10/21/1998 - 2389

Cure Our Family Ills

Editorial (VNN) - by Papaharini devi

Today I read the dialogue of questions and answers between a devotee andPADA.
There was one point I thought helpful to address.He questioned:
D: What about when the institution steps in to correct something that aguru has done? I've observed errors of judgments that gurus have madewhich have seriously messed up the lives of their disciples. Personally Iwould like to see a training programme implemented to train gurus and soon.

I would like to respond without the help of the Folio program- you may findmany references on the importance of "guru" training within the letters ofSrila Prabhupada, contained within the three volume set titled: "SrilaPrabhupada Siksamrta, Nectarean Instructions from the Letters of HDG..."(1992, BBT). In volume two there are sections titled: Preaching- In theWest and Preaching to Students. There you will find letters where SrilaPrabhupada is full of praise for devotees attempting to teach inuniversities and local colleges. In volume one are sections titled:Education- Adult/Higher-Examinations and Certificates, Krsna Conscious andAcademic, etc.While I don't have folio to quickly paste some great quotes, I feltinspired to type out a couple of excerpts here:

"....Another examination will be held sometime in 1971 on the four booksBhagavad-Gita, Srimad-Bhagavatam, Teachings of Lord Caitanya, and theNectar of Devotion. One who will pass this examination will be awardedwith the title of Bhakti-vedanta. I want that all of my spiritual sons anddaughters will inherit this title of Bhakti-vedanta, so that the familytranscendental diploma will continue through the generations. Thosepossessing the title of Bhakti-vedanta will be allowed to initiatedisciples. Maybe by 1975 all of my disciples will be allowed to initiateand increase the numbers of the generations. That is my program. So weshould not simply publish these books for reading by outsiders, but ourstudents must be well-versed in all of our books so that we can be preparedto defeat all opposing parties in the matter of self-realization." (SPL toHamsadutta, 3rd December, 1968)

"A first examination will be held some time next January on Bhagavad-gitaAs It Is, and those passing will have the degree of Bhakti-sastri. Nextyear we will hold an examination on Srimad-Bhagavatam, and the person whopasses will have the title Bhakti-vaibhava. And the next year we shallhold an examination on Teachings of Lord Caitanya, The Nectar of Devotionand Vedanta-sutra, and those who will successfully pass will be awardedwith the title of Bhakti-vedanta. By 1975, all of those who have passedall of the above examinations will be specifically empowered to initiateand increase the number of the Krsna consciousness population." (SPL toKirtananandana, 12th of January, 1968)

There are many others stating the same request/order to all disciples bothmale and female. Here's one that confirms for posterity's sake, thatfemale devotees may do the same: (Posterity again meaning: "all of aperson's descendants; all succeeding generations". (1997, Webster's NWDict.))

"Regarding your questions about the examinations to be given, the girlswill also be able to take these. In Krsna consciousness there is nodistinction between girls and boys. The girls also may become preachers ifthey are able." (SPL to Himavati, 24th January, 1969)

I find it interesting that none of our various philosophical arguments(that exist currently, and no matter for how long) have used these many"direct words" of Prabhupada's on education to foster and uplift thecertainty of their arguments from this specific set of examples. There istruly a wealth of quotes here. Especially, we find no quotes such as thesein the GBC's papers, the Bhaktivedanta Institute (even though the FloridaVedic College wonderfully offers these exams as programs of study leadingto degrees for a price), the England July 9thers, Kailasa chandra dasa'sstatements, Druta karma, IRG, VADA, etc. There are several hundred pagesof "direct word" statements of Prabhupada's on this specific subject ofhigher education certificates that I believe will honestly:

literally clear up all argument and misgivings between all devotee camps! notice prabhupada's choice of words above: " - so that the familytranscendental diploma will continue through the generations. Thosepossessing the title of Bhakti-vedanta will be allowed to initiatedisciples. Maybe by 1975 all of my disciples will be allowed to initiateand increase the numbers of the generations. That is my program."(endquote) I'm referring to "family transcendental diploma". OUR "family" ofdevotees is the ISCKON movement. The movement we all joined in thebeginning; and the knowledge contained in the "'diploma" awarded, which wewere intended to preach- was to be inherited through Prabhupada's books byhis order. These letters clear up all doubt about the need to seek outother instructions, siksas, diksas or institutions. It is throughPrabhupada's direction and interpretation of His successor vaisnavateachers, contained in his purports, that we receive our "highereducation".

I sincerely submit that this repeated direct order by Prabhupada for anintensive preacher/teacher education program- that was the dream ofPrabhupada since the inuaguration of his mission, for children and adultsalike, and for both sexes- is the panecea that will cure our family illstoday and in the future.

Sure, ISKCON would answer me that it already exists, but all the letters Iread requested this be required for second initiation and sannyasainitiations AND for those who would initiate on His order, as well. Instead, history will show that there has never existed a wide spreadintensive training program for anyone of any status. The longstandingtotal absense of a "standardized" gurukula curriculum (before anyoneinvolved in gurukula today jumps on me, I taught in Attreya Rsi's gurukulaprogram for about two years, where I had a meeting with Jagadisha Maharajato mention this lack of facility worldwide. This would have been 1982. Todate, there is no change in this sad situation. And, as soon as I finishmy MS degree, I hope to assist in the creation of such textbooks.)

Some ofour best examples for the definition of "standardized curriculum" may beseen in the Kauai Hinduism Today's ongoing of academic-style curriculum forchildren on Lords Siva and Ganesha topics. They advertise the availabilityof such programs worldwide in Hinduism Today and in the Palani Pangchang ofSan Francisco (an astrological timings guide for vaisnava calendar). Or,any large Catholic, Protestant or Jewish organizations all haveinternationally standardized curriculum packages that are mailed to homesor schools for standardized instruction of students. And that's just thechildren's education. In the Siksamrita volumes, we have whole chapters ofletters where Prabhupada finds it imperative that the adults becomequalified by these examination/degree programs to preach our message. Heeven emphasizes the year 1975 as a desired marker for fulfilling thesewishes and transcendental loving demands in order to protect the integrityof His mission.

The sheer transparent beauty of these "direct words" and thoughts ofPrabhupada is that he leaves no room for interpretation, no need; he writesconscisely and repitition is ongoing. No need for argument orclarification between opposing parties. He leaves no confusion that couldlead anyone to seek other's opinions on his intended meaning. A nice example to support my absolute faith that there is "no room forinterpretation":
(Typing by hand from a morning walk conversation dated April 11, 1974,Bombay. The Indian guests are very argumentative. My transcribing isdifficult here because the guests constantly interrupt Prabhupada)

Prabhupada: " - We have got another verse that says "this water is Krsna'senergy" so how can you refute it? Krsna says it's "my energy".

Guest: Somebody's energy, definitely somebody's controlling it -

Prabhupada: No, no, not controlling it - .

Guest: (interrupting) whether I believe or imagine, some entity is underKrsna (garbled) -

Prabhupada: No, no, how you can disbelieve? Your theory is how I candisbelieve.. Believe or not believe, that is another thing. How youcan - this water has come from some source, so what is that source?

Guest: (garbled) they can come to Bhagavad-gita and find out Krsna is theonly person in the whole world who says that this comes from me -

Prabhupada: Yes - water comes from your body, perspiration; so why not fromKrsna's body?
Symbolism - that is explained - but because you do not go to right teacher youdo not understand. That is - .(garbled) -

Guest: (garbled due to interrupting) but if there is given someinterpretation that means the same thing -

Prabhupada: No, it's not, "same thing" means he's a rascal teacher, he'snot teacher, he's cheater. When a cheater takes the place of a teacher(garbled) - That is the difference. And when teacher is there he willexplain rightly. But where is the difficulty? I have several times given. But where is the difficulty to understand Bhagavad gita? There is not asingle line which is very difficult to understand - Krsna says (Sanskritverse) I first of all said this philosophy to Vivasvan, the sun god, sowhere is the difficulty to understand this meaning?

Guest: (garbled) interpretation - ..

Prabhupada: Why they should interpret? Interpretation is required whenthere is no understanding. If the matter is clearly understood, whyinterpretation? This is rascaldom. Everyone understands this is called"glass" - and where is the need of interpretation - this is a glass - ..ah,spectacle - ah, no, this is meaning this - why? If the thing is clearlyunderstood, there is no question of interpretation- you cannot give.

Later in tape:

Prabhupada: What right you have got to interpret? If you cannot see withyour own eyes, you are blind, then why should you interpret? A blind man isinterpreting? What is this nonsense? (garbled) If you are blind man youaccept, I am blind man, I cannot study what is the meaning - that is anotherthing, that is good - (garble arguments) Actually, the blind man has no rightto interpret, that is the point.

Later in tape:
Prabhupada: They are Kamsa - to kill Krsna. "Let Krsna come out and I shallkill Him immediately" - The Kamsa philosophy. End quotes.

I would submit that if the degree program Prabhupada emphatically andclearly describes in umpteen letters to devotees, were to be installedformally in all centers, and each center eventually gained proper stateaccreditation for the degrees so as to teach all ages, you would correctlyreinstall the integrity and foundation of Srila Prabhupada's intentions forall of his disciples and friends of the movement in the academic sector. IF I'm not mistaken, this would be a major step toward implementing thephases to follow the mass book distribution which took place whilePrabhupada was still physically present. While our deep grieving of losingthe daily vapu association of Prabhupada has taken many tolls, I believeour immediate upliftment and auspicious empowerment would become evident tothe world of seekers toward the varna-asrama way of living. Gurukula wouldbe completely refreshed on a mass scale (I offer my humble obeisances toall those devotees who have maintained gurukula without abuse) and wouldfind many hundreds or thousands of new students of all ages. Training insurvival may become a way of living with upcoming, ongoing world disasters,and who is more qualified than Srila Prabhupada in the Western world toinstruct Westerners in applying the Vedic way of life?

Prabhupada's tireless work was to educate all that were interested in allfacets of spiritual life in what he described as an "urgent" manner. Notone of the various devotee groups represented today needs to be eliminated,banned or shut out of the family of ISKCON if Prabhupada's "direct word"statements and writings are firmly reestablished as the foundation of Hismovement. This would lift the focus off the interpretations (howeverwell-meaning, evil, or blind) of GBC, gurus or individuals by arming themass of devotees with the flower weapon of knowledge offered as a gift ofmercy by the Founder Acarya for our international society- AC BhaktivedantaSwami Srila Prabhupada, our ever well-wisher. All glory to SrilaPrabhupada, our living siksa guru.

Ys, Papaharini devi