Srila Prabhupadas advise about Guru tattva

[Guest guest]

On 29 Jun 1999, Sthita-dhi-muni Dasa wrote:

> Yes, that is personalism. There will be different perspectives and so on

within the more general principles of Gaudiya Vaisnavism. But for me a

> sticking point might remain concerning maintaining a focus on Prabhupada's

perspective within his own institution -- judging from some of the things

being attributed to various gaudiya camps. I don't think that needs to be a

sticking point though, just a matter of basic respect for the principle of

what it means to be the founder/acaraya of a particular institution.

 

For me, the "sticky" point is that we have enshrined sectarianism and

anachronisms of the past in the name of "keeping our focus on Srila

Prabhupada." Srila B.R. Sridhara Maharaja nailed the problem on the head many

years ago in "Sri Guru and His Grace" when we termed what was going on in

ISKCON as "Society consciousness" instead of what we should be doing, Krsna

consciousness.

 

Similarly, ISKCON stands to gain a tremendous wealth of transcendental wisdom

and Gaudiya Vaisnava culture by intimating associating with Gaudiya Math

stalwarts. This doesn't necessitate losing our identity as Prabhupada's

followers or forgeting whatever we have learned from him. Every new knowledge

requires assimilation and accommodation. It's called *LEARNING*! Sometimes

this is a painful or an awkward process. Truth isn't always palatable. "You

are diseased," may seem like harsh words. But if it's true, we had best heed

them and take the appropriate action.

 

Our tattered history in ISKCON has shown that in the name of "following

Prabhupada strictly" (expression coined and liberally used in GBC position

papers during the Zonal Acarya era), our beloved leaders deviated us more from

the straight and narrow than anything we could possibly hear from Prabhupada's

godbrothers.

 

Sthita Prabhu's apprehension about the Gaudiya Math is therefore a *red

herring* -- an excuse that distracts us from the issues we urgently need to

address.

 

FACTS: Over the years, most devotees, Prabhupada disciples and grand-disciples

included, have lost faith in the leaders of ISKCON as spiritual authorities.

 

EVIDENCE: The hundreds and tens of thousands of disciples of Bhagavan,

Bhavananda, Ramesvara, Kirtanananda, Jagadisa, Hansadutta, etc and now

Harikesa have become orphans, suffering massive losses in faith and many of

them leaving devotional service /ISKCON as a direct consequence. Over the

years, these devotees have comprised the major part of ISKCON's active

members.

 

Furthermore, we know that many senior disciples of gurus WHO ARE NOT (yet)

considered "FALLEN" are losing faith that their gurus are competent enough to

lead them across the ocean of material existence.

 

And it goes without saying that the vast majority of Prabhupada's disciples

have little faith in ISKCON's leadership as a vital spiritual force.

 

ISKCON needs a spiritual shot in the arm, and it is not going to come from the

GBC -- or Bhakta Joe or Bhaktin Mary.

 

Let's get real. It's time to go back to our roots (something most of us

generally do in midlife) and recognize our greater Vaisnava family from which

ISKCON originally came and where we derive our strength. Let's graft the

ISKCON branch back onto the Gaudiya tree before it falls away completely (what

with rtvikvada, soft rtviik, sadhu-ninda, etc.)

 

Soberly,

 

Dasanudasa,

 

Srila dasa