"The value of accepting a guru is more than we can calculate-​SP

"You should know that the value of accepting a bona fide spiritual master is more

than we can calculate."

SP letter  to Ravendra Gupta

 

The disciple's duty is to be ready always to serve the spiritual master, at any cost."

LA lecture 6/23/72

 

 

 

The disciples duty is to be ready always to serve the spiritual master, at any cost."

Why the ISKCON gurus are bogus

By: Yashodanandana Dasa, Los Angeles, California

Srila Prabhupada explained that His Guru Maharaja never appointed anybody as acharya.

“…They wanted to create artificially somebody acharya",

Note:  The ISKCON GBC artificially created 11 acharyas in March of 1978.

If Srila Prabhupada wanted to appoint 11 acharyas [diksha-gurus] for ISKCON, why did he not directly say?

 

"He said so many things, and this point He missed? The real point?"

 

Note: Similarly Srila Prabhupada said so many things in the last few months of 1977, and the real point He missed?

 

…"and they insist upon it. They declared some unfit person to become"...

(Srila Prabhupada conversation, August 16, 1976, Bombay) 

 

Note:  And the GBC misheard, misunderstood, and misrepresented to the body of ISKCON devotees that 11 had been “appointed” as acharyas.  And they insisted upon it.  And they declared some unfit persons to become acharyas.

 

Note:  If His Divine Grace Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura Prabhupada did not appoint anyone as acharya [or diksha guru] for His mission, what makes the leading secretaries of His Divine Grace AC Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada think that He would appoint one acharya or a group of acharyas for His Mission, in direct contradiction of His criticism of this whole concept in August of 1976. 

 

Srila Prabhupada conversation, August 16, 1976, Bombay, India 

 

Srila Prabhupada explains that there is no record that HDGBSTP nominated “any acharya” after him 

 

“… I have also read specifically your articles on the matter of acharyas, wherein on the 14th paragraph I see the acharya shall be entitled to nominate in writing his successive acharya. But we do not find any record where our Srila Prabhupada nominated any acharya after Him. Different persons have interpreted on this point, and everyone of our God brothers are acting as acharya, so this is a controversial point which I do not wish to enter into while we are proposing for co-operation…” 

 

(Srila Prabhupada letter 1969 (SPL (VI 1987) August 21, 1969) 

 

Note:  Where is the actual verifiable record that Srila Prabhupada [HDG ACBSP]  “nominated any acharya after Him”? 

 

Srila Prabhupada defines obedience. 

Srila Prabhupada - "I may say many things to you, but when I say something directly to you, you do it. Your first duty is to do that, you cannot argue – ‘Sir, you said to me do like this before', no that is not your duty, what I say to you now you do it, that is obedience you cannot argue." 

(Srila Prabhupada, S.B. Lecture, April 14, 1975, Hyderabad) 

 

Guru cannot be self-made 

Guru must be authorized 

"Guru cannot be self-made. No. There is no such single instance throughout the whole Vedic literature. And nowadays, so many rascals, they are becoming guru without any authority. That is not guru. You must be authorised. Evam parampara-praptam imam ra.. As soon as the parampara is....kalena yogo nasta parantapa, immediately finished. The spiritual potency finished. You can dress like a guru, you can talk big, big words, but it will never be effective." 

(Srila Prabhupada's Lecture, February 27th 1977, Mayapur, India)  

 

Guru must be authorized by the bona fide Guru. 

"Self-made guru cannot be guru. He must be authorized by the bona fide guru. Then he's guru. This is the fact...Similarly, bona fide guru means he must be authorized by the superior guru." (Srila Prabhupada, NOD Lecture, October 31, 1972) 

 

Guru must be authorized by his predecessor spiritual master. 

"One should take initiation from a bona fide spiritual master coming in the disciplic succession, who is authorised by his predecessor spiritual master. This is called diksha-vidhana." (S.B. 4.8.54, purport)  

 

Guru must be ordered by his guru. 

Prabhupada: Try to understand. Don't go very speedily. A guru can become guru when he's ordered by his guru. That's all. Otherwise nobody… 

 

Result of Gaudiya Matha's attempt to become more than guru. 

"Why this Gaudiya Matha failed? Because they tried to become more than guru. [.] They declared some unfit person to become acharya. Then another man came, then another, acharya, another acharya." 

(Srila Prabhupada, Room Conversation, August 16, 1976)

 

Position of the actual guru. 

"An actual guru always remains the servant of his own guru and the predecessor acharyas. Attempting to become a guru without one's own guru's order is a materialistic ambition. Accepting followers and circumventing one's own guru is offensive." (Ref. VedaBase => MGM 22-11: A Lost Son Visits Home)

 

Srila Prabhupada explains how he became the leader of the KC movement. 

Guru must be ordered by His guru. 

 

"Indian man: When did you become spiritual the leader of Krishna Consciousness? 

Srila Prabhupada: What is that? 

Brahmananda: He is asking when did you become the spiritual leader of Krishna Consciousness? 

Srila Prabhupada: When my Guru Maharaja ordered me. This is the guru parampara. 

Indian man: Did it... 

Srila Prabhupada: Try to understand. Don't go very speedily. A guru can become guru when he is ordered by his guru. That's all. Otherwise nobody can become guru. "     

(Srila Prabhupada, Bg. Lecture, October 28, 1975)

 

Guru must be authorized person. 

"Therefore guru must be authorized person, not that bhumi-phala-guru. No. I am guru," no. You cannot become guru unless you are agent to draw out the mercy water from the ocean of mercy of Krishna. That is guru. And therefore a guru is not an ordinary person. He is the representative, bona fide representative of Krishna." 

(SB Lecture, November 30, 1976)  

 

Guru cannot impart instructions without being authorized 

"The schoolmasters in the modern days are paid agents for giving some information, but the spiritual master is not a paid agent. Nor can he impart instruction without being authorized." (SB:2.9.43, purport) 

 

"A Guru can be Guru when he is ordered by his Guru. That's all. Otherwise nobody can become Guru." (Srila Prabhupada,  Bg. Lecture, 28th October 1975) 

 

Srila Prabhupada predicts what happens when the acharya disappears? 

Unfortunately, when the acharya disappears, rogues and nondevotees take advantage and immediately begin to introduce unauthorized principles in the name of so-called swamis, yogis, philanthropists, welfare workers and so on.   (SB 4.28.48) 

 

Do not make addition, alteration. 

Results of making additions and alterations. 

 

Many times they give me very great credit that I have done wonderful. Yes, I have done wonderful. But what is the reason? Because I am not a rascal. I speak what Krishna has spoken. That's all. Very easy. Everyone can do that. Not only I. Any of you, you can do this. Simply speak what Krishna has said. That's all. Don't make addition, alteration. Then you become rascal. Immediately you become rascal. 

(Srimad-Bhagavatam Lecture 1.5.29 Vrindavana, August 10, 1974)

  

Danger of concocting 

 

Prabhupada: Ara na koriha mane asa. Don't concoct. Don't you sing daily? Ara na koriha mane asa. Don't manufacture ideas. That is dangerous. Chaitanya Mahaprabhu teaches by His example. Guru more murkha dekhi' karila sasana. Chaitanya Mahaprabhu said to Prakashananda Sarasvati that "My spiritual master saw Me fool number one, so he has chastised Me, that 'Don't try to read Vedanta; chant Hare Krishna. (Conversation, June 23, 1976, New Vrindavana)

 

Go to right person who has seen. 

Do not make your own interpretation.

 

Prabhupada: Therefore Krishna says, tad viddhi pranipatena pariprasnena sevaya: "One who knows, go and understand from them, from the guru." Don't make your interpretation, rascal. You shall remain always a rascal. Then what is the use of all these verses? If it is so easy to understand Krishna then why Krishna says, tad viddhi pranipatena pariprasnena sevaya: "Then you will understand. Go to the right person

who has seen."   

(Conversations, December 10, 1975, Vrindavan)

Becoming Sensitive to the Spiritual Master’s Instructions

Vyasa Puja Offering of Sri Chanchalapati Dasa

Dear Srila Prabhupada,
Please accept my prostrated obeisance. All glories to your divine grace. I wish to present this homage in the form of remembrance of your instructions in the context of what is happening in ISKCON today.
Fact 1: Secret of success in spiritual life is to serve the instructions of the spiritual master as one’s life and soul and never deviate:
Srila Prabhupada has mercifully revealed the secret of success in spiritual life:

“The secret of success in spiritual life is in satisfying the spiritual master and thereby getting his sincere blessings... It is essential, therefore, that a disciple be very much obedient and submissive to the bona fide spiritual master.” (Srimad Bhagavatam 1.1.8 Purport)

In various lectures, correspondences, the daily practices that Srila Prabhupada instituted in ISKCON, his own life’s example – he has emphasized this principle. For instance, once in Philadelphia after the Bhagavatam class, he mentioned:

“Guru-mukha-padma-vakya, chittete koriya aikya. Now chitta means consciousness or heart. "I shall do this only, bas. My Guru Maharaja told me; I shall do this." Chittete koriya aikya, ar na koriho mane asa. So it is not my pride, but I can say, for your instruction, I did it. Therefore whatever little success you see than all my Godbrothers, it is due to this. I have no capacity, but I took it, the words of my guru, as life and soul. So this is fact. Guru-mukha-padma-vakya, cittete koriya aikya. Everyone should do that. But if he makes addition, alteration, then he is finished. No addition, alteration. You have to approach guru—guru means the faithful servant of God, Krishna—and take his word how to serve Him. Then you are successful. If you concoct, "I am very intelligent than my guru, and I can make addition or alteration," then you are finished. (Srila Prabhupada lecture, July 12^th, 1975, Philadelphia)

Fact 2: Authorization is essential to become Spiritual Master:
You have stated in the purport of the Srimad Bhagavatam:

“One should take initiation from a bona fide spiritual master coming in the disciplic succession, who is authorized by his predecessor spiritual master. This is called diksa-vidhana.” (Srimad-Bhagavatam 4.8.54)

Not only did Srila Prabhupada state this in the purport, you mentioned this during a conversation with an Indian gentleman in Nairobi:

Indian man: When did you become the spiritual leader of Krishna consciousness?

Prabhupada: When my Guru Maharaja ordered me. This is the guru-parampara.

Indian: Did it...

Prabhupada: Try to understand. Don’t go very speedily. A guru can become guru when he’s ordered by his guru. That’s all. Otherwise nobody can become guru. (Bg class Oct 28^th, 1975 Nairobi)

During the Bhagavatam lecture in Mayapur in 1977, Srila Prabhupada stated this principle even more forcefully:

“Guru cannot be self-made. No. There is no such single instance throughout the whole Vedic literature. And nowadays, so many rascals, they are becoming guru without any authority. That is not guru. You must be authorized. Evam parampara-praptam imam ra... [Bg. 4.2]. As soon as the parampara is lost, sa kalena yoga nasto parantapa, immediately finished. The spiritual potency finished. You can dress like a guru, you can talk big, big words, but it will never be effective.” (Srimad Bhagavatam class, Mayapur, Feb 27^th, 1977)

Fact 3: Srila Prabhupada did not authorize or appoint any of his disciples to become Spiritual Master or Diksha Guru after his disappearance:
It is a well established historical fact that Srila Prabhupada did not appoint any one to become an Acharya or Spiritual Master after his disappearance from the material world. Srila Prabhupada’s personal secretary, HH Tamal Krishna Goswami has stated:

“Actually Prabhupada never appointed any gurus. He appointed eleven ritviks. He never appointed them gurus. Myself and the other GBC have done the greatest disservice to this movement the last three years because we interpreted the appointment of ritviks as the appointment of gurus.”

– HH Tamala Krishna Goswami, (Personal Secretary to Srila Prabhupada during the last days in Vrindavan; excerpts from Pyramid House Confessions, Dec 3^rd, 1980)

The GBCs have admitted in various forums that Srila Prabhupada did not appoint Gurus to succeed him. Like in this excerpt from a debate on this issue, HG Ravindra Svarupa Dasa says:

“And it’s a fact that Srila Prabhupada never said, ‘Alright here is the next Acharya, or here is the next Acharya and they are authorized gurus for the Movement, for the world.’ He did not do that.” (Ravindra Svarupa Das, San Deigo debate, 1990)

HH Bhakticharu Swami, a personal servant of Srila Prabhupada during his last days in Vrindavana, further testifies and elaborates the circumstances during that period:

“During the last days of Srila Prabhupada’s physical presence in 1977 in Vrindavana, there was a lot of pressure on Srila Prabhupada to appoint the successor gurus. ‘Once after the devotees had left Srila Prabhupada’s room, he turned to me and said in Bengali, ‘My Guru Maharaja did not appoint an Acharya. They expect me to appoint one!’”

It is well established that there was pressure on Srila Prabhupada to appoint the next Acharya from the disciples and Srila Prabhupada did not want to appoint one.
How can someone be insensitive to these facts? How can someone not be sensitive to these wishes of Srila Prabhupada?
Fact 4: Srila Prabhupada describes the history of Gaudiya Mutt and analyzes the causes of it’s decline to be deviating from the spiritual master’s instruction on successor acharya.
Srila Prabhupada recounted the history of the Gaudiya Mutt and the last days before the disappearance of Srila Bhakti Siddantha Saraswathi Thakura. In one of the letters Srila Prabhupada wrote:

“Still he requested his disciples to form a strong Governing body for preaching the cult of Caitanya Mahaprabhu. He never recommended anyone to be acharya of the Gaudiya Math. But Sridhara Maharaja is responsible for disobeying this order of Guru Maharaja, and he and others who are already dead unnecessarily thought that there must be one acharya. 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. His idea was acharya was not to be nominated amongst the governing body. He said openly you make a GBC and conduct the mission. So his idea was amongst the members of GBC who would come out successful and self effulgent acharya would be automatically selected. So Sridhara Maharaja and his two associate gentlemen unauthorizedly selected one acharya and later it proved a failure. The result is now everyone is claiming to be acharya even though they may be kanistha adhikari with no ability to preach. In some of the camps the acharya is being changed three times a year. Therefore we may not commit the same mistake in our ISKCON camp.” (Srila Prabhupada letter to Rupanuga, April 28, 1974)

Srila Prabhupada explains that Srila Bhakti Siddantha Saraswathi Thakura also did not appoint any of his disciples as a Spiritual Master. Srila Prabhupada also says that this was not an “inadvertent slip” but a consciously meditated plan on the part of Srila Bhakti Siddantha Saraswathi Thakura to not to appoint any of his disciples as the next Spiritual Master or Acharya. Srila Prabhupada describes the happenings in Gaudiya Mutt once in the purport of Chaitanya Charitamrita:

“Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura, at the time of his departure, requested all his disciples to form a governing body and conduct missionary activities cooperatively. He did not instruct a particular man to become the next acharya. But just after his passing away, his leading secretaries made plans, without authority, to occupy the post of acharya, and they split into two factions over who the next acharya would be. Consequently, both factions were asara, or useless, because they had no authority, having disobeyed the order of the spiritual master.” (Chaitanya Charitamrita, Adi 12.8 purport)

In yet another room conversation in 1976, Srila Prabhupada analyzes why the Gaudiya Mutt failed and links to disobedience to the order of the spiritual master with regard to successor Acharya:

“Why this Gaudiya Matha failed? Because they tried to become more than guru. He, before passing away, he gave all direction and never said that “This man should be the next acharya.” But these people, just after his passing away they began to fight, who shall be acharya. That is the failure. They never thought, “Why Guru Maharaja gave us instruction so many things, why he did not say that this man should be acharya?” They wanted to create artificially somebody acharya and everything failed. They did not consider even with common sense that if Guru Maharaja wanted to appoint somebody as acharya, why did he not say? He said so many things, and this point he missed? The real point? And they insist upon it.” (Room conversation Aug 16, 1976, Bombay)

Particularly important in this context is Srila Prabhupada’s statement: “They did not consider even with common sense that if Guru Maharaja wanted to appoint somebody as acharya, why did he not say? He said so many things, and this point he missed? The real point? And they insist upon it.”
In yet another purport to Chaitanya Charitamrita verse, Srila Prabhupada writes:

“One must judge every action by its result. The members of the self-appointed acharya’s party who occupied the property of the Gaudiya Matha are satisfied, but they could make no progress in preaching. (Chaitanya Charitamrita, Adi 12.8 purport)

It is to be noted here that Srila Prabhupada is describing the Gaudiya Mutt situation with the words: self-appointed acharyas.
Fact 5: The disciples of Srila Prabhupada were very ambitious to become Gurus and Srila Prabhupada was conscious of this:
As early as 1967, Srila Prabhupada wrote this about his first sannyasi disciple:

“Kirtanananda was awarded the position of a Sannyasi because he wanted it although I could understand it that he wanted to be a spiritual master himself. (Srila Prabhupada letter October 27^th, 1967)

During the brief eleven year period of founding and growing of ISKCON, Srila Prabhupada encountered again and again his disciples trying to become Spiritual Master, the most honored position in the society. HG Bhurijana Dasa writes in his book, My Glorious Master:

“Prabhupada began criticizing his disciple, Gaurasundara, and his anger was as intense as the monsoon rains." He wants to be guru, but he is not qualified. All of them, they want to be guru without qualification and they will fall victim to sex life."

Even a few months before Srila Prabhupada’s disappearance, one of his senior GBC man and sannyasi was trying to become a spiritual master:

“Prabhupada: .... People complained against Hamsaduta. Did you know that?

Tamala Krishna: I’m not sure of the particular incidences, but I’ve heard general...

Prabhupada: In Germany. In Germany.

Tamala Krishna: The devotees there.

Prabhupada: So many complaints.

Tamala Krishna: Therefore change is good.

Prabhupada: No, you become guru, but you must be qualified first of all. Then you become.

Tamala Krishna: Oh, that kind of complaint was there.

Prabhupada: Did you know that?

Tamala Krishna: Yeah, I heard that, yeah.

Prabhupada: What is the use of producing some rascal guru?

Tamala Krishna: Well, I have studied myself and all of your disciples, and it’s clear fact that we are all conditioned souls, so we cannot be guru. Maybe one day it may be possible...

Prabhupada: Hm.

Tamala Krishna: ...but not now.

Prabhupada: Yes. I shall choose some guru. I shall say, “Now you become acharya. You become authorized.” I am waiting for that. You become all acharya. I retire completely. But the training must be complete. (Room conversation, April 22, 1977, Bombay)

Fact 6: Srila Prabhupada was very meticulous in his working and had deep concern for his institution, ISKCON:
There is abundant testimonies from disciples who witnessed the meticulous working of Srila Prabhupada.

Prabhupada was meticulous. He put on his Vaisnava tilaka that way, artistically and methodically performing each function. He used his pen that way also. He took it out of his pen box, used it, and then returned it to the box on his desk. Prabhupada warned his servants never to touch anything or move anything on his desk.

His book writing was also like that. His standard was that each and every word out of tens of thousands of words from thousands of verses must have its own synonym. Prabhupada had a limited time for writing the Bhagavatam every day, yet he never diminished his standard that each word gets its own synonym. Then he always gave the English translation, and then a purport. Whenever he saw the editors or publishers failing in this meticulous standard, he became very upset. (Recollections by HH Satsvarupa Dasa Goswami, Secretary to Srila Prabhupada)

Another devotee who served as his secretary also recalls:

Working in the capacity of Srila Prabhupada’s secretary during his visit to South Africa, I would read the letters addressed to him and type out his reply for signing. Srila Prabhupada was very meticulous about his correspondence. He read all his mail and gave a reply to almost every letter he received. He was always giving guidance and encouragement. He read each and every one of his letters prior to signing them, making corrections or additions. (Recollections by Pushta Krishna Das, Secretary of Srila Prabhupada)

Srila Prabhupada exhibited such concern for the institution ISKCON that he founded. Srila Prabhupada had witnessed the decline and failure of the Gaudiya Mutt institution. Would he leave the matter concerning the succession of Acharya in ISKCON without clarity?
Let us take a look at all these facts read together:

Fact 1: Secret of success in spiritual life is to serve the instructions of the spiritual master as one’s life and soul and never deviate.

Fact 2: Authorization is essential to become Spiritual Master.

Fact 3: Srila Prabhupada did not authorize or appoint any of his disciples to become Spiritual Master or Diksha Guru after his disappearance.

Fact 4: Srila Prabhupada describes the history of Gaudiya Mutt and analyzes the cause of it’s decline to be deviating from the spiritual master’s instruction on successor acharya.

Fact 5: The disciples of Srila Prabhupada were very ambitious to become Gurus and Srila Prabhupada was conscious of this:

Fact 6: Srila Prabhupada was very meticulous in his working and had deep concern for his institution, ISKCON.

It is important to see what the position of the GBC is as expressed by one of it’s leading voices, HG Ravindra Svarupa Dasa, in this article officially published:

“There is a failure to appreciate the problem Srila Prabhupada faced in his last days.  We can be sure that he knew his own disciples better than they knew themselves; he had no illusions about their spiritual qualification.  Yet they were pressing for a selection of successor gurus, the ultimate position for the ambitious. Hamsaduta and Kirtanananda had already been rebuked by Srila Prabhupada for receiving guru-puja in the presence of the spiritual master, a serious transgression.  Without any indication from Srila Prabhupada in this manner, there would have been chaos.  Yet Srila Prabhupada clearly did not want to give his sanction to unfit people, a spiritual error.  He therefore selected them without endorsement.  In response to the question of initiation after departure, Srila Prabhupada gave a list of 'officiating gurus', designating them in an indirect or oblique manner.  He expected them to become 'regular gurus' in the future, but there was no 'hand-picking of successors', no laying of hands and anointing with oil, no transfer of power to some special and exclusive group.  Srila Prabhupada also knew that some, like Kirtanananda, would initiate with or without his sanction, so he named them.  If he had not, there would likely have been a schism in 1978 instead of 1987. I feel that Srila Prabhupada's solution was brilliant, the best that could have been done under the circumstances.  The result would depend on Krishna. (Cleaning House Cleaning Hearts by HG Ravindra Svarupa Dasa)

It is to be noted in this article is the reasoning: “He therefore selected them without endorsement. In response to the question of initiation after departure, Srila Prabhupada gave a list of 'officiating gurus', designating them in an indirect or oblique manner.  He expected them to become 'regular gurus' in the future,…”
On such an important matter as initiation in the future in ISKCON, which had caused the failure of Gaudiya Mutt, which Srila Prabhupada had witnessed over decades, would Srila Prabhupada leave the matter nebulous as mentioned here?
It is surprising that on such an important matter of the Spiritual Master or Guru in ISKCON, the most important principle of following the orders of the spiritual master and not deviating is not being honoured.
Srila Prabhupada, please bless us that we don’t become insensitive to your instructions on this matter or any other matter.
Your humble servant,
Chanchalapathi Das.

 

Guru means one who can give you Krishna

Letter to: Vrndavanesvari
New Vrindaban
6 June, 1969
“… you asked if we will remember the earth, when in Vrindaban, and the answer is certainly. When Narada Muni was talking to Vyasadeva, as you may have read in first volume of our Srimad-Bhagavatam, he was in a spiritual body, but he remembered his previous life and explained it to Vyasadeva. In material life there is forgetfulness, but in spiritual life there is no forgetfulness…
Regarding the first question in your letter about how do we know of the spiritual abodes since once going there no one returns, you should know that the great liberated souls and incarnations who appear from time to time in this material world are not actually coming back, because they are never subject to material contamination or the laws of material nature. For the purpose of delivering the fallen living entities they come here temporarily and then go back when their business is finished, and this is all under the direct order of the Lord. So the appearance of the Lord or the great liberated souls in the material world is different from the appearance of the contaminated living entity who is forced to take birth in the material world due to his desire to lord it over the world.”

The Living Disciple

Hasti Gopal Dāsa – Toronto, Canada.

Srila Prabhupada’s teachings, his books and lectures are understood by all bona fide Vedic authorities to be non different from his physical presence. Srila Prabhupada’s formally initiated disciples prior to his physical departure can and do continue to relate to him non differently in the same manner as when he was physically present. To deny this fact is to deny the existence of an original bona fide relationship presently taking place with their guru Srila Prabhupada, confirming this fact means to confirm that the disciple is relating to Srila Prabhupada in the present therefore confirming the present existence of Srila Prabhupada on an equally valid level. That the first generation of disciples are living in relation to Srila Prabhupada also indicates the presence of a living Srila Prabhupada in relation to his disciples. Those, to whom the disciples are willing to relate a living Srila Prabhupda to, are representing a living Srila Prabhupada. One cannot remove the non different Srila Prabhupada from the vapu of a living disciple.

Living means – “available to”. Available means – “accessible to”. Being ‘accessible to’, means that one may live by Srila Prabhupada’s original books and instructions via the bona fide disciplic representative, the bona fide formally initiated disciple, thereby allowing anyone to live by Srila Prabhupada, live with Srila Prabhupada and to live for Srila Prabhupada. The bona fide disciple of Srila Prabhupada is a living representative of a bona fide living spiritual master.

Therefore, the present physically living bona fide disciple may, upon review and with understood qualifications via Srila Prabhupada’s instructions and books, introduce the potential disciple to Srila Prabhupada. Then, if qualified, the follower can take initiation from Srila Prabhupada, formally.

Srila Prabhupada’s disciples are “living disciples” just as much as Srila Prabhupada is a “living guru”.

Exalted Position of the Uttama Adhikari

Exalted Position  of the uttama adhikari."...It should be understood that a madhyama-adhikari, a second-class devotee, is fully convinced of Krsna consciousness but cannot support his convictions with sastric reference. A neophyte may fall down by associating with nondevotees because he is not firmly convinced and strongly situated. The second-class devotee, even though he cannot support his position with sastric reference, can gradually become a first-class devotee by studying the sastras and associating with a first-class devotee. However, if the second-class devotee does not advance himself by associating with a first-class devotee, he makes no progress. THERE IS NO POSSIBILITY THAT A FIRST-CLASS DEVOTEE WILL FALL DOWN, EVEN THOUGH HE MAY MIX WITH NONDEVOTEES TO PREACH. Conviction and faith gradually increase to make one an uttama-adhikari, a first-class devotee…"

Sri Caitanya-caritamrta, Madhya-Lila 22.71


First class devotee does not fall down.
Charateristics of the classes of devotees.
"...There are three divisions of Krsna conscious men. In the third class are those who have no faith. If they are engaged in devotional service officially, for some ulterior purpose, they cannot achieve the highest perfectional stage. Most probably they will slip, after some time. They may become engaged, but because they haven't complete conviction and faith, it is very difficult for them to continue in Krsna consciousness. WE HAVE PRACTICAL EXPERIENCE IN DISCHARGING OUR MISSIONARY ACTIVITY THAT SOME PEOPLE COME AND APPLY THEMSELVES TO KRSNA CONSCIOUSNESS WITH SOME HIDDEN MOTIVE, AND AS SOON AS THEY ARE ECONOMICALLY A LITTLE WELL SITUATED THEY GIVE UP THIS PROCESS AND TAKE TO THEIR OLD WAYS AGAIN. It is only by faith that one can advance in Krsna consciousness. As far as the development of faith is concerned, one who is well versed in the literatures of devotional service and has attained the stage of firm faith is called a first-class person in Krsna consciousness. And in the second-class are those who are not very advanced in understanding the devotional scriptures but who automatically have firm faith that krsna-bhakti or service to Krsna is the best course and so in good faith have taken it up. Thus they are superior to the third-class who have neither perfect knowledge of the scriptures nor good faith but by association and simplicity are trying to follow. THE THIRD-CLASS PERSON IN KRSNA CONSCIOUSNESS MAY FALL DOWN, BUT WHEN ONE IS IN THE SECOND-CLASS OR FIRST-CLASS HE DOES NOT FALL DOWN. One in the first-class will surely make progress and achieve the result at the end. As far as the third-class person in Krsna consciousness is concerned, although he has faith in the conviction that devotional service to Krsna is very good, he has no knowledge of Krsna through the scriptures like Srimad-Bhagavatam and Bhagavad-gita. Sometimes these third-class persons in Krsna consciousness have some tendency toward karma-yoga and jnana-yoga, and sometimes they are disturbed, but as soon as the infection of karma-yoga or jnana-yoga is vanquished, they become second-class or first-class persons in Krsna consciousness. FAITH IN KRSNA IS ALSO DIVIDED INTO THREE STAGES AND DESCRIBED IN SRIMAD-BHAGAVATAM. FIRST-CLASS ATTACHMENT, SECOND-CLASS ATTACHMENT, AND THIRD-CLASS ATTACHMENT ARE ALSO EXPLAINED IN SRIMAD-BHAGAVATAM IN THE ELEVENTH CANTO. Those who have no faith even after hearing about Krsna and the excellence of devotional service, who think that it is simply eulogy, find the path very difficult, even if they are supposedly engaged in devotional service. For them there is very little hope in gaining perfection. Thus faith is very important in the discharge of devotional service..."

Bhagavad Gita as it is  9.3

Position of the Maha-Bhagavata.
Unique power of the Maha-Bhagavata.
"… Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura says that if an observer immediately remembers the holy name of Krsna upon seeing a Vaisnava, that Vaisnava should be considered a maha-bhagavata, a first-class devotee. Such a Vaisnava is always aware of his Krsna conscious duty, and he is enlightened in self-realization. He is always in love with the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Krsna, and this love is without adulteration.

Because of this love, he is always awake to transcendental realization. Because he knows that Krsna consciousness is the basis of knowledge and action, he sees everything connected with Krsna. Such a person is able to chant the holy name of Krsna perfectly. Such a maha-bhagavata Vaisnava has the transcendental eyes to see who is sleeping under the spell of maya, and he engages himself in awakening sleeping conditioned beings by spreading the knowledge of Krsna consciousness. He opens eyes that are closed by forgetfulness of Krsna. Thus the living entity is liberated from the dullness of material energy and is engaged fully in the service of the Lord. The madhyama-adhikari Vaisnava can awaken others to Krsna consciousness and engage them in duties whereby they can advance. It is therefore said in

Caitanya-caritamrta (Madhya-lila, Chapter Six, verse 279): lohake yavat sparsi' hema nahi kare/ tavat sparsa-mani keha cinite na pare

"One cannot understand the value of touchstone until it turns iron into gold." One should judge by action, not by promises. A MAHA-BHAGAVATA CAN TURN A LIVING ENTITY FROM ABOMINABLE MATERIAL LIFE TO THE LORD'S SERVICE. THIS IS THE TEST OF A MAHA-BHAGAVATA. Although preaching is not meant for a maha-bhagavata, a maha-bhagavata can descend to the platform of madhyama-bhagavata just to convert others to Vaisnavism. ACTUALLY A MAHA-BHAGAVATA IS FIT TO SPREAD KRSNA CONSCIOUSNESS, but he does not distinguish where Krsna consciousness should be spread from where it should not. He thinks that everyone is competent to accept Krsna consciousness if the chance is provided. A neophyte and intermediate devotee should always be anxious to hear the maha-bhagavata and serve him in every respect. The neophyte and intermediate devotees can gradually rise to the platform of uttama-adhikari and become first-class devotees. Symptoms of a first-class devotee are given in Srimad-Bhagavatam (11.2.45):  sarva-bhutesu yah pasyed bhagavad-bhavam atmanah/ bhutani bhagavaty atmany esa bhagavatottamah

When teaching Sanatana Gosvami, the Lord further said: sastra-yuktye sunipuna, drdha-sraddha yanra 'UTTAMA-ADHIKARI' SE TARAYE SAMSARA
"If one is expert in Vedic literature and has full faith in the Supreme Lord, then he is AN UTTAMA-ADHIKARI, A FIRST-CLASS VAISNAVA, A TOPMOST
VAISNAVA WHO CAN DELIVER THE WHOLE WORLD AND TURN EVERYONE TO KRSNA CONSCIOUSNESS." (Cc. Madhya 22.65) With great love and affection, the maha-bhagavata observes the Supreme Personality of Godhead, devotional service and the devotee. He observes nothing beyond Krsna, Krsna consciousness and Krsna's devotees. The maha-bhagavata knows that everyone is engaged in the Lord's service in different ways. He therefore descends to the middle platform to elevate everyone to the Krsna conscious position…" Sri Caitanya Caritamrta Madhya 16.74

Devotee on the Bhava stage is not disturbed by Maya.
"...ALTHOUGH MAYA MAY BE PRESENT, IT CANNOT DISTURB A DEVOTEE ONCE HE ATTAINS THE BHAVA STAGE. This is because the devotee can see the real position of maya. Maya means forgetfulness of Krsna, and forgetfulness of Krsna and Krsna consciousness stand side by side like light and shadow. If one remains in shadow, he cannot enjoy the facilities offered by light, and if one remains in light, he cannot be disturbed by the darkness of shadow…" Nectar of Instruction 7.

"...Bhavena, or bhava, is a very important factor in the practice of yoga or in any spiritual process. Bhava is explained in Bhagavad-gita (10.8). Budha bhava-samanvitah: one should be absorbed in the thought of love of Krsna. When one knows that Krsna, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, is the source of everything and that everything emanates from Him (aham sarvasya prabhavah), then one understands the Vedanta aphorism janmady asya yatah ("the original source of everything"), AND THEN HE CAN BECOME ABSORBED IN BHAVA, OR THE PRELIMINARY STAGE OF LOVE OF GODHEAD…" Srimad-Bhagavatam 3.27.6

"...The Syamasundara form of Krsna is His inconceivable simultaneous personal and impersonal self-contradictory form. True devotees see that form in their purified hearts under the influence of devotional trance. The form Syama is not the blue color visible in the mundane world but is the transcendental variegated color affording eternal bliss, and is not visible to the mortal eye. On a consideration of the trance of Vyasadeva as in the sloka, bhakti-yogena manasi etc., it will be clear that the form of Sri Krsna is the full Personality of Godhead and can only be visible in the heart of a true devotee, which is the only true seat in the state of trance under the influence of devotion. When Krsna manifested Himself in Vraja, both the devotees and nondevotees saw Him with this very eye; but only the devotees cherished Him, eternally present in Vraja, as the priceless jewel of their heart. Nowadays also the devotees see Him in Vraja in their hearts, saturated with devotion although they do not see Him with their eyes. The eye of devotion is nothing but the eye of the pure unalloyed spiritual self of the jiva. The form of Krsna is visible to that eye in proportion to its purification by the practice of devotion. WHEN THE DEVOTION OF THE NEOPHYTE REACHES THE STAGE OF BHAVA-BHAKTI THE PURE EYE OF THAT DEVOTEE IS TINGED WITH THE SALVE OF LOVE BY THE GRACE OF KRSNA, WHICH ENABLES HIM TO SEE KRSNA FACE TO FACE. The phrase "in their hearts" means Krsna is visible in proportion as their hearts are purified by the practice of devotion. The sum and substance of this sloka is that the form of Krsna, who is Syamasundara, Natavara (Best Dancer), Muralidhara (Holder of the Flute) and Tribhanga (Triple-bending), is not a mental concoction but is transcendental, and is visible with the eye of the soul of the devotee under trance…"  Brahma-Samhita 5.38

"You are correct when you say that when the Spiritual Master speaks it should be taken that Krishna is speaking. That is a fact. A Spiritual Master must be liberated."    Srila Prabhupada

"... There are three classes of devotees according to the degree of conviction. The first-class devotee is conversant with all kinds of Vedic literature and at the same time has the firm conviction mentioned above. He can deliver all others from the pangs of material miseries. The second-class devotee is firmly convinced and has strong faith, but he has no power to cite evidence from revealed scriptures. The third-class devotee is one whose faith is not very strong, but, by the gradual cultivation of devotional service, he will eventually be eligible for promotion to the second or first-class position. It is said in Srimad-Bhagavatam (11.2.45-47) that the first class devotee always sees the Supreme Lord as the soul of all living entities. Thus in seeing all living entities, he sees Krsna and nothing but Krsna. The second-class devotee places his full faith in the Supreme Personality of Godhead, makes friends with the pure devotees, favors innocent persons and avoids those who are atheistic or opposed to devotional service. The third-class devotee engages in devotional service according to the directions of the spiritual master, or engages out of family tradition, and worships the Deity of the Lord, but he is not cultivated in knowledge of devotional service, and he does not know a devotee from a nondevotee. SUCH A THIRD-CLASS DEVOTEE CANNOT ACTUALLY BE CONSIDERED A PURE DEVOTEE; HE IS ALMOST IN THE DEVOTIONAL LINE, BUT HIS POSITION IS NOT VERY SECURE…" Teachings of Lord Caitanya 11

Guru does not deviate from the instructions of the Supreme Personality of Godhead
"...So in order to know that science, one has to APPROACH A PERFECT TEACHER. Tad-vijnanartham sa gurum evabhigacchet. Here also it is said, gurau hamsa. Hamse gurau mayi. The mayi is also significant. That means, PARAMAHAMSA GURU MEANS, HE'S AS GOOD AS THE SUPREME PERSONALITY OF GODHEAD. BECAUSE HE DOES NOT DEVIATE from the instructions of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. That is the symptom of guru. GURU DOES NOT DEVIATE FROM THE INSTRUCTION OF THE SUPREME PERSONALITY OF GODHEAD..." Srimad Bhagavatam 761102 SB.VRN Lectures

Bona fide spiritual master does not deviate
"...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 as they were imparted millions of years ago to the sun-god, from whom the instructions of Bhagavad-gita have come down to the earthly kingdom. One should, therefore, follow the path of Bhagavad-gita as it is expressed in the Gita itself and BEWARE OF SELF-INTERESTED PEOPLE AFTER PERSONAL AGGRANDIZEMENT WHO DEVIATE OTHERS FROM THE ACTUAL PATH…"Bhagavad- Gita  4.42 purport

Spiritual master is always situated in spiritual status.
"...A person acting in the service of Krsna with his body, mind and words IS A LIBERATED PERSON, EVEN WITHIN THE MATERIAL WORLD." (Bhakti-rasamrta-sindhu 1.2.187) Therefore, one is forbidden to regard the guru as an ordinary human being (gurusu nara-matir. .. naraki sah). THE SPIRITUAL MASTER, OR ACARYA, IS ALWAYS SITUATED IN THE SPIRITUAL STATUS OF LIFE…"   Srimad-Bhagavatam 10.4.20 

Spiritual master is never a conditioned soul.
"… Your next question, whether the Spiritual Master was formerly a conditioned soul, ACTUALLY A BONAFIDE SPIRITUAL MASTER IS NEVER A CONDITIONED SOUL.   69-06-10. Srila Prabhupada letter to Mukunda

Spiritual master must be liberated.
"… You are correct when you say that when the Spiritual Master speaks it should be taken that Krishna is speaking. That is a fact. A SPIRITUAL MASTER MUST BE LIBERATED…"   69-06-10. Srila Prabhupada letter to Mukunda

Spiritual master understands Krsna perfectly.
"...Because ONE WHO HAS UNDERSTOOD KRSNA PERFECTLY... THIS IS THE QUALIFICATION OF GURU. So that qualification, to attain, is not very difficult. BUT BECAUSE WE ARE RASCALS, WE DO NOT TRY TO TAKE THE QUALIFICATION. THAT QUALIFICATION IS VERY SIMPLE. One... Who can understand Krsna? KRSNA IS NOT SO CHEAP THING. He has said already that yatatam api siddhanam kascin mam vetti tattvatah. SO IT IS NOT VERY EASY. BUT IT IS VERY EASY IF YOU TAKE THE PROCESS, easiest process. What is that easiest process? That easiest process: YOU DON'T TALK NONSENSE; YOU SIMPLY TALK WHAT KRSNA HAS SAID. THAT'S ALL. And many times they give me very great credit that I have done wonderful. Yes, I have done wonderful. But what is the reason? Because I AM NOT A RASCAL. I SPEAK WHAT KRSNA HAS SPOKEN. THAT'S ALL. VERY EASY. EVERYONE CAN DO THAT. NOT ONLY I. ANY OF YOU, YOU CAN DO THIS. SIMPLY SPEAK what is..., WHAT KRSNA HAS SAID. That's all. DON'T MAKE ADDITION, ALTERATION. Then you become rascal. Immediately you become rascal." (740810SB.VRN)

Vedic knowledge is received through the parampara system of pure devotees

To those of you ...who don't accept Srila Prabhupada’s ritvik/diksha initiation system… You just have to give up your big egos and believe in the words/instructions of your spiritual master. For once in your lives admit that there may be some one that is smarter than you (Srila Prabhupada). This system is the ONLY way that Iskcon could have survived as a united cohesive preaching unit. But since the philosophical deviations of the GBC/leaders and the subsequent introduction of the bogus 2/3 voted in kanistha zonal guru system, Iskcon has degraded into something that wasn't part of Srila Prabhupada’s vision for it. As a result we have the Iskcon we have today ...

Guru or the spiritual master means pure devotee.
- Lecture, Bhagavad-gita, Los Angeles, November 25, 1968
So if you can approach such PURE DEVOTEE... As it is stated in the Brahma-samhita, adurlabham atma-bhaktau. This is atma-bhaktau, a PURE DEVOTEE. He can deliver you Krishna. “Take Krishna. Here is Krishna.” Krishna-prema...
- Lecture, Bhagavad-gita 4.5, Bombay, March 25, 1974
The sravana-kirtana is the beginning of Krishna conscious life. One who is very fortunate, he’s in meeting, he meets somebody who is a PURE DEVOTEE and accepts him as his spiritual master. Therefore here it is stated, mayy asakta-manah partha yogam yunjan mad-asrayah. One has to take shelter of a bonafide spiritual master...... And if he cultivates this Krishna consciousness under the direction of a spiritual master, asraye lana bhaje, Krishna tare nahi tyaje.(?) Krishna does not reject him. Krishna accepts him. Srila Vishvanatha Chakravarti Thakura says, yasya prasadad bhagavat-prasado yasyaprasadan na gatih kuto ’pi.
- Lecture, Bhagavad-gita 7.1-2, Bombay, March 28, 1971
So guru is helping from inside and from outside. Antar-bahih. So Krishna is so kind. Therefore Krishna manifests Himself as spiritual master. Therefore Vishvanatha Chakravarti Thakura says, saksad-dhari, saksad-dharitvena samasta-sastraih. Manifestation of empowered. One who IS PURE DEVOTEE, he's EMPOWERED BY KRISHNA to act as spiritual master. Therefore spiritual master should be accepted: saksad-dharitvena samasta-sastrair uktah.
- Lecture, Bhagavad-gita 7.9 Vrindavan, August 15, 1974
Revati-nandana: ........ Sometimes this question comes up, with the devotees especially, that it says the devotee makes advancement when the spiritual master is pleased. Right? So sometimes the spiritual master is far, far away. He may be in Los Angeles. Somebody is coming to Hamburg temple. He thinks, “How will the spiritual master be pleased?”
Srila Prabhupada: Just follow his order. Spiritual master is along with you by his words. Just like my spiritual master is not physically present, but I am associating with him by his words.
Revati-nandana: And Krishna knows that; therefore we make advancement. He is sitting in our heart. He knows what we’re doing. So He sees, “He’s serving My pure devotee,” immediately there is advancement.
Srila Prabhupada: Yes. Spiritual master..., Krishna is not limited. It is not material. You can associate with Krishna and the spiritual master in any circumstance, provided you want two things. Just like we can associate with Krishna immediately if we take Bhagavad-gita as it is. He is not different from Bhagavad-gita. Nama-rupe kali-kale Krishna-avatara. Krishna is incarnated in His name in this age. You associate with Krishna’s name, immediately associate with Krishna.
Dhananjaya: And His devotees.
Srila Prabhupada: Yes. [break]
- Lecture, Srimad Bhagavatam, 1.1.2 , London, August 18, 1971
This word mad-asrayah is very important, because you cannot increase your attachment for Krishna without being mad-asrayah. Mad-asrayah means to be directly under the direction of Krishna or to be directly under the direction of somebody who has taken shelter of Krishna. Therefore He recommends mad-asrayah. You cannot execute the yoga system, devotional service, bhakti-yoga, without being under the control of somebody who is under the control of Krishna. Srila Sukadeva Gosvami has recommended therefore, yad upasrayasraya. One has to take shelter of a pure devotee; then he becomes purified. Yad upasraya. Upasraya means to take shelter of a pure devotee.
- Lecture, Sanand, December 27, 1975
Kirata-hunandhra-pulinda-pulkasa abhira-sumbha yavanah khasadayah ye ’nye ca papah. “Even there are still more low-grade, sinful society,” ye ’nye ca papa yad-apasrayasrayah, “if he takes the shelter of a pure devotee, sudhyanti, becomes purified.” Becomes purified. How? Sudhyanti? Because prabhavisnave namah. Lord Vishnu has got so exalted power that through His devotee He can purify anyone. Never mind, even one happens to be chandala, and what to speak of others. Kim punar brahmanah punya bhakta rajarsayas tatha [Bg. 9.33]. If they can be delivered, then what to speak those who are brahmanas.
- Lecture, Srimad Bhagavatam, 1.7.28-29 Vrindavan, September 25, 1976
These are mentioned, papa-yoni. And less than them, if there are still papa-yoni, sudhyanti yad-apasrayasrayah, if such persons take shelter of a pure devotee, he’s sudhyanti. This is the shastric injunction. He becomes purified because the pure devotee knows how to purify the papa-yoni. He knows.
- Lecture, Srimad Bhagavatam, 1.8.25, Vrindavan, October 5, 1974
Therefore nobody can understand Krishna without being trained up by a self-realized devotee. If a... If one takes the shelter of Krishna’s representative, devotee, then it doesn’t matter what he is. Kirata-hunandhra-pulinda-pulkasa abhira-sumbha yavanah khasadayah, ye ’nye ca papa yad-apasrayasrayah. If he has taken shelter of a pure devotee—never mind he’s a kirata, huna, andhra, pulinda, pulkasa—he is sudhyanti.
- Lecture, Srimad Bhagavatam, 1.8.44 Mayapur, October 24, 1974
Shastra says that you should approach to a bhagavata, a devotee who is living in Vrndavana, pure devotee, and surrender unto him.
- Lecture, Srimad Bhagavatam, 2.1.1, Vrindavan, March 16, 1974
Only by the grace of the divine personalities, THE PURE DEVOTEES OF THE LORD, can one attain pure devotion, which is the highest perfection of human life. ONLY A PURE DEVOTEE OF THE LORD can show one the right way of progressive life.
- Lecture, Srimad Bhagavatam, 2.3 11-12, Los Angeles May 29, 1972
Therefore Chaitanya Mahaprabhu recommended to study Srimad-Bhagavatam from bhagavatam. Bhagavata para giya bhagavata sthane. Bhagavata means the grantha-bhagavata, book bhagavata... Bhagavata means about Krishna. Bhagavan is Krishna. And anything in relationship with Krishna is called Bhagavata. So the devotee is also in relationship with Krishna. He is also called bhagavata. Maha-bhagavata. Those who are highly advanced, or first-class devotees, they are called maha-bhagavata. So this Bhagavatam, it is the essence of the Vedic knowledge and when it is received through the parampara system of pure devotee, then it becomes still more sweet than before. That is the purport.
- Lecture, Srimad Bhagavatam,  2.9.1, Tokyo, April 20, 1972
A Vaishnava never commits any sinful activities, and whatever he had done in the past, that is also finished. This is said by Krishna. Or in other words, if you devoutly engage yourself in the service of the Lord, then certainly you are freed from all reaction of sinful activities.
So how it is possible? Yatha Krishnarpita-pranah. Pranah, pranair arthair dhiya vaca. Prana, prana means life. One who has dedicated his life to the service of Krishna, such person. How this dedication of life to Krishna’s service can be made possible? That is also stated here: tat-purusa-nisevaya. You have to take shelter of a person who is a devotee of Krishna, and you have to serve. That means you HAVE TO ACCEPT A DEVOTEE,A TRUE DEVOTEE, A PURE DEVOTEE AS YOUR GUIDE. THAT IS OUR PROCESS. Rupa Gosvami says in the Bhakti-rasamrita-sindhu, “The first process is, first step is adau gurvasrayam to accept guru.” Accept guru MEANS KRISHNA REPRESENTITIVE. One who is NOT KRISHNA’S representative, HE CANNOT BECOME GURU. Guru DOES NOT MEAN ANY NONSENSE CAN BECOME GURU. NO. ONLY TAT-PURUSA. Tat-purusa means a person who has accepted the Supreme Personality of Godhead as everything. TAT-PURUSA-NISEVAYA. THAT MEANS VAISHNAVA, PURE DEVOTEE.(!!!!!!!!!!!!)
- Lecture, Srimad Bhagavatam, 6.1.16 Denver, June 29, 1975
Any question?
Devotee (1): Does one have to be a pure devotee to be a...? The twelve authorities, are they all pure devotees?
Srila Prabhupada: Why do you ask this question? YOU HAVE NO SENSE. WITHOUT PURE DEVOTEE, WHO THEY BECAME AUTHORITY? You are ask the question, “Is Mr. Rockefeller a rich man?” Your question is like that. He is known a very rich man, and he has foundation. If you ask, “Is he a rich man?” is that very intelligent question? UNLESS PURE DEVOTEE, HOW  THEY ARE AUTHORIZED?
- Lecture, Srimad Bhagavatam, 63,18-19, Gorakhpur, December 2, 1971
Therefore one has to take shelter of a PURE DEVOTEE. That is the only solution. He says, naisam matis tavad urukramangrhim. The beginning was that “They are not interested in Krishna consciousness.” Then how to become Krishna conscious if that is the solution? Then Prahlada Maharaja says, naisam matis tavad: “So long one does not approach a pure devotee,” mahiyasam niskincananam, “great personalities, who has no more any material interest,” niskincana, “and takes the dust of his lotus feet on the head...” Naisam matis tavad urukramanghrim: “So long one does not approach such personality, there is no possibility of becoming Krishna conscious.” Naisam matis tavad urukramanghrim. As soon as one approaches the pure devotee and takes the dust of his lotus feet and puts it on his head, immediately, anartha apagamah, he’ll be freed from all this nonsense. That means he’ll forget this idea that “Materially we can advance.” This is the process. So we have to approach a niskincana, who has nothing to do with this material world. His only ambition is to serve more Krishna. And if somebody approaches him and takes the dust of his lotus feet, then he can understand. Mahiyasam pada-rajo-’bhisekam niskincananam na vrnita yavat.
- Lecture, Srimad Bhagavatam, 7.5.23-24, Vrindavan, March 31, 1976
But Pancharatrika-vidhi offers facility even persons who are lower than these striya, shudra, vaishya. Kirata-hunandhra-pulinda-pulkasa abhira-sumbha yavanah khasadayah, ye ’nye ca papa. And less than that, ye ’nye ca papa yad-apasrayasrayah... A devotee, a pure devotee of the Lord, and if these persons take shelter of a pure devotee of the Lord, then sudhyanti—they become purified by following the INJUNCTION OF THE SPIRITUAL MASTER. He knows how to deal with them, how to elevate them to the brahminical position. So that is not artificial. Shastra says, Bhagavata says, “Yes. By such expert management these kirata-hunandhra, lower than the shudras, sudhyanti...” Sudhyanti.
- Lecture, Srimad Bhagavatam, 7.6.7, Vrindavan, September 12, 1975

Prabhupada: “Yes, I am the spiritual master of this institution"

Prabhupada: “Yes, 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. So therefore the spiritual master is called guru. That is Sanskrit language.” ( Srila Prabhupada’s KGO Radio Interview, 1968 )
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 4 Aug, 1975) 
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. (SPL (VI 1987) 68.8.17)
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.
Srila Prabhupada: “I am practically seeing that as soon as they, our students, begin to learn a little Sanskrit, they immediately feel they have become more than their guru. Then the policy is to kill their guru and become guru themselves“. “As soon as he learns that Guru Maharaj is dead, now I am so advanced I can kill guru and become guru. Then he is finished.” (Srila Prabhupada 1976).
“If you concoct, ‘I am more intelligent than my Guru,’ ‘I can make additions and alterations,’ then you are finished.” — Srila Prabhupada lecture July 12, 1975 Philadelphia Pa.
As soon as this poison will come – “Suppress guru and I become Brahman” – everything finished. Spiritual life is finished. Gaudiya Matha finished, that…, violated the orders of Guru Maharaja.” [April 20, 1977, Bombay]
“In this verse, the royal road to hell is described. The demoniac want to make a show of religion and advancement in spiritual science, although they do not follow the principles. They are always arrogant or proud in possessing some type of education or so much wealth. They desire to be worshiped by others, and demand respectability, although they do not command respect. Over trifles they become very angry and speak harshly, not gently. They do not know what should be done and what should not be done. They do everything whimsically, according to their own desire, and they do not recognize any authority. These demoniac qualities are taken on by them from the beginning of their bodies in the wombs of their mothers, and as they grow they manifest all these inauspicious qualities.”[Bg 16.4 : PURPORT]
“Leaders who have fallen into ignorance and who mislead people by directing them to the path of destruction [as described in the previous verse] are, in effect, boarding a stone boat, and so too are those who blindly follow them. A stone boat would be unable to float and would sink in the water with its passengers. Similarly, those who mislead people go to hell, and their followers go with them.”[SB 6.7.14]
“There are many jealous people in the dress of Vaishnavas in this Krishna Consciousness movement, and they should be completely neglected. A false acarya may try to override a vaishnava by a high-court decision, (2/3 hand vote) but Bhaktivinoda Thakura says that he is nothing but a disciple of Kali-yuga.”
“Bhaktivinoda Thakura says, Kali-cela. He indicates that there are other Vaishnavas, pseudo-Vaishnavas, with tilaka on their nose and kunti beads around their neck. Such a pseudo-Vaishnava associates with money and women and is jealous of successful Vaishnavas. Although passing for a Vaishnava, his only business is earning money in the dress of a Vaishnava”. (CC.Madhy., Ch.1, Text 218 / 220, purport)

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 11th Feb. 1967)
“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. (Letter to: Giriraja — London 12 August, 1971)

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: 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)
“So Sridhara Maharaja and his two associate gentlemen unauthorizedly selected one acarya and later it proved a failure. THE RESULT IS NOW EVERYONE IS CLAIMING TO BE ACARYA EVEN THOUGH THEY MAY BE KANISTHA ADHIKARI WITH NO ABILITY TO PREACH. IN SOME OF THE CAMPS THE ACARYA IS BEING CHANGED THREE TIMES A YEAR. THEREFORE WE MAY NOT COMMIT THE SAME MISTAKE IN OUR ISKCON CAMP. ACTUALLY AMONGST MY GODBROTHERS NO ONE IS QUALIFIED TO BECOME ACARYA.” (SPL 74-04-28 Rupanuga)

Misconceptions about Guru Tattva: Strategies and Concoctions of Bogus Gurus Revealed

Taken from- http://prabhupadavision.com/

Destroyer of Deception – India:
Introduction
Many active devotees on this website repeatedly lamented about the valuable time, money and more important ripe age of youthfulness wasted by getting cheated by Bogus Pretender Guru and blamed themselves of their wrong choice. Instead of lamenting after effects I humbly beg all devotees to study this article composed from extracts of Srila Prabhupada’s teachings.  Investment of time and austerity in studying Srila Prabhupada’s instructions can save one from such pains.
Since Srila Prabhupada’s demise in 1977, Topic of who can be  a Guru continued to remain a ontroversial topic. It has been heated up further by recent falldown of Prabha Vishnu dasa and miserable condition of his disciples. While some of devotees who are advocates   truthfulness without diplomacy and ‘political correctness’ were trying to expose cheating Gurus, sentiments of some of ISKCON devotees were hurt and they blamed it back  on devotees who spoke truth for not hiding these falldown as the one who bring bad name to ISKCON.
To educate the devotees who are just driven by sentiments instead of Guru-Sadhu-Sastra teachings and give clear idea of Guru tattva and prevent future miseries of false Guru choices, it’s worth examining  Guru tattva scientifically based on Authenitc and bonafide Guru-Sadhu-Sastra teachings of Gaudiya vaishnava samprtadaya. Moreover it is essential to educate devotees to distinguish between real Guru(Sad-Guru is the term used by Guru of Srila Prabhupada) from a imposter pretender bogus guru to at least protect the legacy of Srila Prabhupada and protect good name of ISKCON getting destroyed by Sahajiya pretenders.

Srila Prabhupada says: A devotee should have intelligence to know who is deviating. Surrender by your intelligence but don’t surrender your intelligence.” ( to Bali Mardana, 1974)

What is Guru: Guru can’t be a Conditioned Soul

Guru is expansion of Paramatma situated in heart of living entity. Lord sends Guru to a sincere devotee who is hankering to advance into devotional service as confirmed by Srila Prabhupada below:

The supreme spiritual master is Krsna, who is therefore known as caitya-guru. This refers to the Supersoul, who is sitting in everyone’s heart. He helps from within as stated in Bhagavad-gītā, and He sends the spiritual master, who helps from without. The spiritual master is the external manifestation of the caitya-guru, or the spiritual master sitting in everyone’s heart. [Śrīmad Bhāgavatam (4.8.44)]

According to the deliberate opinion of all revealed scriptures, the spiritual master is non-different from Krsna. Lord Krsna in the form of the spiritual master delivers His devotees. (CC Ādi 1.45)
Prahlada Maharaja also said,

naisam matis tavad urukramanghrim  (Bhag. 7.5.32) …unless one takes the dust of the lotus feet of a pure vaisnava on one’s head, one cannot understand what the supreme personality of godhead is, and unless one knows the Supreme Personality of Godhead, one’s life remains imperfect…

So it is important to take shelter of pure devotee like Śrīla Prabhupāda rather than a fallen conditioned soul as Guru. Then we can’t make any spiritual advancement and develop Krsna prema.
Unless we are pure devotees or liberated souls, we should not make disciples. Instead, we should first become disciples ourselves by taking shelter of a bona fide spiritual master. [From Amrita Vani of Bhakti Siddhanta Sarasvati Prabhupada]

One is forbidden to accept the guru, or spiritual master, as an ordinary human being (guruñu nara-matiù)…. A spiritually advanced person who acts with authority, as the spiritual master, speaks as the Supreme Personality of Godhead dictates from within.[CC.Antya 5.71-74]

Based on these Guru-Sastra quotes it’s evident that a conditioned soul can not be Guru.
It is quite understandable. One who is under Yoga maya or Bhakti devi or Internal potency of Lord is capable of distributing mercy of Lord and deliver conditioned souls. Srila Prabhupada says that a bound person can’t free or liberate another bound person.
So Guru should be free from Anarthas and 3 modes of material energy or maya. Because one who is under spell of maya has selfish, exploitative material motives to enjoy for nature & others for his selfish pleasures and hence he is further entangled by Maya and acquires bad qualities by association of 3 modes of maya. Hence one who is under maya can’t free other person from maya and take him  to Spiritual world which under Yoga maya.Srila Prabhupada confirmed in numerous places in his books that only one who is empowered by Lord can deliver conditioned souls not the one who himself is conditioned.
Unfortunately many devotees don’t have firm faith on teachings of Srila Prabhupada, otherwise they would not have had the opinion that a conditioned soul can be Guru.
Sexual falldowns of Satsvarupa das gosvami(2002), Param gati swami(2009), and recent falldown of Prabha Vishnu Das(Ex-Swami) should serve as a rude awakening to devotees who does not believe in qualifications of Guru as taught by Srila Prabhupada.
It’s alarming to call devotees to properly study Srila Prabhupada’s in order to understand the qualifications of a guru.
Unless one is liberated soul he can’t be able to in touch with super soul or paramatma and receive his orders. So a Guru must be a liberated pure devotee to be in touch with super soul.

The Lord is the Supersoul seated in everyone’s heart, and He acts as the caitya-guru, the spiritual master within. However, He gives direct instructions only to the advanced, pure devotees. In the beginning, when a devotee is serious and sincere, the Lord gives him directions from within to approach a bona fide spiritual master. When one is trained by the spiritual master according to the regulative principles of devotional service and is situated on the platform of spontaneous attachment for the Lord (rAga-bhakti), the Lord also gives instructions from within. TeSAM satata-yuktAnAM bhajatAM prIti-pUrvakam [Bg. 10.10]. This distinct advantage is obtained by a liberated soul. [Śrīmad Bhāgavatam (4.28.41)]

3 Types of Gurus: All are Non Different

Diksha Guru is initialting spiritual master who gives Diksha or initiation.
Siksha Guru is instructing spiritual master who imparts trsnscendental knowledge to disciple.
Caitya Guru is Paramatma or Super soul who gives knowledge from within as confirmed in Bhagavd Gītā (10.10)
All these 3 types of Gurus are non-different as confirmed below:
One should know the instructing spiritual master to be the Personality of Kṛṣṇa. Lord Kṛṣṇa manifests Himself as the Supersoul and as the greatest devotee of the Lord.( CC Ādi 1.47)
There is no difference between the shelter-giving Supreme Lord and the initiating and instructing spiritual masters. If one foolishly discriminates between them, he commits an offense in the discharge of devotional service. [CC.Adi.1.47 Purport]

Diksha Guru is higher than Siksha Guru: (F)ISKCON Elite Guru Hoax and Guru Groupism

It has already been established by sastra that 3 types of Gurus are non-different. So it is not true that
Diksha guru is higher than Siksha guru.
Actually a Siksha Guru can be more advanced devotee than Diskha Guru.eg. Diksha Guru Syamananda prabhu, Hrdaya Caitanya Govsmi sent him for training to 6 Gosvamis of Vrndavana for they are most advanced devotees.
Eg.Narottama Das Thakura, Srinivas Acarya and Syamananda prabhu  all had different Diksha diksha Gurus
But had common siksha gurus. They all lived together as Godbrothers. They did not have go problems
And guru groupism clashes that we see in current ISKCON. That is because their object of love is same:
Lord Caitanya. On platform of Bhakti or Love of Godhead there can’t be any clashes. There can be clashes only on material platform of Maya.
As per sastra there can be only one Diksha Guru and many Siksha Gurus. So to control and retain monopoly over disciples Elite Gurus of post-1977 ISKCON devised a smart strategy using this principle.
If I am a Diksha guru and claim that Diksha guru is superior to Siksha Guru, it does not matter how many Siksha Gurus you have, ultimately I reign superior over them as Diksha Guru.
So, devotees need to stop accepting blindly what they have been told blindly by their selfish managerial authorities. Rather devotees should educate themselves by actual spiritual authority: Srila Prabhupada and Previous Acaryas of Parampara.

Smart Strategy: Keep Disciples in darkness and Dumbdown

If a devotee study Srila Prabhupada’s books and gets educated then devotee starts questioning their deviations and discrepancies from sastra as revealed in previous section.So it’s a very big problem and threat to elite global guru like Radhnaath swami who manages disciples around the globe.
For an Elite new age “Jet-Set” Global guru of FISCKON  it is  very difficult to control and keep loyalty of all worldwide community of disciples. So these elitist gurus being educated in Mundane managerial degrees of western education are naturally experts at smart managerial strategies to intimidate and mesmerize masses.
It is far easy to control and cheat masses of a corrupted society. This is the basic principles.
More a disciple is kept in darkness, easier to control the disciple and retain loyalty by imposing
Self manufactured and tailor made new age managerial mundane concoctive teachings.
If some how disciple tries to explore srila Prabhupada’s books these leaders discourage them in all the ways claiming: “You should read my books first” , “you can’t directly understand” blah..blah..blah.
Many devotees testified to this in comments. One devotee revealed that his siksha guru used to criticize him for reading Srila Prabhupada’s books more and called him as book worm and book worm can’t make a person great devotee.
More proof is in Radhanath swami’s zone devotees are forced to read local leaders books like Radhe Syam Das (Pune, India).

Siksha is more important than Diksha: Initiation is just a Formality

Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Thakura de-emphasized the traditional diksa guru parampara, which had been abused in many circumstances in the past. Instead, he stressed the Bhägavata or siksa-guru parampara. The Bhägavata succession is taken from the Srimad Bhagavatam, wherein Krsna enlightened Lord Brahma, who then spoke absolute truth to Narada Muni, who passed it on to Srila Vyasadeva. His son, Sukadeva Goswami, underwent no diksa but received the essence of Bhagavatam from Vyasa, who recited it, in seven days, to Pariksit Maharaja, Suta Goswami and others present during the recitation. All were fully enlightened but none were direct diksa disciples of Srila Sukadeva.
Srila Bhaktisiddhanta traced the Bhagavata guru parampara from Krsna to Madhvacarya, who while initiated by Acyuta Preksa of the Shankara sampradaya, is said to have received siksa of Vyasa. The Gaudiya Vaisnava parampara is therefore traced from Madhva’s siksa guru, Srila Vyasa, rather than from Madhva’s established diksa guru. So we can see that our lineage isn’t dependent upon a diksa line — in fact, it runs quiet contrary to that concept.
Following instructions of spiritual master and pleasing him is more important than taking diksha from Him.
We have seen so many disciples of Srila Prabhupada and His Guru who took even sanyasa Diksha (3^rd initiation) fell down. This is because they did not follow Siksha of Guru.
Though George Harrison did not take Diksha from Srila Prabhupada, Srila Prabhupada himself confirmed that he is better than many of His Sanyasa disciples.
Srila Prabhupada confirms this here:

“Well initiation or no initiation, first thing is knowledge… knowledge. Initiation is formality. Just like you go to a school for knowledge, and admission is formality. That is not very important thing.” [Srila Prabhupada Press Interview, 10-16-76, Chandigarh]
“Thakura Bhaktivinoda was not official Spiritual Master of Gaura Kisora dasa Babaji Maharaja. Gaura Kisora dasa Babaji Maharaja was already renounced order, Paramahamsa, but Thakura Bhaktivinoda, while He was even playing the part of a householder, was treated by Gaura Kisora dasa Babaji Maharaja as Preceptor, on account of His highly elevated spiritual understanding, and thus He was always treating Him as His Spiritual Master. The Spiritual Master is divided into two parts; namely, siksa guru and diksa guru. So officially Bhaktivinoda Thakura was like siksa guru of Gaura Kisora das Babaji Maharaja.” [Srila Prabhupada Letter to Dayananda, 05-01-1969]

So our parampara is a Siksha parampara not Diksha parampara.
Following are more proofs from sastra:
1. Namacarya Srila hari Dasa Thakura himself was not initiated.
2. In Bhagavad Gita (4.34) Lord refers to approach guru and enquire that was about Siksha Guru not about Diksha Guru.It’s about  ”pari Prasnena” means enquiry not about Diksha.
3. If Diksha has power why so many initiated disciples including Sanyasis of great Acaryas like Srila Prabhupada & His Guru have fallen. This result is for violating their Siksha.
4. Bhakti Vinoda Thakura was never initiated by Jagannath Das Babaji Mhrj.Rather he rejected his Diksha Guru   Bipin Bihari Thakura for going against  Siksha of Sampradaya by calling Srila Ragunatha Dasa Gosvami as “A Sudra”.
5. Prahlada Maharaj was instructed by Narada Muni in womb of mother by Siksha not by Diksha.
6. Neither Sukadeva gosvami was not initiated by Vyasadeva nor  Sukadeva Gosvami initiated Parikshit mahatraj. But still just by Siksha of Bhagavata katha, process of Sravana and Kirtana both achieved perfection.

Result of Chanting Holy Name does not depend on Diksha

Namacarya Srila hariDasa Thakura himself was not initiated. But he achived perfection by just chanting holy name. [CC.Antya 3.124].Rather he initiated Mayadevi into chanting of Holyname.[CC Antya 3.259]
According to external vision, Srila  Haridäsa Thäkura belonged to a Muhammadan family. Nevertheless, because he engaged himself in performing the yajna of chanting the Hare Krsna mahä-mantra, he became a regularly initiated brahmana. As confirmed in Srimad-Bhagavatam (3.33.6) [CC Antya (3.124) ]
In teachings of Lord Caitanya Srila Prabhupada confirms that, even without recitation of käma-gäyatri which is given at Brahmana Diksha, the chanting of Hare Krsna is sufficient to elevate one to the highest spiritual platform.

The chanting of the Hare Kṛṣṇa mahā-mantra is so powerful that it does not depend on official initiation…
The offenseless chanting of the holy name does not depend on the initiation process. Although initiation may depend on puraścaryā or puraścaraṇa, the actual chanting of the holy name does not depend on puraścaryā-vidhi, or the regulative principles. If one chants the holy name once without committing an offense, he attains all success…. Simply by chanting the holy name, one is immediately delivered. [CC Madhya (15.108) ]

Bogus Guru’s Safest Strategy : Corrupt Original books of Srila Prabhupada to match our policies

If somehow devotees study Srila Prabhupada’s books it is still a threat. So safest strategy is to corrupt and water down Srila Prabhupada’s teachings to conform to the cheating norms and materialistic policies of  Bogus Gurus. So they cleverly formed BBTI different from BBT in order to get away with copyright laws and pervert Srila Prabhupada’s books.
An evident example is removing word “eternal” from Bhagavd Gita (2.30), the word Srila Prabhupada emphasized so much to make it compatible with their previous Jewish/Christian beliefs.
http://bookchanges.com/108-iskcon-bhagavad-gita-changes/
This cheating strategies were exposed in previous articles:
http://www.spbbt.org/Copyrights-Transferred-to-the-BBTI
http://prabhupadavision.com/2011/03/iskcon-academia-part-three/
http://prabhupadavision.com/2010/12/bhakivedanta-book-trust/
http://prabhupadavision.com/2010/11/as-it-is-principle/

Fraud of Self-Appointed 11 Bogus Gurus after Srila Prabhupada: 90% falldown rate

Out of 11 Successor self appointed bogus guru of ISKCON after Srila Prabhupada, 9 gurus either sexually felldown or eloped with girl friend. Some of their romantic pictures can be seen here:
http://www.harekrsna.org/gbc/black/hk1.htm
http://www.harekrsna.org/gbc/black/hridaya.htm
http://www.harekrsna.org/gbc/black/11pigs.htm
Some of blind dumbed down followers who never invest effort to study facts of history claim that these are photos manufactured with photoshop software. If that is so then why GBC removed those gurus by official GBC resolutions?
By July 9 1977 Document by Srila Prabhupada, it is confirmed that Srila Prabhupada appointed 11 representatives to officiate in the initiation procedure. After demise of Srila Prabhupada these 11 men who were also the power mongering GBC conspired together to divide ISKCON by zones and took each a Zone.
Bogus guru supporters often quote May 28 1977 appointment tape, but that tape is proven to be edited and over-dubbed and fraudulent. It also has been superseded by the final Initiation Document of July 9^th.
http://www.harekrsna.org/gurupoison/evidence/perle.htm
They have driven out 90% of original members of SIKCON and disciples of Śrīla Prabhupāda within 2-3 years after Srila Prabhupada’s demise. This can be seen in Bhakti Vedanta vedabase 2003.1 and also confirmed by Tamal Krsna Gosvami in his article:
http://www.icsahome.com/infoserv_articles/tamal_krishna_perilsofsuccession.htm
http://prabhupadanugas.blogspot.com/2012/01/gurukrpa-speaks-on-iskcon-history.html
http://www.harekrsna.org/gbc/themes/topanga.htm
Guru cheating can’t be effective (April 22.1977).

Srila Prabhupada: People complained against [a GBC for trying to appear as a guru]. …You become guru, but you must be QUALIFIED FIRST of all. THEN you become. …What is the use of producing some RASCAL GURU?
Tamala Krishna: Well, I have studied myself and all of your disciples, and it’s clear fact that we are ALL CONDITIONED SOULS, so we CANNOT BE gurus. MAYBE someday it may be possible….
Srila Prabhupada: Hm. [agrees]
Tamala Krishna: …but not now.
Srila Prabhupada: Yes. I shall produce some gurus. I shall say who is guru, ‘No you become acharya. You become authorized.’ I retire completely. But the training must be COMPLETE.
Tamala Krishna: The process of purification must be there. …No rubber stamp.
Srila Prabhupada: You can cheat, but it will not be effective. Just see our Gaudiya Matha. Everyone wanted to be guru. A small temple and “guru.” What kind of guru?
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.

Smart Strategy: Living Guru Concoctions to minimize Srila Prabhupada’s significance

If everyone starts following Srila Prabhupada and accepts him as authority it’s a great difficulty and inconvenience to a materially motivated elite Guru who wants all credit for himself. It is very difficult for a materialistic person to get cope up with exemplary high standards of Srila Prabhupada and it will not be possible to fulfill their material desires if everyone follows Srila Prabhupada.
So multi-millionaire businessman Gurus like Bhakti Caru swami manufactured tailor made philosophy to suit their material ambition to get money & followers.
http://prabhupadavision.com/2011/07/indradyumna/
http://prabhupadavision.com/2011/09/business-bungle/
http://prabhupadavision.com/2011/09/bhakti-caru-swami/
These materialistic gurus emotionally threaten and intimidate ordinary devotees by claiming that,
Srila Prabhupada is gone, you can’t have him as Guru, you can’t communicate with him. following references from
Srila Prabhupada himself testifies against their concoctions:
1.  ”The potency of transcendental sound is never minimized because the vibrator is apparently absent.” [Srimad-Bhagavatam, 2.9.8, purport]
2.   “You should have a fire sacrifice and the second initiates should hear through the right ear the mantra on my recorded tape.” [Srila Prabhupada Letter, November 13th, 1975]
3.   “So there was no difficulty in communicating with Manu or Manu’s son Iksvaku. The communication was there, or the radio system was so nice that communication could be transferred from one planet to another. [Bhagavad Gita Lecture 1968]
4.  ”You have asked if it is true that the spiritual master remains in the universe until all his disciples are transferred to the spiritual sky. The answer is yes, this is the rule”. [Srila Prabhupada letter to Jayapataka 11-7-1969]

Srila Prabhupada is Eternally Present and Accessible to us

If we have any faith and respect towards Srila Prabhupada then we should believe at least what Srila Prabhupada says. Srila Prabhupada confirmed that he is accessible through his books and his teachings and he never die.
Srila Bhakti Vinoda Thalkura and Srila Kaviraja Gosvami say: In order to qualify any devotional activity as Bhakti we should have Sraddha, firm faith on Guru-Sastra’s injunctions.
Even Lord krsna declares that one who has no faith have to wander in material universe in cycle of repeated birth and death. If we want any tangible spiritual progress we have to really believe words of Srila Prabhupada inside our heart, not just externally glorifying His Divine Grace.
Those who are not faithful in this devotional service cannot attain Me, O conqueror of enemies. Therefore they return to the path of birth and death in this material world.[Bhagavad Gita (9.3)]
Following are confirmations by His divine grace about accessing Him after His disappearance:

Srila Prabhupada about Accessing him  after His disappearance

Indian Lady: … is that spiritual master still guiding after death?
Srila Prabhupada: Yes, yes. Just like Krsna is guiding us, similarly spiritual master will guide us. (General lectures, 23-9-1969)
Devotee: Srila Prabhupada when you’re not present with us , how is it possible to receive instructions? For example in questions that may arise…
SRILA PRABHUPADA: Well the questions are answ… answers are there in my books.
(Morning Walk, Los Angeles, 13-5-1973)
So utilise whatever time you find to make a thorough study of my books. Then all your questions will be answered. (Letter to Upendra, 7/1/76)
Every one of you must regularly read our books at least twice, in the morning and evening, and automatically all questions will be answered. ( Letter to Randhira, 24/01/70)
If I depart there is no cause for lamentation. I will always be with you through my books and orders. I will always remain with you in that way. (BTG 13:1-2, December 1977)
74-11-22 Letter: Bahurupa
In my books the philosophy of Krishna Consciousness is EXPLAINED FULLY so if there is anything which you do not understand, then you simply have to read again and again. By reading daily THE KNOWLEDGE WILL BE REVEALED TO YOU AND BY THIS PROCESS YOUR SPIRITUAL LIFE WILL DEVELOP.

Note: This clearly indicates that Srila Prabhupada’s books are understood through their own potency, and that there is therefore no need for a physically present guru to understand the books. Our Srimad Bhagavatam is unique because the verses of the Bhagavatam are directly complemented with the purports of Srila Prabhupada, who is the bonafide maha-bhagavata ; therefore, the book Bhagavata and the person Bhagavata are combined in Srila Prabhupada’s Srimad Bhagavatam. Therefore, there is no need for a third party, “the so called current Iskcon links” to (mis)interpret what Srila Prabhupada “really means to say”. sic

17 may 1977 ar Vrndavan Conversations
Prabhupada: So I cannot speak. I am feeling very weak. I was to go to other places like Chandigarh program, but I cancelled the program because the condition of my health is very deteriorating. So I preferred to come to Vrndavana. If death takes place, let it take here. So there is nothing to be said new. Whatever I have to speak, I have spoken in my books. Now you try to understand it and continue your endeavor. Whether I am present or not present, it doesn’t matter.
1973-11-25. Letter: Cidananda
I should be returning to Los Angeles the last week of November and I should be more than happy to see you there. Please always try to remember me by my teachings and we shall always be together. Just like I have written in the first publications of Srimad-Bhagavatam, “THE SPIRITUAL MASTER LIVES FOREVER BY HIS DIVINE INSTRUCTION AND THE DISCIPLE LIVES WITH HIM.”, because I have always served my Guru Maharaja and followed His teachings I am now even never separated from Him. Sometimes Maya may come and try to interfere but we must not falter, we must always follow the chalked out path layed down by the great acharya’s and in the end you will see.
17 May 1977 vrndavan Conversations
Prabhupada: So there is nothing to be said new. Whatever I have to speak, I have spoken in my books. Now you try to understand it and continue your endeavor. Whether I am present or not present, it doesn’t matter.
“I shall remain your personal guidance, physically present or not physically, as I am getting personal guidance from my guru maharaja” (Srila Prabhupada to Tamal Krishna, 14 July 1977)
16 July 1977  sanfrancisco Conversations
Reporter (2): What will happen to the movement in the United States when you die?
Prabhupada: I WILL NEVER DIE.
Devotees: Jaya! Hari bol! (laughter)
Prabhupada: I SHALL LIVE From MY BOOKS, AND YOU WILL UTILIZE.
Reporter (2): Are you training a successor?
Prabhupada: Yes, my Guru Maharaja is there. Where is my photo of Guru Maharaja? I think… Here is.

Time Gaps in Parampara does not break Sampradaya

Regarding parampara system: there is nothing to wonder for big gaps. Just like we belong to the Brahma Sampradaya, so we accept it from Krishna to Brahma, Brahma to Narada, Narada to Vyasadeva, Vyasadeva to Madhva, and between Vyasadeva and Madhva there is a big gap. But it is sometimes said that Vyasadeva is still living, and Madhva was fortunate enough to meet him directly. In a similar way, 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 hamper from understanding the parampara system. We have to  pick up the prominent acaryas, and follow from him… There are many branches also from the parampara system, and it is not possible to record all the branches and sub-branches in the disciplic succession. We have to pick up from the authority of the acharya in whatever sampradaya we belong to. [68-04-12. Day Letter: Dayananda]

Also in the Gaudiya parampara coming from Lord Chaitanya, Srila Prabhupada always presents:
Narottama Dasa Thakura -> Visvanatha Cakravati -> Jagganatha Dasa Babaji
as the record of the parampara, yet there would appear to be hundreds of years separating them. Srila Prabhupada teaches us that this is the parampara, without any additional clarification regarding ‘siksa/diksa’, ‘gaps’ or the need for ‘living diksa’. Rather he calls it a ‘clear line of disciplic succession’ (Lecture 11 June 1969).
Why would Srila Prabhupada do this if he wanted to emphasize the need for ‘living diksa’?

Guru Can’t be appointed by Mundane Committee and votes: Violation of Srila Prabhupada’s orders

As established above Krsna as supersoul arranged a Guru and Guru has to be a liberated soul and pure devotee free from all anarthas. Say, If I appoint or nominate a person as guru will he become pure devotee overnight just because I appointed him?
“Mundane votes have no jurisdiction to elect a Vaisnava ācārya. A Vaisnava ācārya is self-effulgent. And there is no need for any court judgment.” [CC.Madhya 1.220 Ppt.]
Many homosexual/Pedophile Gurus like Bhavananda, Satadhanya, Nitai Chand swami who sexually molested Hundreds of boys in Mayapur Guru kula were nominated as Gurus by corrupted body administrative bureaucracy body of GBC. Later on they felldown and removed. This has ruined both material and spiritual lives of their disciples.
To wake up and know facts all devotees should study hidden history of ISKCON after 1977 at:  www.harekrsna.org
Following are just a few examples for utter violation of Srila Prabhupada’s orders:
1)     Kadamba Kanana Swami became guru when his guru Jayadvaita swami is alive.  This is against principle of disciplic succession emphasized by Srila Prabhupada many times:  Eg. Dec.2 1975 Letter to Pushta Kṛṣṇa
2)     “Mundane votes have no jurisdiction to elect a Vaisnava ācārya”(CC.madhya 1.220 Ppt) But GBC makes homosexual/Pedophile gurus like Paramgati swami, Bhavananda by voting (Param gati swami fell down & suspended by GBC in 2009)
3)     Jayadvaita swami removed word eternal from BG(2.30) though Prabhupāda emphasized specialty of that word 6 times in 1973 Aug 31 London Lecture.
This is clearly Unauthorized as Prabhupada already declared its importance.
http://bookchanges.com/108-iskcon-bhagavad-gita-changes/

Srila Prabhupada is Center & Guru of ISKCON

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. (SPL (VI 1987) 68.8.17)
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 4 Aug, 1975)
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: “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 11th Feb. 1967)
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)

Whom  should we follow? Most  Prominent Acarya: Srila Prabhupada

Srila Prabhupada says that we should follow the orders of most prominent acaryas of Parampara.
As Srila Prabhupada’s teachings are non-different from his predecessor acaryas, if we follow Srila Prabhupada’s teachings we get mercy of previous acarays.

We have to pick up the prominent acaryas, and follow from him… There are many branches also from the parampara system, and it is not possible to record all the branches and sub-branches in the disciplic succession. We have to pick up from the authority of the acharya in whatever sampradaya we belong to. [1968-04-12 Letter: Dayananda]

Why Srila Prabhupada is great : The Transparent via medium

Srila Prabhupada never speculated and wrote his own message in books.Rather he consulted
Commentaries of All previous acaryas like Srila Jiva gosvami, Srila cakravarti thakura, Srila bhakti Vinoda thakura while writing Srimad Bhagavatam commentaries.So if we follow Srila Prabhupafda’s teachings we are actually following all previous acarays of our sampradaya.
Where as if we follow modified bhagavad Gita or Rubber stamped ISKCOn gurus we are following speculations of Jayadvaita swami and others who edited out and perverted original message of
Srila Prabhupada said that,
The guru is one, because he does not speak differently from his predecessors in disciplic succession.
Srila Prabhupada never perverted or edited out the original message transmitted by transparent via medium of previous acaryas.
It’s up to us whether to follow teachings of all acaryas of paramapara which were concentrated in Srila Prabhupafda’s original pre-1977 un-edited books (available for free online  at http://www.causelessmercy.com/)  or bogus speculation of  gurus change original message of Lord Caitanya to suit their  Jewish or Christian  faiths.
As stated by Gurudeva of Srila Prabhupada, More important than becoming a guru is becoming a good disciple. Srila Prabhupada never hankered to become a Big Guru, rather he rejected to even take sannyas and just chanting 64 rounds per day in Radha Damodara temple in vrndavana.
It is by order of His Guru that he become Guru and delivered fallen souls throughout the world, it is this kind of full selfless surrender to previous acaryas is symptom of a pure devotee.
Destroying teachings of previous acaryas or enviousness towards previous acaras is symptom of conditioned souls.
One should know the ācārya as Myself and never disrespect him in any way. One should not envy him, thinking him an ordinary man, for he is the representative of all the demigods [Bhagavatam (11.17.27)]

Conclusions

1.  A) All spiritual perfection is achieved only by chanting of Holy Name: hare krsna maha mantra.
There is no other way as confirmed by sastras.
B) Chanting of Holy name does not depend on Initiation.
2.  Siksha is more important than Diksha.Siksha Guru  & Diksha guru are non-different.
3.  Srila Prabhupada confirmed that His teachings will last for 10 thousand years, and he is the Guru of ISKCON even in future. Srila Prabhupada is always accessible even after his disappearance.
4.  Guru can’t be appointed by voting or by a  mundane Bureaucratic  committee. So All ISKCON GBC appointed Gurus are unauthorized bogus Gurus.
5.  A) Materialistic gurus of FISKCON don’t  want their disciples to know truth by getting enlightened by deep study of Srila prabhupada’s books for it  threatens their very existence. So they encourage secular education.
B) That’s why they even make unauthorized changes to the books of Śrīla Prabhupāda.
6.  9 out of 11 Self appointed Gurus after Srila Prabhupada fell down by sexual scandals. It’s a great risk to spiritual life to accept a Bogus Unauthorized Guru, especially in a mundane corporate organization where falldown rate is so high and scandals are covered up and hidden. Moreover it’s a waste of valuable time, energy and money.
 http://prabhupadavision.com/