| Q1
: Who is the current Guru of the Hare
Krishna Movement? |
| Ans
1: Srila Prabhupada, the founder
is also the Guru for the whole of
ISKCON as long as ISKCON exists. |
| Q2 : But Srila
Prabhupada departed from the world
in 1977 - how can he continue to be
the Guru? |
| Ans2: Before Srila Prabhupada departed
he set up an unique management system
by which ISKCON would be managed. As
he prepared to depart he set up a
system of using ritvik priests to
manage the performance of the diksa
ceremonies on his behalf. His signed
final letter on this subject is given
below: |
Letter
Begins
ISKCON
INTERNATIONAL SOCIETY FOR KRISHNA
CONSCIOUSNESS Founder-Acharya: His
Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami
Prabhupada July 9th, 1977
To All G.B.C., and Temple Presidents
Dear Maharajas and Prabhus,
Please accept my humble obeisances
at your feet. Recently when all of
the GBC members were with His Divine
Grace in Vrndavana, Srila Prabhupada
indicated that soon He would appoint
some of His senior disciples to act
as ritvik-representative of the acharya,
for the purpose of performing initiations,
both first initiation and second initiation.
His Divine Grace has so far given
a list of eleven disciples who will
act in that capacity:
His
Holiness Kirtanananda
Swami His Holiness Satsvarupa dasa
Gosvami
His Holiness Jayapataka Swami
His Holiness Tamala Krsna Gosvami
His Holiness Hrdayananda Gosvami
His Holiness Bhavananda Gosvami
His Holiness Hamsaduta Swami
His Holiness Ramesvara Swami
His Holiness Harikesa Swami
His Grace Bhagavan dasa Adhikari
His Grace Jayatirtha dasa Adhikari |
In the past Temple Presidents have
written to Srila Prabhupada recommending
a particular devotee's initiation.
Now that Srila Prabhupada has named
these representatives, Temple Presidents
may henceforward send recommendation
for first and second initiation to
whichever of these eleven representatives
are nearest their temple. After considering
the recommendation, these representatives
may accept the devotee as an initiated
disciple of Srila Prabhupada by giving
a spiritual name, or in the case of
second initiation, by chanting on
the Gayatri thread, just as Srila
Prabhupada has done. The newly initiated
devotees are disciples of His Divine
Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada,
the above eleven senior devotees acting
as His representative. After the Temple
President receives a letter from these
representatives giving the spiritual
name or the thread, he can perform
the fire yajna in the temple as was
being done before. The name of a newly
initiated disciple should be sent
by the representative who has accepted
him or her to Srila Prabhupada, to
be included in His Divine Grace's
"Initiated Disciples" book.
Hoping
this finds you all well.
Your
servant,
Signed
Secretary to Srila Prabhupada
Approved
Signed by Srila Prabhupada
Letter
ends |
| It
states 3 times that Srila Prabhupada
would continue to remain the initiating
Guru. He also set up a system of using
Governing Body Commissioners to manage
the whole of ISKCON including the
ritvik system that Srila Prabhupada
set up. However these commissioners
can ONLY carry out and maintain instructions
that Srila Prabhupada has already
given. |
Q3 :How are people
recruited in your movement? |
| Ans
3: We distribute books and people
read them and start associating with
us. Then gradually they learn and
understand the entire philosophy,
the goal of our life and when they
are convinced they decide to live
with us. But practicing Krishna consciousness
in not just within the scope of a
temple, you can practice the principles
of bhakti yoga in your house also
and associate with the temple as a
congregation. |
Q4 : Do you accept
just anyone in your movement? |
| Ans
4: We accept everyone from any race,
religion, economic situation or whatever.
Only we ask that whoever lives in
the temples as a full time devotee
must follow our principles and attend
the schedule of programs in the temple
(like morning mangala arati, Bhagavatam
Class etc). . Otherwise anyone can
become a congregational member and
live outside the temple and come for
programs when he likes and follow
as he can. Or one can, if he is stricter,
make his home into a preaching center. |
| Q5 : Do you have
enough money for medical care (dentist,
doctor, etc.)? |
| Ans 5: Generally, devotees who live in
our temples are cultivating renunciation
and thus do not often have funds of
their own. But all of their medical
needs are taken care of by the temples
in which they are serving. |
| Q6 : Where do you
get the money from to support your
movement? |
| Ans
6: The Lord maintains all living
entities throughout the universe,
so surely He will maintain His devotees.
We are a world wide religious and
cultural movement with over 350 centers
in 76 countries, and not just a couple
of weird "sect" members.
We receive money mainly through donations
from our working householder members,
congregation, life members, and from
the general public. We also receive
money from sale of devotional paraphernalia,
from our world famous restaurants.
Besides that, many of our projects,
like Food For Life Emergency Relief
are sponsored by some corporate. |
| Q7: Is your movement
not merely an attempt to escape reality? |
| Ans
7: History has made it ample clear
that "reality" from a material
point of view has always been a matter
of time, place and circumstances.
Cultural trends and general believes
are the social facets that shape whatever
a specific community of people will
consider acceptable or rejectable,
normal or abnormal, real or illusory.
These norms are relative and subject
to constant change. Moreover, they
can be carefully controlled and manipulated
by sophisticated propaganda techniques.
The spiritual reality found in the
ancient Vedic literatures is beyond
time, place and circumstances as it
deals with and originates from the
Absolute Truth. The Absolute Truth
is always truth, and therefore actual
reality. It is never subject to interpretation
or speculation, cultural trends or
opinions. It was reality millions
of years ago, is reality now and will
still be reality after millions of
years. We follow these scriptures
in affirming that reality is our eternal
loving relationship with God, full
of bliss and knowledge, and not our
temporary stay in this material world
full of suffering and misery. Material,
cultural reality has no answers to
the actual workings of nature, its
past, present and future, life and
its origin, the goal of existence
and everything else beyond its narrow-minded
little attempts to explain everything
in terms of matter. In that sense
its position is like that of an ant
trying to explain the light at the
end of a light post. All speculation.
Spiritual reality is different. The
temporary material world finds its
origin in the spiritual realm. Spiritual
reality is the only actual reality
from which all relative realities
sprout. It has all the answers. So
from this angle of vision the answer
is: no, it is a sincere attempt to
get closer to reality. |
| Q8: Why does you movement criticize
technology and at the same time make
use of it? |
| Ans
8: We do not criticize or condemn
technology. We criticize what it is
used for and the attitude that science
and technology are the only important
things in the world. Science and technology
are means to an end, tools which are
helpful if properly used, harmful
otherwise. Properly used means that
they are used in the service of the
Supreme Lord, Krishna. The material
world and everything in it belongs
to Krishna and everything should therefore
be used for His pleasure. We think
people would be happier if life were
materially simpler, if they had fewer
distractions from concentration on
their relationship with Lord Krishna,
but we take the world as we find it.
Utility is the principle. |
