Disciples Offering Obeisances

While offering obeisances in a public place a disciple of a suspended guru should recite Srila Prabhupada's pranama-mantra aloud and should chant the mantras to the suspended guru silently or not at all.

Murtis of Gurus Inside the Temple Room

There shall be no establishment of murtis in any ISKCON temple room of ISKCON guru s subsequent to Srila Prabhupada in succession. (97-617)

Guidelines

Rejection of a Fallen Guru

Note: The following laws are based on Sri Krsna-bhajanamrta by Sri Narahari Sarkara (an associate of Sri Caitanya), Bhakti-sandarbha by Srila Jiva Gosvami, and Jaiva-dharma by Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura, in addition to the writings of Srila A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada.

When a Fallen Guru May Be Rejected

If it is ascertained either by the admission of the guru, or by the testimony of irrefutably reliable witness(es) that the guru was fallen at the time of initiation, then the disciple has a legitimate reason to reject him and take re-initiation from a bona fide spiritual master.

When a Fallen Guru Must Be Rejected

Hopelessly Entangled in Sense Gratification

If a guru has become hopelessly entangled in sense gratification, and it has been established by reliable testimony or by his own admissions that he has been regularly violating the regulative principles of Krsna consciousness, and if there is virtually no hope for his rectification, then the disciple should reject him and may accept re-initiation.

Takes on Demoniac Qualities

If the spiritual master takes on demoniac qualities and becomes inimical to ISKCON, he should be rejected and the disciple may take re-initiation.

 

When Not to Reject a Fallen Guru

If a guru is engaged in sense gratification, violating one or more of the regulative principles, but there is hope that he can be rectified, then his disciples should not reject him but should allow time for such rectification to take place, and they should take shelter of Srila Prabhupada and senior Vaisnavas as siksa - guru s.

 

When a Suspended Guru May Be Rejected

A disciple of a suspended guru who has severely lost his faith in his spiritual master, or who has developed an offensive mentality towards him, and who is unable to regain his faith, even after hearing many instructions in the matter, may take permission from the spiritual master for release to accept a different initiating guru. The devotee should act in consultation with his local GBC representative. If the suspended guru withholds his permission, then the disciple may seek permission from the GBC Body.

7.5.1.5 "Guru Asraya" for Guidance

Devotees whose initiating spiritual master has fallen down should take guidance from the GBC papers entitled " Guru Asraya" and "Questions and Answers About Reinitiation." These papers also present ISKCON's guidelines on the importance of taking shelter of a spiritual master and the role of siksa- guru.

The Siksa-guru

Definition

In accordance with the instructions of Srila Prabhupada in the Caitanya-caritamrita, "A devotee must have only one initiating spiritual master because in the scriptures acceptance of more than one is always forbidden. There is no limit, however, to the number of instructing spiritual masters one may accept." (CC Adi 1.35 Purport)

"Srila Krsna dasa Kaviraja Gosvami states that the instructing spiritual master is a bona fide representative of Sri Krsna. The initiating spiritual master is a personal manifestation of Srila Madana-mohana vigraha, whereas the instructing spiritual master is a personal representative of Srila Govindadeva vigraha." (CC Adi 1.47 Purport),

Devotees may accept a devotee as his/her siksa-guru and serve him as a representative of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. If they are under shelter or initiated by a spiritual master in good standing, they are to first acquire the blessings of their diksa-guru in order to accept a siksa-guru.

Guru Services Committee

A Guru Services Committee is hereby established with the purpose to resolve present and prospective guru topics. This Committee is to:

A. Ascertain whether each guru is following the standard practice of Krsna Consciousness, including:

 

1. Chanting a minimum of sixteen rounds per day and having a visible sadhana;

2. Has proper relationships with others according to his asrama, especially with the opposite sex;

3. Is responsibly engaged in his service within the Society;

4. Has an appropriate understanding of the siddhanta of Krsna Consciousness as given by Srila Prabhupada;

5. Is cooperating with the other devotees within ISKCON and,

6. Is financially accountable.

 

B. Establish committees to research and deal with the philosophy and practical issues concerning gurus within ISKCON.

 

C. Review existing procedures and recommend modifications of the existing procedures by which devotees in ISKCON can commence the service of diksa-guru.

 

D. Review prospective gurus when called upon to do so.

 

E. This committee has the power to educate the guru or to recommend to the GBC Body Executive Committee to sanction him /her, according to ISKCON Law. Any sanctions must be reviewed by the GBC Body at the Annual General Meeting in Mayapur.

 

Regulations