There are three perspectives widely accepted in ISKCON, which we believe are deeply problematic. We explain why below and leave you to decide.

1. GBC should judge who is qualified to give diksa.

“Indeed, how can a young neophyte evaluate a guru better than a senior community that has lived and worked with the prospective guru? ” Hridyananda Goswami

As reasonable as it sounds, this policy contradicts the principles of our Founder-Acharya, Srila Prabhupada. Here are three statements, in which he prohibits such interference with the diksha process.

“It is imperative that a serious person accept a bona fide spiritual master in terms of the sastric injunctions. Sri Jiva Gosvami advises that one not accept a spiritual master in terms of hereditary or customary social and ecclesiastical conventions. One should simply try to find a genuinely qualified spiritual master for actual advancement in spiritual understanding.” (Caitanya-caritamrita, Adi 1.35 purport)

“Self-deceived persons sometimes accept leaders or spiritual masters from a priestly order that has been officially appointed by the codes of material life. In this way, they are deceived by official priests.” (Caitanya-caritamrita, Madhya 17.185 purport) 

“If you think that “This man, this person, is really authority,” then you surrender there. Otherwise there is no meaning of imitating, that “Oh, so many persons have accepted this person as spiritual master or authority. Oh, let me also accept.” No. Bhagavad-gītā does not say like that. Bhagavad-gītā says that “You try to understand the whole spiritual science very nicely. And if you think the man who is instructing you is actually the authority, then surrender.” Then accept him as spiritual master. Not blindly or dogmatically. Try to understand.” Srimad Bhagavatam lecture 1968 

If you agree with the current GBC policy, you will likely seek initiation from an authorised ISKCON guru. If, however, you want to understand the spiritual science before making such a decision, we recommend you focus on implementing the Improving Sanga principles. These will help you understand the spiritual science, develop the discernment and personal qualification to take diksha, and form genuine spiritual relationships, one of which might develop into diksha. 

Surprisingly, despite the frank confession of Tamal Krishna Goswami and Hansadutta das, two of the original proponents of the authorised ‘ISKCON guru’, the practice continues:

“Tamal Krsna Goswami: Actually, Prabhupada never appointed any gurus. He didn’t appoint eleven gurus. He appointed eleven ritviks. He never appointed them gurus. Myself and the other GBC have done the greatest disservice to this movement in the last three years because we interpreted the appointment of ritviks as the appointment of gurus.

What actually happened, I’ll explain. I explained it, but the interpretation is wrong. What actually happened was that Prabhupada mentioned that he might be appointing some ritviks, so the GBC met for various reasons and they went to Prabhupada – five or six of us. We asked him, “Srila Prabhupada, after your departure, if we accept disciples, whose disciples will they be, your disciples or mine?” Later on there was a piled-up list for people to get initiated, and it was jammed-up. I said, “Srila Prabhupada, you once mentioned about ritviks. I don’t know what to do. We don’t want to approach you, but there’s hundreds of devotees named, and I’m just holding all the letters. I don’t know what you want to do.”

So Prabhupada said, “All right. I will appoint so many…,” and he started to name them and he did name them. He made it very clear that they’re his disciples. At that point it was very clear in my mind that they were his disciples. Later on I asked him two questions: 1) What about Brahmananda Swami? I asked him this because I happened to have an affection for Brahmananda Swami. I don’t know, I asked him because somehow he’s…I asked him, whatever. So Prabhupada said, “No, not unless he’s qualified.” Before I got ready to type the letter, I asked him: 2) “Srila Prabhupada, is this all or do you want to add more?” He said, “As is necessary, others may be added.”

Now I understand that what he did was very clear. He was physically incapable of performing the function of initiation physically; therefore, he appointed officiating priests to initiate on his behalf. He appointed eleven and he said very clearly, “Whoever is nearest, he can initiate.” This is a very important point, because when it comes to initiating if it isn’t whoever is nearest, it’s wherever your heart goes. Who repose your faith on, you take initiation from him but when it’s officiating, it’s whoever is nearest, and he was very clear. He named them. They were spread out all over the world, and he said, “Whoever you’re nearest, you just approach that person, and they’ll check you out. Then, on my behalf, they’ll initiate.” It’s not a question that you repose your faith in that person – nothing.

That’s a function for the guru. “In order for me to manage this movement,” Prabhupada said, “I have to form a GBC and I will appoint the following people. In order to continue the process of people joining our movement and getting initiated, I have to appoint some priests to help me because just like I cannot physically manage everyone myself, I physically cannot initiate everyone myself.” And that’s all that it was, and it was never any more than that. If it had been more than that, you can bet your bottom dollar that Prabhupada would have spoken for days and hours and weeks on end about how to set up this thing with the gurus, but he didn’t because he already had said it a million times. He said, “My guru-maharaja did not appoint anyone. It’s by qualification.”

 We made a great mistake. After Prabhupada’s departure , what is the position of these eleven people? Obviously, Srila Prabhupada felt that of all the people, these people are particularly qualified. So it stands to reason that after Prabhupada’s departure, they would go on, if they so desired, to initiate.

Actually a sannyasi, for example, is considered to be spiritual master of the varnas and ashramas. The brahmana is considered to be the spiritual master also. Prabhupada showed that it’s not just sannyasis. He named two people who were grhasthas, who could at least be ritviks, showing that they were equal to any sannyasi. So anyone who is spiritually qualified – it’s always been understood that you cannot accept disciples in the presence of your guru, but when the guru disappears, you can accept disciples if you’re qualified and someone can repose their faith. Of course, they should be fully apprised of how to distinguish who is a proper guru. But if you’re a proper guru, and your guru is no longer present, that is your right. It’s like a man can procreate.

Similarly, it is a disciple’s duty to push forward. He may decide, “I don’t want to take disciples. I want to assist so-and-so.” He has that right. But if he feels the inspiration from within and he has the qualifications, and he realizes what it means to take disciples, that it is a heavy responsibility, and if someone reposes their [faith] in him, then he should go ahead and do that.

Unfortunately, the GBC did not recognize this point. They immediately said these eleven people are the selected gurus. I can say definitely for myself, and for which I humbly beg forgiveness from everybody, that there was definitely some degree of trying to control. There’s a degree of this in most GBC’s parts, in most temple president’s parts. This is the conditioned nature, and it came out in the highest position of all. “Guru, oh wonderful. Now I’m a guru, and there’s only eleven of us.” This is what led us into this pitfall. The GBC who weren’t gurus said, “I’m next in line.” This has screwed up our movement terribly. It has very much hurt our movement because it has left so many Godbrothers in a frustrated position, very, very frustrated, and it is dampening their enthusiasm, and it has held back the preaching mission.

I think that if you analyze very carefully some of the things which have taken place, you see that a lot of them – Yasodanandana’s incident – would have been avoided. Jadurani’s incident would have been. My incident in my zone would have been avoided. At least I can say all those, and I think our whole mentality- I think Jayatirtha’s incident would have been avoided. I think that if there had been a whole different mentality, there would be 79 gurus or 122, instead of 11 where you have to show some super-excellent qualifications.

I think it would also throw the position of the GBC into its proper perspective, which is not to control and to have every single thing channeled through it, but to support the preaching mission, to support and to facilitate the preaching mission. That is the actual business of the GBC, not to restrict it or retard it in any way. I think to some extent it’s doing that at this point. For example, I think that Srila Prabhupada – I personally feel – that the gurus don’t have to be GBC members, because the GBC is by-and-large a managerial function. Of course, it requires spiritual intelligence.

You can’t have a materialistic person become a GBC, but it is by-and-large a managerial function.” Topanga Canyon Pyramid House Talks, 1980

 

1. ‘Fake it till you make it’:

This catchphrase is often heard in ISKCON, yet we feel it opposes Krishna’s instructions in Bg 3.6, which warn us not to be pretenders. We invite you to read that verse and purport, and the purport of Bg 3.24 wherein Srila Prabhupada condemns imitating those more qualified than us. What is faking if not pretending and imitating? Proponents of this phrase sometimes say it refers to the following incident described in Prabhupada Lilamrita. Once, Bhagavan prabhu felt too tired and despondent to dance in kirtan. Srila Prabhupada instructed him to dance anyway and said that by doing so, he would regain his enthusiasm. This instruction is often interpreted as ‘fake it till you make it.’

We would argue this is incorrect. Dancing in kirtan is a devotional practice appropriate even for neophytes. Srila Prabhupada was not telling Bhagavan to fake it till he made it; he was instructing him to practise the appropriate item of bhakti to regain his enthusiasm.

Srila Prabhupada instructs us on what to do if we are unhappy despite practising Krishna consciousness. 

“If a person is actually executing devotional service, then he must be happy. If he’s not happy, then he’s not doing properly. So first thing is this. He might be doing something in the name of devotional service. If he’s actually rendering devotional service, then he must be feeling….. He must feel happy. Then he has to rectify the process of his service. Not to change, but rectify the process.”  Bhagavad-gita lecture 1968 

 

Specifically, we must rectify our sravanam or hearing:

“Without hearing sufficiently and properly, no one can make any progress by any of the methods of practice.” Srimad Bhagavatam 2.2.36 purport.

 

Depending on whether you decide to ‘fake it till you make it’ or improve your sravanam, you will achieve different results.

 

• ‘You must hear from the lips of a living guru’:

Srila Prabhupada said, “… we have to learn Bhāgavatam from the living bhāgavata.” Lecture 1972 

Since Srila Prabhupada’s physical departure from this world, some devotees have interpreted this to mean that we must hear from a physically present guru. Thus, they neglect peer discussions of Srila Prabhupada’s books.

We suggest this idea has arisen from a misunderstanding of the term ‘living bhagavata’. According to Srila Prabhupada, physical presence is not essential for transmitting spiritual truths:

“…one has to associate with liberated persons not directly, physically, but by understanding, through philosophy and logic, the problems of life.” Srimad Bhagavatam 3.31.48 

“Never think that I am absent from you. Physical presence is not essential; presence by message (or hearing) is real touch.” Letter to students; Vrindaban; 2/08/1967

We understand ‘living bhagavata’ to mean one whose life embodies the teachings of the Srimad Bhagavatam.

“If one does not try to secure the dust of the lotus feet of bhāgavata… Bhāgavata means pure devotee of the Lord. One bhāgavata is this book Bhāgavata, another bhāgavata, the person bhāgavata. Who lives on the book Bhāgavata, he is person bhāgavata. Two kinds of bhāgavata. So we have to learn Bhāgavatam from the living bhāgavata.” Lecture 1972 

“This is the secret. Unless one is svānubhāvam, self-realized, life is Bhāgavata, he cannot preach Bhāgavata. That is not… That will not be effective. A gramophone will not help. Therefore Caitanya Mahāprabhu’s secretary, Svarūpa Dāmodara, recommended, bhāgavata pora giyā bhāgavata-sthāne, that “If you want to read Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, you must approach a person who is life living Bhāgavata.” Bhāgavata pora giyā bhāgavata-sthāne. Otherwise, there is no question of Bhāgavata realization.” Lecture 1974 

In other words, to make spiritual advancement, be happy in this life, and go back home to Godhead, we must regularly hear from someone who embodies the principles of the Srimad Bhagavatam.

“If you want to study Bhāgavata, you must go to a living bhāgavata, not to the professional reader.” Lecture 1972 

Please note how in the above quote Srila Prabhupada doesn’t contrast a ‘living bhagavata’ with a ‘deceased bhagavata’. Instead, the contrast is made with ‘a professional reader’ whose motive is accruing wealth and prestige.

These are not the only views in ISKCON which we feel are problematic. Recently, we heard a prominent preacher in ISKCON say that after being a devotee for twelve to fifteen years, we should read Gita Govinda and practise raganuga bhakti. From our understanding of Srila Prabhupada’s teachings, while we are in the bodily concept, reading books like Gita Govinda and practising raganuga bhakti are not recommended. 

“You have to understand Kṛṣṇa tattvataḥ, in truth, not superficially. Then you’ll misunderstand. Without understanding Kṛṣṇa, if we try to understand Kṛṣṇa’s pastimes with Rādhārāṇī, that is foolishness. But they do not know Kṛṣṇa. How can understand His pastimes with the gopīs? That is foolishness. Therefore we have to understand Kṛṣṇa first of all, and Kṛṣṇa Himself, explaining Himself. In the Bhagavad-gītā Kṛṣṇa does not speak anything about His pastimes with Rādhārāṇī. That is strictly prohibited. …The Gītā-Govinda, the loving affairs of Rādhā and Kṛṣṇa, it is not for the neophyte student.” Lecture 1975 

We understand this kind of preaching is sahajiya. 

“Sahajiyās means persons who take things very easily, according to their sense perception, manufactured.” Lecture 1973 

We fear that such ideas will spoil ISKCON’s mission of spreading Lord Chaitanya’s movement.

“Bhaktisiddhānta Sarasvatī Ṭhākura, he said that “When our men will be sahajiyā, oh, they’ll be more dangerous.” So our men are becoming, some of them, sahajiyās. This very word he said, that “When our men will be sahajiyā, he’ll be more dangerous.”” Room Conversation, 1977 

Krishna-conscious teachings are intricate and may appear contradictory. It is possible to selectively quote to support a particular perspective. We, too, might be accused of doing this. We appeal to you not to blindly accept any perspective. Instead, take the time and trouble to seriously engage in peer discussions of at least Bhagavad–gita As It Is, so you can come to your own informed decision on these and other controversial topics. 

We have collated into ten principles many of Srila Prabhupada’s instructions regarding the best way to discuss his books. Peer discussions based on these principles will enable you to come to carefully considered conclusions. We suggest this is a safer course than assuming someone is right because they are presented as a spiritual authority:

“Blind following and absurd inquiries. These things are condemned in this verse. Blind following means, “Oh, there is a svāmī. So many thousands of people are following. Let me become his disciple.” This is called blind following. You do not know what is that svāmī, whether he is a svāmī or he is rascal. You do not know. But because everyone is going, “Oh, let me become his disciple.” This is blind following. Without any knowledge, blind following.” Lecture 1969 

Some of you may already have made decisions that have negatively impacted your life. If so, what can you do? Srila Prabhupada writes: 

“But even if one has accepted the renounced order of life without sufficient knowledge, he should engage himself fully in hearing from a bona fide spiritual master to cultivate knowledge.”  Bg 16.1-3 purport

Whatever foolish decisions we have made in the past, the solution is to hear from Srila Prabhupada, and if we apply the ten Improving Sanga Principles, then we can attract Krishna’s guidance and protection.