FROM: HpSwami, ASA.

In response to a letter about ladies becoming Diksa gurus in ISKCON from Basu Gosh Das in India we wrote the following.

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AGTSP. Pamho

I seem to think like you. We feel very happy to hear ISKCON news from you. Whatever we are writing here is not at all confidential and our names can be used.

As far as Matajis becoming Diksa gurus we intuitively feel that it is a very bad move. Then there is the citation from SB 4.12.32. You know it, no?

"...Sunīti, however, being a woman, and specifically his mother, could not become Dhruva Mahārāja's dīkṣā-guru. ..."

Of course, the whole Purport is a mine of information on Guru-tattva and the topic under discussion.

To me it seems that the citations, "all my disciples should become Guru" can apply to patha-pradarshika, diksa, or siksa guru. I know a very nice alcoholic devotee who always has some problem with alcohol but has sent many, many, many people to the temples. He has followed Prabhupada's order and become Guru as Prabhupada suggested, but because of his circumstance (NoI 6) he can't become a formal ISKCON Diksa Guru.

Our suggestion is that we give emphasis to these Bhaktivedanta titles and then ladies can be known as highest level Siksa gurus, qualified to take siksa disciples and then a gentleman devotee, even less advanced than they, can do this formal service of Diksa.

Ultimately it is better to relate to devotees individually and put these formalities secondary, but not without significance, no?