Pariprashnena — Q&A Archive

seems to mean were back to the zonal acarya(s) system: you cant take initiation from a guru who doesnt reside in your zone.

here is that resolution in context:
source: http://www.eurogbc.com/index.php?option=content&task=view&id=49&Itemid=69
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'95 Whereas ISKCON gurus are sometimes seen to undermine the movement'92s systems and structures by conducting initiations informally or otherwise inappropriately;
'95 Whereas initiation is part of the movement'92s complete system of spiritual care;

It is hereby resolved that:

1. No promise of initiation may be made until all local formalities have been observed and a letter of recommendation received

2. There will be no more '91cross-border'92 initiations

3.No inducements to serve in another zone may be made either to the prospective initiate or to the new disciple

4.No initiations will be given to a husband or wife unless and until the partner understands all the ramifications
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it says earlier in these resolutions: Whereas the majority of those devotees now live outside a temple community, thus requiring additional and ongoing tuition, encouragement, guidance and supervision.

more and more devotees are living outside temple or asram facilities and are therefore not as much under the control of the institution. this seems an effort to re-ascertain this control via controlling diksa: if you dont do what we want, you wont get recommended.

there have been quite a few cases recently in UK, and also in malaysia, where this has led to problems.

clearly different meaning -- not like in the zonal system. I take it that authority of one devotees local area is the authority that gives recommendation, not some other authority. It is however not a GBC requirement and there is no definition of what is cross-border. In fact there are no borders in ISKCON or these borders have never been defined but loosely follow some state borders.

yes, i shouldnt have written "back to the zonal acarya(s) system," but "...a zonal...system."

the previous one was based no some individuals, whereas the new one is based on the regional power structure in ISKCON.

the effect is similar though, since its about exerting power over the members. some power has to be there, of course, otherwise the organization wouldnt hold together. what im not happy with is how this power structure, in many places, respresents a corporate structure, top-down government.

almost all devotees today are living outside this corporate structure and need to be inspired rather than governed. unless they really want to, why should they submit to corporate rules they dont understand or like?

It reminds me of the play Braja Bihari put some years back in New Vrindavana

with a song:

"Want go to Alachua near the sea..
There they have no GBC..."
:-) yes inspire!

My understanding is that it may be also the decision of the guru, not just of local managers, to not initiate outside his zone due to practical reasons, mainly logistics. One such example from Europe is Sacinandana Swami. The usual solution for aspiring disciples is to move to his zone.
Inspiration - definitely. It wont work otherwise in the long run anyway.

Thanks to Baker and Phani for providing links. But in this whole document of initiation procedure there is no mention of Devotees relationship with Srila Prabhupada. Most of the time devotee will be reading Srila Prabhupadas books and listening to his lectures. In fact devotees real connection with Parampara will be Srila Prabhupada. That is the perfect initiation programme of Srila Prabhupada.

Every year Microsoft releases new patches to close different holes in its operating system. Sameway, this is another patch issued by Euro GBC to close a few holes in its Diksha programme. But next years patch might cancel this patch completely. So keep applying all the patches which are issued every year till the time we come to a perfect system.

Hare Krsna.

Actually your thoughts are genuine subudhi,however though we all have a siksa relationship with our fonder archarya ,through video ,the books and his classes this movement is naturally going to produce the perfect system.Just by making arrangement for the genuine disciple and guru to meet and serve and exchange in their respective roles.The problem is the lack of sincerity....but as the movement matures these problems will naturally fall away as we as individuals are progressive...especially in our serve to our siksa and diksa gurus.Since guru tattva is a developing truth within iskcon according to time place and circumstance,krishna will make all adjustments.Especially since it is krishnas wish that a guru is personally present to give diksa ,hence freeing many westerners from their natural mayavadi- christian impersonalism.Recently these ritvik-apa sampradaya kanisthas have attempted to degrade srila Prabhupadas movement and turn it into a christian clone.Where you can only go to the farther by his only begotten son ,which in this case was srila Prabhupada.But this sad attempt was repulsed and fortunately this enviousness dressed up in devotional dress has been dealt with