Srila Sridhara Maharaja's Instructions to Iskcon Leaders

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Srila Sridhara Maharaja And His Instructions

 

BY SWAMI B.B. VISNU

http://www.gosai.com/chaitanya/gbc/78_ssm_gbc.html

EDITORIAL, Mar 31 (VNN) — In July of 2001 Swami B.G. Narasingha

Maharaja met with three members of an ISKCON GBC committee (Bir

Krishna Goswami, Guru Prasad Swami, and Keshava Bharati Prabhu) to

discuss the origin of the Zonal Acharya System of initiations that

began in ISKCON shortly after the disappearance of Srila Prabhupada

in 1977.

 

According to the preaching of many ISKCON leaders prior to this

year's GBC meetings in Mayapur, it was Srila B.R. Sridhara Maharaja

who was to blame for the establishment of the Zonal Acharya System

in ISKCON. Somehow or other this had become the understanding of

many ISKCON leaders - that Srila Sridhara Maharaja was to blame for

their many problems which developed as a result of adopting the

Zonal Acharya System. This was an understanding that must have

developed due to inattention, politics, and/or a poor fund of

knowledge.

 

In 1978 during the annual ISKCON GBC meetings in Mayapur, a large

number of ISKCON GBC men accompanied by other leaders of ISKCON went

to visit Srila Sridhara Maharaja in Navadvipa. The visit to Srila

Sridhara Maharaja was prompted by an earlier instruction of Srila

Prabhupada that, If you have any questions regarding philosophy you

may go to my Godbrother, B.R. Sridhara Maharaja in Navadvipa. This

statement is corroborated by numerous ISKCON leaders' written and

recorded statements. [Web link]

 

Accordingly, in 1978 the group of ISKCON GBC men and leading

devotees went to visit Srila Sridhara Maharaja. What took place was

one of the most eventful of all meetings ever, in the post

Prabhupada era. In that meeting a host of valuable instructions

regarding guru-tattva and the natural line of succession to be

followed after the disappearance of Srila Prabhupada was given.

However, these valuable instructions were not properly followed by

the devotees, who went away and established the Zonal Acharya System

of initiation in ISKCON - a system diametrically opposite to that

which was recommended by Srila Sridhara Maharaja in that fateful

meeting. [Web link]

 

In the course of several years there developed many problems in

ISKCON, which in the end left the society divided over many

philosophical and practical issues. After years of such dissention

there arose a great reform movement within ISKCON that took up the

task of seeking out and destroying the root cause of the problems

plaguing ISKCON.

 

The ISKCON reform movement found the root cause of the problems in

ISKCON to be the Zonal Acharya System - thus the GBC and others

could be held responsible for having concocted the system in the

first place. At that time the onus of responsibility (now fallen on

the GBC to answer for themselves) was shifted and the blame for the

Zonal Acharya System was conveniently placed upon Srila Sridhara

Maharaja.

>From the 1978 Gaura Purnima until this years 2002 Gaura Purnima is

an era of 24 years wherein devotees have misrepresented the words of

a great soul and willfully offended and cast blame on the

offenseless. But at this year's ISKCON GBC meetings that particular

dark period in ISKCON history came to an end (at least officially).

 

The committee of Bir Krishna Goswami, Guru Prasad Swami, and Keshava

Bharati reported there findings to the ISKCON GBC body after having

discussed the Zonal Acharya issue with Swami B.G. Narasingha. After

having studied various tapes and transcriptions related to the

subject, a favorable conclusion was reached.

 

The findings of the committee were precisely that Srila B. R.

Sridhara Maharaja was in no way responsible for the Zonal Acharya

System and all members of ISKCON were cautioned to strictly avoid

hearing or speaking personal criticism of Srila Sridhara Maharaja.

Twenty-seven GBC members voted in favor of the resolution, no one

opposed, one member abstaining.

 

ISKCON GBC Resolution

 

403. Sripad Sridhara Maharaja and the Zonal Acarya System Whereas, a

committee composed of Bir Krishna dasa Goswami, Guru Prasad Swami

and Kesava Bharati dasa met and discussed with Bhakti Gaurava

Narasimha Swami the issue of Sripad B.R. Sridhara Maharaja's

relationship to the establishment of the zonal-acharya system in

ISKCON;

 

Whereas, the GBC Body recognizes that there may be a mistaken

perception in some circles that the GBC holds Sripad B.R. Sridhara

Maharaja responsible for ISKCON's acceptance of the zonal-acharya

system;

 

[sTATEMENT] Resolved, That the impression that may exist in some

circles that the GBC Body regards Sripad B.R. Sridhara Maharaja as

responsible for ISKCON's accepting the zonal-acharya system is

erroneous. The GBC Body realizes that regardless of how the zonal-

acarya system evolved, it alone is responsible for its acceptance

and implementation. Any imputation that Sripad B.R. Sridhara

Maharaja is responsible is wrong. In this regard the GBC Body would

like to restate, as per resolution 76 of the 1987 Annual General

Meeting, that ISKCON devotees should strictly avoid hearing or

speaking personal criticism of Sripad B.R. Sridhara Maharaja. (Web

link)

 

This resolution has come as a breath of fresh air and we are happy

to see the acknowledgement that Srila Sridhara Maharaja was not to

blame for ISKCON's problems and that devotees should refrain from

criticism of him. Indeed, a word to the wise.

 

One might say that this marks the end of a dark or cloudy era, but

on the other hand this could mark the beginning of a fresh era, one

of enlightenment and proper understanding for ISKCON, at least on

certain issues.

 

Since it is now understood and accepted officially that the advice

of Srila Sridhara Maharaja was not harmful to ISKCON, then it

naturally behooves the sincere devotees in ISKCON to find out just

what those many instructions are, which Srila Sridhara Maharaja gave

the GBC in 1978 and also to avail themselves of the volumes of

beneficial instructions that filled the ears of those blessed

devotees who heard from Srila Sridhara Maharaja between 1978 and

1988. The complete transcript from this original 1978 meeting

between Srila Sridhara Maharaja and the GBC members may be found

online at:

http://www.gosai.com/chaitanya/gbc/78_ssm_gbc.html

 

The books of Srila Sridhara Maharaja can be purchased at: Mandala

URL: http://www.mandala.org/ Several of Srila Sridhara Maharaja's

books are also available online in digital format:

[Web link]

 

If you have any doubts then please remember the words of Srila

Prabhupada: If you have any questions regarding philosophy you may

go to my Godbrother, B.R. Sridhara Maharaja in Navadvipa.