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Devotees have researched Srila Prabhupada's use of the word Ritvik. It was always used as a helper who would perform a fire sacrifice on behalf of the guru or some similar kind of context in his works. Including his letters where he would ask devotees to perform fire jajnas on his behalf. For example Mother Saradiya initiated her husband that way into second Brahminical initiation when they started the temple on his behalf in Guyana. Towards the end Srila Prabhupada signed another letter appointing 11 ritvik helpers. Even later he said he might change things and go back to initiating his own disciples if he felt up to it. He said that in a room conversation. He never said to carry on these things after he left.

Ritvikvadis however take bits and pieces of letters and conversations and made a whole new philosophy out of it. Not having any direct statements from guru sadhu and sastra they say we only need guru and ritvikvadis interpretations of what he has said, and they take one quote from here and add another entirely unrelated quote from months later and piece them together as if they were part of the same conversations, letters etc. This is not the way to understand the guru according to Srila Prabhupada. We should hear from the guru in order to understand what he wants, and not listen to overly intelligent devotees who come to false conclusions. When the statements are clear there is no need of interpretation.

Srila Prabhupada said the statements in his books are the most authoritative. We should not reject his books and listen to anyone who says to take part of a letter and add part of a conversation and come up with an entirely different conclusion to what Srila Prabhupada always taught. Those who want us to do these things are not true practitioners of following the ritvik understanding of Srila Prabhupada, but only are cheaters. Here is why, one time two of Srila Prabhupada's disciples, a grhastha couple with children, were wondering about having their children initiated by Srila Prabhupada. Srila Prabhupada's body was old and the children's young. They inquired about this to Srila Prabhupada who responded by saying They will have to take their own guru. I will not be able to do it? I saw a video one time in the Remembrances Series about it.

Anyway the reason I am writing this is because of the word "ritvikvadi". Someone asked me about it one time. It sounds like the word "Mayavadi" and that is because it is similar in that both words show that whoever is following those philosophies is in illusion.