Truth: Srila Prabhupada didn’t sanction this, and it’s he who is the current acarya.
By Bhakta Alex (Russia).
One teacher of maya-ISKCON’s Mayapur Institute wrote against Srila Prabhupada’s ritvik system, “If I was to be given a choice to get diksa from a guru not present on the planet, then I would probably accept Srila Rupa Gosvami”. Another person wrote: “Then what is the difficulty to accept initiation directly from Caitanya Mahaprabhu? Or from Brahma, Narada? What is the hindrance?” There are many similar statements from those who don’t accept Srila Prabhupada’s instructions regarding initiations in ISKCON. But this argument can easily be defeated as follows:
1. Although it’s potentially possible to get darsana (spiritual audience) of any previous acarya, as they are eternal souls, still there is a general rule: one must take initiation from the spiritual master who is current link of bona fide Vaisnava guru parampara (disciplic succession of spiritual masters). Srila Prabhupada, not any previous acarya, is the current bona fide link after Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati in the Brahma-Madhva-Gaudiya sampradaya. And Srila Prabhupada didn’t authorize any guru successor(s) but said that he would continue as ISKCON’s initiating guru and the formal part of initiations would be assisted by ritvik representatives. Some quotes:
“As already stated, Brahmā is the original spiritual master for the universe, and since he was initiated by the Lord Himself, the message of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam is coming down by disciplic succession, and in order to receive the real message of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam one should approach the current link, or spiritual master, in the chain of disciplic succession. After being initiated by the proper spiritual master in that chain of succession, one should engage himself in the discharge of tapasya in the execution of devotional service. One should not, however, think himself on the level of Brahmā to be initiated directly by the Lord…” (Srimad-Bhagvatam 2.9.7, purport)
“So, if you want to understand Bhagavad-gītā, then we must understand in the same way as the person who directly heard from. This is called paramparā system. Suppose I have heard something from my spiritual master, so I speak to you the same thing. So, this is paramparā system. You cannot imagine what my spiritual master said. Or even if you read some books, you cannot understand unless you understand it from me. This is called paramparā system. You cannot jump over to the superior guru, neglecting the next ācārya, immediate next ācārya.” (Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 1.15.30 — Los Angeles, December 8, 1973)
“Lord Brahmā is the guru of Nārada Muni, who is the guru of Vyāsadeva, and Vyāsadeva is the guru of Madhvācārya. Thus, the Gauḍīya-Mādhva-sampradāya is in the disciplic succession from Nārada Muni. […] The immediate spiritual master is the representative of Nārada Muni; there is no difference between the instructions of Nārada Muni and those of the present spiritual master. Both Nārada Muni and the present spiritual master speak the same teachings of Kṛṣṇa” (Srimad-bhagvatam 6.5.22, purport)
Prabhupāda: …Then he knows that Vāsudeva, Kṛṣṇa, is the original (indistinct). It is a question of knowing, and knowing through the direct current via media-guru. Otherwise, he remains in darkness. (Discussions with Syamasundara Dasa: Bertrand Russell)
“You have rightly observed that I am simply trying to execute the order of my Spiritual Master. Whatever is being done it is not on account of my intelligence or endeavor because I am simply an instrument in the hands of my Spiritual Master. I do not know how far I have got the capacity to carry His order, but I may say that I have a sincere desire to do it. This is Parampara system. If a student tries to satisfy his immediate Acarya or the Spiritual Master, that is the only qualification for advancing in Krsna consciousness.” (SP Letter to: Paramananda — Los Angeles 17th June 1970)
2. So, one who studies Srila Prabhupada’s instructions gets clear understanding that one should accept immediate, current link of sampradaya, not that we should accept directly Krsna, Brahma, Narada, Caitanya, Rupa, etc. as our diksa guru. Not that it is the custom to accept some past acarya, let’s says third link previous to current link. Everyone is encouraged to accept the current acarya of parampara. And that current acarya in our lineage is Srila Prabhupada himself since he proved to be real acarya and confirmed that he is current, present link of sampradaya and didn’t appoint any successor or established any system of future diksa gurus in ISKCON but instead ordered ritvik-representatives system to continue for the future, even “when he is no longer with us”.
“Krsna Consciousness Handbook” (ISKCON Press, 1970), approved by Srila Prabhupada, explains the position of His Divine Grace, “Present acarya of Krsna consciousness and founder of ISKCON”. There are many similar statements in original ISKCON literature that Srila Prabhupada is the current spiritual master (and zero mentions of any other acaryas of ISKCON, present or future).
Srila Prabhupada himself said that he is “the Acharya of the present Gaudiya Sampradaya” after Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakur (room conversation, January 19th 1976, Mayapur). And Srila Prabhupada didn’t cancel this position in his last directives, letters, conversations or purports to Srimad Bhagavatam, even when he was asked by reporters in 1975-76 if he is going to appoint a successor. E.g.:
Prabhupāda: After one month I will be eighty.
Reporter (1): Eighty?
Prabhupāda: Eighty years old.
Reporter (2): What will happen…
Prabhupāda: I was born in 1896, now you can calculate.
Reporter (2): What will happen to the movement in the United States when you die?
Prabhupāda: I will never die.
Devotees: Jaya! Hari bol! (laughter)
Prabhupāda: I shall live for my books, and you will utilize.
Reporter (2): Are you training a successor?
Prabhupāda: Yes, my Guru Mahārāja is there. Where is my photo of Guru Mahārāja? I think… Here is. (Press Conference — July 16th 1975, San Francisco)
Interviewer: What happens when that inevitable time comes when a successor is needed?
Rāmeśvara: He is asking about the future, who will guide the movement in the future.
Prabhupāda: They will guide. I am training them.
Interviewer: Will there be one spiritual leader, though?
Prabhupāda: NO, I AM TRAINING GBC, eighteen all over the world.
Rāmeśvara: His personal secretaries.
Interviewer: I see.
Rāmeśvara: To see that the original teachings that Prabhupāda has given are not in any way changed.
Interviewer: Well, nothing more? Then ah, thank you, and I wish you well in your travels. (Magazine Interview — June 10th 1976, Los Angeles)
Guest (2): What do you see as the future of your movement and are you planning to…
Prabhupāda: My movement is genuine.
Guest (2): …to choose a successor.
Prabhupāda: It is already successful. Genuine thing is always success. Gold is gold. If somebody is fortunate, he can purchase gold, but gold remains gold. If somebody purchases and somebody does not, it doesn’t matter. Gold is gold. So future, gold future is always the same as it is at present—if it is gold. If it is something glittering, that is another thing.
Guest (4): But there must be somebody, you know, needed to handle the thing.
Prabhupāda: Yes, that we are creating. We are creating these devotees who will handle.
Hanumān: One thing he’s saying, this gentleman, and I would like to know, is your successor named or your successor will…
Prabhupāda: My success is always there. Yes. Just like the sun is there always. It may come before your vision or not. The sun is there. But if you are fortunate, you come before the sun. Otherwise you remain in darkness. (Room Conversation with Sanskrit Professor, other Guests and Disciples — February 12th, 1975, Mexico)
In his article “SOME OBSERVANCES ON THE LATTER-DAY GURUS A Rational and Ethical View of Guru Since Prabhupada’s Departure” Rohini Kumar Swami wrote:
“At our center at 26th Second Ave., Srila Prabhupada, when asked who would be the next acarya after him stated, “There will not be any more acaryas.”
This article was written in 1985 and included as Appendix 8 of Sulocana Dasa’s book “The Guru Business” (1986), and in that book Sulocana mentions that this conversation, according to Rohini Kumar Swami, occurred in 1968 in New York.
Another disciple of Srila Prabhupada, Pradyumna Dasa, wrote in his letter to GBC chairman Satsvarupa das Gosvami dated August 7th 1978:
“At the time of Srila Prabhupada’s disappearance, it was most clearly understood by all of us present that Srila Prabhupada had made no successor. Everyone admitted that fact and understood it clearly. Instead, the GBC was to jointly manage all affairs of ISKCON just as had been the case previously”.
According to the testimony of Cyavana Swami Srila Prabhupada said, “I will continue to accept disciples and give them my blessings even after I am no longer physically present, you may initiate them on my behalf”. To that he added, “I will have millions of disciples”… (Posted by HH Cyavana Swami on his Facebooks page on September 7th 2016).
There are other similar testimonies consistent with documented evidence. On May 28th 1977, Srila Prabhupada said to GBC delegation that in the future particularly when he is “no longer with us”, he would appoint “ritviks” and confirmed that future disciples would be his disciples. That was further confirmed in the July 9th 1977 letter to all GBCs and Temple Presidents (the final directive on future initiations in ISKCON), “The newly initiated devotees are disciples of His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, the above eleven senior devotees acting as His representative.”
Disciples of Srila Prabhupada’s disciples would be possible if he would have ordered them so (it was mentioned by Srila Prabhupada on April 22nd, 1977, May 28th, 1977, etc.) But there was no such order although on October 2nd 1977, Srila Prabhupada said that he had given everything in writing: “I have given in writing everything, whatever you wanted—my will, my executive(?) power, everything.” Srila Prabhupada’s final will also doesn’t mention any future spiritual successors but confirms that even successors to ISKCON property trustees/executive directors must be “my initiated disciple” and that the system of management shouldn’t change, and the GBC will be managerial authority.
There are numerous evidences both documented and testimonial that Srila Prabhupada clearly wanted to remain the initiating guru for his movement even after his physical departure, and ceremonial aspect of initiation should be conducted by temple presidents and official ritviks (to be “added as necessary”, according to TKG Confession, December 3rd 1980, citing Srila Prabhupada’s instruction). History and evidence show that Srila Prabhupada didn’t authorize neither zonal acarya system, nor voting in many diksa gurus by GBC managers and regional bodies, nor that we should wait for any self-effulgent successor acarya to be emerged in ISKCON any time soon. Srila Prabhupada didn’t give any details of the current multiple diksa guru system in maya-ISKCON.
Therefore, His Divine Grace is still the current immediate acarya for his movement, and so called “ISKCON gurus” or other self-made diksa gurus are not real links, they have no solid standing as current spiritual masters, representatives of God Himself. No proof of their legitimacy and lots of proofs they are bogus. Then how can one call those non-liberated, non-authorized “gurus” with innumerous deviations, failures and crimes, as proved by history, as current links of Brahma Madhva Gaudiya sampradaya? It’s not honest and rational. So sastra, previous acaryas and Srila Prabhupada advice to avoid and reject bogus gurus.
Prabhupada: You have to follow the paramparā system, order. That is guru. Not that I declare myself as guru. No. That is not guru. […] Ār nā koriho mane āśā. Simply whatever you hear from the guru, try to execute it. Ār nā koriho mane āśā. Do not expect anything more. So, whatever we are chanting, we are reading, we must realize that. The Gauḍīya Maṭha institution became a failure on account of disobedience and not following the orders. Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura’s statement about the verse vyavasāyātmikā buddhir—find out this verse from the Bhagavad-gītā. The Caitanya-caritāmṛta statement, āmāra: one can become guru by the superior order. (Room conversation, May 30th 1976, Honolulu)
3. Neither Srila Prabhupada, nor any previous acarya gave any order to conduct initiations within ISKCON or among followers of Srila Prabhupada on behalf of previous links of parampara. For example, Srila Rupa Gosvami was never founder and/or current initiating guru in ISKCON, and he didn’t give permission to Srila Prabhupada’s followers to take shelter of him (Rupa Gosvami) as diksa disciples. Then how can one so liberally equate previous acaryas with Srila Prabhupada in this sense?
“There is no record anywhere of Srila Prabhupada ever giving an order to go and take initiation from Rupa Goswami.” (Yasoda nandana das, 30th October 2023)
4. Srila Prabhupada, the founder and spiritual master of ISKCON and current link of the sampradaya, did gave clear orders that he himself would remain initiating spiritual master for his ISKCON movement. And we should “simply try to execute the order” of His Divine Grace. This is plain and simple for any honest person. That’s the main point – Srila Prabhupada gave orders for ritvik initiations system to be followed in the future and that new followers of ISKCON should become his initiated disciples even when he would no longer be with us. Not that his manifested body is not present anymore, and thus someone just whimsically decided to approach Srila Prabhupada who has supposedly become a previous acarya, while acknowledging that there are some other current acaryas/diksa gurus in ISKCON. Anti-ritviks just make thoughtless/unfair mish-mash and try to present that this is the ridiculous position of Prabhupadanugas, while it is their argument that is actually off point.
In conclusion: Srila Prabhupada’s followers should become his initiated disciples, as per his orders and his position of current acarya, and not try to “jump over” to previous gurus or to accept pseudo-successors.