Back To Prabhupada, Issue 29, Autumn 2010
Below we present the Chairman of the Indian Regional Governing Body of ISKCON, Pancaratna Das ("PRD"), being forced to employ wholesale cheating techniques to counter the IRM's position that Srila Prabhupada appointed ritviks (officiating priests) rather than diksha guru successors. Statements from PRD, which are mainly his commentary on the May 28th, 1977 conversation, are highlighted in bold text, with extracts from the May 28th conversation he comments on, highlighted in the tinted panels, and our comments follow under in normal text.
1. Assumption
"The July 9th letter specifically deals with the now and not the future."
PRD opens with the standard GBC technique of just assuming the very proposition which needs to proven. That the application of the July 9th, 1977 directive in ISKCON was specifically restricted to Srila Prabhupada's physical presence, is what the GBC actually needs to prove, not just assume.
2. Mind-reading
Satsvarupa: "Then our next question concerns initiations in the future, particularly at that time when you're no longer with us. We want to know how first and second initiation would be conducted."
Prabhupada: "Yes. I shall recommend some of you."
"Not in future, now while He is present."
Satsvarupa asks a question particularly for when Srila Prabhupada is not physically present. PRD claims without any basis, other than being able to read Srila Prabhupada's mind, that Srila Prabhupada decides to do the exact opposite, and answer the question for the time period he is particularly not asked about.
3. Future means present
"After this is settled up, I shall recommend some of you to act as officiating acharyas."
"HDG* is talking about now, officiating acaryas now, not the future. The above is not yet the answer to Satsvarup's question. Srila Prabhupada is giving the initial system as to how things will work, while he is present."
PRD continues asserting that Srila Prabhupada decides to answer the opposite of what he was asked, speaking about the present when he is actually asked about the future.
* "His Divine Grace", Srila Prabhupada
4. Fabrication
Tamala Krishna: "Is that called Ritvik-Acarya?"
Prabhupada: "Ritvik, yes."
Satsvarupa: "Then what is the relationship of that person who gives the initiation and the…"
Prabhupada: "He's guru. He's guru."
"He is Officiating Acarya now but will be regular after SP leaves".
PRD claims that the ritviks Srila Prabhupada will appoint will magically transform into diksha gurus after his departure, even though NONE of this is stated by Srila Prabhupada.
5. Invention
Satsvarupa: "But he does it on your behalf."
Prabhupada: "Yes. That is formality. Because in my presence one should not become guru, so on my behalf, on my order… Amara ajnaya guru hana. Be actually guru, but by my order."
"Because for formality one cannot be Guru while I am here so I order you as Officiating Acharya while I am here but after as Regular Guru."
Again PRD just invents what he would like Srila Prabhupada to state, even though there is no mention of "while I am here but after as regular guru".
6. "Yes" means "no"
Satsvarupa: "So they may also be considered your disciples."
Prabhupada: "Yes, they are disciples. Why consider? Who?"
"Those initiated now are disciples of Srila Prabhupada and those initiated in the future are disciples of the Officiating Acarya after HDG leaves"
Srila Prabhupada is asked if the disciples are HIS – "So they may also be considered YOUR disciples". Though Srila Prabhupada says "Yes", PRD would have us believe that what Srila Prabhupada actually means is that they are NOT his disciples, but the disciples of the ritviks after he departs!
7. Change the question
Tamala Krishna: "No, he's asking that these Ritvik-Acaryas, they're officiating, giving diksha. Their… The people who they give diksha to, whose disciple are they?"
"The people who THEY GIVE DIKSHA TO, this means in the future when HDG is no longer with us, now HDG is answering Satsvarupa's question".
PRD claims that when Srila Prabhupada is asked a question by Tamala Krishna, he is actually answering a different question posed by Satsvarupa!
8. Change the answer
Prabhupada: "They're his disciple."
Tamala Krishna: "They're his disciple."
Prabhupada: "Who is initiating."
"Are you talking about Me or the Officating Acharya. You said "the people they give Diksha To, whose disciples are they?"
An answer "Who is initiating" to Tamala's question, has now been transformed by PRD into Srila Prabhupada actually asking Tamala a question about what he is being asked!
9. Change the English language
Prabhupada: "He is grand disciple."
Satsvarupa: "Yes."
Tamala Krishna: "That's clear."
Satsvarupa: "Then we have a question concer…"
Prabhupada: "When I order, "You become guru," he becomes regular guru. That's all. He becomes disciple of my disciple. That's it."
"Srila Prabhupada is actually ordering for Regular Guru but as he is still present, for formality, they will be called Officiating Acaryas".
Srila Prabhupada says "when I order", but PRD tells us this means "actually ordering", and therefore Srila Prabhupada is using another English language.
Conclusion
PRD has engaged in 9 different cheating techniques of: assumption, mind-reading, future means present, fabrication, invention, "yes means no" and changing the question, the answer and the English language, by which he attempts to change Srila Prabhupada's words. By applying such cheating techniques to any set of statements, one can literally prove whatever is required, even the opposite of what Srila Prabhupada has stated. This indeed is cheating of the lowest order, and the fact that one is forced to employ such supreme cheating when attempting to respond to the IRM's position, merely demonstrates just how irrefutable that position must be.