Straightforward Anwser

May 9, 2004

Dear Sudama Prabhu, PAMHO. AGTSP!

> Still, none of your quotes say anything about the necessity for the guru

> to be physically present.

Really? Then please explain to me 'how the bona fide spiritual master can

see the bona fide qualities of a person whom he is going to initiate', when

he is not physically present.

> Srila Prabhupada observed new candidates by delegating this duty to the

> local temple president and ritvik representative. He didn't need to

> meet and observe each disciple personally, because he clearly outlined

> the qualifications for initiation.

Yes, I know that he did, but IRM was asking for quotes in books, not

behaviour.

> We have never heard of Srila Prabhupada refusing to initiate someone who

> was following the 4 regs and chanting 16 rounds, rising early, etc.

Can you provide a quote (besides the July 9th letter) that confirms that

Srila Prabhupada intended to continue to do so.

> I personally feel a very close bond with Srila Prabhupada through his

> books, audio lectures, and videos. You could say that we newer devotees

> have MORE access to Srila Prabhupada than when he was personally on the

> planet, because we have hundreds of hours of audio lectures, and all of

> Prabhupada's books, letters, and conversations available for study.

> These things were not available in 1975, in fact at that time the

> devotees were lucky to get one letter. However today, we get the

> blessing of being able to hear a new Prabhupada lecture every morning

> and evening on the way to and from work. And guess what - Srila

> Prabhupada does not need to be "physically present" to instruct and

> guide us.

>

> I count myself lucky to be able to take direct instructions from the

> yuga-acharya, Lord Caitanya's sena-pati bhakta, and not a cheap

> substitute guru who may or may not fall down tomorrow. His Divine Grace

> A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada ki jaya!

We are speaking about diksa, not siksa.

ys Ramakanta dasa

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