Duties of GBC and Guru in ISKCON
BY: HH PRAHLADANANDA SWAMI
Oct 16, INDIA (SUN) — Srila Prabhupada created the GBC Body to oversee that his teachings are properly implemented within ISKCON. These teachings direct that everyone in ISKCON, including initiating and instructing gurus, work cooperatively under Srila Prabhupada's authority system to spread Krsna consciousness. Unfortunately, since the departure of Srila Prabhupada, the GBC Body has not maintained his clear authority structure. The Body has often delegated its authority to individuals or groups who act more as independent authorities and less as subordinate servants to ISKCON as a whole. In the absence of a clear authority structure, ISKCON sometimes swings from one extreme to the other, sometimes from autocracy to bureaucracy.
Amidst these swings a lack of cooperation, clear vision, and faith in Srila Prabhupada's teachings among ISKCON leaders has diminished the resources necessary for important programs, such as mass book distribution, regular harinams, gurukulas, and self-sufficient farm communities. In the absence of a GBC Body that clearly represents the desires of Srila Prabhupada to preach Krsna consciousness as a unified movement, the Society remains together more on the basis of a loose confederation of initiating gurus and independent local leaders, than as a unified movement of surrendered servants.
United on what basis?
Unity is very important, but more important is truth. If unity of the Society is on the basis of individual gain for sense gratification and personal prestige, what will be the value? ISKCON and its members can be successful in spiritual life only if they work purely to satisfy Lord Sri Krsna and His representatives, the previous acaryas.
Should any or many of Srila Prabhupada's servants be acaryas?
Pure devotional service means working not only with humility, but also with discrimination according to the absolute perspective. One on a higher level of devotional service clearly knows, in all circumstances, Lord Krsna's desires and how to fulfill them. This knowledge requires transcendental awareness and expertise. A devotee who has attained the stage of uttama-adhikari possesses such knowledge. (1)
The Supreme Lord’s representatives are on different levels. One level comprises those who preach according to their degree of realization to help those on lower levels of consciousness advance. A devotee on this level is generally on the platform of kanistha- or madhyama-adhikari realization. Another level comprises those devotees who, being situated in transcendence, can convey perfect understanding of Krsna consciousness under all circumstances and to all audiences. The acarya in the true sense of the term is on this level-that of an uttama-adhikari Vaisnava. (2)
The advanced devotee manifests transcendental qualities and realization because of his unalloyed Krsna consciousness. (3) When an iron bar is completely and steadily immersed in a fire, it becomes just like fire. Such an uttama-adhikari Vaisnava is in perfect touch with the Supersoul and at every moment knows the Supreme Lord’s desires. He can convey the Lord’s desires to his followers with perfect discretion. Such a perfect devotee has no material desires and is never agitated under any material circumstance. (4)
Different levels of preachers
An uttama-adhikari perfectly realizes he is not the independent doer of the activities performed by his body; he knows he is an instrument for his spiritual master and the Supersoul. If he takes disciples, he is not bewildered into thinking that he has become their proprietor, nor does he wish to enjoy his disciples, either grossly or subtly. (5)
Although sastra recommends that the spiritual master generally should be chosen from among uttama-adhikari Vaisnavas, one may sometimes choose a spiritual master from the second- or even third-class level. Although disciples think of the spiritual master as their guru, no bona fide spiritual master thinks he is a “guru;” he thinks of himself only as the servant of his spiritual master and Lord Krsna. When he gives instructions to his disciples, he knows these instructions come from the disciplic succession, through his own spiritual master, by the grace of the Supreme Lord in his heart. When his disciples follow such instructions, he learns from them how to be a better servant of his spiritual master and the Lord. Thus he takes his disciples as his guru. (6)
Guru as representative of the Supersoul
Both the initiating and instructing spiritual masters represent of the Supersoul. (7) The guru is actually one; the guru is the Supersoul. The guru, as the representative of the Supersoul, may appear differently externally, but the transcendental message is the same. Therefore, no real representative of God can disagree with another representative of God. Sometimes it seems there are disagreements among genuine representatives of God, but these are not disagreements, only different perspectives on the same subject. When disagreement or confusion arises among Vaisnavas about transcendental subjects, it is almost always a symptom that at least someone involved, if not everyone, is not perfectly in touch with the Supersoul and thus lacks a clear perspective on the transcendental platform.
Pretension will lead to falldown
Sometimes someone may pretend to be a self-realized soul. Such pretenders may try to hide their imperfections. However, when discovered, such a cheating mentality will only serve to diminish their followers’ faith in the Lord and His representatives.
Just as a sterile woman cannot give birth to a child simply by imitating the sound of a pregnant woman, no one can become an uttama-adhikari Vaisnava by imitation. The pretentious imitation of an uttama-adhikari Vaisnava will lead to offenses and eventual falldown. (8)
The aspiration to be a reputed preacher based on desires for profit, adoration, and distinction is subtle, but nonetheless a product of sex desire. As soon and as much as there is material desire, one’s consciousness is covered and one is disqualified from acting independently based solely on one’s own inspiration, without consultation with authorities. (9)
It is not necessary to pose oneself as a pure devotee when one is not actually a pure devotee. A pretentious person, by politics, often obligates his followers to worship him beyond what he merits. Everything should be done naturally. Worship should not be manipulated by force or politics, but by genuine love according to the devotion that one inspires. (10)
Art of cooperation
To spread Krsna consciousness in the absence of an advanced uttama-adhikari Vaisnava, third-class and second-class Vaisnavas must follow the instructions of Srila Prabhupada and learn the art of cooperation. (11) Such cooperative devotional service based on truth will also help the devotees advance to the higher platforms of pure devotional service. A first-class devotee naturally knows the art of cooperation.
How to settle disagreements among devotees
On a spiritual topic of disagreement, if no one devotee’s judgment is recognized as final, then devotees should resolve their differences by patient investigation done in a humble prayerful mood based on Srila Prabhupada books, instructions, and example. By the mercy of the Supreme Lord, such an investigation produces a clear understanding among the devotees, who can then act to serve the Supreme Lord with full conviction and enthusiasm.
The GBC’s position
The GBC Body, while acknowledging its imperfections, must naturally function as the ultimate governing authority of ISKCON. (12) The GBC derives its authority from Srila Prabhupada's instructions and must try to understand them and execute them as he would desire. Therefore, the GBC Body’s authority must rest on humility and truth.
According to Srila Prabhupada's instructions, the GBC Body’s principal duties are to organize the worldwide preaching and to supervise the local temples and their members. Each GBC member should see that the devotees whom he or she is serving as a GBC secretary are performing activities in a Krsna conscious way and are enthusiastic to spread Krsna consciousness. The GBC Body and its members are not to interfere unnecessarily in the affairs of the local temples. (13)
The GBC Body also must be vigilant that the management system Srila Prabhupada created is not interfered with and that the actual purposes of ISKCON are purely maintained. The Body must see that its members are doing their service properly and that no one in ISKCON is falsely assuming a role of authority.
The initiating guru in ISKCON
The initiating gurus in ISKCON derive their authority from the orders of the previous acaryas, as revealed by Srila Prabhupada. Srila Prabhupada clearly established ISKCON’s system of management with Temple Presidents, Secretaries, and Treasurers, under the supervision of a GBC representative and ultimately the GBC Body. He gave no managerial position to the initiating gurus within ISKCON. Therefore, even after initiating disciples, they are subordinate to the managerial authorities established by Srila Prabhupada.
The principal duty of an initiating guru is to act as an acarya for disciples and demonstrate how to follow the example of Srila Prabhupada and carry out his instructions. The initiating gurus must also show their disciples how to work cooperatively with other devotees in the preaching movement of ISKCON. (14) Srila Prabhupada has given the position of ultimate authority in ISKCON to the GBC Body, so how can an initiating guru make a claim of absolute authority over his disciples or proprietorship of their assets? Of course, the mood of the disciple is that of surrender to the guru, but the mood of the bona fide guru is also that of surrender to the instructions of his own guru. That is disciplic succession.
Why the Gaudiya Matha failed
After the disappearance of Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura, members of the Gaudiya Matha disobeyed the orders of their spiritual master by establishing an acarya system, and thus did not work cooperatively to spread Krsna consciousness under a GBC system. Instead they divided into different camps that elected acaryas as their leaders. The result was that the preaching stopped. (15)
Why ISKCON is in danger of failing
Srila Prabhupada also established a GBC Body and asked everyone to work under its direction. The members of the Body were to see that the purposes of ISKCON as expressed by His Divine Grace are maintained, and that, if possible, the preaching mission is expanded. (16) But as with the Gaudiya Matha, just after His Divine Grace’s disappearance, leading disciples disobeyed the orders of the Founder Acarya to work cooperatively under the GBC Body and, although the GBC Body met yearly, each initiating guru virtually occupied the position of an acarya in his zone. These diksa gurus divided the world into 11 zonal acarya regions and disunited the mission.
Some of these initiating spiritual masters claimed that they had become perfect uttama-adhikari Vaisnavas simply by Srila Prabhupada's having appointed them to the position of initiating guru in ISKCON. Generally, without supervision by the GBC Body, they controlled their disciples and assets collected in ISKCON’s name. Often, the initiating gurus’ absolute authority over their disciples undermined the authority of local temple leaders. The GBC Body at that time often allowed the initiating gurus to assume unrestricted authority. Later on, the resultant fall-downs of most of these zonal acaryas further disrupted the mission.
The imitation of uttama-adhikaris by these neophyte devotees undoubtedly led to their fall-downs and many subsequent problems in ISKCON. The GBC Body didn’t properly understand its duties or the position of the initiating guru in ISKCON. Even to this day, although there are no longer official zonal acaryas in ISKCON, many of the same misconceptions have continued to create division among the Society’s members, as well as to discourage some sincere devotees, who have consequently distanced themselves from Srila Prabhupada’s movement in various ways. Those who control the assets and followers in the Society are rarely accountable for their activities. Thus in ISKCON we not only still have what amounts to zonal acaryas in different parts of the world, such as India, but we have independent temple presidents or preachers accountable to one but themselves.
ISKCON sometimes takes pride in accomplishments that prove to be only temporary. Sometimes our successes in these areas have demonstrated ISKCON’s strengths in having determined and faithful preachers who are willing to make sacrifices to spread Krsna consciousness, but have also distracted us from the deeper management problems in other areas.
For example, in the former Eastern Block nations, in the absence of a strong Krsna conscious leader, a pattern is sometimes visible. After the demise of the Communist system, many people became interested in the process of Krsna consciousness and joined the temples. This resulted in a large force of preachers and a surge in book distribution. However, after some time the devotees married and had children, and then preaching and book distribution diminished, and ISKCON began to look more like a church than a preaching movement. Although strong senior preachers certainly added to the initial success-and still add to the on going success in these areas-ISKCON’s success appears to be due more to circumstances than to a viable management system that encourages long-term preaching.
Another example can be seen in India, where there are many successes. However, again it is likely that success is due not to a viable management system, but to the unique circumstances of India, which are sometimes the underlying factors that have resulted in many devotees having been initiated and large temples having been built. These unique circumstances include cultural receptivity to Krsna consciousness, combined with a natural acceptance of an acarya system that appeals to the sentiments of the mass of Indian people. Indian people, due to their cultural heritage, are naturally sympathetic to many of the ideals of Krsna consciousness and often easily give support to ISKCON. However, sometimes in India and abroad, the devotees who are engaging Indians sometimes take advantage of this propensity and do not always focus on training the Indian congregation to come to a higher standard of sadhana and engage them in preaching the mission of Lord Caitanya.
The absence of a strong GBC Body and management system has created a authority vacuum within ISKCON. The devotees who join ISKCON often are more loyalty to their initiating guru than to the management structure of the Society. We have seen big temples such as in Bangalore leave ISKCON, and without learning from our mistakes, we do not sufficiently supervise our leaders or the Society’s projects. In some places, the strategy of a charismatic leader and experienced managers has encouraged many devotees to join and take initiation. However, when the devotees do not identify themselves as subordinate to the authority structure of the ISKCON society, in the future, when the current gurus leave their bodies, it is not clear what will to happen to such projects.
Solution
The last snare of maya is to think oneself God, or even God’s pure representative, worthy to be worshiped and served by others. It is an attachment that can adversely affect one’s mentality and dealings with others. It is an attachment that is difficult to give up. It is an attachment that has ruined preaching movements such as the Gaudiya Matha.
Presently the GBC Body lacks authority. Some of its leading members are initiating gurus who do not want to surrender their high degree of autonomy in the Society. Some leaders in ISKCON cooperate with the Society only as long as they can retain their own autonomy. Many second-generation disciples whose gurus have fallen down have lost faith in ISKCON authorities. On the other hand, some disciples think that it is only their guru who will save them.
If the GBC Body is to regain its authority, its members must become a disciplined body of devotees who are clearly selfless and enlightened in their dedication to Srila Prabhupada's mission. The GBC members must cooperate to advance the world-wide mission of preaching Krsna consciousness and to educate the devotees of ISKCON in Srila Prabhupada's philosophy and practical management systems. To achieve this goal, a strong system of training all the devotees, and especially the potential leaders, should be instituted in the Society by the GBC Body. This system must ensure that all the leaders share the same understanding and values of spiritual principles and the managerial structure of ISKCON.
The gurus, initiating and instructing, have important roles in ISKCON. The GBC Body must see that they and everyone else perform their services not as masters but as servants of Srila Prabhupada and his Society. Only if the leaders sincerely try to become servants of the previous acaryas and give up the controlling and enjoying propensities can Srila Prabhupada's mission succeed. If the leaders take up this mood, they will find infinitely more spiritual pleasure in acting as Krsna's simple instruments than in continuing even a subtle controlling mentality in trying to be appreciated as apparently empowered spiritual preachers.
FOOTNOTES:
(1) “The devotee in the first or uppermost class is described as follows. He is very expert in the study of relevant scriptures, and he is also expert in putting forward arguments in terms of those scriptures. He can very nicely present conclusions with perfect discretion and can consider the ways of devotional service in a decisive way. He understands perfectly that the ultimate goal of life is to attain to the transcendental loving service of Krsna, and he knows that Krsna is the only object of worship and love. This first-class devotee is one who has strictly followed the rules and regulations under the training of a bona fide spiritual master and has sincerely obeyed him in accord with revealed scriptures. Thus, being fully trained to preach and become a spiritual master himself, he is considered first class. The first-class devotee never deviates from the principles of higher authority, and he attains firm faith in the scriptures by understanding with all reason and arguments. When we speak of arguments and reason, it means arguments and reason on the basis of revealed scriptures. The first-class devotee is not interested in dry speculative methods meant for wasting time. In other words, one who has attained a mature determination in the matter of devotional service can be accepted as the first-class devotee.
(NoD Chapter 3: Eligibility of a Candidate for Accepting Devotional Service)
(2) “There are two kinds of instructing spiritual masters. One is the liberated person fully absorbed in meditation in devotional service, and the other is he who invokes the disciple’s spiritual consciousness by means of relevant instructions. Thus the instructions in the science of devotion are differentiated in terms of the objective and subjective ways of understanding.
(Adi 1.47)
“The acarya in the true sense of the term, who is authorized to deliver Krsna, enriches the disciple with full spiritual knowledge and thus awakens him to the activities of devotional service.” (Adi 1.47)
(3)
yasyasti bhaktir bhagavaty akincana
sarvair gunais tatra samasate surah
harav abhaktasya kuto mahad-guna
mano-rathenasati dhavato bahih
All the demigods and their exalted qualities, such as religion, knowledge and renunciation, become manifest in the body of one who has developed unalloyed devotion for the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Vasudeva. On the other hand, a person devoid of devotional service and engaged in material activities has no good qualities. Even if he is adept at the practice of mystic yoga or the honest endeavor of maintaining his family and relatives, he must be driven by his own mental speculations and must engage in the service of the Lord's external energy. How can there be any good qualities in such a man?
(SB 5.18.12)
(4) “By the process of executing regulated devotional service, one is actually elevated onto the transcendental stage, beyond the material modes of nature. At that time one's heart becomes illuminated like the sun. The sun is far above the planetary systems, and there is no possibility of its being covered by any kind of cloud; similarly, when a devotee is purified like the sun, from his pure heart there is a diffusion of ecstatic love which is more glorious than the sunshine. Only at that time is the attachment to Krsna perfect. Spontaneously, the devotee becomes eager to serve the Lord in his ecstatic love. At this stage the devotee is on the platform of uttama-adhikari, perfect devotion. Such a devotee has no agitation from material affections and is interested only in the service of Radha and Krsna.
(NoD Chapter 17: Ecstatic Love)
(5) "The author of Bhakti-rasamrta-sindhu, Srila Rupa Goswami, very humbly submits that he is just trying to spread Krsna consciousness all over the world, although he humbly thinks himself unfit for this work. That should be the attitude of all preachers of the Krsna consciousness movement, following in the footsteps of Srila Rupa Goswami. We should never think of ourselves as great preachers, but should always consider that we are simply instrumental to the previous acaryas, and simply by following in their footsteps we may be able to do something for the benefit of suffering humanity.”
(6) “On the whole, you may know that he is not a liberated person, and therefore, he cannot initiate any person to Krsna Consciousness. It requires special spiritual benediction from higher authorities.
The statements of Thakura Bhaktivinode are as good as scriptures because he is liberated person. Generally the spiritual master comes from the group of such eternal associates of the Lord; but anyone who follows the principles of such ever liberated persons is as good as one in the above mentioned group. The gurus from nature's study are accepted as such on the principle that an elevated person in Krsna Consciousness does not accept anyone as disciple, but he accepts everyone as expansion of his guru. That is very high position, called Maha-bhagavata. Just like Radharani, sometimes thinks a subordinate of hers as her teacher, to understand devotion of Krsna. A person who is liberated acharya and guru cannot commit any mistake, but there are persons who are less qualified or not liberated, but still can act as guru and acharya by strictly following the disciplic succession. It is the injunction of the sastras that anyone who sees the Deity in the Temple as made of wood or stone, or considers the acaryas and gurus as ordinary common men, and discriminates Vaisnavas or devotees as belonging to a certain group or caste, are called hellish.”
(Letter to: Janardana -- New York 26 April, 1968)
But the spiritual master does not think of himself as Hari. Although he's offered the respect of Hari, he thinks himself as humble servant of Hari and all others. A spiritual master takes his devo..., disciples as his spiritual master. That is the position. He thinks that "Krsna has sent me so many spiritual masters." He does not think himself as spiritual master. He thinks himself their servant. Because they have to be trained. Krsna has appointed him to train them. Therefore he thinks himself as servant of the disciples. This is the position. So when one is advanced, he can see the importance of devotees. (The Nectar of Devotion--Vrindavana, October 23, 1972)
(7) Srila Krsnadasa Kaviraja Gosvami states that the instructing spiritual master is a bona fide representative of Sri Krsna. Sri Krsna Himself teaches us as the instructing spiritual master from within and without. From within He teaches as Paramatma, our constant companion, and from without He teaches from the Bhagavad-gita as the instructing spiritual master. (Adi-lila: 1.47)
(8) “However, one should not imitate the behavior of an advanced devotee or maha-bhagavata without being self-realized, for by such imitation one will eventually become degraded.” (NoI Verse 5)
(9) A neophyte devotee is certain to be attacked by other material desires as well, namely desires for women and money. In this way the heart is again filled with dirty things and becomes harder and harder, like that of a materialist. Gradually one desires to become a reputed devotee or an avatara (incarnation).
(Madhya lila 12.135)
(10) Prabhupada: "...after you, who will take the leadership?" And "Everyone will take, all my disciples. If you want, you can take also. (laughter) But if you follow. They are prepared to sacrifice everything, so they'll take the leadership. I may, one, go away, but there will be hundreds, and they'll preach. If you want, you can also become a leader. We have no such thing, that 'Here is leader.' Anyone who follows the previous leadership, he's a leader. 'Indian,' we have no such distinction, 'Indian,' 'European.' "
Brahmananda: They wanted an Indian to be the leader?
Prabhupada: Yes. (laughs) "Everyone, all my disciples, they are leaders. As purely as they follow, they become leader. If you want to follow, you can become a leader.
(Room Conversation, November 2, 1977)
(11) “Srila Prabhupada emphasized, "Your love for me will be tested how after my departure you maintain this institution. We have glamour and people are feeling our weight. This should be maintained. Not like Gaudiya Math. After Guru Maharaja's departure so many acaryas came up. We have won so many important court decisions."
(TKG’s Diary: Prabhupada’s final days)
(12) Srila Prabhupada's will 1977
(13) Prabhupada: The... The money matters should be dealt with the president, secretary and the treasurer, three men. Out of three, two should sign. And GBC's business is to see that things are going on, money matters. That's all. GBC is not supposed to deal directly. He has to inspect. That's all.
Atreya Rsi: So I can cross this...
Prabhupada: Just like... But the thing is, if the GBC and the president is the same man, that is not good. That is not good. The president should be separate. So the president, treasurer and secretary, they will deal directly, and GBC should inspect book, account, that it is done very nicely. That's all. You can question, "Why you have done this?" That's nice. Otherwise, in the..., it will be difficult to manage. (Conversation with GBC March 1974)
(14) "So it is the duty of the spiritual master to promote the devotees from the kanistha-adhikara to the madhyama-adhikari. Not to keep them. My Guru Maharaja, sometimes he used to lament because so many disciples he had, but nobody was coming out very nice preacher.”
(The Nectar of Devotion--Vrindavana, November 4, 1972
(15) The words daivera karana indicate that by dint of providence, or by God's will, the followers of Advaita Acarya divided into two parties. Such disagreement among the disciples of one acarya is also found among the members of the Gaudiya Matha. In the beginning, during the presence of Om Visnupada Paramahamsa Parivrajakacarya Astottara-sata Sri Srimad Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura Prabhupada, all the disciples worked in agreement; but just after his disappearance, they disagreed. One party strictly followed the instructions of Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura, but another group created their own concoction about executing his desires. Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura, at the time of his departure, requested all his disciples to form a governing body and conduct missionary activities cooperatively. He did not instruct a particular man to become the next acarya. But just after his passing away, his leading secretaries made plans, without authority, to occupy the post of acarya, and they split into two factions over who the next acarya would be. Consequently, both factions were asara, or useless, because they had no authority, having disobeyed the order of the spiritual master. Despite the spiritual master's order to form a governing body and execute the missionary activities of the Gaudiya Matha, the two unauthorized factions began litigation that is still going on after forty years with no decision.
(Adi-lila 12.8)
(16) Prabhupada: Stick to our principle, and see our GBC is very alert. Then everything will go on, even I am not present. Do that. That is my request. Whatever little I have taught you, follow that, and nobody will be aggrieved. No maya will touch you. Now Krsna has given us, and there will be no scarcity of money. You print book and sell. So everything is there. We have got good shelter all over the world. We have got income. You stick to our principles, follow the... Even if I die suddenly, you'll be able to manage. That's all. That I want. Manage nicely and let the movement go forward. Now arrange. Don't go backward. Be careful.
(Room Conversation April 22, 1977, Bombay)
