Diksa guru as personal spiritual guide

[Guest guest]

> The weakness in the system is trying to establish such a personal

> relationship with unqualified gurus. They think of themselves as gurus

> when they are not, and we think of them as gurus because we don't want to

> see that they aren't. Instead we could try to see them as older brothers

> and sisters in God and develop close loving, caring relationships even if

> at a distance - like in "real" families who don't see their siblings all

> the time but maintain love.

 

I like Hare Krsna Dasi proposal, the relationship being very much like a

familial one, in which the disciple knows his relationship with his guru,

but no one else really needs to know that. The humility of both the disciple

and the guru has to be apparent though. Srila Prabhupada used to serve the

devotees. I envision a system in which there is competition in that the guru

strives to serve the disciple, and the disciple in horror, tries harder to

please the guru. At the same time the guru is completely honest, down to

earth, and also eager to advance in KC.

 

The person initiating should be very humble and transparent. I personaly

think that books such as Nectar of Instruction,and Nectar of Devotion should

be everday reading for all devotees continuously. Also Srila Prabhupada did

want certain works of previous acaryas tranlsated, ones which give more

detail of Siddhanta. Each guru should continuously review his own standing,

and that of his followers. I feel that the whole thing can only work if the

disciple and the guru actualy KNOW each other, and as long as the guru is

beyond reproach the disciple will feel secure. I think it will also be

healthy for the disciple to be taught the criteria for rejection of a guru,

and his relationship with the guru, is based on a very personal trust, which

springs from having associated with that person for a long time.

 

These gurus can be Kanistha or Madhyama as Srila PRabhupada has said, but

they know that, and let any aspiring servants know that. In order to

facilitate varnsarama the new devotees who find some inspirtion in these

teachers, rally round with them, and set up a small guru asrama or gurukula.

 

These asramas try to become self sufficient. Prabhupada teaches us that

agriculture is the noblest profession, and each asrama would aim to get a

little land to provide for itself. We understand that once sustainable

agriculture is in place, and as long as it is based on the subsistence of

the cultivators, as opposed to business, then there should be enough spare

time to engage in prayer, sankirtan (harinama and books).

 

The guru and his disciples spend all spare time praying to the Lord to send

pure devotees, which he loves to do, as long as there are people interested

in having such pure devotees. And in this way, simply and with humility we

would have many many small independant asramas, worldwide, whose goal is to

enter into the inner life, and become pure, in order to attract the Lord and

his devotees, while simultaneously preaching localy as much as they are

able, without burning themselves out.

 

Imagine... people like the six goswamis, Haridas Thakur, etc, etc, all

engaged in churning the nectar of Krsna Katha. It can be if we REALLY desire

it. Why should all new devotees have to listen wistfully to the stories of

Prabhupadas disciples, as they relate stories about that warm, loving

personality who walked amongst us, why should they not have a chance to meet

a loving impartial Krsna loving pure soul?

 

Ok you will argue that we dont need pure devotees because we have Srila

Prabhupadas books. Would you give up Srila PRabhupadas Physical association

to read a book? So why should others NOT pray for a pure devotee. Is it such

a bad idea?

 

Sd