Srila Prabhupada WILL accept new disciples

Anyone who follows the directions of Srila Prabhupada (as in his order of July 9th),
can now and into the future be accepted by Srila Prabhupada himself, as one of his disciples.

In his recent article on the Sampradaya Sun, titled “Automatic?,” Mahavidya Prabhu argues that the supporters of Srila Prabhupada’s rtvik order are denying him his right to reject aspiring disciples. I’ve appreciated Mahavidya’s writing on many occasions,but that accusation is wrong.

There is no need for Srila Prabhupada to accept (or reject) individual disciples now, because historical record shows that he chose to distance himself from that role and delegate it to rtviks instead. This can be shown clearly in four events in 1977:

1. April 22, Tamal Krsna Gosvami tells Srila Prabhupada that he does not think any of Srila Prabhupada’s disciples are qualified at the level of guru, and Srila Prabupada agrees, telling TKG that he is waiting for someone to become qualified. This contradicts any earlier evidence someone may put forward saying that he had authorized gurus. As of April 22, 1977, he had not.

Conspicuously absent is any mention by Srila Prabhupada of how he supposedly authorized everyone to be initiating guru with a private letter to Tusta Krsna swami several years earlier.

2. On May 28, Satsvarupa das Gosvami formally asked Srila Prabhupada how initiations were to continue after his disappearance, and he immediately replied, “Officiating acarya… Rtvik, yes.” As if unsatisfied with this, his disciples brought the conversation around to discussion of gurus, and Srila Prabhupada emphasized it would be upon his order, an order that apparently was never given.

3. Srila Prabhupada signed a document dated July 9, 1977, indicating that the rtviks listed therein were to act on his behalf in accepting disciples, which would then be Srila Prabhupada’s disciples. (TKG mentioned on at Topanga Canyon on Dec. 3, 1980, that Srila Prabhupada told him more rtviks could be added.) With this document, Srila Prabhupada materiallyremoved himself from the decision-making process in accepting disciples, having already clearly established his standard of 16 rounds, 4 regs, etc. Nowhere in this document is there any termination clause or any other contradiction of Srila Prabhupada’s prior expressed choice to employ the rtvik method for accepting disciples in ISKCON after his disappearance.

4. That Srila Prabhupada dismissed himself from the decision of accepting disciples was confirmed on October 18, when the desire of one man to become his disciple was presented to Srila Prabhupada, and Srila Prabhupada referred five times to the “deputies” he had made to go to instead. Reading the conversation gives me the impression that he was a little annoyed at being bothered to verbally accept a disciple when he had already delegated that role.

Leaving aside other supporting evidence for the sake of time and space, these four events clearly illustrate the relevant decision that Srila Prabhupada actually made, to continue accepting disciples after his disappearance via the rtvik method he instituted. Therefore it is far better to focus on honoring Srila Prabhupada’s expressed order rather than worrying that someone might wrongly accept a disciple on his behalf and force Srila Prabhupada to save another soul and deliver another devotee to Krishna against his will. Yeah, it sounds ridiculous. Have we forgotten Srila Prabhupada’s mercy?

The way Mahavidya presented it, one unaware might think Srila Prabhupada was big on rejecting his aspiring disciples. We know he accepted several thousand, including some who were just passing through and many whom he never met. How many did he reject? Mahavidya acts as if he knows of one but yet calls him a disciple, so that suggests Srila Prabhupada accepted him too. I would like to know what, if any, evidence anyone has to suggest that Srila Prabhupada would reject an aspiring disciple who would meet the criteria for initiation that he established for ISKCON. In the absence of such evidence, I find it extremely mislead for anyone to stand in the way of aspiring disciples wanting to take shelter at Srila Prabhupada’s lotus feet.

Some, including Mahavidya Prabhu recently if I recall correctly, have presented an argument they seem to find very clever, that if we can be initiated as Srila Prabhupada’s disciples even now, then that means we could just as well be initiated as disciples of any past acarya. They say, devoid of logic, that the rtvik system is invalid because I could become the godbrother of Krishna’s spiritual master, for example. This again ignores the fact that Srila Prabhupada created a worldwide institution and a rtvik method within that institution for accepting disciples in his absence, and he said this was the method to be used after his disappearance. The previous acaryas came in a different time, place, and circumstance, and did not do that. History shows that Srila Prabhupada did.

Others present the idea that somehow a guru cannot accept disciples after his disappearance. I’m not sure whether they think this is a limitation on Krishna’s abilities, on the guru’s, or both.

Considering that an ordinary rich person can give his material wealth after his disappearance to someone he has never met but who meets certain qualifications, I find it impossible to believe that on the spiritual platform a guru cannot give his spiritual wealth in an equivalent situation. Materially, it happens every day. Someone has loads of money and establishes a foundation, with funding, trustees, criteria for awards, etc., and money is given as designated, even after the founder’s death. Srila Prabhupada’s establishment of the rtvik system in ISKCON during his manifest pastimes provides a similar infrastructure, making that system possible even now.

Given that Srila Prabhupada provided the means for accepting disciples after his disappearance, directly said to utilize the rtvik method after his disappearance, widely promulgated a written order following that, referred to the same in laterconversations and letters, and never subsequently contradicting this order… if the “walks like a duck, quacks like a duck” logic is good for anything, then rtvik system is undoubtedly what Srila Prabhupada wanted to do.

Therefore one should accept the decisions Srila Prabhupada made rather than falsely accusing others of stealing from Srila Prabhupada a decision that he formally delegated. Hare Krishna

——

COMMENT BY COREY

One question for Krsna dasa: Since, according to you, we can’t have Srila Prabhupada as our guru, then WHO are we supposed to take shelter of? Who is your guru, Krsna dasa?

Second question: Where did Srila Prabhupada ever authorize or order anyone to become diksa gurus? He only authorize them to become ritviks. So, unless you can present evidence to the contrary, I will stick with the system of initiation that Srila Prabhupada DID IN FACT establish, the ritvik system.

Good luck finding such evidence, because according to Tamal Krishna, it does not exist:

“You cannot show me anything on tape or in writing where Prabhupada says: “I appoint these eleven as gurus.” It does not exist because he never appointed any gurus. This is a myth.” – (Tamal Krishna Goswami, December 3, 1980)

-
Four objections to the ritvik system that has been put
forth in this article. Here are some answers to such objections.

BY COREY

FIRST OBJECTION: supporters of Srila Prabhupada’s rtvik order are denying him his right to reject aspiring disciples.

ANSWER: On July 7th, when setting up the ritvik system, Srila Prabhupada states that the ritviks could accept devotees as his disciples without consulting him. Thus, Srila Prabhupada was not involved in the process of screening, or approving new disciples. The ritviks had full authority and discretion. Srila Prabhupada’s physical involvement was not required.

Srila Prabhupada: So without waiting for me, wherever you consider it is right. That will depend on discretion.
Tamal Krishna: On discretion.
Srila Prabhupada: Yes.
(Srila Prabhupada Room conversation, 7/7/77, Vrindavan)

Furthermore, the names given by the ritviks would be entered by Tamal Krishna Goswami into the “Initiated disciples” book. Thus, externally at least, Srila Prabhupada would not even have been aware of the disciple’s existence. Consequently, the process now would be the same as it was then, since the ritvik has full power of attorney.

SECOND OBJECTION: that if we can be initiated as Srila Prabhupada’s disciples even now, then that means we could just as well be initiated as disciples of any past acarya.

ANSWER: Two things prevent this from being a bona fide option:

1. Srila Bhaktisiddhanta, and other previous acaryas, did not authorise a ritvik system to run “henceforward”.

2. We must approach the current link:

“…in order to receive the real message of Srimad-Bhagavatam one should approach the current link, or spiritual master, in the chain of disciplic succession.” (S.B. 2.9.7, purport)
It is self-evident that Srila Prabhupada is the sampradaya acarya who succeeded Srila Bhaktisiddhanta. Srila Prabhupada is therefore our current link, and is thus the correct person to approach for initiation.

THIRD OBJECTION: Others present the idea that somehow a guru cannot accept disciples after his disappearance.

ANSWER: There is nothing in the July 9th Final Order letter that says the instruction for ritviks was only meant for whilst Srila Prabhupada was physically present. In fact, the only information given supports the continuation of the ritvik system after Srila Prabhupada’s departure. It is significant to note that within the July 9th letter it is stated three times that those initiated would become Srila Prabhupada’s disciples. The GBC in presenting evidence for the current guru system have argued vigorously that Srila Prabhupada had already made it clear that, as far as he was concerned, it was an inviolable law that no one could initiate in his presence. Thus the necessity to state Srila Prabhupada’s ownership of future disciples must indicate that the instruction was intended to operate during a time period when the ownership could even have been an issue, namely after his departure.

For some years Srila Prabhupada had been using representatives to chant on beads, perform the fire yajna, give gayatri mantra etc. No one had ever questioned whom such new initiates belonged to. Right at the beginning of the July 9th letter it is emphatically stated that those appointed are “representatives” of Srila Prabhupada. The only innovation this letter contained then was the formalisation of the role of the representatives; hardly something which could be confused with a direct order for them to become fully-fledged diksa gurus. Srila Prabhupada’s emphasis on disciple ownership would therefore have been completely redundant were the system to operate only in his presence, especially since as long as he was present he could personally ensure that no one claimed false ownership of the disciples. As mentioned above, this point is hammered home three times in a letter which itself was quite short and to the point:

“So as soon as one thing is three times stressed, that means final.” (Srila Prabhupada Bg. Lecture, 27/11/68, Los Angeles)

The July 9th letter states that the names of newly initiated disciples were to be sent “to Srila Prabhupada” – Could this indicate that the system was only to run while Srila Prabhupada was physically present? Some devotees have argued that since we can no longer send these names to Srila Prabhupada, the ritvik system must therefore be invalid.

The first point to note is the stated purpose behind the names being sent to Srila Prabhupada, ie., so they could be included in his “Initiated Disciples” book. We know from the July 7th conversation (please see Appendices) that Srila Prabhupada had nothing to do with entering the new names into this book, it was done by his secretary. Further evidence that the names should be sent for inclusion in the book, and NOT specifically to Srila Prabhupada is given in the letter written to Hamsadutta, the very next day, where Tamala Krishna Goswami explains his new ritvik duties to him:

“…you should send their names to be included in Srila Prabhupada’s ‘Initiated Disciples’ book.” (Letter to Hamsadutta from Tamala Krishna Goswami, 10/7/77)

Their is no mention made here of needing to send the names to Srila Prabhupada. This procedure could easily have continued after Srila Prabhupada’s physical departure. Nowhere in the final order does it state that if the “Initiated Disciples” book becomes physically separated from Srila Prabhupada all initiations must be suspended.

The next point is that the procedure of sending the names of newly initiated disciples to Srila Prabhupada in any case relates to a post-initiation activity. The names could only be sent after the disciples had already been initiated. Thus an instruction concerning what is to be done after initiation cannot be used to amend or in any way interrupt pre-initiation, or indeed initiation procedures (the ritvik’s role being already fulfilled well before the actual initiation ceremony takes place). Whether or not names can be sent to Srila Prabhupada has no bearing on the system for initiation, since at the point where new names are ready to be sent, the initiation has already occurred.

The last point is that if sending the names to Srila Prabhupada were a vital part of the ceremony, then even before Srila Prabhupada’s departure, the system would have been invalid, or at least run the constant risk of being so. It was generally understood that Srila Prabhupada was ready to leave at any time, thus the danger of not having anywhere to send the names was present from day one of the order being issued. In other words, taking the possible scenario that Srila Prabhupada leaves the planet the day after a disciple has been initiated through the ritvik system, according to the above proposition, the disciple would not actually have been initiated simply because of the speed by which mail is delivered. We find no mention in Srila Prabhupada’s books that the transcendental process of diksa, which may take many lifetimes to complete, can be obstructed by the vicissitudes of the postal service. Certainly there would be nothing preventing the names of new initiates being entered into His Divine Grace’s “Initiated Disciples” book even now. This book could then be offered to Srila Prabhupada at a fitting time.

FOURTH OBJECTION: It is absolutely clear that Srila Prabhupada wanted the disciplic succession to continue and not terminate with him.

ANSWER: The disciplic succession, or guru parampara, is eternal; there is no question of it stopping. According to Srila Prabhupada, the Sankirtan Movement, (and hence ISKCON), will only exist for the next 9,500 years. Compared with eternity 9,500 years is nothing, a mere blip in cosmic time. This would appear to be the time period during which Srila Prabhupada shall remain the “current link” within ISKCON, unless he or Krishna countermands the July 9th order, or some external circumstance renders the order impossible to follow (such as total thermo-nuclear annihilation).

Previous acaryas have remained current for long periods of time, thousands (Srila Vyasadeva) or even millions of years (see quote below). We see no reason why the duration of Srila Prabhupada’s reign as “current link”, even if it extends right till the end of the Sankirtan Movement, should pose any particular problem.

“Regarding Parampara System: there is nothing to wonder for big gaps [...] we find in the Bhagavad-gita that the Gita was taught to the sungod, some millions of years ago, but Krishna has mentioned only three names in this parampara system – namely, Vivasvan, Manu, and Iksvaku; and so these gaps do not hamperfrom understanding the parampara system. We have to pick up the prominent acaryas, and follow from him [...] We have to pick up from the authority of the acarya in whatever sampradaya we belong to.” (Srila Prabhupada Letter to Dayananda, 12/4/68)

Gaps in the Disciplic Succession: Regarding your third question—”Why are there apparent time‐gaps in the line of disciplic succession as listed in the Bhagavad‐gita? Is Arjuna an instructor Spiritual Master and not an initiator Spiritual Master and therefore not listed?” The time gap mentioned by you is inevitable, because the disciplic succession sometimes becomes disconnected, as we find from the Bhagavad‐gita. This is the influence of material energy, and to link it up again, it takes some time. That some time may appear to our calculation a big gap, but in relation with the eternal time, it is not even as instant. So this big gap or small gap of time is relative. Just like our 24 hours and Brahma’s 24 hours, there is much difference. Our 24 hours is not even a fraction of his second….” (Srila Prabhupada Letter to Rupanuga Hawaii 14 March, 1969)

Disciplic Succession does not always mean that one has to be initiated officially
Regarding the disciplic succession coming from Arjuna, disciplic succession does not always mean that one has to be initiated officially. Disciplic succession means to accept the disciplic conclusion. Arjuna was a disciple of Krishna and Brahma was also a disciple of Krishna. Thus there is no disagreement between the conclusions of Brahma and Arjuna. Vyasadeva is in the disciplic succession of Brahma. The teachings to Arjuna was recorded by Vyasadeva verbatim. So according to the axiomatic truth, things equal to one another are equal to each other. We are not exactly directly from Vyasadeva, but our Gurudeva is a representative of Vyasadeva. Because Vyasadeva and Arjuna are of equal status, being students of Krishna, therefore we are in the disciplic succession of Arjuna. Things equal to the same thing are equal to one another. (Srila Prabhupada letter to Dinesh Tittenhurst 31 October, 1969)

The July 9th order is significant since it means thatSrila Prabhupada shall be the Prominent Acarya, at least for members of ISKCON, for as long as the Society exists. Only the direct intervention of Srila Prabhupada or Krishna can revoke the final order (such intervention needing to be at least as clear and unequivocal as a signed directive sent to the entire Society). Thus until some counter-instruction is given, the science of devotional service shall continue to be transmitted directly by Srila Prabhupada to successive generations of his disciples. Since this is a common phenomenon in our disciplic succession, there is no cause for alarm. The succession can only be considered “ended” if this science of devotional service is lost. On such occasions, Lord Krishna Himself usually descends to re-establish the principles of religion. As long as Srila Prabhupada’s books are in circulation, this “science” shall remain vigorously intact, and perfectly accessible.

Grihamedi vs Grihastha Mahatma

By: 

Dama Ghosha Dasa (Seattle, USA)

Below you will find some interesting points in this brief lecture about:

1) How to turn a kali yuga debauch into a mahatma

2) Human life should be for very easy living and not be for hard working

3) Symptoms of a mahatma

4) Prabhupada is creating ideal grihastha mahatmas

5) Difference between a grihamedi and grihastha and how to deal with grihamedis

6) Grihastha has one aim - how to develop love for God

 

Lectures, September 17, 1969, London       

 

They are simply engaged in sense gratification: eating, sleeping, mating, and defending. That's all. Their business finished. They do not know anything else. If I call some animals... Why people are not taking part in this Krishna consciousness? Because they are animals. They are appearing with four hands and legs, but they have been trained to become animals. So they cannot take. But we are trying to train them from animalism to humanism by associating with this Krishna consciousness movement. This Chaitanya Mahaprabhu's movement is to give chance to this animalistic civilization to associate with devotees and mahatmas so that they can also become devotee and mahatma. You associate with mahatma, you become mahatma. You associate with debauch, you become debauch. Practical. We have taken from the debauchery condition all our disciples. But they are now mahatmas. It is possible. By this Krishna consciousness movement we can turn debauch into mahatma. That is possible. Chaitanya Mahaprabhu's movement is so nice.

 

Sat-sanga chadi' kainu asate vilas. If people give up the association of this Krishna consciousness society and they simply indulge in the sense gratificatory process, then more and more they'll be entangled. Sat-sanga chadi' kainu asate vilas, te-karane lagila ye karma-bandha-phans. People are now entangled in hard working. Actually, human life should be very easy, very easy. No hard work. Living very simple life and eating very healthy food, living in open space, no quarrel, no antagonism, everyone is happy, everyone is free. That is human civilization. Not to become entangled. But at the present moment we have become entangled. So Rishabhadeva says that mahat-sevam dvaram ahur vimukteh. If we actually want liberation from this entanglement, then we should associate with mahatmas, great souls. And who is a great soul? That is being described.

 

 

We have discussed some of the symptoms of great soul. The great soul is sama-citta, equal to everyone. Great soul is never angry; they are friend to everyone. And sadhava. Sadhava means sadacara, clean habits. A mahatma cannot be implicated with those four principles of sinful life. That is the first test. No illicit sex life, no gambling, no meat-eating, and no intoxication. This is called sadacara, clean habit. Anything beyond this: unclean habit. Here it is stated, sadhava. Sadhava means sadacara, clean habit. Then it is said, ye va mayise krta-sauhrdarthah. Now this mahatma is specifically indicated for a sannyasa, a perfect sannyasi, renounced order. Their characteristic is that. And another mahatma... Suppose one is in household life. Question may be whether a mahatma can be in the household life or not. That is being described: Yes. In household life also there can be mahatma. 

 

 

Just like Advaita Mahaprabhu. Chaitanya Mahaprabhu even, Nityananda Mahaprabhu. They were all householders. Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, He was a householder. He married twice. His first wife died - He married for the second time. Regular householder, although He left household life very early. He was only twenty-four years old; therefore He had no children. But Nityananda Prabhu had one child, Virabhadra, and Advaita Prabhu had two, three children, of which Buddhi was very highly elevated. Similarly, Srivasa Thakura, he had children. So Chaitanya Mahaprabhu does not say that one has to become in the renounced order or sannyasi, then he becomes a mahatma. No. We also do not propagate such idea. At least, I am not doing that. I am creating householder, ideal householder. And my ideas are being fruitful. Here in London I sent six householders, and they are doing nice, sincerely they are working. Therefore I am very much proud of them.

 

 

So here is also the statement that even... It's not required that sannyasi is only mahatma, but a grihastha can be, is also mahatma. So grihastha-mahatma, his symptoms are described: ye va mayise krta-sauhrdarthah. Their only business is to please Krishna. That is the first qualification. They have no other business. Ye va mayise krta-sauhrdarthah. Then how they deal with others? A grihastha has to live... A sannyasi may live alone in forest or in Himalaya or in a secluded place in Vrindavana or somewhere, but a grihastha, he has to deal with ordinary persons, so many others, businessmen or ordinary people. So that is stated here, that a grihastha-mahatma, his first symptom is that he has no other business than to please Krishna. That is his first business. And so far dealing with others, that is janesu dehambhara-vartikesu grhesu jayatmaja-ratimatsu na priti-yukta yavad-arthas ca loke. Very nice. What does he say? That people who are simply interested in maintaining this body and sense gratification, dehambhara-vartikesu. Deha means this body, and bhara means maintaining, and vartika means occupation.

 

 

Now you analyze everyone in this world. What is their business? Their business is how to maintain this body. That's all. If you ask somebody, "My dear sir, what you are doing?" "Oh, I am doing this business." "Why you are doing this business?" "Oh, I must get money. Otherwise how can I maintain myself?" This is called dehambhara-vartikesu. Their only engagement is how to maintain this body. This is their business. So janesu dehambhara-vartikesu. And grhesu, a householder has got home. And jaya, jaya means wife. Atmaja, atmaja means children. Rati, some money, bank balance or some wealth, rati. Or persons who are engaged simply for the business of maintaining this body, their only business is how to maintain a home, how to maintain a wife, how to maintain children, how to have good bank balance. In this way their life is like that. But a householder who is mahatma, whose only business is to satisfy Krishna, for him, these things are not priti-yuktah, not very pleasing. Not very pleasing. Na priti-yuktah.

 

Then what is their dealing? Yavad-arthas ca loke. They deal as much as required only. That's all. I have to deal with some gentleman who is completely out of our, this Krishna consciousness movement, but I have to deal with him. Then how I have to deal? As much as possible to avoid him, but so far the business is concerned, all right. This is all. Just like a businessman talks with another businessman so far profit is concerned. That's all. No more talk. A businessman, a lawyer, talks with his client so much... Especially in America, they cannot waste their time. Any businessman will not waste their time. They will talk. Similarly, a householder devotee whose only business is to satisfy Krishna, they will deal with other persons... Other person means those who are simply interested for maintaining this body, wife, children, in this way. They have no other ideas. We should not have any very intimate relationship, but we shall have to deal with them only as far necessary. No more. That's all. We shall try to avoid them as far as possible. But because we are living with the human society we have to deal with such persons. So our dealings should be so far as required. Not more than that. Then, if one lives a householder life in this way, keeping his viewpoint only in Krishna, in the lotus feet of Krishna, and other dealings superfluous, he is also mahatma. He's also mahatma. Na priti-yukta yavad-arthas ca loke. Mayi ise krta-sauhrdarthah purusartha yesam.

 

 

A householder mahatma has only one aim: how to attain the perfectional stage of love of God. That is the aim. Generally, a householder in the modern civilization, they are simply trying to accumulate money, increase the bank balance and make the society, friendship and love as the aim and object of life, and they have no other business. But a person who is mahatma, his aim is different. His aim is "How to make my life perfect in Krishna consciousness. How to please Krishna, how to make friendship with Krishna." Everyone is seeking some friend. That is a fact. The businessmen or lawyers or politicians, everyone is seeking some friend. Without friend... Society, friendship and love, these things are required. But a mahatma householder, he is seeking actual friendship with Krishna. Ise sauhrdarthah. Because he knows, "If Krishna is my friend..." Just like Arjuna sought friendship with Krishna; Duryodhana sought friendship with Krishna's power. Krishna divided Himself. Because it was a family warfare between two cousin brothers, and Krishna was also related with both of them by family relationship, so He said, "How can I take part with one and not with the other? Then that will be partiality. So anyway, I divide Myself into two. I am alone, one side, and in which side I shall go, I shall not fight. I shall not touch even a weapon. And the other side, all My soldiers." Krishna had many soldiers. So Duryodhana thought that "I shall take Krishna's soldiers," and Arjuna thought, "I shall take Krishna only, even He does not fight."

 

So this is the determination of mahatmas, that they want simply Krishna's friendship. Mayi sauhrdarthah.

 

 

 

ye va mayise krta-sauhrdartha

janesu dehambhara-vartikesu

grhesu jayatmaja-ratimatsu

na priti-yukta yavad-arthas ca loke

 

Yavad-arthas ca loke, just to deal with other persons as much as necessary, not more than that. But to keep friendship with devotees, that is necessary. Not that I shall not intimately mix, intermingle with the devotees. That is required. A devotee has got four business: isvare priti, love for God, Krishna; friendship with devotees; and kindness to the neophyte; and rejection to the nondevotees. These four principles. A devotee's only lovable object is Krishna. His only friend is devotee, another devotee.

 

isvare tad-adhinesu

balisesu dvisatsu ca

prema-maitri-krpopeksa

yah karoti sa madhyamah

 

Isvare means Krishna-prema, love, to love Krishna. Maitri means friendship. Maitri with whom? Tad-adhinesu, those who are under the control of Krishna. Everyone is under the control of Krishna by this way or that way, but those who are given to Krishna voluntarily, surrendered souls, I am speaking of them. Tad-adhinesu. 

 

 

The Acarya is the spiritual master of the entire world and must be considered an incarnation of Kṛṣṇa's mercy. PART 2

The Acarya is the spiritual master of the entire world and must be considered an incarnation of Kṛṣṇa's mercy. PART 2

by Jaya Radhe Byard

"The true ācārya, the spiritual master of the entire world, must be considered an incarnation of Kṛṣṇa's mercy..."-Antya 7.12 http://caitanya-caritamrta.com/?g=144102

"There is only one guru, who appears in an infinity of forms to teach you, me, and all others."-The Science of Self Realization

The guru, or ācāryadeva, as we learn from the bona fide scriptures, delivers the message of the absolute world, the transcendental abode of the Absolute Personality, where everything nondifferentially serves the Absolute Truth. We have heard so many times: mahājano yena gataḥ sa panthāḥ (“Traverse the trail which your previous ācārya has passed”), but we have hardly tried to understand the real purport of this śloka. If we scrutinizingly study this proposition, we understand that the mahājana is one, and the royal road to the transcendental world is also one. In the Muṇḍaka Upaniṣad (1.2.12) it is said:  “In order to learn the transcendental science, one must approach the bona fide spiritual master in disciplic succession, who is fixed in the Absolute Truth.”-The Science of Self Realization

"The Ācāryadeva for whom we have assembled tonight to offer our humble homage is not the guru of a sectarian institution or one out of many differing exponents of the truth. On the contrary, he is the Jagad-guru, or the guru of all of us; the only difference is that some obey him wholeheartedly, while others do not obey him directly."-The Science of Self Realization

"In the Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (11.17.27) it is said: “One should understand the spiritual master to be as good as I am,” said the Blessed Lord. “Nobody should be jealous of the spiritual master or think of him as an ordinary man, because the spiritual master is the sum total of all demigods.” That is, the ācārya has been identified with God Himself. He has nothing to do with the affairs of this mundane world. He does not descend here to meddle with the affairs of temporary necessities, but to deliver the fallen, conditioned souls—the souls, or entities, who have come here to the material world with a motive of enjoyment by the mind and the five organs of sense perception. He appears before us to reveal the light of the Vedas and to bestow upon us the blessings of full-fledged freedom, after which we should hanker at every step of our life’s journey."-The Science of Self Realization

"The knowledge that we receive from our Gurudeva is not different from that imparted by God Himself and the succession of the ācāryas in the preceptorial line of Brahmā. We adore this auspicious day as Śrī Vyāsa-pūjā-tithi, because the Ācārya is the living representative of Vyāsadeva, the divine compiler of the Vedas, the Purāṇas, the Bhagavad-gītā, the Mahābhārata, and the Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam."-The Science of Self Realization 

"...we should surrender ourselves today at the feet of the representative of Śrī Vyāsadeva for the elimination of all our differences bred by our unsubmissive attitude."-The Science of Self Realization

"To receive the transcendental knowledge we must completely surrender ourselves to the real ācārya in a spirit of ardent inquiry and service. Actual performance of service to the Absolute under the guidance of the ācārya is the only vehicle by which we can assimilate the transcendental knowledge." -The Science of Self Realization

"All of us should hear him patiently. If we listen to the transcendental sound without unnecessary opposition, he will surely have mercy upon us. The Ācārya’s Message is to take us back to our original home, back to God. Let me repeat, therefore, that we should hear him patiently, follow him in the measure of our conviction, and bow down at his lotus feet for releasing us from our present causeless unwillingness for serving the Absolute and all souls." -The Science of Self Realization

"Sitting at the feet of the Ācāryadeva, let us try to understand from this transcendental source of knowledge what we are, what is this universe, what is God, and what is our relationship with Him. The message of Lord Caitanya is the message for the living entities and the message of the living world." -The Science of Self Realization

The Science of Self Realization
SSR 2: Choosing a Spiritual Master
The Absolute Necessity of a Spiritual Master
http://scienceofselfrealization.com/?g=156346

"Unless one hears from a bona fide ācārya, who is never disturbed by the changes of the material world, one cannot have the real key to transcendental knowledge. The bona fide spiritual master, who has also heard the śruti-mantras, or Vedic knowledge, from his undisturbed ācārya, never presents anything that is not mentioned in the Vedic literature."-Iso 13

Unless one has received knowledge from the bona fide spiritual master who is in the recognized line of disciplic succession, one cannot have the real thing as it is. Kṛṣṇa tells Arjuna in the Bhagavad-gītā (4.2): "This supreme science was thus received through the chain of disciplic succession, and the saintly kings understood it in that way. But in course of time the succession was broken, and therefore the science as it is appears to be lost."-Iso 13

"When Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa was present on this earth, the bhakti-yoga principles defined in the Bhagavad-gītā had become distorted; therefore the Lord had to reestablish the disciplic system…."-Iso 13

"The conviction that Kṛṣṇa is all in all is established when one hears the transcendental message from the undisturbed ācārya with faith and love. One who has no faith in or love for Lord Kṛṣṇa cannot be convinced of this simple truth. Those who are faithless are described in the Bhagavad-gītā(9.11) as mūḍhas-fools or asses. It is said that the mūḍhas deride the Personality of Godhead because they do not have complete knowledge from the undisturbed ācārya. One who is disturbed by the whirlpool of material energy is not qualified to become an ācārya."-Srila Prabhupada
Sri Isopanisad - 1974 Edition
Iso 13
http://isopanisad.org/?g=156632

"Spiritual master is identical with Kṛṣṇa because he gives true knowledge. Therefore he is as good as God. Sākṣād-dharitvena samasta-śāstrair uktas tathā bhāvyata **. A spiritual master is considered directly as the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Sākṣād. Sākṣād means directly. Why? Because he is jñāna-prada. He gives knowledge, real knowledge. That is the qualification of spiritual master. Nobody can become spiritual master if he has no knowledge. If he's a speculator, he cannot become a spiritual master. He must give the right knowledge. Then he is bona fide spiritual master. Otherwise he's a bogus. Jñāna-prada. And without real knowledge, our life is useless."-Srila Prabhupada
Srimad-Bhagavatam 6.1.7 -- Honolulu, May 8, 1976
http://srimad-bhagavatam.com/?g=159034

"Therefore the Absolute Truth is present in the spiritual master. The Supreme Personality of Godhead gives real knowledge to the entire world, and the spiritual master, as the representative of the Supreme Godhead, carries the message throughout the world. Therefore, on the absolute platform, there is no difference between the spiritual master and the Supreme Personality of Godhead."-Srila Prabhupada Purport SB 7.15.27

"...therefore our proposition is you take direction from Krsna and His representative. That's all. That will help you. Try to understand this point. Our system, parampara system, is that I am just like disciple of Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati. I don't say that I am liberated. I am conditioned. But because I am following the instruction of Bhaktisiddhanta, I'm liberated. This is the distinction between conditioned and liberated. When one is under the direction of a liberated person... The same thing: electricity. The copper is not electricity, but when it is charged with electricity, if it is touched, that is electricity. And similarly, this parampara system, the electricity is going. If you cut the parampara system, then there is no electricity."-Srila Prabhupada
Morning Walk
January 4, 1977, Bombay
http://prabhupadavani.org/BA_scripts/1-100/770104MW-BOMBAY.html

"Although when a pure devotee speaks the articulation of his voice may resemble the sound of this material sky, the voice is spiritually very powerful because it touches the particles of saffron dust on the lotus feet of the Lord. As soon as a sleeping living entity hears the powerful voice emanating from the mouth of a pure devotee, he immediately remembers his eternal relationship with the Lord, although up until that moment he had forgotten everything." (S.B 4.20.25 purport)

"...one should "observe," or systematically see. This means that one must follow the previous ācāryas, the perfected teachers. Anupaśyati is the exact Sanskrit word used in this connection. Anu means "to follow," and paśyati means "to observe." Thus the word anupaśyati means that one should not see things as he does with the naked eye but should follow the previous ācāryas. Due to material defects, the naked eye cannot see anything properly. One cannot see properly unless one has heard from a superior source, and the highest source is the Vedic wisdom, which is spoken by the Lord Himself."-Srila Prabhupada
Sri Isopanisad - 1974 Edition Iso 6
http://isopanisad.org/?g=156569

"The ācārya can give you hints that "You can be saved in this way." But the execution of the duties, that is in your hand. If you perform the spiritual duties rightly, then you are saved. Otherwise, even ācārya gives you instruction, if you don't follow, so how he can save you? He can save you by instruction, by his mercy, as much as possible. But you have to take it in your hands seriously."
-Srila Prabhupada
Bhagavad-gita 1.26-27 -- London, July 21, 1973
http://bhagavad-gitaasitis.com/?g=156998

Cooperate, Keeping the Acharya in the Center

By:                                                                                                                                                  Gadadhar dasa 

Srila Prabhupada describes below his vision as to how he wants to structure and operate (Materially and Spiritually) ISKCON. This letter is dated February 1967. Thus we have to understand that HDG Srila Prabhupada was very clear in the beginning days of ISKCON about the model he wanted to use for the future development and operation of ISKCON.

 

Srila Prabhupada: "I wish that each and every branch shall keep their separate identity and cooperate keeping the acharya in the center. On this principle we can open any number of branches all over the world. The Rama Krishna mission works on this principle and thus as an organization they have done wonderfully." 

(Letter, February 11, 1967)

 

The main points are:

 

(1) Keep identity of each branch separate (avoid centralization)

(2) cooperate keeping the acharya in the center

(3) Using (1) and (2) as criteria, open as many branches as possible all over the world

(4) Gives example of the organization model followed by Rama Krishna Mission to support his points.

 

Which "Acarya" are we going to keep in the center? (Founder-Acarya HDG Srila Prabhupada)

 

How long will that "Acarya" stay in the center? (Forever. If you have a problem with that, then jump in the lake, have a good bath, come out, leave behind ISKCON danda and dress, and start walking with your kaupin, find your roti, kapada, and makan as and where you please, and start your own center.)

 

Is having the Murti of Srila Prabhupada in each temple and having daily Guru Puja not enough? (No, Srila Prabhupada's Murti is not there for some lip service. Nor is it there to help "bait and switch operators" exploit the innocent. Stop cashing in on the name of Srila Prabhuapada.)

 

What does "cooperate keeping the acharya in the center" mean? (It definitely does not mean that in each temple there are hundreds of rubber-stamped gurus and guru candidates competing for glorification, disciples, dakshina, sundaris, and land for their dead body to have a samadhi on. Stop competing with the "Acharya" and focus on Srila Prabhupada and his message of distributing Krishna Consciousness by distributing Prasadam, Hari Nama, and his Books.)

 

I don't like your talk. I am entitled to my father's property and use it as I like, and he also asked me to be a Big Guru and make millions of disciples.

 

(Man! You have gone insane! Sir, read below and regain your sanity.)

 

Srila Prabhupada:"I am the Spiritual Master of this institution, and ALL the members of the Society, they're supposed to be MY disciples. They follow the rules and regulations which I ask them to follow, and they are INITIATED BY ME spiritually." 

(Srila Prabhupada Radio Interview, 12 March 1968, San Francisco)

 

Srila Prabhupada: "He [Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Goswami Maharaja] never recommended anyone to be acharya of the Gaudiya Math…. If Guru Maharaja could have seen someone who was qualified at that time to be acharya, he would have mentioned. Because on the night before he passed away he talked of so many things, but never mentioned an acharya. Therefore we may not commit the same mistake in our ISKCON camp.

(Srila Prabhupada, letter to Rupanuga das, April 28, 1974)

 

Srila Prabhupada: "Don't be allured by cheap disciples. Go on steadfastly to render service first. If you immediately become guru, then the service activities will be stopped; and as there are so many cheap gurus and cheap disciples, without any substantial knowledge, and manufacturing new sampradayas, and with service activities stopped, and all spiritual progress choked up."

(SP Letter (VI 1987), August 17, 1968)

 

Srila Prabhupada: "We haven't got to manufacture. To manufacture ideas is troublesome. Why should we take the trouble? And as soon as you want to manufacture something to my…., that is DANGEROUS. …That you are singing every day, "what our guru has said, that is our life and soul." …As soon as this POISON will come -suppress guru and I become Brahman- everything FINISHED. Spiritual life is finished. Gaudiya Matha finished, …VIOLATED the orders of Guru Maharaja.

 

…And as soon as you manufacture, fall down. This manufacturing idea is very, very dangerous in spiritual life. …Our mission is to serve bhakta visesa and live with devotees. NOT THAT YOU TAKE THE PLACE OF GURU. THAT IS NONSENSE, VERY DANGEROUS. Then everything will be spoiled. As soon as you become AMBITIOUS to TAKE THE PLACE of GURU-gurusuh nara matih. That is MATERIAL DISEASE." 

(April 1977, Bombay)

 

But I am a GBC and my father gave me the responsibility to manage. (Sure Sir! Read below and follow the advice of our father, but remember you are the servant and not the owner.)

 

Srila Prabhupada: "GBC does not mean to control a center. GBC means to see that the activities of a center go on nicely. I do not know why Tamala is exercising his absolute authority. That is not the business of GBC. The president, treasurer and secretary are responsible for managing the center. GBC is to see that things are going nicely but not to exert absolute authority. That is not in the power of GBC. Tamala should not do like that.

 

The GBC men cannot impose anything on the men of a center without consulting all of the GBC members first. A GBC member cannot go beyond the jurisdiction of his power. We are in the experimental stage but in the next meeting of the GBC members they should form a constitution how the GBC members manage the whole affair. But it is a fact that the local president is not under the control of the GBC. Yes, for improvement of situations such as this I must be informed of everything."

(Letter to Giriraja, London 12 August, 1971)

 

Srila Prabhupada: "This is the function of the GBC, to see that one may not be taken away by maya. The GBC should all be the instructor gurus. I am the initiator guru, and you should be the instructor guru by teaching what I am teaching and doing what I am doing. This is not a title, but you must actually come to this platform. This is what I want."

(To Madhudvisa, August 4, 1975)

 

Thus you can see above that Srila Prabhupada:

 

(1) Knocked down centralization 

(2) Knocked down over ambitious disciples who wanted to be Guru

(3) Knocked down ruthless GBCs like Tamal Krishna Goswami

(4) Wanted his Murti in each temple and his daily Vyasa Puja

(5) Wanted reading, learning, and preaching from his books

(6) Rules and regulations given by him are to be followed

(7) His name as Founder-Acarya on temple sign boards and property documents

 

Without keeping Acharya in the center, cooperation in not possible.

 

Pretense of lip service may help in cheating the innocent, but it will not work. Remember the words of HDG Srila Prabhupada: "you can cheat, but it will not be effective" and "what is use of producing a rascal Guru?"

 

How can you have Srila Prabhupada in the center when in each temple, there are hundreds of rubber-stamped gurus and guru candidates competing for glorification, disciples, dakshina, sundaris, and land for their dead body to have a samadhi on?

 

How can you have Srila Prabhupada's books in the center when you have disciples of hundreds of rubber-stamped gurus peddling tapes, videos, and books of their own Gurus?

 

Let us not turn Srila Prabhupada's Temples into grave yards of kanistha-adhikaris, cheaters, and liars, as it has already started to happen. Read "Jayadvaita Swami's Omissions" and "Several Grievances Against the Members of the GBC".

 

So let us water the root and not the branches and leaves. Let one moon shine the torchlight of knowledge over the Universe.

 

Cooperate, keeping the Acharya in the center.

That is the only choice. 

Prabhupada wanted his disciples to be siksha gurus not diksha gurus

“This is the sublime mission of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness. […] That is, one should stay at home, chant the Hare Krsna mantra and preach the instructions of Krsna as they are given in the Bhagavad-gita and Srimad-Bhagavatam […] One has to learn humility and meekness at home, following the instructions of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, and in that way one’s life will be spiritually successful. One should not try to be an artificially advanced devotee, thinking, “I am a first-class devotee.” Such thinking should be avoided. It is best not to accept any disciples. One has to become purified at home by chanting the Hare Krsna maha-mantra and preaching the principles enunciated by Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu. Thus one can become a spiritual master and be freed from the contamination of material life.” (Sri Caitanya-caritamtra, Madhya-lila, 7.130, purport)

 “The GBC should all be the instructor gurus. I am the initiator guru, and you should be the instructor guru by teaching what I am teaching and doing what I am doing.”
(Srila Prabhupada Letter to GBC member, August 4th, 1975)

GBC vs. Srila Prabhupada

Heresies of the Governing Body Commission Rejected
By Vikramasingha das
The Iskcon GBC philosophy on guru-tattva and initiations has evolved over the years. In the late 1970s and early 80s, they conceded, due to the insistence of a few leading members, that eleven individuals had been appointed and empowered by Srila Prabhupada to act as zonal acharyas in Iskcon.
The GBC conceded that these eleven could create their own authority structure called “The Acharya Board”. The GBC agreed that only these eleven could be initiating spiritual masters in Iskcon and, in the future, only they could appoint other spiritual masters, or diksa-gurus, from among their disciples or Godbrother followers.
In the latter part of the 1980s, after few of the “chosen eleven” fell down and went insane, these contentions were overturned under mounting pressure from a so-called guru reform movement. GBC reformists decided that these eleven “Iskcon acharyas” could no longer be zonal autocrats above the authority of the GBC. The GBC resolved that only a majority vote of the GBC body would have authority to sanction and regulate initiating spiritual masters in Iskcon.

They resolved that any devotee sanctioned by the GBC could initiate his own disciples in Srila Prabhupada’s mission, and they recommended that “diksa-gurus” no longer accept elaborate public worship in Iskcon temples and titles and prayers meant for maha-bhagavatas. They thus tried to reduce the power and ritual status of “Iskcon acharyas” while opening the door for all senior preachers “in good standing” to covet the post of “Iskcon guru”. In this way the GBC quelled the “guru reform movement” within Iskcon.
GBC resolutions regarding initiations and guru-tattva have been inconsistent and contradictory. It is hard to find two “Iskcon gurus”, GBC members, or Iskcon devotees with the exact same views on these topics. New devotees often doubt whether the praises they sing to the spiritual master at mangala-arotika and guru-puja should be directed toward their so-called Iskcon guru or to Srila Prabhupada.
Should they hear primarily from Srila Prabhupada, or more from their “living guru”? Should they offer prayers and worship to a picture of their “guru” on the altar before doing Deity worship or offering food? If so, would he even know? Are all prayers to the spiritual master just ritualistic hyperbole that can be applied to any so-called Iskcon (or gaudiya math) “guru”?
Below is summary of the stance of the GBC today and in the recent past, with samples of their clearly implied philosophical ideas that are against the teachings of Srila Prabhupada. Immediately after each GBC idea, we have provided the correct understanding of guru-tattva and diksa according the Srila Prabhupada’s books, conversations, letters, and classes. Authorized references are cited at the end.  Throughout Srila Prabhupada’s books there are many dozens of references similar to the few cited below.
GBC: The spiritual master may be a self-made guru who is nominated by his peers or followers and sanctioned by the GBC, an ecclesiastical board. There is no need for a direct, specific order from Srila Prabhupada to become a diksa-guru in Iskcon.
Srila Prabhupada’s siddhanta:“A guru can become guru when he is ordered by his guru. That’s all. Otherwise nobody can become guru.” (See below references 1, 2 and 10.)
GBC: Srila Prabhupada authorized the GBC to sanction and dismiss diksa-gurus in ISKCON.
SPS: “Mundane votes have no jurisdiction the elect a Vaisnava acharya. A Vaisnava acharya is self-effulgent, and there is no need of any court judgment.” Prabhupada authorized the GBC to select (or dismiss) representatives (ritviks), who initiate on His behalf. No one can be guru without the direct order of Krishna or His perfect devotee. (See below references 1, 2, 10 and 15.)
GBC: Lord Caitanya gave a blanket order for every devotee to initiate his own disciples.
SPS: Lord Caitanya ordered His followers to become “gurus” by asking everyone they meet to chant Hare Krishna. He never ordered all devotees to initiate their own disciples. Even Lord Caitanya’s eternal associates, like Sri Gadadhara Pandita, refused to initiate disciples without a direct order from Lord Caitanya. Many great devotees never initiated their own disciples. (References 2 and 3.)
GBC: Persons who are not self-realized souls or topmost Vaisnavas can be diksa-gurus if the GBC approves.
SPS: “Only a topmost devotee, a maha-bhagavata, is eligible to occupy the post of guru.” (See below reference 4.)
GBC: Spiritual masters must be sanctioned, overseen, regulated and, if necessary, disciplined by the GBC.
SPS: The genuine spiritual master is never to be regulated or disciplined by ecclesiastical boards. (See below reference 5.)
GBC: A spiritual master may sometimes fall down and become demoniac.
SPS: “There is no possibility that a first-class devotee will fall down…” – “The bona fide spiritual master is in the disciplic succession since time immemorial.” (See below references 6 and 18.)
GBC: One may ignore, neglect, or reject his spiritual master who falls from grace with the GBC.
SPS: A genuine disciple never rejects his spiritual master. (See reference 7.)
GBC: A student of Krishna consciousness may select any spiritual master, according his or her personal tastes and the ecclesiastical conventions current in Iskcon.
SPS: “Srila Jiva Goswami advised that one not accept a spiritual master in terms of hereditary or customary social and ecclesiastical conventions. One should simply try to find a genuinely qualified spiritual master for actual advancement in spiritual understanding.” (See below reference 8.)
GBC: There are dozens of gurus in Iskcon and each is entitled to his or her own ideas and opinions.
SPS: “Guru is one. He has no independent ideas or opinions.” (See reference 9.)
GBC: Iskcon gurus who have fallen down, if rectified, may be reinstated by the GBC.
SPS: “A bona fide spiritual master is in the disciplic succession from time eternal, and he does not deviate at all from the instructions of the Supreme Lord.”(See below reference 10.)
GBC: There are various levels of spiritual masters, or diksa-gurus, and not all are uttama-adhikaris.
SPS: “The spiritual master is always considered either one of the confidential associates of Radharani or a manifested representation of Sri Nityananda.” Only such a Vaisnava can impart transcendental knowledge into the heart of a disciple. (See below references 4, 7 and 11.)
GBC: The bona fide spiritual master dies, like all mortal men, and thus becomes useless in the matter of initiating and guiding students of Krishna consciousness.
SPS: “The spiritual master is eternal…” — “He lives forever through his divine instructions, and his follower lives with him.” — “He reasons ill who tells that Vaisnavas die!” (See reference 12.)
GBC: One must accept as one’s diksa-guru a man or woman who is living. A posthumous spiritual master, one dead and gone, cannot offer diksa and impart transcendental knowledge.
SPS: “The spiritual master is eternal.” — “Although a physical body is not present, the vibration should be accepted as the presence of the spiritual master. Vibration—what we have heard from the spiritual master—that is living.” (See references 10 and 12.
GBC: Students of Krishna consciousness whose spiritual masters have fallen from grace with the GBC may shop around for another Iskcon guru and accept “re-initiation” as many times as required for them to find an “Iskcon guru” who is steady.
SPS: “A devotee must have only one initiating spiritual master because in the scriptures acceptance of more than one is always forbidden.” (Cc. Madhya, 22.71, Purport)
GBC: Every senior Iskcon devotee, even a dependent woman or neophyte with no ability to preach, is eligible to initiate his or her own disciples. Srila Prabhupada, however, is ineligible because he cannot posthumously offer diksa. One needs a guru who is alive. A fully transcendental guru with a spiritual body is useless in the matter of initiating devotees after he is dead (posthumous).
SPS: “The spiritual master is eternal.” He is not limited by material considerations of time and space. “A perfect Vaisnava is all-powerful, just like the Supreme Lord.” (See references 7, 12 and 13.)
GBC: Not all of Srila Prabhupada’s instructions and orders are to be accepted literally or permanently. Some may be interpreted, altered, edited–or rejected as being outdated. For instance, his final order on initiations (July 9^th, 1977), which he ordered sent to all ISKCON leaders and temples, is now obsolete and must therefore be rejected in favor of the current system for initiations created by the GBC.
SPS: A genuine disciple of the spiritual master always accepts his instructions wholeheartedly. He never tries to dodge, ignore or subvert his instructions. (References 7, 12, 13, 14.)
GBC: At the time of his demise, Srila Prabhupada’s instructions and ideas regarding the future of initiations in ISKCON were vague or contradictory. He left it to the GBC to sort out the details.
SPS: Prabhupada specifically responded to the question of how initiations would be continued in ISKCON after his departure by dictating, reviewing and signing an official directive establishing ritvik initiations. He ordered that this directive be sent to all leaders and GBC members in ISKCON. Ritvik initiations were nothing new for ISKCON. The ritvik system of initiations and all standards had been current in ISKCON for several years prior. Nonetheless, through this official directive and numerous conversations thereafter, Srila Prabhupada clarified it in detail and institutionalized the procedure to operate without his personal supervision. For sincere disciples, there is nothing vague or contradictory in His numerous instructions. (See below reference 15.)
GBC: Iskcon is meant for recruiting disciples for living Iskcon gurus. Those who claim to be direct disciples or aspiring direct disciples of Srila Prabhupada are deviant upstarts if they accepted initiation or joined Iskcon after 1977. In the history of Vedic culture posthumous ritvik initiations have never been seen.
SPS: In Srimad-Bhagavatam and other Puranas there are many stories of ritvik priests conducting Vedic sacrifices under the auspices of a great rishis who were not present on the same planet. There are no injunctions barring so-called “posthumous” ritvik initiations. Prabhupada clearly stated that all ISKCON leaders and trustees now and in the future must be “my initiated disciples”. (See Prabhupada’s “Final Order on Initiations”, July 9^th, 1977, Srila Prabhupada’s “Final Will” and “Directions for Management” and Conversation, May 28, 1977
GBC: Post-1977 Iskcon devotees may accept Prabhupada as their instructing guru and param-guru, but they need to take initiation from a living guru to get Prabhupada’s blessings and mercy.
SPS: Srila Prabhupada is both the diksa-guru and siksa-guru for all serious students of Krishna consciousness. Advanced disciples may also act as “instructing guru” by teaching devotees to accept Srila Prabhupada and follow his instructions. (See below references 8, 15 and 16.)
GBC: Vaisnava gurus are ordinary men who sometimes make common mistakes, and even great devotees sometimes become degraded under the Lord’s external maya-shakti.
SPS: < “One should consider the Acharya to be as good as the Supreme Personality of Godhead. In spite of these instructions, if one considers the spiritual master an ordinary human being, one is doomed. His study of the Vedas and his austerities and penances for enlightenment are useless, like the bathing of an elephant.” (See below reference 17 and 18.)
GBC: Although Prabhupada accepted what he had at the time, his books had many errors.  Although hundreds of senior devotees have chanted these verses and translations in Prabhupada’s presence and afterwards for many years, these sayings needed several revisions done by expert pundits.
SPS: “Mistakes, illusions, cheating, and defective perception do not occur in the sayings of authoritative sages.” (See below references 14 and 17.)
GBC: Unless the GBC sanctions diksa-gurus, the disciplic succession cannot continue. Srila Prabhupada is dead; he cannot order anyone to become guru.
SPS: The disciplic succession is continued not by the manipulations of blind clerics but by genuine disciples. “The Supreme Lord said, My dear Arjuna, because you are never envious of Me, I shall impart to you the most secret wisdom, knowing which you shall be relieved of the miseries of material existence.” (Bhagavad-gita As It Is, 9.1) When repeatedly asked who would be His successor, Srila Prabhupada replied, “My success is always there. Yes. Just like the sun is there always. It may come before your vision or not—the sun is there. But if you are fortunate you come before the sun… The sun is open to everyone.” (Conversation, February 12, 1975, Mexico City) – “Only Lord Caitanya can take my place. He will take care of the movement.” (Conv., Nov. 2, 1977, Vrindaban.) (See reference 7.)
Summary Conclusions:
It is truly said, “One bad apple spoils the bunch!” In this case, at least three or four bad apples polluted the entire GBC body, most Iskcon leaders and most senior preachers. Due to the poisonous ideas introduced by a few foolish individuals, leaders in Iskcon and the vitiated Gaudiya Math temples diverted these institutions from the correct understanding of Gaudiya Vaisnava siddhanta and sadhana-bhakti, particularly with regards to guru-tattva and diksa.
In the later part of the 1980s, the GBC officially banned all scriptural and philosophical discussions on the topic of initiations in ISKCON and labeled all devotees who wanted to follow Srila Prabhupada’s system for ritvik initiations as heretics, fools or fallen rascals. Today the Iskcon GBC is comprised mostly of disciples and followers of “Iskcon gurus”. Most GBC members and “Iskcon acharyas” from the 1980s have resigned, retired, died, become incapacitated, gone insane, or fallen from the path of Krishna consciousness. Others are preaching a sahajiya hodge-podge of Krishna consciousness and Hinduism. (Only one former “zonal acharya” has admitted his mistake and rectified it.) On the other hand, by Krishna’s grace, almost all of the original proponents for Srila Prabhupada’s ritvik system are still actively preaching Krishna consciousness as it is.
Some devotees ask, “What is the harm if I accept an Iskcon guru as my so-called diksa-guru as long as I follow Srila Prabhupada’s instructions?” The problem with this approach is that it involves conceding dangerous philosophical misconceptions and contradictions. It involves impure diet and association. The GBC’s disobedience is not an innocent mistake but rather a conspiracy to utilize Srila Prabhupada’s mission for personal prestige and gain. Such motives have polluted Srila Prabhupada’s movement with false ambitions, guru-aparadha, Vaisnava-aparadha and sadhu-ninda. Srila Prabhupada’s name, fame, temples and institutions are being exploited by deviant upstarts, and some of his important teachings are being twisted, minimized or ignored by Iskcon leaders as official policy.
References:
1. “Mundane votes have no jurisdiction the elect a Vaisnava acharya. A Vaisnava acharya is self-effulgent, and there is no need of any court judgment.” (Cc. Madhya 1.220, Purport)
2. “A guru can become guru when he is ordered by his guru. That’s all. Otherwise nobody can become guru.” (Conversation, Oct. 28, 1975, Nairobi)
3. “Vallabha Bhaṭṭa wanted to be initiated by Gadādhara Paṇḍita, but Gadādhara Paṇḍita refused, saying, ‘The work of acting as a spiritual master is not possible for me. I am completely dependent. My Lord is Gauracandra, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu. I cannot do anything independently, without His order.’” (Cc. Antya  7.150,151)
4. “When one has attained the topmost position of maha-bhagavata, he is to be accepted as guru and worshiped exactly like Hari, the personality of Godhead. Only such a person is eligible to occupy the post of guru.” (Cc. Madhya, 24.330, Purport, citing Padma Purana.)”
5. “The spiritual master is never to be an object of disciplinary action…”
6. “A bona fide spiritual master is in the disciplic succession from time eternal, and he does not deviate at all from the instructions of the Supreme Lord…” (Bhagavad-gita As It Is, 4.42, Purport.)
7. “He opens my darkened eyes and fills my heart with transcendental knowledge. He is my lord birth after birth. From him ecstatic prema emanates; by him ignorance is destroyed. The Vedic scriptures sing of his character.” (Sri Guru Vandana, Verse 3)
8. “Srila Jiva Goswami advised that one not accept a spiritual master in terms of hereditary or customary social and ecclesiastical conventions. One should simply try to find a genuinely qualified spiritual master for actual advancement in spiritual understanding.” (Cc. Adi, 1.35, Purport) — “One should take initiation from a bona fide spiritual master coming in disciplic succession who is authorized by his predecessor spiritual master. This is called diksa-vidhana. (Bhagavad-gita As It Is, 4.8.54, Purport)
9. “Guru is one. He has no independent ideas or opinions.”
10. “A bona fide spiritual master is in the disciplic succession from time eternal, and does not deviate at all from the instructions of the Supreme Lord…” (Bhagavad-gita As It Is, 4.42, Purport)
11. “The spiritual master is always considered either one of the confidential associates of Radharani or a manifested representation of Sri Nityananda.” (Cc. Adi. 1.46, Purport)
12. “The spiritual master is not the question of [‘living’ or ‘dead’]… The spiritual master is eternal–the spiritual master is eternal.” (Lecture, Oct. 2, 1968, Seattle, WA) — “I will never die. I shall live from my books, and you will utilize.” (Interview, July 16, 1975, Berkeley, CA) — “Although a physical body is not present, the vibration should be accepted as the presence of the spiritual master. Vibration—what we have heard from the spiritual master—that is living.” (Lecture, Jan. 13, 1969, LA, CA) – “One should consider the Acharya to be as good as the Supreme Personality of Godhead. In spite of these instructions, if one considers the spiritual master an ordinary human being, one is doomed. His study of the Vedas and his austerities and penances for enlightenment are useless, like the bathing of an elephant.” (Srimad-Bhagavatam 7.15.26, Purport)
13. “Regarding the disciplic succession, there is nothing to wonder for big gaps. We have to pick up from the prominent acarya and follow from him.” (Letter, April 12, 1968.) — “…one has to associate with the liberated persons not directly, physically, but by understanding, through philosophy and logic…” (Srimad-Bhagavatam 3.31, Purport.) — “Although the physical body in not present, the vibration should be accepted as the presence of the spiritual master. Vibration–what we have heard from the spiritual master –that is ‘living’.” (Lecture, January 13, 1969, Los Angeles.)
14. “So we follow that ‘No Change Policy’. Not that because I think I have become now advanced, I change this to that. That means I am not advanced. My knowledge is imperfect. Therefore I am changing.”
15. “They did even consider with common sense—that if Guru Maharaja wanted to appoint somebody as acarya, why he did not say? He said so many things, and this point he missed? The real point? And they insisted upon it. The declared some unfit person to become acarya. And then another—‘Acarya!’ Another—‘Acarya!’ So better to remain a foolish [simple] person perpetually to be directed by Guru Maharaja. That is perfection. And as soon as he [the upstart] learns that Guru Maharaja is dead, ‘Now I am so advanced that I can kill my guru and I become guru.’ Then he’s finished.” (Conv. Aug. 16, 1976, Bombay) — “If everyone just initiates, then there will only be contradictory results. As long as it goes on there will only be failure.” (From Phalguna Krishna Pancami, 1961.) — “I shall recommend some of you to act as officiating acaryas.  Ritvik. Yes.” (Conv. May 28, 1977, Vrindaban.) — “So, deputies… These initiations –I have deputed my disciples. Is it clear or not?” (Conv. Oct. 18, 1977, Vrindaban.) See Prabhupada’s “Final Order on Initiations”, July 9^th, 1977 at www.harekrishnasociety.com .
16. “I am the initiator guru, and you should be the instructor guru by teaching what I am teaching and doing what I am doing. This is not a title, but you should actually come to this platform. This I want. “ (Letter, August 4, 1975.)
17. bhrama pramada viralipsa karanapatava, arsa-vijna-vakye nahi dosa ei saba:
“Mistakes, illusions, cheating, and defective perception do not occur in the sayings of authoritative sages.” (Cc. Adi 2.86)
18. “There is no possibility that a first-class devotee will fall down…” (Cc. Madhya 22.71, Purport)

The Bonafide Acarya can make changes to formalities.

Bhakta Mark – US: The Bonafide Acarya has the authority to make changes to formalities.

“Sriman Viraraghava Acarya, an acarya in the disciplic succession of the Ramanuja Sampradaya has remarked in his commentary that candalas, or conditioned souls who are born in lower than sudra families, can also be initiated according to circumstances. The formalities may be slightly changed here and there to make them Vaishnavas” (SB 4.8.54 purport)

Thus, for example, he can authorize a disciple to do things that would normally be considered impossible when compared to the precedent of the past, or when analyzed by mundane logic. But these changes are “not faulty according to Sastra”.

“One has to consider the particular time, country and conveniences. What is convenient in India may not be convenient in the Western countries. Those who are not actually in the line of acaryas or who personally have no knowledge how to act in the role of acarya, unnecessarily criticize the activities of the ISKCON movement in countries outside of India. The fact is that such critics cannot do anything personally to spread Krishna Consciousness. If someone does go and preach, taking all risks and allowing all consideration for time and place, it might be that there are changes in the manner of worship, but that is not faulty according to the sastra” (SB 4.8.54 purport)

Some examples of how disciples were transcendentally empowered to engage in unheard of practices that were authoritatively introduced by the Acarya.

“I think now you may be appointed by me to give first initiations to new disciples by chanting on their give me great relief. Kirtanananda will chant on the beads for new devotees in America, Canada, like that, you can chant on the beads for the European continent new disciples.
They shall, of course, still be considered as my disciples, not that they shall become your disciples, but you will be empowered by me to chant their beads and that is the same effect of binding master and disciple as if I were personally chanting.”
(1/4/73 Bombay, Letter to Revatinandana)

Srila Prabhupada authorized the use of a tape recorder to initiate devotees.

“Regarding second initiation, enclosed is one sacred thread chanted on by me, and the gayatri mantra. This should be instructed to Maha Muni in private, have him hear a tape recording of the mantra in the right ear. Hold a fire yajna for the first initiates.”
(Srila Prabhupada letter to Makhanlal dasa June 22, 1973)

Srila Prabhupada authorized a neophyte’s WIFE to speak the gayatri mantra into the ear of that neophyte during second initiation.

“I am enclosing herewith your sacred thread, duly chanted on by me. Gayatri Mantra is as follows… Ask your wife to chant this mantra and you hear it and if possible hold a fire ceremony as you have seen during your marriage and get this sacred thread on your body, Saradiya or any twice initiated devotee may perform the ceremony ” (SPL to Vaikunthanatha dasa August 4, 1971)

And people say that the Ritvik system is not bonafide because Srila Prabhupada is no longer present on the earth.
Such statements make it easy to tell what such people really think of that Murti of Srila Prabhupada sitting in the temple rooms where they whimsically initiate newcomers. A nice show they must put on dressing that murti and waving incense in front of it.
But hey, only 1/3 of the other Good as God pure devotee Acaryas thought they were not pure devotees, not good as God, and not qualified to initiate. So under the “2 out of 3 ain’t bad” rule, and the “Prabhupada is dead and gone, that murti is just for show” rule,
They whisper sweet NOTHINGS into the ears of the latest victim.

Gurukrpa speaks on ISKCON History

Gurukripa dasa speaks with Bhakta dasa:

Question to GK: What happened the final months of SP’s

appearance in connection with the process of initiating new devotees?

Answer: Nothing happened. In the beginning SP did the
disksa, the yajna and the name giving. As the numbers increased, he
authorized  GBC, and senior sanyassis to pick names and chant on the
beads, etc.  In 1977 during the months of May, June, July 1977 I was in
Vrindaban with Srila Prabhupada, giving him his massage in his bed
between 1 AM and mangala aratik. During the day, many letters would
arrive. Satsvarupa Swami was the secretary and we decided that only
letters that would give joy to Srila Prabhupada would be read. Like
numbers of books sold, etc. A maximum of five letters daily were read
to SP.

After some weeks like this, there were stacks and stacks of

letters, all relating to initiation. Hundreds of people were panicking
that SP would leave the planet before they were given initiation. At
this time, this situation was brought before SP in his room by
Satsvarupa, Tamal, myself, and maybe some others.

Up until this time it was a very simple matter that we were

doing the initiations, but we first had to ask permission. SP NEVER
refused any recommendation from his senior men. And personally, I would
sometimes argue with some GBC that they were giving it too easily.

At this meeting, SP basically said, “From here on, if you

feel they are ready, then you may give the initiation on my behalf.” I
understood this for what it was, simply extending the authority a
little further than it had been. Tamal Krsna Swami, began to say, “But
who will do it?. Which devotees will do this?” Srila Prabhupada said,
“The nearest one will do it. Whoever is closest.” Tamal said, “Can
Bhavananda do? Can Jayapataka do?” Thus these eleven names came out.

Question: Why were you not on the list of eleven?
Answer: Because it did not matter. Srila Prabhupada said

whoever was closest. I was already doing and Srila Prabhupada never
told me or anyone else not on the list to stop. For myself, it was not
very relevant because I was working in Japan and did not have any new
devotees to initiate.

Tamal Krsna Swami, made these list of names himself and SP

signed the letter. But they were only priests to act on behalf of SP.
Tamal asked about Bhavananda who was not a TP or a GBC at that time.
And everyone new well of his homosexual tendencies. But, Tamal pushed
his name, because he was already planning how to take over when Srila
Prabhupada was gone.

Question: How did Tamal Krsna Swami become so influential at
this time?

Gurukrpa: Tamal’s original service was as GBC in India. He

left that service without permission and arrived in America. Within one
year the temple presidents made a huge complaint to SP that he was
disrupting the temples by taking important men. I was in the room when
SP told Tamal to go to China. Hari Sauri’s memory of this incident is
not accurate. Either way that is another story.

Tamal went to New York to prepare to go to China. And in May

1976, he showed up in a suit in Honolulu, a broken man.  He could not
get a visa to China, he had no service to do in India, and he could not
go back to America, so he was quite depressed. Approximately a day or
two later, SP called for Tamal and me at about 12:30 AM. He said, “My
feet are swelling, my teeth are getting loose, I am passing urine too
frequently. These are the first signs that death is coming.” Then he
sent us back to bed. The next day TKG volunteered to be SP’s
secretary, as the service was vacant at that time. From this position
he could control and manipulate the environment around Srila
Prabhupada. I can write many more stories that will shock people about
TKG’s ambitious nature and his desire to take SP’s seat..

After SP left, in November 1977, I stayed in Vrindaban till

Gour Purnima 1978 and there was no discussion of guru during these
three or four months, because SP’s last instruction, or as the ritvics
call it, “The final order”, was that “Now we have build a framework.
There is no need to try and expand more. If we can just maintain our
men and increase the chanting and hearing that is sufficient. We should
sit down now and chant and hear.”

There was NO TALK about initiations that I heard either in

Vrindaban or in Mumbai during these months. If SP has appointed these
eleven as spiritual masters, why did they not start initiating at once?
Because they all knew very well they were never appointed! We knew the
philosophy what is tattva darshi and what is Saksad Hari…but behind
closed doors there was a plot simmering.  In the GBC meeting of 1978
the initiation issue was brought up and it appeared they had already
concluded that they were going to go ahead and say that they were
appointed.  I asked Harikesh sitting next to me, ‘how are you going
to let people call you a paramahansa?  You are not a realized soul, you
are a piece of shit.  He turned to me with a smrik on his face, and
said “What are you going to do about it?”  That is basically what
happened, none of us could do anything after that.

In 1978, Janmastami, TKG came to Vrindavan to give Sannyasa

diskha to Bhagavan.  I was the GBC at the time in Vrindavan.  TKG
called from Delhi and demanded flower garlands and a large reception
greeting at the temple with vyasasana’s for them to sit on.  I told
them this is Prabhupada’s temple and everybody can sit on the floor.
When they came I gave them no such reception, and the next morning in
Bhagavatwam, Bhagavan brought his politics into the class.  I went and
told him, if you ever do this again, bringing politics into Bhagavatwam
class you will never speak again in any temple I manage.  That day,
Bhavananda, TKG,and Bhagavan asked me to meet them in the guest house
for a meeting.  When I came, they said, why are you making waves? Just
stop making trouble about this appointment of gurus and we’ll make you
the 12th guru at the next Mayapur meeting.  I told them, Prabhupada did
not make anyone guru’s, you have to be a realized soul.  They said
there was some talk about you in Japan doing some things, therefore
Prabhupada did not name you. I told them you are now believing your own
lies. They were silent. Bhavananda tried to speak. I told him to shut
his mouth because he was a homosex and he had never done service and
had been living off the money I collected and sent to Mayapur for
construction.

Question: So how did everyone become guru’s, if Prabhupada

did not make them gurus?

Gurukrpa: Had SP seen one of us as being capable, he would
have named that person or persons, but he did not mention that anyone
was fit. His Divine Grace B.V. Puri Maharaja, who SP said “is the only
god Brother who is not envious of me”, ask SP “Please stay another 8 or
10 years with these boys.” SP’s answer was, “They are all hard headed,
I have done all that I can do.”

Prabhupada said, “I can stay 100 years” many times, but he

left after 81 plus a few months.

In the GBC meeting of 1978, they shouted me down and they

had already decided the fix was in.  This was how the future of ISKCON
was going to go.

Question: Is the GBC absolute since they are named as the

ultimate managing authority?

Gurukrpa: Prabhupada said the GBC would be the  ultimate

managing authority.  But that does not mean they are perfect, and they
have perfect vision.  The process of the  GBC meetings during the
years, we would have the meeting and report the days minutes of the
meeting nightly to Prabhupada.  Usually it would take 5 days.
Prabhuapda said if you people were competent, you people would be done
in 30 minutes.  In 1977, Prabhupdad told us, just have your meetings
and after 5 days give me all your resolutions.  After 5 days of
meetings, the GBC filed in his room, sat down and read the resolutions;
and one after another.  Srila Prabhupada said, ‘No I do not want that,
no that is not what I wanted’.  He vetoed almost all the resolutions.
So to say the GBC is the ultimate authority is correct, but that does
mean that it is absolute.  As you can see by how many guru’s have
fallen down, and how many GBC’s have had difficulties.

Guru means one who has no other interest but to realize the

absolute truth, Krishna.  The guru, must have first realized the Name
is non-different than Krishna.  When I first joined the movement, we
spent 9 to 10 hours a day chanting in the street.  These present GBC’s
do not spend that in a year.  Hari nama eva kevalam, in this age only
the Holy Name, only the Holy Name.  Your bureacuracy and your
mangagement is not the process.  The elitisim being shown by the GBCs
putting themselves up on a platform, above all their god brothers is
absolute arrogance and the greatest sin of pride, the opposite of the
humble blade of grass.  Krishna is the one giving all directions for
those who can hear him.

Must of us are now hitting 60 or more, we’ve made successful

businesses, won some, lost some, raised our families, and personally I
have gone to 25 straight Kartiks’ in Vrindavan.  We have been excluded
from SP’s movement, it started in the GBC meeting of 1978.  Still
today, the people who have appointed themselves for life have had very
little result.  Rabindra Svarupa, the GBC of Hawaii, has come once in 6
years, and he will not give up the position.  Kavicandra in Japan has
done nothing there in 25 years.  Even one of these GBC guru’s does not
wear neck beads, tilak, sikah, or have any faith in the name is still a
member in good standing.  In the west, most of the temples have more
deities than devotees. Most of the devotees are being paid, pujari’s
being paid, cooks being paid temple presidents are being paid, and they
have to bring Indian devotees just to keep the bare minimum going.

I have witnessed over all these years how the elitist

mentality of the GBC’s and guru’s have excluded all their god
brothers.  They have put themselves on a high pedestal.  They have no
taste for staying in the holy dhama’s of Mayapur and Vrindavna, and
they run back to their comfort zones soon as they finish the meetings.

In 1977, during the rainy season, all the GBC’s showed up in

Vrindavan..  SP said, we should go in a room and make out his will for
him.  I.e., who would manage what properties and so forth…Kirtananda
and everyone was there, and they were going on saying someone will do
this, and someone will do that…I noticed how they totally left me
out.  So I just went to the Yamuna and took my bath and came back to
find them still dividing everything up.  When they were finished, it
was brought into SP room and read to him as he laid on his bed.  After
they finished reading the will, the first question SP asked was, ‘Where
is Guru-krpa’s name’?  I had already opened a dozen temples and
collected the most money in ISKCON history, up to that point, and they
totally left me out.  But SP noticed it right away.  So now, although I
am the first executor in his will, and he told me to develop Hawaii and
other places, (you made read the will), they also have totally
neglected that order.  Giriraj even came and asked me if I would resign
from the will.  I told him, ‘How can I give up the order of the guru’?
It is not as easy for me as you people.

There is no new blood in this organization, things have

become stagnated and dry, not dynamic and the offense of neglecting all
their god-brothers by excluding them from their spiritual birthright,
they will have to answer to SP for this apparadha.

Question: What is your idea of how the guru – disciple

relationship should now be handled in ISKCON?

Love can not be insituationalized.  I feel in love with SP

the second I saw him.  That is why I could surrender to  the depth that
I did, to get the insurmountable service I did at that time.  Once in
Mayapur, Kirtananda came to me, and said “Why are you giving all that
money to Prabhupada.  You should give it to me, in America we are
protected.  The communist one day will come and take these buidlings
away..  Prabhupada is making a big mistake.”  I was shocked by what I
just heard.  At that time, Kirtananda was considered by Satsvarupa to
be the greatest of the great, and the most divine of the divine.  My
answer was, I do not care what he does with the money.  He can flush it
down the toilet, for all I care, I just love to give it to him.

Its a matter of the heart.   According to one’s state of the

heart, if one has many material desires, he may say he loves Bhagavan
Sai Baba, the Pope, Charles Manson.  Its according to one’s sukriti.
Krishna is sitting in one’s heart, He knows exactly what our intentions
are.  Before anyone has a right to ask a question, you must first enter
the class.  The price is surrender.  Those who have not fully
surrendered can not understand those who have surrenedered.  Those who
have surrendered can understand about everyone.

SP initiated thousands, he told me once in his room in

Vrindavan, he said “My guru ordered me to go to the west, and I did
that.  My main service was to translate these books and I did that.  I
have a personal desire to build these temples in India.  That is my
personal program.  But they (his disciples) will not give me money and
my head is getting hot.  I have to translate these books, write many
letters, and I am thinking how to raise the money to build these
temples because my disciples have their own programs and will not give
me money.”  So, seeing SP like this, I told him that from today forth,
you just translate the books peacefully, and I will take the headache
and go and get the money.  When I walked out of the room, I could not
believe what I just said.  So to think all the GBC are 100% surrendered
souls, and the gurus are 100% surrenderd souls with no self interest,
and their only interest is to serve SP mission, they did not even care
during his time(SP time).  SP said he would be happy, if he could get
one moon.  To get one disciple who would be perfect, out of many
thousands.  How rare is a personality of SP character.

The GBC’s duty is to see that SP standard is being

maintained.  That standard is based on chanting and hearing, also
becoming a lover of Krishna.  If SP said I bless you, I give you a
benediciton, it will manifest.  He has the right, the adhikari to do
that.  If someone else says  I am your guru, I am giving you diskha,
can he give you Krishna?  Can he give you the holy name? Can he take
you to Vaikanthua?  Have you been there, has the guru been there?  SP
told me in the car in New Zealand, he turned to me in the car, and
said, while you were building Krishna Balarama temple in Vrindavan.
Krishna was building you a house in Goloka.  I have seen it, it is very
nice.  That is why you can only surrender to the depths, to one who is
from that place, and who can you give you that place, who wants that
place, otherwise it is just a big show.  Whistels and bells with no
substance.

My view of seeing this organization, it is croniyism. Most

of the leaders, their hearts are still, steel framed, they are self
interested.  They are not self-less.  They have stopped somewhere on
this road back to Godhead; they are satisfied with their easy
lifestyle, food, respect, honor, travelling all at the expense of the
community and the younger devotees who go on the street.   Its a long
way from chant, dance and be happy.

Question: Then how did it come about that immediately after

SP was not present physically, these eleven became worship able as
paramahamsas of the highest order?

Gurukrpa: Because it is the cheaters and the cheated. People

are basically sudras who want a master tell them what to do. They do
not  have sufficient intelligence, or spiritual knowledge,therefore they

accepted;  and the more realized devotees left , after trying to
correct things. They were told to leave because they were disturbing
the faith of the new disciples.

Because they could not take it any more any more they left.

Now it has become like the Pol Pot regime, “accept our way, or die.”
Devotees never die, KRSNA is always in their hearts.  They are the
losers for losing the association of their brothers & sisters. The
senior men can do something, other wise the new men cannot do without
the association of the older devotees.

Most of the older devotees now also do not have the

missionary spirit. SP said, as a group we can’t be broken, but alone we
are all easily broken..

The leaders have never cared for the God Brothers/sisters.

They are happy when the see their brother get victimized by Maya, and
never come to try and rescue them. Do you think SP is happy to see the
present leader’s disciples at his temples and not his own disciples????
They talk of love of God, but they do not care one bit for their own
family members, unless the family agrees to accept everything they say.
They have no peers around them that may object to anything.

I AM A VERY FALLEN SOUL. I AM NOT BASICALLY A FAULT FINDER, WHICH IS WHY I DID NOT SPEAK UP FOR THE LAST 30 YEARS. SO MANY PEOPLE ASK ME TO WRITE A BOOK, BUT I HAVE NOT. I HAVE LIVED VERY NICELY BY SRILA PRABHUPADA’S GRACE. I WILL BE VERY HAPPY TO SEE THE GBC ACTUALLY BECOME REAL GBC AND GENUINE LOVING COMPASSIONATE VAISNAVAS.