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Post-samadhi Rtvik Theory--- Out of ISKCON
by Bhadra Balaram (das) JPS
I recently read the paper “Rtvik Theory--- Out of The Question” by His Holiness Jayapataka Swamiand was highly impressed by its clarity and simplicity. It strengthened my conviction that there is noway we can allow the rtvik theory in ISKCON. Of course, this is not to say rtvik-vadis should leaveISKCON, but that they should leave the theory they are so stuck on, and which they promote withinISKCON without any authorization, even using ISKCON funds. The purpose of “Post-samadhi Rtvik Theory--- Out of ISKCON” is as simple as the name suggests. It explains why rtvik-vadis should giveup their misunderstandings and if they refuse the only way for them to go is out of ISKCON with theirconcocted theory.After realizing their mistake that the word “henceforward” was not enough to fool all ISKCON leadersand most devotees in general, the proponents of rtvik-maya vada have now found a new speculationbased on the word “order”. They eagerly challenge the GBCs, and whoever they argue with, to show anexplicit order by Srila Prabhupada where he uses the word “order” like, “I am ordering you to becomeguru” and if such a statement cannot be found, they propose that ISKCON should accept the July 9
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letter as Srila Prabhupada’s final order. Although they do admit that Srila Prabhupada expressed astrong desire that his disciples become regular gurus, he none the less never gave any explicit order forit, they add. They also give many examples, backed by really poor logic, to prove their claim. Obviouslythey don’t have many valid arguments and keep jumping from one point to the other, only to come back to the initial point in the end. If that doesn’t work they go wild and start offending vaisnavas. This iswhat I call the monkey-strategy. Although it’s important to expose their stratagem we will talk aboutthat a little later. For now let’s see if we can help them find the “order” they have lost along with theirintelligence.
Where is the “Order”?
Rtvik-vadis say Srila Prabhupada may have "desired" that his disciples become gurus, but that is notsufficient; we must show that Srila Prabhupada "ordered" his disciples to be gurus. They say we cannotaccept any of Srila Prabhupada’s statements as an order, even where he expresses his strong desire thathis disciples should become regular gurus, because he has not used the word “order”. By suggestingthis division they have reached new heights of absurdity. Of course, Srila Prabhupada did use the word“order”, but the rtvikvadis say it was an order to become siksa-guru and not diksa-guru. This isoffensive because it’s a direct negligence of Srila Prabhupada’s own words: “The word guru is equallyapplicable to the vartma-pradarsaka-guru, siksa-guru and diksa-guru”.What comes to my mind is whether Srila Prabhupada ever expressed a desired to continue the
 
parampara through rtviks or officiating acaryas after his physical departure? On the other hand he saidhundreds of times that he desired/wanted his disciples to continue the parampara system and becomeregular gurus. Why think of something that is not even Srila Prabhupada 's desire and try to convert itinto to his order, and purposefully ignore his strong desire that he repeatedly expressed? Isn’t this plainnonsense?Apart from that, since the rtvik-vadis are sticking to the July 9
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letter and presenting it as if it wereSrila Prabhupada’s direct order, my question to them is: did Srila Prabhupada use the word “order”anywhere in the July 9
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letter? NO! Then on what basis are they proposing that it was SrilaPrabhupada’s order to continue the rtvik system of initiations in ISKCON after his departure? The July9
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letter doesn’t even say anything about Srila Prabhupada’s departure. So where is the “order” thatthey are talking about in their asat-sastra called The Final Order? There is no such “order”. Does thismean we propose that the July 9
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letter should not be followed in any way because Srila Prabhupadadidn’t use the word “order”? It would be ridiculous to propose such thing. The point is that the rtvik-vadis have no right to present the July 9
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letter as Srila Prabhupada’s order if they don’t want to acceptthe fact that Srila Prabhupada did order his disciples to become regular diksa gurus after his physicaldeparture.Did Srila Prabhupada ever say that he “ordered” his followers to follow the four regulative principlesand chant sixteen rounds daily? He rather said his followers “should” do it or “have to” do it and thuswe take it as an order. Why should we find excuses not to follow Srila Prabhupada’s order? What’s thepoint except to stay bound up by maya?
Let’s not become Third class disciples
God knows from where this distinction between “desire” and “order” has sprung in the rtvik-vadis’minds when it is well known that the spiritual master’s desires are to be taken as his orders by sinceredisciples. Have they forgotten that the first-class disciples fulfill the desire of their spiritual master evenwithout being ordered? Or do they want all of Srila Prabhupada’s disciples to join their company andfall in the category of third or forth class disciples, who, even after repeated requests by the spiritualmaster, somehow or other find excuses to ignore his order? It's rightly said that an intelligent personneeds only an indication (to carry out an order), but a dull- headed one needs a bamboo-stick or lathi.This "unless you give me an order I won't do it" is third class mentality and one should try to overcomeit. Again, rtvik-vadis should not try to force all of Srila Prabhupada disciples to become third classdisciples.
What is an Order?
Let’s take this simple example. If a guru tells his disciple “I want you to go out and distribute books”,
 
shouldn’t the disciple go out and distribute books? Shouldn’t he take it as his guru’s order and follow it?He should. Then why, even though Srila Prabhupada has said many times that he wants his disciples tobecome future gurus like him, do the rtvik-vadis have problems understanding it as an order from thespiritual master? The two words “desire” and “order” may have two different meanings according todictionary but when they are spoken by the spiritual master they suggest only one thing: “follow it”. Itis really very simple. Of course, some rtvik-vadis, with a lack of brain substance, may say that thisexample is not relevant because distributing books is not similar to becoming a guru, which is a highlyesoteric subject, but they forget that order is an order, be it to bring water, distribute books, or becomeguru. Ignoring such a desire of the spiritual master is the third offence to the holy Name.Let’s remember why Srila Prabhupada emphasized so much the printing of books:“So Guru Maharaja was speaking to me that "Since we have got this Bagh Bazaarmarble temple there has been so many dissensions. And everyone thinking who willoccupy this room or that room, that room. I wish therefore to sell this temple and themarble and print some book." Yes. So I took up this from his mouth that he is veryfond of books. And he told me personally that if you get some money print books.Therefore I am stressing on this point, where is book, where is book, where is book?So kindly help me. This is my request. Print as many books in as many languagesand distribute throughout the whole world” (L.A., June 20, 1975)Here Srila Bhaktisiddahanta Sarasvati Thakur says, “If you get some money print books”. Hedid not say, “I want you to print books”, what to speak of “I order you to print books”. ButSrila Prabhupada took it as an order. This is called a first class disciple. We should be proud of His Divine Grace that he took his spiritual master’s desire so seriously as an order. We shouldtry to follow in his foot- steps and carry out his desire as an order. It’s not a question of imitation as some rtvik-vadis may suggest. It is to follow what our founder-acaryas has taught usby his own example. Ignoring such teaching is self-cheating and proof of ignorance.Here is one more quote from Srila Prabhupada where he talks about the importance of fulfilling theguru’s desire even when it's not necessarily a direct order."This movement was started only for the satisfaction of my spiritual master. Hewanted. Caitanya Mahaprabhu wanted that this movement should be spread all overthe world. So he ordered many of my God-brothers, and desired... Even not ordered,he wanted. He sent some of my God-brothers to the foreign countries to spread, butsome way or other, he was not very successul. He was called back. So I thought,"Let me try in this old age." So the only desire was to satisfy the desire of thespiritual master. So you have helped now. It is coming to be successful. And this isyasya prasadad bhagavat prasadah. If we actually sincerely work under the directionof the spiritual master, that is satisfaction of Krsna, and Krsna will help us you, any
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