Harmonizing ISKCON’s Lines of Authority
Official GBC Policy Paper
(Condensed version with all the essential parts)
This Paper is to prevent misunderstandings between spiritual masters and managers, as well as to minimize the influence these potential misunderstandings may have upon devotees under their combined care.
“Spiritual Master” Means Diksha, Siksha, or Both.
Authority Within ISKCON:
Reporter: “Is there anyone who is designated to succeed you as the primary teacher of the movement?”
Srila Prabhupäda: “I am training some, I mean to say, advanced students so that they may very easily take up the charge. I have made them GBC.”1
In other words, although the GBC is the ultimate managing authority in ISKCON, the GBC’s duty is not only to manage but to teach.
(GURU TYAGA – REJECTING THE GURU! READ HERE!)
Two Lines of Authority:
One is seen as primarily spiritual, while the other is seen as primarily managerial.
By distinguishing the two lines of spiritual authority in these terms—as primarily spiritual or primarily managerial—we are not suggesting that managerial authority is contrary to spiritual authority. Nor are we suggesting that the spiritual line of authority is somehow more privileged or intrinsically more pure.
“Management is also spiritual activity. It is Krishna’s establishment.”
“In our preaching work, we deal with so much property and money and so many books bought and sold, but because these dealings all pertain to the Krsna consciousness movement, they should never be considered material. That one is absorbed in thoughts of such management does not mean that he is outside of Krsna consciousness. If one rigidly observes the regulative principle of chanting sixteen rounds of the maha-mantra every day, his dealings with the material world for the sake of spreading the Krsna consciousness movement are not different from the spiritual cultivation of Krsna consciousness.”
In a spiritual society a manager cannot fulfill his or her duty to manage simply by declaring and enforcing rules. The rules themselves must have a spiritual foundation, and their implementation and enforcement must be applied in accordance with Vaisnava principles.
Managers who serve with this understanding will generally carry the full weight of spiritual authority for those under their charge.
(Vapu Seva & Vani Seva to Guru- Details! Which is more important? READ HERE!)
We should therefore see the oneness between “spiritual” and “managerial.” But there is also some difference, and understanding this simultaneous oneness and difference requires the use of these two distinct terms with their explanations.
The Spiritual Line of Authority:
The spiritual line of authority begins with Lord Krishna and continues to Brahma, Narada, Vyasa, and the entire disciplic succession through Srila Prabhupada, our Founder-Acarya.
Those who are submissive to our sampradaya and who serve under the authority of the GBC are authorized to give siksha and shelter in this spiritual line, under the auspices of ISKCON.
This spiritual line can include Governing Body Commissioners, GBC Zonal Secretaries, Spiritual masters, Sannyasis, Regional Secretaries, Temple Presidents, Congregational leaders, and both Traveling and Community preachers.
In fact, anyone who strictly follows a bona fide spiritual master, both by example and precept, can be authorized to represent the spiritual line of authority.
Generally speaking, the most prominent spiritual authority is one’s initiating or instructing spiritual master. The scriptures clearly say that devotees should obey and be loyal to their spiritual masters. The spiritual masters thus exert authority over their disciples, and in so doing the spiritual masters are able to train and educate their disciples in the development of bhakti.
The spiritual masters, therefore, assume a significant role in giving their disciples the spiritual education and inspiration necessary to advance in Krishna consciousness.
The Managerial Line of Authority:
In the managerial line of authority, and in accordance with Srila Prabhupada’s instructions, the supervision of the Society and the enforcement of its rules proceed from the GBC.
To better serve this expanding field and its members, this structure presently includes various regional, national, and continental governing bodies consisting of, but not limited to, Governing Body Commissioners, GBC Zonal Secretaries, Spiritual masters, Sannyasis, Regional Secretaries, Temple Presidents, Congregational leaders and both traveling and community preachers.
Defining the Point of Divergence:
Although in an ideal world everything would work according to Srila Prabhupada’s vision for ISKCON, we have seen tendencies from those in one line of authority to interfere with those in the other line of authority.
For instance, there are spiritual authorities who sometimes interfere with competent and responsible managers. They do not consider themselves part of the zonal managerial structure where their preaching has influence (though they are in fact accountable to it), but they are still either directly or indirectly managing some project(s) within that structure.
This scenario creates not only confusion but a spirit of separatism as well. Situations such as these can also become points of contention for managers, although the more junior managers often refrain from directly voicing their grievances because they feel intimidated out of fear of committing offenses, especially to spiritual masters.
(Right Behaviour (Etiquette) for disciples in the Presence of Guru! READ HERE!)
On the other hand, there are also managerial authorities who sometimes provide inadequate spiritual care. This can fuel the spiritual master’s inclination to intervene by suggesting an alternative for his disciple’s association or service.
For instance, managers may sometimes place greater importance on management goals than on sadhana, preaching purely, or the development of purity in the devotional service of those under their care. Managers may even neglect the spiritual development of those within their jurisdiction who do not offer resources to help their managerial vision, even though said managers may have done little to inspire help from them or to empower other authorities to do the same.
Deference to the Managerial Line of Authority:
The above-mentioned scenarios cause tension between the spiritual and the managerial lines of authority.
Therefore, with respect to the service performed by ISKCON managers, a spiritual master should always seek approval from the managers overseeing the area of jurisdiction in which his disciples are living before suggesting a new sangha or service for them, or intervening in other managerial decisions.
Best, of course, is to train the disciples to offer respect to their local managers right from the start of the spiritual–master/disciple relationship. Many ISKCON managers are carrying out the responsibility of maintaining the temples, Deities, book distribution, and other standards given to us by Srila Prabhupada.
Therefore spiritual masters should teach their disciples to serve Srila Prabhupada’s mission by cooperating with their local leaders and managers.
But this does not mean that a manager should assume that he or she has complete freedom to ignore legitimate needs of those under his or her care or that he or she has the freedom to ignore concerns expressed by spiritual masters who ask them to see that their disciples are properly cared for. They should be sensitive to the concerns of the spiritual masters as well as their disciples.
(Presenting One’s Guru & Srila Prabhupada in all Places! READ HERE!)
If the spiritual master still strongly feels that the level of care for his disciples within the local management structure is inadequate, taking into account the level of commitment and responsibilities being asked of them (his disciples), then he may appeal on their behalf to the higher levels of management, the local GBC, or other ISKCON avenues of appeal, as listed later in this paper.
Authority Is Built on the Continuous Development of Faith:
ISKCON’s greatest asset is the faith of its members. Even if there are no temples, no projects, no income, and only a few followers, if there is faith, there will be prosperity, in the true sense of the term. Consider what Srila Prabhupada has written in the following letter:
“There is a proverb in Sanskrit literature that enthusiastic persons achieve the favor of the Goddess of Fortune. In the Western part of the world there is tangible example of this slogan. People in this part of the world are very much enthusiastic in material advancement and they have got it. Similarly, according to the instructions of Srila Rupa Goswami, if we become enthusiastic in spiritual matters, then we also get success in that way. Take for example, I came to your country in ripe old age, but I had one asset: enthusiasm and faith in my Spiritual Master. I think these assets only are giving me some lights of hope, whatever I have achieved so far with your cooperation.”
And in his purport to “Bhagavad-gita As It Is” 9.3, Srila Prabhupada writes:
“Faith is the most important factor for progress in Krishna consciousness. It is only by faith that one can advance in Krishna consciousness.”
(Guru Padacraya: Taking refuge to Guru in a Right way! READ HERE!)