Don’t We need a Living Guru to Give Initiation or Diksha?
Srila Prabhupada has taught that there are two kinds of “presence” of the spiritual master - vapuḥ and vāṇī. We must note that vāṇī is also a kind of presence, not absence of the spiritual master especially after his disappearance.
The leaders and devotees of ISKCON-Mumbai camp accuse us that we are seriously wrong when we follow the July 9th 1977 institutional directive of Srila Prabhupada on initiation. One of the reasons they cite is that we need a “living guru” to give initiation. We offer the following explanations:
(1) It is ill-reasoning to say Srila Prabhupada is not living amidst us now. The well-known poem of Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakur says:
He reasons ill who says that Vaiṣṇavas die
When thou art living still in Sound!
The Vaiṣṇavas die to live and living try
To spread a holy life around!
—verse by Śrīla Bhaktivinoda Ṭhākura on the tomb of the great saint Ṭhākura Haridāsa at Purī, India
(2) We strongly disagree that Srila Prabhupada is “not living” with us now for yet another reason. Once Srila Prabhupada was asked:
Reporter (2): What will happen to the movement in the United States when you die?
Prabhupāda: I will never die.
Devotees: Jaya! Hari bol! [laughter]
Prabhupāda: I shall live from my books, and you will utilize. (Press Conference – July 16, 1975, San Francisco)
(3) Srila Prabhupada has taught that there are two kinds of “presence” of the spiritual master - vapuḥ and vāṇī. We must note that vāṇī is also a kind of presence, not absence of the spiritual master especially after his disappearance. Hence, we don’t agree that Srila Prabhupada is “not present with us” if we follow his instructions.
"We are not separated actually. There are two— vāṇī or vapuḥ. So vapuḥ is physical presence and vāṇī is presence by the vibration, but they are all the same. So Krsna when He was physically present before Arjuna is the same when He is present before us by His vani of Bhagavad-gita. So far I am concerned, I do not factually feel any separation from my spiritual master because I am trying to serve him according to his desire. That should be the motto. If you kindly try to fulfill my mission for which you have been sent there, that will be our constant association." (SPL to Hamsaduta, June 22nd, 1970)
(4) “If you take initiation from a ‘living guru’, you can ask him questions and he will respond. But if you take initiation from Srila Prabhupada, how can you get your queries answered as he is not present?” is yet another objection they cite. Let us see what Srila Prabhupada says on this:
Paramahaṁsa: Śrīla Prabhupāda, when you are not present with us, how is it possible to receive instructions, for example, on questions that may arise?
Prabhupāda: Well, the questions are... Answers are there in my books.
Paramahaṁsa: Other than that, for example, that we would ask you in...
Prabhupāda: Yes.
Paramahaṁsa: Do you direct us also through the heart? Besides the Paramātmā?
Prabhupāda: If your heart is pure. Everything depends on purity. (Morning Walk at Cheviot Hills Golf Course – May 13, 1973, Los Angeles)
(5) When Srila Prabhupada disappeared on November 14th, 1977, he had about 5000 disciples. Post 1977, what will his disciples do if they have a question about philosophy or service? Srila Prabhupada said:
“In my books the philosophy of Krishna Consciousness is explained fully so if there is anything which you do not understand, then you simply have to read again and again. By reading daily the knowledge will be revealed to you and by this process your spiritual life will develop.” (Letter to: Bahurupa — Bombay 22 November, 1974).
“The instruction given in my books is supposed to be personal instruction. When we read the Bhagavad-gītā As It Is, it is understood that we are receiving personal instructions of Kṛṣṇa.” (Letter to Dhṛṣṭaketu — Bombay 14 October 1973)
In a room conversation:
Tamala Krishna Gosvami: This next one is also from Gargamuni. It includes a letter, Śrīla Prabhupāda. "My dear Śrīla Prabhupāda, please accept my humble obeisances at your divine lotus feet. We fervently pray that Your Divine Grace continue to remain in this world because we need your personal guidance. Even when Lord Kṛṣṇa disappeared, Arjuna lost all strength temporarily."
Prabhupāda: I shall remain your personal guide, physically present or not physically, as I am getting personal guidance from my Guru Mahārāja. (Room Conversation in Vrindavan on July 14, 1977)
“Never think that I am absent from you. Physical presence is not essential; presence by message (or hearing) is real touch. Lord Krishna is present by His message which was delivered 5,000 years ago. We feel always the presence of our past Acaryas simply by their immutable instructions. I hope you will understand me right and do the needful.” (Srila Prabhupada letter to students, Aug 2nd, 1967)
(6) A living guru can tell us if he is pleased with us or not. Then we can rectify our actions. How do we know Srila Prabhupada is pleased with us if he is not living and available to confirm? Let us see what Srila Prabhupada says on this topic:
Revatīnandana: Sometimes this question comes up, with the devotees especially, that it says the devotee makes advancement when the spiritual master is pleased. So sometimes the spiritual master is far, far away. He may be in Los Angeles. Somebody is coming to Hamburg temple. He thinks, "How will the spiritual master be pleased?"
Prabhupāda: Just follow his order. Spiritual master is along with you by his words. Just like my spiritual master is not physically present, but I am associating with him by his words. (Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 1.1.2 – July 7, 1972, London).
(7) Srila Prabhupada not only wrote books, but another of his important transcendental contributions is also to create an ISKCON institution where there are devotees seriously practising Krishna consciousness. (In fact, he created a complete spiritual ecosystem of temples, foundational books, Deities, daily program, leaders, activities, growth plans – all within an institutional framework). Srila Prabhupada expected that the younger devotees are guided by the senior and experienced devotees. Let us examine these directions of Srila Prabhupada:
GBCs and TPs are qualified to answer your questions
“As you know, I am translating so many books into English from the Sanskrit, therefore, I am very busy. Now, I have representatives, the GBC and the temple presidents who are qualifies to answer your questions. Of course if you ask me I am obligated to reply because I am your spiritual master. So please direct your question to my representatives.” (Srila Prabhupada Letter to: Caturbhuja — Los Angeles 9 May, 1973)
Take up with the TP and GBCs
“Regarding marriage matters and second initiations, these things should be taken up with GBC representative for that zone. More and more I wish to not be involved in management affairs and want to devote my time to translating books so please have some trust in those representatives I have placed as Temple presidents and GBC members. They know the standard procedures in these matters and they can advise you.” (Srila Prabhupada Letter to: Bhumata — Los Angeles 2 January, 1974)
(8) In ISKCON today, some of the ISKCON’s ‘living gurus’ have passed away. What will their disciples do? We are not in any disadvantageous situation.
(9) Actually, to describe that Srila Prabhupada is “not living” amidst us is not only fundamentally erroneous we consider it is also offensive. Especially when Srila Prabhupada has given an explicit directive how he wishes to conduct initiation after his disappearance:
Satsvarūpa: By the votes of the present GBC. Then our next question concerns initiations in the future, particularly at that time when you're no longer with us. We want to know how first and second initiation would be conducted.
Prabhupāda: Yes. I shall recommend some of you. After this is settled up, I shall recommend some of you to act as officiating ācāryas.
Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: Is that called ṛtvik-ācārya?
Prabhupāda: Ṛtvik, yes. (GBC Meets with Śrīla Prabhupāda – May 28, 1977, Vṛndāvana)
And following this he has issued an institutional directive on July 9th 1977 to all the Temple Presidents and GBCs.
On July 10th, 1977, (the very next day after the July 9th), HH Tamala Krishna Goswami, wrote to HH Hamsaduta Goswami:
“Srila Prabhupāda was very pleased to hear how you have organized everything in Ceylon, and that so many people are now taking interest seriously is proof of the effectiveness of your preaching. His Divine Grace said, “You are a suitable person and you can give initiation to those who are ready for it. I have selected you among eleven men as “Ritvik” or representative of the acarya, to give initiation, both first and second initiation, on my behalf.” (A newsletter is being sent to all Temple Presidents and GBC in this regard listing the eleven representative[s] selected by His Divine Grace. Those who are initiated are the disciples of Srila Prabhupāda, and anyone who you deem fit and initiate in this way, you should send their names to be included in Srila Prabhupāda’s “Initiated Disciples” book. In this way the Temple Presidents will send their recommendations for initiation direct to the nearest representative who will give a spiritual name or chant on the Gayatri thread just as Srila Prabhupāda has been doing.)” (From: Tamal Krishna to Hansaduta, Juily 10th, 1977)
Srila Prabhupada continued to talk about Ritvik initiation in room conversations on July 19th, 1977:
Prabhupāda: And nobody is going to disturb you there. Make your own field and continue to become ṛtvik and act on my charge. People are becoming sympathetic there. The place is very nice. (Room Conversation with Pranavdas Gupta about Astrology Report – July 19, 1977, Vṛndāvana)
HH Tamal Krishna Goswami wrote in his letter to HH Hansaduta Goswami referring to the above conversation of July 19th:
“It is because you are my sincere servant. You have given up attachment to a beautiful and qualified wife and that is a great benediction. You are a real preacher. Therefore, I like you.(then laughing) Sometimes you become obstinate, but that is true of any intelligent man. Now you have got a very good field. Now organize it and it will be a great credit. No one will disturb you there. Make your own field and continue to be ritvik and act on my charge.” (From: Tamal Krishna to Hansaduta, July 31st, 1977)
(10) If Srila Prabhupada, as an acharya is “living still in sound,” even now, is this true for HDG Bhaktisaddhanta Sarasvati Goswami too?
Yes, it is true.
All the liberated acharyas in the disciplic succession mentioned by Srila Prabhupada at the end of introduction to the Bhagavad Gita are also “living in sound.”
The devotees of ISKCON Mumbai group, have further taunted us: If we can take initiation from Srila Prabhupada after his disappearance, then we can take initiation directly from Srila Bhaktisiddantha Sarasvati Goswami or Rupa Gosvami or Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu or even Srila Vyasadeva himself!
But the fact is that Srila Prabhupada has made this specific arrangement for initiation through the July 9th 1977 institutional directive for his ISKCON institution. None of the previous acharyas have not made this kind of an arrangement and hence we cannot claim to take initiation directly from any one of the previous acharyas. This is a grave, serious, sacred and solemn matter for us. Not a frivolous trifle.
My prayers to Srila Prabhupada, despite my unlimited faults, please continue to bless me and direct me to be always acting for your pleasure.