Tamal Krsna Goswami: “Actually, Prabhupada never appointed any gurus. He didn’t appoint eleven gurus. He appointed eleven ritviks. He never appointed them gurus.
Myself and the other GBC have done the greatest disservice to this movement the last three years (34 now) because we interpreted the appointment of ritviks as the appointment of gurus.”
Topanga Canyon Pyramid House Talks
Tamal Krishna Goswami called for an open discussion at Nrsinghananda’s Pyramid House in Topanga Canyon, CA. on December 3, 1980. Hansadutta, Dhira Krishna, Kirtiraja, Jayadwaita and others were present, and the talk was recorded. Below are some of the interesting statements made therein, where Tamal Krishna frankly admits, that Srila Prabhupada never appointed any gurus.
Topanga Canyon Pyramid House Talks
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Tamal Krsna Goswami: Actually, Prabhupada never appointed any gurus. He didn’t appoint eleven gurus. He appointed eleven ritviks. He never appointed them gurus. Myself and the other GBC have done the greatest disservice to this movement the last three years (28 now) because we interpreted the appointment of ritviks as the appointment of gurus.
What actually happened, I’ll explain. I explained it, but the interpretation is wrong. What actually happened was that Prabhupada mentioned that he might be appointing some ritviks, so the GBC met for various reasons and they went to Prabhupada – five or six of us. We asked him, “Srila Prabhupada, after your departure, if we accept disciples, whose disciples will they be, your disciples or mine?” Later on there was a piled-up list for people to get initiated, and it was jammed-up. I said, “Srila Prabhupada, you once mentioned about ritviks. I don’t know what to do. We don’t want to approach you, but there’s hundreds of devotees named, and I’m just holding all the letters. I don’t know what you want to do.”
So Prabhupada said, “All right. I will appoint so many…,” and he started to name them and he did name them. He made it very clear that they’re his disciples. At that point it was very clear in my mind that they were his disciples. Later on I asked him two questions: 1) What about Brahmananda Swami? I asked him this because I happened to have an affection for Brahmananda Swami. I don’t know, I asked him because somehow he’s…I asked him, whatever. So Prabhupada said, “No, not unless he’s qualified.” Before I got ready to type the letter, I asked him: 2) “Srila Prabhupada, is this all or do you want to add more?” He said, “As is necessary, others may be added.”
Now I understand that what he did was very clear. He was physically incapable of performing the function of initiation physically; therefore, he appointed officiating priests to initiate on his behalf. He appointed eleven and he said very clearly, “Whoever is nearest, he can initiate.” This is a very important point, because when it comes to initiating if it isn’t whoever is nearest, it’s wherever your heart goes. Who repose your faith on, you take initiation from him but when it’s officiating, it’s whoever is nearest, and he was very clear. He named them. They were spread out all over the world, and he said, “Whoever you’re nearest, you just approach that person, and they’ll check you out. Then, on my behalf, they’ll initiate.” It’s not a question that you repose your faith in that person – nothing.
That’s a function for the guru.”In order for me to manage this movement,” Prabhupada said, “I have to form a GBC and I will appoint the following people. In order to continue the process of people joining our movement and getting initiated, I have to appoint some priests to help me because just like I cannot physically manage everyone myself, I physically cannot initiate everyone myself.” And that’s all that it was, and it was never any more than that. If it had been more than that, you can bet your bottom dollar that Prabhupada would have spoken for days and hours and weeks on end about how to set up this thing with the gurus, but he didn’t because he already had said it a million times. He said, ” My guru-maharaja did not appoint anyone. It’s by qualification .”
We made a great mistake. After Prabhupada’s departure, what is the position of these eleven people? Obviously, Srila Prabhupada felt that of all the people, these people are particularly qualified. So it stands to reason that after Prabhupada’s departure, they would go on, if they so desired, to initiate.
Actually a sannyasi, for example, is considered to be spiritual master of the varnas and ashramas. The brahmana is considered to be the spiritual master also. Prabhupada showed that it’s not just sannyasis. He named two people who were grhasthas, who could at least be ritviks, showing that they were equal to any sannyasi. So anyone who is spiritually qualified – it’s always been understood that you cannot accept disciples in the presence of your guru, but when the guru disappears, you can accept disciples if you’re qualified and someone can repose their faith. Of course, they should be fully appraised at how to distinguish who is a proper guru. But if you’re a proper guru, and your guru is no longer present, that is your right. It’s like a man can procreate.
Similarly, it is a disciple’s duty to push forward. He may decide, “I don’t want to take disciples. I want to assist so-and-so.” He has that right. But if he feels the inspiration from within and he has the qualifications, and he realizes what it means to take disciples, that it is a heavy responsibility, and if someone reposes their [faith] in him, then he should go ahead and do that.
Unfortunately, the GBC did not recognize this point. They immediately sad these eleven people are the selected gurus. I can say definitely for myself, and for which I humbly beg forgiveness from everybody, that there was definitely some degree of trying to control . There’s a degree of this in most GBC’s parts, in most temple president’s parts. This is the conditioned nature, and it came out in the highest position of all. “Guru, oh wonderful. Now I’m a guru, and there’s only eleven of us.” Tthis is what led us into this pitfall. The GBC who weren’t gurus said, “I’m next in line.” This has screwed up our movement terribly. It has very much hurt our movement because it has left so many Godbrothers in a frustrated position, very, very frustrated, and it is dampening their enthusiasm, and it has held back the preaching mission.
I think that if you analyze very carefully some of the things which have taken place, you see that a lot of them – Yasodanandana’s incident – would have been avoided. Jadurani’s incident would have been. My incident in my zone would have been avoided. At least I can say all those, and I think our whole mentality- I think Jayatirtha’s incident would have been avoided. I think that if there had been a whole different mentality, there would be 79 gurus or 122, instead of 11 where you have to show some super-excellent qualifications.
I think it would also throw the position of the GBC into its proper perspective, which is not to control and to have every single thing channeled through it, but to support the preaching mission, to support and to facilitate the preaching mission. That is the actual business of the GBC, not to restrict it or retard it in any way. I think to some extent it’s doing that at this point. For example, I think that Srila Prabhupada – I personally feel – that the gurus don’t have to be GBC members, because the GBC is by-and-large a managerial function. Of course, it requires spiritual intelligence.
Complete article here: http://www.harekrsna.org/gbc/themes/topanga.htm
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