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From <http://www.prabhupadanugas.
Gopal Bhatta Das says: Srila Prabhupada promotes ISKCON throughout his books…If ISKCON is deviating, you cannot promote it, nor can you ignore it, you have to FIX it. (See: <http://www.prabhupadanugas.
Dear Gopal Bhatta Prabhu, PAMHO. AGTSP!
Thank you very much for your valuable comments.
But how do we “FIX ISKCON?” Many of the current pretender gurus are obviously very attached to their charades. They are obviously just pretending because real gurus do not fall down, and real gurus are not subject to the dictates of a “GBC.” So, let them continue pretending, but the GBC body itself should stop forcing all of ISKCON to live a lie (like they have been doing ever since early 1978).
Therefore, the GBC should:
1. Admit that they, as a body, ignored part of Srila Prabhupada’s 1970 DOM order (the part which states that TPs should vote devotees on and off of the GBC body).
2. Point out that Srila Prabhupada did not condemn them for this, and neither did a vast majority of the devotees.
3. Admit that they ignored Srila Prabhupada’s July 9, 1977 ritvik henceforward order, and beg the devotees to be merciful, to follow Srila Prabhupada’s example, and to not condemn them for this either.
4. Allow the current “gurus” to go on being “gurus.”
5. Not approve any new “gurus.”
6. Begin approving “ritvik representatives of the Acharya,” as Srila Prabhupada clearly prescribed in his July 9th letter.
7. Allow the “gurus” to request that their “guruship” positions be switched to ritviks, subject to GBC approval on an individual basis.
8. Allow the “gurus” to give up their “guruship” positions in exchange for a “golden parachute.” (Guaranteed retirement benefits for life.)
9. Order all TPs to, from now on, recommend qualified new bhaktas and bhaktins for initiation, and to request whichever ritvik is nearest to come and perform the ceremony.
In my humble opinion, if the above 9 points were actually carried out by the GBC body, it would satisfy most of the Ritviks and most of the ISKCONites as well.
Your servant, Pratyatosa Dasa
Here is Gopal Bhatta Prabhu’s reply to my “9-steps” proposal followed by my reply to his reply:
(<http://www.prabhupadanugas.eu/news/?p=15435#comment-23864>)
(<http://www.prabhupadanugas.eu/news/?p=15435#comment-23873>)
@Pratyatosa prabhu says: “The Prabhupadanugas are united behind the fact that the July 9, 1977 letter clearly prescribes “ritvik henceforward” for all future initiations within ISKCON, and that’s all that really matters.”
There is a mataji, Mahavegavati dd who I heard has an overview what is present situation, she might have the details how to successfully address the GBC. I’ll try to contact her but this might take some time.
Two years ago I received this letter from a devotee in Malaysia. Topic was is there any chance that GBC might consider to eventually switch to ritvik when there are more gurus failing? He wrote:
Dear Gopala Bhatta
…………I’m afraid to say but for ISKCON this question is of no more relevance, they won’t even answer.
Once done there are decisions you can’t reverse. When a state invites immigrants to settle down, become integrated with job and family, can you say, we want to reverse all this, everybody move back where you came from?
Same here. Starting 1998 ISKCON NA/Europe had the back to the wall. Too many fall downs caused Western ISKCON to crash. So they decided to off-shore to Asia where JPS already was successfully recruiting. What remained in the West were more or less empty buildings.
In order to compensate loss of thousands of devotees who joined GM or left for good, ISKCON gurus started day- and night-shift to recruit new devotees in the East, thousands per month.
Accessory phenomenon of this fly-by-night action, all those new disciples are heavily driven by poverty.
ISKCON’s present rank&file first of all seek for economic improvement. And, ISKCON’s GBC is doing just that. They help all these devotees to improve materially. And for this favor, ISKCON’s rank&file is – 100% loyal. They don’t even care when their guru is exchanged.
As soon there is attack against their leaders they are ready to perform as bodyguards. Now guess what happens? Stirring up a hornets’ nest? Touching high voltage current? Entering a witches’ caldron/snakepit? Take your pick!
My proposal therefore is they should give the Prabhupadanugas those empty Western temples back because they can’t manage them anymore and ultimately they will be sold.
……………….
ys
**************
You might also be interested in Padmagarbha Prabhu’s reply and my reply to him on the How to fix ISKCON in 9 easy steps thread on the Prabhupadanuga forum.
Ironicaly for the ritvik camp, but the problem can be solved only by a powerful pure devotee empowered by the great senapati bhakta of Lord Gouranga, namely Srila Prabhupada. Such Guru may be able if Krishna wants it to do the needful, which is not necessary the expectation you enclose here dear prabhus. WE may chant anywhere and anytime, the problem is whether we are connected to the parampara or not.
However the ritvik idea of keeping the Acarya’s pure teachings in the center is our primary duty and condition for spiritual life.
Gopal Bhatta Das says: My proposal therefore is they should give the Prabhupadanugas those empty Western temples back because they can’t manage them anymore and ultimately they will be sold.
But how would this help to “FIX ISKCON?” The GBC can’t just transfer their responsibilities to some organization other than ISKCON. If they can’t fulfill their responsibilities in their particular zones, then they should resign or be removed.
One possibility is to switch a temple in the West that’s not doing very well back to Srila Prabhupada’s rivik system as a test case.
Gopal Bhatta Das says: Basically it is happening already, gradually, step by step.
I don’t understand. In what way is this happening, Prabhu? It doesn’t seem like they’ve done any of the 9 steps; not even a little bit.
Forget getting iskcon back, it’s broken beyond repair for at least during our life time and most probably beyond.
There has been too much water that has gone under the bridge. A better strategy would be to start our own projects and make new devotees that wouldn’t be polluted with all of the bogus guru/mayavadi/vapuvadi/sahaja/new age crap that the whole of iskcon is contaminated with.
Let iskcon and their blind followers stew in their own juices, we need to follow Prabhupada’s example, he eventually had to go out on his own and start his own math. We should do the same, call it Adi-Iskcon, the original iskcon .
Dear fallen soul, you said:”Let iskcon and their blind followers stew in their own juices, we need to follow Prabhupada’s example, he eventually had to go out on his own and start his own math. We should do the same, call it Adi-Iskcon, the original iskcon.”
Another fallen soul named Jarek thinks that one, two or even many fallen souls can’t do what a one pure soul has done. The pure souls activities are in direct touch with the supreme spirit, they are acintya and as such should never be considered in the scope of conditioned soul, which you eventually do consider, certainly subconsciously or unknowingly, while equating our wishfully announced abilities or virtual possibilities to create a real spiritual identity on Earth, as Srila Prabhupada’s ISKCON once was.
y.s. bj
Following is my humble suggestion about Item (step ) number 4 which reads as:
4. Allow the current “gurus” to go on being “gurus.”
Whereas it should read as:
Yes! HDG Srila Prabhupada is the ONLY ISKCON guru.
75-08-04. Letter: Madhudvisa:
The GBC should all be the instructor gurus. I am in the initiator guru, and you should be the instructor guru ( here is described who is amara ajnara guru not accepting own disciples ) by teaching what I am teaching and doing what I am doing. This is not a title, but you must actually come to this platform. This I want. ”.
All Glories to Srila Prabhupada.
why not just accept that there is a gap in parampara which is filled by Srila Prabhupada? why force people to call themselves ‘ritivk’ when Srila Prabhupad never called his disciples so? Ritviks have deviated just as much by inventing their own GBC and separating themselves from ISKCON. You can’t fix something which you have abandoned in favour of new concoction. Both factions have deviated ISZION and ritivks. Both are litigating in order to secure more material assets for themselves. Why should we follow either?
Why not just seriously preach and forget about formalities for some time until guru-tattva is clear to all? Why force people into some arrangements which are not even absolutely necessary in their spiritual lives and around which there is so much controversy?
“If you have understood this Krishna philosophy and if you have decided that you will take Krishna consciousness seriously and preach the philosophy to others; that is your initiation. My touch is simply a formality. It is your determination that is initiation.”
Srila Prabhupada’s Back To Godhead Article, ‘Search for the Divine’
“Whether a Vaishnava is properly initiated or not is not a subject for consideration. One may be initiated and yet contaminated by the Mayavadi philosophy, but a person who chants the holy name of the Lord offenselessly will not be so contaminated. A properly initiated Vaishnava may be imperfect, but one who chants the holy name of the Lord offenselessly is all perfect. Although he may apparently be a neophyte, he still has to be considered a pure unalloyed devotee.” (Cc. M.L. 15.111)
Before, there was a gap in parampara and all those deviants ( like JEWBC and ritivks today) who have tired to fill it in various ways have failed miserably.
History keeps repeating itself. Two unauthrorised factions are engaged in expensive litigation to this day. We should not belong to any such faction. Deviations of unauthorised factions in question are plenty and those siding with either one of them have made themselves useless.
Śrīla Prabhupāda Says – [Regarding how the Gauḍīya Maṭha after the passing of Bhaktisiddhānta Saraswati Mahārāja split up into various ācārya/dīkṣā guru maṭhas paying no heed to the fact that the ‘ācārya’ did not appoint anyone as ācārya/dīkṣā guru of the Gauḍīya Maṭha – which is the very same thing that occurred in Śrīla Prabhupāda’s ISKCON society]
“The words daivera kāraṇa indicate that by dint of providence, or by God’s will, the followers of Advaita Ācārya divided into two parties. Such disagreement among the disciples of one ācārya is also found among the members of the Gauḍīya Maṭha.
In the beginning, during the presence of Oṁ Viṣṇupāda Paramahaṁsa Parivrājakācārya Aṣṭottara-śata Śrī Śrīmad Bhaktisiddhānta Sarasvatī Ṭhākura Prabhupāda, all the disciples worked in agreement; but just after his disappearance, they disagreed. One party strictly followed the instructions of Bhaktisiddhānta Sarasvatī Ṭhākura, but another group created their own concoction about executing his desires.
Bhaktisiddhānta Sarasvatī Ṭhākura, at the time of his departure, requested all his disciples to form a governing body and conduct missionary activities cooperatively. He did not instruct a particular man to become the next ācārya. But just after his passing away, his leading secretaries made plans, without authority, to occupy the post of ācārya, and they split into two factions over who the next ācārya would be.
Consequently, both factions were asāra, or useless, because they had no authority, having disobeyed the order of the spiritual master. Despite the spiritual master’s order to form a governing body and execute the missionary activities of the Gauḍīya Maṭha, the two unauthorized factions began litigation that is still going on after forty years with no decision.
Therefore, WE DO NOT BELONG TO ANY FACTION. But because the two parties, busy dividing the material assets of the Gauḍīya Maṭha institution, stopped the preaching work, we took up the mission of Bhaktisiddhānta Sarasvatī Ṭhākura and Bhaktivinoda Ṭhākura to preach the cult of Caitanya Mahāprabhu all over the world, under the protection of all the predecessor ācāryas, and we find that our humble attempt has been successful.
We followed the principles especially explained by Śrīla Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura in his commentary on the Bhagavad-gītā verse vyavasāyātmikā buddhir ekeha kuru-nandana. According to this instruction of Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura, it is the duty of a disciple to follow strictly the orders of his spiritual master. The secret of success in advancement in spiritual life is the firm faith of the disciple in the orders of his spiritual master.”
[CC Adi Līlā: 12.8]
@”Ritviks have deviated just as much by inventing their own GBC and separating themselves from ISKCON”
Thanks Bh Enver from Dublin,Ireland, plz don’t spam this forum by telling us Prabhupada is incapable to be diksha-guru for the movement he himself started. We can’t again and again run-through the whole thing from scratch.
Thanks for your understanding,
ysbm
das anudas says: why force people to call themselves ‘ritivk’ when Srila Prabhupad never called his disciples so?
Mahesh: Ritvik simply means a priest. You have no clear idea what initiation entails. Request – please TRY and UNDERSTAND. Ritvik REPRESENTATIVE conducts DUTIES OF A PRIEST FOR THE PURPOSE OF **FORMALITIES** OF 1ST AND 2ND INITIATION ON BEHALF OF THE ACARYA SRILA PRABHUPADA. Even to be RITVIK is NOT just an ordinary POST. This POST requires ONE to be a REPRESENTATIVE OF ACARYA SRILA PRABHUPADA.
There is MORE to it then simply FORMALITIES and that is AFTER FORMALITIES ONE HAS TO CHANT THE HARE KRSNA MAHA-MANTRA OFFENSELESS.
In the stage where one advances to the MADHYAMA ADHIKARI STAGE THERE IS DIKSA. Diksa is A PROCESS. It does not mean that by mere formality of 1st and 2nd initiation it is complete – NO!
You have to come to the stage where Krsna is TRANSFERED INTO YOUR HEART from the Maha-Bhagavata Srila Prabhupada this is HOW you understand YOUR CONSTITUTIONAL RELATIONSHIP (SVARUPA) WITH KRSNA . Eg as a cowherd boy etc So when you SEE Krsna IN YOUR HEART by this understanding of your relationship with Krsna your sinful reactions of Karma are BURNED OFF which means – FREEDOM FROM CYCLE OF BIRTH AND DEATH.
Read the following so as to give you a better picture:
THE STUDENTS AND DISCIPLES ARE INITIATED ACCORDING TO AUTHORIZED PANCARATRIKI REGULATIONS
There are two aspects in initiation:
1) Formality (Pancaratriki) – name giving ceremony etc
2) Diksa(Knowledge) – spiritual initiation received by Madhyama adhikari
As shown previously in my article”, the Ritvik ***Representative*** was to allow for the function of Formality. So a question may be raised, why formality?
The answer is very simple: the Diksa given to Madhyama adhikari is NOT a formality. Initiation offered to neophyte/Kanistha IS a Formality. THIS is the BIG difference.
In conformity with the establishment of the formality of a Ritvik System 9th July 1977, Srila Prabhupada’s signed directive to the society the Pancaratriki regulations were followed in this initiation. “THE STUDENTS AND DISCIPLES ARE INITIATED ACCORDING TO AUTHORIZED PANCARATRIKI REGULATIONS”
This is a general principle. However, A person who is liberated acharya and guru cannot commit any mistake, but there are persons who are less qualified or not liberated, but still can act as ‘guru’ and ‘acharya’ by strictly following the disciplic succession.
(Lecture 26th April, 1968. New York)
Whether one uses the terms OFFICIATING ACARYA OR RITVIK OR REPRESENTATIVE they mean the SAME ie to ACT ON BEHALF OF ACARYA. So this is act as “guru” and “Acarya”. They ACTING as OFFICIATING ACARYA OR RITVIK REPRESENTATIVE OF ACARYA. They are NOT acarya but acting as in capacity to OFFICIATE on behalf of the ACARYA. This is very clear. Srila Prabhupada has in all front cover of the Books:
Founder-Acarya His Divine Grace AC Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada. The hypen means Srila Prabhupada IS the ACARYA of ISKCON not simply its Founder consequently, one who wants to accept the position of formality of initiating others can ONLY do so ON BELHALF of Srila Prabhupada the ACARYA. THERE IS NO OTHER WAY. Srila Prabhupada’s Diksa giving position in ISKCON as long as it exists is IRREPLACEABLE.
Srila Prabhupada’s introduction of Ritvik Initiations (PANCARATRIKI) is fully justified as the formalities may be changed ” can also be initiated according to circumstances.”
SB 4.8.54 Purport:
Those who are not actually in the line of acaryas, or who personally have no knowledge of how to act in the role of acarya, unnecessarily criticize the activities of the ISKCON movement in countries outside of India. The fact is that such critics cannot do anything personally to spread Krsna consciousness. If someone does go and preach, taking all risks and allowing all considerations for time and place, it might be that there are changes in the manner of worship, but that is not at all faulty according to sastra. Srimad Viraraghava Acarya, an acarya in the disciplic succession of the Ramanuja-sampradaya, has remarked in his commentary that candalas, or conditioned souls who are born in lower than sudra families, can also be initiated according to circumstances. The formalities may be slightly changed here and there to make them Vaisnavas.
68-06-12. Letter: whom it may concern
In each center we have got hundreds of disciples and followers, and our initiated disciples are strictly following the restrictions as principle, as follows: (1) no illicit sex life, (2) no intoxication, including coffee, tea, and cigarettes, (3) no gambling, (4) no meat eating. We have got both Brahmacaris and Householders as disciples, and all of them are following the above mentioned principles. THE STUDENTS AND DISCIPLES ARE INITIATED ACCORDING TO AUTHORIZED PANCARATRIKI REGULATIONS. According to Srimad-Bhagavatam and Bhagavad-gita, anyone, including so-called low born men, who may take shelter unto the Lotus Feet of Lord Krishna or His devotees, is sanctified by initiation process.
kirata-hunandhra-pulinda-pulkasa
abhira-sumbha yavanah khasadayah
ye ‘nye ca papa yad-apasrayasrayah
sudhyanti tasmai prabhavisnave namah
How such thing can be possible is explained in the Srimad-Bhagavatam that by special all-pervading power of Visnu this is possible.
721027ND.VRN Lecture
So we are trying to follow Sanatana Gosvami. By diksa-vidhanena, by imitating persons any, from anywhere. It does not matter. Because in this age, Kali-yuga, the diksa-vidhana is performed according, according to Pancaratrika-vidhi. Not Vaidika-vidhi. Vaidika-vidhi is very strict. Unless one is bona fide son of a dvija, the initiation was not given. To the sudras, there was no initiation. A brahmana ksatriya, vaisya. So these are the Vedic process. SO IN THE KALI-YUGA, BECAUSE IT IS TO BE UNDERSTOOD THAT EVERYONE IS A SUDRA, THEREFORE VAIDIKA-VIDHANA CANNOT BE APPLIED. VAIDIKA-VIDHANA REQUIRES THAT ONE MUST BE BORN BY A BRAHMANA, KSATRIYA. THEN HE’S ELIGIBLE FOR BEING INITIATED. BUT IN THE KALI-YUGA, THAT IS NOT POSSIBLE. THEREFORE THE PANCARATRIKI-VIDHI IS ACCEPTED.
680724IN.MON Lecture
sruti-smrti-puranadi-
pancaratriki vidhim vina
aikantiki harer bhaktir
utpatayaiva kalpate
This is the definition given by Srila Rupa Gosvami, that to become a devotee of the Lord, Krsna, one has to follow the principles of sruti and smrti, and pancaratriki-vidhi. Especially in this age, Kali-yuga, there is no Vedic vidhi. Because Vedic vidhi is lost. Formerly, initiation was offered to a person who is actually born of a brahmana father. Otherwise… Or the higher caste, the brahmanas, the ksatriyas, and the vaisyas, they were offered initiation, and the sudras were not offered. That was the Vedic system. But in this age the sastra says that kalau sudra sambhava. IN THIS AGE OF KALI PRACTICALLY THERE IS NO MORE ANY BRAHMANA, KSATRIYA, OR VAISYA. MAYBE BY NAME, BUT IN QUALIFICATION THEY ARE NOT EXISTING. EVERYONE IS SUPPOSED TO BE SUDRA. SO IN KALI-YUGA THE PANCARATRIKI-VIDHI IS ACCEPTED. The pancaratriki-vidhi is also Vedic vidhi, corollary, given by Narada Mahamuni. But it is accepted by the Vedic followers, pancaratriki-vidhi.
Pancaratriki-vidhi means if any one has a little inclination for spiritual development, he should be given chance. This initiation means to give chance. The Bhagavata says that kirata-hunandhra-pulinda-pulkasa abhira-sumbha yavanah khasadayah. These are the list of the candalas or less than the sudras. So Bhagavata gives open road for everyone. Even one is kirata… Kirata means… Generally they are called aborigines, or the very black aborigines living in the jungles, they are called kirata.
710329BG.BOM Lecture
Our Sanatana Gosvami gives direction in the Hari-bhakti-vilasa that one man can become a brahmana by the regular process of diksa. Diksa, this initiation, cannot be offered to a sudra. Diksa cannot be offered to a sudra. But in this age, Kali-yuga, it is the statement of the sastras that in the Kali-yuga most of the population are sudras. Kalau sudra sambhavah. How they can be initiated? This initiation is offered not according to the Vedic rules, because it is very difficult to find out a qualified brahmana. DIKSA IS OFFERED TO A QUALIFIED BRAHMANA. THEREFORE THIS DIKSA IS OFFERED ACCORDING TO PANCARATRIKI-VIDHI. THAT IS RECOMMENDED IN THIS AGE. MY SPIRITUAL MASTER INAUGURATED THIS PANCARATRIKI-VIDHI, AND WE ARE FOLLOWING HIS FOOTSTEPS. Anyone who is inclined to devote his life for Krsna, he should be accepted as brahmana.
Note: A MADHYAMA-ADHIKARI HAS RECEIVED SPIRITUAL INITIATION FROM THE SPIRITUAL MASTER AND HAS BEEN FULLY ENGAGED BY HIM IN THE TRANSCENDENTAL LOVING SERVICE OF THE LORD.** THIS IS DIKSA**.
Antya 4.192 T Sanatana Gosvami Visits the Lord at Jagannatha Puri:
DIKSA-KALE bhakta kare atma-samarpana
sei-kale krsna tare kare atma-sama
“At the time of initiation, when a devotee FULLY SURRENDERS UNTO THE SERVICE OF THE LORD, Krsna accepts him to be as good as Himself.
Antya 4.193 Sanatana Gosvami Visits the Lord at Jagannatha Puri:
“When the devotee’s body is thus transformed into spiritual existence, the devotee, in that transcendental body, renders SERVICE to the lotus feet of the Lord.
Antya 4.194 Sanatana Gosvami Visits the Lord at Jagannatha Puri:
“‘The living entity who is subjected to birth and death, when he gives up all material activities dedicating his life to Me for executing My order, and thus acts according to My direction, AT THAT TIME HE REACHES THE PLATFORM OF IMMORTALITY, AND BECOMES FIT TO ENJOY THE SPIRITUAL BLISS OF EXCHANGE OF LOVING MELLOWS WITH ME.’
NoI 5:
In order to intelligently apply the sixfold loving reciprocations mentioned in the previous verse, one must select proper persons with careful discrimination. Srila Rupa Gosvami therefore advises that we should meet with the Vaisnavas in an appropriate way, according to their particular status. In this verse he tells us how to deal with three types of devotees–the kanistha-adhikari, madhyama-adhikari and uttama-adhikari. The kanistha-adhikari is a neophyte who has received the hari-nama initiation from the spiritual master and is trying to chant the holy name of Krsna. One should respect such a person within his mind as a kanistha-vaisnava. A MADHYAMA-ADHIKARI HAS RECEIVED SPIRITUAL INITIATION FROM THE SPIRITUAL MASTER AND HAS BEEN FULLY ENGAGED BY HIM IN THE TRANSCENDENTAL LOVING SERVICE OF THE LORD. The madhyama-adhikari should be considered to be situated midway in devotional service. The uttama-adhikari, or highest devotee, is one who is very advanced in devotional service. An uttama-adhikari is not interested in blaspheming others, his heart is completely clean, and he has attained the realized state of unalloyed Krsna consciousness. According to Srila Rupa Gosvami, the association and service of such a maha-bhagavata, or perfect Vaisnava, are most desirable.s to act for everyone’s welfare.
Note: in this Srila Prabhupada makes a point of Initiation as a formality this is different from Madhyama Adhikaris receiving Diksa
761016iv.cha Conversation Interviewer: What is the procedure of the movement? Do you initiate yourself all the disciples or do your other disciples also do that?
Prabhupada: Well, initiation or no initiation, first thing is knowledge. (break) …knowledge. Initiation is formality. Just like you go to a school for knowledge, and admission is formality. That is not very important thing.
Whereas Srila Prabhupada DELIVERS by giving DIKSA knowledge the formality is conducted by the Ritviks (Representatives of Acarya).
Kanistha adhikari is supposed to be in the mode of Goodness Sattva guna not on Visuddha Sattava platform which is Pure Goodness so he can NOT give diksa. How can a Kanistha adhikari give diksa if he himself is not free from all material contamination?
Madhya 4.111 Sri Madhavendra Puri’ s Devotional Service:
Diksa actually means initiating a disciple with transcendental knowledge by which he becomes freed from all material contamination.
If Kanistha adhikari could give this Diksa to another this means there would be no material contamination at all but he cannot do this. ONLY at Madhyama adhikari stage one can initiated with transcendental Knowledge and become freed from ALL material contamination. It is mistakenly misunderstood that even Kanistha or Madhyama adhikari give diksa this is perhaps due to the understanding they CAN accept disciples. Please see the quote below:
“In this verse Srila Rupa Gosvami advises the devotee to be intelligent enough to distinguish between the kanistha-adhikari, madhyama-adhikari and the uttama-adhikari. The devotee should also know his own position and should not try to imitate a devotee situated on a higher platform. Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura has given some practical hints to the effect that an uttama-adhikari Vaisnava can be recognized by his ability to convert many fallen souls to Vaisnavism. One should not become a spiritual master unless he has attained the platform of uttama-adhikari. A neophyte Vaisnava or a Vaisnava situated on the intermediate platform can also accept disciples, but such disciples must be on the same platform, and it should be understood that they cannot advance very well toward the ultimate goal of life under his insufficient guidance. Therefore a disciple should be careful to accept an uttama-adhikari as a spiritualmaster.” (Purport, Nectar of Instruction)
In this quote please note there is no mention of giving diksa at all. In fact it does NOT encourage accepting spiritual master from the Madhyama or Kanistha. The quote is about taking discipline NOT Diksa. The 3rd Offence in chanting is to disobey the Spiritual master so in either case if one becomes a spiritual master without being on Uttama Adhikari he will be committing offense and if he accepts one who is not on uttama adhikari he will commit offense in the chanting of the holy name.
Note: Diksa is illustrated graphically here Vasudeva was on Suddha sattva platform this is why from him Krsna is transferred to Devaki
SB 10.2.18 Prayers by the Demigods for Lord Krsna in the Womb:
Thereafter, accompanied by plenary expansions, the fully opulent Supreme Personality of Godhead, who is all-auspicious for the entire universe, was transferred from the mind of Vasudeva to the mind of Devaki. Devaki, having thus been initiated by Vasudeva, became beautiful by carrying Lord Krsna, the original consciousness for everyone, the cause of all causes, within the core of her heart, just as the east becomes beautiful by carrying the rising moon.
PURPORT:
As indicated here by the word manastah, the Supreme Personality of Godhead was transferred from the core of Vasudeva’s mind or heart to the core of the heart of Devaki. We should note carefully that the Lord was transferred to Devaki not by the ordinary way for a human being, but by diksa, initiation. Thus the importance of initiation is mentioned here. Unless one is initiated by the right person, who always carries within his heart the Supreme Personality of Godhead, one cannot acquire the power to carry the Supreme Godhead within the core of one’s own heart.
SB 8.5.29 P The Demigods Appeal to the Lord for Protection:
Sattvam visuddham vasudeva-sabditam (Bhag. 4.3.23). In this material world, the three modes of material nature–goodness, passion and ignorance–prevail. Among these three, goodness is the platform of knowledge, and passion brings about a mixture of knowledge and ignorance, but the mode of ignorance is full of darkness. Therefore the Supreme Personality of Godhead is beyond darkness and passion. He is on the platform where goodness or knowledge is not disturbed by passion and ignorance. This is called the vasudeva platform. It is on this platform of vasudeva that Vasudeva, or Krsna, can appear.
SB 5.3.20 P Rsabhadeva’ s Appearance in the Womb of Merudevi, the Wife of King Nabhi:
Lord Visnu descends in His suddha-sattva form. Suddha-sattva refers to the sattva-guna which is never contaminated. In this material world, even the mode of goodness (sattva-guna) is contaminated by tinges of rajo-guna and tamo-guna. When sattva-guna is never contaminated by rajo-guna and tamo-guna, it is called suddha-sattva. Sattvam visuddham vasudeva-sabditam (Bhag. 4.3.23). That is the platform of vasudeva, whereby the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Vasudeva, can be experienced.
Note: Karma is taken by UTTAMA-ADHAKARI. Only he can DELIVER by definition. uttama-adhikari Sei taraye samsara.
Madhya 22.65 The Process of Devotional Service:
uttama-adhikari–the topmost devotee; sei–he; taraye samsara–can deliver the whole world.
Srila Prabhupada delivers. He GIVES Diksa. Formalities of initiation are done by his Ritvik Representatives.
I wonder if das anudas reads his own contradiction in his comments which reads as ;
” Ritviks have deviated just as much by inventing their own GBC and separating themselves from ISKCON.”
And elsewhere in his comments he quotes ;
” Bhaktisiddhānta Sarasvatī Ṭhākura, at the time of his departure, requested all his disciples to form a governing body and conduct missionary activities cooperatively. He did not instruct a particular man to become the next ācārya. But just after his passing away, his leading secretaries made plans, without authority, to occupy the post of ācārya, and they split into two factions over who the next ācārya would be.”
And he continues to state further which reads as ;
” Śrīla Prabhupāda Says — [Regarding how the Gauḍīya Maṭha after the passing of Bhaktisiddhānta Saraswati Mahārāja split up into various ācārya/dīkṣā guru maṭhas paying no heed to the fact that the ‘ācārya’ did not appoint anyone as ācārya/dīkṣā guru of the Gauḍīya Maṭha – which is the very same thing that occurred in Śrīla Prabhupāda’s ISKCON society]
Did the Ritviks – aka – followers of the Instructions of HDG. Srila Prabhupada invent their own GBC system of running Srila Prabhupada’s Iskcon ?
If the answer is YES, then, this das is certainly contradicting his own writing and misleading massive people. Is this not a FACT ?
If the answer is NO, then, this das is certainly contradicting again when he writes nonsense comments stating ; ” Ritviks have deviated just as much by inventing their own GBC and separating themselves from ISKCON.”
Both way his motive seems to spam this forum ( by CONTRADICTION AND MISLEADING ) as mentioned correctly by Bhakta Michael in his comments.
If I remember well that I have seen reading this das comments else where on the net which were refuted and rebuked by the followers of the Instructions of HDG. Srila Prabhupada.
I hope sincerely that he takes the heed and go else where where his such foolish remarks may go unnoticed by the readers.
Hari BOL.
All Glories to Srila Prabhupada.