So what is the problem with "The Final Order?"
We have the letter. Initiate only on my behalf. It is an order to not take disciples directly and there were no more letters or directives after that.
Did Srila Prabhupada indicate that it was a "Final Order." There is the word... "henceforward."
So that's it. It's final. None of my disciples should ever directly initiate anyone... ever. I am the last guru forever in this line. Only Lord Chaitanya Himself can take my place. Pretty clear.
No. It is not clear at all. And it is in no way final.There are terrible problems with this. For one thing it is denying that Srila Prabhupada can communicate with his followers after His physical disappearance. In other words it is limiting Srila Prabhupada to be understood as an ordinary person.There is no acknowledgement of the spiritual nature of a pure devotee. If the "Final order" is accepted then it is a final order only on the material plane for the materialist devotees.
In fact the spiritual master can and does give a specific order personally and directly even after he has disappeared. The transmission can come through the heart to a disciple. The pure devotee spiritual master can and does communicate "all the time" with the sincere disciples even after the spiritual master's physical disappearance. The relationship is eternal and not dependent on the material body or mind. If that isn't the case then cultivating such a spiritual master and disciple relationship is a waste of precious time. There will be no deliverance, no transcendence and no going to the spiritual world. Maybe a material heavenly planet. Maybe...
Also consider how will it possible for those who take "The Final Order" as the "Final Order" to make any progress? The only hope is to study the books and follow as best as they can a rigid and austere program of practicing... forever... How will they understand what is in the books? Who will say what anything means? By their own understanding? Ah. But that is not acceptable. Who are you, a spiritual master? If the devotee says no I am not a spiritual master then how can you say anything about anything? Perhaps you can just repeat mindlessly, selflessly, as if by rote as a duty. Like a tape recorder. Keeping yourself as much out of the equation as possible. Annihilation of the self would be ideal. Hmmm but then aren't we faced with impersonalism? The very thing Srila Prabhupada has come to destroy?
These are serious problems with the "The Final Order" for anyone serious about developing love of God, Krishna consciousness.
We cannot limit the spiritual master. He can give an order and then change it too. He doesn't have to be physically present to do it. If he appears in a dream and gives good instruction then it is actually him. The test is guru, sadhu, shastra.
