What is good in both ISKCON and Ritwik?
Which one should I choose because I am new?
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What is good in both ISKCON and Ritwik?
Which one should I choose because I am new?
You need to be a member of ISKCON Desire Tree | IDT to add comments!
Replies
Hare Krsna
Prabhupada has said in a letter on 9th July 1977 that I am the initiation guru.
If that is the case, then that letter should be followed completely and not in bits and pieces. Please read that letter. Srila Prabhupada allowed only a few of his own disciples to initiate. So these ritvik initiators are they following that ? Which of the listed disciples of Srila Prabhupada is giving the initiation on behalf of Srila Prabhupada ? If none, then who is giving that initiation on behalf of Srila Prabhupada and on what basis. This letter does not allow anyone other than the listed disciples to give initiation of behalf of Srila Prabhupada
Hare Krsna
Well i stumbled upon the topic when i was relatively new to KC and would you believe that i heard lectures of a ritwik guru( i didn't knew the concept of ritwik or controversy around it at that time) for five whole months without even knowing that he was not a bonafied ISKCON preacher. Wan't to know the reason. Well that's because they teach you exactly the same principles that are taught in ISKCON so you cannot distinguish them based on preaching until....until you decide to take an initiation from them and both the ritwiks and the guru-parampadayis( ISKCON) have a reasonable number of arguments in their favour. Now Tukaram das prabhuji has already explained below what are the differences when you tend to take an initiation. When i crossed the path where i was doomed to choose between ISKCON and the guru i've been listening for past 5 months....i choosed ISKCON without a second thought....Reason 1 -> Well ISKCON GBC which is the governing body of ISKCON and has the most qualified and seniormost gaudiya vaishnavas acarayas along with consulatation from the recognized and bonafied leaders of other sampradayas through integrated collaboration reached on the conclusion that prabhupada in his letters never intended to establish a ritwik system and that guru-parampara should continue only. Reason 2-> An organization like ISKCON which was established by prabhupada isn't too fragile that it will mess up with the teachings of prabhupada in no time after prabhpada's leaving for transdental abode.
Well i don't hold anything against ritwiks and don't wan't to argue their reasons and also believe that one should respect them for the fact that they abide by prabhupada's teachings aside from the controversy around them...they have just taken a wrong turn and krishna will make sure that their paths meet the right way in the end.
Hare Krishna 🙏
While he was alive he was the initiating guru. Some senior devotees could do the ceremony on his behalf. But he is not longer with us. Easiest way to explain it will sound flippant, but I mean no disrespect... If you want to take initiation from Srila Prabhupada - write him a letter - see if he replies.
He is not longer physically present and can no longer initiate. Think of it this way, Prabhupada always said he was not qualified, but his guru was. So why don't we get initiated for Bhaktisiddhanta? Matter of fact, if we can guru jump, why not skip all the middle men and get initiated for Caitanya? Because that is not how the disciplic succession works. You have to get initiated by a guru, take shelter and instruction from an exalted person.
There is no denying that Srila Prabhupada was specially empowered by Krishna and accomplished miraculous things... but he is no longer physically present and can no longer initiate any of us.
Through his books and videos he can, and should, be your siksa guru, but he can no longer be your diksa guru. I would love to be a Prabhupada disciple, but I was too young at the time as well.
So why don't we get initiated for Bhaktisiddhanta?
👉 He gave me the answer to this question that Prabhupada started the ISKCON organization so we take initiation from him. If Bhaktisiddhanta had started ISKCON, we would have taken initiation from him
Hare Krsna
By that logic Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Thakur started Gaudiya Math. Do devotees in gaudiya math take direct initiation from Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Thakur ?
Initiation process has nothing to do with the organization. Organization is just a structure which facilitates propagation of Krsna Conciousness. Whether there is Iskcon tomorrow or not the disciplic succession will continue. Lord Chaitanya had no organization when he wa spreaching, he still initiated.
To say that Srila Prabhupada started a new organization to give rivik initiation exclusively would mean Srila prabhupada is deviating from parampara. Anyone who knows anything about Srila Praphupada would know that Srila Prabhupada would not deviate even to slightest extent from guru parampara. Srila Prabhupada has given so many explanations (from scriptures) even when there are minor deviations in Iskcon (like Temples not as per vastu etc). Considering that, if Srila Prahupada wanted deviant process of Ritvik system to be followed, he would have spent hours and books on explaining this one principle. He hasn't, in fact he has spent hours and hours on what are duties of disiple and who is qualified to be a guru.
Doubts are like deomns that haunt us. Please pray to Krsna, to guide you in the right direction.
Hare Krsna
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