Ṛtvik – A Concocted Idea Born Out of Frustration (02/15/06)

Ṛtvik – A Concocted Idea Born Out of Frustration (02/15/06)

Dear ______,

Initiation is not something you have to do. it is something that when you are advancing in Kṛṣṇa consciousness that you will want to do. Initiation is a reciprocal relationship of affection between Kṛṣṇa and you which only transpires via the bona fide representative of Krsna.

All liberated souls are eternal and ‘alive’ through their instructions. Lord Kṛṣṇa is also ‘alive’ in Bhagavad-gītā, but none of this changes the bona-fide process of Kṛṣṇa consciousness wherein to enter Kṛṣṇa’s family we will need to accept mantra-dīkṣā from a bona fide living guru. This is the teaching of all great ācāryas. Śrīla Prabhupāda taught this also and Lord Caitanya (incarnation of Kṛṣṇa) and even Kṛṣṇa Himself taught this essential principle by their personal example. When even God accepts a living guru, then who are we to think that we can do something different?

Śrīla Prabhupāda never taught the so-called ‘Ṛtvik’ idea. Ṛtvik is a concocted idea born out of fighting and frustration, and it does not stand up to the Vedic inspection. It is not an eternal philosophy as are the teachings of the Vedas and the bona-fide ācāryas.

I hope this meets you well.

Śrī Hari-jana-kiṅkara,
Swami BG Narasingha