Ritvik System Was GBC Specific - Not All Encompassing
BY: KSHAMABUDDHI DASA
Dec 2, USA (SUN) — There seems to be a lot of confusion in the Krishna consciousness movement surrounding the issue of Ritvik theory. Some proponents claim Ritvik is all encompassing and exclusive of traditional parampara rituals, while others see the Ritvik system as GBC specific and not exclusive of any traditional system that might also carry on under the umbrella of ISKCON. Proponents of the traditional system will present such quotes as:
"I wish that, in my absence, all my disciples become the bona fide spiritual master."
"They are helping me in this missionary work. At the same time, I shall request them all to become spiritual master. Every one of you should be spiritual master, next."
"Every student is expected to become acharya . . . I have given you sannyasa with the great hope, that, in my absence, you will preach the cult."
"Just adhere yourself to the lotus feet of Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu. Then you become spiritual master. That's all. So, I hope that all of you men, women, boys, and girls become spiritual master and follow this principle."
" . . . it is distinct that, although he was a conditioned soul in his previous life, there was no impediment of his becoming the spiritual master. This law is applicable not only to the spiritual master, but to every living entity."
"Maybe, by 1975, all of my disciples will be allowed to initiate and increase the number of generations. That is my program."
"By 1975, all of those who have passed all of the above examinations will be specifically empowered to initiate and increase the number of the Krishna conscious population."
" . . . just like I have got my disciples, so, in the future, these many disciples may have many branches of disciplic succession . . ."
"I am very much hopeful that my disciples, who are now participating today--even if I die--my movement will not stop. I am very much hopeful. Yes. All these nice boys and girls who have taken so seriously . . . You have to become spiritual masters."
All these quotes are relevant quotes pertaining as to how individual disciples have been authorized to become spiritual masters when and if the demand arises. If any disciple can generate such faith in people that they want to become their disciples, the there is plenty of instruction from Srila Prabhupada that approves of that.
However, we have a fanatic branch of the Ritvik school that says that the Ritvik system is all encompassing and exclusive of the traditional parampara system of direct apprenticeship. However, if we go to examine the actual Ritvik appointments in ISKCON we find them as an integral GBC specific system that Srila Prabhupada had established on the authority of the ISKCON Governing Body Commission.
The Ritvik system was a GBC specific process by which new devotees could be initiated into ISKCON on behalf of the acharya, Srila Prabhupada. It was never meant to be an all encompassing, exclusive process to be imposed unwillingly on every new devotee that joined the movement.
It was an option, a process and a procedure for formally initiating devotees into ISKCON if in fact they wanted exclusively to accept Srila Prabhupada as their diksha guru.
There is no reason to think that Srila Prabhupada in establishing the Ritvik system was in any way making it exclusive and stepping on the faith of new devotees that might feel a more genuine connection through a traditional guru-disciple relationship with any senior member of ISKCON. It is not likely that this was the idea of Srila Prabhupada.
The Ritvik appointments were GBC specific and were made in response to a formal inquiry by a representative of the GBC as to what the role of the GBC would be after the passing of Srila Prabhupada and what the GBC as a body should do regarding the issue of initiations, which they had been performing for years on behalf of Srila Prabhupada.
When the GBC sent Satsvarupa das Goswami up to Srila Prabhupada for answers to the GBC dilemma he replied:
May 28, 1977 Vrindavan, India
Krsna-Balarama Temple
Satsvarupa Goswami: Then our next question concerns initiations in the future, particularly at that time when you are no longer with us. We want to know how first and second initiation(s) would be conducted?
Srila Prabhupada: Yes. I shall recommend some of you. After this is settled up
I shall recommend some of you to act as officiating acarya(s).
Tamal Krsna Goswami: Is that called Ritvik acarya?
Srila Prabhupada: "Ritvik. Yes".
So, these were his instruction to the GBC as a body. They were not instructions for the sum-total of all his disciples to follow.
We have already presented a body of quotes relevant to disciples in general. It really only seems logical that both the Ritvik system and the traditional parampara system should be practiced in ISKCON, depending upon the needs of the new devotees joining ISKCON.
If a new devotee wants to join ISKCON as a Ritvik initiate of Srila Prabhupada, then his faith should be encouraged and nurtured. If a new devotee wants to join ISKCON as a direct disciple of a senior member of ISKCON, then his faith should be encouraged and nurtured.
ISKCON should be encouraging and nurturing the faith all devotees that join ISKCON in regards to their specific needs.
Then again, there are those that discourage both the Ritvik concept and the traditional concept of initiation in ISKCON and just preach connecting to the Acharya Sampradaya through the Sampradaya Acharya directly without any need for either process of formal initiation. This approach to ISKCON should also be encouraged to nurture the faith of all the new members coming to join ISKCON.
Why can’t ISKCON be broad enough in scope and spectrum to accommodate all the different schools of thought in regards to expanding ISKCON? Why must there be infighting and strife amongst the family of Srila Prabhupada?
Can’t we all start to grow up a little and get beyond all this bickering and party spirit?
