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.”
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.”
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.”
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.”
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
@AyushiShah-b9w and if you guys ritviks are true followers of prabhupada then kindly let me know why you guys don’t come together in a single organisation then talk
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
@AyushiShah-b9w arey mata ji mahaan
Kindly bring some exact source that says Prabhupada gave explicit instruction to place ritvik initiation for eternity
Now you guys will say that Prabhupada’s letter is the proof.
But I guess you haven’t seen the compiler of the letter and several other devotees totally disagreeing with what you guys are believing
Now again where is the proof that sadhu, shastra and guru’s words are matching. No ritvik initiation mentioned anywhere. Because if it doesn’t then there is no validity of that claim
Scriptures bhi padhte ho aplog ya bas faults in iskcon by hdg mpp padhte ho? 😂
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
@AyushiShah-b9w
Still waiting for the answer of main question
Kindly refer any ritvik initiation system from vedas
Prabhupada always gave reference. Or do you guys think he deviated from it?
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
@AyushiShah-b9w
Everyone wants to become diksha guru?
That nonsense is fed with your minds madam. Go to any iskcon temple and see what they are doing. Only negative thoughts you guys have
Have you ever seen Prabhupada ? No
But you guys don’t even think twice to blaspheme these devotees who gave their lives for 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
@AyushiShah-b9w madam you know so much
So please do one thing, kindly find and present any evidence about ritvik initiation in any Prabhupada’s lecture, purports or from any Gaudiya Madhva sampraday philosophy (because we are from there only na)
Your big big guns are still searching, maybe you could throw some light on it
Just so you all know ISKCON Bangalore won the supreme court case today
Against ISKCON mumbai.. its a majir setback for guruvadis
@stories5961
See how blinded you guys are
Just stop and think about a second. Was Prabhupada unable to create a single Maha Bhagvat? Out of his 5000 disciples there wasn’t anyone who became a pure devotee ?
Now just think that if there is even 1% chance that he did make then what kind of Vaishnav apradh you guys are doing
Srila Prabhupada after his departure wanted Ritvik initiation to continue & didnt appoint any Guru after him but appointed 11 Ritviks to continue Ritvik initiation.
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
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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
Which organisation are you connected?
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
Hare Krishna
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
https://youtu.be/tJWKJJSgiR4?si=0f0V8BJyY7aRZbR0
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
Do you want to see the full video?
How gullible and naive guys are these ritviks 😂😂😂
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
You all are bunch of deviants nothing more
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
Kindly bring some exact source that says Prabhupada gave explicit instruction to place ritvik initiation for eternity
Now you guys will say that Prabhupada’s letter is the proof.
But I guess you haven’t seen the compiler of the letter and several other devotees totally disagreeing with what you guys are believing
Now again where is the proof that sadhu, shastra and guru’s words are matching. No ritvik initiation mentioned anywhere. Because if it doesn’t then there is no validity of that claim
Scriptures bhi padhte ho aplog ya bas faults in iskcon by hdg mpp padhte ho? 😂
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
Still waiting for the answer of main question
Kindly refer any ritvik initiation system from vedas
Prabhupada always gave reference. Or do you guys think he deviated from it?
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
Everyone wants to become diksha guru?
That nonsense is fed with your minds madam. Go to any iskcon temple and see what they are doing. Only negative thoughts you guys have
Have you ever seen Prabhupada ? No
But you guys don’t even think twice to blaspheme these devotees who gave their lives for Prabhupada.
Another fool from photo touch diksa gang
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
So please do one thing, kindly find and present any evidence about ritvik initiation in any Prabhupada’s lecture, purports or from any Gaudiya Madhva sampraday philosophy (because we are from there only na)
Your big big guns are still searching, maybe you could throw some light on it
Against ISKCON mumbai.. its a majir setback for guruvadis
It didn’t answered my question
Against ISKCON mumbai.. its a majir setback for guruvadis
See how blinded you guys are
Just stop and think about a second. Was Prabhupada unable to create a single Maha Bhagvat? Out of his 5000 disciples there wasn’t anyone who became a pure devotee ?
Now just think that if there is even 1% chance that he did make then what kind of Vaishnav apradh you guys are doing
Against ISKCON mumbai.. its a majir setback for guruvadis
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