Posted Mar 23, HIGH SPRINGS, FLORIDA, USA — May 28th, 1977 was a defining moment in time for ISKCON. However, the significance and importance of that day seems to have been lost in the pages of ISKCON history. On that day, the ISKCON GBC resolved to approach Srila Prabhupada for his defining instruction on how initiations and how the parampara system would continue in ISKCON after his passing.
Srila Prabhupada’s health had been in decline and it was becoming doubtful how much longer he would be with his disciples in his manifest presence. Therefore, the leading disciples of the GBC had resolved that they must get some definitive pronouncement from Srila Prabhupada regarding how the process of initiating devotees in ISKCON would continue after Srila Prabhupada was no longer manifest in his physical form.
So, May 28th, 1977 was a very monumental moment in ISKCON history and specifically for the GBC, who was the managing authority of ISKCON.
It was not just another day.
It was THE DAY.
It was the day that the GBC decided to approach Srila Prabhupada for his final instructions on how initiations would go on in ISKCON after his passing, because prior to that day it had not been precisely understood and his departure seemed imminent and ominous. That is the significance of the May 28th, 1977 conversation between Srila Prabhupada and the GBC. It was the defining moment in ISKCON when the managing authority of ISKCON approached Srila Prabhupada for his final orders on how initiations would go on.
The GBC might have expected to hear Srila Prabhupada express the age-old tradition that the disciple becomes the next guru. Or, they may have wanted to know if the rtvik system that was in place at that time would continue.
The GBC selected Satsvarupa das Goswami to be the one to represent the GBC and present this very difficult question to Srila Prabhupada. It was not just a casual conversation that happened spontaneously. It was a crafted and orchestrated moment.
The GBC wanted to know.
How will initiations go on after the passing of Srila Prabhupada?
Obviously, there was some question about this matter, otherwise there would have been no need for the GBC to approach Srila Prabhupada with the question.
So, on this very important day in the history of ISKCON, the GBC posed the question to Srila Prabhupada. We have all seen this transcript many times, but let’s look at it one more time, understanding that it was not just an off-the-cuff, spontaneous moment, but rather the day in time when the GBC approached Srila Prabhupada for his definitive instruction on how initiations in ISKCON would go on after his passing.
May 28, 1977 Vrindavan, India
Krsna-Balarama Temple
Satsvarupa Goswami:
Then our next question concerns initiations in the future,
particularly at that time when you are no longer with us. We want to know how
first and second initiation(s) would be conducted?
Srila Prabhupada:
Yes. I shall recommend some of you. After this is settled up
I shall recommend some of you to act as officiating acarya(s).
Tamal Krsna Goswami:
Is that called ritvik acarya?
Srila Prabhupada:
“ritvik. Yes”.
Satsvarupa Goswami:
(Then) What is the relationship of that person who gives the initiation and …
Srila Prabhupada:
He’s guru. He’s guru.
Satsvarupa Goswami:
But he does it on your behalf.
Srila Prabhupada:
Yes. That is formality. Because in my presence one should not become guru,so on my behalf. On my order, amara ajnaya guru hana, (he is) (be) actually guru.
But by my order.
Satsvarupa Goswami:
So (then) (they) (they’ll) (may) also be considered your disciples?
Srila Prabhupada:
Yes, they are disciples, but why consider who?
Tamal Krsna Goswami: No, He is asking that these ritvik acaryas, they are officiating, giving diksa,
they’re… the people who they give diksa to, whose disciples are they?
Srila Prabhupada:
They are his disciples.
Tamal Krsna Goswami:
They are his disciples (?)
Srila Prabhupada:
Who is initiating … his grand-disciple .
Satsvarupa Goswami:
(Yes)
Tamal Krsna Goswami:
(That’s clear)
Tamal Krsna Goswami:
(Let’s go on)
Satsvarupa Goswami:
Then we have a question concerning …
Srila Prabhupada:
When I order you become guru, he becomes regular guru.
That’s all. He becomes disciple of my disciple that’s it ! Just see!.
(end)
So, this is it.
This is the defining moment and the defining instruction of Srila Prabhupada on how the ISKCON GBC would conduct initiations in ISKCON after the passing of Srila Prabhupada. Both the pro rtvik and the pro diksha guru schools claim support and evidence from these instructions of Srila Prabhupada.
In fact, could there possibly have been support for both sides in this instruction, or does the statement of Srila Prabhupada favor one side more than the other?
You be the judge.
But, this meeting between Srila Prabhupada and the GBC does define the future of initiations in ISKCON and the role of the GBC after the passing of Srila Prabhupada.
These instructions however are directed to the GBC as the managing authority of ISKCON. Satsvarupa Maharaja was asking the question on behalf of the GBC, as he was also a GBC at that time.
It would probably be a mistake to accept these instructions as pertaining to individual disciples.
It was a response to the GBC, who had deputed Satsvarupa Maharaja to approach Srila Prabhupada on behalf of the GBC.
That these instructions pertained to individual disciples outside the GBC would probably be incorrect.
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