Back To Prabhupada, Issue 81, 2024
Welcome to Issue 81 of Back To Prabhupada (BTP).
1) In previous issues, we have mentioned the ongoing "war" and division in ISKCON over whether or not the position of diksa guru can be occupied by a female. In a recent GBC meeting report about the discussions taking place to try to resolve this issue, it was stated:
"On the topic of guru-tattva, the committee conducted extensive research [...] The committee acknowledged that further clarity is needed on various aspects of guru-tattva before resolving Vaishnavi Diksha Guru. [...] Once a baseline understanding of guru-tattva is established, consultations will be held with a diverse group of devotee scholars"
(GBC Meeting Highlights Report, 18/9/24. All emphases in issue added.)
Thus, it is admitted that, even after almost 50 years since the physical departure of Srila Prabhupada, ISKCON's leaders have still not even established a "baseline understanding" of guru-tattva (the truth in understanding the spiritual master). Hence, this is also an admission that they still do not actually know what they are doing, despite having operated a concocted multi-successor diksa guru system during all that time. Imagine the uproar if the authorities who license doctors and regulate medicine were to suddenly make a parallel announcement such as:
"I know we have been propagating medicine and allowing doctors to practise it for over a century now, but we have just realised that:
1) We do not know what a doctor ("guru") actually is nor who can become one ("females?");
2) Nor do we even have the "baseline" understanding of medicine ("guru-tattva"), which would be needed to determine who can become a doctor."
There would be a national outcry, that people's lives had been gambled with all these years, given that no one knew what they were doing. But people's spiritual lives are actually more important. Yet, it was decided almost 50 years ago that everyone should be denied the privilege of being Srila Prabhupada's disciple and instead compulsory substitutes had to be accepted. This privilege would be forever kept for the first few thousand disciples only. And yet, such a momentous decision was based on nothing, as it is now admitted that they have never had even a "baseline" understanding of what they were doing. Indeed, as GBC voted-in guru HG Kalakantha Dasa ("KAL") admits, the decision to turn the zonal rtviks appointed by Srila Prabhupada into zonal diksa gurus instead, came about as follows. The GBC:
"did not know what to do. And they went to a certain elder Gaudiya leader and he kind of outlined the zonal-acarya system for them and so they did that"
(KAL, Interview, 3/8/24)
In a related development, in a recent article published by ISKCON's official news source, an "urgent" call was made to "reconnect with Srila Prabhupada's vision". The article stressed that it is urgent to have "a deeper understanding and connection with Srila Prabhupada's teachings" and that the movement must become "Prabhupada-centric":
"how to make our movement Prabhupada-centric. Recognizing and honoring Srila Prabhupada's position as the Founder-Acarya is crucial, ensuring stability and commitment to ISKCON. [...] We need all devotees to unite and strengthen our movement in a Prabhupada-centric manner [...] We aim to make this a worldwide mission."
("Revitalizing ISKCON: A Call to Reconnect with Srila Prabhupada's Vision", ISKCON News, 9/8/24)
Thus, a serious lack of connection to Srila Prabhupada amongst ISKCON members at large has been recognised, with various "Srila Prabhupada Connect" day events urgently being organised.
Hence, what should have been understood and established to begin with –
a) the issue of who can be guru;
b) Srila Prabhupada's vision
– is apparently now supposedly being done 50 years later. Do not be surprised if there are still such reports about how ISKCON's leaders are still trying to figure out the basics in 50 years' time as well!
Thank you and Hare Krsna.
In Srila Prabhupada's service,
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