Pariprashnena — Q&A Archive

For many years spiritual authorities in our movement have held management skills as non important.

Nowadays, the corporate style is coming forceful on even those who hold "guru" status within the society, to the point of making corporate courses on how to be "better" guru, of course they use language to embellish that simple fact.

Spiritual character and example is the utmost qualification for any spiritual authority and management skills can be implemented and taught on a secondary basis to enhance the material part of the equation.

Our philosophy is to engage everything in Krishnas service, but to discriminate in terms of application and priorities.

For me, that emphasis on management that we see nowadays, is the other side of the wrong approach, i.e. the total disregard and ridicule held in the past about those techniques .

In other words, the other side of the same coin and thus equally dangerous

[quote][cite] deena:[/cite]How is spiritual authority bestowed and what is its relationship to managerial authority?[/quote]

Managers can be nominated, but real leaders are chosen by the people who want to be led. Spiritual authority comes from good qualities and deep spiritual knowledge.

Sannyasis shoud not be tempted to become managers. They just need to inspire others with their purity, renunciation, devotion, and knowledge. If they are not very renounced they seek position, power, and prestige. Managers should see themselves as the servants of the people they manage - that is a proper renunciation.

The proof of the pudding is in its taste. When you hear a sannyasi speak you should feel inspired to become a better devotee. When a manager runs the project properly it becomes a success and the people involved in it are happy. Do not let anyone confuse you with complicated explanations. You must judge things by the results they produce.

Authority assumes representing author, for spiritual authority this autocrat is god.
To be spiritual authority has to clearly represent no other interest. (from Latin auctoritas, used in Roman law as opposed to potestas)