Pariprashnena — Q&A Archive

He wanted the GBC to be an administrative and spiritual leadership of ISKCON. If an approval of gurus isnt included, I dont know what is. He wanted to prevent ISKCONs disintegration in the way of GM.

The history of Zonal Acarya system is dealt with in TKGs paper "The Perils of Succession" published in ICJ 5.1 (1977).

Previous to the votes there should be a comprehensive audit of the future guru as per sastric standards. Every disciple should do it as well.
http://wiki.gaudiyakutir.com/Pariksa_-_Mutual_testing
Neglect it at your own peril.

so, is it necessary or even proper to have a screening before the screening?

Screening is to be done in an individual personal basis.

I like to compare it to marriage. Imagine there is a panel of people that tells you who you can choose to marry from a previously selected group of candidates.

It sounds sectarian manoeuvre to me.

A political move to "secure" followers?

Where in the scriptures support that? Is there any example in the past?

There is nothing in the history of GV similar to a managerial council body like that. Jiva G. institued Visva Vaisnava Raja Sabha but that was a kind of school or a formal group for teaching Sanskrit and Vaisnava siddhanta. The GBC idea was conceived by Bhaktivinoda Thakura and desired to be instituted by Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati (which didnt happen in GM).

not talking about GBC idea. talking about GBC electing spiritual masters

Thats what Prabhupada wanted.

(???) Prabhupada instructed directly the GBC to selection spiritual masters? , please show me the quotes. Never heard that.

Following the same logic: SP wanted GBC institution so Zonal Acarya was right. Was it?

I didnt say I agree. I just mentioned it as a source.

Im not acquainted with details so I cant comment on rewriting SP Constitution and stuff. Imho, your concern should be directed to Sesa das. Does he want to hear what devotees say?

[quote][cite] VEDA:[/cite]He wanted the GBC to be an administrative and spiritual leadership of ISKCON. If an approval of gurus isnt included, I dont know what is. He wanted to prevent ISKCONs disintegration in the way of GM.

The history of Zonal Acarya system is dealt with in TKGs paper "The Perils of Succession" published in ICJ 5.1 (1977).[/quote]

Prabhu, you seem to me a bit confused in that one. "How" Srila Prabhupada wanted the GBC exert its power is clearly delineated by him, and it is not certainly a "blank check" to do whatever they want in the name of given authority.

Lets put it clear, as a fallible institution, GBC should stick to SP directions on them to avoid mistakes. Not that now, they change everything over and above.

Like Constitution. Constitution is already there by SP. Now, only 40 years later we have become more intelligent. Who is Sesa das + friends, no matter how "decent", to rewrite SP Constitution?

One thing could be changing preaching strategy for the sake of modern and society change, another different one take the roots of our movement and rewrite them, how dangerous!

[quote]
1972 April 4 : "Immediately there should be no change. Simply by agreement you have changed everything, so what is this? I do not think we shall change anything except as I direct."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1972 [/quote]

In regards to your last sentence, TKG was the chief implementer of Zonal Acarya fiasco and now he gives explanation. And you agree. No liability whatsoever. How sad.

..in ISKCON it is.

I live here in the same community as Sesa Prabhu. He is a GBC and a lawyer and Im sure there is some reason that they are doing the Constitution Committee to please the devotees, and not just to change something.
When I first moved here he set up a tent for three days and just made himself available to all the devotees here who wanted to speak with him so I went up to him at that time and voiced one of my concerns over the Charter School which he answered and it turned out to be correct.
My Guru Maharaja Gour Govinda Swami (ACBSP) was personally instructed by Srila Prabhupada to accept disciples to help him in Bhubaneshwara but the GBC didnt tell him to become a guru at first. He wasnt on the list of the original 11. Still eventually he did initiate disciples. He was already acting as a guru before the official recognition. And he was banned from some places even after he was a guru, I forgot why, he preached without worrying about what people thought politically and that upset a few devotees I guess.
One thing about him though is that I never ever heard anyone say anything bad about him. Only the ritviks dare to criticize him simply because he was personally instructed by Srila Prabhupada and they werent there to hear it. They criticize simply because he became a guru, even though he was qualified.