Spiritual Master — Rittvik

Supersoul to the Rescue Just as the control tower is in constant communication with the pilot by radio, so the Supersoul is our constant companion, and like the shepherd plane flying just beside Mr. O'Neill's Cessna, the spiritual master is also there with us in the form of his instructions and teachings. More

What are the Shastras? In one essay [Thakur Bhaktivinode] Srila Bhaktisiddhanta says, "What are the shastras? They are nothing but the words of the devotees (pure devotees) or sadhus." More

Srila Prabhupada is Shastra These men - who faithlessly rail AGAINST the power and authority of Srila Prabhupada - employing THEIR SO-CALLED faith or trust IN "SHASTRA" - literally cannot see the forest through the trees! More

Formalities ALL Srila Prabhupada did was change FORMALITIES in the way initiation was to be conducted in first and second initiations: "The formalities may be slightly changed here and there to make them Vaisnavas." More

In Defense of Srila Prabhupada's Authority and Position Hrdayananda's lecture simply gives arguments and justifications based on some intellectual wrangling of ideas of how one can discriminately and selectively reject certain aspects of Srila Prabhupada's teachings including Srila Prabhupada's divine purports. More

The Authority of Srila Prabhupada and the Dictation of Lord Krishna At its core – this case – like all other aspects of ISKCON post 1977 – stems from the principle issue: WHOSE MISSION IS IT? WHO IS ACTUALLY the ACTUAL ABSOLUTE AUTHORITY UNDER THE BANNER OF ISKCON? More

Vedas unlocked from Sanskrit The Vedic mantras are received not by learning Sanskrit, but by hearing from the authorized person. Therefore it is called shruti. It is in Sanskrit because there was no other language. Sanskrit was the only language. So now they're being translated into English. So it doesn't matter whether it is in Sanskrit or English, one has to learn it by hearing from the proper person. More

Twice Born Twice born. Once born in this material body in darkness, and twice born by hearing the Vedic wisdom from the bona fide spiritual master. More

Killing the Guru There is one Bengali proverb, guru-mara-vidya. "Guru, you learn from him first of all, then kill him. Don't care for guru." This is demonic. By the grace of guru you learn something. Then when you learn something, then you become greater than him, don't care for guru. More

The Breath of Lord Krishna THIS - is the very essence of the meaning of "SIMULTANEOUSLY ONE AND DIFFERENT". ACHINTYA BEDA BEDA TATTWA means SRILA PRABHUPADA'S DIRECTIVES ARE NON-DIFFERENT FROM THE DIRECT INSTRUCTIONS OF LORD KRSNA. THEY ARE BOTH THE SAME - AND - EQUAL IN POTENCY. More

Going to Prabhupada "Previously they were advanced, all of you. You are simply born because the mission was to be started. Just like in Yadu-vamsa Krishna ordered all the devotee demigods to 'Go and take birth there to help Me.' Similarly, you are also... You were born in Europe, America, to help this. Otherwise you were devotees in you past lives. I have explained that in my recent writings." More

You are pure - when you strictly follow the instructions of the spiritual master The question of purity - within the context of what is identified as being representative of "ISKCON" - must present itself in harmony with what is PRESCRIBED by HIS DIVINE GRACE SRILA PRABHUPADA. More

George Harrison on the ISKCON Gurus In 1987, 10 years after physical departure of His Divine Grace A.C.Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, the founder of the Hare Krishna movement (ISKCON), George Harrison was interviewed by Sunday Tribune. Among other topics, they have discussed his involvement in the Hare Krishna movement. More

Who will take the risk? Unless at least one ISKCON leader on the Guru level comes forward and risks his spiritual and material Prestige, his career, disciples etc. to denounce this latest and the previous ( Satsvarupa swami ) falldowns of the "GURUS" and insists on following the July 9th rittvik order of Srila Prabhupada... More

Another one bites the dust Recently in Vrndavan Umapati prabhu (Swami?) was again confronted about his homosexual activities with his "disciples". He of course denied it like he has in the past. However this time a prominent devotee who has been preaching in China for years came forward and gave lots of evidence so Umapati submitted to the accusations. More

Receiving the Name of Krishna In this Iron Age (Kali yuga) it is only the Name KRISHNA appearing on the lips of a PURE DEVOTEE who can lift the conditioned soul to the plane of the Absolute. As a matter of fact, even the scriptures also can only faintly express the Personality of Godhead. The mere study of the scriptures can convey no full knowledge of the Absolute as substantive entity. But the Name Krishna has power to put a person on the Absolute Plane and endow the words of the revealed scriptures with their living meaning. More

Whose Final Order? Lately a devotee in Seremban, Mr. Gunalan Krishnan, forwarded to us an email exchange between himself and IRM (ISKCON Reform Movement), in which Krishna Kant Desai of IRM claimed that Hansadutta was not qualified to act as rittvik representative of Srila Prabhupada. Whose Final Order? is the discussion that followed. More

Letter to the Prabhus You know, Prabhus, that it can easily be verified though shastra that our "singing guru," like Shrila Shri (108) Bhaktivinoda Thakura Acharya, our beloved param-param gurudevaji maharaja, Shrila Prabhupada was none other than a direct representative of Shri Narada, who travels the entire Universe on the strength of the holy names. More

Pavan's Press Issue V The internet is nothing more than an infinitesimal fraction of the potency of the Supreme Lord. Therefore, since it is Krishna's potency, it must be employed for preaching the glories of the name, fame, activities, abode, prowess, paraphernalia and devotees of the Supreme Personality of Godhead Lord. More

Three Questions for IRM Received from Krishna Kant Desai of IRM, in reply to Take it from Prabhupada: Dear Bhima Prabhu, Hare Krishna! Please accept my humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada. To justify your again not directly answering my mail, which simply called for you to state only one word "yes" or "no", you write... More

Take it from Prabhupada But Prabhu, what is the value of your postulation? What is the value of my yes or no? In our line, we go by guru, sadhu and shastra — not fallacious logical propositions which cannot be universally applied and which are based on false premises. I believe Srila Prabhupada answers your question best... More

Dear IRM - Back to Prabhupada's Order Dear IRM Krishna Kant Desai: Please don't be offended, but I have to ask, Who are you and what is your standing? In the first place, who is this person replying on behalf of IRM? Is it you, Krishna Kant? Please identify yourself. How do we know that this reply is not coming from just any Tom, Dick or Harry? If it is representative of IRM's official stance, then please put your name and signature to it. More

Wrong from the Get Go The entire conversation with Sridhar is based on one erroneous PREMISE that the 11 men in question were in fact GURUS OR ACHARYAS OF PRABHUPADA'S QUALITY, QUANTITY AND STATURE, authorized to assume a post which they were actually capable of executing. More

More Vaishnava Acharyas Accept Ritvik Dear Maharajas/prabhus, please accept my humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada. Please find below the results of some more research with other sampradayas. More

Mystery of the Parampara (das) He is indeed antagonistic towards your own Spiritual Master's authority - and you gleefully hide this - in order to foment this useless unresolvable debate on your site. This is demonic and offensive behaviour on your part. More

Arguments against Rittvik debunked The speculative idea that the July 9th letter only applied to when SP was ill is debunked. It has no basis, no evidence to support it, and to do so has serious ramifications that their side refuse to address. Thus, it cannot be accepted. The Oct 18th argument that SP had stopped diksha initiation and deputed JP and the others to be diksha was also debunked. This was the main evidence the GBC and GK were using to support their theory. These arguments were shown to be insufficient and in the end, disproved. More

Invitation to Experiment Nor can anyone become a doctor by simply purchasing a book from the market and reading it at home. One has to be admitted to a medical college and undergo training under licensed doctors. More

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Prescription takes precedence over books Back in 1975, when Srila Prabhupada was meeting with the GBC and they were having a discussion about drafting the pledge of allegiance, at some point there's discussion about whether to add also a line pledging allegiance or obedience to Srila Prabhupada's instructions in his books. And Srila Prabhupada says that his direct instruction supersedes the books. More

Where Gandhi's Good Intentions Failed: a wrong interpretation of religious principles If we do not follow the right person, mahajana — mahajano yena gatah sa panthah — then however I may be great in the estimation of the innocent public, that is wrong path. More

A Simple Matter Srila Prabhupada's designation and then appointment of "Officiating Acharyas" - what he later approved of as Ritvik representatives of the Acharya - was simply his naming the natural relationship between the men he deputed to initiate "on his behalf", himself and the balance of the devotees. His referring to them as such - did not create anything new or artificial; just the opposite. He was simply providing a clear name to an already existing function within the full range of duties demanded of his various leaders and officers within his mission. More

Hearing from the Realized Soul Yes, it will help to read Bhagavad-gita but to have to hear from the realized person. Without the help of guru, if you read independently, you may be misguided. More

Seeing with Your Ears My Guru Maharaja used to say, "Don't try to see a saintly person by your eyes. You see a saintly person by the ear." More

Skipping School Straight into Unlicensed Medical Practice Nor can anyone become a doctor by simply purchasing a book from the market and reading it at home. One has to be admitted to a medical college and undergo training under licensed doctors. More

More Evidence for Rittvik Representative of the Acharya When you read the Bible, you are following the spiritual master. How can you say "without a spiritual master"? More

Back in 1978, Pradyumna Foretold What has Befallen ISKCON Dear Satsvarupa Maharaj, Please accept my most humble obeisances. Maharaj, I am writing you this letter with GREAT anxiety in my heart and after days and days and long nights of thought and careful consideration. More

Elephant's bath undone If one considers the spiritual master an ordinary human being, one is doomed. His study of the Vedas and his austerities and penances for enlightenment are all useless, like the bathing of an elephant. More

Back to Godhead - Part 2 A devotee does not like to hear anything other than subjects dealing with spiritual activities, or the pastimes of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. We can increase our propensity for devotional service by hearing Bhagavad-gita and Srimad-Bhagavatam from realized souls. More

Back to Godhead - Part 1 The devotees are actually saintly persons, or sadhus. The first qualification of a sadhu, or devotee, is ahimsa, or nonviolence. Persons interested in the path of devotional service, or in going back home, back to Godhead, must first practice ahimsa, or nonviolence. More

What's Missing? “Two heads are better than one.” When a person has a legal or medical problem, he goes to a lawyer or doctor, but if the lawyer or doctor handed the client/patient a law or medical book to solve his problem, what do you think would happen to his PRACTICE? We need person Bhagavats who can prescribe the appropriate treatment for the individual according to time, place and circumstance. More

The Power of Prabhupada's Books About a week later I overheard a conversation between my mother and grandmother. Granny was saying that this was not some ordinary book. She said that what Prabhupada was saying about Jesus Christ and that Krishna was God. I was very surprised. She said that we should listen to what Prabhupada said and chant Hare Krishna because that was the religion for this age. There was a lot of talk about how Christianity was no more and no one was following the bible, but what Prabhupada said was pure and perfect. More

Power Beyond Us If we do not believe in God, we must believe in some power beyond us which is controlling us at every step, call that power God or nature or whatever. There is a controlling power in the universe, and no sane man can deny it. More

I am the Vine I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman. 2 Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit. 3 Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you. 4 Abide in me, and I in you. More

The Situation Now After 29 Years The acharya, the authorized representative of the Supreme Lord, establishes these principles, but when he disappears, things once again become disordered. The perfect disciples of the acharya try to relieve the situation by sincerely following the instructions of the spiritual master. More

Hear from the Authorized Agent As soon as we receive the name of Krishna from the authorized agent—like receiving the cheque from the authorized agent—as soon as we receive the name of Krishna from the authorized agent, the self-realized soul, the spiritual master in disciplic succession, and we chant it, as soon as that takes place, we are connected to Krishna. More

Orchestra Needs a Conductor—Just One There must be one conductor, then many can play various themes on the main theme and be harmoniously conducted by one conductor. The important point is the ONE CONDUCTOR THROUGH WHOSE DIRECTION HARMONY IS MAINTAINED. More

Under the Guidance and Care of Srila Prabhupada "Initiation" into Krishna consciousness is not contingent upon their finding an "infallible" representative of Srila Prabhupada and the parampara, but rather upon their willingness to serve the instructions of Srila Prabhupada as they naturally descend to them through his Bhaktivedanta purports and the honest and loyal devotees who are carefully following those same instructions and "authorized" to teach the next generation how to do likewise. More

Initiation Neither Rite Nor Wrong When I first joined, I'd been taught that the parampara system is like a chain, and if you're not initiated, if you're not linked up to this chain, then you can't go back to Godhead. More

Instructions for Initiating Devotees in Fiji Increase the number of devotees there. You initiate them with a fire ceremony. I have already named eleven of my disciples so you can write to any of them the recommended persons and after receiving the spiritual name, you can hold a fire ceremony. More

In Any Sampradaya Guru is One Thanks for the list of quotes, Hansadutta, Pranams. In any sampradaya, the guru is one. One means that there is only one universal truth which Prabhupada called Krishna Consciousness. More

Srila Prabhupada's usage of the term "rittvik" Srila Prabhupada and Tamal Krishna and other GBCs and Vaishnavas used the term "ritvik" frequently. The word "ritvik" is also found in many passages in the Srimad Bhagavatam. More

Initiation into Spiritual Life The ceremony of diksha or initiation is that by which the spiritual Preceptor admits one to the status of a neophyte on the path of spiritual endeavour. The ceremony tends to confer spiritual enlightenment by abrogating sinfulness. Its actual effect depends on the degree of willing co-operation on the part of the disciple and is, therefore, not the same in all cases. More

Don't Miss the Opportunity It is my duty to satisfy guru. Otherwise I am nowhere. So if you prefer to be nowhere, then you disobey as you like. But if you want to be steady in your position, then you have to follow strictly the instruction of guru. More

Human Life is Meant for Inquiry The whole Vedic instruction is just to deliver all suffering humanity from the threefold miseries of material existence. That is the aim and object of Vedic civilization. That means this human form of life is meant for finishing all kinds of troubles. More

Rise to your destiny "You are what your deep driving desire is. As your desire is, so is your will. As your will is, so is your deed. As your deed is, so is your destiny."—Brihadnarayana Upanishad More

In the Absence of the Spiritual Master If we are having questions, doubts, when, in your absence, if we are receiving indications, is there any possible way that someone who is so conditioned can have any understanding of proper action in your absence? More

Protocol of Parampara Although one may be well versed in the transcendental science, one should be careful about the offense of maryada-vyatikrama, or impertinently surpassing a greater personality. More

Fire in the Forest We are not submitting to suffering. Then what is the civilization? What is human civilization: We don't want suffering. That is our position. Why this rascal says that "We shall suffer"? More

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"Make Your Own Field and Continue to be Rittvik" Srila Prabhupada would say many things on many subjects, but unless a particular policy was written in letter form, or some other legal document, such discussions on different matters were not accepted as final. Prabhupada often said you can say anything, but do not put it in writing. Writing makes it legal. More

Hearing from the Right Source There is television. There is radio. There are newspapers. There are so many things to hear about. But that is not the hearing that will help us to become self-realized. More

Amalgamation of the Four Sampradayas In this agreement the four sadhu sampradayas (Nimbark, Nirvani, Nirmohi and Mahanirvani) affirm their dedication to the leadership established by the Govindaji, Madan Mohanji, Gopinathji and Damodarji Mandirs. They will accept absolutely the authority of the followers of Rupa and Sanatan. More

Srila Prabhupada's Statements on the "Higher Thing" The siddha-pranali process is followed by a class of men who are not very authorized and who have manufactured their own way of devotional service. They imagine they have become associates of the Lord simply by thinking of themselves like that. This external behavior is not at all according to the regulative principles. More

Without the self-realized soul at its head... When the Acharya comes, he gathers around him so many people, but they're bringing their own baggage and cannot prevail. It seems to be the rule that a collection of disciples can go only so far before there's an overwhelming of their past. More

Adore Ye All the Happy Day Adore, adore ye all The happy day. Blessed than heaven, Sweeter than May, When he appeared at Puri The holy place, My Lord and Master His Divine Grace. More

The disciple is expected to become a pure devotee... To worship Srila Prabhupada (Prabhupada in the centre) as the only Acharya means to first of all be an obedient disciple (discipline of 4 regs, 16 rounds). Simply to perform the ritual of guru-puja or mouth the appropriate prayers is not enough. There must first be OBEDIENCE and DISCIPLINE, then SERVICE, and that service must be to "do as he did." More

Initiation—It's Whoever is Nearest, Not Dearest Now the newcomers are dictating - "OH I think this one is MY guru! I "feel" this one to be a "pure devotee! I want THIS one or THAT one to be MY guru" etc etc etc Amongst themselves they ask questions like "Who are you aspiring for, Prabhu?" This is not what Srila Prabhupada arranged for. More

Law of Disciplic Succession ...As a matter of etiquette it is the custom that during the lifetime of your Spiritual master you bring the prospective disciples to him, and in his absence or disappearance you can accept disciples without any limitation. This is the law of disciplic succession. More

The Holy Name Can't Wait "Chanting the holy name does not depend on initiation, pious activities or the purashcharya regulative principles generally observed before initiation. The holy name does not wait for all these activities. It is self-sufficient." More

The Absolute Necessity of a Spiritual Master—The Universal Teacher He is... guru of all of us; the only difference is that some obey him wholeheartedly, while others do not obey him directly. More

Learn by Hearing, Not by Reading Shruti means Veda. Shruti is learned by hearing, not by reading. You can understand Vedic principle even though you are illiterate, provided you hear them, aural reception. God has given you the ear. And if you try to hear submissively, to receive something, then it will be fruitful. More

What's Cooking? The shastras are like cookbooks full of recipes--formulas, rituals and procedures. But unless one gets the guidance and association of a chef and actually cooks, he is never sure if what he is cooking is right or wrong. More

The Point of Visiting the Holy Places It is not the journey but the method of its performance that really matters. Any journey that is performed under the lead of the sadhu is a spiritual function. No journey that is not so performed can have any spiritual value. More

Only one guru… The guru is the instrument of Krishna, acting soley for the interests of Krishna, just as the hand is acting spontaneously, seamlessly for the interest of the whole body. There is only one guru. Not two Krishnas. And that guru is seamlessly integrated with Krishna. Now in ISKCON there are so many gurus, 80 or more, and they are all not in agreement. Why are they in conflict? More

Out from Delusion We can surrender to him, because he will not cheat us. He will not take anything away from us. In the material world, everyone is afraid that his wealth or his woman or his prestige may be taken away by someone. The spiritual master has no such motive. More

Spiritual Master and the Disciple In this century, Srila Prabhupada is the foremost proponent of Vaishnava philosophy, represented by the Brahma-Madhva-Gaudiya Sampradaya. More

Have a Look Inside Your Heart The Hare Krishna movement has been recently brought to the Western world by His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, Founder-Acharya of the Hare Krishna movement. More

The Bhaktivedanta Purports So many groups have sprung up under the generic title "Hare Krishna", but the origin of the Hare Krishna Movement was Srila Prabhupada (His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami) and his books. More

Preface to Srila Prabhupada, His Movement and You The books of His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami (Srila Prabhupada) are the most important contribution of this Krishna consciousness movement. More

Introduction to Srila Prabhupada, His Movement and You Before the appearance of Srila Prabhupada, Vedic culture existed only in very small pockets in India. We must truly understand what Srila Prabhupada actually achieved in the span of about 10 years. More

Brahma Sampradaya Acharya As Srila Prabhupada's disciples our function is simply to deliver these two BHAGAVATAS, the book and the person, Srila Prabhupada. It is the function of the disciples to confirm the instructions of the spiritual master, and give assistance to the new candidates. More

Letter to New Initiates Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Thakur was the last Hierarch or Acharya, and those in his service were placed by him in a hierarchy called the Gaudiya Math. But failing to carry out his final order to form a GBC, they drifted out of their place in his hierarchy. More

No Vague, Fuzzy Proposal "All of my disciples are leaders, as much as they follow purely. If you want to follow, you can also lead. But you don't want to follow. Leader means one who is a first class disciple. Evam param parapraptam. One who is following is perfect." More

Rittvik is Not a Quick Fix The solution is to act as Rittvik representative of the Acharya, and by demonstrating, by example, the sincere souls will naturally gravitate towards and be truly connected to Srila Prabhupada, leaving dead connections (dead telephones) aside. If your telephone is connected, people will use it; if your telephone is not connected, how can they use it? More

Batsasur
The parent can have no higher duty than to employ his boy in the service of Krishna by putting him under the proper teacher, viz., the pure devotee of Krishna. More

Thakur Bhaktivinode
[Shortly after the physical disappearance of Srila Bhaktivinode Thakura, some of his disciples were of the opinion that they could continue to make spiritual advancement by reference to his teachings alone. Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati wrote the following paper to draw attention to their deviation.] More

From Umapati Swami I think you misunderstood my quoting Lord Buddha "DO NOTHING". I did not mean to suggest that as Prabhupada's disciples we should "DO NOTHING" and sit on the sidelines griping. Rather my point was that doing something we are not authorised to do results in disasters... More

Can You Go On Your Own Power? At the time of Prabhupada when he was with us, we were all packed up very tight like an elite military unit, like the Green Berets or the Navy Seals— More

Last Minute Thoughts The guru parampara is broken not by following the acharya's order, but by disobeying and neglecting it. Having totally disregarded Srila Prabhupada's express wishes, ISKCON GBCs and guru-acharyas have effectively cut off ISKCON from its Founder-Acharya, Srila Prabhupada. More

The Hierarch, Hierarchy and You The solution to the present-day anarchy or chaos in the society of world-wide devotees is for the individual devotees to resume their place and restore themselves in the hierarchy created by Srila Prabhupada. More

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His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada

Table of Contents

The Bhaktivedantas Inside Nam Hatta - Spiritual Master – Rittvik – Initiation/

Spiritual Master — Rittvik — Initiation