{"id":10687,"date":"2012-07-16T12:56:36","date_gmt":"2012-07-16T11:56:36","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.dandavats.com\/?p=10687"},"modified":"2012-07-16T12:56:36","modified_gmt":"2012-07-16T11:56:36","slug":"modern-iskcon-guru-vs-traditional-guru","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.dandavats.com\/?p=10687","title":{"rendered":"Modern Iskcon Guru vs Traditional Guru"},"content":{"rendered":"

By Kesava Krsna Dasa<\/strong><\/p>\n

Can the guru say no wrong and do no wrong in all circumstances? This perfection of purpose is tested daily as disciples of gurus hold management positions and have to occasionally disagree on decision-making and policy, sometimes against their own gurus. Many disciples would be terrified of doing this, but it happens. How does this affect the guru\/disciple relationship?<\/p>\n

Does it take strength to do this, or is it a matter of developing a mature understanding? Would these disagreements happen in the traditional nous of guru\/disciple relationships? With our parallel system of management in place, which seeks to curb or equalise the influence of authority, does this make our gurus ineffectual and without due master-ship over disciples?<\/p>\n

For instance, let us consider Sri Syamananda Pandit. None other than Srimati Radharani Herself gave him an \u2018odd\u2019 looking permanent tilak. Without knowing the facts of the matter, his Guru Maharaja became enraged, and physically punished his disciple. The disciple, Syamananda Pandit, took this punishment without protest – both guru and disciple are eternally liberated souls.<\/p>\n

The master-ship of guru was in effect as expected, but then, what happened during those times might earn a stiff jail sentence now. Imagine something like that happening within our ranks\u2026 We may not expect a modern-day guru to do such a thing, but the fact that we have recourse to mediation, civil options and law, certainly curtails possibilities of abuse. Nevertheless, this example shows how guru influence has been tamed. Is this a good or bad thing?<\/p>\n

Sometimes a disciple disowns a guru on the basis of relative differences of opinion, which though incorrect, also reveals how the savoir-faire ability of the guru has abated. The \u2018say no wrong and do no wrong\u2019 ethic has apparently been suppressed in the combined material professional expertise and general enlightenment of the well informed body of Iskcon devotees, and not least, those who manage our affairs.<\/p>\n

Based on our \u2018cooperate if you love me\u2019 and \u2018unity in diversity\u2019 expansive aims, we have to acknowledge that our guru roles are partially traditional and modern, or adaptable. Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati wanted a GBC, and his loyal disciple Srila Prabhupada implemented it. Past difficulties of guru waywardness helped as well.<\/p>\n

This waywardness has made it somewhat harder for those gurus and sannyasis who remain in good standing. Alternatively, many present gurus can breathe a sigh of relief because the consensus, as wrought by education and training, is that not all gurus are infallible. This none-infallibility has helped form the Iskcon we have today. What if a truly infallible soul were to exist among us? Difficult as it may be, but such a soul would also be expected to cooperate like the rest of us. Some apa-sampradayis await such a coming.<\/p>\n

With limited guru roles in place mainly pertaining to relative or physical matters, this makes them liable for cooperation with management and authority. And when disciples are there, there is potential for opposition and difference, or, for gurus to oblige and abide by such authority, which traditionally, is not the norm.<\/p>\n

For these sorts of interactions to occur trouble-free, there certainly has to be mutual and mature understanding. Whether internal resentment fails to rear its ugly features or feelings of unjust subordination interfere with the natural father\/son relationship, there should be contentment that all is for the benefit of efficiency and trust.<\/p>\n

Such understanding can acknowledge the professionalism and expertise of disciples when managing, while the disciples subjugate spiritually. Even with this balance there could be overlapping. For example, a guru might introduce pre-Janmastami or pre-Gaura-purnima festivals in order to gain maximum public attendance. Guru Vyasa-puja events might take place way beyond the specified date, or there may be multi versions of it. Disciple managers might have to curb these.<\/p>\n

Does the guru have or should he have a sense of master-ship over disciples? If so, it doesn\u2019t always work, because some gurus have difficulty telling their disciples what to do, even with reasonable persuasions. Would it be more correct to view one\u2019s disciples as sincere participants on behalf of our param siksa guru? Such a mentality calls again for relinquishing absolute mastery over disciples.<\/p>\n

The mastery rather falls into our combined pandit\/pundit efforts. Theoretically this combination of service mood seems centralised or communistic, but it is akin to a state seeking cooperation with private pundit sector expertise. This \u2018pu-andit\u2019 accord somehow retains the sanctity of vital guru\/disciple functionality.<\/p>\n

Normally, the success of this relationship hinges on the disciple, because the guru has to be surrendered to. Today, we see how new terms such as \u2018presently in good standing\u2019 serve as a basis for trust and faith for a disciple in guru. To surrender just to \u2018present\u2019 assurances, and not to something forever, can precipitate and foster lurking doubt and uncertainty of the future.<\/p>\n

These uncertainties have encouraged a more central role for our param guru Srila Prabhupada, or has it? We cannot blame our present generation of disciples who may quietly and fearfully withhold such doubts of the future. Their situation is different from those who took initiation from Srila Prabhupada into a forever bond. To bring \u2018forever\u2019 into a \u2018present\u2019 dynamic is not always easy.<\/p>\n

If \u2018diamonds are forever\u2019 as they say, then guru must also be forever. Reality has shown otherwise. Yet we have numerous sincere followers of Srila Prabhupada who link to our sacred lineage by initiation to present gurus. Many of these disciples are used to corporate dealings and are immune to or less intimidated by the sense of importance attached to worldly hierarchy.<\/p>\n

Translate this into Iskcon terms, and it means our professional devotees are less intimidated in dealing with gurus or GBC\u2019s. For them to serve Iskcon managerially is also to expect professional-like outcomes. One cannot serve this way if terror of disagreeing with one\u2019s guru predominates.<\/p>\n

Although this appears to confront traditional norms of guru\/disciple dealings, it should be welcome as a means to get things done, hopefully. Srila Prabhupada would sometimes consult his disciples as to what was best for particular situations. Trust and confidence ensured such exchanges. Today, some gurus consult with their disciples about facts and figures, and matters of expertise, but of course, they retains the majority share on spiritually life-changing matters and the path back to Godhead.<\/p>\n

In all, it is about having either a confident or fearful relationship with one\u2019s guru. Such confidence can also encourage the guru to relate more closely, where he sees fit. Still, the modern adaptability of our present gurus who have largely professional and expert disciples, does not please all. Failing to cooperate the Iskcon way could mean splitting up into individual mathas.<\/p>\n

This uniqueness of serving together in cooperation is enhanced by one primary necessity. This necessity is our home, manager, guide, teacher, vijnana-revealer, guru, mother and father, and our everything \u2013 the holy name of the Lord.<\/p>\n

The power of the holy name is such that one need not take formal initiation, yet we still manage to have our gurus in place among all other exalted vaisnavas who give so much siksa, in accord with our preeminent siksa, Srila Prabhupada. If the holy name is our shelter or home, and which is our shared all-powerful guru, then this home within our Iskcon home will surely ensure success for all.<\/p>\n

Ys Kesava Krsna Dasa<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

By Kesava Krsna Dasa<\/strong><\/p>\n

Can the guru say no wrong and do no wrong in all circumstances? This perfection of purpose is tested daily as disciples of gurus hold management positions and have to occasionally disagree on decision-making and policy, sometimes against their own gurus. Many disciples would be terrified of doing this, but it happens. How does this affect the guru\/disciple relationship?<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2,32],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-10687","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-articles","category-kesava-krsna-dasa"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.dandavats.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/10687","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.dandavats.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.dandavats.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.dandavats.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.dandavats.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=10687"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.dandavats.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/10687\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.dandavats.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=10687"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.dandavats.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=10687"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.dandavats.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=10687"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}