Tulsi Dasa

[Guest guest]

1996

 

208 That, in cases where the formal guru-disciple relationship has not been

properly sanctioned by procedures given in ISKCON Law, no ISKCON member

shall engage in giving any of the elements of the initiation

ceremony---such as: giving a devotional name, giving sanctified chanting

beads, or neck beads, or participating in some ceremony or ritual of

commitment--in any number or combination, to other devotees in ISKCON or

it's congregations, with the stated or unstated purpose or effect of

creating the resemblance of a formal Guru-disciple relation.

When such unauthorized activities have already taken place :

a) all participants should be informed that no initiation has taken place,

nor any binding pledge leading towards initiation b) The junior devotee in

the transaction should seek to establish a relationship with an authorized

initiating guru in whom he can place full faith c) All devotees must cease

using any names given, if any.

 

209 A. That the following activities are not allowed as part of ISKCON

functions, whether conducted on ISKCON property or elsewhere: B. Satya

Narayana Katha. (This is a concocted form of worship).

C. Garbha dance, when it is conducted in association with the worship of

Durga. (Garbha dance is usually performed as part of Nava-ratri, a Durga

festival. However, there are also Garbha dances in glorification of

Krishna. Temple authorities permitting a Garbha dance must be confident that

the performance is entirely Krishna centered.) D. The reading of

Tulsidasa's Rama-carita-manasa. (Ramayana readings should be from Valmiki

Ramayana, as Tulsidasa's work is tinged with impersonalism.) E. Lectures

advocating Mayavada or other offensive philosophies.

F. The singing of the Hindi arati song "om jaya jagadisha hari". (This is a

prayer for material benedictions).

2. Regarding worship of demigods:

A. Worship of demigods as independent gods is not permitted in Krishna

consciousness. However, the Nectar of Devotion says that demigods should be

respected. Worshipping demigods as Vaisnavas is authorized. For preaching,

in order to teach people the right position of the demigods as great

Vaisnavas, ISKCON temples may hold on special occasions ceremonies or pujas

respecting and worshipping demigods as great Vaisnavas, provided:

i) The worship is only as a Vaisnava (This means that the

deva/devi shall be offered: the prasadam arotika items

immediately after they are offered to Lord Krishna, Krishna prasadam flower

garlands, and Krishna prasadam foodstuffs. No independent worship is

offered. Only the chanting of Hare Krishna and Vishnu's names is done, as

Lord Caitanya did in South India.)

ii) Their status as servants of Krishna is made as clear as

possible through signs, symbols, and iconography, and

iii) Offerings are of Krishna prasadam.

B. Deities of demigods (incl. Lakshmi where no Vishnu is established),

shall not be established without permission of the GBC. Where they are

permitted or where ISKCON aquires a temple with already established murtis

of demigods, they may remain, provided they are worshipped as Vaisnavas, as

provided above.

3. It is permitted for other groups, at the discretion of the local

ISKCON authorities, to rent space in ISKCON premises, outside the temple

room, for their own ceremonies and functions, even for functions listed

above (1.A-E), provided that the public understand clearly that the function

is not being sponsored or conducted by ISKCON. However, no function on

ISKCON property shall include any activity contrary to the four regulative

principles. The GBC recommends that temples provide outside groups rental

contracts clearly stipulating the above restrictions.