“None of Srila Prabhupada’s disciples had reached the required purity and level of realization for him to grant them the power to initiate newcomers into the disciplic succession.”
The new shiksha theories, like Prominent Link and Rocana prabhu’s Sampradaya Acarya position paper, misrepresents the true historical facts. Srila Prabhupada never explicitly recognized his rittviks as shiksha-gurus, i.e., as having attained the status of guru. He never recognized his sannyasis, leading secretaries, or temple presidents, either, as siksha-gurus. He encouraged all of his leaders and all of his disciples in various ways, but such encouragement should not be misinterpreted to mean that he recognized anyone as guru or spiritual master.
He appointed only rittviks just months before he departed; he recognized none of them as spiritual masters. He said that becoming guru was not a big thing-“strictly following”–then adding: “But you do not follow.” He wanted “strictly following” from all of his disciples, and he provided impetus and encouragement. Nevertheless, no one was recognized as diksha-guru or shiksha-guru by him.
We were all enjoined to be representatives of the spiritual master and give instruction, knowledge, and guidance to the best of our abilities. The trainers, recruiters, and preachers were all engaged in seva. This seva was supposed to have given us an affinity for hearing. And we were supposed to continue to perform severe penance and austerities in this seva in order to transcend the tight grip of so many anarthas. Anarthas prevent a person from attaining the stage of strictly following. He wanted each and every one of his disciples to reach the stage of guru; he wanted all his disciples to take the legacy. But nowhere in his final months with us did he explicitly recognize any disciple as having reached the stage of guru.
Srila Prabhupada clearly said, in 1975, that if any of his disciples became specifically competent in shastra, he would then order them to begin to initiate while he was still with us. This would override the general etiquette, yet such is the power of the parampara-acharya. Was this desire of his ever implemented? It was not. Why not? The answer should be obvious: None of his disciples reached the required purity and level of realization for him to grant them the power to initiate newcomers into the disciplic succession.
The new shiksha theory assumes that everyone believes that pre-samadhi rittviks and the temple presidents were automatically shiksha-gurus. This is an imaginative sentiment. A more advanced neophyte, to the best of his ability, trains a less advanced neophyte. The more advanced neophyte is not shiksha guru. The rittviks were priests engaged on behalf of the mahabhagavat. They conducted the fire sacrifice, and they chanted beads on behalf of the real guru. They were not shiksha-gurus.
Srila Prabhupada was the only vartmapradarsaka-guru, shiksha-guru, and diksha-guru for all of his initiated disciples. He continues to be so for those he directly initiated. He is shiksha-guru for all others who accept him and try to follow him. Prabhupada as the only guru was clearly understood by the devotees who were engaged in the real work, the real tapasya, of spreading his movement at the grassroots level. Prabhupada never bestowed or recognized any of his rittviks as being realized gurus or shiksha-gurus.
This assertion that there are many shiksha gurus operating at the present time is laughable. Instead, there are many cheap gurus, cheap disciples, and cheap processes of initiation. There are plenty of concoctions, newly-manufactured religious principles, and pseudo-Vaishnava cults. There are many kavis and munis pushing sophisticated new proposals.
The contents and conclusions of the new shiksha theory do not strictly follow the teachings of the predecessor spiritual master, Srila Prabhupada. As such, no divine mercy can be obtained from it. It cannot be considered part of the sacred tradition of disciplic succession. A shiksha-guru is an advanced devotee, and advanced devotees do not create propaganda that contains imperfect speculation contrary to the parampara’s established order.
Respected H H Eric Johanson prabhuji “Aachyutanand Swami previously”.if i am not at fault.
Please accept my humble obeisances at your lotus feet.my father met srila Prabhupad in LIC groung delhi in 1960’s, since then he is in constant touch with him through his books. my name is sameer vyas my age is 37 years. i am also practicing krishna con.from age of 5 years. please guide me how can i promote my self from present non progressing stage.please also give me information ,from where i can get your bhajans which i had long back in my tapes but lost.
pranaams
Dear bhaktin Jennifer,
Hare Krishna. Please accept my most humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada. Thank you for your kind appreciation of our efforts and your sincere offer to engage in some service to what Kailasa prabhu is putting forward.
This engagement in the service of the pure devotee Srila Prabhupada by helping present what he brought to the world is the means that we can become realized in the teachings of Krishna consciousness. It is the practical application of the philosophy and the essence of what Lord Krishna means when He says in the Bhagavad-gita to “surrender unto Me.” As we engage in service we begin to clear away the dust of material activity, rise a bit above the suffering of the modes of nature, and increase our knowledge and detachment. This will eventually bring us to the liberated stage which will mature at the stage of pure love of Krishna.
I will forward your message to Kailasa prabhu and one of us will contact you regarding some practical activity you can perform. At this time the best thing you can do is continue chanting and reading Srila Prabhupada’s books. We also have our Vaishnava Foundation site, which has many longer articles that have been written by Kailasa prabhu or under his direction therealexplanation.org .
Thank you once again for your interest,
your servant,
bhakta Eric Johanson
Please accept my humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada.
As a neophyte the issue of finding and accepting another devotee that is more advanced is a difficult one. My family and I came in contact with the teachings through ISKCON three years ago but remained on the out side not sitting in on classes and such because we could see huge problems there. In our continued searching we found the Esoteric Teaching site and that seemed to be a step higher but then we saw flaws in the “guru” who it turns out appointed him self. So being able to develop discrimination has come but at a high price as it takes so much time to see the hidden flaws of the Darvesh organizations. I am most grateful for the videos posted on YouTube and the articles found here.
Are there any suggestions as to connecting with other sincere devotees or being of some service to help Kailasa Candra dasa carry out this true teaching of the absolute truth? We are in Idaho, USA and very much want to associate with others that see through the smoke and mirrors.
Humbly,
Bhaktin Jennifer
Anyone who is following Srila Prabhupada’s instructions without adding or subtracting is connected with the disciplic succession. If we have been affiliated with organizations that are misleading people in the name of Krishna consciousness we should make a sincere threadbare inventory or our philosophical convictions to determine if we have been passed any deviant additions or subtractions by these people. Genuine initiation, as opposed to some makeshow, is preceded by our sincerity reaching a level that pleases Krishna. Srila Prabhupada says that Krishna will put such a devotee in touch with a bona fide spiritual master at this point.
Organizations are not all that important, but the association of devotees who are more advanced and honestly repeating and serving is absolutely necessary. For the neophyte, Krishna consciousness is a process of doing what comes natural for us, but doing it for Krishna, or at least engaging some of the fruits for Him. We often need direction in this or have philosophical questions. By accepting someone as more advanced and hearing from them we become obligated to offer our service. This service is then conducted to Krishna. Thank you for your interest.
Having now read the article called’ On Receiving the Order’, I understand the problem better. We have HIS books and our intelligence and the need of His mercy, this in His eyes must make us His disciples!
I’ve never felt I need any organization to organize my feelings for
Prabhupada and Krsna.
Hari Bol
If someone like me ‘Bhakta John Dow” who has associated with
devotees for 30yrs, and was not initiated by Srila Prabhupada, other than remaining the eternal fringie, what way can I and others do to become part of the disciplic succession.
Hari Bol