Historically, a guru tends to be an autocrat within his own institution, but Srila Prabhupada's vision of thousands of gurus working cooperatively within a single institution is unique and bold.

In October, in the pleasant and historic holy city of Ujjain, India, where Sandipani Muni once taught Krishna and Balarama, two senior instructors led the fourth session of "Being a Guru in ISKCON: A Spiritual Leadership Seminar." It was hosted by ISKCON Ujjain, where the attendees relished wonderful kirtans, classes, prasada and Vaishnava hospitality in ISKCON's gorgeous and popular new temple.

Why should a guru need to attend a seminar on devotee care, spiritual health and allegiance to Srila Prabhupada, one may ask? Srila Prabhupada wanted hundreds and thousands of gurus to spread Krishna consciousness all over the world. By his mercy, many members of ISKCON are now, or will be in the future, prepared to offer themselves for this cause. Yet even if one has developed a solid knowledge of sadhana and sastra, offering spiritual guidance in this materialistic age requires extraordinary skills, qualities and the support and mercy of the Vaishnava community. This seminar helps prepare sincere Vaishnavas for a most challenging service.

The Guru Seminar is designed to aid current diksa and siksa gurus, as well as those preparing to offer diksa, and other mature devotees, especially ISKCON managers. The four-day program included 13 participants from all four categories. It was facilitated by Hanuman das, Vaishnava Training and Education (VTE) instructor and BBT manager, and Anuttama das, GBC member and ISKCON's Minister of Communications.

Topics included: the role and identity of a guru, relationship with ISKCON, guru-management dynamics. the Guru-Disciple Relationship, Spiritual Care Skills (Counselling, Coaching, Empowerment), Personal Spiritual Health and Peer Support.

Attendees discussed that spiritual leadership means to provide students and disciples with vision, inspiration and facilitation. In each category, the facilitators identified four principles and values to be pursued: Vision — fidelity to Srila Prabhupada, allegiance to ISKCON, brahminical leadership, cooperation and unity; Inspiration — spiritual strength, shastric knowledge and realization, balanced and exemplary lifestyle, concern for the welfare of all; and Facilitation — reflection and self-awareness, social responsibility and accountability, empowerment of followers, peer association and support.

Attendees discussed both the successes and failures in ISKCON's past as a means to build a clear roadway forward to fulfilling Srila Prabhupada's vision.

"Someone who equates being a guru with enjoying comfort and honor has misunderstood," said one attendee. "It is a service demanding enormous sacrifice and relentless introspection. If one is not fixed in being the humble servant of Srila Prabhupada, he will fail."

"After taking this seminar," he added, "I know what specific steps I now need to take in preparation for this service. It is humbling and empowering at the same time."

The seminar was developed under the guidance of ISKCON's Governing Body Commission (GBC) Guru Services Committee. A working group that included Radhanatha Swami, Jayapataka Swami, Bhakti Charu Swami, Prahladananda Swami, Ananda Vrindavanesvari dasi, Rukmini dasi, Ravindra Svarupa dasa, Braja Bihari das, Rasamandala das and others established the aims, objectives and principles underlying the seminar.

It took more than one year to develop the seminar before its launch in Ujjain in February, 2008. The seminar will likely be offered twice a year to accommodate growing interest and demand.



A Concern
by Gaur Kishor Dasa
Posted October 14, 2007

I was surfing the net today and came accross a site www.kratuprabhu.com and I read it with concern.

Kratu Dasa is giving initiations under the claim that he is a disciple of Srila Prabhupada, which is not the case. He was initiated by Kirtananada Swami only and was not active in the movement at the time of Srila Prabhupada's physical presence.

Obviously being a guru brings disciples and numerous fringe benefits along with it, however it also brings a responsibility having the qualities of a spirtual master and helping people go Back to Godhead. Obviously truthfulness is a required quality to accomplish this mission.

So, this matter must be looked into. The last thing we need is more fireworks & scandals in the movement. We are supposed to be a religious movement trying to assist people in finding a moral compass and a higher meaning. How will people feel when they find out that this person is presenting himself to be someone that he is not in an attempt to attract disciples? In one word - mislead.

Please see what you can do about this matter. Jaya Srila Prabhupada!

[Editor's note: There seems to be conflicting information available. According to the Prabhupada disciple database, this person was initiated in Sept 77. There is also a devotee who remembers Kratu prabhu being approved for initiation that year. However, another devotee has come forward who said that he attended both Kratu Prabhu's first and second initiations and that both were done by Kirtanananda. Chakra takes no position on this issue, but simply wants to make this information available, so that readers can make up their own minds.]

Bhagavan Sri Krishna has said in the Bhagavad-gita: "Neither the hosts of demigods nor the great sages know My origin or opulences, for, in every respect, I am the source of the demigods and sages." (Bg. 10.2). Even Arjuna, on beholding the Lord's Universal Form, praised His glories: "O great one, greater even than Brahma, You are the original creator. Why then should they not offer their respectful obeisances unto You? You are the father of this complete cosmic manifestation, of the moving and the nonmoving. You are its worshippable chief, the supreme spiritual master." (Bg. 11.37, 11.43).

In other words, it is not essential for a sadhaka, or spiritual aspirant, to search for a guru. Considering the advice of Sri Guru Stotra to see Lord Krishna the Supreme Personality of Godhead as the Universal Guru (vasudevam sutam devam, kamsa-chanura mardanam; devaki-paramanandam krishnam, vande jagad-gurum"), a sadhaka should look to Bhagavan Sri Krishna as his Guru and the Bhagavad-gita as the Lord's mantra and divine message.

Guided by the words of the Gita, he must become deeply engaged in his spiritual practices. If however, the sadhaka ever needs a Guru from the worldly perspective, then that Universal Guru Himself will make the sadhaka meet his guru: "To those who always worship Me with exclusive devotion, meditating on My transcendental form, I carry what they lack, and I preserve what they have." (Bg. 9.22).

A real guru does not make another into a disciple; rather, he or she makes the sadhaka into a guru — a liberated soul with perfect knowledge and realization, and who will work for the benefit and upliftment of this world. Such a guru is the treasury of all the minting banks.

In reality, the gurus and mahapurushagreat souls do not make disciples. They never have a sentiment like: "Someone should first become my sishya (student, disciple); only then will I reveal to them the spiritual truths." A sadhaka may on his own accept a great soul from whom he has attained knowledge as his Guru. Whatever knowledge one gives another, in that subject the revelator has invariably become the Guru, whether accepted or not.

People make someone a Guru and say: Mein sagura ho gayaa hu, maine guru dhaaran ker liya, mein niguraa nahi rahaa ("I now have a Guru; I have accepted a Guru. I am no longer without a Guru.") Believing this, they become satisfied. Such thinking will become an obstacle to spiritual progress because the sadhaka will thereafter not consider anyone else as guru, will not do satsang (association with Truth) with other spiritual souls and will not listen to spiritual lectures and discourses by others. All of these will become roadblocks to bhakti.

Desiring salvation, sadhakas will not stop at any place by considering any one particular person as their sole guru. Rather they continuously inquire and remain intense seekers of their own salvation. Until the time of attaining enlightenment they will never be satisfied.



Preserve Paramapara By Education, Culture And Devotion - Part 1
by Nimai Pandit das
Posted December 9, 2008

There is a need to find various means to ensure that Srila Prabhupada's books are never changed again for the next 10,000 years. BBT, due to the limitation of number of years it can enforce the copyrights, can only ensure to do so for probably maximum 100 years more, maybe less, if the expected legal extensions on how long successors of authors can hold the copyrights after an author has passed away, comes to be. If the copyright ownership is not extended by the US govt, then they will be in public domain in 60 years or so. Most probably within 100 years the books will pass into public domain, likely to be published by anyone, like Bible, Koran, Torah, Guru Grantha Sahib for want of better examples. Then it can be restricted on how they are printed only by the opinion for or against it by the members of the public who will be their main readers.

Therefore the need to ensure that the current generation of devotees are trained by education, culture and devotion, setting a Spiritual tradition in our movement so that the future generations will strongly believe without doubt that these books are coming from God, words of GOD. That the purports of Srila Prabhupada were dictated to him by Krishna Himself. They do not, cannot be, ever thought to be changed.

Who best to lead this other than the BBT Trustees? Conversely, if the BBT Directors are printing en masse changed books of Srila Prabhupada under the banner of BBT and if they are printing other authors books (unless directly authorized by Srila Prabhupada), also under the banner of BBT(subtly giving these other books the false stature of words of God too by association) and if the chief editor is consciously endeavoring to set a culture of continuously improving the books to continue his legacy in future generation, then there is no hope that the books can be prevented to be changed at one's whim in the years to come when Srila Prabhupada's books eventually go into public domain. We are looking at another Bible and its sentimental followers in the making.

This is the main reason KBI, even though they are printing some original books of Srila Prabhupada, a great service for at least the current devotees who can become stronger by associating with these original books, is not a permanent solution. As long as BBTI Directrors keep on printing large quantities of changed books under the banner of BBT, in 100 + languages (by their claim) in the world, they are managing to poison the physic of the devotees, public in the matter of respect of the SB, BG to be same as Krishna, words of God, infallible, Krishna's literary and sound incarnation. Krishna Himself in that form.

Maryada ullanghana. Crossing the line of respect. The result will eventually be that gradually specific statements in the original books will be first challenged by groups who disagree with them, then resentment and then attempt to change them in the books itself. Anyone with little intelligence can see that we are already going down that path. KBI cannot hope to counteract this poison gradually creeping in the society at a global scale. Even though the number of books printed/distributed is not much, compared to the original books distributed in earlier years under Srila Prabhupada's direction, still it is quite large compared to what KBI can print. Also the authorized platform of the BBT gives the BBTI directors a knockout advantage to propagate this "changes" culture. Compared to it, KBI license can any time be taken away if they cross the line so they always need to toe the line of the BBTI directors, whom they are supposed to counteract. A hopeless temporary proposal at best.

Yes, proper BBT Trustees should ensure that only original books are printed, it is also certain that they will be distributed on a very large scale, yet if one understands the efforts needed to counteract the poison given in the last 25 years all over the world, in close to 100 languages, that has created an array of contaminated devotees in whose consciousness the understanding of SB, BG as Krishna Himself has been brought down, we can see that conscious specific preaching is required to ensure that these contaminations are removed from the society IN ADDITION TO printing the original books. It is the case in all other issues. Answers are there in Srila Prabhupada books, but when Maya attacks the devotees with specific contamination, then that attack is counteracted by focusing on those specific instructions of Srila Prabhupada.

This is best achieved "by education, culture and devotion". See below:

"Herein we find the history of the Bhagavad-gita traced from a remote time when it was delivered to the royal order, the kings of all planets. This science is especially meant for the protection of the inhabitants and therefore the royal order should understand it in order to be able to rule the citizens and protect them from the material bondage to lust. Human life is meant for cultivation of spiritual knowledge, in eternal relationship with the Supreme Personality of Godhead, and the executive heads of all states and all planets are obliged to impart this lesson to the citizens by education, culture and devotion. In other words, the executive heads of all states are intended to spread the science of Krsna consciousness so that the people may take advantage of this great science and pursue a successful path, utilizing the opportunity of the human form of life." (BG 4.1 purport)

All actions at our disposal need to be executed to counteract the contamination. There is not a moment to loose. There is nothing as necessary. It is the matter of survival of Gaudiya Vaisnava Parampara.

Legal action to remove the BBTI directors impersonating as BBT "Trustees" with proper Trustees can give a powerful boost. It is essential if they do not listen. But not sufficient. The action of new Trustees in printing large quantities of original books will not on its own destroy the contamination in the public that has been, is being, introduced by the current BBTI directors in the name of BBT. Just by distributing large number of DOM copies, it is not sufficient to ensure that the GBCs will be elected by Tps year after year for thousands of years. It needs specific preaching too. The scope of that preaching, that counter-action, Srila Prabhupada is expanding "by education"

Specific cultural habits need to be instituted among the devotee community to better ensure that Srila Prabhupada's books are treated with utmost respect, as befitting Krishna Himself- Literary incarnation of Krishna. This will hold true for many other aspects of KC movement. As more and more Varnasrma principles are implemented, the rules and regulations of different orders/ashrams will be supplanted with these cultural practices to help ensure spiritual parampara be maintained. As we all know, Srila Prabhupada said That is 50% of his work that is not done. He has not shown most of those practices by his example in 1966-1977. He only gave them as seeds.

Literal worship of SB, BG can be one part of the overall endeavor that can be thought of for this purpose.

"Srimad-Bhagavatam is the literary incarnation of Lord Sri Krsna and is therefore nondifferent from Him. Srimad-Bhagavatam should be worshiped as respectfully as we worship the Lord. (SB 1.3.40 purport by Srila Prabhupada)

Formerly there was no press. These important sastras, Vedic literature, were kept in handwriting. I copy from your book; my other friend copies from my book... In this way, those who were interested... The literatures were not so cheap. Only highly qualified brahmanas, they used to keep handwritten... And it was worshiped in the temple as Deity, sastra, not that it is available everywhere. It has become... Now press has made it very cheaper. But we should always understand that granthas, or the scriptures, should be worshiped as God. That is sound incarnation of God. It should not be neglected. Don't neglect Bhagavad-gita or Bhagavata as ordinary books. You must be very careful. As you take care of the Deities, you should take care of the books also.

(SB 3.25.37 Lecture on December 6th, 1974 in Bombay)

Therefore the system is... Of course, here we don't find such facilities, but India, when we speak on the Bhagavad-gita, or on the Srimad-Bhagavatam, we worship regularly with flower, with other paraphernalia required for worshiping. You see? In the Sikh religion they also, they have no deity, form of the deity, but they worship the book, grantha-seva. Perhaps some of you who are acquainted with the Sikh community, they, they worship this grantha. Similarly, the Muhammadans also, they worship the Koran. And similarly, in your Christian also, you worship Bible.

(Srila Prabhupada's lecture, March 25th 1969, San Francisco, SB 1.2.17)

But to ensure that the parampara is maintained, the followers have to develop devotion. Devotion to the Acharya, Srila Prabhupada, devotion to Paramatma, devotion to Srimad Bhagavad Gita, devotion to Srimad Bhagavatam, devotion to the Holy Name. This subsequent purification, simultanously imbibing the mood of Srila Prabhupada, achieved by the bona-fide process of srvanama, should ensure that Srila Prabhupada lives on with his followers.

Thank You for your kind attention,
ys Nimai Pandit das



GBC Behaviors Unclear
by Name withheld by request
Posted April 28, 2007

It has been 12 years since the GBC have been asked to resolve this Dhanurdhara issue, but they still have not. Ironically, they could have taken care of this in 1996 and avoided the lawsuit.

Most disturbing was the letter of apology to Dhanurdhara -- the abuser. Why did the GBC codify the apology to Dhanurdhara and his abuse victims simultaneously in a public resolution? Has this ever been done in the history of mankind? Does this qualify as normal behavior? Does the Catholic Church or any other religion behave this way? Didn't any of the GBC leaders realize how bad and how out-of-touch it would make them look?

Is it true that Dhanurdhara is initiating in Israel "under the radar" and that he leads large parikrams in Vrndavana? And why does Jayadvaita Swami have this in his biography that he sends to the temples:

"In 1985 and 1986, he spent a year and a half traveling with a party of pilgrims on pada-yatra, a journey on foot, through various states of India, stopping in a different town or village every night. In 1987, along with Dhanurdhara Swami and Bhurijana Dasa, he co-founded the Vrindaban Institute for Higher Education. Since 1988 he has served as a director of Srila Prabhupada's publishing house, the Bhaktivedanta Book Trust.

"From 1991 through most of 1998 he served as editor-in-chief of Back to Godhead magazine, for which he had been an assistant editor for several years. Recently he served as editor for a three-volume translation and commentary for Sri Brhad-bhagavatamrta, a sixteenth-century Sanskrit philosophical and devotional work."

The only people mentioned in this bio, besides Srila Prabhupada, are both child abusers. I am assuming that this is an oversight. Another Maharaja, during his lecture, talked about the nice preaching Dhanurdhara was doing. My congregation is confused about Dhanurdhara.On the one hand the GBC likes and respects him. On the other hand, the gurukulis would like him out of his position (officially and unofficially).

The GBC seems to have written the gurukulis off, hoping perhaps that the "new blood" will not have the same issues with Dhanurdhara. In fact many new bhaktas have no idea what Dhanurdhara has done and think that the gurukulis are troublemakers who are in maya.

To recap, this is what Dhanurdhara has done in the past, according to the Turley lawsuit testimony:

1. He broke a child's nose and repeatedly administered beating for years; unfortunately, the victim ended up committing suicide.
2. He broke a child's ribs.
3. He repeatedly beat children -- sometimes until they passed out.
4. He threw children into marble walls and, when they hit the ground, repeatedly kicked them.
5. He lifted children up by the ears -- sometimes causing physical trauma.
6. He boxed children's ears with closed fists, making his students' ears bleed.
7. He repeatedly hired sexual child molesters.
8. He ignored pleas from the older children to get rid of the child molesters.
9. He allowed the ex-guru Bhavananda to inappropriately go into the shower with children and "clean" them.
10. He would ignore the screams of children being raped by their teachers.
11. He refused to terminate a teacher who knocked a child's front teeth out.
12. He exhibited sadistic, antisocial behavior with the students.

In most of the world, they might describe this type of behavior as torture, but in ISKCON it is described as karma. While I am sure Bhanu prabhu is a nice devotee, I would request that the chairman revise and extend his remarks to clarify the situation.

What is Dhanurdhara's official and unofficial role in ISKCON? Is he still a guru? Does he still have disciples? Will he have a Samadhi? What is his punishment for not adhering to the restrictions? Who is the GBC contact person, if devotees observe Dhanurdhara trolling for disciples?

Who will protect the new devotees unaware of this violent past from Dhanurdhara's advances? If he is initiating, has disciples and is welcome in ISKCON (per the GBC resolution), it means that he is an initiating guru in good standing in ISKCON.

Finally, why is he encouraging this man to contact his abuse victims? Did he ask them if that is what they wanted? The last time Dhanurdhara and his abuse victim met in Mayapura, it ended up badly for both parties.

I look forward to a response.