Position of Srila Prabhupada in ISKCON
GBC Statement (March 2013)
(Part of the Series of Posts under “Duties of a disciple to his guru”)
An aspiring disciple of a guru in ISKCON and a member of ISKCON should be clearly aware of the Position of Srila Prabhupada in ISKCON and other authorities. It will help for him to be a perfect disciple. Let us read the Official Statement about the Position of Srila Prabhupada in ISKCON:
“As the Founder-Acarya of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) and the preeminent teacher and ultimate authority within our society, Srila Prabhupada has a unique relationship with every ISKCON devotee.
Lord Krishna, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, is the original guru whose Divine Grace descends through the medium of the guru parampara. As such, a devotee is ultimately delivered by Sri Krishna acting through a combination of various manifestations of His mercy.
These include, but are not limited to, the Caitya guru, Srila Prabhupada, the guru parampara, one’s diksha guru, other siksha gurus, the Holy Name, sastra, and the nine processes of devotional service.
(Guru Padacraya: Taking refuge to Guru in a Right way! READ HERE!)
Within these cooperative elements, Srila Prabhupada, as the Founder-Acarya of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness, is the preeminent siksha-guru for all members of ISKCON.
All members of ISKCON, for all generations, are encouraged to seek shelter of Srila Prabhupada. All members of ISKCON are entitled and encouraged to have a personal relationship with Srila Prabhupada through his books, teachings, service, and his ISKCON society.
All members accepting leadership roles within ISKCON, including diksha gurus and siksha gurus, have the duty of serving together under ISKCON’s Governing Body Commission (GBC) to fulfill Srila Prabhupada’s instructions as he has given in his books, lectures, and personal communications.
Overall, the primary duty of all diksha gurus, siksha gurus, and others in leadership positions, is to assist Srila Prabhupada in his service to his Guru Maharaja Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakur, and our Brahma Madhva Gaudiya Sampradaya.
Those who accept the service of diksha guru or siksha guru in ISKCON are required to be exemplary in representing Srila Prabhupada’s teaching in their words and personal behavior.
The siksha guru gives spiritual instruction and inspiration on behalf of Srila Prabhupada and our guru parampara. The diksha guru gives spiritual instruction, inspiration, formal initiation, a spiritual name, and later imparts the sacred Gayatri mantras to a qualified disciple as a service to Srila Prabhupada and our guru parampara.
(Presenting One’s Guru & Srila Prabhupada in all Places! READ HERE!)
Srila Prabhupada has clearly explained that devotees who are strictly following the Krsna conscious principles are acting on the liberated platform, and, as such, are pure devotees, even though they may actually not yet be liberated. (Such unalloyed devotional service is not necessarily determined by one’s role or position of service, but by one’s realization.)
Those who accept the service of diksha or siksha guru within ISKCON are mandated to be strict followers of the instructions of Srila Prabhupada, and, as long as they follow, they are acting on the liberated platform.
Thus they may serve, as Srila Prabhupada ordered, as bona fide representatives of the Lord and the guru parampara and be a via media of their mercy. Yet it should be clearly understood that if such diksha or siksha gurus deviate from strictly following, they may fall down from their position. Thus, to act as a diksha guru in ISKCON means to serve under the GBC and in cooperation with other ISKCON authorities by functioning as a “regular gurus” as Srila Prabhupada has directed.
This statement, while conclusive, is not exhaustive in its discussion of these principles. The GBC may authorize additional statements and papers in the future to further explain the preeminent position of our Founder-Acarya Çréla Prabhupäda, the role and responsibilities of those who serve as gurus in our society, and the related duties of ISKCON members and initiates.
(Vapu Seva & Vani Seva to Guru- Details! Which is more important? READ HERE!)
RESOLVED:
All GBC members must distribute this resolution to all ISKCON temples, communities and congregations via appropriate means of communication for the education of all ISKCON members.
This statement shall also be studied in ISKCON courses including introductory courses, the ISKCON Disciple Course, the Spiritual Leadership Seminar:
Being a Guru in ISKCON, and other relevant venues. Reading this statement, and affirming it has been read prior to initiation, shall be part of the test for all prospective initiates.
More details on these spiritual relationships and duties may be found in the official “Harmonizing ISKCON’s Lines of Authority” Paper approved by the GBC in 2012.
Founder-Acarya Foremost on ISKCON Temple Websites (Resolved in March 2013):
That ISKCON center officials shall be responsible to ensure that any and all web sites published by the center prominently feature a picture of Srila Prabhupada on the introductory page.
This picture should be larger than any other individual’s photo (such as the GBC, center President, or guru). Srila Prabhupada should be addressed by his formal name and title: “His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, Founder-Acarya of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness, or “ISKCON Founder-Acarya His Divine Grace A.C.Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada”, or an equivalent translation.
All such web sites shall prominently display direct links that emphasize Srila Prabhupada on their home page such that the casual viewer would have access on the home page to Srila Prabhupada’s teachings and video recordings. The picture of Srila Prabhupada on the home page, accompanied by his formal name and title, should be free from any other person’s image.
In other words, Srila Prabhupada’s image should be the only personality in the photo or likeness. The fonts presenting Srila Prabhupada’s name and title should be easily legible. All ISKCON center web sites should adhere to this standard no later than three months (90 days) from passage of this resolution.
(GURU TYAGA – REJECTING THE GURU! READ HERE!)