Testing a Guru & Disciple before accepting each other! A-Z details!

Testing a Guru & Disciple before accepting each other! A-Z details!
(This is Part-5 of the series DUTIES OF A DISCIPLE TO HIS GURU!)

Testing a guru by a disciple before accepting him as Guru!

Firstly, reading or speaking about this topic is not offensive because ISKCON expects us to know these matters compulsorily.  Of late, ISKCON is giving focus to these aspects more and to frame policy decisions. This is a good step for a healthy spiritual environment.

Earlier, ISKCON GBC made ISKCON DISCIPLES COURSE (IDC) Compulsory to take initiation from an authorized guru in ISKCON. This course educates very important aspects of the position and importance of Siksha and Diksha gurus.

(Duties of a disciple to his Guru – Part-1! READ HERE!)

After this IDC, ISKCON’s GBC and SAC (Sastric Advisory Committee) are working in making the Guru system to fully match with the recommendations of the scriptures and also match the needs of the modern society.

This is in fact very important for the prospective disciples before accepting a guru.

This article does not contain my own views. I can’t write whatever I want in such sensitive and important matters. As a responsible preacher, I can just explain what Guru, Sadhu or Sastra says about these important matters.

What I do is, I just customize these instructions to be followed by all types of people like the students, employees, retired, housewives, those who don’t have support for devotion in family, etc.

For example, if a devotee tells me that he ate onion once that is making him guilty, I advice him that he need not feel guilty because onion may just make him dominated by rajo guna for some time and he can be more careful in future. This consolation makes him continue his devotional life without guilt. This is what I am doing.

This is not a compromise from the rules. This is natural because mistakes happen sometimes in life. He is feeling. Should we make him more guilty? We should put him on the path of devotional life again. Hence such flexible guidance by me.

Though one has committed hundred violations, if he realizes and resolves to be pure from today, we should encourage him. This is the required approach for this kali yuga.

Ok, Let us come to the matter again:

ISKCON’s GBC & Sastric Advisory Committee (SAC) strongly recommend that a disciple should get fully convinced by testing his aspiring guru before accepting him as his Spiritual master.

Though ISKCON is following a modern institutionalized set up with the facilities for the devotees to maintain the Guru-disciples relations, they are trying their level best to make it to match the recommendations of Guru, Sadhu & Sastra.

(DUTIES OF A DISCIPLE TO HIS GURU – PART 2! READ HERE!)

Before explaining further, Let us first read these four quotes in which Srila Prabhupada emphasizes the importance of testing a guru:

(1) Bg 13.1-2 lecture, 25 February 1975, Miami:

“The rules and regulation are that nobody should accept blindly any guru, and nobody should blindly accept any disciple. They must behave, one another, at least for one year so that the prospective disciple can also understand, ‘Whether I can accept this person as my guru.’ And the prospective guru also can understand, ‘Whether this person can become my disciple.’ This is the instruction by Sanatana Gosvami in his Hari-bhakti-vilasa.”

(2) Hari-bhakti-vilasa 1.74:

“In the Mantra-muktavali: By living together for one year they can ascertain from seeing each other’s nature whether they can act as guru and disciple. Indeed, there is no other way to determine this.”

(3) Caitanya-caritamrta, Adi 1.35 purport:

“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.”

(4) Caitanya-caritamrta, Madhya 17.185 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.”

(DUTIES OF A DISCIPLE TO HIS GURU – PART 3! READ HERE!)

You may ask: We don’t have any facility to test our prospective guru. How can we do this?

It is true. But, ISKCON clearly says that one should not accept a guru just because he is already having many disciples and hence he must be genuine.

Srila Prabhupada says in BG lecture. 4.34-39, 12 Jan 1969, LA:

“Blind following and absurd inquiries. These things are condemned in this verse. Blind following means: “Oh, there is a svami. So many thousands of people are following. Let me become his disciple.” This is called blind following. You do not know what is that svami, whether he is a svami or a 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.”

The testing may be in terms of basic qualifications:

“Is this guru representing Srila Prabhupada and the previous acaryas in the best way? Am I capable of accepting instruction from this guru?”

Or the testing may extend to more personal requirements. A disciple may wonder, “Will this guru deal with me personally? Will this guru respond to my letters? Will I have a chance to personally serve this guru?”

These considerations should be tested in advance.

ISKCON encourages to observe the writings, speeches, activities and the feedback from the existing disciples.

The aspiring disciples can even write his doubts to his aspiring guru himself through email or letter or even in person.

Sastras recommend that a disciple should observe his aspiring guru atleast for one year and then take initiation from him.

In this modern world of Internet, knowing about any guru is not difficult and it is possible.

In the next part, we will see how can a Guru test his aspiring disciple and related topics.

(DUTIES OF A DISCIPLE TO HIS GURU – PART-4! READ HERE!)

Testing a disciple by a Guru before accepting him as his disciple!

In this part, we will see how can a Guru test his aspiring disciple!

A Guru takes full responsibility for the elevation of his disciples in their devotional status and that guru has to guide and follow the disciple till that disciple gets Krishna.

Srila Prabhupada has even said that a guru has to take births till his disciples go back to Krishna.

Now understand how risky being a guru is!

Unless a Guru selects a disciple after thorough verification, the negative karma added by that disciple will go to that guru only.

So, it is very important for a guru to accept a disciple after getting convinced that he is the right person to be accepted as a disciple.

Let us now read what the Scriptures say about a Guru should accept a disciple:

(1) Hari-bhakti-vilasa:

The two of them should live together and test one another for one year. This test is fulfilled by observing one another’s behavior and character.

(2) Mantra-Muktavali: 

“By living together for one year, they can ascertain from seeing each other’s nature whether they can act as guru and disciple. Indeed, there is no other way to determine this.”

(3) Statement of sruti: 

“One should not give (the visnu-mantra) to one who has not resided with one for a year.”

(4) Sara-sangraha: 

“A proper guru should test for one year a disciple who has taken shelter of him. The faulty acts of a minister accrue to the king, and a wife’s sins fall on her husband. Similarly, a guru certainly obtains the sinful reactions accumulated by his disciple.”

(5) Krama-dipika:

“Without deception and with a heart moist with affection, one should satisfy him with one’s own wealth, with the work of one’s body, and with favorable words. He should do this for three years, remaining sober and thinking of the guru as non-different from the lotus-naveled Supreme Lord. Then, when the guru is satisfied, he may speak the mantra in the initiation ceremony.’ ”

(Why Prabhupada fixed 16 rounds Chanting when his guru fixed 64? READ HERE!)

Statements by Srila Prabhupada on a Mutual Examination Period:

(6) Srila Prabhupada Initiation lecture, 13 July 1971, LA:

“Unless one is prepared that ‘I am accepting somebody as my spiritual master. I must accept whatever he says,’ if there is any doubt, that ‘I cannot accept his words verbatim,’ then one should not accept him as spiritual master. That is hypocrisy. One must be first of all convinced. Therefore it is the duty of the spiritual master and the disciple to associate—that is the injunction of Sanatana Gosvami—for some time, and both of them should study. The disciple should study “whether I can accept this saintly person as my spiritual master.” And spiritual master also will see “whether I can accept this boy, this person, as my disciple.” That is the way. But sometimes the time is reduced. That doesn’t matter. But the principle is this, that before accepting a spiritual master you can examine him, you can scrutinize him, but not after accepting him.”

(7) Srila Prabhupada Bg 13.1-2 lecture, 25 February 1975, Miami:

“First of all you find out the person, that one who is better than you. Then you submit. Therefore the rules and regulation are that nobody should accept blindly any guru, and nobody should blindly accept any disciple. They must behave, one another, at least for one year so that the prospective disciple can also understand, ‘Whether I can accept this person as my guru. And the prospective guru also can understand, ‘Whether this person can become my disciple.’ This is the instruction by Sanatana Gosvami in his Hari-bhakti-vilasa.

(8) Srila Prabhupada SB 1.16.25 lecture, 21 January 1974, Hawaii:

“So therefore the process is before accepting a guru, one must hear him at least for one year. And when he’s convinced that “Here is actually a guru who can teach me,” then you accept him, guru. Don’t accept whimsically. This system now should stop that somebody’s coming for three days—“Prabhupada, initiate him.” Why? First of all see whether he’s fit for becoming a disciple; then recommend. Otherwise, don’t recommend. Because the cheap recommendation is creating havoc. One is not fit for becoming a student, disciple, and he’s accepting discipleship, and after three days he’s going away. This should not be allowed. Therefore, in the Hari-bhakti-vilasa by Sanatana Gosvami it is directed that the spiritual master and the disciple must meet together at least for one year so that the disciple may also understand that “Here is a person whom I can accept as my guru,” and the guru also can see that “Here is a person who is fit for becoming my disciple.” Then the business is nice.”

(Will accepting a Guru alone elevate a devotee to attain perfection? READ HERE!)

Let us continue to read the views of Srila Prabhupada on the need to test a guru by a disciple and vice versa, and also what happens if a guru does not test a disciple before accepting.
Very important contents. Please read and learn sincerely:

(9) Srila Prabhupada SB 7.6.2 lecture, 18 June 1976, Toronto:

“First of all, you must find out a person who if you can surrender there. Tasmad guruh prapadyeta.Tad viddhi pranipatena [Bg. 4.34]. Pranipata, surrender, that is required first. If you think somebody that he’s not worth surrendering, then don’t make him guru. Don’t make a fashion. First of all you test that “Whether I can surrender?” Pranipatena. Then try to understand.”

(10) Srila Prabhupada BG lecture, 2.7-11 2 March 1966, NY:

“…acceptance of spiritual master must be selected, you see, after careful examination, just like one selects his bride or bridegroom after careful examination. And in India they are very careful because the marriage of the boys and girls take place under the guidance of the parents. So the parents very carefully see. So one has to accept a spiritual master whose guidance will make his life perfect. That is the relation between spiritual master and disciple. It is not a formality. It is a great responsibility both for the disciple and for the spiritual master.

(11) Srila Prabhupada TLC lecture, 25 September 1968, Seattle:

But if you want to know who is a spiritual master, then you have to test him whether he is speaking exactly like the bona fide spiritual master. Sri Narottama dasa Thakura has explained about this, who is spiritual master. What is that? He says, sadhu sastra guru vakya, tinete kariya aikya. If you want to advance yourself in spiritual science, then you have to test these three things. What is that? Sadhu, saintly person. Sadhu, sastra, scriptures, and spiritual master. Now suppose you want to know who is a spiritual master. Then you have to test whether he’s speaking just like other saintly persons and whether he’s following scriptures. Sadhu sastra. So you have to test a spiritual master by corroborating whether he is speaking according to the scriptural injunction, whether he’s speaking (according) to other saintly persons.”

(12) Srila Prabhupada BG lecture 4.34-39, 12 January 1969, LA:

Suppose you are going here. You are coming here to learn something. When you are convinced that “Swamiji knows the thing,” when you are convinced, then you accept. Then you ask for initiation. Otherwise don’t do it hesitatingly or knowing half. Therefore in the system it is enjoined that the spiritual master also observe the disciple at least for one year, and the disciple also studies the spiritual master at least for one year. So when both of them are convinced that “He can be my spiritual master” or “He can be my disciple,” then the relationship is established. We initiate our students.”

(13) Srila Prabhupada, Caitanya-caritamrta, Adi 1.35 purport:

“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.”

(TYPES OF GURUS (SPIRITUAL MASTERS) FROM THE SCRIPTURES! READ HERE!)

WHAT HAPPENS IF A GURU DOES NOT TEST HIS DISCIPLES BEFORE ACCEPTING?

In fact, a guru who does not test a disciple runs the risk of committing the offense of preaching the holy name to the faithless.

diksa-guru takes the responsibility of recommending the disciple to Sri Krsna, and suffers if the disciple commits some mistake.

(1) SB (6.3.30) PURPORT:

“If a servant makes a mistake, the master is punishable because he is responsible for the offense.”

(2) PERFECT QUESTIONS, PERFECT ANSWERS:

“But when a living entity plays the part on behalf of Krsna, he also takes the responsibility for the sinful activities of his devotees. Therefore to become a guru is not an easy task. You see? He has to take all the poisons and absorb them. So sometimes—because he is not Krsna, sometimes there is some trouble. Therefore Caitanya Mahaprabhu has forbidden, “Don’t make many sisyas, many disciples.” But for preaching work we have to accept many disciples—for expanding preaching—even if we suffer. That’s a fact. The spiritual master has to take the responsibility for all the sinful activities of his disciples. Therefore to make many disciples is a risky job unless one is able to assimilate all the sins. Therefore your question was—when I suffer, is it due to my past misdeeds? Was it not? That is my misdeed—that I accepted some disciples who are nonsense. That is my misdeed.”

We should also note that if a guru does not properly test devotees before accepting them as disciples, the bad behavior of unqualified disciples will hurt the reputation of the Krsna Consciousness Movement, not just the individual guru. Therefore, the responsibility of a guru to test disciples should be taken as very important. This duty of the diksa-guru—the one who officially brings someone into the sampradaya—is similar to the responsibility of a university admissions officer who wants to bring in students who will have a high chance of academic success and of whom the school will be proud.

(How to select, serve and please guru (Spiritual master)? READ HERE!)

Rules to get Initiation in ISKCON – Law on Discipleship in ISKCON

So far, we have seen how a Guru and Disciple should test each other before accepting each other as a disciple and as a guru.

Before entering into the next topic of the Rules to get Initiation, let us briefly have a note of the Verification Process followed in ISKCON currently for the personal verification of guru and disciples.

MODIFICATIONS IN PERSONAL VERIFICATION IN ISKCON

Personal testing should always be considered the standard because it is declared by guru, sadhu and sastra.

But this standard has been modified in ISKCON in the following ways:

(1) A disciple sometimes delegates his responsibility of testing the guru to others such as leaders or committees in the institution.

(2) A guru sometimes delegates his responsibility to test his prospective disciples to others such as temple presidents.

These modifications do not relieve the guru or disciple of their ultimate responsibilities in this matter. The prospective disciple is ultimately responsible for the choice of guru, and the guru is ultimately responsible for accepting a disciple.

The choice of a guru should always be considered primarily the personal responsibility of a prospective disciple. The official policy should always encourage personal and direct testing.

Similarly, it is the responsibility of the guru to test prospective disciples. The official policy should always encourage personal and direct testing of disciples.

It is presently ISKCON law that a guru cannot accept a disciple unless there is a recommendation from a temple president or a similarly situated person.

In this way, some of the responsibility for mutual testing has been delegated to a third person (Temple presidents, higher authorities, etc) who could possibly interfere with the process.

Although Srila Prabhupada himself established the precedent of delegation, even he experienced problems with it, as when he said that devotees were being recommended too easily for second initiation and called for a “boiling of the milk”.

LET US NOW SEE THE RESPONSIBILITY OF DISCIPLES:

A devotee should know his responsibilities & the Initiation rules well before taking initiation from a guru.

The Initiation process in ISKCON follows the following system:

Rules to get Initiation in ISKCON – Law on Discipleship in ISKCON

FIRST (HARINAMA) INITIATION:
QUALIFICATIONS FOR FIRST INTIATION:

ОNЕ УEAR PERPARATORY PERIOD:

In order to receive first Initiation one must have been engaged favourably in devotional service, strictly following the Four regulative principles and chanting sixteen rounds a day, for at least one year without interruption.

First Six Month Period:

During the first six months of following the four regulative principles and chanting sixteen rounds daily, a new devotee who is aspiring for initiation should not commit himself to a particular initiating guru. Rather, he should chant Srila Prabhupada’s pranama-mantra and worship him as Founder-Acarya of ISKCON and as his siksa gara.

Second Six Month Period:

After successfully completing the first six months preparatory period, and after passing the required examination, the candidate may choose his future diksa guru. Receiving permission from that guru, and notifying the local temple president, the candidate should take shelter and begin to worship that guru as his own spiritual master and chant his pranama mantra. Actual initiation may take place only after a minimum six-months period from the date shelter was taken and the local temple president notified

Devotees Residing Within Temple Communities:

In addition to satisfying the above requirements, devotees residing in temple communities must, during the one year preparatory period, regularly attend the full morning program

Devotees Residing Outside of Temple Communities:

Devotees who do not live in a temple community and who cannot come daily to the temple programs may be initiated provided they have regular morning programs at home or attend regular morning programs at the namahatta centers.

Pass Examination:

Before a devotee can be permitted to formally take shelter of a particular ISKCON spiritual master and be subsequently recommended for initiation, he or she must demonstrate a basic understanding of Srila Prabhupada’s writings by answering an oral or written test administered by the temple president or other recommending authority.

(Why don’t you recommend to us which Diksha Guru to choose in ISKCON? READ HERE!)

Author: RAJAN

RAJAN from Tamil Nadu, India, a Life Patron and an Initiated Devotee being in ISKCON for nearly three decades, serves anonymously to avoid Prominence and crowd as an insignificant, Humble and Neutral Servant for all the devotees of Krishna! He promotes Social media forums and this blog-website as e-satsangha (e-forums) blessed with Lakhs of followers, to give Spiritual Solutions for all the Material Problems of the devotees since 2011! He writes friendly and practical tips to practice devotion (i) without hurting the followers of other paths, (ii) without affecting the personal and career life, and (iii) without the blind, superstitious and ritualistic approach! He dedicates all the glories and credits to his Guru and Krishna.