“While I was coming out of the Soho temple, I was being handed over this magazine called Back to Prabhupada […] You are wasting so much energy criticizing the Gurus and wasting all of your valuable time. I believe that by whatever means one can attain Krishna that’s fair […] Srila Prabhupada will be very sad to see your low consciousness.”
– Bhaktin Barsha Kalita, London, England
Editor replies: You obviously believe it is correct to spend time criticising others and finding fault in them, since you have written to us and criticized us and found fault in us for having “low consciousness” etc. Therefore by your own conduct you are demonstrating that we must speak the truth for the benefit of others.
What matters is if what we are speaking is true or not. You will find in our magazine that everything presented is not only true, but referenced by the words of Srila Prabhupada. Srila Prabhupada teaches that he is the sole diksa Guru for ISKCON, and those who try and usurp his position must be checked. Do you believe in Srila Prabhupada’s words or not? And if you do, why object to them when we present them? Indeed, how can us presenting facts, truth and Srila Prabhupada’s words be “wasting time”?
In ISKCON, only Srila Prabhupada can take us back to Krishna -a fact even ISKCON’s “gurus” like Bhakti Charu Swami now freely admit (please see BTP Special Issue 2). You have said that by whatever means one attains Krishna is “fair”. But there is only one means to attain Krishna, which is taught by Krishna Himself, and that is by surrendering to and serving His representative, the bona fide spiritual master, Srila Prabhupada – not by disobeying him!
“My commentary about the magazine is to suggest for a change of mood in your preaching […] Just forget about ISKCON’s mafia existence. Take into account the unlimited amount of new people at your disposal and give to them Prabhupada’s mercy deprived of political tinge.”
– Abhimanyu Suta Das, Lima, Peru
Editor replies: There are currently very large numbers of devotees who are having their spiritual lives destroyed by ISKCON’s guru hoaxers who have taken control of the movement Srila Prabhupada actually started. ISKCON, after all, is still distributing over 3 million books a year and has some 200-300 centres worldwide -but are taking people away from Srila Prabhupada. On the planet right now, there is no other group which is making any attempt to help these poor souls except the IRM. There are already many devotees preaching to the public, but we are the only ones preaching to the devotees the real secret of spiritual life: that only Srila Prabhupada can take you back to Godhead. This preaching to the devotees is our unflinching mood:
“TRANSLATION: For one who explains the supreme secret to the devotees, devotional service is guaranteed, and at the end he will come back to Me.
PURPORT: […] Bhagavad-gita should be explained to persons who are ready to accept Krsna as the Supreme Personality of Godhead. It is a subject matter for the devotees only […]”
(Bhagavad-gita As It Is, 18.68)
So we will continue until we have rescued them from the guru hoaxers. Since all the IRM members were themselves rescued by such preaching efforts, they obviously now do not want to deprive everyone else of the same benefit they have received.
“Why do you unnecessarily blaspheme all ISKCON gurus? Let Srila Prabhupada and Krishna decide and you simply preach. People cry on reading such articles which are sometimes full of direct blasphemy.”
– Surendra Agarwal, West Bengal, India
Editor replies: We do not unnecessarily blaspheme the ISKCON gurus Firstly, since we only speak the truth, it is impossible to commit blasphemy, otherwise then truth or dharma itself would be guilty of blasphemy. Secondly, it is very much necessary to speak the truth so that people know who the bona fide Guru is, without which one cannot even begin the process of Krishna consciousness. You say we should let Srila Prabhupada and Krishna decide, and we should just preach. But we are in agreement with you:
a) Srila Prabhupada has already decided by issuing directives which make it clear that he remains the sole diksa Guru of ISKCON, such as the July 9th, 1977 directive to all GBCs and Temple Presidents, and we are simply repeating these instructions.
b) Srila Prabhupada and Krishna have already decided by inspiring the creation of BTP. And through BTP we are simply preaching, just as you advise.
Of course, if we state the fact that the current ISKCON gurus were not authorised by Srila Prabhupada, and therefore are not acting correctly, this may offend those who have faith in them. But we cannot avoid stating this truth just because someone make take offense at hearing it. Rather, the greatest offense would be to not speak the truth.
And it is interesting that you feel the message of our magazine is so powerful that it can immediately reduce someone to tears. Such is the power of truth!
“No doubt IRM’s stand is absolutely right. But since your site was not so serious towards the varnasrama mission, I have decided to take initiation from an ISKCON Guru Maharaja. I have found in last one year, service with my guru maharaja for that mission, that certainly there are some serious drawbacks with all dealing of varnasrama mission, and I do not know what is exactly the problem, why our activities are not taking shape, even though we are working very hard.”
– Bhaktavatsal Das, Jaisalmer, India
Editor replies: Srila Prabhupada never stated that varnasrama can be instituted by:
a) Disobeying him.
b) Kicking him out as the Guru of ISKCON.
c) Accepting initiation from the bogus gurus who have kicked him out.
So obviously varnasrama will never get established by following the above process, as proven by the fact that in the last 30 years ISKCON has not even come close to establishing varnasrama. By taking part in the guru hoax deviation, which is a huge offense to Srila Prabhupada, you also will similarly fail in your attempts to get varnasrama insitituted. And you have admitted that this is exactly what has happened!
Nothing happens due to material formulas and power, but only due to the MERCY and GRACE of Srila Prabhupada. Clearly, this is never going to come as long as we keep offending him by spreading the guru hoax. Varnasrama and all other things will follow after we have first re-established Srila Prabhupada’s true position, and driven out all the offences being perpetrated in his name.
Pamho.
Dear Krishnakant Prabhu one can go on arguing if Srila Prabhupada gave permission yes or not a disciple should become a Diksa Guru. Prabhupada quoting Srila Rupa Goswami… Prabhupada writes in his purport NOI Vers 5 towards the end, that one can initiate but he must be at least on the madhyama-adhikari platform. Puri Maharaj also says there must be a living Guru to carry on. I hope it will bring some light. All glories to Guru and Gauranga.
Hemasharira Das ACBSP: Prabhupada quoting Srila Rupa Goswami… Prabhupada writes in his purport NOI Vers 5 towards the end, that one can initiate but he must be at least on the madhyama-adhikari platform.
Mahesh: You have mis-read. The quote does NOT state the Madhyama can initiate. The quote does state the Madhyama can accept disciples. Giving INITIATION and accepting disciples are two different aspects as even a neophyte CAN accept disciples.
“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 INITIATION at all. In fact it does NOT encourage accepting spiritual master from the Madhyama or Kanistha. The quote is about taking discipline. 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.
ONLY UTTAMA-ADHAKARI 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.
Note: the word DIKSITAH refers to giving DIKSA and ONLY a MAHA-BHAGAVAT is mentioned with the word “MUST” accept used TWICE. This is NOT an option. ONLY a MAHA-BHAGAVATA IS TO BE ACCEPTED AS DIKSA GURU.
Madhya 24.330 — The Sixty-One Explanations of the Atmarama Verse:
“In the Padma Purana, the characteristics of the guru, the bona fide spiritual master, have been described:
MAHA-BHAGAVATA-srestho
brahmano vai gurur nrnam
sarvesam eva lokanam
asau pujyo yatha harih
maha-kula-prasuto ‘pi
sarva-yajnesu DIKSITAH
sahasra-sakhadhyayi ca
na guruh syad avaisnavah
The guru MUST be situated on the topmost platform of devotional service. There are three classes of devotees, and the guru MUST be accepted from the topmost class. The first-class devotee is the spiritual master for all kinds of people.
Hemasharira das writes: “Prabhupada writes in his purport NOI Vers 5 towards the end, that one can initiate but he must be at least on the madhyama-adhikari platform.”
Madhyama-adhikari platform means FREE FROM ALL MATERIAL DESIRES. Is it NOT?
Who is that person in Iskcon or in Gaudiya Math leaders that is FREE FROM ALL MATERIAL DESIRES and therefore, that person must have been authorized by the predecessor acaraya in the same disciplic succession????
Can you name one, Hemasharira das?
Did Srila Prabhupada introduce living Guru concept to carry on his mission????
Hope you pay attention to these questions carefully.
Hari BOL.
All Glories to Srila Prabhupada.
BV Puri said that Srila Prabhupada had only ordered ritviks. Then he went on to support Gopal Krishna and the GBC’s guru process, which says that deviants are often gurus. That means: BV Puri accepted and promoted the GBC guru program that promotes deviants as acharyas.
Meanwhile, BP Puri was a big supporter of GBC gurus like Jayapataka, the founder father of the illicit sex acharya’s program. Sorry, Srila Prabhupada said among my God brothers, no one is qualified to be acharya, because they keep endorsing fools as acharyas, like these folks did. ys pd
Hemasharira Das ACBSP says: Prabhupada writes in his purport NOI Vers 5 towards the end, that one can initiate…
But not within ISKCON! How initiations were to be carried out in the future, within ISKCON, was simply a management decision. After thinking about it for several weeks, Srila Prabhupada made his decision perfectly clear in his July 9, 1977 directive to all GBC men/temple presidents. Prabhupada condemned the factionalization of ISKCON that a multiple guru system would cause. Therefore, out of his causeless mercy, he prescribed “ritvik henceforward” (paraphrased) for all future initiations within his beloved ISKCON.
In the early to mid 70s, moving into the brahmacari ashrama was like going through military boot-camp! It was an extremely effective training program for the new bhaktas!
The trouble is, even though Srila Prabhupada ordered in his will, “No management changes” (paraphrased), he was, soon after his physical departure on November 14, 1977, replaced as ISKCON’s only diksa guru, and his “non-guru” disciples were branded as “envious”/”not to be listened to!” Thus, the very effective bhakta training program that Srila Prabhupada had so painstakingly set up over the years was practically destroyed overnight!
Even 15 years ago it was obvious that the new bhaktas were no longer getting trained properly. (See: Old vs. New: How Things Have Changed within ISKCON since Prabhupada Was Personally Running Things.)