Feb 16, 2013 — AUSTRALIA (SUN) — Reflections on H.H. Bhakti Vikasa Swami's lecture regarding the qualification of conditioned souls as gurus.
Hare Krishna Maharaja. Please accept my humble obeisances. All glories to Srila
Prabhupada.
I have only met you the one time, in about 1989, when you visited New Varshana in New Zealand, staying for some time. I was working at that time at Gopals Restaurant in downtown Auckland. I can't remember if Sikhandi prabhu or myself was managing there at that time. I recall coming down to the first floor restaurant area to see how the daily cleanup was taking shape. The matajis were over in the couch area talking and laughing together. You were sitting away and apart from them, studiously studying Srila Prabhupada's books, absorbed and aloof from their noisy conversations. You were sincere, determined, and strict. It was inspiring to see a real brahmachari in action. I appreciated you then as I do now. My personal understandings below are not meant as a challenge to you, who I consider worthy of my ongoing respect and admiration. In fact, I agree with almost all you say.
* Early in his lecture, Maharaja mentions the disheartening situation for those whose guru has fallen. This is more often than not the case, although we should be able to appreciate, in a positive light, that when the Acharya (Srila Prabhupada) is not followed properly, the guru (or anyone else) will fall away. It is a sad situation, but one that ultimately enables us to understand the greatness of Srila Prabhupada (and to an appreciative and thankful degree, His sincere followers). We can become inspired to learn from mistakes of others (and our own) no matter how unpalatable, and not be too disheartened by them.
* The Ritvik understanding that Srila Prabhupada has to initiate us in order to follow Him is obviously a concoction. Maharaja clearly establishes this. There is though, one understanding that a diksha initiated disciple of Srila Prabhupada doesn't often have. That is, the fully objective ability to experience the potency (and reality) of Srila Prabhupada to guide and reciprocate with His followers who never met Him in person. This has been experienced many times over by those who have been forced by fate, circumstance, or personal proclivity to take primary shelter of Srila Prabhupada's books (in the company of like-minded devotees).
The books are personal, the teachings are personal, and the relationship is personal, although not diksha. I fully sympathise with (and admire) those who have the courage of conviction to want the best guidance possible from the best leader possible (Srila Prabhupada). A true representative of Srila Prabhupada will try his best to lead his followers to Srila Prabhupada. I believe Bhakti Vikasa Swami is trying his best to do this. I personally appreciate it. Thank you Maharaja.
* The amara ajnaya guru hana tara ei desa verse ( excuse my lack of diacritics) is one of the most misquoted verses ever in justification of diksha gurus. The verse actually refers to becoming spiritual master by preaching the message of the Lord in an unadulterated fashion to everyone we meet. This doesn't require that preacher to be (or become) a diksha guru, as exemplified by the many quotes given by Srila Prabhupada related to the verse. Please read them. Here they are. Of course, this means a diksha guru should also follow in the same way.
* The allowance given in the Nectar of Instruction regarding the choice to accept madyama or kanishta devotees as diksha guru is correct (as are all Srila Prabhupada's teachings on disciplic succession). However, as stated by Srila Prabhupada, such guidance is considered insufficient, which according to the Oxford Modern English Dictionary, also means inadequate. An uttama-adhikari devotee is the guru Srila Prabhupada guides us to take initiation from almost every single time he has discussed the matter. Exceptions to the rule are not as significant as the rule itself, although not necessarily contradictions either, and can be applied according to time, place, and circumstance. As Srila Prabhupada amply points out on many occasions, a perfect follower of a perfect devotee is also worthy to be followed (or even initiated by).
In the case of modern day ISKCON (as far as I can see), the exception to the rule may be the best we have for now. Srila Prabhupada gave differing examples of the qualification of uttama-adhikari, mostly stressing the fully liberated aspect, but occasionally referring simply to one who is strictly following rules, regulations, and shastra (siddhanta). I find the easiest means to determine the status of a guru is to first differentiate those who are not qualified (either in practice or siddhanta, according to Srila Prabhupada‘s teachings). The few gurus not eliminated by such a study may well be worth following.
* Maharaja mentioned faith being an important principle of advancement. I agree, but there are gradations of faith depending on who we are reposing our faith in. One can have complete faith that the person they are following (although conditioned) will never fall down and continue to advance, due to personally witnessing the behaviour and words of that guru. On the other hand, as quoted by Bhaktivinoda Thakura (I think - or maybe Vishvanatha Chakravati Thakura) the danger with reposing full faith in a madyama-adhikari is that due to lack of complete realisation, the madyama-adhikari (not one coming down from the uttama platform) has a foot in both camps (material and spiritual) and therefore may sometimes be leading his disciples toward Krishna, and at other times due to illusion, personal desire, or misunderstanding, may lead his disciples away from Krishna toward some material scheme.
* The important and good point that Maharaja makes is that of ‘guidance' given by the guru, and sincere ‘following' by the disciple. A concomitant result of receiving good guidance will be the desire for initiation into a bona-fide sampradaya. Nevertheless, guidance, and submission to that guidance is the foremost point. Initiation is a natural consequence arising due to heartfelt appreciation for the preceptor. Real initiation, as stressed by Maharaja, cannot be forced, but is given and accepted on the principle of love, or at least knowledge based faith.
* Regarding the 6th verse of the Sri Sri Gurv-astaka prayers we sing every morning at mangala arati, Maharaja has stated that disciples can sing this in honour of a conditioned soul spiritual master to the degree that the disciple sees the qualities and nature of serving Krishna's amorous pastimes manifest in the conditioned soul spiritual master. This one, I'm afraid, seems a concocted speculation not verified by any teaching of Srila Prabhupada I have read (correct me if I am wrong - using Srila Prabhupada's own words), and should be consigned to the dust bin of handy rationalisations. It is a verse (and song) most beneficially sung in glorification of fully liberated pure devotees.
In conclusion: I believe that all devotees, past, present, and future, who are attempting to serve Srila Prabhupada, should be respected and appreciated, in varying degrees, according to their status (both spiritual and material). Only in this way can we unite and serve in harmony, while keeping Srila Prabhupada well and truly in the centre. Residual unpalatable personality traits should usually be overlooked, as they will surely be extinguished very soon by the very nature of Bhakti itself.
Thank you again Maharaja, for honestly broaching difficult subjects, and more importantly, for strictly following and presenting, to the best of your ability, the teachings of His Divine Grace A.C Bhaktivedanta Srila Prabhupada.
Yours in the service of Srila Prabhupada and His sincere followers,
Rakshana das
