Misunderstood by the Sincere and Blessed
BY: HARAKUMARA DASA
Sep 02, 2010 — TORONTO, ONTARIO, CANADA (SUN) — It's interesting to see that Rasaprema dasa considers himself to be "sincere and blessed" [Understood by the Sincere and Blessed (please link)], as evinced by his professed understanding of the importance of "the Vaisnava Diksa Samskara". Self-esteem can be a psychological virtue conducing to enthusiasm (utsaha) which, according to Srila Rupa Gosvami, fosters the perfection of bhakti. Yes, life certainly can be sweet if you're both sincere and blessed. And how could anyone who disagrees with such a fortunate person possibly be either sincere or blessed? Although the Vaisnava Acaryas (great realized souls and pure devotees, who teach Krishna consciousness by their own example) were ever loathe to even imply that they were sincere and blessed, they actually (really) were both sincere and blessed.
Our sincere and blessed subtitles his essay, "the importance of the Vaisnava Diksa Samskara according to Srila Prabhupada", and in support of this he employs this "relevant letter" from Srila Prabhupada to Ravendra Gupta (Vrndavana, 74/2/12; emphasis supplied):
"... I am very glad to hear you are following my instructions by chanting 16 rounds daily. In order to chant offenselessly, so that the chanting will have the greatest effect, one must avoid the four sinful activities. You have asked, "How serious would it be for me if I should miss the golden opportunity to become your initiated disciple?" You should know that the value of accepting a bona fide spiritual master is more than we can calculate. It is not a mere formality. Of course everyone is encouraged [1] to chant Hare Krishna, but until one [2] gives up sinful activities and [3] becomes determined to serve Krishna through His representative then the firm fixing up of devotional service will not take hold, and there is every chance that one will fall prey to all sorts of material desires and have to come back again in the next life-- and one cannot guarantee that he will be born in the form of life he may desire.
I know you have been attending our temple in Boston sometimes, and that you wish to be a sincere devotee of Krishna. So go on faithfully with your chanting and pray to Krishna to give you strength for advancing in His service. It is a fact, however that [4] we must become free of all material desire before going back to Godhead, and this can only be achieved by following the instructions of a bona fide spiritual master. ..."
Unfortunately, granted that Rasaprema dasa may have been sincere in the interpretation that he imputes, he has not been fully blessed in his understanding of this letter from Srila Prabhupada. (Perhaps, being blessed, he was blissed out, and thus he sincerely misunderstood the letter.) Rasaprema comments twice on the letter, supplying his own interpretation of what the letter means, according to what he wants the letter to mean:
1. Below is a letter where Srila Prabhupada says the exact opposite to George: "It [Diksa] is not a mere formality."
2. The above letter indisputably establishes the essential nature of the Vaisnava Diksa Samskara according to Srila Prabhupada...
Not so. In point 1. quoting a short sentence from the letter, Rasaprema states that "it" refers to Diksa. But "it" doesn't. As is plainly evident in the letter itself, "it" refers to "accepting a bona fide spiritual master" in the previous sentence. Incontrovertibly, "accepting a bona fide spiritual master" is accepting a bona fide spiritual master, and "Diksa" is Diksa. These two things are related, but they are not identical.
Neither does Srila Prabhupada equate these two things in his letter, for he implies that "accepting a bona fide spiritual master" is equivalent to (not Diksa, but) "following the instructions of a bona fide spiritual master" ("... going back to Godhead [i.e. becoming blessed]... can only be achieved by following the instructions of a bona fide spiritual master."). Neither does Srila Prabhupada state in this letter that Diksa is a feature of accepting, or following the instructions of, a bona fide spiritual master, because those features (which I have taken the liberty to [number] in the letter above) are four: chanting Hare Krishna, giving up sinful activities, becoming determined to serve Krsna through His representative, and becoming free of all material desire. Diksa is not listed by Srila Prabhupada in this letter.
Furthermore, it is not possible to establish a certain identical connection between "accepting a bona fide spiritual master" and "the golden opportunity to become your initiated disciple" which is mentioned in Gupta's Diksa-specific question that is the occasion of this letter. Srila Prabhupada says that "it (accepting a bona fide spiritual master) is not a mere formality". Yet, as pointed out by Mr. George Smith [Formal Initiation is a Formality (please link)], Srila Prabhupada has said that (emphasis supplied):
"Well initiation or no initiation, first thing is knowledge... knowledge. Initiation is formality. Just like you go to a school for knowledge, and admission is formality. That is not very important thing."
(Srila Prabhupada Press Interview; October 16, 1976; Chandigarh)
"The chanting Hare Krishna is our main business, that is real initiation. And as you are all following my instruction; in that matter, the initiator is already there."
(Srila Prabhupada Letter to Tamala Krsna, August 19, 1968)
Quotations can be multiplied.
So, Srila Prabhupada's letter in reply to Gupta, contrary to said letter according to Rasaprema, is not primarily about Diksa at all. Srila Prabhupada writes that accepting a bona fide spiritual master is not a mere formality, and he has previously said that "initiation (Diksa) is formality". Therefore, 'accepting a bona fide spiritual master' and 'Diksa initiation' cannot be equal to each other. The above letter according to Srila Prabhupada, and the above letter according to Rasaprema dasa, are very different.
Best to think twice (or three times) when encountering preceptorial persons of ecclesiastical space, or even unsteady shooting stars of cyber-space, who advertise themselves as sincere and blessed.
