Doc 1978

 

 

 

#Pradyumna Prabhu

 

â€TMs Letter to #Satsvarupa Maharaj. GBC. 7th August, 1978 Concerning #Iskcon  Hemorrhaging of Devotees worldwide at that time.
Some devotees have requested Pradyumna Prabhu to finish the service Srila Prabhupada gave him. Namely finishing the translation of Srila Prabhupadaâ€TMs Srimad Bhagavatam.
When Pradyumna Prabhu wrote a letter to the GBC in August of 1978, explaing how the #GBC â€TMs rubber stamped pure devotee {zonal Acarya} program would cause chaos within in ISKCON he was ostracized {kicked out} from ISKCON and his service of translating SB was assumed by Hrydayanada Maharaja..
The following is the letter Pradyumna Prabhu wrote…
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7 August, 1978
Dear Satsvarupa Maharaj,
Please accept my most humble obeisances.
Maharaj, I am writing you this letter with GREAT anxiety in my heart and after days and days and long nights of thought and careful consideration.
I have been staying in Vrndavan for some time and have not visited any other center recently except Delhi. Therefore, my information I have about what is happening at our other centers comes only from devotees visiting here, occasional letters, newsletters and our societyâ€TMs magazine and other publications. But the news I hear from these sources is very alarming and therefore I am writing you in some anxiety.

The matter concerns the Godbrothers who were selected by Srila Prabhupada to accept disciples. At the time of Srila Prabhupadaâ€TMs disappearance, it was most clearly understood by all of us present that Srila Prabhupada MADE NO SUCCESSOR. Everyone admitted that fact and understood it clearly. Instead, the GBC was to jointly manage ALL affairs of ISKCON just had been the case previously. This was the same solution as desired by Om Visnupada Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura, who also had not made any successor, although his wishes were NOT followed.

In addition to the GBC management, Srila Prabhupada also selected 11 somewhat advanced disciples to grant initiation to newcomers. However, it was never mentioned at any time by His Divine Grace that these 11 were to be known as Acaryas. He simply instructed that they may now accept disciples. Otherwise, as it was understood and practiced at that time, there was NO SPECIAL POSITION given to these 11, either in the society as a whole, or in relation to their Godbrothers. Management would depend on the joint GBC, and among godbrothers and sisters, all are on the same level, with the exception of some special regard and respect shown to older (senior) disciples by these Godbrothers & Godsisters who are junior.
Now, at present, I understand that the 11 GURUS are all 1)adopting the title of #Acarya, 2)sitting on high Vyasasanas in front of Srila Prabhupadaâ€TMs Vyasasana and their own Godbrothers, 3)accepting worship and great respect normally reserved for a GURU from the rest of their Godbrothers and 4)that the previous GBC zones have all been given by mutual agreement or by invitation among the different acaryas.
First of all, the word ACARYA may be taken in 3 senses. Etymologically the word means “one who practices†or “one who practices what he preachesâ€. This is the general meaning and may be used in relation to any pure devotee – period. Secondly, the word means “one who grants initiation to a discipleâ€. This is specifically indicating one who is a GURU. Anyone who grants initiation, or is a guru, may be called as “acarya devaâ€, etc. by his disciples only! Whoever has accepted him as guru must give all respects to him in every way, but this does not apply to those who are not his disciples.
Thirdly, the word acarya indicates “the spiritual head of an institution or pithaâ€. This meaning is very specific. It does not mean just anyone. It means only one who has been specifically declared by the previous acarya to be his successor above all others to the seat of the spiritual institution which he heads. He alone, among all of his godbrothers, is given a raised seat and special honor. No other godbrother may receive such respect and he is the authority in all spiritual and material matters. This is the strict tradition in all of the Gaudiya Sampradayas. Now Srila Prabhupada, it is clear, did not appoint any such successor, because no one of his disciples at present, is advanced to the level of Krishna cConsciousness necessary to assume such a position. Nor did Srila Prabhupada make 11 such ACARYAS. This was never mentioned by Him. They were only given permission to make disciples and the GBC was to jointly manage, materially and SPIRITUALLY. There was never any distinctions made by Srila Prabhupada between material management and spiritual management. Both are the concern of the GBC. The ll gurus may be known as acaryas only in the second sense of the word-to their disciples as mantra-giving gurus, not in the third sense, as “the†spiritual successors of Srila Prabhupada. That was never meant to be, by His Divine Grace.

Secondly, among godbrothers it is not correct for any one of them to sit above the others, especially in the presence of Gurudeva. If Gurudeva is not present, sometimes the sannyasi godbrothers may be given an asana, but that asana does not mean a huge gigantic seat. It simply means a square piece of cloth or wool not more than 1/8â€3 or 1/4â€3 thick. This is asana. If any one godbrother or many godbrothers sit above the others it is not at all proper.

Sometimes in an assembly there may be raised platform or table on which the sannyasi speakers sit, but ALL SANNYASI Godbrothers must be invited to sit in an equal place on the speakerâ€TMs platform. Sometimes a grhastha or brahmacari godbrothers may also be invited to sit there if they are deserving by their advancement. If there is an appointed acarya as mentioned before (third sense of the word) then he alone may sit higher than the other godbrothers. Indeed in the different Gaudiya Mathas, even if one godbrother is in the position of acarya, he usually, out of humility, takes only a thin cloth asana, not anything higher. It is the symptom of a Vaisnava to be extremely humble. He MUST always be extremely careful of putting himself in a position where he may become conceited. A guru may take a higher seat than his disciple—that is bonafide. But he cannot illegally take a higher seat than his godbrothers. The relation between the guru and his godbrothers and a guru and his disciples is entirely different. He should not sit higher than Godbrothers other than if he is a sannyasi, then a thin cloth as already mentioned if offered by his godbrothers, or accept respect from them without offering respect in return. This is the general niti or etiquette. Besides this, there are, among Godbrothers, some further [?] to be observed between those who are senior and those who are junior. Seniority is calculated according to the time of receiving 1st (Harinam) initiation or by his ability to perform bhajana. If one godbrother has disciples, the guru- puja and Vyasa-puja of that godbrother should be conducted in a separate place or his private room—not in front of all his other Godbrothers. In an assembly of Vaisnavas, all sit on the same level together, godbrothers along with their sisters. No one is permitted to accept separate respect from disciples in any gathering of other godbrothers. In Gaudiya Math, the Vyasa-puja of one godbrother who has disciples is usually performed in the following manner. The guru takes his raised seat in his private place and invites all his godbrothers to come to the function also. If his godbrothers come to offer him some flowers, that godbrother guru immediately first worships his other godbrothers and offers them garland, candana, etc., and in some cases presents like cloth, umbrella, etc. They honor each other and are seated properly, then that guruâ€TMs disciples may come forward and offer their worship. This is the system being observed. Incidentally, the words of Om Visnupada Srila Bhakktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura found in the English book Sri Caitanyaâ€TMs Teachings regarding the sitting above everyone else are from a speech delivered in response to the offerings of his disciples on the occasion of his Vyasa-puja. Those words are in relation to his disciples—not to his godbrothers, of which there werenâ€TMt any. The niti in regard to godbrothers is completely different from that to disciple.

 

 

PRADYUMNA DAS Like Comment Share Dayanidhi Das Vanacari and 101 others 83 Shares Steve Perry
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6 yrs Like Reply More Vamsi Vadana
Paragraphs needed.
6 yrs Like Reply More Priitaa Devi Dasi 3 6 yrs Like Reply More
I still wish he’d do it. Steve Perry
Pradyumna also said if he did it he would just translate the sanskrit slokas to english and because of feeling himself unqualified to comment on the slokas would give no purports.
10 6 yrs Like Reply More Priitaa Devi Dasi IMHO, that is the right mood. Only Prabhupada can write commentary on the slokas.
6 yrs Like Reply More
Priitaa Devi Dasi replied · 4 replies
Govinda Dasi
3 Yes, I remember when we all got a copy of Pradyumna Prabhu’s letter, and I totally agreed with it. But he was “tarred and feathered” so to speak. Driven out be the gurusquad. Bear in mind that Pradyumna Prabhu, along with his wife Arundhati, traveled with Prabhupada continuously, right up to the very last. He had a mature understanding of things. But he also was quite sincere and humble, and had no ambitions to take over as did some of his godbrothers.
6 yrs Like Reply More Govinda Dasi
And yes, I do wish he would complete the SB, it was the work given to him by Srila Prabhupada. It was never given to HDG or anyone else. If he did the work, the purports would come to him as revelations. It should be done before we are off to another universe…
6 yrs Like Reply More Rasa Vilasini Devidasi
what happened to Pradyumna prabhu and his wife after that? very reasonable letter
6 yrs Like Reply More
Rasa Vilasini… replied · 2 replies
Tanumadhya Dasa
What happens when someone claiming to be a bonafide spiritual master cheats… Srila Prabhupada Letter…Ahmedabad 14 December, 1972
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3 As for your next question, can only a few pure devotees deliver others, anyone, if he is a pure devotee he can deliver others, he can become spiritual master. But unless he on that platform he should not attempt it. Then both of them will to go to hell, like blind men leading the blind. 5 yrs Like Reply More Thomas Wayne
Prabhu’s, Sahasra-koti dandabats. Jaya Srila Prabhupada. Srila Prabhupada said that Pradyumna prabhu should translate the Sanskrit verses and commentaries of the previous Acharya’s but not add his own commentaries. Pradyumna says he thus finished the 11th canto. Further that he did not want to do at that time 10th canto because of its depth. Presently Pradyumna says he will not undertake the translation unless BBT and Iskcon favorably requests him to do so. Bhima prabhu said recently that some years back on behalf of BBT India he requested by letter but Pradyumna never replied. Jitarati has plan to meet Bhima next month and speak about this and is willing to finance Pradyumna if BBT agrees and requests. Abhirama prabhu narrates a time in May 1977 when Srila Prabhupada was lying in His bed in His room in Vrindavan speaking only softly and the talk was on finishing the Srimad Bhagavatam. Srila Prabhupada said that Pradyumna would do. One devotee present suggested that a sannyasya who was studying Sanskrit could do the translation work (guess who the sannyasya was?). On hearing this Srila Prabhupada sat up straight and loudly and boldly proclaimed, No, only Pradyumna will do this, I have trained him personally. No one else. Well what do you feel? What about Srimad Bhagavatam upto 12th Canto by Srila Prabhupada as Srila Prabhupada wanted it? It is possible but needs a action plan immediately while the needed devotees to complete this are still on the planet.
5 yrs Like Reply More Robert Duke Duke
Maha bhuja Acbsp, i remember the first time i saw this great Godbrother in Vrndavan, Pradyumna Dasa,he always stayed at Radha Damodar, in those early days 75, Harikesh had just been made President of K B mandir, and its the first time i met Sri Goswami or niragadev in Delhi, Tajes was the TP in Delhi, Sri Goswami wanted me to stay in Delhi, but tejas said no, this Devotee must go to Mumbai Juhu, Srila prabhupad is there he will get a better engagement their, and i would never Argue with the Authorities, because in my opinion its like Arguing with Srila prabhupad, and in my opinion that has been the Trouble with some of the American godbrothers especially Nitai prabhu Acbsp.
5 yrs Like Reply More Krsna Dasa
Pita Prabhu who was present during Srila Prabhupad’s disappreance lila had said that Srila Prabhupad has appointed “Ritvik Acharyas Transcendent To The Previous Acharya”, this was the term coined by Srila Prabhupad. Was Pradyumna prabhu present during Srila Prabhupad’s disappreance lila and if so does he concur with Pita Prabhu

 

 

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