New Conference: The Guru and the Institution.

[Guest guest]

A new Conference has been started to examine the relationship between the

Gurus in ISKCON and the institution itself.

 

The following is a summary of a presentation on this subject given by His

Grace Kripamoya Prabhu at the recent all European managers meeting at

Radhadesa.

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The Guru and the Institution.

 

As the Founder-Acarya of ISKCON,Srila Prabhupada established a clear line of

authority that descended from himself,through the GBC Body, individual GBC

members and Temple Presidents to the devotees in general.

 

Within this system the Temple President was empowered as the immediate

authority for the disciples. He had the power to recommend initiates and was

their first source of instruction. The president's authority was well

established in ISKCON.

 

After Srila Prabhupada's disappearance, his natural authority as the leader

of the movement was inherited by many others on the governing body.

 

The ISKCON we find today has grown considerably since then. Many changes

have taken place.One of the greatest changes has been the development of a

network of members who no longer reside in the temples.In many countries

those 'outer' members greatly outnumber those who reside within the Temples.

 

The other change within ISKCON is the prevalence and role of the initiating

spiritual master and his natural authority within the life of the disciples.

 

These two changes are aspects of our successful growth: an increase in

congregational membership and an increase in the numbers of senior preachers

who have taken the role of guru.

 

It is natural for a disciple to view the guru as an authority. This is

described and encouraged in scripture. It is equally natural, within ISKCON,

to view the ISKCON institution as the authority in one's life. Although

'institutions' are not mentioned in scripture (and there may be no Sanskrit

word to describe what Srila Prabhupada has created for us) the

founder-acarya of ISKCON certainly stressed the importance of all devotees

working within the Society.

 

Yet the natural allegiance the disciple shows towards both the Society and

the guru seems to be creating two natural,yet divergent,lines of

authority.And their divergence is repeatedly the source of confusion.

 

Two systems of communication,spiritual instruction,service, and - perhaps

more controversially - funding, are developing. In time,if

unchallenged,these divergent systems could, in effect, bring about two

movements. Conceivably there could arise as many movements as there are

gurus.Rather like the Gaudiya Mission fracturing along guru-disciple lines,

ISKCON could become not a 'confederation of temples' but a 'confederation of

guru-led missions.'

 

In one sense this could be said to be a natural, organic, development more

based on relationships between disciples and gurus than institutional

allegiance. It would very closely resemble accounts found in scripture.It

might even feel better.

 

But it would not be what Srila Prabhupada wanted and therefore it would

fail.The united preaching mission he created would cease to exist within one

generation.

 

So what position does the guru occupy in ISKCON's structure? How can the

tension between institutional and charismatic authority be reconciled?

Please discuss with us on the Guru and the Institution Conference.

 

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(If you would like a more complete account of the above presentation, taken

from notes and a recording I can send it as an attached file.)

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Do you agree with these conclusions? Just how are the gurus and the

institution supposed to work together? This conference has been created to

try to discover how Srila Prabhupada intended ISKCON to develop into the

future with full cooperation amongst devotees at all levels.

 

If you would like to join the conference please answer to this text (with

the email address you want to use if you are not on com/pamho) and I will

add you as a receiver.

 

Your servant

Samba das

Conference organiser

and moderator.