Is A Physically Present Spiritual Master Required?

[Guest guest]

Dear Bhakta Deepak, PAMHO. AGTSP!

 

> Srila Prabhupada makes it clear that connection to him via initiation does

> not come through any specific ceremony, but from acceptance and following

> his instructions which do NOT require his physical presence:

 

If I accept and follow the instructions of a devotee who is in the disciplic

succession, then whose disciple am I?

 

> So Srila Prabhupada says that one who seriously follows the process of

> chanting Hare Krishna and following the regulative principles as

> instructed by him is ALREADY initiated.

 

In the first quote he said "initiated by my Guru Maharaja" (Bhaktisiddhanta

Sarasvati Thakur). So who is now the initiator?

 

> The formal initiation ceremony is then conducted once one has been

> "recommended by our men". This is the ritviks system.

 

Is the formal initiation ceremony (first or second initiation) required?

 

If not, then for what do we need ritviks?

 

If yes, is for that ceremony any action required by the guru?

 

> Whether Srila Prabhupada is physically present or not is immaterial:

 

Can you please provide a quote that confirm this statement (that the

physical presence is not required for the formal initiation).

This statement should be equally clear (using the words "physical presence"

or similar) as the statements that you quoted saying that for siksa the

physical presence is not required.

 

ys Ramakanta dasa