Reply to Bh. Erik from KPdd

[Guest guest]

> I noted your sincere enquiries. In order to understand what is Srila

> Prabhupada's actual order regarding continued diksa in Iskcon, we have to

> go back and examine everything he has said on the subject. Also we have to

> see how his instructions fit in the total picture and keep in mind that

> "in logic, later statements supersede previous ones in importance."

>

> Now, as early as in 1968, Srila Prabhupada said the following:

>

> 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 Radio Interview March 12,

> 1968, San Francisco)

>

> As a matter of fact in EVERY SPIRITUAL INSTITUTION it is the ACHARYA, who

> is the ultimate authority of the Institution. Unless the ACHARYA appoints

> a successor, he remains the Acharya.

 

>From the conversation May 28 1977:

 

Satsvarupa: By the votes of the present GBC. Then our next question concerns

initiations in the future, particularly at that time when you're no longer

with us. We want to know how first and second initiation would be conducted.

Prabhupada: Yes. I shall recommend some of you. After this is settled up, I

shall recommend some of you to act as officiating acaryas.

Tamala Krsna: Is that called rtvik-acarya?

Prabhupada: Rtvik, yes.

Satsvarupa: Then what is the relationship of that person who gives the

initiation and the...

Prabhupada: He's guru. He's guru.

Satsvarupa: But he does it on your behalf.

Prabhupada: Yes. That is formality. Because in my presence one should not

become guru, so on my behalf, on my order... Amara ajnaya guru hana [Cc.

Madhya 7.128]. Be actually guru, but by my order.

Satsvarupa: So they may also be considered your disciples.

Prabhupada: Yes, they are disciples. Why consider? Who?

Tamala Krsna: No, he's asking that these rtvik-acaryas, they're officiating,

giving diksa. Their... The people who they give diksa to, whose disciple are

they?

Prabhupada: They're his disciple.

Tamala Krsna: They're his disciple.

Prabhupada: Who is initiating. He is granddisciple.

Satsvarupa: Yes.

Tamala Krsna: That's clear.

Satsvarupa: Then we have a question concer...

Prabhupada: When I order, "You become guru," he becomes regular guru. That's

all. He becomes disciple of my disciple. That's it.

 

Ref. VedaBase => GBC Meets with Srila Prabhupada -- May 28, 1977, Vrndavana