2:50 And WHY SHOULD gbc or any individual tell a sadhak, here, take this pure devotee. It does not work like that. Srila Gurudeva taught, it is between you and Krishna. Pray to Him and He will reveal to me His representative. Not that I will demand some gbc or individual. We must not mock the current system. It makes all sense. GBC only gives a no objection nod, rest the process of finding guru is traditionally the same: pray to Krishna. Srila Gurudev never undermined GBC authority. He was personally instruced by Srila Prabhupada to accept disciples. When was he able to start doing that? 1985 ig. So many years after 1977. Why? Gurudev could have thrown his hands in the air and revolted, hey, i am personally ordered, who are you people to give me some 'approval'. But he did not do that. He accepted the GBC process as genuine
You are misunderstanding. First of all, the video speaks of how the spiritual authorization of becoming a bona fide guru is coming from the previous acharya. He is the authority to say and not the managerial body of the GBC. The system of GBC's voting in gurus or not objecting is not genuine and Srila Gour Govinda Swami Maharaja did not accept it as such either. But it’s true that he followed the managerial authority of the GBC as desired by Srila Prabhupada. Here is how he explained it: Devotee: It is often said that a genuine guru must be a pure devotee. Understanding that, how do we see that today so many persons are accepting the position of guru? Gour Govinda Maharaja: Two sides are there, the spiritual side and the organizational side. This is an organizational matter. Unless they are allowed to accept disciples, the organization will collapse. There will be no cooperation. Only quarrelling and dissension. “Oh, he wants to be guru. All right, you do this thing.” Anyhow, maintain the society. This is an organizational matter. They want to be gurus. They want some position. This is all material and nothing else. They are doing some work for the society. They are general heads, managing the zone. So how else can a worldwide organization be managed? (Darshan, Bhubaneswar, 4 July 1992) And one more darshan: Devotee: Where did you take sannyasa? Gurudeva: Vrindavana, when that Krishna Balarama temple opened on Rama Navami day, you see, that day. I met Srila Prabhupada first in Vrindavan. I took sannyasa in Vrindavan. You understand? That is his causeless mercy. I had, I have no qualification. I am not so worthy person, unworthy fellow but he showered his mercy. When he whispered to me, in this room he told me, you have to accept disciples and train them. You should have your own men. Otherwise how can you manage? He told me that. So, then people came, they sought initiation from me but I was not allowed to accept disciples at that time. And some felt disappointed and left and went to Gaudiya Math and accepted spiritual master there. So I told in GBC that Prabhupada had told me this thing. They said, what is the proof? Proof is myself, he told me in my ear. It’s not recorded, it’s recorded in my heart. But in his first letter he has mentioned this thing. You have seen that first letter? Devotee: We went through the letter books, it’s there. Gurudeva: I have those books but I don’t know…. But I have that letter, first letter. There he mentioned, “Under your leadership, under your leadership, under your leadership. . .” Three times he has mentioned this thing that this Bhubaneswar will be developed like that. I showed that letter in the GBC. I said this is the letter. If I won’t be a leader, then how can I do it? Then they allowed and I told emphatically, “If you may not allow, but I must carry out the order of my spiritual master, I must do it.” They were frightened. I was so strong. Then they allowed me. Devotee: Is it we cannot rubber stamp somebody as spiritual master? Gurudeva: Rubber stamping won’t do it, rubber stamping won’t help. One who has developed prema for Krsna so he may, he won’t fall down in any circumstance. Why he’ll be attracted towards maya? This is most important thing. Question of prema. Devotee: Doesn’t seem like that’s the general teaching now. Now it’s generally accepted that one doesn’t have to have prema to be spiritual master. One can just be any level. Gurudeva: Any level. It has become cheap, has become so cheap. (Darshan, 24 November, 1989) These quotes should be sufficient to clear up the matter. Please study the books “My Revered Spiritual Master” and “When Good Forture Arises” by Srila Gour Govinda Swami Maharaja. All these matters are explained there.
Jai srila gurudev
Hare Krishna 🙏
2:50 And WHY SHOULD gbc or any individual tell a sadhak, here, take this pure devotee.
It does not work like that.
Srila Gurudeva taught, it is between you and Krishna. Pray to Him and He will reveal to me His representative.
Not that I will demand some gbc or individual.
We must not mock the current system. It makes all sense. GBC only gives a no objection nod, rest the process of finding guru is traditionally the same: pray to Krishna.
Srila Gurudev never undermined GBC authority. He was personally instruced by Srila Prabhupada to accept disciples. When was he able to start doing that? 1985 ig. So many years after 1977.
Why? Gurudev could have thrown his hands in the air and revolted, hey, i am personally ordered, who are you people to give me some 'approval'.
But he did not do that. He accepted the GBC process as genuine
You are misunderstanding. First of all, the video speaks of how the spiritual authorization of becoming a bona fide guru is coming from the previous acharya. He is the authority to say and not the managerial body of the GBC.
The system of GBC's voting in gurus or not objecting is not genuine and Srila Gour Govinda Swami Maharaja did not accept it as such either. But it’s true that he followed the managerial authority of the GBC as desired by Srila Prabhupada.
Here is how he explained it:
Devotee: It is often said that a genuine guru must be a pure devotee. Understanding that, how do we see that today so many persons are accepting the position of guru?
Gour Govinda Maharaja: Two sides are there, the spiritual side and the organizational side. This is an organizational matter. Unless they are allowed to accept disciples, the organization will collapse. There will be no cooperation. Only quarrelling and dissension. “Oh, he wants to be guru. All right, you do this thing.” Anyhow, maintain the society. This is an organizational matter. They want to be gurus. They want some position. This is all material and nothing else. They are doing some work for the society. They are general heads, managing the zone. So how else can a worldwide organization be managed?
(Darshan, Bhubaneswar, 4 July 1992)
And one more darshan:
Devotee: Where did you take sannyasa?
Gurudeva: Vrindavana, when that Krishna Balarama temple opened on Rama Navami day, you see, that day. I met Srila Prabhupada first in Vrindavan. I took sannyasa in Vrindavan. You understand? That is his causeless mercy. I had, I have no qualification. I am not so worthy person, unworthy fellow but he showered his mercy. When he whispered to me, in this room he told me, you have to accept disciples and train them. You should have your own men. Otherwise how can you manage? He told me that. So, then people came, they sought initiation from me but I was not allowed to accept disciples at that time. And some felt disappointed and left and went to Gaudiya Math and accepted spiritual master there. So I told in GBC that Prabhupada had told me this thing. They said, what is the proof? Proof is myself, he told me in my ear. It’s not recorded, it’s recorded in my heart. But in his first letter he has mentioned this thing. You have seen that first letter?
Devotee: We went through the letter books, it’s there.
Gurudeva: I have those books but I don’t know…. But I have that letter, first letter. There he mentioned, “Under your leadership, under your leadership, under your leadership. . .” Three times he has mentioned this thing that this Bhubaneswar will be developed like that. I showed that letter in the GBC. I said this is the letter. If I won’t be a leader, then how can I do it? Then they allowed and I told emphatically, “If you may not allow, but I must carry out the order of my spiritual master, I must do it.” They were frightened. I was so strong. Then they allowed me.
Devotee: Is it we cannot rubber stamp somebody as spiritual master?
Gurudeva: Rubber stamping won’t do it, rubber stamping won’t help. One who has developed prema for Krsna so he may, he won’t fall down in any circumstance. Why he’ll be attracted towards maya? This is most important thing. Question of prema.
Devotee: Doesn’t seem like that’s the general teaching now. Now it’s generally accepted that one doesn’t have to have prema to be spiritual master. One can just be any level.
Gurudeva: Any level. It has become cheap, has become so cheap.
(Darshan, 24 November, 1989)
These quotes should be sufficient to clear up the matter. Please study the books “My Revered Spiritual Master” and “When Good Forture Arises” by Srila Gour Govinda Swami Maharaja. All these matters are explained there.
Hare Krishna shrila gurudev 🎉