More questions to the GBC
By Praghosa dasa
1) Akrura dasa wrote:
Is it true that some of the present GBC members do not chant 16 rounds a day? If so, what is the logic behind their continuing as GBC members?
Answer by Praghosa dasa
I have no idea but I would not rule out the possibility that on occasions some GBC’s may fall behind.
This is of course something that is difficult to monitor day in day out just as it is for most devotees. However there are two things that come to mind. Firstly as devotees we will always give the benefit of the doubt. Secondly if someone is not chanting their rounds on a consistent basis then it will not be too long before serious problems will arise in their general devotional service. Therefore another barometer (perhaps the best one) to assess the question you raise is both the amount and the quality of one’s general service. Overall it is very difficult for GBC members to avoid this natural assessment criteria.
A final point is that for every GBC member that may have difficulty in this area we can be sure that there are 20 others who do not.
In answer to your second question, yes, if it is clear that a GBC member is consistently not chanting their rounds then they should not remain a GBC. Just as any devotee engaged in a service that requires good sadhana, the GBC members are no different.
Finally I would add that Srila Prabhupada did make exceptions:
Once, during Srila Prabhupada’s afternoon massage, Rebatinandana Swami entered the room with a problem he thought only his spiritual master could solve. “Srila Prabhupada,” he said. “Syamasundara is the GBC and he’s making all these decisions. I want to accept his authority, but I had to come to you because he is not chanting his rounds. I know this for a fact. He doesn’t chant any rounds. Also, many of the devotees in the temple find it difficult to follow his authority. I wanted to know how we should handle this.” Srila Prabhupada was silent for a moment and then replied, “Syamasundara, he is very busy. Arjuna, when he was fighting the battle of Kuruksetra, he did not chant his 16 rounds. When you are fighting a battle, where is the time to chant your rounds? So, perhaps Syamasundara is too busy. Anyway, you should see it like that. As long as he is in charge, you should follow, and encourage him to chant if he is not chanting.”
2) Tamoharadasa wrote:
Srila Prabhupada appeared to me in a dream and ordered me to take sannyasa. What is the process, please?
Answer by Praghosa dasa
vaco vegam manasah krodha-vegam jihva-vegam udaropastha-vegam etan vegan yo visaheta dhirah sarvam apimam prthivim sa sisyat
Once the above is achieved the formalites will bow at your feet.
Thank you for posting one of my memories from when I was with Srila Prabhupada. For balance I would like to post the remainder of that ‘Uvaca’ as it appears in my book, “What is the Difficulty?” I was hesitant to tell only the one story because I didn’t want to give anyone the wrong impression. Srila Prabhupada always stressed the importance and necessity of chanting 16 rounds at all costs. The remainder is below:
“Another time during an afternoon massage in Calcutta, a devotee entered the room and asked what should be done because Gargamuni Maharaja, the temple administrator, was not chanting his rounds. “He should not be in office,” Srila Prabhupada responded. “He may be materially qualified in so many ways, but it is not enough. In management one has to have his transcendental aspect. One has to be following the regulative principles and chanting. Otherwise, it is simply useless just to have some management knowledge.
Srila Prabhupada did not remove Gargamuni Maharaja from office at that time. He was the acarya and was able to make adjustments according to time, place and circumstance. This can be understood by reading his letters and listening to recorded conversations. Sometimes Srila Prabhupäda wrote instructions in a letter that were meant only for the person receiving the letter. It was not meant to be a general policy. We can read his books to learn the absolute truth. He sometimes called them “law books for the next 10,000 years.”
Srila Prabhupada’s personal presence on this planet was so potent that he could carry fallen souls such as myself, and keep us engaged in Krishna’s service, even when we were not strictly following his regulations. Since his departure I have realized that if I want to associate with him and perform devotional service, I must strictly follow his instructions.
your servant, Srutakirti dasa
Dear Praghosa Prabhu; Thank you for your thoughtful response, it is very relevant.
I take it as the Lord’s instruction; to work hard at fulfilling the requirements of self-control and absorption in Krsna consciousness as the criteria for advancing nicely to the position of renunciation. This I shall endeavor to acheive, and so to satisfy Srila Prabhupada.
Regarding having a dream where Srila Prabhupada told you to take sannyasa.
Srila Prabhupada himself left it to the GBC to approve sannyasa initiations. I advise you to consult with some of your godbrothers to analyze your situation and then you can approach HH Prahladananda Swami of the Sannyasa ministry.
There is a standard process for applying and preparing for sannyasa. Personally I think that Srila Prabhupada intended for many of his disciples to take sannyas, but not in an irresponsible way.
The man must be prepared to take the position seriously, and his family must be properly situated. A strong married couple can do more than a weak sannyasi.
Try looking in the Siksamrta, a compilation of HDG’s letters, under GBC.