Back To Prabhupada, Issue 67, Quotes Notes & News, Vol 3, 2020
1) In BTP 49 and 50, we analysed The Guru & Disciple Book, authored by GBC voted-in guru HG Kripamoya Dasa ("KMD"), and showed how KMD demonstrated that Srila Prabhupada only set up a ‘rtvik' (representative) system of initiation, and further that KMD himself destroyed the fundamental pillars on which the current ISKCON guru system is based! Now in a supplement to this book, titled The Guru & Disciple Q&A Book, KMD further confirms that Srila Prabhupada is the current link to the disciplic succession, and thus the diksa guru for ISKCON.
2) KMD writes in his latest book mentioned above that in regards to the chain of disciplic succession of bona fide gurus:
"It is not exactly a chain of physical bodies, more a chain of realised knowledge. Just as a river sometimes flows underground, only to reappear miles away, so the flow of gurus periodically disappears, only to reappear years later. We are concerned with the clarity and purity of teachings, not only the connectivity of the mantra-giving."
Thus, KMD states that the disciplic succession depends on the transmission of realised knowledge, which itself does not depend on physical bodies.
3) Two undisputed facts are that:
a) The current link in the disciplic succession is the one from whom one receives realised spiritual knowledge and takes initiation:
"the message of Srimad-Bhagavatam is coming down by disciplic succession, and in order to receive the real message of Srimad-Bhagavatam one should approach the current link, or spiritual master in the chain of disciplic succession. After being initiated by the proper spiritual master in that chain of succession..."
(SB, 2.9.7, purport)
b) Srila Prabhupada acted as that current link to the disciplic succession for ISKCON at least until 1977.
4) Hence, according to KMD's latest admission, Srila Prabhupada continues as this current link for ISKCON, if he continues to transmit realised knowledge in the chain of disciplic succession. And it is not disputed that Srila Prabhupada continues to transmit this realised knowledge in the chain of disciplic succession today in ISKCON in exactly the same way as he did in 1977:
"b. Srila Prabhupada's instructions are the essential teachings for every ISKCON devotee.
c. Srila Prabhupada's books are the embodiment of his teachings and should be accepted as the standard by all future generations of ISKCON."
(GBC Resolution 35, 1994)
5) Therefore, according to KMD, this would mean that Srila Prabhupada's physical disappearance did not lead to him no longer being the current link, since he continued to act as the link in the disciplic succession which transmitted realised knowledge, and thus the "chain" remained intact, because the "clarity and purity" of Srila Prabhupada's teachings remained intact.
6) What KMD has stated here is already basic knowledge for BTP readers since they have studied Srila Prabhupada's teachings, such as:
"So although a physical body is not present, the vibration should be accepted as the presence of the spiritual master, vibration. What we have heard from the spiritual master, that is living."
(Srila Prabhupada Lecture, 13/1/69)
But it is good to note that ISKCON leaders are finally understanding that the spiritual master is spiritual rather than physical.
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