Focus on Srila Prabhupada

An email correspondence from Jan. 3, 2004.

Please accept my humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada.

In discussing issues of the continuation of the parampara in Srila Prabhupada's movement it is, I believe, of prime importance to focus on Srila Prabhupada's availability and qualifications. Specifically, this refers to his availability and qualifications to be, for anyone who contacts his movement, the current link to the parampara, the primary guru, the "guru in the singular", the direct link to the parampara, the prominent link to the parampara, the point of absolute faith, the ultimate shelter, the guru described in verses such as yasya deve para bhaktir... and yasya prasadad bhagavat-prasado..., or whatever other terms conveying the same meaning one wishes to use.

By concentrating on Srila Prabhupada's availability and qualifications, those attempting to oppose the conceptions of Srila Prabhupada as the prominent link, current link, etc., need to demonstrate that Srila Prabhupada is not available or qualified to serve in that role. To portray Srila Prabhupada in that light is of course an unenviable task, as it essentially means to assert that Srila Prabhupada is dead.

Srila Prabhupada: The Prominent Link (PL) focuses its assertions as described above, throughout the essay and very specifically in sections such as "Srila Prabhupada is Qualified to be Worshipped."

Some may assert that others are also qualified to fill the role of "absolute guru", "current link", etc. Fine. For now, let's simply acknowledge that Srila Prabhupada is available for that service. This simple and obvious stance is threatening for those who oppose it. If they allow the possibility that Srila Prabhupada is available as the current and direct link to the parampara, then they will need to make available the choice of Srila Prabhupada to potential initiates. That means that candidates for initiation will be able to choose Srila Prabhupada as their current link to the parampara. Once Srila Prabhupada is clearly available, then other choices may appear less appealing, or perhaps even absurd, in comparison. So, they need to maintain a position of Srila Prabhupada's lack of availability, and lack of qualification, as the guru in the absolute position for persons who come to his movement. Of course, they'll say things and sometimes even pass resolutions exclaiming how Srila Prabhupada is alive and present, how he is the siksa guru, etc. Still, they retain policies that prevent potential initiates from selecting Srila Prabhupada as the current and direct link to the parampara, and policies that put forward others as available and qualified to serve in this position. Thus, for practical purposes, institutional policies don't include Srila Prabhupada as a choice for being the current link to the parampara.

Presently I am in Christchurch, New Zealand. Yesterday we completed an exciting Satvatove Foundational Course, and in about 12 hours we'll begin the Advanced Seminar. About an hour ago I spoke with a devotee. He has been around the movement for about ten years. He is in his mid-forties. He has completely lost faith in the ISKCON institution, and specifically its guru system. He said that he is now becoming interested in one of the Gaudiya Matha movements. Within the Vaisnava world ISKCON is all he knows till now. He has applied his common sense
and intelligence and rejected the ISKCON system. He has heard about Gaudiya Matha, and will check it out. Within ISKCON he hasn't been educated that Srila Prabhupada is available as his main guru, his current, living, and direct link to the disciplic succession.

It is important at this time that we make current link initiations available for those who are qualified and who recognize Srila Prabhupada as their direct and current link to the parampara. In these initiations both the initiate and the Vaisnava conducting the initiating ceremony are clear that Srila Prabhupada is the direct, primary and current link to the disciplic succession for the initiate, and that the initiate will chant Srila Prabhupada's pranam mantras and worship Srila Prabhupada. That is, the initiate will not worship the picture or chant pranams of the devotee conducting the ceremony, because the initiate has a primarily direct relationship with Srila Prabhupada. This direct relationship does not minimize the important guidance and assistance that the initiate receives from other Vaisnavas, including the devotee who performed the ceremony. Other philosophical points and points of practice that will be mutually understood by the initiate and the devotee conducting the ceremony are explained in Srila Prabhupada: The Prominent Link.

I believe that it is time that we move forward this this project of making available initiation ceremonies wherein Srila Prabhupada is recognized as the current link to the parampara for the initiate. This understanding must be fully reflected in the philosophical and practical manifestations surrounding the ceremony and the life of the initiate and the devotee conducting the initiation ceremony. If at this time we need to designate a title for the devotee conducting the ceremony, then I believe that, based on Srila Prabhupada's words, the best title is "officiating acarya."

In manifesting this project we are not asserting that other systems are invalid. Let the other systems continue for those who choose to participate in them. We are asserting Srila Prabhupada's availability and qualification.

Thank you for your attention in this matter. Hare Krsna.

Your servant,

Dhira Govinda dasa