08/27/98 - 2082

Reflections About the Guru Issue from Some Senior Devotees In Radhadesh

Belgium (VNN) - Radhadesh 21/8/98

Dear Maharaja's and Prabhus, Please accept our humble obeisance, All Glories to Srila Prabhupada!

We are very concerned by the overall condition of our movement for which we have all dedicated the most important years of our lives. Our movement, which is meant to offer a substantial alternative to material life by giving people the gift of Love of Godhead that Srila Prabhupada so mercifully distributed, is riddled with many inconsistencies and discrepancies. So in order to express ourselves and call upon our society to engage itself in genuine reform that puts us all on the right path, we write to you this letter in an attempt to communicate our thoughts.

We feel strongly that this and other issues should be thoroughly discussed by all senior devotees in our movement. We would like to start by saying that in no way do we feel that the letter you are about to read is neither conclusive nor complete. Yet we feel the need to communicate to the senior devotees our viewpoint which might help somewhat in the discussions that are going on. Some of the reflections we came up with are:

1) That though Srila Prabhupada as Iskcon's Founder Acharya is officially and theoretically recognised as being the main Siksha Guru for all the devotees in practice the understanding of his unique position needs to be given utmost priority.

2) That though we believe in the system of initiations in Iskcon recent events have shown that a need to review our present application of Srila Prabhupada's instructions regarding the position of diksha gurus in our society.

3) That though initiation is an important aspect of a devotee's spiritual life it has been and is presently over emphasised. A Diksha Guru MAY be an important siksha guru for his disciple but should always be second to Srila Prabhupada and not superior or equal to him. We have many examples in our Sampradaya of diksha gurus not having such an important role in the spiritual life of a devotee. Bhaktivinod Thakura's diksha guru is not even mentioned in Srila Prabhupada's books, and there are many more examples. Our Disciplic succession is based primarily on siksha and not on diksha.

4) That though Srila Prabhupada is the main Siksha Guru for everyone in Iskcon siksha should be taken from all senior devotees ( Diksha Guru, other Gurus, Sanyasis, GBC s, Temple Presidents) to help us advance in spiritual life. In this regard we would like to add that if a Diksha Guru has a strong siksha relationship with his disciple then he will obviously become prominent in that devotee's spiritual life.

5) That in order to insure the proper vaisnava behaviour of Diksha Gurus and their disciples within Iskcon some sober standard be upheld for worship. Some ideas we came up with are:


a) No daily Guru Puja for Diksha Gurus in Iskcon Centers. (Disciples may individually do so in their rooms or homes)

b) That a limit to how many disciples a Diksha Guru can have be established.

c) That there should be only one seat in the Temple room for the Srimad Bhagavatam speaker and any speaker that the Temple authorities see fit to give class can use it.

d) That there be a limit to how much guru daksina a guru can use for personal expenses and whatever is above that limit is used for an Iskcon or Iskcon related project with the consent of Iskcon authorities. e) That Sanyasi Diksha Gurus have no direct contact with female disciples and devotees.

f) That no elaborate prasadam arrangements be made in Iskcon temples for Diksha Gurus or Sanyasis. Disciples may invite them in their homes. Or a disciple may cook for his Diksha Guru and all the devotees simultaneously. In this way the quality of Prasadam in our Temples will receive more attention so that all devotees are satisfied.

g) No Vyasa Puja Book for Diksha Gurus. Offerings can be made in a simple way.

h) No personal ownership of property and large bank accounts. This specifically applies to Sanyasi Gurus.

i) No honorific titles like Gurudeva, Visnupada, Acharyapada, etc can be used for Diksha Gurus in public or private.

j) Study if the importance we give to Guru newsletters, Tape Ministries, Pranams, Photos and Vyasa Puja is appropriate or is is diminishing Srila Prabhupada's position.

6) That the standard to become and remain Diksha Guru in Iskcon be strictly followed up by Iskcon authorities. For example; Diksha Gurus must follow the morning program regularly with the devotees, chant 16 rounds every day, hear Srimad Bhagavatam class regularly, take prasadam with devotees, etc 7) That Diksha Gurus and senior devotees be careful to not commit offences to Vaisnavas outside of Iskcon.

8) That a substantial period of time in which no initiations are held be adopted by Iskcon to allow a deep and profound discussion concerning the Guru Issue.

We hope this letter may serve some purpose in the wider discussion of the issue at hand and that the leaders of Iskcon can come to some clear, balanced and sober understanding of the position of Diksha Gurus in our society. We also hope this letter does not offend any individual devotee since it is a general feeling of concern and not a specific attack on anyone in particular. Please forgive us if some of our ideas or reflections offend you.

Your servants at Radhadesh.

Hrdaya Caitanya prabhu- 18 years in Iskcon: first and second initiations by Bhagavan dasa and reinitiation by HH Satsvarupa dasa Goswami.

Vinod Manjari d.d.- 20 years in Iskcon: first and second initiation by Bhagavan dasa and reinitiation by HH Satsvarupa Goswami.

Nadia Bihari prabhu- 18 years in Iskcon: first and second initiations by Bhagavan dasa and reinitiation by HH Indradyumna Maharaja.

Shyamalika d.d.- 14 years in Iskcon: first initiation by Bhagavan dasa and reinitiation by HH Indradyumna Swami.


Mahaprabhu prabhu- 16 years in Iskcon: first initiation by Bhagavan dasa and second by Ananda Svarupa dasa and no reinitiation.

Bhadranga prabhu- 15 years in Iskcon: first initiation by Bhagavan and reinitiation by HH Satsvarupa Maharaja.

Radha Ramana prabhu- 14 years in Iskcon: first and second initiations by HH Tamal Krishna Goswami.

Rupa Manjari dd- 10 years in Iskcon: first and second initiations by Ananda Svarupa dasa and reinitiation by HH Lokanatha Maharaja.

Ekacakra Grama prabhu- 8 years in Iskcon: first and second initiations by HH Lokanatha Goswami.