the heat then maybe he should stay out of the kitchen? Tripurari Maharaja has got the most controversial opinions about the most controversial issues. Do you fellows expect that the whole world must lay down as you make your progaganda unopposed? I am the reaction to your propaganda! I am your own birds of karma come home to roost! I am the black to to your white, minus the many shades of gray! If you can't take a line drive, then you are not ready to be pitcher in the baseball game of controversy. You all like controversy? I am controversy.

This refers to Tripurari Swami, not Srila Prabhupada. A disciple of Tripurari Swami wanted to leave Tripurari Swami for Sridhar Maharaja and Sridhar Maharaja sought Tripurari Maharaja's approval. Tripurari Swami opposed that release and it lead to his unfortunate falling out there.

here's some more:

According to one of the most senior and informed disciples of Sridhar Maharaja, Tripurari Swami was deserted by Sridhar Maharaja in his last days: here's the exact reference from the source: <font color="green">"Which brings us to your assertions concerning Swami. For the sake of accuracy Srila Sridhar Maharaja said the following regarding his installing Srila Govinda Maharaja as Acharya of Sri Chaitanya Saraswat Math. Referring specifically to western sannyasis preaching in his name as "the ambitious party and those who want name and fame rather than the substance itseslf," his exact words are excerpted here [note they are in English, intended for English speaking devotees, not targeting Bengalis]: </font color> <font color="red"> For those that have got no sraddha [faith], they may go away. They may not accept. I do not care. I don't accept them. If anyone has no recognition of this opinion of mine, I do not want them to live in the Mission. I drag them out." Dr. Asthana: But can they operate from outside and still operate as a part and parcel of you? Srila Sridhar Maharaja: As a revolt. That is revolt—without sanction—anyone can do. I have deserted them. But they may do anything and everything as they wish and reap the results far from the spiritual world, from God. Unlawful. Power may be extended and withdrawn also—I want to withdraw myself from them. Those that won't have faith in my decision, I withdraw from them. It is not a fashion but a question of faith. If they have no such faith in me, I withdraw myself from them. According to their faith—what to think? What to say? Those that do not obey me after my departure means automatically they will be left by me. Only it is a transaction of faith. No right but faith. If no faith in my word, they are automatically rejected… my disciples also, if what they do Govinda Maharaja does not accept, then they will be rejected".</font color> — Srila Sridhar Maharaja

when you want to post a quote try posting it between [*quote*] words go here [*/quote*] and you will get (leave out the asterisks)

Maybe I am the only one who does not have an agenda, a temple, a matha, a following or a personal ambition tied to it. I was in the camp of Sridhar Maharaja when Tripurari Swami was still trying to become an official ISKCON guru and get the GBC rubber stamp. When he couldn't be guru in ISKCON he left. I was the first pujari in Sridhar Maharaja's first temple in the western world. I served his Sri Govardhana-sila.(raga-marga seva) I was also the head cook at that temple. When Sridhar Maharaja was read a letter I wrote him he wanted it published in his magazine. Guess what? I was denied that recognition by Sridhar Maharaja, his orders were disobeyed and the letter was not published. There is some history of rejecting some of his orders in this way. Maybe you can understand my skepticism of some things and some followers.

I don't buy Tripuari Swami's version of the situation either. All we have in this article is his version of the situation. I prefer to accept Sridhar Maharaja's version and not the adulterated, twisted angle that Tripurari Swami presents. Again, just another OPINION of Tripurari Swami that contradicts the facts.

I know what you are referring to. It was a conversation between Sridhar Maharaja and some irate disciple who was telling Sridhar Maharaja that appointing Govinda Maharaja as rtvik would lessen his standing in the eyes of some others and Sridhar Maharaja said "he is more than rtvik". This gets tedious but let me explain briefly. The final declaration of his Spiritual succession is the address that I have posted on the opening post of this thread. What Sridhar Maharaja said in a conversation to a peson who was clearly disturbing Sridhar Maharaja is not to be taken as significant as the formal and official declaration of spiritual succession that I have referred to. Can't you see the reasoning in that?

You are not presenting the real evidence to support your claim. You are talking hearsay and political opinions of followers of Govinda Maharaja. I want to deal with the orders of Sridhar Maharaja, not some angry opinions of the disciples of Govinda Maharaja.

actually, in the highest consideration, yes exactly! None of them come up to the real standard of a real guru.

“I am the Spiritual Master of this institution, and ALL the members of the Society, they're supposed to be MY disciples. They follow the rules and regulations which I ask them to follow, and they are INITIATED BY ME spiritually" - (Srila Prabhupada Radio Interview, 12 March 1968, San Francisco)

Please present your evidence besides your twisted interpretation and word jugglery. you can't there is none. You are simply trying to mislead devotees with untruth and fabrication. your party spirit is clouding your grasp of the facts. /images/graemlins/blush.gif

It always amazes me how obstinate and stuboorn some devotees can be even in the face of cold hard facts. Sridhar Maharaja called Sagar Maharaja and MANY OTHERS as rtvik of Srila Prabhupada some 9 years after Prabhupada was gone. Sridhar Maharaja considerd them as rtviks! That means his is endorsing POST SAMADHI rtvik. It is quite obvious and apparent and only a blind person could not see that from his words in this address by Sridhar Maharaja which was his declaration of spiritual succession.