GURU TYAGA – REJECTING ONE’S GURU
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This is the most important topic taught in the IDC course for the aspiring disciples for diksha that should be honestly answered to make this reply complete.
Before going into the official details, let us read some basic introduction:
Srila Prabhupada clearly says in Bhagavad-Gita As It Is (2.5);
“According to scriptural codes, a teacher who engages in an abominable action and has lost his sense of discrimination is fit to be abandoned.”
Though the disciples have to keep full trust in the Guru – disciple system promoted by the GBC of ISKCON, sometimes, they may have to reject their guru.
There will be no offense if the guru has serious issues. A disciple should know this before accepting a guru.
When should rejection happen? When should one do Guru Tyaga?
One important reason is that the guru himself falls down from his purity.
Basically, We should be positive about the system followed by the administrators. The administrators take remedial actions if their choice of guru goes wrong. This is happening all the cases of fall down.
So, Instead of having no guru, having a guru is better and positive.
Many ask me what to do if a guru falls from his status. Of course, some times it happens in kaliyuga. However, In case a guru falls, the disciples can desert their guru and can accept another guru of their choice. This is called Guru Tyaga.
THE DISCIPLES ARE NEVER AFFECTED and they are always DIRECTLY PROTECTED BY KRISHNA.
DISCIPLINED DISCIPLES ARE ALWAYS SAFE THOUGH THEIR GURU FALLS DOWN
However, they can get the shelter of another guru after rejecting the fallen guru if he is proved guilty by the administrators (GBC). Only that guru has to face the consequences for his fall down. Not the disciples.
However, accepting a living guru will be ESSENTIAL in getting a customized support and advice from that guru though there are options for Guru tyaga. Since a guru is protecting us, we get enormous strength and sufficient purification from karma to grow fast in devotion.
Like in a material education we accept a teacher’s support, we can accept a guru for spiritual awakening and growth. There is no need for any issues in this matter.
(How to repent for not following the Vows given to Guru? READ HERE!)
Everyone of us already have a guru from whom we lernt about Krishna. No one is there without a guru. They are called siksha gurus because they taught about Krishna to us. But, we can’t refuse the concept of living guru – a diksha guru.
Take the prominent Acharya as eternal siksha guru for us. Accept a living guru who accepted that prominent Acharya’s lineage. Let that Acharya be the prominent personality and eternal siksha guru. Let this guru be the direct guide for you.
Accepting a living guru is existing in almost all sampradhayas. In SRI sampradhaya, though Sri Ramanuja is the prominent Acharya, the disciples accept the JEERS as their guru. In Advaita (sankara) sampradhayas, there is a living acharya as successor whom the disciples accept as guru.
In advaita lineage, the living guru appoints his successor even when he is alive. When a guru dies, in future, the devotees accept his successor.
In ISKCON, though Srila Prabhupada did not recommend a successor, the devotees can follow the decisions of the administrative set up of GBC as recommended by Srila Prabhupada.
(SHAKTIPAD or SHAKTIPADA – COMPLETE DETAILS INCLUDING TYPES, EXAMPLES IN SCRIPTURES, RULES, ETC! READ HERE!)
But, before selecting a guru, select one after sufficient evaluation and preparations. Do not succumb to any pressures. If your heart NATURALLY has an inclination towards a guru, accept him. If you choose to accept diksha in a formal ceremony, accept it. But, do not discourage the guru – disciplic lineage that is followed by almost all sampradhayas INCLUDING KRISHNA HIMSELF.
Finally, just accepting diksha in a formal ceremony alone is not sufficient. Unless you follow the rules and regulations suggested by your guru after diksha, that diksha has no meaning. Diksha means initiation. Initiation means, START OF SERIOUS DEVOTIONAL PRACTICES. It is not the final step. It is just the start of our serious devotional journey. Just taking diksha will not be sufficient. Following the instructions of your guru is the most important to go back to Krishna.
What to do if the guru falls down?
Can a disciple sacrifice his guru that is called Guru tyaga?
Let us read the ISKCON’s instructions to the disciples about GURU TYAGA – REJECTING THE GURU in the next part.
(Why Ritvik Initiation is against the Scriptures? A to Z Details! READ HERE!)
CAUSES & PROCEDURE FOR GURU TYAGA:
Bhagavad Gita As It Is 2.5:
According to scriptural codes, a teacher who engages in an abominable action and has lost his sense of discrimination is fit to be abandoned.
Srimad Bhagavatam (1.7.43):
According to revealed scriptures, a teacher or spiritual master is liable to be rejected if he proves himself unworthy of the position of a guru or spiritual master.
Mahabharata, Udyoga Parva 179.25:
guror apy avaliptasya karyakaryam ajanatah
upatha-pratipannasya parityago vidhiyate
If the guru becomes attached to sense gratification, loses his sense of duty, and follows a degraded path, a path other than devotional service to the Lord, he should be rejected.
Room Conversation — January 31, 1977, Bhuvanesvara:
Even though somebody by mistake has gone to a rascal, the book is there. As soon as you find out, “Here is a rascal who does not know anything about Krishna, and I have come to him,” reject him. That is stated in the Sastra. guror apy avaliptasya karyakaryam ajanatah upatha-pratipannasya parityago vidhiyate. Even by mistake you have come to a rascal who does not know how to become guru, you can reject him. Why should you stick to him? Reject him.
(Right Behaviour (Etiquette) for disciples in the Presence of Guru! READ HERE!)
When one should not reject his guru?
Srimad Bhagavatam 1.16.36 — Tokyo, January 30, 1974:
But when one leaves a spiritual master, the spiritual master, there may be some reason. That reason is also given in the Sastra. guror apy avaliptasya karyakaryam ajanatah upatha-pratipannasya parityago vidhiyate. If the spiritual master does not know what is actually to be done, what is actually not to be done, and he acts against the rules and regulations of the sastra, then such spiritual master may be given up. But so long you do not find the spiritual master is doing against the principles of sastra or guru, then if you give up the company of spiritual master, that is not good for you. That is your downfall.
Sri Caitanya-Bhagavata, Antya-kanta Chapter-10:
One day, Srila Gadhadhara Pandita revealed to the Lord, his reason for wanting re-initiation. He said, “I have revealed my Ishta-mantra (the mantra of one’s worshipable Deity) that I received from my guru to an undeserving person and since then my mind is disturbed. My Lord, You kindly reinitiate me with the same ishta-mantra, then my mind will become jubilant again.”
The Lord replied, “Be very careful, that you do not commit any offences to your guru, the one who instructed you on the ishta-mantra. As long as your mantra guru is present, you cannot go elsewhere, or even come to me. This would jeopardize the spiritual life of both you and Me.”
Brahma-vaivarta Purana:
“One pollutes his own intelligence and exhibits severe weakness of character when he rejects
his own spiritual master. Indeed, such a person has already rejected the Supreme Lord, Hari.”
ISKCON Law 7.2.6:
A devotee who, considering GBC guidelines on the subject of rejecting a guru and consulting with senior ISKCON devotees, has decided to reject his non-bona fide guru, may seek initiation from an approved ISKCON guru. Normal procedures as applicable in the case of first and second initiations as described elsewhere in ISKCON law should be followed.
(Is evaluating guru before accepting possible as we get two views? READ HERE!)