RV: Ritvik system

[Guest guest]

Camp: ISKCON Telok Intan Branch Rathayatra Festival, Perak State, Malaysia

 

> > Dear Gurudev:

> > PAMHO, can you please explain a little what or who are the rtvik and

> his system?

> >

> > thank you very much

> >

> > Ys, servant

> > Dhanañjaya Pandit das

> >

 

Srila Prabhupada was asked by the GBC members in May, 1977 how initiations

would go on during his physical non-presence. His Divine Grace replied that

in the future he would recommend some disciples to be officiating acaryas.

Tamal Krishna Goswami asked if that was called Rktvik and Srila Prabhupada

said yes.

 

Srila Prabhupada explained that these devotees, as a formality, would

initiate on his behalf during his physical presence since that was the

etiquette---that disciples shouldn't initiate in the presence of their

Spiritual Master. Srila Prabhupada went on to explain that the persons he

would recommend would be "regular gurus" and their disciples would be His

Divine Grace's grand-disciples. The whole GBC understood unanimously what

Srila Prabhupada desired and that has been the ISKCON system.

 

Around 1990 some devotees, who were possibly frustrated with

mis-applications of the Guru principle in ISKCON, came up with a new Theory

called the post-samadhi Rktvik-vada theory. They use complicated logic to

try to establish that Srila Prabhupada really wanted to be the only diksa

guru for the next 9,500 years. They claim:

 

One sastra: Bhagavad Gita

One mantra: Hare Krishna

One diksa guru for next 9500 years: Srila Prabhupada

 

Now this is never taught by Srila Prabhupada. It is a deviant doctrine meant

to change Srila Prabhupada's teachings in his books, letters, conversations

and lectures. Srila Prabhupada always expressed that he wanted his

disciples to accept disciples and keep the parampara growing.

 

Since the Rktviks have no sastric basis in any of the vedic literatures for

such a system they have to adopt extreme and unethical methods to establish

their speculation.

 

Some of the Rktvik followers criticize Diksa gurus in ISKCON in the most

offensive and gross manner possible and broadcast any fault, imagined or

real, on any ISKCON Guru as far and wide as they can. They do this hoping

that if they can discredit all diksa gurus in ISKCON by default their

speculation will be accepted. It is a destructive technique and doesn't

make any sense to do such a thing. In doing so some potential or past

followers of Srila Prabhupada get disgusted and leave Srila Prabhupada's

shelter which is counter productive.

 

The Rktviks have come up with a paper called Final Order which they send

everywhere. It partially quotes Srila Prabhupada cutting off relevant parts

of the quotation just to prove their points. To find out more about Rktvik

and what Srila Prabhupada really wanted in regards to the Guru tattva in

ISKCON you can download Srila Prabhupada's Order from <WWW:chakra.org>.

Other interesting and relevant papers are Disciple of my Disciple, and

What's wrong with Rktvik by Jayadvaita Swami.

 

I hope this helped you.

 

I hope that this finds you in good health.

 

Your ever well wisher,

 

Jayapataka Swami