Back To Prabhupada, Issue 66, Vol 2, 2020
The guru hoax depends on the GBC vigorously condemning the possibility of accepting Srila Prabhupada as one's diksa guru with the excuse that he has physically departed. The GBC calls connecting with a physically departed guru "rtvikism". Thus, they firmly state:
"The doctrine that Srila Prabhupada desired to continue to act as diksa guru after his departure from this world [...] is a dangerous philosophical deviation. [...] Ritvikism is thus an extreme deviation. [...] The GBC Body unequivocally rejects in principle any proposals that rivikism be in some manner or another accommodated or tolerated within ISKCON."
(GBC Resolution 303, 1999)
However, as we shall see, such an idea will be tolerated if the situation demands it!
The recent passing of HH Bhakti Charu Swami ("BCS") led to the following "question and answer" between followers of BCS who had wanted to take initiation from BCS but did not manage to do so before his passing, and GBC member and ISKCON "diksa" guru HH Jayapataka Swami ("JPS"):
Q: "What will happen to us who were supposed to get initiated a few weeks back? [...] Moreover, our Gurudeva, after taking shelter and so many instructions, we love, respect and wish to serve all GBCs, but will we be considered Gurudeva's disciples as we are sheltered?"
JPS: "[...] naturally the relationship that you have with Bhakti Caru Swami, that will remain. He has helped you, and maybe, cakhudana dilo yei, janme janme prabhu sei – that he give you the spiritual enlightenment, that somehow you remain with his help and take that".
(Q&A with JPS, 5/7/20)
JPS refers to uninitiated followers of BCS continuing to connect with BCS by quoting "cakhudana dilo yei, janme janme prabhu sei", which is from the Sri Guru-vandana prayer and is translated as follows:
"cakhudana dilo yei, janme janme prabhu sei, divya-jnana hrde prokasito".
(Translation from official ISKCON song book of this verse from Sri Guru-vandana prayer: "He opens my darkened eyes and fills my heart with transcendental knowledge. He is my Lord birth after birth.")
In an explanation of this verse, Srila Prabhupada states that this refers specifically to the diksa guru:
"Divya jnana hrde prokasito. What is that divya jnana? [...] This is divya jnana. Diksa. Diksa means from this divya jnana."
(Srila Prabhupada Lecture, 11/7/76)
Thus, JPS is stating that uninitiated BCS followers can relate to BCS as one does with the diksa guru, even though according to the GBC resolution above this idea would be a "dangerous philosophical deviation", since BCS is no longer physically present.
The passing of BCS also led the GBC Executive Committee to issue a letter to all disciples and followers of BCS. In that letter, they also specifically address, as JPS did, the followers of BCS who had wished to take initiation from BCS but did not manage to do so before his passing. The Executive Committee stated:
"When you make the decision about initiation, do not be confused by the false notion than [sic] you will only be connected to HH Bhakti Charu Swami by taking initiation from him or his disciples."
(GBC Executive Committee, 5/8/20, Letter to BCS diksa/siksa disciples)
The GBC states that it is a false notion for such persons to think that they will only be connected to BCS by taking initiation from him or his disciples. But this implies that it is possible to be connected to BCS by taking initiation from BCS or his disciples, otherwise the issue of only being connected via such a practice would not even arise. But since BCS has physically departed, according to the GBC, this would be promoting "rtvikism" or a "dangerous philosophical deviation", as we saw from the GBC resolution at the outset. Thus, to be in line with that resolution, the GBC should and would have said:
"do not be confused by the false notion that you can be connected to HH Bhakti Charu Swami by taking initiation from him, as it is a "dangerous philosophical deviation"".
But instead they made a statement that relied on still taking initiation from BCS to be connected to him as being possible.
Param Gati Dasa ("PGD") was a GBC voted-in diksa guru who was suspended from initiating by the GBC in 2010 due to various deviations. The GBC made that suspension permanent this year by removing him as a diksa guru. The letter explaining this decision states:
"The GBC has also concluded that Param Gati Das is unfit to offer proper shelter and guidance to those he has initiated. Thus, we wish to especially reach out to those initiated into our Gaudiya Vaishnava parampara by Param Gati Das. It is very important to note that despite Param Gati Das's current status, devotees initiated by him remain connected to our parampara, and especially to Srila Prabhupada, [...] Srila Prabhupada continues to give each of you the opportunity and support to develop your pure love of Lord Krishna. That has not changed. [...] Know that your connection with the Lord remains solid, and your progress in spiritual life can continue unchecked".
(GBC Executive Committee, 22/4/20)
Thus, the GBC is saying that:
a) PGD conducted an initiation ceremony that initiated one into the parampara and connected one to Srila Prabhupada.
b) PGD is unable to offer anything to those he initiated, but it does not matter as Srila Prabhupada will take one back to Godhead and one can make spiritual progress unchecked.
But this is exactly what happens when there is a "rtvik" initiation ceremony on behalf of Srila Prabhupada. One is connected to Srila Prabhupada, one makes spiritual progress due to Srila Prabhupada, and the "rtvik" is not required for anything other than the initial initiation, with Srila Prabhupada doing all the actual work of a diksa guru.
Thus, the GBC will both condemn and utilise what it claims is a "dangerous philosophical deviation". Such a situation is to be expected with a made-up GBC guru system that is devoid of philosophy or principles, and instead is just full of contradictions.
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