Can we follow a devotee who claims himself diksha Guru?
A woman devotee asked like this: (I have hidden name):
“Very delicate question prabhu. Suppose a preceptor tells an initiated devotee that he is giving association so he should be considered as the diksha guru and be lndifferent to the diksha guru, Can one follow him? I was told so. So I am bewildered. My diksha guru is his diksha guru also. So, we are godbrother – Godsister. What is all this politics among devotees? Also I am unable to make out. It does not look spiritual.”
REPLY:
Your question can be summerized as: “A devotee who is my god brother (initiated co-devotee) says that he must be considered as a diksha guru.”
I know one or two who devotees telling like this. I do not want to name for decency. Even in the social media, a person is claiming to be a diksha guru and acharya even in his young age. He is running behind fame. He is trying to add a group of people around him exclusively.
Actually, there is a trend among SOME OF the devotees (NOT ALL. There are plenty of humble devotees). Many devotees come to ISKCON in an ignorant stage. They hear wonderful classes and read powerful books of HDG Srila Prabhupada and also associate with the devotees there.
(Is the system of appointing the gurus beneficial and effective? READ HERE!)
They too start to wear Vaishnava uniform. Their ego gets a boost when they receive huge respect from even the senior devotees. Everyone calls him PRABHU.
Usually, our devotees are generous in praising others. So, they praise on seeing every devotee that he is a great devotee. This devotee develops a kind of pride. He does not realize that the other devotees are praising not only him, but almost all the fellow devotees.
Nobody cared him in his home and the family objected his going to ISKCON temples. But, when he enters into the temple, no one insults him like his family members, but, everyone praises him. At his home, the parents and relatives say that he is useless and hence going behind God. But, in the ISKCON temple, we call him as a great devotee. Usually, we do not consider how much maturity and humbleness he has practiced. We just see his outer appearances and praise.
Now, this devotee feels proud and he feels that he has something special in him and he can receive so much of honours and worship if he promotes himself as an outstanding devotee.
(Why our problems continue even after initiation if guru accepts our karma? READ HERE!)
So, he rushes for initiation by convincing the local authorities. Local authorities too believe his request and claims as genuine without knowing his real intention of heading others in a separate track.
So, the gurus too believe such minority devotees and give initiation to him. After that he gets second initiation. Thus, he becomes eligible to head a temple itself.
At this stage, if he starts and run a center UNDER HIS PARENT ORGANISATION, promoting himself as a humble servant for his guru who offered initiation to him, it will be wonderful and the spiritual organization will grow.
But, when a devotee works under his parent spiritual organization, he has to adhere to its rules. This is called Parampara, ie, every disciple is developing the sathsangha under the guru’s guidance and for pleasing his guru.
It is also an ethics that a disciple should not promote himself when his guru is alive. And, a disciple must work ONLY FOR PLEASING HIS GURU & THE LORD, not to start a separate group for himself.
(Can one get Krishna’s Mercy if he is unable to Go to temple and Get Guru? READ HERE!)
This proud devotee feels offensively: “Why should I promote myself as a servant of my guru? Even now, many devotees are praising me hearing my speech. When I take class, the whole congregation devotees enjoy that. If I start to promote myself after my guru’s demise, it may take many more years. So, it is better to promote myself even now. If I become a guru/ acharya, my followers will wash my feet and serve me. I will be worshipped like worshipping Lord. My guru will not find this out as he is away from my state/ city. So, Let me popularize my name using the brand of my spiritual organization and at a point of time, when I have sufficient followers, let me start my own organization”
Thus, the devotee deviates from the path recommended by the Scriptures. He starts to promote himself as a separate guru who has been empowered by the Lord. And, the devotees need not follow distant gurus, but, they can consider himself as their acharya or diksha guru.
Since there are always a group of innocent devotees who have taken birth ONLY TO GET CHEATED, such devotees start to consider him as a guru/ acharya. Thus, a new UN-AUTHORIZED ACHARYA evolves.
The followers of this deviated guru can neither go back to the Lord nor atleast heavenly planets. This self-made Guru can’t easily clear his offence of BETRAYING THE TRUST PLACED BY HIS GURU ON HIM.
(Original Guru Parampara of Mahabharatha & Bhagavatham! READ HERE!)
Do you know what is the most serious offence in this world? It is betraying the trust of our Spiritual Master and Vaishnavas. The Guru innocently believes the recommendations of the local temples and then gives us initiation. So, we must claim initiation ONLY IF WE ARE FIT FOR IT. Please do not play with Krishna Consciousness and do not cheat your guru. You can’t clear that offence easily.
He becomes an offender under the feet of his guru.
So, the person mentioned by you is claiming that he himself is a diksha guru when his guru is alive. Do not trust him and do not support him.
Only if an eligible devotee is declared by the Spiritual organization as an approved diksha guru, you should take initiation from him. If he claims himself as a separate diksha guru, please STOP ASSOCIATING WITH HIM. IF YOU ASSOCIATE WITH A DEVOTEE WHO CLAIMS HIMSELF AS A DIKSHA GURU WITHOUT THE AUTHORIZATION FROM THE SPIRITUAL ORGANIZATION CONCERNED, YOU ARE ALSO MAKING OFFENCE.
So, always accept the gurus who come under bonafide Disciplic succession and also approved by the parent organization as a bonafide diksha guru. You be with your guru who gave you initiation and also respect all other diksha gurus in the organization and also their disciples. Never treat other gurus and their disciples with partiality. It is a great offence.
The easiest business in this world is making others believe that we are great spiritual personalities and gurus just by speaking attractively. So, anyone can claim himself as guru. But, all that glitters are not gold.
Hope you are clear about whether we can follow a devotee who claims himself a diksha Guru.
(TYPES OF GURUS (SPIRITUAL MASTERS) FROM THE SCRIPTURES! READ HERE!)