Message to the GBC: Get Out of the Guru Business
BY: KSHAMABUDDHI DASA
Nov 28, USA (SUN) —
Since the passing of Srila Prabhupada and the dismantling of the ISKCON
ritvik system, the ISKCON GBC has taken the authority upon themselves
to oversee the regulating of diksha gurus in ISKCON. Though there is no
evidence that Srila Prabhupada ever endowed the GBC with the authority
to regulate, approve or disapprove gurus, the GBC has taken the
authority without authority from Srila Prabhupada or shastric
precedent.
Though,
there is some direct evidence from direct disciples that Srila
Prabhupada did grant the GBC authority to appoint ritviks as needed,
since the GBC has rejected the ritvik system, this authority to appoint
ritviks does not transfer over to being authority to regulate, appoint
or reject who performs the function of diksha guru in ISKCON.
However,
since the passing of Srila Prabhupada the GBC has assumed authority
over regulating diksha gurus in ISKCON and as such have overstepped
their authority and violated traditional Gaudiya etiquette in the
matter of guru and disciple relationships which are based upon faith,
trust and respect.
Since
the ISKCON GBC has deemed it proper to reject the ritvik system and
promote so-called traditional parampara, then the first order of
business would be to completely take their hands out of guru-disciple
affairs and allow the free flow of faith and trust to take it’s
own course without bureaucratic intervention or interruption.
If
the GBC insists to regulate and restrict guru-disciple affairs within
the devotee society, then they need to resort back to the ritvik
system. If the GBC wants to promote traditional parampara, then they
need to get their hands completely out of the guru business and stop
interfering with free choice and faith in the matter of accepting a
diksha guru.
As
Srila Sridhar Maharaja suggested, if senior disciples of Srila
Prabhupada accept the responsibility of accepting disciples, then they
should arrange for living space and housing for their followers in
quarters off of ISKCON property. ISKCON temples should be neutral zones
where no one guru or disciple of Srila Prabhupada exerts influence to
dominate, monopolize or overtake the temple community and make the
temple a personal stronghold.
In
order for ISKCON temples to be guru-neutral and free from prejudice and
discrimination either for or against any Vaishnava guru or disciple,
the matter of GBC favored, endorsed or approved gurus must be stopped
and ISKCON temples must become neutral zones where any guru and any
disciple is free to come and worship without fear of intimidation or
harassment by a popular guru who has a strong following in the
community.
Free
choice must be allowed to predominate. If a person makes a bad choice
for a guru, then that should be on that person and that guru. The GBC
should neither be endorsing or regulating gurus within the ISKCON
community. It was never their right, their authority or their business
to do so. The GBC cannot present one authoritative statement from Srila
Prabhupada where he grants the GBC oversight over the matter of
guru-disciple affairs in the ISKCON community.
ISKCON temples must be guru neutral if in fact Srila Prabhupada has
been removed as the diksha guru in ISKCON. Otherwise, the GBC has
become a renegade bureaucracy acting without authority in violation of
the Vaishnava principles in the matter of guru-disciple relationships.
The
message to the GBC from the ISKCON community is “Get out of the
guru business altogether”. Neither promote nor regulate the
guru-disciple affairs of the ISKCON community. Leave faith alone and do
your corporate managerial duties and stop assuming the authority of
God. The ISKCON GBC has no right or authority to interfere or meddle in
the business of guru-disciple affairs within the Vaishnava community.
The attempt to do so has resulted in massive disruption of the Krishna
consciousness movement.
