Back To Prabhupada, Issue 65, Vol 1, 2020
HH
Kadamba Kanana Swami ("KKS") is a GBC-elected guru in
ISKCON. He has written a book titled Guru and Disciple:
Awakening Spiritual Vision which aims to validate the
current ISKCON guru system of which he is a part – but as we
shall see, he actually ends up defeating it! All the shaded
quotes below are from this book. Emphases added.
"Diksa is the process through
which we are transferring transcendental knowledge,
[...] The spiritual master [...] is transferring
consciousness. Krsna is manifesting Himself in the pure
consciousness of the spiritual master, and this comes through
the spiritual master to the disciple." (p. 36)
KKS correctly explains the process of diksa
and how the spiritual master transmits it, being the transfer
of transcendental knowledge. As confirmed by Srila Prabhupada:
"In other words, the spiritual master
awakens the sleeping living entity to his original
consciousness so that he can worship Lord Visnu. This is the
purpose of diksa, or initiation. Initiation means
receiving the pure knowledge of spiritual consciousness."
(Cc., Madhya-lila, 9.61, purport)
KKS correctly explains that Srila Prabhupada
transfers this transcendental knowledge:
"Prabhupada's books are the main substance in our
lives. [...] So these transcendental books are our shelter,
giving us relief from material existence." (p. 10-11)
Thus, according to KKS, Srila Prabhupada is the one
who gives us this "diksa" or transcendental knowledge
transfer, since Srila Prabhupada's "transcendental books are
our shelter, giving us relief from material existence" and are
"the main substance in our lives".
"At the time of initiation, the disciple hands
over his life to the spiritual master [...] when one takes shelter
of the instructions of the spiritual master, then these
instructions begin to flourish within one's heart and one is
actually protected; then this knowledge becomes full of
fruits." (p. 20, 22)
KKS explains how the initiating or diksa
guru is the one in whose instructions one takes shelter.
However, KKS also states about Srila Prabhupada that:
"We meet him (Srila Prabhupada) in everything he
left – we meet him in his devotees, we meet him in his
books, we meet him in his instructions and so on." (p.
8)
And, in the previous section, we quoted KKS stating
that Srila Prabhupada's books are "the main substance in our
lives" which give us "our shelter". Consequently, combining
KKS's statements, he is admitting that, more than anyone else,
"one takes shelter of the instructions" of Srila Prabhupada as
the spiritual master. But, this is the spiritual master that
KKS describes as being the one to whom the "disciple hands
over his life" after being initiated by him. Thus, KKS
provides from a different angle, yet a further proof that
Srila Prabhupada should be the diksa guru who
initiates us.
KKS also states that Srila Prabhupada provides everything
that we need in order to practise Krsna
consciousness:
"We trust him [Srila Prabhupada] [...] for his
teachings and we know that in his teachings we will find
our answers; we find the basis of our Krsna
consciousness. This is where we return, to the safe
connection with Krsna." (p. 8)
KKS also states that Srila Prabhupada provides
everything that we need in order to sustain our
Krsna consciousness:
"Prabhupada is not only our inspiration,
not only the source of our faith but Prabhupada is
also our anchor. Whenever we have a doubt, Prabhupada
is the anchor, our saving grace. [...] He is the
safe ground to which we always return." (p. 8)
In addition, KKS makes it clear that, despite not
being physically present, it is Srila Prabhupada who is
practically training us to advance in Krsna consciousness:
"We are being trained by the pure devotee,
Srila Prabhupada, to gradually come to the point of
selfless worship, which can only be dedicated to the Supreme
Lord." (p. 12)
Indeed, KKS states that physical presence is not
important, as even he can supposedly
continue to act as a guru after he departs:
"after the disappearance of the spiritual master,
then the crux of our relationship is what we offer to the
spiritual master because it is there that we are again
strongly reconnecting and we can feel that connection
coming to life. [...] Assist me whether I'm here or
not and if you do that then I will be there." (p. 71)
Hence, similarly, KKS must accept that even though
Srila Prabhupada is ‘not here', everyone in ISKCON can have a
"connection coming to life" with Srila Prabhupada, through
having already connected to him as one's diksa guru
and the one who gives us everything in spiritual
life, as KKS described earlier. This everything which Srila
Prabhupada gives to everyone in ISKCON, according to KKS, is:
Diksa; Shelter; Instructions;
Teachings; Answers;
Basis of our Krsna consciousness;
Connection with Krsna; Inspiration;
Source of faith; Anchor;
Saving grace; Safe ground; Training.
Thus, having accepted that it is Srila Prabhupada,
and not he and the GBC gurus, giving all this, KKS is making
it clear that he and the GBC gurus are therefore not giving
anything spiritually. Indeed, he accepts that even the books
they write, such as this book, are not necessary:
"So many books are out there nowadays. Everyone
has written books. [...] the Bhagavad-gita,
the Nectar of Devotion, the Srimad-Bhagavatam
and the Caitanya-caritamrta are our four main books
which are like rice, dhal, sabji and chapati [...] But
basically, our staple diet is rice, dhal, sabji and chapati."
(p. 10)
Since KKS himself is acting as a GBC-elected guru,
the book's intent when speaking about the guru is to refer
specifically to himself and those who also act as "gurus" in
ISKCON. However, whenever ISKCON's leaders attempt to oppose
Srila Prabhupada's position as ISKCON's diksa guru,
their attempts usually result in a huge self-defeat! And this
book is no different, since it has proven that:
a) It is Srila Prabhupada who is
the diksa guru giving everything;
b) While KKS and the GBC gurus give nothing!
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