Understanding the July 9th 1977 Letter: Appointmentism and Posthumous Rtvikism Both Defeated
BY: BALAVIDYA DASA
Sep 8, USA (SUN) — If we are to properly understand the July 9th 1977 letter composed by Tamal Krsna Goswami, then Srila Prabhupada's secretary, then we must accept the context in which it was written. And in particular we must closely review the conversation on July 7th 1977 upon which the letter was composed by Tamal Krsna Goswami.
Firstly the context: Yes, Srila Prabhupada was ill. Yet, it was not a forgone conclusion that Srila Prabhupada was going to leave very soon. Srila Prabhupada did leave on November 14th that year, and now, from this perspective, we may look back and tie the July 9th letter closely to November 14th, as if the letter was specifically relevant to the departure of Srila Prabhupada. However, dear devotees step back and consider the validity of this way of thought. Kindly consider, to reiterate, that at that time it was not a forgone conclusion that Srila Prabhupada was certain to leave us soon. For instance, see that in Appendix Three (as below), there is a letter written within days of the July 9th letter, and in that letter Srila Prabhupada applies to the USA embassy to have his green card extended for another year. In the application letter, Srila Prabhupada even mentions that he is planning a trip to America soon.
So the overall mood at the time was strongly blended with the optimism that Srila Prabhupada was going to get well. The mood certainly wasn't only that Srila Prabhupada is departing and so everything he says is a preparation for his departure. So to look back from this present perspective of time and view events and letters, etc., in that way is just a trick of the mind, or a slip of the intelligence.
Actually, we should try to understand the mood of the time and try to understand the events from that that perspective. And, at that time, the July 9th letter was written to clear up the back-log of devotees anxiously waiting for first and second initiation in the presence of Srila Prabhupada. Why presume then that the letter was written to describe the exact opposite, i.e., a system to operate after the departure of Srila Prabhupada. In the letter there is no mention at all of the eleven rtvik-gurus changing their role to being "posthumous rtvik-gurus " at the departure of Srila Prabhupada. In fact there is no mention of Srila Prabhupada's departure in any way in the July 9th letter. And, as we say above, the departure of Srila Prabhupada was not a fixed presumption at all at the time.
Therefore, to propose that the July 9th letter was a deliberate preparation for policies after November 14th is a preposterous proposition.
Secondly, consider that if Srila Prabhupada had wanted the letter to be an absolute document meant to extend rtvik initiation beyond his departure, he would have made that perfectly clear. To leave it all down to one word "henceforward" in the July 9th letter (see Appendix Two below) is not the way Srila Prabhupada managed ISKCON. He always repeated and clarified matters, even in one purport to Bhagavad-gita, 2.25, Srila Prabhupada instructs, "Repetition of something is necessary in order that we understand the matter thoroughly, without error." After the July 9th letter there is just no mention again of a rtvik system of initiation, especially a "posthumous rtvik initiation system for the next ten-thousand years". We can be quite sure that if that was what Srila Prabhupada wanted, he would have explained it in detail and more than once.
Therefore to assert that Srila Prabhupada created a "posthumous rtvik-diksa system for the next ten thousand years" on the basis of one word that Tamal Krsna happened to use in the letter he composed is not tenuous, but is absurd, especially for those who closely related with Srila Prabhupada personally and therefore knew his impeccable way of doing everything.
Thirdly, if we are accept the assertion of the "posthumous rtvik" camp, then we must put aside everything that Srila Prabhupada had taught us previously, and even the order of Supreme Lord Sri Caitanya, "Everyone, on My order, become guru!" To assert that Srila Prabhupada made a "posthumous ten-thousand year rtvik-diksa" system that goes against the inviolate authorities of guru, sadhu, sastra and even the Supreme Lord personally is squarely offensive and, quite frankly, ridiculous. Srila Prabhupada many times said that 'his only credit is that he did not change anything'. And that this was "his magic".
However, with this particular essay, we wish to bring the learned devotees attention to the commonly passed over conversation on July 7 1977. I reproduce the conversation in Appendix One below. It is commonly put about that with the July 9th letter, Srila Prabhupada had deputed to the mentioned eleven devotees the responsibility to have the 'final word' upon whom would receive first or second initiation. Nonetheless, this is an imperfect and incomplete understanding. We shall see why.
The July 9th letter was based on the July 7th conversation so therefore let us examine the conversation to see if everything in the conversation is actually presented in the letter. Actually the July 9th letter does not have everything. Upon reading the conversation closely, we see that Srila Prabhupada says that he will still choose his disciples directly in India, i.e., he does not exclude himself. One might say 'Srila Prabhupada puts himself on the list'. Kindly note:
Tamala Krsna: … Okay. Is there someone else in India that you want to do this?
Prabhupada: India, I am here. We shall see…
In this section of the conversation, Tamal Krsna Goswami is asking Srila Prabhupada who will decide on the initiates in India. And Srila Prabhupada says "I am here. We shall see." Now the obvious point is: if this were a list to operate for rtvik initiation after Srila Prabhupada's disappearance, then why does Srila Prabhupada put himself on the list? In other words, how can Srila Prabhupada be giving a posthumous list if he puts his own name of the list? This simple point completely defeats the interpretation that the posthumous rtvik-diksa proponents put on the July 9th letter. As Srila Prabhupada puts himself on the list, the system described can be only meant to operate in his presence.
Unfortunately, Tamal Krsna Goswami did not mention in the July 9th letter that "in India" Srila Prabhupada was still deciding upon whom he would initiate. Now, just imagine, if Tamal had done so, then would the "posthumous rtvik-diksa idea" ever have arisen? Recompose the letter, with an extra sentence something like: "Those disciples serving in India may however still approach Srila Prabhupada directly for initiation". If that sentence, or the like, had found its way quite rightly into the July 9th letter, then we propose that the idea of posthumous rtvik initiation would not even have entered anyone's mind. It would have been obvious this letter was only relevant in the presence of Srila Prabhupada.
It is poignant to see how the July 9th letter has been misinterpreted by two erroneous camps. One camp grabbed at the letter and used it to set up an exclusive list of eleven appointed gurus, when there is no mention of such exclusive appointment in the letter, or anywhere else in Srila Prabhupada's directions. And another camp grabbed at the letter and used it to attack the exclusive eleven by interpreting the letter as setting up a posthumous rtvik-diksa system. Both camps had their own agenda and therefore read the letter in a self-serving way. The consequences have been most unfortunate.
We hope that now both camps can see where they have made their terrible mistake. It all comes down to one incontestable fact: In the July 7th conversation, Srila Prabhupada mentioned he would still choose his disciples, therefore the system described in the related July 9th letter is clearly meant to operate in the presence of Srila Prabhupada, i.e., previous to his samadhi. To support this understanding we have offered three supportive points to set the context for this conclusion. We pray that the devotees will deeply contemplate these matters in an unbiased frame of mind and see the truth.
If we don't properly understand Srila Prabhupada's instruction and then comply, then how can we be considered qualified to continue the disciplic succession? The same was said by Srila Prabhupada to the GBC, May 28th 1977, when Srila Prabhupada was asked how to continue the disciplic succession:
Prabhupada: "And Caitanya Mahaprabhu says, amara ajnaya guru hana. One [who] can understand the order of Caitanya Mahaprabhu, he can become guru. Or one who understands his guru's order, the same parampara, he can become guru."
Thus, the only devotees qualified to initiate in ISKCON are those who have understood Srila Prabhupada, "the same parampara". And those that think Srila Prabhupada set up a "diksa-guru -by GBC appointment system" or a "posthumous rtvik-diksa-guru system" have not understood Srila Prabhupada. Therefore in Srila Prabhupada's terms they are not qualified to initiate.
We hope that this short essay will help the sincere souls to see the fallacy of the two concocted systems (GBC Appointmentism and Posthumous Rtvikism). If devotees reject these ideas, then they are on the pathway to actual qualification for diksa-guruship. As Srila Prabhupada states above, the qualification is to understand his order. Srila Prabhupada's order is to simply present the sastric conclusion, As It Is, without speculative and whimsical material concoction.
The sastra is very simple and clear on the point of discipleship and guruship: the prospective guru and prospective disciple should mutually examine each other over the period of at least one year by close association. There is no mention of distant committees and guru -by-votes, of course. Nor does Srila Prabhupada ever mention such ideas other than to condemn them as that which ruined the mission of his own spiritual master, Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Prabhupada. So, of course, he would not want the same for ISKCON.
Here follows verses describing the mutual examination between the guru and disciple from Sanatana Goswami's Hari-Bhakti-Vilasa, Ist Vilasa:
Text 74
The Mantra-muktavali instructs, "The guru and aspiring disciple should live together for a year. They should examine each other to find out their nature, character and compatibility. There is no other way of achieving this."
Text 75
The Sruti states, "An aspiring disciple who does not stay together with the guru for a year should not be given diksa-mantra by the guru."
Text 76
The Sarasangraha also declares, "The guru should examine an aspiring disciple under his tutelage for a year."
Text 78
It is described in the Krama-dipika, "The disciple who is desirous to receive diksa [in the Gopala-mantra] must serve the guru for three years employing his wealth, simplicity of heart, affectionate behaviour, full physical endeavour, gentle speech and favourable attitude with the understanding that the guru is as good as the Supreme Lord. In this manner, when the disciple satisfies his guru, he may beg for diksa."
The process of examination is based on the requisite qualifications mentioned within the sastra. Thus accepting a guru is not an off-hand casual affair. One should be educated in sastric standards and spend time in respectful examination. Accepting a guru superficially on the basis of an institutional rubber-stamp is pure foolishness. And the GBC, to their discredit, have created the dynamics for such foolishness within ISKCON.
We may be assured that ISKCON will only show its true potential when the two whimsical concoctions of GBC guru-by-vote-Appointment/no objection and rtvik-posthumous- diksa-guru that have plagued the society with bitter contention and philosophical deviation since November 1977 are kicked far away and replaced with the scriptural injunctions, As They Are. Srila Prabhupada has described everything, there is absolutely no need to be whimsical and concoct. Sastra is the Perfect System, non-different from the Supreme Lord.
A final word of warning from Supreme Lord Sri Krsna:
Bhagavad-gita, 16.23:
yaù sastra-vidhim utsrjya vartate kama-karatah
na sa siddhim avapnoti na sukham na param gatim
"He who discards scriptural injunctions and acts according to his own whims attains neither perfection, nor happiness, nor the supreme destination."
We hope this is found helpful,
Your servant, Balavidya dasa
Appendix One:
The July 7th Conversation, the Basis for the July 9th Letter
Room Conversation
July 7, 1977, Vrndavana
Tamala Krsna: …We're receiving a number of letters now, and these are people who want to get initiated. So up until now, since your becoming ill, we asked them to wait.
Prabhupada: The local, mean, senior sannyasis can do that.
Tamala Krsna: That's what we were doing... I mean, formerly we were... The local GBC, sannyasis, were chanting on their beads, and they were writing to Your Divine Grace, and you were giving a spiritual name. So should that process be resumed, or should we...? I mean one thing is that it's said that the spiritual master takes on the... You know, he takes on the... He has to cleanse the disciple by... So we don't want that you should have to... Your health is not so good, so that should not be... That's why we've been asking everybody to wait. I just want to know if we should continue to wait some more time.
Prabhupada: No, the senior sannyasis...
Tamala Krsna: So they should continue to...
Prabhupada: You can give me a list of sannyasis. I will mark who will...
Tamala Krsna: Okay.
Prabhupada: You can do. Kirtanananda can do. And our Satsvarupa can do. So these three, you can give, begin.
Tamala Krsna: So supposing someone is in America, should they simply write directly to Kirtanananda or Satsvarupa?
Prabhupada: Nearby. Jayatirtha can give.
Tamala Krsna: Jayatirtha.
Prabhupada: Bhavanan..., er, Bhagavan. And he can do also. Harikesa.
Tamala Krsna: Harikesa Maharaja.
Prabhupada: And... Five, six men, you divide who is nearest.
Tamala Krsna: Who is nearest. So persons wouldn't have to write to Your Divine Grace. They could write directly to that person?
Prabhupada: Hm.
Tamala Krsna: Actually they are initiating the person on Your Divine Grace's behalf. Those persons who are initiated are still your...
Prabhupada: Second initiation we shall think over, second initiation.
Tamala Krsna: This is for first initiation, okay. And for second initiation, for the time being they should...
Prabhupada: No, they have to wait. Second initiation, that should be given...
Tamala Krsna: Should... Some devotees are writing you now for second initiation, and I'm writing them to wait a while because you're not well. So can I continue to tell them that?
Prabhupada: They can do second initiation.
Tamala Krsna: By writing you.
Prabhupada: No. These men.
Tamala Krsna: These men, they can also do second initiation. So there's no need for devotees to write to you for first and second initiation. They can write to the man nearest them. But all these persons are still your disciples. Anybody who gives initiation is doing so on your behalf.
Prabhupada: Yes.
Tamala Krsna: You know that book I'm maintaining of all of your disciples' names? Should I continue that?
Prabhupada: Hm.
Tamala Krsna: So if someone gives initiation, like Harikesa Maharaja, he should send the person's name to us here and I'll enter it in the book. Okay. Is there someone else in India that you want to do this?
Prabhupada: India, I am here. We shall see. In India, Jayapataka.
Tamala Krsna: Jayapataka Maharaja.
Prabhupada: You are also in India.
Tamala Krsna: Yes.
Prabhupada: You can note down these names.
Tamala Krsna: Yes, I have them.
Prabhupada: Who are they?
Tamala Krsna: Kirtanananda Maharaja, Satsvarupa Maharaja, Jayatirtha Prabhu, Bhagavan Prabhu, Harikesa Maharaja, Jayapataka Maharaja and Tamala Krsna Maharaja.
Prabhupada: That's nice. Now you distribute.
Tamala Krsna: Seven. There's seven names.
Prabhupada: For the time being, seven names, sufficient. You can make Ramesvara.
Tamala Krsna: Ramesvara Maharaja.
Prabhupada: And Hrdayananda.
Tamala Krsna: Oh, yeah. South America.
Prabhupada: So without waiting for me, wherever you consider it is right... That will depend on discretion.
Tamala Krsna: On discretion.
Prabhupada: Yes.
Tamala Krsna: That's for first and second initiations.
Prabhupada: Hm.
Tamala Krsna: Okay. Shall I send a kirtana party, Srila Prabhupada?
Appendix Two: The July 9th Letter
Letter to: All G.B.C., All Temple Presidents
Vrindavan, 9 July, 1977
To All G.B.C., and Temple Presidents
Dear Maharajas and Prabhus,
Please accept my humble obeisances at your feet. Recently when all of the GBC members were with His Divine Grace in Vrndavana, Srila Prabhupada indicated that soon He would appoint some of His senior disciples to act as "ritvik", representative of the acarya, for the purpose of performing initiations, both first initiation and second initiation. His Divine Grace has so far given a list of eleven disciples who will act in that capacity:
His Holiness Kirtanananda Swami
His Holiness Satsvarupa dasa Gosvami
His Holiness Jayapataka Swami
His Holiness Tamala Krsna Gosvami
His Holiness Hrdayananda Gosvami
His Holiness Bhavananda Gosvami
His Holiness Hamsaduta Swami
His Holiness Ramesvara Swami
His Holiness Harikesa Swami
His Grace Bhagavan dasa Adhikari
His Grace Jayatirtha dasa Adhikari
In the past Temple Presidents have written to Srila Prabhupada recommending a particular devotee's initiation. Now that Srila Prabhupada has named these representatives, Temple Presidents may henceforward send recommendation for first and second initiation to whichever of these eleven representatives are nearest their temple. After considering the recommendation, these representatives may accept the devotee as an initiated disciple of Srila Prabhupada by giving a spiritual name, or in the case of second initiation, by chanting on the Gayatri thread, just as Srila Prabhupada has done. The newly initiated devotees are disciples of His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupad, the above eleven senior devotees acting as His representative. After the Temple President receives a letter from these representatives giving the spiritual name or the thread, he can perform the fire yajna in the temple as was being done before. The name of a newly initiated disciple should be sent by the representative who has accepted him or her to Srila Prabhupada, to be included in His Divine Grace's "Initiated Disciples" book.
Hoping this finds you all well.
Your servant,
Approved: Tamala Krsna Gosvami
A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Secretary to Srila Prabhupada
Appendix Three: Srila Prabhupada Plans an American Trip
Letter to: Embassy of the USA
Vrndavana, 2 August, 1977
The Embassy of the United States of America,
Dept. of Immigration and Visa,
New Delhi
Re: Extension of the validity of my Alien Registration Receipt, Card No. A-17978480.
Dear Sir,
I left the United States of America in July of 1976. As I am planning to go to the United States shortly, and as over one year has passed since I was last there, I am requesting your good office to extend the validity of my Registration Card for another year.
Thanking you.
Yours faithfully,
A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami
