By Bhakti Charu Swami
Being enlivened by so many thought-provoking observations and concepts on the subject of guru-tattva and the ISKCON institution I feel inspired to express some ideas and understandings on this issue.
Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura, while reviving Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu’s Sankirtana movement, realized that the massive task of spreading Krsna Consciousness all over the world, in every town and village, would not be possible without the collective endeavors of committed devotees for generations to come. Therefore he saw the need for an institution, and gave the blueprint of that institution in the form of his “Namahatta” (the market place of the holy name) and “Visva Vaisnava Raja-Sabha.” (the Royal Assembly of the Vaisnavas from All Over the World). Srila Bhaktisidhanta Sarasvati Thakura gave a shape to that concept in the form of his “Gaudiya Matha” and when that institution fell apart, Srila Prabhupada revived the spirit of his Guru Maharaja through ISKCON.
It is important to note that Srila Bhakti Vinod Thakur, Srila Bhaktisidhanta Sarasvati Thakura and Srila Prabhupada, all three of them, gave more importance to the institution than to their own authority – in spite of being the founders and organizers of their institutions they placed themselves as ordinary members of their respective institutions. For example, Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura indentified himself as the sweeper of the Namahatta. Srila Bhaktisidhanta Sarasvati Thakura called himself the servant of the Gaudiya Matha, and Srila Prabhupada identified himself as a mere member of the Governing body of ISKCON.
Although Srila Prabhupada spread Krsna Consciousness all over the world within the amazingly short span of ten years time, he knew that he would not be able to spread it in every town and village during his lifetime; rather, it would take generations to achieve that. That is why he was so emphatic about the effective continuity of his mission through his ISKCON. Personalities such as Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura, Srila Bhaktisidhanta Sarasvati Thakura and Srila Prabhupada come to grace this world only once in a blue moon. It is Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu’s causeless mercy that those three personalities came in such a succession. Their appearances on this planet was actually Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu’s divine arrangement for reviving His Sankirtana movement and fulfill His prediction that Krsna Consciousness movement would spread in every town and village on this planet. Although, being empowered by Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, they could achieve anything and perform incredible miracles, yet, for the sake of fulfilling the ultimate purpose of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu’s mission they emphasized the collective continuity of the movement through an institution. Srila Bhaktisidhanta Sarasvati Thakura was an extremely brilliant personality who attracted countless luminaries of his time within the fold of his Gaudiya Matha. However, soon after his disappearance when the Gaudiya Matha disintegrated, in spite of all those luminaries the propagation of Krsna Consciousness practically stopped.
Srila Prabhupada explained that, that happened because most his prominent followers could not understand the importance of continuing his mission through the institution he established. They held on to the traditional concept and concluded that a spiritual heritage could not effectively continue through an institution managed by a bunch of mundane managers, they defied the instruction of their spiritual master and appointed an acarya [who eventually fell down] the institution that he so meticulously structured collapsed.
Srila Prabhupada, in order to protect his ISKCON from such an unfortunate possibility, emphatically told us not to make the same mistake that his god-brothers made after his Guru Maharaja’s disappearance. He advised us to continue the mission under the authority of a collective management structure. Nevertheless, after Srila Prabhupada’s disappearance, we in ISKCON also made a similar mistake. Thinking that Srila Prabhupada had appointed 11 successors we also plunged in to the same syndrome of appointing spiritual heads of the institution presuming that after Srila Prabhupada’s disappearance they inherited ISKCON.
In 1987, about 10 years after Srila Prabhupada’s disappearance, this mistake was addressed by concerned leading devotees of ISKCON, but was not fully corrected. Just by adding more gurus and allowing them to initiate wherever they could attract disciples, that mistake was only diluted to some extent but was not really corrected.
Recently, the GBC body became painfully aware that through that mistake a parallel line of authority has been created in ISKCON which is causing a considerable amount of damage to the institution and is stifling the growth of the movement. It is very laudable of the GBC body that they have taken this issue very seriously and are working hard to rectify it.
In order to effectively establish an institution we need two essential elements – the head of the institution, and its management structure. In ISKCON we have to be absolutely clear that Srila Prabhupada is the head of the institution and he will continue to be that as long as the institution lasts, and the management structure Srila Prabhupada established – the GBC, temple presidents, departmental heads, etc, must be fully functional without any deviation.
If we compare the institution of ISKCON to a corporate structure, then we must recognize that Srila Prabhupada is the proprietor of ISKCON, and the other leaders of this institution are the managers. The managers manage, and although they get their remunerations and incentives for that, the profit belongs to the proprietor. In ISKCON, it is important that we clearly recognize the fact that everything in ISKCON, including even all the devotees, belongs to Srila Prabhupada, then only this mistake that is stifling the growth of our institution will be rectified and Krsna Consciousness movement will start to spread once again, all over the world, in leaps and bounds.
Dear Bhakti Caru Maharaja
Please accept my humble obaisences
all glories to Srila Prabhupada
This is a very nice concept, and certainly true, however I like to humbly point out that though Srila Prabhupada, Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Prabhupada and Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura saw themselves as servants of the institution of Nama hatta (Bhaktivinoda Thakura) ,Gaudiya Math (Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Prabhupada) ISKCON (Srila Prabhupada), we should never ever think and act as if we are independent of Srila Prabhpada and the acayas.Srila Prabhupada often explained that Krsna consciousness is simple we do not have to do anything but follow the proscess as it is.Sometimes we see devotee introduce standards not set by Srila Prabhupada such as taking of grains onVisnutattva apperance days, like Janmastami,Ramanavami,Narasimha Caturdasi, Gaura purnima etc, this was not Srila Prabhupadas instructions and brakes with all ancient traditions of vaisnava traditions.
Srila Prabhupada and His Guru Maharaja always empazised the distribution of transcendental litteratures.The instituions is there to serve the mission of Srila Prabhupada and the acaryas in our line and that of Lord Gauranga to distribute the holy name everywhere.The instituion is only a success to the degree we follow Srila Prabhupadas instructions and that of sastra.
sruti-smriti-puranadi-pancaratriki-vidhim vina
aikantiki harer bhaktir upatayaiva kalpate
[BRS 1.2.101].
“Devotional service of the Lord that ignores the authorized Vedic literatures like the Upanishads, Puranas and Narada-pancaratra is simply an unnecessary disturbance in society.”
your humble servant
Payonidhi das
Thank you Maharaja. It is enlivening to see leaders of ISKCON like yourself contributing here on Dandavats.
I hope to see a strong consensus among ISKCON’s leading preachers, initiating gurus, GBC members, project managers and temple presidents and all of Srila Prabhupada’s disciples and grand-disciples coalescing around this basic principle. The entire organization of ISKCON is a means for satisfying Srila Prabhupada. It all exists for his pleasure. And really, he offers everything to Krishna. He never has a sense of false proprietorship, so we can fully trust him.
Mainly he just wants us all to become pure devotees, for our benefit. But we have to express our devotion somehow, and real devotees are not satisfied to simply save themselves: They want to spread Krishna consciousness to everyone capable of taking it.
So Srila Prabhupada gave us this magnificent way to express our devotion and dedication to his service. In addition to other ways like chanting with attention, worshiping the deities, honoring the vaishnavas, following the various principles, coming together to study and discuss Prabhupada’s books, we have one gigantic worldwide mission called ISKCON which we strive to serve for the pleasure of Srila Prabhupada. We measure its success by how much it is bringing genuine Krishna consciousness to the different parts of the world.
It is like a big family business and we love to hear of its successes in different cities and countries. We try to work together, although we are individuals with different personalities and different levels of good and bad qualities. Some of us may work better with certain devotees, and not as well with others, but we are all committed to the enterprise of cooperative preaching under the authority of the GBC.
The GBC may not always be right, but it is the duly authorized representative of Srila Prabhupada for directing ISKCON, and it strives to carry out its function in accordance with Prabhupada’s wishes.
If the gurus do not teach their disciples the importance to Srila Prabhupada of our all working together under the leadership of the GBC and the ISKCON management structure, and set an example of how they are themselves cooperating, even when it sometimes is a challenge to do so, then we won’t learn and there is every danger of disintegration.
ISKCON is Prabhupada’s vehicle for disseminating pure devotional service on a grand scale. Our duty is to see that it flourishes.
Dear Maharaja,
Nice thought and obeservation. But how do we address this in light of so many ISKCONs that has been created within ISKCON, where those individual ISKCONs prefer to maintain there own separate identities?
ys, Isvara dasa.
This is very nicely expressed by His Grace Bhakti Caru Maharaj. Parallel to this, however, is the need for individual instruction and guidance that is necessary for the spiritual nourishment of individuals. It is really no different than it ever was. Bhaktas always need inspiration again and again to remain enthusiastic and faithful. It is this balance that is wanted.
Chaitanya Mahaprabhu stated the ideals clearly…na dhanam na janam etc. Krishna conscious leaders need to depend on Krishna in fact and through their example. Growth of the vaishnava family will come through the purity and sincerity of the devotees. It is a fact that most of the newcomers live outside of the temples and are congregational members. Akruranath Prabhu highlights this in so many of his writings about ISKCON in the Silicon Valley. The humility of the leadership, especially Vaisesika das and others, allows the community bhaktas to feel very comfortable developing both Krishna-centric families, and service to the local community of devotees.
So, while the management of ISKCON is very well defined, the nourishment of individual bhaktas with Krishna conscious discussions and service remains the purpose of the entire society. When the leaders try to acquire more and more pratishta, then the massacre begins. Give honor to others, and expect none for yourself. This formula will bring happiness to you and to others also.
In this manner, I believe it is likely that ISKCON will flourish into the future. While it is nice to conceive the greater society of devotees (such as ISKCON or Gaudiya Math, etc.), it is important to note that societies are made up of individuals and families. The greater society is only as strong as its weakest link. Through sincerity, compassion, and the mercy of Sri Sri Guru Gauranga, everything is possible.
Pusta Krishna das
This post shows the thoughtfulness and dedication to Srila Prabhupada for which many of us have long admired Bhakti Charu Maharaja. And I don’t think there will be a great deal of controversy about Srila Prabhupada’s position as head of the institution. He was careful from the beginning about our presenting him as ISKCON’s Founder-Acharya. Those of us who were around in 1970 probably remember the stories of his unhappiness with the first printing of The Nectar of Devotion. The glue in the “perfect” binding was lousy ((how many weeks did it take for pages to start falling out of your copy?), and the author on the title page was “A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami,” not “His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, Founder Acharya, International Society for Krishna Consicousness,” as he had explicitly instructed by that time.
I’m not sure, though, that I’m with him in his assertion that Srila Prabhupada is the proprietor of ISKCON. I suggest that Srila Prabhupada intends that Krishna be ISKCON’s proprietor. After all, he called it the International Society for Krishna Consciousness. And a look at his statement of purposes shows that ISKCON is all about Krishna. While acknowledging our debt to Srila Prabhupada and his central position among ISKOCN’s devoteses, we should avoid trending toward a kartabhaja-like sect. I’m not suggesting this is Maharaja’s intention, or even an unintended consequence of his emphasis on Srila Prabhupada. It is, however, something we should keep in mind.
Bhakti Caru Maharaja’s article suggests (am I misinterpreting?) that there should not be any parallel lines of authority in ISKCON, but that the institutional authority of the “collective management structure” established by Srila Prabhupada should be accepted as the sole line of authority. He states:
“Recently, the GBC body became painfully aware that through that mistake a parallel line of authority has been created in ISKCON which is causing a considerable amount of damage to the institution and is stifling the growth of the movement.”
The mistake he identifies has two phases: (1) thinking that Srila Prabhupada appointed 11 successors who “inherited” ISKCON; and (2) a partial correction or “dilution” of that mistake by simply adding more gurus without clarifying the importance of the institutional collective management structure.
We should all join Maharaja in lauding the GBC’s identification of the “parallel lines” problem and working to rectify it.
To me it seems natural that the guru-disciple relationship will always remain one very important line of authority in the lives of ISKCON members.
Of course there will be other lines of authority of more or less importance, such as parent-child, teacher-student, employer-employee, government/police-citizen, confidential friendly relationships, interspousal relationships, etc. But the diksha guru as “spiritual parent” and link to the sampradaya is an essential spiritual line of authority for any member of ISKCON.
I would rather say, it is not so much that the collective institutional management structure is the only line of authority, but that all the various lines of authority ought to run parallel.
That might not be possible with governments, employers, or even parents, who may not be Vaisnavas or, even if they are Vaisnavas, may not cherish the ideals of the ISKCON mission inaugurated by Srila Prabhupada.
However, at least for the spiritual masters in disciplic succession from Prabhupada, we expect them to cherish this ideal and goal of a successful ISKCON under the collective management structure ordained by Prabhupada, and to train their disciples in the importance of this institutional line of authority.
We know some of Prabhupada’s disciples have broken with ISKCON’s authority, but at the very least those initiating gurus who are part of ISKCON must recognize the central importance of the collective management structure in serving Prabhupada as he desires (i.e., within that structure).
Of course it is not a matter of obedience to an institution for the institution’s sake, but as a reflection of the disciples’ and grand-disciples’ understanding of what Srila Prabhupada wants.
He wants, first and foremost, that we all become pure devotees, but he also wants us to perform tangible devotional service in a specific way, namely, as an organized mission with a collective management structure for the purpose of effectively enlightening the world with Lord Caitanya’s vani.
We cannot become pure devotees without engaging in practical devotional service, and we learn to render such service from the gurus (initiating and instructing), who are qualified by dint of their knowing what Krishna wants. Srila Prabhupada clearly told us that Krishna wants this collective management structure.
Srila Prabhupada also sometimes did not discourage disciples who, like Siddhasvarup-Ananda, found for one reason or another they could not work within the institutional structure of ISKCON, but my understanding is that those were limited, exceptional situations, and Prabhupada made his own preference clear that his sincere disciples should stick within ISKCON practically at all costs.
One of the great heroes I can think of in this connection is Tamal Krishna Maharaja, who had a very strong personality and at times had difficulty working with some of his godbrothers and with the GBC. Nevertheless, when push came to shove he time and again surrendered to the demands of the GBC, even when it was very difficult for him personally, because of his deep appreciation that such obedience was desired by Srila Prabhupada.
Neither managers nor gurus, nor parents for that matter, should feel like the proprietors. “Manasa deho geho.” Everything really belongs to the Son of Nanda Maharaja.
But sometimes managers, gurus and parents may feel like proprietors. Not all of us are pure. It may be difficult to work with people who “lord it over” us, but we have to tolerate to a certain extent in order to please Srila Prabhupada. Tams titiksasva bharata. That is tapasya.
No one can expect to get through life, at least in this age, without having to tolerate some overbearing policeman, a rage-aholic boss, thick-witted judge, pushy spouse, or rebellious child. We must do our best and tolerate. And we have to do our best to never misuse our authority, especially in ISKCON, where we are dealing with Krishna’s precious Vaisnavas and Lord Caitanya’s sacred preaching mission.
“Institutionalism”, whatever it means, may be likened to niyama-aagraha.
For us in ISKCON, obedience to duly-constituted ISKCON authority is one of our duties of the yamas and niyamas of vaidhi-bhakti. Isn’t it? (Or is it? What do all the assembles Vaisnavas say?)
At any rate it is certainly a duty.
In the purport to B.G. 9.30 (“api cet suduracaro”) Srila Prabhupada explains we have conditional activities and constitutional activities. Activities for protecting the body and abiding by rules of society and state may be required even for devotees, though they are not transcendental activities.
But the living entity who is conscious of his spiritual nature and is engaged in Kishna consciousness or bhakti yoga has activities which are called transcendental.
I would say (am I wrong?) that obeying ISKCON authorities is a transcendental activity, whereas obeying state laws or social customs of a particular place are conditional activities.
[Prabhupada writes that, in the conditioned state, sometimes devotional service and conditional activities will run in parallel lines, but sometimes they will oppose one another. It is a different point, but I thought it interesting that this idea of “parallel” types of duties or activities were mentioned here in the 9.30 purport.]
We know from Nectar of Devotion that transcendental activities, or sadhana bhakti, may be performed under regulation (they must be done whether or not we have real spontaneous attraction to them), or they may be done with genuine, spontaneous feeling.
Until we have genuine feeling we must perform them anyway. We heard Vaisesika Prabhu say in class the other day that even the commitment to abide by the rules, to chant the prescribed number of rounds (whether or not we are chanting in ecstasy) is a preliminary stage of sincere feeling. At least it shows we are not neglectful but have taken the commitment to serve Krishna seriously, even if we do not yet have the right frame of mind or mood.
So, we should also take up this principle that “I will obey the ISKCON authorities as my duty.” We should also come to the understanding or proper mood of why we are obeying. It is just to please Srila Prabhupada, because we love him, or at least we ought to love him and feel bound to repay our debt of gratitude to him, and this is what he wants us to do.
And especially the managers must never wield their authority for some purpose other than pleasing Prabhupada and carrying out his wishes.
Srila Prabhupada gave many warnings if we do not follow his instructions:
We will establish hundreds of temples, and they will all be very opulent. But if we do not follow the instruction of the Spiritual Master, they will just be showbottle. Do you know what showbottle means? It means colored water in a bottle which looks just like medicine, but which, when you take it, does not work. – Room conversation, NY, July, 1970
We have worked very hard and established a great institution, but if we think for our personal benefit then it will become ruined. This is my only concern. – Letter to Chayavana, 11/1/74
After all, we are criticizing false cast brahmanas, if we ourselves are bogus brahmanas then our position is very bad. – Letter to: Sudama–Rome, 26 May, 1974
Srila Prabhuapda was sometimes even worried if the GBC would not detect deviations after he went back to Godhead:
And I am surprised that none of the GBC members detected the defects in the procedure. It was detected only when it came to me. What will happen when I am not here, SHALL EVERYTHING BE SPOILED BY GBC? – Letter to Hansadutta, 4/11/72
Ganesha: Srila Prabhupada, if the knowledge was handed down by the saintly kings, evam parampara-praptam, how is it that the knowledge was lost?
Srila Prabhupada: When it was not handed down. Simply understood by speculation. Or if it is not handed down as it is. They might have made some changes. Or they did not hand it down. Suppose I handed it down to you, but if you do not do that, then it is lost. Now the Krishna consciousness movement is going on in my presence. NOW AFTER MY DEPARTURE, IF YOU DO NOT DO THIS, THEN IT IS LOST. If you go on as you are doing now, then it will go on. BUT IF YOU STOP… – Room Conversation with Carol Cameron–May 9, 1975, Perth
All these things are nonsense inventions. SUCH INVENTING SPIRIT WILL RUIN OUR THIS MOVEMENT……Gradually the Krishna Consciousness idea will evaporate: another change, another change, every day another change. Stop all this. – Letter to: Sudama–Vrindaban, 5 November, 1972
So you make your society so strong that you be not cheated, and others may not cheat. Then it will be first-class. And if you make another society of cheaters and cheated, there is no profit. – Morning Walk–June 14, 1974, Paris
We should all apire to be chaste followers of Srila Prabhupada, not invent new things
It seems that in an organized preaching mission with multiple initiating gurus, there will always be some potential for a guru’s authority coming in conflict with the authority of the collective management structure.
The solution proposed by Bhakti Caru Maharaja seems evident. The various initiating gurus and other individual authorities, today and in the future, must give due regard to the importance of the collective management structure and the organized or “institutional” preaching mission ordained by the founder-acarya.
We have to all appreciate that such a collectively organized society of devotees was desired by Bhaktivinod Thakur and Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Prabhupada, and that Srila A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada founded ISKCON to fulfill that need, having determined that Gaudiya Math had splintered and become ineffective due to the failure of its leaders to understand the importance of the collective management structure. ISKCON is not just another Gaudiya Math branch.
We have to be careful when we say this that we do not cause undue friction with current leaders of various Gaudiya Maths or appear to be criticizing their various acaryas, Srila Prabhupada’s godbrothers. That is not our intention, and we have the greatest respect for all our spiritual uncles and grand uncles, just as they have great respect for our founder-acarya Srila Prabhupada.
However, Srila Prabhupada considered this point (about collective management structure) very important and wrote about it strongly in the Caitanya Caritamrta for our benefit, so that we do not split into different camps under different “acaryas”. The great acaryas have a strong desire that a powerful, stable, unified mission under a collective management structure spread the teachings and practices of Lord Caitanya’s sankirtan movement throughout the world.
If we do not take seriously Srila Prabhupada’s emphasis on the collective management structure of the GBC and its unifying authority, we may split into a diverse group of ineffective, quarrelsome minor personality cults which the world will not take seriously.
A sense of false proprietorship, whether by gurus, GBCs, TPs or anyone else, is a great stumbling block. We are neither proprietors nor enjoyers, but caretakers and servants. The problem of “institutionalism” or “organized religion” is a problem of using church authority for false proprietorship and exploitation for sense gratification, whether by gurus or other managers.
Hare Krishna Maharaj,
PAMHO, AGTSP, AGTSSG&G. This is a very nice article. Now I have a long bothering question in my mind. ISKCON Bangalore (Hare Krishna Hill) temple should join with our main stream. This is important as split within ISKCON causes great hinderance in the image Srila Prabhupada created. Need to work on this as high priority to bring all ISKCON brands in single umbrella. If we dont take this point seriously, tomorrow there will be multiple ISKCON’s under different gurus. Already folks here in South are talking ill about multigroups within ISKCON due to this Bangalore temple issue. I sincerely beg and urge GBC to collectively put high-priority effort in uniting. This is very very important. If this generation of senior devotees like yourself dont do this, we will have more weeds planted in public mind, thus diluting our Srila Prabhupada’s holy mission in the very near future. My apologies if I have not putforth my hard-pressing emotion on this unity issue, but we (the public) serious looking forward to greater unity within all ISKCON branded temple. Together you can make wonders. Please do it quicker… time is already late…… senior devotess in all ISKCON branded temple are getting older like younger ones…… I am not meaning negative, but want to urge and urge on this issue. Please treat this TOP PRIORITY.
Hare Krishna
Siva – nextGen Devotee
At the risk of sounding incredibly simplistic and even possibly mentally deranged, I’ll go ahead and say that in my not so humble opinion the main problem in ISKCON today is the de-emphasis on, and even built up resistance to going out in public and chanting the Hare Krishna maha mantra. I’m convinced that, to the degree this process is revived we can expect real spiritual power and momentum to once again develop throughout the institution. Srila Prabhupada asked us to go out and chant every day. When we followed that instruction we had great success. The devotees need to be “like lions on the chase and lambs at home.” Without Hari Nama that has reversed.
I am somewhat of a newcomer to IKSCON and am not so familiar with the details of its history. After reading this article I am curious to know how the cause and effect relationship has been established between what is presented here as a mistake made by ISKCON’s leadership and the damage that the institution has suffered and apparently still suffers from. These statements are perplexing to me because ISKCON seems to be quite functional in many respects and most definitely already centered around Srila Prabhupada.
Atmananda das opens the forum to a discussion of “history”. Please, let me bring up the reality that the ever-present is always the place to function within. But, for the sake of discussion, suffice to say that when Srila Prabhupad departed, some unqualified individuals tried to imitate him. While imitation is, in theory, a form of flattery, in spiritual life it is potentially very dangerous. We are often told to follow in the footsteps of the Mahajanas, great bhaktas in history like Prahlad, Bhisma and others. That is not an invitation to imitate them. Rather, to try to become inspired by their faith, dedication, and self-sacrifice.
There are three things that vaishnavas must always be on guard to protect against: pratishta (a desire for personal position), kanak (a desire to accumulate wealth for its own sake), and kamini (a desire for sense exploitation like sexlife). One can become drunk with power when finding themselves in a position of authority without the necessary qualification. One should not desire to become a guru, but rather to become a servant of one’s guru. That is the necessary qualification. Using this as a reference, when Srila Prabhupad departed, there was some abuse of position, leading to confusion and disappointment. Fortunately, so much rectification has occurred over time, and ISKCON is much the better for that. When Bhakti Caru Maharaj brings these matters up, it is to say that many have learned (the hard way, by experience), that nothing can replace sincerity and humility. Those who want power, will find the rug pulled out from beneath them by Krishna Himself. As the Bible also says: Pride preceedeth the fall.
These really are matters that are always before us. We live in the illusory environment, and so we need proper guidance (stepping stones) so that we can also avoid mistakes again and again (stumbling blocks). The ability to bring these matters up is intended to restore faith in the ISKCON institution. However, it is the association of devotees, sadhu sanga, that is most critically important in this spiritual institution. Rest assured, there will be further challenges to ISKCON in the future both from within and from without. Srila Prabhupad, however, gave us his prime instructions in the many translations he left us. We can study these together again and again. Hearing about Krishna is the best way to cut the knot of material existence within the heart. Pusta Krishna das
It is encouraging that to newcomers like Atmananda ISKCON appears quite functional.
Pusta Krishna has, as usual, spoken very well. If a person acting as guru starts to think he is self-sufficient, a law unto himself, the enjoyer of his disciples, he is headed for disaster. Spiritual master means one who became accomplished at being a disciple. A spiritual master performs that important service out of a sense of duty and surrender to his own guru. It is not like becoming CEO or commander-in-chief. He should set a perfect example of how to relate with other Vaisnavas and have spiritual friendships and comrades.
Historically, some ISKCON gurus encouraged personality cults in imitation of Prabhupada’s perceived absolute authority (in reality Prabhupada was always surrendered to Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Prabhupada and never considered himself enjoyer or boss in that sense). When they fell down it caused terrible disruption and undermined faith of many in their zones. Even before they fell down they sometimes mistreated godbrothers and other Vaisnavas. [We still owe them a debt of gratitude for taking on difficult and necessary leadership positions at great risk to themselves]
I think the last major guru cataclysm was Harikesh in Europe (around 1998?) and it caused book distribution and other preaching to slow down drastically.
I get the impression the current “parallel lines” issue stems from concerns that some spiritual masters in ISKCON are not doing as much as they should to encourage their disciples to work cooperatively in subordination to local ISKCON managers for the success of local projects, and may (naturally) put their own projects and initiatives above what is best for healthy organization at the local level.
And disciples may also play gurus off managers the way clever children exploit perceived divisions between mom and dad.
The solution is not just to emphasize management over guru as the place we must surrender. Disciples must surrender to their gurus (“tvam prapannam”). Gurus in ISKCON should be dedicated to serving Prabhupada’s mission within the collective management structure he established and should guide their disciples to do so.
The community of GBC management and other ISKCON devotees should be a welcome check on gurus who might otherwise be tempted to let honor and wealth go to their heads. They should be happy to need to seek approval from a council of devotees.
I also like Sarvo’s idea about increasing harinama sankirtana. ISKCON exists to increase the sankirtan mission, and when leaders, whether gurus or managers, get too preoccupied with acquiring and maintaining buildings, some seeds of conflict may develop as devotees compete with each other to meet financial needs of their own projects.
[We remember SBSST’s prediction of “fire in these walls” and instruction that he would rather sell the marble and print books.]
Not that we do not need temples and deity worship, but this is the age of kirtan.
In kirtan everyone has to sing in tune and in harmony. A good choir or orchestra has to follow the baton of the conductor. Similarly, cooperation is necessary for making the powerful propaganda for Krishna consciousness that our acaryas in disciplic sucession desire.
The idea of “surrender” should not be emphasized in the wrong way. It is never an excuse for abandoning intelligence or responsibility. It is based on recognition of a superior intelligence and abandoning false ego, false pride, false sense of independence.
Nor should a guru ever exploit a disciple’s mood of surrender for some ulterior motive like sense gratification or false prestige. The guru has to be the well-wisher of the disciple and train the disciple in the ways of Krishna consciousness. As especially pertinent to this discussion, the guru must train about the desire of the great acaryas and Lord Caitanya for a cooperative, collectively managed worldwide sankirtan mission.
I would venture to say that we “surrender” to the guru, and this involves a personal emotional connection, but we may not have the same kind of personal relationship with the collective management structure or GBC. We do not “surrender” to management in the same personal, emotional way.
Nevertheless, we know that even our guru accepts a position as “subordinate” to the management structure, because only by such subordination is the cooperative worldwide preaching mission able to succeed. We show our submission to guru and to the Founder-Acarya by how we can properly integrate ourself into some useful position in the preaching organization, and not promote discord with its managers and leaders.
So it is not so much a matter of shifting authority away from gurus to the management structure. What is needed is that all ISKCON devotees and especially the gurus accept the order of Prabhupada re collective management as their life and soul.
Bhakti Charu Swami has raised ‘the’ most important issue in ISKCON today. ISKCON may disintegrate – in the future – because of what we are doing or not doing right now!
The fact is that since Srila Prabhupada’s physical departure ISKCON has fragmented, but as yet far from the degree of almost complete disintegration as did the Gaudiya Math. But is ISKCON’s fragmentation something that will not affect its overall growth, just as a huge tree can withstand losing some branches and leaves and still remain healthy? As Bhakti Charu Swami pointed out, the Gaudiya Math disintegrated within a short time after the disappearance of SBST, and so what is to stop the same thing from eventually happening to ISKCON?
ISKCON has lasted 32 years since Srila Prabhupada’s disappearance, and it has to be noted that ISKCON today is far from completely disintegrated: there are many, many positive things happening worldwide. But, as Bhakti Charu Swami alerts us, we need to take preventative measures NOW to ensure that ISKCON does not fall apart in the future. So what is it that can disintegrate ISKKCON?
The problem: Divisiveness.
The solution: Unification. UNITED WE STAND, DIVIDED WE FALL!!
We all agree on the principles of chanting and preaching; but the divisive devil is in the detail, since we need to be united on so many lesser levels too. And realistically, that is not possible because we are all individuals and will inevitably understand and serve differently to varying degrees. Thus for ISKCON devotees to have LESSER differences is unavoidable, but each of us MUST NOT let our ‘minor’ differences DIVIDE us. This is the CRUCIAL point!!! We all agree that chanting and preaching Krishna consciousness is our most important engagement. All those who have left ISKCON did so not because they disagree that chanting and preaching Krishna consciousness is our most important engagement but simply over some less important issue.
Kali cannot divide ISKCON if we are strongly united in Hari-nama and preaching. Thus we should not give Kali a divisive entrance through secondary petty issues. This may sound simplistic in view of the many complex ‘secondary’ issues that arise in the preaching field but if we all simply refuse to allow the LESSER issues to divide us while remembering the bigger picture, uniting around chanting and preaching, then ISKCON will live forever. ys ad – Balarama’s Appearance day