Misinterpreting One Word
BY: BHAKTA SURIA
Apr 11, SINGAPORE (SUN) —
In his recent article, "Thanks to Bhakta Suria", Janmastami das wrote:
"In some of Suria's earlier offerings, most notably those concerning the July 9th, 1977 Letter, he has offered us his opinions based on personal observations, from a time and era that he may not have experienced."
Please view my previous article, "What's so Difficult to Understand?". I've based my "time, place, and circumstances" on the account of
others who were there. So please read first before speculating.
Janmastami said:
"His speculation that since November 1977, no one can "write to Srila Prabhupada"
Yes, because Srila Prabhupada said:
"...continue to become ritvik and act on my charge." (July 19th, 1977)
"...continue to become ritvik and act on my behalf." (July 31st, 1977)
'Act on my charge' means act on Srila Prabhupada's supervisory. 'Act on my behalf' means I'm there, but you do it on my behalf. All these give reference to physical proximity, common sense. Your sentiments have affected your intelligence to think that's the problem.
You said:
"That behavior was wrong, admitted by all parties to the discussion, and the later ISKCON modifications are only to the personal in the multiple acarya system Prabhupada wanted a multiple acharya system;"
Srila Prabhupada said:
"…yes all of them will take over. These students who are initiated from me, all of them will act as I am doing. Just like I have got many Godbrothers, they are all acting."
( Srila Prabhupada Room Conversation, July 18, 1971, Detroit)
"Just like during the lifetime of our Guru Maharaja, all our Godbrothers now who are acting as acaryas, they did not do so. That is not etiquette."
(Lecture on Caitanya-caritamrta, Mayapur, April 6, 1975)
So based on the above two quotes, Srila Prabhupada is requesting his disciples to become acaryas (multiple Gurus) just like himself and his Godbrothers who were giving diksa. As long as one who is preaching has the ability, he can be guru (diksa, siksa). This is very clear.
Here is another quote to confirm that "Self-effulgent" acarya is not limited to just one personality:
"He never recommended anyone to be acarya of the Gaudiya Math. But Sridhar Maharaja is responsible for disobeying this order of Guru Maharaja, and he and two others who are already dead, unnecessarily thought that there must be one acarya".
(Srila Prabhupada Letter to Rupanuga, April 28, 1974)
So based on the above quote, Srila Prabhupada himself had debunked the theory that there must be only one self-effulgent acarya.
[Suria wrote:] "The word "henceforward" means from now on. You have to interpret that
in the context of the whole letter. "to Srila Prabhupada" means Prabhupada has to be physically around."
For the above quote you speculated. Clearly, this is the thinking of a neophyte who knows nothing but the material concept of things. Again, following this logic, what use to vyasa-puja offerings or offerings to past spiritual masters because "to XXX means XXX has to be physically around"?"
Vyasa puja offerings is a devotion to Guru. Now we are speaking about managing here. If that's the case, can I do a vyasa puja offering to Narada Muni and consider him my Guru? You're affected by sentiments, just like the Christians who had elevated Jesus to God. You have made Srila Prabhupada into Jesus Christ. Logic means reasoning with intelligence. "To Srila Prabhupada" means he must be around (bearing in mind that this letter was written at the time when Prabhupada was around.) I want the files to be sent to John. John must be around to receive or supervise it. I challenge you to show me proof that Srila Prabhupada ever said, "After I leave, this Rtvik system should continue." A directive order should be clear, so that there won't be any confusion. You Rtvik-vadas with your Guru, Krsnakant, have committed a great offense in misinterpreting one word -- " henceforward".
You said:
"The list doesn't stop there, neither with this subject matter nor with his more recent revelations concerning "the true meaning" of Srila Prabhupada's last Will"
Stop speculating, and refute my article on the Will.
In Caitanya-caritamrta Madhya Lila 8.128 purport we read:
"Sometimes a caste guru says that ye krsna-tattva-vetta, sei guru haya means that one who is not a brahmana may become a siksa-guru or a vartma-pradarsaka-guru but not an initiator guru."
So a caste guru mentality is that a non-Brahmin cannot become a diksa guru. Srila Prabhupada says this NOT acceptable.
"…hereditary consideration is not acceptable to Vaisnavas. The word guru is equally applicable to the vartma-pradarsaka-guru, siksa-guru and diksa-guru."
(Caitanya-caritamrta Madhya Lila 8.128 purport)
Now we have Rtvik-vadas and their Guru, Krsnakant, propagating nonsense that Srila Prabhupada had created a system where for the next thousands of years, there will only be siksas and no diksas. One Rtvik-vada from Singapore who was defeated and cast aside says that diksa still exists in the form of Prabhupada. How stupid can he be? What about his disciples and all devotees for thousands of years? Nobody can give diksa? Based on the foolish interpretation of the July 9 Letter. Actually this is worse than the hereditary system because at least in that system, the Brahmins can give diksa. In this Rtvik-vada system nobody can give diksa, not even the Brahmins who may become devotees. How foolish can it get?
And for your info, I was already accepted by a Guru and am awaiting formal initiation. Actually, many Rtviks do not have any guru. They are under illusion, thinking that Srila Prabhupada has accepted them. So how about you -- were you accepted by Srila Prabhupada in pre-1977? Or are you one of the cheated lot who went thru Rtvik style initiation, putting a picture of Srila Prabhupada on the altar and falsely getting initiated, perhaps by Madhu Pandit, for all the wrong reasons?
Your servant,
Suria
