Sada Hari Das

Ritviks are living under stone 😂😂😂

Srila Prabhupada made many statements throughout his books, lectures, and letters that strongly emphasize the need for a living guru, which directly refutes the posthumous “ritvik” initiation idea. Here are several direct quotes from Srila A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada that clearly contradict the ritvik philosophy:

1. Guru must be living – not a matter of rubber-stamping

“Guru means one who is accepted as guru must be accepted as good as God. That is the injunction of the shastra. That means he must be a living personality. Not that ‘Guru is not present, so let me find out a dead guru. And I become guru.’ No. That is not the process.”

— Morning Walk, Los Angeles, May 13, 1973

2. Initiation must be from a present, living spiritual master

“One should take initiation from a bona fide spiritual master coming in the disciplic succession, who is authorized by his predecessor spiritual master. This is called diksha-vidhana.”

— Srimad-Bhagavatam 4.8.54, purport

3. Disciplic succession is continued by living devotees

“It is imperative that a serious person accept a bona fide spiritual master in terms of the shastric injunctions. Śrīla Jīva Gosvāmī advises that one not accept a spiritual master in terms of hereditary or customary social and ecclesiastical conventions. One should simply try to find a genuinely qualified spiritual master for actual advancement in spiritual understanding.”

— Cc. Adi 1.35, purport

4. Devotee must accept a living guru

“Try to understand. Don't go very speedily. A guru can become guru when he's ordered by his guru. That's all. Otherwise nobody can become guru.”

— Conversation, October 28, 1975, Nairobi

5. The guru must physically be there to give diksha

“Dīkṣā means divya-jñānaṁ kṣipati — to give the divya-jñāna, transcendental knowledge. That is the duty of guru. And the disciple must admit that he’ll do anything for the guru. If he cannot do that, then he is not fit for being initiated.”

— Lecture on Srimad-Bhagavatam 6.1.15, Honolulu, June 4, 1975

6. Books are not a replacement for the living guru

“Books are not sufficient. If books were sufficient for knowledge, then there was no need of a spiritual master. Therefore the Vedic injunction is: ‘tad-vijñānārthaṁ sa gurum eva abhigacchet’ — one must go to a guru.”

— Lecture on Bhagavad-gita 4.34, Bombay, January 9, 1973

7. He expected his disciples to become gurus

“All my disciples will take the legacy. If you want, you can also take it. Sacrifice everything. I—one—may not live, but still the movement will go on. If you follow the previous acaryas, one after another, then there is no difficulty.”

— Room Conversation, April 6, 1975, Mayapur

Now some persons have come out with the idea that there is no need of any guru. They are saying, ‘We can take initiation from Srila Prabhupada through ritvik.’ This is nonsense. Srila Prabhupada never said this. He wrote in his books that one must accept a bona fide guru, and not only one guru — he must accept siksa-guru, diksa-guru, and so many gurus. If the devotee is sincere, then Krishna will arrange for him to have the association of such bona fide gurus.

Why did Srila Prabhupada himself take initiation? Why did he accept a guru? And why did he give initiation to others? This ritvik idea is against guru-tattva. It is totally against all sastra, all teachings of the acaryas, and even against the desires of Srila Prabhupada himself.

Some say, ‘We are only followers of Srila Prabhupada. We do not need any other guru.’ This is sahajiya-vada. Guru is one, but if one is bona fide, Krishna will arrange for him to have a siksa-guru. Why did Srila Prabhupada write in his books that one must take shelter of a living guru? Was he joking? No, he was giving siddhanta.

“Books are not sufficient... one must go to a guru.”

(Bhagavad-gita 4.34, Bombay, Jan 9, 1973)

Srila Prabhupada

Srila Prabhupada wanted his disciples to become gurus. Otherwise, why would he have said, ‘I want all of you to become gurus and deliver the whole world’? Why would he train them in tattva-jnana, in Vaisnava behavior, and in deity worship? Did he not give them brahmana initiation? Then why are they rejecting that order now?

“All my disciples will take the legacy. If you want, you can also take it.”

(Room Conversation, April 6, 1975, Mayapur)

Srila Prabhupada

That [ritvik] letter was written for a temporary period while Srila Prabhupada was very ill. It was not meant to establish a new system after his disappearance. If it were, why didn’t he write it in his will or repeat it again and again in his lectures?

They say Srila Prabhupada is their guru and no need of another guru. This is against bhakti. This is against his desire. Guru must be physically present to give personal guidance. Otherwise, the heart will dry up.

“Not that ‘Guru is not present, so let me find out a dead guru.’ No. That is not the process.”

(Los Angeles, May 13, 1973) Srila Prabhupada

Srila Prabhupada made many statements throughout his books, lectures, and letters that strongly emphasize the need for a living guru, which directly refutes the posthumous “ritvik” initiation idea. Here are several direct quotes from Srila A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada that clearly contradict the ritvik philosophy:

1. Guru must be living – not a matter of rubber-stamping

“Guru means one who is accepted as guru must be accepted as good as God. That is the injunction of the shastra. That means he must be a living personality. Not that ‘Guru is not present, so let me find out a dead guru. And I become guru.’ No. That is not the process.”

— Morning Walk, Los Angeles, May 13, 1973

2. Initiation must be from a present, living spiritual master

“One should take initiation from a bona fide spiritual master coming in the disciplic succession, who is authorized by his predecessor spiritual master. This is called diksha-vidhana.”

— Srimad-Bhagavatam 4.8.54, purport

3. Disciplic succession is continued by living devotees

“It is imperative that a serious person accept a bona fide spiritual master in terms of the shastric injunctions. Śrīla Jīva Gosvāmī advises that one not accept a spiritual master in terms of hereditary or customary social and ecclesiastical conventions. One should simply try to find a genuinely qualified spiritual master for actual advancement in spiritual understanding.”

— Cc. Adi 1.35, purport

4. Devotee must accept a living guru

“Try to understand. Don't go very speedily. A guru can become guru when he's ordered by his guru. That's all. Otherwise nobody can become guru.”

— Conversation, October 28, 1975, Nairobi

5. The guru must physically be there to give diksha

“Dīkṣā means divya-jñānaṁ kṣipati — to give the divya-jñāna, transcendental knowledge. That is the duty of guru. And the disciple must admit that he’ll do anything for the guru. If he cannot do that, then he is not fit for being initiated.”

— Lecture on Srimad-Bhagavatam 6.1.15, Honolulu, June 4, 1975

6. Books are not a replacement for the living guru

“Books are not sufficient. If books were sufficient for knowledge, then there was no need of a spiritual master. Therefore the Vedic injunction is: ‘tad-vijñānārthaṁ sa gurum eva abhigacchet’ — one must go to a guru.”

— Lecture on Bhagavad-gita 4.34, Bombay, January 9, 1973

7. He expected his disciples to become gurus

“All my disciples will take the legacy. If you want, you can also take it. Sacrifice everything. I—one—may not live, but still the movement will go on. If you follow the previous acaryas, one after another, then there is no difficulty.”

— Room Conversation, April 6, 1975, Mayapur

Now some persons have come out with the idea that there is no need of any guru. They are saying, ‘We can take initiation from Srila Prabhupada through ritvik.’ This is nonsense. Srila Prabhupada never said this. He wrote in his books that one must accept a bona fide guru, and not only one guru — he must accept siksa-guru, diksa-guru, and so many gurus. If the devotee is sincere, then Krishna will arrange for him to have the association of such bona fide gurus.

Why did Srila Prabhupada himself take initiation? Why did he accept a guru? And why did he give initiation to others? This ritvik idea is against guru-tattva. It is totally against all sastra, all teachings of the acaryas, and even against the desires of Srila Prabhupada himself.

Some say, ‘We are only followers of Srila Prabhupada. We do not need any other guru.’ This is sahajiya-vada. Guru is one, but if one is bona fide, Krishna will arrange for him to have a siksa-guru. Why did Srila Prabhupada write in his books that one must take shelter of a living guru? Was he joking? No, he was giving siddhanta.

“Books are not sufficient... one must go to a guru.”

(Bhagavad-gita 4.34, Bombay, Jan 9, 1973)

Srila Prabhupada

Srila Prabhupada wanted his disciples to become gurus. Otherwise, why would he have said, ‘I want all of you to become gurus and deliver the whole world’? Why would he train them in tattva-jnana, in Vaisnava behavior, and in deity worship? Did he not give them brahmana initiation? Then why are they rejecting that order now?

“All my disciples will take the legacy. If you want, you can also take it.”

(Room Conversation, April 6, 1975, Mayapur)

Srila Prabhupada

That [ritvik] letter was written for a temporary period while Srila Prabhupada was very ill. It was not meant to establish a new system after his disappearance. If it were, why didn’t he write it in his will or repeat it again and again in his lectures?

They say Srila Prabhupada is their guru and no need of another guru. This is against bhakti. This is against his desire. Guru must be physically present to give personal guidance. Otherwise, the heart will dry up.

“Not that ‘Guru is not present, so let me find out a dead guru.’ No. That is not the process.”

(Los Angeles, May 13, 1973) Srila Prabhupada

Srila Prabhupada made many statements throughout his books, lectures, and letters that strongly emphasize the need for a living guru, which directly refutes the posthumous “ritvik” initiation idea. Here are several direct quotes from Srila A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada that clearly contradict the ritvik philosophy:

1. Guru must be living – not a matter of rubber-stamping

“Guru means one who is accepted as guru must be accepted as good as God. That is the injunction of the shastra. That means he must be a living personality. Not that ‘Guru is not present, so let me find out a dead guru. And I become guru.’ No. That is not the process.”

— Morning Walk, Los Angeles, May 13, 1973

2. Initiation must be from a present, living spiritual master

“One should take initiation from a bona fide spiritual master coming in the disciplic succession, who is authorized by his predecessor spiritual master. This is called diksha-vidhana.”

— Srimad-Bhagavatam 4.8.54, purport

3. Disciplic succession is continued by living devotees

“It is imperative that a serious person accept a bona fide spiritual master in terms of the shastric injunctions. Śrīla Jīva Gosvāmī advises that one not accept a spiritual master in terms of hereditary or customary social and ecclesiastical conventions. One should simply try to find a genuinely qualified spiritual master for actual advancement in spiritual understanding.”

— Cc. Adi 1.35, purport

4. Devotee must accept a living guru

“Try to understand. Don't go very speedily. A guru can become guru when he's ordered by his guru. That's all. Otherwise nobody can become guru.”

— Conversation, October 28, 1975, Nairobi

5. The guru must physically be there to give diksha

“Dīkṣā means divya-jñānaṁ kṣipati — to give the divya-jñāna, transcendental knowledge. That is the duty of guru. And the disciple must admit that he’ll do anything for the guru. If he cannot do that, then he is not fit for being initiated.”

— Lecture on Srimad-Bhagavatam 6.1.15, Honolulu, June 4, 1975

6. Books are not a replacement for the living guru

“Books are not sufficient. If books were sufficient for knowledge, then there was no need of a spiritual master. Therefore the Vedic injunction is: ‘tad-vijñānārthaṁ sa gurum eva abhigacchet’ — one must go to a guru.”

— Lecture on Bhagavad-gita 4.34, Bombay, January 9, 1973

7. He expected his disciples to become gurus

“All my disciples will take the legacy. If you want, you can also take it. Sacrifice everything. I—one—may not live, but still the movement will go on. If you follow the previous acaryas, one after another, then there is no difficulty.”

— Room Conversation, April 6, 1975, Mayapur

Now some persons have come out with the idea that there is no need of any guru. They are saying, ‘We can take initiation from Srila Prabhupada through ritvik.’ This is nonsense. Srila Prabhupada never said this. He wrote in his books that one must accept a bona fide guru, and not only one guru — he must accept siksa-guru, diksa-guru, and so many gurus. If the devotee is sincere, then Krishna will arrange for him to have the association of such bona fide gurus.

Why did Srila Prabhupada himself take initiation? Why did he accept a guru? And why did he give initiation to others? This ritvik idea is against guru-tattva. It is totally against all sastra, all teachings of the acaryas, and even against the desires of Srila Prabhupada himself.

Some say, ‘We are only followers of Srila Prabhupada. We do not need any other guru.’ This is sahajiya-vada. Guru is one, but if one is bona fide, Krishna will arrange for him to have a siksa-guru. Why did Srila Prabhupada write in his books that one must take shelter of a living guru? Was he joking? No, he was giving siddhanta.

“Books are not sufficient... one must go to a guru.”

(Bhagavad-gita 4.34, Bombay, Jan 9, 1973)

Srila Prabhupada

Srila Prabhupada wanted his disciples to become gurus. Otherwise, why would he have said, ‘I want all of you to become gurus and deliver the whole world’? Why would he train them in tattva-jnana, in Vaisnava behavior, and in deity worship? Did he not give them brahmana initiation? Then why are they rejecting that order now?

“All my disciples will take the legacy. If you want, you can also take it.”

(Room Conversation, April 6, 1975, Mayapur)

Srila Prabhupada

That [ritvik] letter was written for a temporary period while Srila Prabhupada was very ill. It was not meant to establish a new system after his disappearance. If it were, why didn’t he write it in his will or repeat it again and again in his lectures?

They say Srila Prabhupada is their guru and no need of another guru. This is against bhakti. This is against his desire. Guru must be physically present to give personal guidance. Otherwise, the heart will dry up.

“Not that ‘Guru is not present, so let me find out a dead guru.’ No. That is not the process.”

(Los Angeles, May 13, 1973) Srila Prabhupada

Srila Prabhupada made many statements throughout his books, lectures, and letters that strongly emphasize the need for a living guru, which directly refutes the posthumous “ritvik” initiation idea. Here are several direct quotes from Srila A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada that clearly contradict the ritvik philosophy:

1. Guru must be living – not a matter of rubber-stamping

“Guru means one who is accepted as guru must be accepted as good as God. That is the injunction of the shastra. That means he must be a living personality. Not that ‘Guru is not present, so let me find out a dead guru. And I become guru.’ No. That is not the process.”

— Morning Walk, Los Angeles, May 13, 1973

2. Initiation must be from a present, living spiritual master

“One should take initiation from a bona fide spiritual master coming in the disciplic succession, who is authorized by his predecessor spiritual master. This is called diksha-vidhana.”

— Srimad-Bhagavatam 4.8.54, purport

3. Disciplic succession is continued by living devotees

“It is imperative that a serious person accept a bona fide spiritual master in terms of the shastric injunctions. Śrīla Jīva Gosvāmī advises that one not accept a spiritual master in terms of hereditary or customary social and ecclesiastical conventions. One should simply try to find a genuinely qualified spiritual master for actual advancement in spiritual understanding.”

— Cc. Adi 1.35, purport

4. Devotee must accept a living guru

“Try to understand. Don't go very speedily. A guru can become guru when he's ordered by his guru. That's all. Otherwise nobody can become guru.”

— Conversation, October 28, 1975, Nairobi

5. The guru must physically be there to give diksha

“Dīkṣā means divya-jñānaṁ kṣipati — to give the divya-jñāna, transcendental knowledge. That is the duty of guru. And the disciple must admit that he’ll do anything for the guru. If he cannot do that, then he is not fit for being initiated.”

— Lecture on Srimad-Bhagavatam 6.1.15, Honolulu, June 4, 1975

6. Books are not a replacement for the living guru

“Books are not sufficient. If books were sufficient for knowledge, then there was no need of a spiritual master. Therefore the Vedic injunction is: ‘tad-vijñānārthaṁ sa gurum eva abhigacchet’ — one must go to a guru.”

— Lecture on Bhagavad-gita 4.34, Bombay, January 9, 1973

7. He expected his disciples to become gurus

“All my disciples will take the legacy. If you want, you can also take it. Sacrifice everything. I—one—may not live, but still the movement will go on. If you follow the previous acaryas, one after another, then there is no difficulty.”

— Room Conversation, April 6, 1975, Mayapur

Now some persons have come out with the idea that there is no need of any guru. They are saying, ‘We can take initiation from Srila Prabhupada through ritvik.’ This is nonsense. Srila Prabhupada never said this. He wrote in his books that one must accept a bona fide guru, and not only one guru — he must accept siksa-guru, diksa-guru, and so many gurus. If the devotee is sincere, then Krishna will arrange for him to have the association of such bona fide gurus.

Why did Srila Prabhupada himself take initiation? Why did he accept a guru? And why did he give initiation to others? This ritvik idea is against guru-tattva. It is totally against all sastra, all teachings of the acaryas, and even against the desires of Srila Prabhupada himself.

Some say, ‘We are only followers of Srila Prabhupada. We do not need any other guru.’ This is sahajiya-vada. Guru is one, but if one is bona fide, Krishna will arrange for him to have a siksa-guru. Why did Srila Prabhupada write in his books that one must take shelter of a living guru? Was he joking? No, he was giving siddhanta.

“Books are not sufficient... one must go to a guru.”

(Bhagavad-gita 4.34, Bombay, Jan 9, 1973)

Srila Prabhupada

Srila Prabhupada wanted his disciples to become gurus. Otherwise, why would he have said, ‘I want all of you to become gurus and deliver the whole world’? Why would he train them in tattva-jnana, in Vaisnava behavior, and in deity worship? Did he not give them brahmana initiation? Then why are they rejecting that order now?

“All my disciples will take the legacy. If you want, you can also take it.”

(Room Conversation, April 6, 1975, Mayapur)

Srila Prabhupada

That [ritvik] letter was written for a temporary period while Srila Prabhupada was very ill. It was not meant to establish a new system after his disappearance. If it were, why didn’t he write it in his will or repeat it again and again in his lectures?

They say Srila Prabhupada is their guru and no need of another guru. This is against bhakti. This is against his desire. Guru must be physically present to give personal guidance. Otherwise, the heart will dry up.

“Not that ‘Guru is not present, so let me find out a dead guru.’ No. That is not the process.”

(Los Angeles, May 13, 1973) Srila Prabhupada

Srila Prabhupada made many statements throughout his books, lectures, and letters that strongly emphasize the need for a living guru, which directly refutes the posthumous “ritvik” initiation idea. Here are several direct quotes from Srila A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada that clearly contradict the ritvik philosophy:

1. Guru must be living – not a matter of rubber-stamping

“Guru means one who is accepted as guru must be accepted as good as God. That is the injunction of the shastra. That means he must be a living personality. Not that ‘Guru is not present, so let me find out a dead guru. And I become guru.’ No. That is not the process.”

— Morning Walk, Los Angeles, May 13, 1973

2. Initiation must be from a present, living spiritual master

“One should take initiation from a bona fide spiritual master coming in the disciplic succession, who is authorized by his predecessor spiritual master. This is called diksha-vidhana.”

— Srimad-Bhagavatam 4.8.54, purport

3. Disciplic succession is continued by living devotees

“It is imperative that a serious person accept a bona fide spiritual master in terms of the shastric injunctions. Śrīla Jīva Gosvāmī advises that one not accept a spiritual master in terms of hereditary or customary social and ecclesiastical conventions. One should simply try to find a genuinely qualified spiritual master for actual advancement in spiritual understanding.”

— Cc. Adi 1.35, purport

4. Devotee must accept a living guru

“Try to understand. Don't go very speedily. A guru can become guru when he's ordered by his guru. That's all. Otherwise nobody can become guru.”

— Conversation, October 28, 1975, Nairobi

5. The guru must physically be there to give diksha

“Dīkṣā means divya-jñānaṁ kṣipati — to give the divya-jñāna, transcendental knowledge. That is the duty of guru. And the disciple must admit that he’ll do anything for the guru. If he cannot do that, then he is not fit for being initiated.”

— Lecture on Srimad-Bhagavatam 6.1.15, Honolulu, June 4, 1975

6. Books are not a replacement for the living guru

“Books are not sufficient. If books were sufficient for knowledge, then there was no need of a spiritual master. Therefore the Vedic injunction is: ‘tad-vijñānārthaṁ sa gurum eva abhigacchet’ — one must go to a guru.”

— Lecture on Bhagavad-gita 4.34, Bombay, January 9, 1973

7. He expected his disciples to become gurus

“All my disciples will take the legacy. If you want, you can also take it. Sacrifice everything. I—one—may not live, but still the movement will go on. If you follow the previous acaryas, one after another, then there is no difficulty.”

— Room Conversation, April 6, 1975, Mayapur

Now some persons have come out with the idea that there is no need of any guru. They are saying, ‘We can take initiation from Srila Prabhupada through ritvik.’ This is nonsense. Srila Prabhupada never said this. He wrote in his books that one must accept a bona fide guru, and not only one guru — he must accept siksa-guru, diksa-guru, and so many gurus. If the devotee is sincere, then Krishna will arrange for him to have the association of such bona fide gurus.

Why did Srila Prabhupada himself take initiation? Why did he accept a guru? And why did he give initiation to others? This ritvik idea is against guru-tattva. It is totally against all sastra, all teachings of the acaryas, and even against the desires of Srila Prabhupada himself.

Some say, ‘We are only followers of Srila Prabhupada. We do not need any other guru.’ This is sahajiya-vada. Guru is one, but if one is bona fide, Krishna will arrange for him to have a siksa-guru. Why did Srila Prabhupada write in his books that one must take shelter of a living guru? Was he joking? No, he was giving siddhanta.

“Books are not sufficient... one must go to a guru.”

(Bhagavad-gita 4.34, Bombay, Jan 9, 1973)

Srila Prabhupada

Srila Prabhupada wanted his disciples to become gurus. Otherwise, why would he have said, ‘I want all of you to become gurus and deliver the whole world’? Why would he train them in tattva-jnana, in Vaisnava behavior, and in deity worship? Did he not give them brahmana initiation? Then why are they rejecting that order now?

“All my disciples will take the legacy. If you want, you can also take it.”

(Room Conversation, April 6, 1975, Mayapur)

Srila Prabhupada

That [ritvik] letter was written for a temporary period while Srila Prabhupada was very ill. It was not meant to establish a new system after his disappearance. If it were, why didn’t he write it in his will or repeat it again and again in his lectures?

They say Srila Prabhupada is their guru and no need of another guru. This is against bhakti. This is against his desire. Guru must be physically present to give personal guidance. Otherwise, the heart will dry up.

“Not that ‘Guru is not present, so let me find out a dead guru.’ No. That is not the process.”

(Los Angeles, May 13, 1973) Srila Prabhupada

Srila Prabhupada made many statements throughout his books, lectures, and letters that strongly emphasize the need for a living guru, which directly refutes the posthumous “ritvik” initiation idea. Here are several direct quotes from Srila A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada that clearly contradict the ritvik philosophy:

1. Guru must be living – not a matter of rubber-stamping

“Guru means one who is accepted as guru must be accepted as good as God. That is the injunction of the shastra. That means he must be a living personality. Not that ‘Guru is not present, so let me find out a dead guru. And I become guru.’ No. That is not the process.”

— Morning Walk, Los Angeles, May 13, 1973

2. Initiation must be from a present, living spiritual master

“One should take initiation from a bona fide spiritual master coming in the disciplic succession, who is authorized by his predecessor spiritual master. This is called diksha-vidhana.”

— Srimad-Bhagavatam 4.8.54, purport

3. Disciplic succession is continued by living devotees

“It is imperative that a serious person accept a bona fide spiritual master in terms of the shastric injunctions. Śrīla Jīva Gosvāmī advises that one not accept a spiritual master in terms of hereditary or customary social and ecclesiastical conventions. One should simply try to find a genuinely qualified spiritual master for actual advancement in spiritual understanding.”

— Cc. Adi 1.35, purport

4. Devotee must accept a living guru

“Try to understand. Don't go very speedily. A guru can become guru when he's ordered by his guru. That's all. Otherwise nobody can become guru.”

— Conversation, October 28, 1975, Nairobi

5. The guru must physically be there to give diksha

“Dīkṣā means divya-jñānaṁ kṣipati — to give the divya-jñāna, transcendental knowledge. That is the duty of guru. And the disciple must admit that he’ll do anything for the guru. If he cannot do that, then he is not fit for being initiated.”

— Lecture on Srimad-Bhagavatam 6.1.15, Honolulu, June 4, 1975

6. Books are not a replacement for the living guru

“Books are not sufficient. If books were sufficient for knowledge, then there was no need of a spiritual master. Therefore the Vedic injunction is: ‘tad-vijñānārthaṁ sa gurum eva abhigacchet’ — one must go to a guru.”

— Lecture on Bhagavad-gita 4.34, Bombay, January 9, 1973

7. He expected his disciples to become gurus

“All my disciples will take the legacy. If you want, you can also take it. Sacrifice everything. I—one—may not live, but still the movement will go on. If you follow the previous acaryas, one after another, then there is no difficulty.”

— Room Conversation, April 6, 1975, Mayapur

Now some persons have come out with the idea that there is no need of any guru. They are saying, ‘We can take initiation from Srila Prabhupada through ritvik.’ This is nonsense. Srila Prabhupada never said this. He wrote in his books that one must accept a bona fide guru, and not only one guru — he must accept siksa-guru, diksa-guru, and so many gurus. If the devotee is sincere, then Krishna will arrange for him to have the association of such bona fide gurus.

Why did Srila Prabhupada himself take initiation? Why did he accept a guru? And why did he give initiation to others? This ritvik idea is against guru-tattva. It is totally against all sastra, all teachings of the acaryas, and even against the desires of Srila Prabhupada himself.

Some say, ‘We are only followers of Srila Prabhupada. We do not need any other guru.’ This is sahajiya-vada. Guru is one, but if one is bona fide, Krishna will arrange for him to have a siksa-guru. Why did Srila Prabhupada write in his books that one must take shelter of a living guru? Was he joking? No, he was giving siddhanta.

“Books are not sufficient... one must go to a guru.”

(Bhagavad-gita 4.34, Bombay, Jan 9, 1973)

Srila Prabhupada

Srila Prabhupada wanted his disciples to become gurus. Otherwise, why would he have said, ‘I want all of you to become gurus and deliver the whole world’? Why would he train them in tattva-jnana, in Vaisnava behavior, and in deity worship? Did he not give them brahmana initiation? Then why are they rejecting that order now?

“All my disciples will take the legacy. If you want, you can also take it.”

(Room Conversation, April 6, 1975, Mayapur)

Srila Prabhupada

That [ritvik] letter was written for a temporary period while Srila Prabhupada was very ill. It was not meant to establish a new system after his disappearance. If it were, why didn’t he write it in his will or repeat it again and again in his lectures?

They say Srila Prabhupada is their guru and no need of another guru. This is against bhakti. This is against his desire. Guru must be physically present to give personal guidance. Otherwise, the heart will dry up.

“Not that ‘Guru is not present, so let me find out a dead guru.’ No. That is not the process.”

(Los Angeles, May 13, 1973) Srila Prabhupada

Srila Prabhupada made many statements throughout his books, lectures, and letters that strongly emphasize the need for a living guru, which directly refutes the posthumous “ritvik” initiation idea. Here are several direct quotes from Srila A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada that clearly contradict the ritvik philosophy:

1. Guru must be living – not a matter of rubber-stamping

“Guru means one who is accepted as guru must be accepted as good as God. That is the injunction of the shastra. That means he must be a living personality. Not that ‘Guru is not present, so let me find out a dead guru. And I become guru.’ No. That is not the process.”

— Morning Walk, Los Angeles, May 13, 1973

2. Initiation must be from a present, living spiritual master

“One should take initiation from a bona fide spiritual master coming in the disciplic succession, who is authorized by his predecessor spiritual master. This is called diksha-vidhana.”

— Srimad-Bhagavatam 4.8.54, purport

3. Disciplic succession is continued by living devotees

“It is imperative that a serious person accept a bona fide spiritual master in terms of the shastric injunctions. Śrīla Jīva Gosvāmī advises that one not accept a spiritual master in terms of hereditary or customary social and ecclesiastical conventions. One should simply try to find a genuinely qualified spiritual master for actual advancement in spiritual understanding.”

— Cc. Adi 1.35, purport

4. Devotee must accept a living guru

“Try to understand. Don't go very speedily. A guru can become guru when he's ordered by his guru. That's all. Otherwise nobody can become guru.”

— Conversation, October 28, 1975, Nairobi

5. The guru must physically be there to give diksha

“Dīkṣā means divya-jñānaṁ kṣipati — to give the divya-jñāna, transcendental knowledge. That is the duty of guru. And the disciple must admit that he’ll do anything for the guru. If he cannot do that, then he is not fit for being initiated.”

— Lecture on Srimad-Bhagavatam 6.1.15, Honolulu, June 4, 1975

6. Books are not a replacement for the living guru

“Books are not sufficient. If books were sufficient for knowledge, then there was no need of a spiritual master. Therefore the Vedic injunction is: ‘tad-vijñānārthaṁ sa gurum eva abhigacchet’ — one must go to a guru.”

— Lecture on Bhagavad-gita 4.34, Bombay, January 9, 1973

7. He expected his disciples to become gurus

“All my disciples will take the legacy. If you want, you can also take it. Sacrifice everything. I—one—may not live, but still the movement will go on. If you follow the previous acaryas, one after another, then there is no difficulty.”

— Room Conversation, April 6, 1975, Mayapur

Now some persons have come out with the idea that there is no need of any guru. They are saying, ‘We can take initiation from Srila Prabhupada through ritvik.’ This is nonsense. Srila Prabhupada never said this. He wrote in his books that one must accept a bona fide guru, and not only one guru — he must accept siksa-guru, diksa-guru, and so many gurus. If the devotee is sincere, then Krishna will arrange for him to have the association of such bona fide gurus.

Why did Srila Prabhupada himself take initiation? Why did he accept a guru? And why did he give initiation to others? This ritvik idea is against guru-tattva. It is totally against all sastra, all teachings of the acaryas, and even against the desires of Srila Prabhupada himself.

Some say, ‘We are only followers of Srila Prabhupada. We do not need any other guru.’ This is sahajiya-vada. Guru is one, but if one is bona fide, Krishna will arrange for him to have a siksa-guru. Why did Srila Prabhupada write in his books that one must take shelter of a living guru? Was he joking? No, he was giving siddhanta.

“Books are not sufficient... one must go to a guru.”

(Bhagavad-gita 4.34, Bombay, Jan 9, 1973)

Srila Prabhupada

Srila Prabhupada wanted his disciples to become gurus. Otherwise, why would he have said, ‘I want all of you to become gurus and deliver the whole world’? Why would he train them in tattva-jnana, in Vaisnava behavior, and in deity worship? Did he not give them brahmana initiation? Then why are they rejecting that order now?

“All my disciples will take the legacy. If you want, you can also take it.”

(Room Conversation, April 6, 1975, Mayapur)

Srila Prabhupada

That [ritvik] letter was written for a temporary period while Srila Prabhupada was very ill. It was not meant to establish a new system after his disappearance. If it were, why didn’t he write it in his will or repeat it again and again in his lectures?

They say Srila Prabhupada is their guru and no need of another guru. This is against bhakti. This is against his desire. Guru must be physically present to give personal guidance. Otherwise, the heart will dry up.

“Not that ‘Guru is not present, so let me find out a dead guru.’ No. That is not the process.”

(Los Angeles, May 13, 1973) Srila Prabhupada

Srila Prabhupada made many statements throughout his books, lectures, and letters that strongly emphasize the need for a living guru, which directly refutes the posthumous “ritvik” initiation idea. Here are several direct quotes from Srila A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada that clearly contradict the ritvik philosophy:

1. Guru must be living – not a matter of rubber-stamping

“Guru means one who is accepted as guru must be accepted as good as God. That is the injunction of the shastra. That means he must be a living personality. Not that ‘Guru is not present, so let me find out a dead guru. And I become guru.’ No. That is not the process.”

— Morning Walk, Los Angeles, May 13, 1973

2. Initiation must be from a present, living spiritual master

“One should take initiation from a bona fide spiritual master coming in the disciplic succession, who is authorized by his predecessor spiritual master. This is called diksha-vidhana.”

— Srimad-Bhagavatam 4.8.54, purport

3. Disciplic succession is continued by living devotees

“It is imperative that a serious person accept a bona fide spiritual master in terms of the shastric injunctions. Śrīla Jīva Gosvāmī advises that one not accept a spiritual master in terms of hereditary or customary social and ecclesiastical conventions. One should simply try to find a genuinely qualified spiritual master for actual advancement in spiritual understanding.”

— Cc. Adi 1.35, purport

4. Devotee must accept a living guru

“Try to understand. Don't go very speedily. A guru can become guru when he's ordered by his guru. That's all. Otherwise nobody can become guru.”

— Conversation, October 28, 1975, Nairobi

5. The guru must physically be there to give diksha

“Dīkṣā means divya-jñānaṁ kṣipati — to give the divya-jñāna, transcendental knowledge. That is the duty of guru. And the disciple must admit that he’ll do anything for the guru. If he cannot do that, then he is not fit for being initiated.”

— Lecture on Srimad-Bhagavatam 6.1.15, Honolulu, June 4, 1975

6. Books are not a replacement for the living guru

“Books are not sufficient. If books were sufficient for knowledge, then there was no need of a spiritual master. Therefore the Vedic injunction is: ‘tad-vijñānārthaṁ sa gurum eva abhigacchet’ — one must go to a guru.”

— Lecture on Bhagavad-gita 4.34, Bombay, January 9, 1973

7. He expected his disciples to become gurus

“All my disciples will take the legacy. If you want, you can also take it. Sacrifice everything. I—one—may not live, but still the movement will go on. If you follow the previous acaryas, one after another, then there is no difficulty.”

— Room Conversation, April 6, 1975, Mayapur

Now some persons have come out with the idea that there is no need of any guru. They are saying, ‘We can take initiation from Srila Prabhupada through ritvik.’ This is nonsense. Srila Prabhupada never said this. He wrote in his books that one must accept a bona fide guru, and not only one guru — he must accept siksa-guru, diksa-guru, and so many gurus. If the devotee is sincere, then Krishna will arrange for him to have the association of such bona fide gurus.

Why did Srila Prabhupada himself take initiation? Why did he accept a guru? And why did he give initiation to others? This ritvik idea is against guru-tattva. It is totally against all sastra, all teachings of the acaryas, and even against the desires of Srila Prabhupada himself.

Some say, ‘We are only followers of Srila Prabhupada. We do not need any other guru.’ This is sahajiya-vada. Guru is one, but if one is bona fide, Krishna will arrange for him to have a siksa-guru. Why did Srila Prabhupada write in his books that one must take shelter of a living guru? Was he joking? No, he was giving siddhanta.

“Books are not sufficient... one must go to a guru.”

(Bhagavad-gita 4.34, Bombay, Jan 9, 1973)

Srila Prabhupada

Srila Prabhupada wanted his disciples to become gurus. Otherwise, why would he have said, ‘I want all of you to become gurus and deliver the whole world’? Why would he train them in tattva-jnana, in Vaisnava behavior, and in deity worship? Did he not give them brahmana initiation? Then why are they rejecting that order now?

“All my disciples will take the legacy. If you want, you can also take it.”

(Room Conversation, April 6, 1975, Mayapur)

Srila Prabhupada

That [ritvik] letter was written for a temporary period while Srila Prabhupada was very ill. It was not meant to establish a new system after his disappearance. If it were, why didn’t he write it in his will or repeat it again and again in his lectures?

They say Srila Prabhupada is their guru and no need of another guru. This is against bhakti. This is against his desire. Guru must be physically present to give personal guidance. Otherwise, the heart will dry up.

“Not that ‘Guru is not present, so let me find out a dead guru.’ No. That is not the process.”

(Los Angeles, May 13, 1973) Srila Prabhupada

Srila Prabhupada made many statements throughout his books, lectures, and letters that strongly emphasize the need for a living guru, which directly refutes the posthumous “ritvik” initiation idea. Here are several direct quotes from Srila A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada that clearly contradict the ritvik philosophy:

1. Guru must be living – not a matter of rubber-stamping

“Guru means one who is accepted as guru must be accepted as good as God. That is the injunction of the shastra. That means he must be a living personality. Not that ‘Guru is not present, so let me find out a dead guru. And I become guru.’ No. That is not the process.”

— Morning Walk, Los Angeles, May 13, 1973

2. Initiation must be from a present, living spiritual master

“One should take initiation from a bona fide spiritual master coming in the disciplic succession, who is authorized by his predecessor spiritual master. This is called diksha-vidhana.”

— Srimad-Bhagavatam 4.8.54, purport

3. Disciplic succession is continued by living devotees

“It is imperative that a serious person accept a bona fide spiritual master in terms of the shastric injunctions. Śrīla Jīva Gosvāmī advises that one not accept a spiritual master in terms of hereditary or customary social and ecclesiastical conventions. One should simply try to find a genuinely qualified spiritual master for actual advancement in spiritual understanding.”

— Cc. Adi 1.35, purport

4. Devotee must accept a living guru

“Try to understand. Don't go very speedily. A guru can become guru when he's ordered by his guru. That's all. Otherwise nobody can become guru.”

— Conversation, October 28, 1975, Nairobi

5. The guru must physically be there to give diksha

“Dīkṣā means divya-jñānaṁ kṣipati — to give the divya-jñāna, transcendental knowledge. That is the duty of guru. And the disciple must admit that he’ll do anything for the guru. If he cannot do that, then he is not fit for being initiated.”

— Lecture on Srimad-Bhagavatam 6.1.15, Honolulu, June 4, 1975

6. Books are not a replacement for the living guru

“Books are not sufficient. If books were sufficient for knowledge, then there was no need of a spiritual master. Therefore the Vedic injunction is: ‘tad-vijñānārthaṁ sa gurum eva abhigacchet’ — one must go to a guru.”

— Lecture on Bhagavad-gita 4.34, Bombay, January 9, 1973

7. He expected his disciples to become gurus

“All my disciples will take the legacy. If you want, you can also take it. Sacrifice everything. I—one—may not live, but still the movement will go on. If you follow the previous acaryas, one after another, then there is no difficulty.”

— Room Conversation, April 6, 1975, Mayapur

Now some persons have come out with the idea that there is no need of any guru. They are saying, ‘We can take initiation from Srila Prabhupada through ritvik.’ This is nonsense. Srila Prabhupada never said this. He wrote in his books that one must accept a bona fide guru, and not only one guru — he must accept siksa-guru, diksa-guru, and so many gurus. If the devotee is sincere, then Krishna will arrange for him to have the association of such bona fide gurus.

Why did Srila Prabhupada himself take initiation? Why did he accept a guru? And why did he give initiation to others? This ritvik idea is against guru-tattva. It is totally against all sastra, all teachings of the acaryas, and even against the desires of Srila Prabhupada himself.

Some say, ‘We are only followers of Srila Prabhupada. We do not need any other guru.’ This is sahajiya-vada. Guru is one, but if one is bona fide, Krishna will arrange for him to have a siksa-guru. Why did Srila Prabhupada write in his books that one must take shelter of a living guru? Was he joking? No, he was giving siddhanta.

“Books are not sufficient... one must go to a guru.”

(Bhagavad-gita 4.34, Bombay, Jan 9, 1973)

Srila Prabhupada

Srila Prabhupada wanted his disciples to become gurus. Otherwise, why would he have said, ‘I want all of you to become gurus and deliver the whole world’? Why would he train them in tattva-jnana, in Vaisnava behavior, and in deity worship? Did he not give them brahmana initiation? Then why are they rejecting that order now?

“All my disciples will take the legacy. If you want, you can also take it.”

(Room Conversation, April 6, 1975, Mayapur)

Srila Prabhupada

That [ritvik] letter was written for a temporary period while Srila Prabhupada was very ill. It was not meant to establish a new system after his disappearance. If it were, why didn’t he write it in his will or repeat it again and again in his lectures?

They say Srila Prabhupada is their guru and no need of another guru. This is against bhakti. This is against his desire. Guru must be physically present to give personal guidance. Otherwise, the heart will dry up.

“Not that ‘Guru is not present, so let me find out a dead guru.’ No. That is not the process.”

(Los Angeles, May 13, 1973) Srila Prabhupada

Just so you all know ISKCON Bangalore won the supreme court case today

Against ISKCON mumbai.. its a majir setback for guruvadis

Just so you all know ISKCON Bangalore won the supreme court case today

Against ISKCON mumbai.. its a majir setback for guruvadis

Just so you all know ISKCON Bangalore won the supreme court case today

Against ISKCON mumbai.. its a majir setback for guruvadis

Srila Prabhupada after his departure wanted Ritvik initiation to continue & didnt appoint any Guru after him but appointed 11 Ritviks to continue Ritvik initiation.