When Srila Prabhupada brought the Hare Krsna movement to the western world, it was indeed a feat. However, there are statements which Srila Bhaktivedanta Prabhupada made, which shows the way he really wanted us disciples, to represent or present this feat or unique mission, otherwise the tendency will be to boast only of this feat for the rest of our Krsna conscious lives, and not get the actual job more completed and perfected, as it is very far from completion and perfection as we all know. That is our part of the contribution. I will try to point out these statements made by His Divine Grace Srila Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada to illustrate and confirm my point.

Goswami Maharaja says

The Krsna consciousness movement or Hare Krsna movement is far wider than ISKCON itself. ISKCON (International Society for Krsna Consciousness) is one of the branches of the Krishna consciousness movement or Hare Krsna movement. Yes, it is a dynamic spiritual reality, which started some 500 years ago by the Supreme Personality of Godhead Himself- Sri Krsna Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, when He descended along with His personal associates and founded the Hare Krsna movement or the Krsna consciousness movement. In describing Srila Bhaktivedanta Prabhupada as the founder-acarya of the Krsna consciousness movement, without properly repeating the word ISKCON after that statement is misleading to the general masses. I am almost sure the Goswami means ISKCON and not only the Krsna consciousness movement. Srila Bhaktivedanta Prabhupada pointed this out many times in his purports and letters. Here is one such statement by His Divine Grace Srila Bhaktivedanta Prabhupada:

"Anyone who is a bona fide preacher of the cult of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu must be respectful to the real devotees of Lord Caitanya; one should not be envious, considering one preacher to be very great and another to be very lowly. This is a material distinction and has no place on the platform of spiritual activities. Krsnadasa Kaviraja Gosvami therefore offers equal respect to all the preachers of the cult of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, who are compared to the branches of the tree. ISKCON is one of these branches, and it should therefore be respected by all sincere devotees of Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu."

HDG A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada (Vedabase)

Here Srila Bhaktivedanta gives how ISKCON should be seen and respected. He also points out that one should not place one preacher to be very great and another to be lowly. Preacher here really means a guru. One should not glorify his guru to be very great and another guru to be not so great as his guru. This constitutes an offense in devotional service to Krsna. He gives the example of Krsnadasa Kaviraja Goswami how he equally glorifies all the preachers who were actually not ordinary preachers but jagat-gurus. He does not discriminate this is my guru and proclaims higher positioning of his guru towards another guru. They are all equally high and equally worshipable. This is the authentic standard teachings of Lord Chaitanya. There is a spiritual reason for this equality of prominent gurus. Inexperienced disciples or neophytes have a strong tendency to boast of their own spiritual master as being the best. It is a starting position and born out of natural affection. But as the devotee becomes more mature, he should realize that all past gurus even though they have not performed the same feat as his guru, and here feat means mission or uniqueness in spreading Krsna consciousness, they are to be equally respected just as one respects and glorifies his guru maharaja. One should not place his guru maharaja as higher than the previous acharyas. That constitutes a deviation in the guru tattva doctrine especially coming from supposedly more mature devotees, and as a consequent leads to fanaticism. Therein lies some fall downs. There are much more quotes that one can give. Srila Prabhupada was very strong about this point. Because it is the beginning of fanaticism of presenting one’s spiritual master.

Goswami Maharaja says

There isn’t anywhere Srila Bhaktivedanta Prabhupada had said he was the jagat-guru of the entire world. If the goswami can show where Srila Prabhupada had said this I would accept it. Otherwise it cannot be found where he made that statement. This is an exaggeration, and again can mislead youngsters in Krsna consciousness to become increasingly fanatic. Srila Bhaktivedanta Prabhupada is jagat-guru of ISKCON, the Western Krsna conscious society branch of the Krsna consciousness movement he founded. Anyone who joins ISKCON must accept him as the jagat-guru of that society. So too, his spiritual master is jagat-guru of the Gaudiya Matha, the society he founded in India, which is a branch of the Hare Krsna movement as well. Similarly, Srila Bhaktivinode Thakur was the jagat guru of his time, when he reformed the Krsna consciousness movement after it became broken in its authenticity. Similarly every previous achraya in the bonafide line is the jagat-guru of his time, mission and mathas founded. This goes right back up to Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu Himself- The Original Jagat Guru Himself. Now He is the Supreme Jagat-Guru of the entire world. Only the Lord Himself holds that position. God only and only God Himself holds that Supreme position. To say that Srila Bhaktivedanta Prabhupada is jagat-guru of the entire world is another way to say that he is God Himself. This kind of statement should not come from a learned goswami such as Satsvarupa das Goswami Maharaja. It is such statements that are the underlying causes of the condition of ISKCON today. Very senior devotees do not accept these statements any longer. The Society is in a condition of society consciousness and not exactly universal Krsna consciousness according to Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu’s cult. Here is another statement by Srila Bhaktivedanta Prabhupada which gives the authentic platform in this regard, rather than a fanatical one.

" It was the desire of Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu that His cult be spread all over the world. Therefore there is a great necessity for many, many disciples of the branches of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu's disciplic succession. His cult should be spread not only in a few villages, or in Bengal, or in India, but all over the world. It is very much regrettable that complacent so-called devotees criticize the members of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness for accepting sannyasa and spreading the cult of Lord Caitanya all over the world. It is not our business to criticize anyone, but because they try to find fault with this movement, the real truth must be stated. Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu wanted devotees all over the world, and Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura and Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura also confirmed this. It is in pursuit of their will that the ISKCON movement is spreading all over the world. Genuine devotees of Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu must take pride in the spread of the Krsna consciousness movement instead of viciously criticizing its propaganda work." (Vedabase)

HDG A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada

Srila Bhaktivedanta Prabhupada speaks of all components, branches of the Chaitanya tree, ISKCON, and the Krsna consciousness movement in general. It is not just ISKCON. ISKCON is just one of the manifested branches. There are other branches equally existing and others will manifest as time goes on. This sentence foretells this. "Therefore there is a great necessity for many, many disciples of the branches of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu's disciplic succession."

Another very valuable point is, that Srila Bhaktivedanta Prabhupada explains the reason why ISKCON will spread all over the world. It is because Srila Bhaktivinode Thakura and Srila Bhaktisiddhanta wanted this. They wanted this also because Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu desired this. The desire of God is absolute and primary to all others. This means the desire is already spiritually achieved. God and His desire are identical. Just as God is all pervasive and every where, once God, Krsna desires to spread His Holy Names in this age of kali everywhere in all towns and villages, His Holy Names are already there. It is merely for us sentient beings to realize this fully and do our part to have the Holy Names manifested. It is this method of propagation Srila Bhaktivedanta Prabhupada wishes to present. He does not take all the credit for spreading Krsna consciousness all over the world. The disciples must not only give credit to their spiritual master, because for world propagation purposes it would appear to be dogmatic that Srila Bhaktivedanta Prabhupada is the only doer of this act. This leads to a fanatical worship and therefore will reap an incorrect result as is evidenced in ISKCON today. In glorifying one’s guru, the best way to glorify him is to also include the glorification of his guru, and his guru, and his guru as far up as possible. Then the spiritual master will understand that such a disciple has understood. If the glorification begins at one’s guru and ends at one’s guru, that is an incomplete glorification of the guru. Therefore Srila Krsnadas Kaviraja Goswamipada has taught us how to include all gurus as equal in receiving the credits.

The Krsna consciousness movement- that is the entire movement with all its branches of the Chaitanya tree, is made up of gurus, both regular and jagat-gurus accordingly. It is a natural consequence. Those gurus according to their prominence are accepted as jagat gurus or the leader guru who trains other gurus. These jagat gurus sometimes are known as Prabhupada or Gurupada. Prabhu means master and specifically spiritual master when it applies to a preceptor guru, and pada means feet. So Prabhupada means one who all other Prabhus sit at his lotus-like feet and accept diksa and siksa. They are the most senior gurus of their time. They remain jagat-gurus eternally as well. But there is no such state that it is only one jagat-guru and he is jagat-guru of the whole world.

Now here is a very controversial fact, which many ISKCON devotees do not accept. That Krsna will continue to send many more "Prabhupadas" in this regard. He has done it since the time of Lord Chaitanya and He will continue to do it. There is a tendency in ISKCON to think that Srila A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada is the last of the "Prabhupadas" or jagat-gurus. Some say only he can give diksa and others say only he can give siksa. Both classes are practicing a kind of fanaticism now referred as "Ritvik fanaticism". This fanatical platform does not exist according to scriptural injunctions and the tradition of vaisnava philosophy. Many more "Prabhupadas" are to appear. Many more diksa and siksa gurus of the highest class are to appear. Of course it is not done in a hurry. There is some time lapse. So we cannot set up anyone’s minds to think that it all begins and ends with Srila Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, both on a level of diksa or siksa. We now have to certainly add his siksa, with the rest of the siksa from the previous acharyas. Those of us who are now coming must accept diksa from a suitable disciple from Srila Bhaktivedanta Prabhupada or from another branch of the Hare Krsna movement. It is not limited to ISKCON diksa giving acharyas. Then whether one receives diksa from an ISKCON guru or a guru of another branch of the Hare Krsna movement, then that person must accept the siksa coming from Srila Prabhupada’s books as they relate the standard vaisnava texts-Bhagavad Gita As It Is, Srimad Bhagavatam and the Sri Chaitanya Charitamrita in Western languages.

This is how it should be explained of the uniqueness and importance of Srila Prabhupada’s vani. This is the reality of the unfolding events. Not that ISKCON is the only society and Srila Prabhupada’s siksa or diksa is the only one to be received. Just as we are to still read Srila Bhaktisiddhanta’s purports and Srila Bhaktivinode’s purports, along with reading Srila Bhaktivedanta Prabhupada’s purports. New persons must be shown or pointed to Srila Bhaktivedanta Prabhupada’s purports whether or not they wish to join ISKCON. They do not have to join ISKCON to become a follower of Srila Bhaktivedanta Prabhupada. That is a very short-sited view held. They must read Srila Prabhupada Bhaktivedanta’s purports because he is in line with and belong to, and equal to the most prominent acharyas in the line coming from Srila Rupa Goswamipada.

All the other world societies and especially the Gaudiya Vedanta Samiti of which Srila Prabhupada is also co-founding acharya with his sannyasa guru Srila Kesava Goswamipada and the society of Srila Bhaktivedanta’s siksa guru and close friend Srila Sridhar Goswamipada, i.e the Sri Chaitanya Sarasvati Mathas, also must be respected and they also respect and recognize Srila Bhaktivedanta Swami’s special innovation and input. If we say only ISKCON, only Srila Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada or his followers can now preach in the west, we disregard the above desire and request of Lord Chaitanya Mahaprabhu and of Srila Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada. We cannot have world unity, co-operation, peace with diversity in this way. Our preaching must now incorporate or include everyone. Srila Prabhupada Bhaktivedanta wanted this co-operative spirit. Then that is the Hare Krsna movement in unity and spreading the same teachings. That is the world movement in the making. To do this we cannot become exclusive to Srila Bhaktivedanta Prabhupada, but rather we have to become inclusive to Srila Bhaktivedanta Prabhupada and the rest of the authentic and bonafide gurus in line of disciplic succession, just as Srila Krsnadas Kaviraja Goswamipada became inclusive to all other gurus, despite the fact that he had his own guru.

We seem to forget Krsna’s statement in the Bhagavad Gita. Krsna is the Supreme Personality of Godhead and He has spoken in Bhagavad Gita, both of which are identical and eternal. In other words Krsna is Bhagavad Gita and Bhagavad Gita is Krsna. So Bhagavad Gita says "Whenever there is decline in religion and a predominant decline in irreligion, at that time I descend Myself or I send my confidential servant. So Lord Krsna in the form of Lord Chaitanya came and delivered the supreme science or bhakti yoga, and then that lasted for some time, then it broke again. The original knowledge became corrupted with all types of mundane knowledge. Krsna held true to His word and delivered His most confidential servant in the form of Srila Bhaktivinode Thakur. Those of us who really read about the past acharyas will know who this confidential servant is in the spiritual world. Krsna means what He says. He sends His most confidential servants again and again, from time to time and in accordance with the desires of the devotees on earth. So the jagat-gurus come directly from the spiritual world to again teach us the authentic path of Krsna consciousness. They again re-establish the broken chains in the entire Krsna consciousness movement. So, yes in a sense they are jagat-gurus of the entire world simply because they represent the Supreme Jagat-Guru —Lord Chaitanya Mahaprabhu. But without properly pointing these truths out, to bluntly say that Srila Prabhupada Bhaktivedanta Swami is the jagat guru of the entire world is not an authentic way to deliver the confidential servant of Godhead. On the other hand, if someone says that Srila Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada is one of the saktyavesha avartars or jagat-gurus or Prabhupadas or confidential maidservants of Krsna or God, whose instructions are meant for the entire world, now you draw the attention of more people of the world of different faiths, classes, religions etc. That is a more complete statement to glorify Srila Prabhupada Bhaktivedanta and it wont lead any one to become a fanatical preacher. In a letter written to a prominent politician, here is what Srila Bhaktivedanta Prabhupada describes.

Your Excellency,

ISKCON (the International Society of Krishna Consciousness) is a non-lucrative organization, whose purpose is to promote the well-being of human society by drawing its attention to God. We are a non-sectarian society, and our members include people from Christian, Jewish and Moslem as well as Hindu faiths. The aim of ISKCON is not to found a new religious sect, but to invoke the living entity's dormant love of God, and thus provide the human society of all faiths with a common platform of clear theistic knowledge and practice." Vedabase

HDG A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada

Here Srila Prabhupada Bhaktvedanta Swami says the original purpose of ISKCON as a world deliver of the science of Krsna consciousness which is really for everyone. He does not say he is the jagat-guru of the world, he says the teachings of Krsna consciousness is for everyone in the world. True jagat-gurus do not ever boast of being the jagat-guru of the world. Not even Lord Jesus Christ did it. They however, show it by their spiritual preaching and potency, and by the advance and mature realizations of their devotees, they reveal themselves accordingly. Even when that is done, it is not done by them to make a show off or neither do they encourage their disciples to boast or make a show of their actual positioning. Especially in the chain of Lord Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, He taught that one must think oneself lower than the straw in the street and humbler than a blade of grass. The disciples of such a jagat-guru must not present his guru in such a light that an ordinary person will think that he is God. Then that is a definite disservice to one’s guru. This is the mistake made today by Christians and their gurudeva Lord Jesus Christ. People now think that He is God Himself. If ISKCON preachers present statements in such a way, that a person now coming to Krsna consciousness thinks that Srila Bhaktivedanta Prabhupada is the only achraya to do this or do that, or is the only one responsible for the Name of Hare Krsna being a household one, then that will eventually lead to the madness of saying that he is Krsna Himself. Some are already saying that he is a direct manifestation of Nityananda Prabhu Himself. I have seen and heard this. It is such statements without any proper understanding that causes the madness of fanaticism. The world does not need another fanatical religion. It needs a transcendental philosophy plus true authentic God conscious religion which emancipates the souls from material slavery.

Goswami Maharaja says

How can this be correct? "No other spiritual master". That will include Srila Bhaktivinode Thakur, Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvata Goswami Prabhupada, Srila Gaura Kishore das babaji, Srila Rupa Goswami, Srila Sanatana Goswami, Srila Krsnadas Kaviraja Goswami, Srila Jiva Goswami, Srila Haridas Thakur and the list can go on and on. These gurus made no contribution to worldwide preaching in the Kali yuga? No. All these past acharyas have spread Krsna consciousness worldwide. They have all made their unique contributions. To make this clearer, if a person in India wrote on a piece of paper a mathematical formula he received while sitting, then he passed this on to a one hundred persons, who each passed it on to 1000 persons, who each passed it on to 10,000 persons, each passed it on to 100,000 persons. Now all of these persons lived in India. If one day one man from the last 100,000 persons crosses the ocean and gives that same formula to100 persons living in America, and then that 100 passes the formula on to others in the rest of the world, do you mean that only that one man who came to America has given the formula to the world and not the rest of men also? It is not possible to think like that. Every man had a responsibility at the time, place and circumstance to distribute the formula according to his abilities.

They have all contributed to the worldwide spread of the formula. For without them, the man coming to America won’t have gotten the formula to give. This same principle is missing when some ISKCON devotees do not include the credits for the past achryas. It does not make sense to the truly intelligent. An authentic vaisnava has understood that the Krsna conscious formula had been preserved and excavated by the current chain leader and first person Srila Bhaktivinode Thakur, who is no ordinary human being, who then distributed it to his disciples and his son in particular who is also no ordinary human being, and was asked specifically to take it to the English speaking countries. He did this to some extent. However, there is Krsna involved in this as well for it is Krsna being the formula, that is distributed. Krsna has His own timing factor. He is Kala in this material world. Only according to the right timing can anything happen on His behalf. So it is not wise to say that Krsna had empowered only Srila Bhaktivedanta Prabhupada to do what no other spiritual master has done. Krsna also empowered them to do what they have done. They took that formula according to what Krsna had empowered them to do. That was their 100%. That was their full empowerment. Similarly, Srila Prabhupada has done his 100%. "I tried to help them to the best of my ability" he said.

So that all bonafide acharyas are and must be equally credited for this reason. No one is superior to the other. We must learn from Srila Krsnadas Kaviraja as Srila Bhaktivedanta Prabhupada has pointed out above. Worship every spiritual master in the chain of disciplic succession as if he had done exactly what Srila Prabhupada has done, and we will be safe with good realizations coming from each and every spiritual master including Sri Krsna Chaitanya Himself. Why get the mercy only from one spiritual master, one jagat-guru when you can get it and is rightly privileged to get it from the entire chain of spiritual masters leading right up to Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu. Therefore before one goes further in the Chaitanya Charitamrita, Srila Krsnadas’s first lesson is to tell us, that one will be meeting many spiritual masters who are all equal in spiritual status, and never to make the mistake to discriminate that one is more empowered than the others. All are equal, all must be worshiped with the same equality. What one has achieved, the others also have achieved. This is the authentic vaisnava viewpoint according to Srila Bhaktivedanta Prabhupada and Srila Krsnadasa Kaviraja Goswamipada.

Goswami Maharaja says.

The exclusive devotion to Srila Bhaktivedanta Prabhupada must be inclusive of all other past acharyas, including his siksa gurus as well. He had at least two siksa gurus. These are Srila Sridhara Goswami his dear friend and siksa guru, and Srila Kesava Goswamipada, his sannyasa guru. Srila Prabhupada instructed us to respect every vaisnava guru. He had instructed the picture vigraha of Srila Kesava Goswami be hung in every major temple of ISKCON. This is for the reason that his devotees may also pay homage to his sannyasa guru. Yet that vigraha form is not hung as requested. Hardly the new devotees know about Srila Kesava Maharaja. No appearance or disappearance is celebrated in ISKCON centers of the sannyasa guru of the founder-acharya. This is not respectful at all. He had instructed his disciples that they could approach Srila Sridhara Goswami for further siksa after his passing. In this way Srila Prabhupada showed us the way to honor our different types of siksa as well as diksa gurus, all of whom are equally worshipable. There is no higher or lower guru when it comes to honoring our siksa and diksa gurus. All these Gaudiya teachers recommended by Srila Prabhupada are for the purpose of teaching us to give respect to other vaisnava gurus, and also how to honor our own siksa and diksa gurus. If we did not learn how to do these things by Srila Bhaktivedanta’s example, then we will always suffer a problem with guru tattva. This is what ISKCON is suffering from. They have placed only emphasis on the diksa guru and disregard the siksa guru as lower. This is offensive in the Gaudiya vaisnava teachings. Srila Prabhupada Bhaktivedanta never said that he should be distinguished between any Gaudiya vaisnava. Srila Bhaktivinode Thakur is a Gaudiya vaisnava and so is Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakur. Srila Rupa Goswami and all other Goswamipadas are also Gaudiya teachers. Who is Satvarupa Goswami speaking about that Srila Prabhupada is solely distinguished above them. There is no such personality Srila Prabhupada said he was better than. Our gurudeva never preached that at all. Yes, Srila Prabhupada Bhaktivedanta Prabhupada has a special place among gurus of Gaudiya vaisnavism, but we cannot think that he is better than any guru, or greater than any guru. That will lead us into the path of offense. All gurus, as long as they are bonafide vaisnava gurus are equal in status. This is the true vaisnava teachings as repeatedly pointed out here and in accordance with what Srila Prabhupada points out and Srila Krsnadas Kaviraj Goswamipada teaches us in the first chapter of the Sri Chaitanya Charitamrita. There are no truthful devotees who would disagree with these statements.

Goswami Maharaja says-

It has been pointed out Srila Bhaktivedanta Prabhupada, was not the only one who fulfilled this prediction. The past acharyas in the line of Chaitanya Mahaprabhu began to fulfill this prediction starting with Srila Rupa Goswamipada. This is why we glorify the six goswamis. Srila Prabhupada Bhaktivedanta is following their footsteps. He is doing nothing new. Now what can be said is this. That Srila Prabhupada Bhaktivedanta Swami, was specially chosen to help fulfill this prediction, and in this regard he holds prominence of being the first guru to spread Krsna consciousness throughout the Western society successfully. That is a truthful statement with no boasting or fanaticism in it. But to say he alone fulfilled it is not our vaisnava line of teaching. It is rejected by Srila Prabhupada himself. This is precisely why ISKCON is reduced to a society conscious, sectarian and fanatical organization. That is not the original ISKCON Srila Prabhupada wanted. He wanted where the six goswamis and all other gurudevas in the line, would be made world renowned just as Christ and his disciples are world renowned. Then his name can be placed among that level of prominence. Then we all try to follow in his footsteps. That is the system. We cannot place Srila Prabhupada Bhaktivedanta as the only acharya on top of all other previous acharyas. That is not the vaisnava teachings at all.

Goswami Maharaja says

Exclusivity must have inclusiveness of the past acharya gurus as being equal in status in terms of our worshiping them. If exclusive devotion to Srila Prabhupada Bhaktivedanta Swami means that, then yes. If it means that only Srila Prabhupada can be worshipped and excluding all other past acharyas-his acharyas both siksa and diksa, then no, that is an offensive type of worship and will be rejected by Srila Prabhupada Bhaktivedanta and all the other acharyas as well.

Goswami Maharaja says

Can this statement be true? Who is he comparing Srila Bhaktivedanta with? It certainly cannot be either Srila Bhaktivedanta Prabhupada’s siksa or diksa gurus going right up to Lord Chaitanya Himself. Just who these others are? Yes, what Srila Prabhupada Bhaktivedanta has accomplished is extraordinary, but many times Srila Bhaktivedanta Prabhupada will simply say things like this. "It is only by their mercy". "It is only by his blessings". These were not just courteous talk. These were the actual fact. By ourselves we can do nothing. We must be empowered and blessed by our siksa and diksa gurus and both the Lord Himself and Srimati Radharani. This is the vaisnava teachings. Nothing else can be accepted.

Goswami Maharaja says

It will not become fanatical if we adhere by the teachings of Srila Krsnadas Kaviraja Goswamipada. But if we simply worship Srila Bhaktivedanta Prabhupada as the only one to spread Krsna consciousness across the globe, without giving credits to his previous gurus both siksa and diksa, then we shall have no credits ourselves to pass on to succeeding generations. Many ISKCON gurus have already fallen on account of thinking Srila Prabhupada is the best guru and no one else or "others" can be compared with him. This is a deviation in our vaisnava philosophy according to Srila Krsnadas Kaviraja. He shows that there is no difference in the siksa or diksa gurus of a disciple. There is no such thing as higher and lower. Srila Bhaktivedanta Prabhupada has agreed with Krsnadas Kaviraja and stated it as well. There is no status in spiritual life which allows such thinking.

Goswami Maharaja says

Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvatai Thakur went on to point out in that speech that, the guru must deliver that praise unto his predecessor acharyas. He must not simply accept it for himself.

Goswami Maharaja says

Sometimes the guru does not discuss topics with his neophyte disciples, but when such disciples become more advanced, the unspoken topics of the spiritual master is the highest comfort of the disciple. The disciple then discusses such topics with his siksa guru —a person much more realized and experienced than he is, so that the confirmation of realization is properly adjusted. Krsna consciousness is about internal realization of the spiritual world and the activities therein. The true vaisnava will and must come to the point of realizations where sometimes the unspoken topics of his spiritual master comes to the fore. Put another way, the spiritual master now gives the unspoken or un- written knowledge to his sincere disciple. The disciple sees it not as some topics not to be spoken about or sort after, but he sees it that his spiritual master is giving him further realizations. In this, actually every thing is revealed by the spiritual master in time in this manner. There is no part of Krsna consciousness where the spiritual master is not giving new knowledge which was not given while the disciple was young. Just as a father or mother does not tell a child everything about their material life. In the course of time as that child begins to mature and ask questions, that unspoken fact of the parents are revealed by them to the child.

The spiritual master is like that parent. If one does not get further knowledge of the spiritual world even though it was not told by the spiritual master, then that person is not advancing in spiritual knowledge. This knowledge is called "pratyaksavagama" — it is direct perceived- it is not only given through the source of the spiritual masters books or letters or speeches. Now that knowledge may have been also given by the spiritual master, but it is not yet realized by the disciple. As soon as the disciple accumulates sufficient sukriti or adhikari or what Srila Prabhupada used to refer to as "grey matter", the hidden knowledge is revealed by the mercy of the guru. The disciple then consults with a more advanced vaisnava, and especially one recommended by his guru. That siksa guru gives more light on that topic and the disciple’s realizations are confirmed by sastra, sadhu and guru. That is the vaisnava tradition and method. This is why Srila Prabhupada had given his siksa guru Srila Sridhara Maharaja so that when we come to some confirmations, we could have consulted with him. Also he had told Srila Narayana Maharaja in Bengali a day in November 1977, that he had tried his best to give his disciples everything to the best of his ability but they were not quite ready to receive everything. He then called on the help of Srila Narayana Maharaja to assist his disciples if and when they needed help in their confirmations. Why? Because not everything will be given by one’s guru even though the spiritual master tries to give everything. It is combination of two factors. The child is still immature and the science of Krsna consciousness needs to be secretive at times. "It is the secret of all secrets" Krsna says in Bhagavad Gita. So when one becomes qualified, then and only then it is revealed. But if one says he does not feel inclined to discuss topics which were not discussed, one has to be careful about that statement.

One does have to discuss topics as they arise within the heart. But one must discuss these topics with the qualified persons authorized to discuss and act as siksa gurus or consulting gurus. It’s like a second opinion. In Krsna consciousness we can have as many "second opinions" as mush as possible. This is the sweetest part of Krsna consciousness, as long as one does it sincerely and in an authorized way. "The thoughts of my devotees are with Me, and they derive great satisfaction and bliss enlightening one another" Krsna says in BG. Those "one another" should not only be equals, but one must continue to approach siksa gurus who can enlighten him. There were many senior devotees who knew of Srila Narayana Maharaja’s authority in helping with siksa but the GBC banned them. This also happened with Srila Sridhara Naharaja. Many of the ISKCON guru problems have begun from this one source. The first eleven whether chosen as acting on behalf or operating as diksa gurus, had to have had strong siksa consultations with Srila Sridhara Maharaja and now those who are still here with us from that first eleven, can have very good siksa with Srila Narayana Maharaja. If someone asked anyone of those eleven, who are their siksa guru, they would say they take siksa only from Srila Prabhupada’s books and lectures and tapes. Yet the sastras describe the diksa and siksa gurus as two distinct plenary parts of the spiritual master as two distinct personalities. Srila Prabhupada says in the introduction to Adi Lila chapter one. "The first manifestation described is the spiritual master, who appears in two plenary parts called the initiating spiritual master and instructing spiritual master."

In the strictest manner that is the fact. Yes one can take the siksa from Srila Prabhupada books etc, but Srila Prabhupada himself took siksa from his elder god brothers even though he had Srila Bhkatisiddhanta Sarasvati Prabhupada as his diksa guru. All vaisnavas have both forms of the spiritual master. Not only one form as the diksa. That is an incomplete status to be in spiritually. A disciple of any guru must also accept siksa from someone- a bhagavata personality, an advanced person, especially if his guru has returned to the spiritual world. They must do this until they become really advanced themselves and is able to stand on their own. It is strong practice to obtain and maintain. Many ISKCON disciples think that there is no need to accept a siksa guru, just because they took initiation from Srila Prabhupada Bhaktivedanta. If devotional service is the practice of what and how we must act in the spiritual world, then one had better begin to understand that in Krsna conscious circles the siksa guru is as good as the diksa guru and is highly regarded. In fact there are only siksa gurus in Goloka Vrindavan. There are no diksa initiations there. However one must continue to take siksa even in Goloka Vrindavan. When one goes there, one must take instructions from those who were there before. You cannot go directly to serve either Krsna or Radha. You must be trained by Their gopi’s maidservants of what pleases Krsna or Radharani the most or how to do a particular loving service to Them.

Siksa siksa and more siksa is what it is. It is not only diksa. There is a manifested problem within ISKCON only because those first eleven have not themselves continued to take the proper siksa either from Srila Sridhara Maharaja or Srila Narayana Maharaja. Because they think either two things. That Srila Bhaktivedanta Prabhupada is all they need and nothing else, or they think that they were more spiritually advanced than these two recommended gurus Srila Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada pointed out. They go on making this same mistake and teaching this same mistake to the juniors. They believe that siksa and diksa can only be had from Srila Bhaktivedanta Prabhupada even today. The truth is siksa can be had through the vani method from Srila Prabhupada Bhaktivedanta. But for diska one needs a living gurudeva. Also for continued siksa one needs a living gurudeva as well. That is how one practices devotional service in order to go back home to Goloka Vrindavan. The siksa must be obtained also from the person bhagavata, what to speak of a living Maha Bhagavata. But if one thinks that there are no living Maha Bhagavatas or person bhagavatas other than Srila Bhaktivedanta Prabhupada, one thinks Krsna to be a fool. Both the two types of Ritvik followers namely the "diksa only" Ritviks and the "siksa only" Ritviks suffer the tremendous constant disillusionments. Those who have continued to take siksa according to Srila Prabhupada Bhaktivedanta’s recommendations, have and continue to advance in the right frame of mind. Such persons are very happy indeed. They are receiving more and more realizations everyday. While the rhetoric and realizations of the both types of Ritviks remain stagnant indeed.

Goswami Maharaja says

This is an irrational statement to make of Srila Prabhupada’s diksa guru’s branch. Even though Srila Bhaktivedanta Prabhupada spread ISKCON throughout the world, we must not be so boastful of this fact. We must be humble at all times. All the branches are branches. None are the main branch. None are the sub-branches. Actually ISKCON has committed worse crimes than the Gaudiya Matha. The gurukula children can testify to this. The major fall downs of senior and trusted devotees of Srila Bhaktivedanta Prabhupada have committed acts against the masses of devotees. Whereas this did not take place within the Gaudiya Matha. Their mistake was that they became complacent in their worldwide preaching and they did not follow their guru’s idea of a GBC and they went about and appoint unauthorized gurus etc. ISKCON did these same things and more crimes were committed by very trusted leaders against the masses of devotees. ISKCON has also been reduced to a sectarian society as well.

Goswami Maharaja says

"In Vaishnava history, and particularly in the history of the Gaudiya sampradaya, there is an unbroken chain of spiritual masters. The guru's disciples become the next gurus. When people come to ISKCON post-1977, they must take diksha from one of Srila Prabhupada's followers. That is the ISKCON system, and it is based on the sampradaya tradition. We have already discussed how the initiating spiritual master's in ISKCON have the duty to humbly present Srila Prabhupada's teachings, to facilitate every ISKCON devotee's following of and association with the founder-acarya, Srila Prabhupada, and to present only what he taught strictly in parampara. Then no one will be denied a connection with the pure devotee, Srila Prabhupada, not now and not generations in the future. Srila Prabhupada will remain the diksha-guru of those he personally initiated before his disappearance and the shiksha-guru of all those who came after."

Only the personal siksa guru system must now be strictly adhered to. That will complete the spiritual picture. All diksa and siksa gurus must set the example themselves by taking siksa from persons who are more advanced than them in Krsna consciousness. Then those siksa and diksa gurus can become strong personalities and will be able to give both siksa and diksa without falling down. It really is a question of sincerity.

Goswami Maharaja says

As long as ISKCON leaders follow the siksa tattva of receiving consultancy knowledge from the authorized persons in the form of Srila Sridhara Maharaja or his bonafide siksa disciples such as Tripurari Swami or Govinda Goswami, or Srila Narayana Maharaja, ISKCON gurus will stand a good chance of standing up to the test of time. They must also themselves shown to be taking consultancy siksa. That is part of the commands of Srila Bhaktivedanta Prabhupada.

Goswami Maharaja says

This can only be achieved if we follow the system of taking further siksa from persons who are more advanced than ourselves. Those persons can preach about Srila Prabhupada better than we think they can. That is the implicit faith in the spiritual master we must believe in. Then it will work.

Goswami Maharaja says

The disillusionment is caused by thinking oneself more advanced than the recommended vaisnavas Srila Prabhupada had pointed out to us to hear from concerning things spiritual. Some of us still are stubborn and wont go to get some consultancy with these more advanced vaisnavas.

Goswami Maharaja says

Well if we had followed Srila Prabhupada desires for us to approach Srila Sridhar Maharaja or Srila Narayana Maharaja, we would not have been in this position today where some devotees are concocting the Ritvik theories both from the points of siksa or diksa. The others who left to take more siksa from either Srila Sridhara Maharaja or Srila Narayana Maharaja are in very safe hands indeed, because they follow the cammands of Srila Bhaktivedanta Prabhupada. They do not suffer from disillusionments of any kind. They are not confused at all.

Goswami Maharaja says

Then all the diksa gurus must immediately take consulting siksa from Srila Narayana Maharaja. That will help. Put it to the test. It is being proven every day a devotee leaves ISKCON and takes shelter at Srila Narayana Maharaja’s lotus feet.

Goswami Maharaja says

The way not to rebel is to take seriously the platform of the siksa guru as being just as important as the diksa guru. Seek the advice of one more advanced than you are. Then you can give diksa and siksa yourself. You cannot give what you do not receive yourself.

Goswami Maharaja says

Yes, but if ISKCON thinks itself superior to all other branches while it has committed all those offenses, then one cannot be aligned to ISKCON leaders. It is not expected of the truly intelligent to do so without ISKCON correcting the real causes of the problem. Those remaining from the eleven and the rest of the initiating gurus as well as senior devotees giving classes (siksa) must themselves take siksa from either Srila Narayana Maharaja by vani or vapu or Srila Sridhar by vani in order to complete thie realizations of what is taking place today. This will bring about higher realizations for co-operation between the various branches of the Chaitanya tree.

Goswami Maharaja says

The first change ISKCON devotees do of Srila Prabhupada’s teaching is when one thinks that Srila Prabhupada is greater than the previous acharyas both his siksa gurus and diksa gurus. His siksa gurus includes the line coming from Srila Rupa Goswami right down to both his siksa gurus Srila Kesava Maharaja and Srila Sridhara Maharaja. If we disrespect his siksa gurus how can we really get his and their blessings. If we feel disillusioned and ill-fated, can we say that we are getting the blessings of Srila Prabhupada? The most senior men must continue to take consultancy from Srila Narayana Maharaja, as being the oldest siksa living disciple of Srila Prabhupada on this planet. They should now and take help and save their spiritual master’s ISKCON.

Here is a letter to keep close to every ISKCON member. This will help understand the position of a true siksa guru.

From "Srila Prabhupada's Letters from America to Srila Bhaktivedanta Narayana Maharaja", published by Gaudiya Vedanta Samhiti:

All Glories to Sri Guru & Gauranga

Seattle, Washington
October 22, 1968

I offer my humble prostrated obeisances at the lotus feet of all the Vaisnavas.

Sripada Trivikrama Maharaja,

Yesterday I received your letter dated October 12, and its contents were heart-breaking. Kindly inform me of the details of the sudden disappearance of Pujyapada Maharaja (Srila B.P., Kesava Maharaja). I had a very long-standing, intimate relationship with Srila Maharaja. When I used to visit Sridhara Mayapura, I was taken care of by Sripada Narahari Dada and Sripada Vinoda Dada with great affection. They were my extremely loving friends. Also in Calcutta, the senior Tirtha Maharaja, Professor Nisikanta Sannyal and Vasudeva Prabhu, were very dear to me. Afterwards I used to visit and associate freely with Sripada Sridhara Maharaja as if we were the closest of family members. Except for Sripada Sridhara Maharaja, all of the above-mentioned Vaisnavas have gradually disappeared. Our time is also approaching, so it will be best to have the opportunity to serve Srila Prabhupada as long as possible.

I have a very close connection with Sri Gaudiya Vedanta Samiti. Yourself, and particularly Sripada Vamana Maharaja, are well aware of the fact that I am one of the three persons who founded Sri Gaudiya Vedanta Samiti. We had conceived the idea of the formation of Sri Gaudiya Vedanta Samiti at Bosapada Lane, Calcutta, even before Srila (Kesava) Maharaja accepted sannyasa. Within a few days of the formation of the Samiti, Sri Narottamananda Brahmacari (presently Tridandi Swami Sri Srimad Bhakti Kamala Madhusudana Maharaja) separated himself from the Samiti. At that time Sripada Vamana Maharaja, who was then a brahmacari, visited our home at Sitakanta Banarji Lane; He made me the chief editor of the Bengali magazine, Sri Gaudiya Patrika.

Respecting the order of Srila (Kesava) Maharaja, I started writing articles for the Gaudiya Patrika regularly. Srila Maharaja greatly appreciated whatever I wrote. Thereafter, I was also appointed as the president of the Hindi magazine, Sri Bhagavata Patrika, and many of my articles were published in that. Afterwards I could not submit articles due to lack of time. Now I have become a resident of foreign lands and I have to travel twenty thousand miles every year. The greatest compassion of Srila Kesava Maharaja was to make me a sannyasi. I had taken a vow that I would never accept sannyasa, but Srila Maharaja forcibly gave it to me. He would certainly have been most pleased today to see the success of my preaching. Last year I visited him in Calcutta along with my disciples, and despite being bedridden, he was very pleased to receive us. I have complete confidence that both in his manifest presence and after his disappearance, he must be very pleased to see my widespread preaching of the message of Sriman Mahaprabhu in Western countries like America, Canada, England, Germany and Hawaii (Honolulu), situated in the pacific ocean, as well as eastern countries like Japan (Tokyo! and so on.)

I was a staunch grhamedi (one whose thoughts are absorbed in household affairs). Srila Prabhupada used to come to me in dreams from time to time and call me to renounce family life and come along with him. The dreams would frighten me and make me think that I would have to accept sannyasa. I didn't have any desire to take sannyasa. But upon the repeated insistence of Sripada Narayana Maharaja, Srila Kesava Maharaja bestowed boundless mercy upon this unwilling and blind person, by forcibly giving me sannyasa. It seems that this desire of Srila Prabhupada's was transmitted into his heart, and it was thus that my sannyasa was accomplished.

So I am eternally indebted to Srila (Kesava) Maharaja. Therefore, immediately after receiving your letter, I organized a viraha-sabha, an assembly at the Seattle temple to honor his disappearance. I am sending the condolence resolution of the meeting along with this letter. Kindly accept it as our Sraddhanjali, or humble homage. In my other centers (the list is enclosed), particularly London, Hamburg and Honolulu I have given instruction to arrange a viraha-sabha and offer Sraddhanjali homage likewise.

You will be glad to know that under my guidance I have formed three sankirtana parties comprising American youths and couples. One such party is currently traveling to all cities in America and I am also with this party. The second party of six devotees is performing kirtana at different places in London. The Indians living there are amazed to see them. They have given up their home land and come all the way to the Westen world to attain wealth and reputation, but the Americans are performing harinama-sankirtana. Somehow the preaching activities are going on very nicely. I am interested to know what kind of constitution you are forming. In this matter you will receive my complete cooperation, because I am a man of constructive ideas. I do not like destructive policies.

It was the desire of Srila Prabhupada and Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura that Americans perform kirtana in Sridhama Mayapura, and that opportunity has now come. Unfortunately, those who have intruded into Mayapura consider it to be their personal property.

These days others are restricted from visiting that place. Srila Kesava Maharaja used to deal with these guru-tyagis (those who renounce their guru) and guru-bhogis (those who enjoy the property of their guru) with sword in hand. Anyway, last year he mentioned that he would arrange five acres of land for me in Sridhama Mayapura. You were present at that time. If you help me in this matter, I intend to make an asrama in Mayapura.

American boys and girls can visit and stay there and receive proper training. By our cooperation, preaching activities can be done very nicely. Therefore, I am eager to know the details of your constitution.

I am going to Montreal tomorrow. From there I will go to Santa Fe (New Mexico) and then to Los Angeles. I am sending the addresses of our various centers along with this letter. We are executing a plan to build New Vrndavana on three hundred acres of land. Kindly reply to the Los Angeles-Hollywood address as I will be staying three days in Montreal, seven days in Santa Fe and almost one month in Los Angeles.

pythivite ache yata nagaradi grama
sarvatra pracara haibe mora nama

Preaching can be spread extensively throughout the world on the basis of this system. I think that you will make your constitution directly in accordance with the above prediction. I hope your bhajana is going on nicely.

Your obedient servant,
Sri Bhaktivedanta Swami

P.S.: If you have any nice photograph of Srila Maharaja, then kindly send it to me. I will get a life size oil painting made of it and along with a picture of Srila Prabhupada, I will place it in my prominent centers, particularly New York, Hollywood, London and so forth.