Srila Prabhupada's Vyasa-puja Book

1. An annual vyasa-puja book for Srila Prabhupada shall be published by the BBT for the next ten thousand years.

2. A high-quality, hardbound Srila Prabhupada vyasa-puja book for the whole Society shall be published annually. It shall include offerings from all GBC members, ISKCON centers, and sannyasis worldwide. Continental vyasa-puja books are welcome additions.

3. The author of each temple's offering in the annual world vyasa-puja book shall be stated in the book.

Back to Godhead Magazine

There may be various co-editors of non-English BTG magazines but the English edition editor will be responsible to keep the standard. In this he will work in cooperation with the co-editors and BBT trustees of the various foreign language BTGs. As for the editorial policies he should follow, he shall take consultation from the GBC.(77)

Bhaktivedanta Institute

1. The Bhaktivedanta Institute (BI) is authorized to delegate someone in any zone or country to deal with the scientists more effectively.

2. BI goals shall annually be presented at the GBC meeting with a review report on the progress on the following year to the GBC in Mayapur. Also the BBT trustees are authorized to review and approve the annual budget for the BI each year. (80)

3. The BI will establish centers only after obtaining permission of the local GBC zonal Secretaries.(86)

Mayapur-Vrndavana Trust (MVT)

The MVT Committee, which controls the funds of the Mayapur-Vrndavana fund, shall submit yearly reports to the GBC on the expenditure from this fund.(77)

ISKCON Television, Inc.

That the GBC establishes a policy prohibiting "pirating", i.e., unauthorized duplicating of any ISKCON Television (ITV) videotapes, from now in perpetuity as the official policy of ISKCON for the benefit of the preaching effort. This includes any unauthorized duplication of any division of ISKCON engaged in producing video cassette.(81)

(2001)

ISKCON Global Excellence Awards

“Global Excellence Awards” be established to recognize outstanding conributions with ISKCON. The purpose of the awards is to recognize excellence in the field of devotional service and to encourage devotion in the various aspects and fields of Krsna conscious activities.

 

25. Miscellaneous:

 

That in all ISKCON kirtans, the Hare Krsna maha-mantra should be the primary mantra.

 

Note: This is for kirtans, but does not apply to bhajans such as Jaya Radha Madhava, Nrsimha prayers, etc.

 

Appendices

Miscellaneous

All ISKCON official mouthpiece publications shall not be permitted to carry advertising for astrological services.

Position Papers

2.1 "On My Order" Understood

ISKCON devotees and leaders have repeatedly requested a clear vision from the GBC on Srila Prabhupada's order in 1977 regarding continuing the disciplic succession, but as yet it has not been presented. Many interpretations of the "appointment tapes" have been published by the GBC and outside parties, many inimical to ISKCON, and a clear GBC stand would help ISKCON devotees in their preaching and search for unity in diversity. A clearer concept and a general consensus on many things have been achieved after discussions and philosophical research. The siddhanta in regard to guru-tattva in ISKCON has been unclear, and there is a need for a statement from the GBC to give direction. Therefore it is resolved that the following conclusions are accepted as the official GBC position in regard to Srila Prabhupada's instructions regarding continuing the disciplic succession:

1. Srila Prabhupada's explicit and consistent desire and program had always been that eventually His Divine Grace's disciples and followers would take up the service of initiating new disciples into the disciplic succession as initiating gurus 1. This procedure is supported by all evidence from sadhu, sastra and guru as the bona fide method of continuing the disciplic succession. In fact, this is the only concept of continuing the disciplic succession ever mentioned by Srila Prabhupada.

2. In 1977, Srila Prabhupada repeatedly said he would "select," "choose," "appoint," or "designate" some disciples to take up the service of initiating new disciples. When Srila Prabhupada was asked who would initiate after his physical departure he stated he would "recommend" and give his "order" to some of his disciples who would initiate on his behalf during his lifetime and afterwards as "regular gurus," whose disciples would be Srila Prabhupada's grand-disciples. Srila Prabhupada repeatedly cited Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu's statement "amara ajñaya guru hoiya" and stated that one would be eligible to act as an initiating guru based "on my order", i.e. on the "order" of Srila Prabhupada as the representative of Lord Caitanya.2 Subsequently, Srila Prabhupada named some disciples to initiate on his behalf, as he had previously stated.3 Although Srila Prabhupada did not repeat his earlier statements, it was understood that he expected these disciples to initiate in the future. Srila Prabhupada stated that being a spiritual master is "not difficult," that the primary qualification for is to "strictly follow" the previous spiritual masters.4 Srila Prabhupada's repeated use of the phrase "on my order" makes it abundently clear that those who would be "selected" were simply to strictly carry out His Divine Grace's "order", and as long as they did so they would be bona fide spiritual masters. It is up to Srila Prabhupada's followers to be and remain qualified by strictly following his instructions.

3. In ISKCON, the basis of anyone's acting as an ISKCON spiritual master is the transcendental "order" of Srila Prabhupada, which conveys in succession the divine order of Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu. It is therefore clear that Srila Prabhupada's use of words like "appoint," "recommend" or "select" was not in the mundane sense of appointing someone to a post or position, and certainly not to some state of "realization," nor as a full endorsement of qualification, as has been commonly misunderstood, but is rather a conditional mandate dependent on the follower's "strictly following" the "order" of the spiritual master. In fact, the Sanskrit word "ajña" means to be the order-carrier or to represent a higher authority. Failing to "follow strictly" the "order" of the previous acaryas would disenfranchise the putative guru. 5 Athough Srila Prabhupada was a pure devotee of Lord Krsna and a liberated soul, he humbly presented as his only qualification that he was a humble "servant of the servant," that he was simply carrying out the "order" and strictly following the instructions of his spiritual master, Om VisAupada Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura, who was a liberated soul. Srila Prabhupada taught by example. Therefore, His Divine Grace's "selecting" someone would be to do what Srila Prabhupada stated he was doing, i.e. simply to "carry out the order" of the previous acaryas. 6 Reinforcing that truth is Srila Prabhupada's well-known instruction that a spiritual master must always consider himself a disciple and servitor of his own guru.

4. After Srila Prabhupada named some disciples to initiate, his personal secretary suggested some others for also starting to initiate, but Srila Prabhupada, after considering the matter, said they were not yet ready. His Divine Grace said the GBC could consider and later add others when needed. Thus, by delegating that duty to the GBC, Srila Prabhupada personally detailed the procedure for increasing the number of initiating gurus. Earlier, His Divine Grace had taught Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura's instruction that his GBC would be responsible to "elect" qualified devotees to be initiating gurus. When asked who would succeed him, His Divine Grace said that he "gave the legacy" to all his disciples and whoever strictly follows him is qualified to succeed him.7

5. When a devotee is allowed to carry out the "order" of Srila Prabhupada to expand the disciplic succession by initiating new disciples, it is not to be taken as a certification or endorsement of his being an "uttama-adhikari," "pure devotee," or to having achieved any specific state of realization. It is simply a statement that the devotee has been given permission to execute the "order" to serve as a guru because it was considered that he was "strictly following" Srila Prabhupada's instructions and had maintained an adequately exemplary sadhana and behavior up to the standard approved for serving as a guru. Moreover, Srila Prabhupada never stated that he was appointing an "acarya" or an independent or "absolute authority" for the sampradaya. To the contrary, His Divine Grace established the GBC and said that the GBC would be the "ultimate managing authority" for all affairs (material and spiritual) of the society in accordance to sadhu, sastra and guru. 8 Gurus and disciples are expected to cooperate and follow the decisions of the GBC as desired of Srila Prabhupada.

6. It may be that in the future a devotee may achieve great realization and advancement in Krsna consciousness and become a "self-effulgent acarya," a renowned "acarya" for the sampradaya, but Srila Prabhupada stated such things are not to be confirmed by administrative decrees or actions. If an advanced devotee's spiritual qualities are "self-effulgent," devotees may naturally accept him as an "acarya" or advanced or realized spiritual master and his association and guidance will be sought, but the GBC cannot "rubber stamp" him nor change ISKCON's system of management consequently. ISKCON will continue to be managed as Srila Prabhupada provided without "change" by the GBC. That is Srila Prabhupada's instruction.9

7. Uninitiated ISKCON devotees should seek out a spiritual master who is strictly following Srila Prabhupada's instructions and representing Srila Prabhupada, with full faith that by following such a spiritual master who is strictly following a liberated soul; they will achieve the same results obtainable by serving Srila Prabhupada directly. (Other instructions in this regard may be separately published.)

8. Disciples are to respect their spiritual masters as direct representatives of Krsna, i.e. as "saksad dharitvena," in accordance with sastras. Disciples should worship their spiritual master according to their faith and according to the standard Vaisnava etiquette approved by ISKCON. All ISKCON devotees should encourage disciples in developing faith in their spiritual masters.

Notes

1. As early as 1967 Srila Prabhupada wrote:

"Anyone following the order of Lord Caitanya under the guidance of His bonafide representative, can become a spiritual master and I wish that in my absence all my disciples become bonafide spiritual masters to spread Krsna Consciousness throughout the whole world." (Letter to Madhusudana 02-11-1967)

and in 1968 he wrote to Hamsaduta:

"Maybe by 1975 all of my disciples will be allowed to initiate and increase the number of the generations. That is my program." (Letter to Hamsaduta Swami)

Also,

"Therefore if anyone is anxious to be initiated, he should first of all hear our philosophy and join chanting at least for three months, and then if required, I shall send chanted beads for him if you recommend. As we are doing here. Don't be allured by such maya. I am training you all to become future spiritual masters, but do not be in a hurry. (08-21-1968, Letter to Acyutananda and Jaya Govinda)

"I am just trying to disseminate this message of my spiritual master and if there's any credit for this service, everything goes to Him. This message of Krsna Consciousness is coming down from Krsna Himself, and we are all servants of the Supreme Lord working under the consecutive disciplic succession. Please try to understand our philosophy through various books that I have already published and sometimes after you will have to carry out this order of disciplic succession." (03-14-1969, Letter to Prahladananda)

"Some time ago you asked my permission for accepting some disciples, now the time is approaching very soon when you will have many disciples by your strong preaching work. Stick to the line of our strong preaching method and many misguided persons will be blessed by your proper guiding." (05-16-1972, Letter to Acyutananda)

"I have heard that there is some worship of yourself by the other devotees. Of course it is proper to offer obeisances to a Vaisnava, but not in the presence of the spiritual master. After the departure of the spiritual master, it will come to that stage, but now wait. Otherwise it will create factions." (10-01-1974, Letter to Hamsaduta Dasa)

"Now has the GBC become more than guru Maharaja? As if simply GBC is meant for looking after pounds, shilling, pence. The GBC does not look after spiritual life. That is a defect. All of our students will have to become guru, but they are not qualified. This is the difficulty." (11-10-1975, Letter to Alalanatha Dasa)

"Keep trained up very rigidly and then you are bonafide guru, and you can accept disciples on the same principle. But as a matter of etiquette it is the custom that during the lifetime of your spiritual master you bring the prospective disciples to him, and in his absence or disappearance you can accept disciples without any limitation. This is the law of disciplic succession. I want to see my disciples become bonafide spiritual master and spread Krsna consciousness very widely, that will make me and Krsna very happy." (12-02-1975, Letter to Tusta Krsna Swami)

2. Vrndavana, May 28, 1977

Satsvarupa: By the votes of the present GBC. Then our next question concerns initiations in the future, particularly at that time when you're no longer with us. We want to know how first and second initiation would be conducted.

Prabhupada: Yes. I shall recommend some of you. After this is settled up, I shall recommend some of you to act as officiating acaryas.

Tamala Krsna: Is that called rtvik-acarya?

Prabhupada: tvik, yes.

Satsvarupa: Then what is the relationship of that person who gives the initiation and the...

Prabhupada: He's guru. He's guru.

Satsvarupa: But he does it on your behalf.

Prabhupada: Yes. That is formality. Because in my presence one should not become guru, so on my behalf, on my order... Amara ajñaya guru haña. Be actually guru, but by my order.

Satsvarupa: So they may also be considered your disciples.

Prabhupada: Yes, they are disciples. Why consider? Who?

Tamala Krsna: No, he's asking that these rtvik-acaryas, they're officiating, giving diksa. Their... The people who they give diksa to, whose disciples are they?

Prabhupada: They're his disciples.

Tamala Krsna: They're his disciples.

Prabhupada: Who is initiating. He is granddisciple.

Satsvarupa: Yes.

Tamala Krsna: That's clear.

Satsvarupa: Then we have a question concer...

Prabhupada: When I order, "You become guru," he becomes regular guru. That's all. He becomes disciple of my disciple. That's it...

Prabhupada: And Caitanya Mahaprabhu says, amara ajñaya guru haña. One can understand the order of Caitanya Mahaprabhu, he can become guru. Or one who understands his guru's order, the same parampara, he can become guru. And therefore I shall select some of you. (hums)

It should also be noted that in most cases when Srila Prabhupada spoke about his disciples becoming gurus he cited the amara ajñaya verse.

3. July 7, 1977, Vrndavana

Tamala Krsna: Those are their favorite words. Srila Prabhupada? We're receiving a number of letters now, and these are people who want to get initiated. So up until now, since your becoming ill, we asked them to wait.

Prabhupada: The local, mean, senior sannyasis can do that.

Tamala Krsna: That's what we were doing... I mean, formerly we were... The local GBC, sannyasis, were chanting on their beads, and they were writing to Your Divine Grace, and you were giving a spiritual name. So should that process be resumed, or should we...? I mean one thing is that it's said that the spiritual master takes on the... You know, he takes on the... He has to cleanse the disciple by... So we don't want that you should have to... Your health is not so good, so that should not be... That's why we've been asking everybody to wait. I just want to know if we should continue to wait some more time.

Prabhupada: No, the senior sannyasis...

Tamala Krsna: So they should continue to...

Prabhupada: You can give me a list of sannyasis. I will mark who will...

Tamala Krsna: Okay.

Prabhupada: You can do. Kirtanananda can do. And our Satsvarupa can do. So these three, you can give, begin.

Tamala Krsna: So supposing someone is in America, should they simply write directly to Kirtanananda or Satsvarupa?

Prabhupada: Nearby. Jayatirtha can give.

Tamala Krsna: Jayatirtha.

Prabhupada: Bhavanan..., er, Bhagavan. And he can do also. Harikesa.

Tamala Krsna: Harikesa Maharaja.

Prabhupada: And... Five, six men, you divide who is nearest.

Tamala Krsna: Who is nearest. So persons wouldn't have to write to Your Divine Grace. They could write directly to that person?

Prabhupada: Hm.

Tamala Krsna: Actually they are initiating the person on Your Divine Grace's behalf. Those persons who are initiated are still your...

Prabhupada: Second initiation we shall think over, second initiation.

Tamala Krsna: This is for first initiation, okay. And for second initiation, for the time being they should...

Prabhupada: No, they have to wait. Second initiation, that should be given...

Tamala Krsna: Should... Some devotees are writing you now for second initiation, and I'm writing them to wait a while because you're not well. So can I continue to tell them that?

Prabhupada: They can do second initiation.

Tamala Krsna: By writing you.

Prabhupada: No. These men.

Tamala Krsna: These men, they can also do second initiation. So there's no need for devotees to write to you for first and second initiation. They can write to the man nearest them. But all these persons are still your disciples. Anybody who gives initiation is doing so on your behalf.

Prabhupada: Yes.

Tamala Krsna: You know that book I'm maintaining of all of your disciples' names? Should I continue that?

Prabhupada: Hm.

Tamala Krsna: So if someone gives initiation, like Harikesa Maharaja, he should send the person's name to us here and I'll enter it in the book. Okay. Is there someone else in India that you want to do this?

Prabhupada: India, I am here. We shall see. In India, Jayapataka.

Tamala Krsna: Jayapataka Maharaja.

Prabhupada: You are also in India.

Tamala Krsna: Yes.

Prabhupada: You can note down these names.

Tamala Krsna: Yes, I have them.

Prabhupada: Who are they?

Tamala Krsna: Kirtanananda Maharaja, Satsvarupa Maharaja, Jayatirtha Prabhu, Bhagavan Prabhu, Harikesa Maharaja, Jayapataka Maharaja and Tamala Krsna Maharaja.

Prabhupada: That's nice. Now you distribute.

Tamala Krsna: Seven. There's seven names.

Prabhupada: For the time being, seven names, sufficient. You can make Ramesvara.

Tamala Krsna: Ramesvara Maharaja.

Prabhupada: And Hrdayananda.

Tamala Krsna: Oh, yeah. South America.

Prabhupada: So without waiting for me, wherever you consider it is right... That will depend on discretion.

Tamala Krsna: On discretion.

Prabhupada: Yes.

Tamala Krsna: That's for first and second initiations.

Prabhupada: Hm.

4. Make sure that they are well aware of the four rules and regulations and that they are fixed in chanting the prescribed number of sixteen rounds daily on the beads. Without these two principles no one can make advancement on the path of regulated bhakti. Teach them the science of the Bhagavad-gita and train them to be first class representatives of Krsna. It is not very difficult, simply one has to hear from the perfect authority who is in disciplic succession from Krsna Himself, and then repeat the same message without any change. If one does this then he is qualified to become guru. (Letter to Jayadharma 08-20-1976)

Guru is only one. guru means, as you explained, ajñana-timirandhasya jñanañjana-salakaya, caksur unmilitam yena tasmai sri-gurave namaƒ. One who eradicates the ajñana, andhakara, darkness. In the darkness, if somebody brings lamp, ajñana-timirandhasya jñanañjana-salakaya... The jñana-rupa, torchlight, he's guru. So maybe of different degrees, but anyone who opens the spiritual eyes, he's guru.

But it doesn't matter that degree. Actually, if the guru teaches Krsna consciousness, then he may be in lesser degree, but he's accepted as guru. There is no question of rejection. Because Krsna is actually jñana. One who teaches Krsna as the Supreme Personality of Godhead, "One has to know Krsna, one has to surrender to Krsna," this kind of teaching is required.

So the real test is whether the guru is a Vaisnava, whether he knows the science of Krsna. That is also confirmed by Caitanya Mahaprabhu: kiba vipra kiba sudra nyasi kene naya, yei krsna-tattva vetta sei guru haya. A... It doesn't matter what he is, whether he's a sannyasi or a grhastha or a brahmana or a su.., born in brahmana family or... It doesn't matter. Yei krsna-tattva. Anyone who knows Krsna, he can become guru, not others. So that is the statement of the sastras. Avaisnava cannot become guru. (Lecture, Ahmedabad 12-13-1972)

Just like post peon give you five thousand rupees, delivers. He does not deliver. Sombody else is delivering. He's simply carrying. That's all. Similarly, if we simply carry the message of Krsna as it is, we become perfect. It is not very difficult. If I simply carry the message of Krsna, where is the difficulty? Everything is there. Krsna has said everything. Krsna says, man-mana bhava mad-bhakto mad-yaji mam namaskuru. We carry this message. Just always think of Krsna, always offer obeisances to Krsna, become a devotee of Krsna. Man-manaƒ, think of Krsna always. We have to carry this message. Where is the difficulty? So to become a bona fide spiritual master, there is no difficulty. If you, simply, if we carry the message of Krsna as it is without any adulteration. So we must find out a person who is actually bona fide spiritual master by this test: that he's not-I mean to say-adulterating Krsna's message. He's not playing havoc with the message of Krsna in order to introduce himself, his person. He's simply presenting the message of Krsna as it is. Then he's spiritual master. Nobody else. Thank you very much. (NOD Lecture, Vrndavana 10-31-1972)

So Caitanya Mahaprabhu says amara ajñaya guru haña tara ei desa yare dekha tare kaha krsna-upadesa.

He says, amara ajñaya. by My order, you become a spiritual master.

So one may be very illiterate, no education, (and) or no scholarship, may not be born in brahmana family, or may not be a sannyasi. There are so many qualifications. But one may not have all these qualifications. He may be rascal number one, but still, he can become spiritual master. How? Amara ajñaya. As Krsna says, as Caitanya Mahaprabhu says, if you follow, then you become spiritual master. One may be rascal number one from material estimation, but if he simply strictly follows whatever is said by Caitanya Mahaprabhu or His representative spiritual master, then he becomes a guru. (Vyasa-puja address, London 08-21-1973)

It is Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu's wish that everyone should become a Vaisnava and guru. Following the instructions of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu and His disciplic succession, one can become a spiritual master, for the process is very easy. One can go everywhere and anywhere to preach the instructions of Krsna.

... the duty of every Vaisnava is to travel and preach Bhagavad-gita, either in his country or a foreign country. (Cc.M. 24.277)

" We do not have to manufacture anything new. We are getting perfect knowledge from Krsna through the disciplic sucession, so our position is very firm. Whatever we hear from the bonafide spiritual master should be practiced in life and the same message delivered to whomever we meet. In this way you become spiritual master. (Letter to Kirtiraja 12-31-1975)

5. This time I have requested all Nairobi important friends that: "Now you take sannyasa and become guru. Krsna Caitanya Mahaprabhu asked everyone to become guru. Amara ajñaya guru haña tara ei desa. You have come to Africa. Now become their guru and deliver them." "Now, how shall I do it?" Yare dekha tare kaha krsna-upadesa: "Simply speak. Don't become very big upstart. Simply speak what Krsna has done. That's all. You become guru. " (Conversation, Bombay 03-11-1975)

Bambarambhe laghu-kriya, in the Sanskrit word, that you can make a very high-grade arrangement, but the result is zero. So that hierarchical arrangement is exactly not in Krsna consciousness. But our method is very simple. If one is fortunate enough to meet a bona fide spiritual master and if he acts strictly under his discipline, he also becomes within a very short time another spiritual master. (Interview, Seattle 09-24-1976)

Because people are in darkness, we require many millions of gurus to enlighten them. Therefore Caitanya Mahaprabhu's mission is, He said, that "Everyone of you become guru." Amara ajñaya guru haña tara ei desa. You haven't got to go foreign countries. Wherever you are, you teach; become guru. It doesn't matter. Ei desa. He says, ei desa. If you have got power, you can go other country but it doesn't require. In whichever village, whichever country or town you are, you become a guru. This is Caitanya Mahaprabhu's mission. Amara ajñaya guru haña tara ei desa. "This country, this place." So "But I have no qualification. How can I become guru?" There is no need of qualification. "Still, I can become guru?" Yes. "How?" Yare dekha tare kaha krsna-upadesa: "Whomever you meet, you simply instruct what Krsna has said." That's all. You become guru. Everyone is very anxious to become guru, but rascal does not know how to become guru, a simple thing.

So that is our mission. All of you who have come to Krsna consciousness movement, that is our request, that you, all of you, become guru but don't speak nonsense. That is request. Simply speak what Krsna has said. Then you become brahmana. You'll be guru, and everything. Thank you very much. (Lecture, Honolulu 05-21-1976)

Caitanya Mahaprabhu said that "You become a guru. " Amara ajñaya guru haña tara ei desa. "You become a guru and deliver them." So "I am a fool. I have no education. How can I become a guru?" So answer is "No, no. Yare dekha tare kaha krsna-upadesa." If you simply advise people what Krsna has said, then you become guru. But if you manufacture your ideas, then you are not a guru. (Conversation Bombay 01-07-1977)

Amara ajñaya guru haña tara ei desa. Suppose you are living in that village. Caitanya Mahaprabhu says, "You become a guru here." Here. You haven't got to go out. Ei desa, "where you are living." Just see how nice it is. Amara ajñaya: "By My order, you become a guru and deliver the people of this place." This is Caitanya Mahaprabhu's... So "I am not educated, I do not know. How I shall become?" No, you haven't got to bother. Yare dekha tare kaha krsna-upadesa: "Simply you repeat what Krsna has said. You become guru." That's all. Everyone can do that. Gita is there. You sit down in your place and preach Bhagavad-gita and try to induce them to take it. You become guru. (Conversation, Bombay 04-23-1977)

Our Caitanya Mahaprabhu's mission is that "You become guru," as I was telling, "and teach, deliver persons where you are." If you say, "How can I become guru?" there is no difficulty. Simply repeat the words of Bhagavad-gita. That's all. You become guru. So our mission is to create real guru, not these jugglers. And real guru is he who speaks on behalf of Krsna. And that is wan... It is very simple.

This is our mission. Everything is there. Caitanya Mahaprabhu says, yare dekha tare kaha krsna-upade... "You simply make your life successful by understanding Bhagavad-gita and preach this. You become guru." So where is the difficulty? Why don't you do that? (Conversation, Bombay 04-24-1977)

This is very easy. So I am not a scholar. I am simply... Whatever is said there, I am trying to distribute in a palatable way. That's all. It is not my manufacture. And that is Caitanya Mahaprabhu's... Amara ajñaya guru haña tara ei desa. You all become guru. "How can I become guru? I have no education. I have no knowledge." No, you haven't got to acquire all these things. That is already... Yare dekha tare kaha. Finished. So I never tried to become a scholar. But I tried, whatever is spoken by Krsna, deliver. That's all. And that is guru. (Conversation, Vrndavana 06-26-1977)

6. "Personally I am humble servant of Krsna as you are also, but I am deputed to accept your service just to transfer it to Krsna as via media. I shall try to do this service to you and Krsna throughout my life, and I am so proud to have such assistants as you are to help me in my mission to push on the Krsna Consciousness Movement." (Letter to Dayananda, 05-01-1969)

"You are all my children and I love my American boys and girls who are sent to me by my spiritual master and I have accepted them as my disciples." (Letter to Satsvarupa and Uddhava, 07-27-1970)

"Practically, I do not have any disciples; I select so many masters to train them in the service of the Lord." (Letter to Jai Mazo, 01-18-1968)

"I have not done anything personally, very wonderful. I am simply serving my spiritual master, Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Gosvami Maharaja and all the acaryas in the disciplic succession." (Letter to Bhima Dasa et al, 05-16-1974)

6. November 2, 1977

Prabhupada:...after you, who will take the leadership?" And "Everyone will take, all my disciples. If you want, you can take also. (laughter) But if you follow. They are prepared to sacrifice everything, so they'll take the leadership. I may, one, go away, but there will be hundreds, and they'll preach. If you want, you can also become a leader. We have no such thing, that 'Here is leader.' Anyone who follows the previous leadership, he's a leader. 'Indian,' we have no such distinction, 'Indian,' 'European.'"

Brahmananda: They wanted an Indian to be the leader?

Prabhupada: Yes. (laughs) "Everyone, all my disciples, they are leaders. As purely as they follow, they become leader. If you want to follow, you can become a leader. You are Indian. But you don't want." I told them that.

Tamala Krsna: Yes, they probably wanted to propose somebody who would take over our movement.

Prabhupada: Yes. Leaders. All nonsense. Leader means one who has become first-class disciple. He is leader. Evam parampara-prapta... One who is perfectly following... Our instruction is ara na kariha mane asa. You know this? What is that? Guru-mukha-padma-vakya, cittete kariya aikya, ara na kariha mane asa. Who is leader? A leader, to become leader, is not very difficult, provided one is prepared to follow the instructions of a bona fide guru.

7. See Prabhupada's will.

8. "He [Srila Bhaktisiddhanta] never asked anybody to become acarya. He asked that 'You form a governing body of twelve men and go on preaching....' None, none of them were advised by guru Maharaja to become acarya. His idea was 'Let them manage; then whoever will be actually qualified for becoming acarya, they will elect. Why I should enforce upon them?' That was his plan. 'Let them manage by strong governing body, as it is going on. Then acarya will come by his qualifications.'" (Conversation, Bombay 09-21-1973)

"His [Srila Bhaktisiddhanta's] idea was acarya was not to be nominated amongst the governing body... a self-effulgent acarya would be automatically selected." (Letter to Rupanuga, 04-28-1974)

"A vaisnava acarya is self-effulgent, and there is no need for any court judgment." (Cc. M 1.220)

"A powerful Vaisnava who has converted others into Vaisnavas is to be worshipped, but because of material contamination, sometimes such an exalted Vaisnava is disrespected by other, minor Vaisnavas."

"... It has actually been seen that even an authorized devotee who is engaged in the service of the Lord by preaching the mission of Krsna consciousness is sometimes criticized by neophyte devotees."

"... Neophytes, unable to appreciate the exalted service of the advanced devotee, try to bring the maha-bhagavata to their platform. We experience such difficulty in propagating this Krsna consciousness all over the world. Unfortunately we are surrounded by neophyte Godbrothers who do not appreciate the extraordinary activities of spreading Krsna consciousness all over the world. They simply try to bring us to their platform, and they try to criticize us in every respect. We very much regret their naïve activities and poor fund of knowledge. An empowered person who is actually engaged in the confidential service of the Lord should not be treated as an ordinary human being, for it is stated that unless one is empowered by Krsna, one cannot spread the Krsna consciousness movement all over the world." (NOI, Text 6, pp.64)