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    03 The Guru Reforms

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    Bhaktavatara Das
    How guru systems were updated in ISKCON

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    03 The Guru Reforms

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    Bhaktavatara Das
    3 views19 pages
    How guru systems were updated in ISKCON

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    How guru systems were updated in ISKCON

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as PPT, PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Download as ppt, pdf, or txt
    3 views19 pages

    03 The Guru Reforms

    Uploaded by

    Bhaktavatara Das
    How guru systems were updated in ISKCON

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as PPT, PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Download as ppt, pdf, or txt
    of 19

    The History of ISKCON

    Part III
    (Unauthorized) Guru Reforms
    The History of Guru Reforms
    1980: Hamsaduta arrested.
    1980: GBC suspends initiation rights of 3 gurus
    – Hamsaduta, Jayatirtha, Tamala Krsna.
    1980: Topanga Canyon Confession of TKG
    1981: GBC removes Hamsaduta.
    1982: GBC removes Jayatirtha.
    The History of Guru Reforms
    1985
    GBC meeting in New
    Vrindavan to discuss
    Guru Reforms
    Ravindra Swaroop
    submits his paper
    “Under My Order”
    The History of Guru Reforms
    Ravindra Svarupa outlines
    the dynamics & rationale behind the 'Guru Reforms‘

    • It was based on implementing


    Çréla Prabhupäda's
    expressed instructions on the
    Guru.
    • The Ritvik alternative had to
    be rejected because it was not
    'traditional'.
    The History of Guru Reforms
    • Çréla Prabhupäda wanted a
    GBC system in opposition to a
    single Acarya system.
    • Çréla Prabhupäda's own Guru
    had also wanted a GBC system
    in opposition to a single Acarya
    system.
    • 'Guru Reform' solved the
    'crisis' which the 'Zonal Acarya'
    system had created.
    The History of Guru Reforms
    GBC Resolution (Mar 30, 1986)
    …any GBC can present a diksa guru candidate before the
    GBC body … and upon majority of approval from the
    body, he may take up the responsibilities of an initiating
    guru in ISKCON.

    MUNDANE VOTES HAVE NO JURISDICTION TO


    ELECT A VAISHNAVA ACARYA
    Democracy means “Demons Crazy”
    - ÇRÉLA PRABHUPÄDA -
    An Apology in BTG
    By the influence of Maya, illusion, a different idea soon
    evolved that Çréla Prabhupäda appointed 11 “pure
    devotees” to serve as the only gurus after him….
    This zonal guru system, as it came to be called,
    prevailed in ISKCON for about 10 years, until its
    falseness became clear….
    In 1986, ISKCON’s GBC formally dismantled the
    system.
    (An Apology – (BTG) – Jayaadvaita Swami)
    An Apology in BTG
    Satsvarupa dasa Goswami, editor in chief during those
    years, joins with me in apologizing to our readers for
    BTG’s conformity to the “zonal guru” error.
    In particular, we express our heartfelt apologies for
    contributing to the hurts and wrongs devotees endured
    when ISKCON diverged from Çréla Prabhupäda’s
    instructions.”
    (An Apology – (BTG) – Jayaadvaita Swami)
    Multiple Äcarya Successor System
    • More than 80 gurus voted in till date
    • Guru fall down becomes a regular affair
    • Disciples of fallen gurus left in confusion
    Fall down at Faster Rate
    1985: Bhagavan’s arrogance exposed in TV
    1986: Ramesvara caught engaging in illicit acts
    1986: (Sep 8) Bhavananda expelled
    1986: Rameshvara and Bhagavan resigns
    1987: GBC accepts the resignation; also
    excommunicates Kirtanananda
    1987: Jayatirtha murdered in England
    Hrdayananda Gosvami
    Designated himself as
    “Acaryadeva”.
    Went back to college
    to get education.
    Harikesa Swami

    Ran off with his female


    massage therapist and
    bought luxury villa.

    Price: US$1.085 million


    GBC voted-in Gurus

    SUHOTRA DEVAMRTA BHAKTI VIKAS


    SWAMI SWAMI SWAMI
    GBC voted-in Gurus

    • Bhakti Tirtha Swami


    • Prabhavishnu Swami
    • Prahaladananda Swami
    • Vipramukhya Swami
    • Radhanath Maharaj
    GBC voted-in Gurus
    1996:
    • Jagadisa Swami – Affair with female disciple
    1997:
    Harikesa Swami (Chairman of GBC)
    • Affair with a masseuse
    • Claimed to be Krishna Himself
    2002:
    • Vipramukhya Swami (Absconded to get married)
    GBC voted-in Gurus

    Indradyumna Swami
    GBC voted-in Gurus
    Vipramukhya Swami
    Resigns after sending an email

    …it is with a heavy heart that I write this letter that I never thought
    would be written. After giving so many years of my life to the
    Hare Krishna Movement (more than 29), twenty of which have
    been as a sannyasi, I have reached an emotional and spiritual
    crossroads…. I could not shake the loneliness and emptiness of my
    silent world…. I have reached a dead end in my ability to
    continue.
    The Final Order
    1995
    July 9th Directive released
    1997
    BANNED! “The Final Order”
    Released and Banned by
    GBC
    Diminished Diksha Guru System
    GBC reduces the position of “diksha gurus”
    • no guru puja in public
    • no honorific titles (including HDG)
    • no photo of guru in altar etc…

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