asa[e] guru-tattva

One of our initiated disciples has been approached by local co-gbc secretary of his country and region to take on the role of a Diksa guru in ISKCON.

We have been asked to approve of this.

We have had some very productive discussion with the GBC man and the disciple and committed to writing this document.

For us Guru-tattva is an unlimited, ever fresh topic. Lord Nityananda, Balarama, can be taken as the original Gurus (although we have read Srila Prabhupada commenting that Lord Caitanya is the spiritual master of all spiritual masters).

Lord Balarama is unlimited and ever fresh.

So, for us Guru-tattva is a very pragmatic reality. It is not a matter of sentimental speculation nor imaginative ecstasy, rather practical activity in the foreground of spiritual life.

We follow Srila Prabhupada as Diksa Guru by chanting 16-enthusiastic rounds daily and following the 4-principals strictly; taking formal initiation from him according to the process of probational time period, GBC standards, fire sacrifice, beads, name etc; and anyone following us following Srila Prabhupada is a qualified ISKCON Diksa Guru.

To be Diksa guru for Harinama, Gayatri and Sannyasa Diksa, you must have received the Mantras properly and be practicing those ashramas yourself.

You will be the only Diksa guru for the disciple. Srila Prabhupada is Founder-Acharya for everyone in ISKCON. If you are not an Uttama adikari then the people you are initiating must have personally accepted Srila Prabhupada as an Uttama adhikari guru. Disciple may and most naturally will have many Siksa gurus, but of course they cannot conflict with your relationship with disciples as Diksa guru. Usually the principal Siksa guru becomes Diksa guru, though as in the case of Dhruva and his Mother Suniti, this could not become the case because she was a woman and his mother. So, as Diksa guru you will most likely be a principal siksa guru, but maybe not.

From very practical experience of doing the job for many years, talking with and seeing others do the job, and now seeing younger men take up the job, we can now see and suggest within the perspective of the Bhaktivedanta Library and Purports a few things.

Of course, we do not think we are perfect and want to hear the suggestions of others.

Again it is a deep, every fresh topic.

1. It is a formality, though not a meaningless formality. Anyone who does any ritual sacrifice for another eg. marriage, funeral, diksa takes Karma. Are you ready, young enough, strong enough, healthy enough to do this?
2. We really think it is a job to be performed between like 40 and fifty years old.
3. Ideally one should have their Bhakti vaibhava diploma for giving Harinama diksa, and their Bhakti vedanta Diploma for Gayatri diksa.
4. Advanced grhastha couple should take vanaprastha.
5. Wife should be fully enlightened and agreeable to the role.
6. One should should contemplate accepting Guru daksina and Vyasapuja worship. In our experience Srila Prabhupada even approved of pious householders washing the feet of Brahman ISKCON devotee guests if the devotees accepted this honor, and had the strength to take that responsibility for their hosts, but make your ideas and application of these formal honors public.
7. If you are proposed for this job, talk with at least six other senior devotees for their opinion and approval. Look at your Yatra and make up a list of people whom you feel are as good as or better qualified to do the service to ISKCON than you.
8. Become a qualified Siksa guru, even taking the diplomas established by Srila Prabhupada, then you can accept Shiksa disciples, even giving them advice about who, and how, to accept and reject as Diksa guru. We see this as a much more natural position and formality for ladies than Diksa guru, though ladies becoming Diksa gurus is not forbidden in our tradition, as is Sannyasa or wearing a sacred thread.

Thank you.

Hope this is useful for Srila Prabhupada and his ISKCON.