Prahlādānanda Swami | Srila Prabhupada’s Vyasa-puja Book

Dear Śrīla Prabhupāda,

nama oṁ viṣṇu-pādāya kṛṣṇa-preṣṭhāya bhū-tale
śrīmate bhaktivedānta-svāminn iti nāmine

namas te sārasvate deve gaura-vāṇī-pracāriṇe
nirviśeṣa-śūnyavādi-pāścātya-deśa-tāriṇe

Since there are many statements and instructions of Śrīla Prabhupāda on guru-tattva and not all of them may be seen as consistent, it will take a concerted effort on the part of many senior devotees in ISKCON to assimilate them and arrive at a clear understanding of how to implement them.

Here are some of Śrīla Prabhupāda’s statements and instructions about who should be an initiating guru in ISKCON and what their role should be.

In many places, Śrīla Prabhupāda states that one’s shelter should be a completely pure devotee. In the Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (7.5.32) Prahlāda Mahārāja says:

naiṣāṁ matis tāvad urukramāṅghriṁ
spṛśaty anarthāpagamo yad-arthaḥ
mahīyasāṁ pāda-rajo-’bhiṣekaṁ
niṣkiñcanānāṁ na vṛṇīta yāvat

Unless they smear upon their bodies the dust of the lotus feet of a Vaiṣṇava completely freed from material contamination, persons very much inclined toward materialistic life cannot be attached to the lotus feet of the Lord, who is glorified for His uncommon activities. Only by becoming Kṛṣṇa conscious and taking shelter at the lotus feet of the Lord in this way can one be freed from material contamination.

Also, Śrīla Prabhupāda writes in the Bhagavad-gītā (2.8, purport): “Therefore, the conclusion is that a spiritual master who is one hundred percent Kṛṣṇa conscious is the bona fide spiritual master, for he can solve the problems of life.”

In his purport to verse 5 of The Nectar of Instruction, Śrīla Prabhupāda states that only a mahā-bhāgavata devotee should accept and utilize unsupervised contributions:

Indeed, the advanced uttama-adhikārī Vaiṣṇava devotee should be accepted as a spiritual master. Everything one possesses should be offered to him, for it is enjoined that one should deliver whatever he has to the spiritual master. The brahmacārī in particular is supposed to beg alms from others and offer them to the spiritual master. However, one should not imitate the behavior of an advanced devotee or mahā-bhāgavata without being self-realized, for by such imitation one will eventually become degraded.

In his Declaration of Will (June 1977), Śrīla Prabhupāda grants only his appointed managers, such as temple presidents and the GBC, the authority to manage ISKCON’s devotees and followers. He doesn’t give such authority to anyone else, including śikṣā- or dīkṣā-gurus:

1. The Governing Body Commission (GBC) will be the ultimate managing authority of the entire International Society for Krishna Consciousness.

2. Each temple will be an ISKCON property and will be managed by three executive directors. The system of management will continue as it is now and there is no need of any change.

Now, we also find that others who are not on the perfectional level of Kṛṣṇa consciousness can also give initiation. Śrīla Prabhupāda writes (Letter to Janardana, New York, 26 April 1968):

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 Krishna 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 Kṛṣṇa. 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.

In The Nectar of Devotion (chapter 3: “Eligibility of the Candidate for Accepting Devotional Service”), Śrīla Prabhupāda states that a devotee on the platform of niṣṭhā (liberated) is qualified to become a spiritual master, although he may not have obtained the higher stages of pure devotional service, such as ruci, āsakti, bhāva, or prema:

Devotees may be divided into three classes. 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 Kṛṣṇa, and he knows that Kṛṣṇa 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.

In the following room conversation (Bombay, 22 April 1977), Śrīla Prabhupāda again emphasizes that, to become a spiritual master, one should be a “strict follower” (niṣṭhā):

Prabhupāda: What is the use of producing some rascal guru?

Tamal Krishna: Well, I have studied myself and all of your disciples, and it’s clear fact that we are all conditioned souls, so we cannot be guru. Maybe one day it may be possible …

Prabhupāda: Hmm.

Tamal Krishna: … but not now.

Prabhupāda: Yes. I shall choose some guru. I shall say, “Now you become ācārya. You become authorized.” I am waiting for that. You become all ācārya. I retire completely. But the training must be complete.

Tamal Krishna: The process of purification must be there.

Prabhupāda: Oh, yes, must be there. Caitanya Mahāprabhu wants that. Āmāra ājñāya guru hañā tāra’ ei deśa: [“Instruct everyone to follow the orders of Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa as they are given in the Bhagavad-gītā and Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam. In this way become a spiritual master and try to liberate everyone in this land.”]

“You become guru.” [laughs] But be qualified. Little thing, strictly follower …

Tamal Krishna: Not rubber stamp.

Prabhupāda: Then you’ll not be effective. You can cheat, but it will not be effective. Just see our Gauḍīya Maṭha. Everyone wanted to become guru, and a small temple and “guru.” What kind of guru? No publication, no preaching, simply bring some foodstuff.

Yet, in some places, Śrīla Prabhupāda also says that even on the neophyte stage, a devotee can give initiation. He further indicates that such a devotee, as well as one on the madhyama platform who gives initiation, will not be able to help the disciple advance very well toward the ultimate goal of life, because they are unable to provide sufficient guidance.

One should not become a spiritual master unless he has attained the platform of uttama-adhikārī. A neophyte Vaiṣṇava or a Vaiṣṇava situated on the intermediate platform can also accept disciples, but such disciples must be on the same platform, and it should be understood that they cannot advance very well toward the ultimate goal of life under his insufficient guidance. (The Nectar of Instruction, verse 5, purport)

However, Śrīla Prabhupāda also emphasizes that householders, in particular, should be initiated so that they can properly engage in Deity worship. Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (2.3.22) states:

Especially for the householder devotees, the path of Deity worship is strongly recommended. As far as possible, every householder, by the direction of the spiritual master, must install the Deity of Viṣṇu – forms like Rādhā-Kṛṣṇa, Lakṣmī-Nārāyaṇa or Sītā-Rāma especially, or any other form of the Lord, like Nṛsiṁha, Varāha, Gaura-Nitāi, Matsya, Kūrma, śālagrama-śilā and many other forms of Viṣṇu, like Trivikrama, Keśava, Acyuta, Vāsudeva, Nārāyaṇa and Dāmodara, as They are recommended in the Vaiṣṇava-tantras or Purāṇas – and one should worship the Deity with one’s family, following the directions and regulations of arcana-vidhi. Any member of the family who is above twelve years of age should be initiated by a bona fide spiritual master, and all the members of the household should be engaged in the daily service of the Lord, beginning from morning (4 a.m.) till night (10 p.m.), by performing maṅgala-ārati, nīrājana, arcana, pūjā, kīrtana, śṛṅgāra, bhoga-vaikāli, sandhyā-ārati, pāṭha, bhoga (at night), śayana-ārati, etc. Engagement in such worship of the Deity, under the direction of a bona fide spiritual master, will greatly help the householders to purify their very existence and make rapid progress in spiritual knowledge. Simple theoretical book knowledge is not sufficient for a neophyte devotee. Book knowledge is theoretical, whereas the arcana process is practical. Spiritual knowledge must be developed by a combination of theoretical and practical knowledge, and that is the guaranteed way for attainment of spiritual perfection.

For ISKCON to function effectively, all its members should have clear roles and shared goals. Understanding the role of a temple president and a GBC member in ISKCON is important. Equally important is understanding the role of a spiritual master in ISKCON.

In his purport to verse 5 of The Nectar of Instruction, Śrīla Prabhupāda writes:

Still, Śrīla Prabhupāda trained his disciples to become spiritual masters, both initiating and instructing. But the natural conclusion is that, in directing the spiritual lives of disciples, the role of a spiritual master who is not on the highest platform of either bhāva-bhakti or prema-bhakti (uttama-adhikārī Vaiṣṇava) should differ from that of a spiritual master who is an uttama-adhikārī Vaiṣṇava.

Whatever that role may be, it should not include acting as the proprietor or controller of ISKCON’s assets, whether in terms of manpower or finances.

Still, Śrīla Prabhupāda writes that initiation is generally essential for a devotee’s spiritual advancement:

Therefore, mental speculation or dry arguments cannot help lead one to the right path. Nor by independent study of books of knowledge can one progress in spiritual life. One has to approach a bona fide spiritual master to receive the knowledge. Such a spiritual master should be accepted in full surrender, and one should serve the spiritual master like a menial servant, without false prestige. Satisfaction of the self-realized spiritual master is the secret of advancement in spiritual life. (Gītā 4.34)

Will Śrīla Prabhupāda, as a self-realized spiritual master, be satisfied if his disciples who are not fully self-realized give initiation?

Your servant,

Prahlādānanda Swami