A Disciple Cannot Become a Guru Automatically
The supporters of the self-appointed guru system within ISKCON have advocated the idea that a disciple will automatically become a diksha-guru upon the physical disappearance of his own spiritual…
The supporters of the self-appointed guru system within ISKCON have advocated the idea that a disciple will automatically become a diksha-guru upon the physical disappearance of his own spiritual master. They claim that Srila Prabhupada’s letter dated July 9, 1977, which established the ritvik system of initiation, was only a temporary arrangement, as the disciples should not give diksha on their own when their guru is physically present. Thus, upon Srila Prabhupada’s disappearance, the disciples naturally assumed the role of initiating spiritual masters.
This article examines this argument in light of Srila Prabhupada’s teachings and meeting with His Divine Grace.
A Guru Must Be Authorised by His Predecessor Guru Srila Prabhupada clearly outlined the conditions under which a disciple may become a guru.
The foremost among them is explicit designation or authorisation by the spiritual master.
Atreya Rishi: How many qualifications does a spiritual master has in terms of being a spiritual master?
Prabhupada: One qualification: he is a devotee of God. That’s all.
Atreya Rishi: Also is he designated?
Prabhupada: Huh?
Atreya Rishi: Does he have to be designated by the former spiritual master? He has to be devotee…
Prabhupada: Oh, yes. Oh, yes.
Atreya Rishi: …surrendered and designated. That is…, identifies disciplic succession: both surrender and designation.
Prabhupada: And by the result.
Atreya Rishi: And the result of activity. [pause] Prabhupada: So far designation is concerned, the spiritual master authorizes every one of his
disciple. But it is up to the disciple to carry out the order, able to carry out or not. It is not that spiritual master is partial, he designates one and rejects other. He may do that. If the other is not qualified, he can do that. But actually his intention is not like that.
He wants that each and every one of his disciple become as powerful as he is, or more than that. That is his desire. Just like father wants every son to be as qualified or more qualified than the father. But it is up to the student or to the son to raise himself to that standard.
(Conversation, San Diego, 29 June 1972) In this dialogue, Srila Prabhupada affirms that although a spiritual master may wish for every disciple to become qualified, actual authorisation is essential. The disciple must be designated by the guru, and must also demonstrate the ability to carry out the order. This principle is consistent throughout Srila Prabhupada’s instructions.
Below is a conversation during Srila Prabhupada’s lecture, Bhagavad-gita 7.2, Nairobi, 28 Oct 1975 Indian man (1): When did you began to become the spiritual leader of Krishna consciousness?
Prabhupada: What is that?
Brahmananda: He’s asking when did you become the spiritual leader of Krishna consciousness?
Prabhupada: When my Guru Maharaja ordered me. This is the guru-parampara.
Indian man (1): Did he just . . .
Prabhupada: Try to understand. Don’t go very speedily. A guru can become guru when he’s ordered by his guru. That’s all. Otherwise nobody can become guru.
(A little later the Indian man again asks Srila Prabhupada.) Indian man (1): When did he tell you to . . .?
Prabhupada: What is the business, when did he tell me? And why shall I disclose to you? It is so very insignificant thing that I have to explain to you?
Indian man (1): No, I am just curious to know when.
Prabhupada: You should be curious within your limit. You should know that one can become guru when he is ordered by his guru. This much.
Srila Prabhupada, Srimad Bhagavatam 4.8.54 Purport One should take initiation from a bona fide spiritual master coming in the disciplic succession, who is authorized by his predecessor spiritual master. This is called diksha-vidhana.
Lecture by Srila Prabhupada, Nectar of Devotion, Vrindavan, 30 Oct 1972 Similarly, bona fide guru means he must be authorized by the superior guru. Just like Chaitanya Mahaprabhu says, āmāra ājñāya guru hañā tāra’ ei deśa [Sri Chaitanya-charitamrita, Madhya- lila 7.128]. He must receive the order from the superior. And the superior must be bona fide.
Then he’s bona fide, not self-made.
(Conversation, Bombay, 22 April 1977)
Prabhupada: … People complained against Hamsadutta. Did you know that?
Tamala Krishna: I’m not sure of the particular incidences, but I’ve heard general… Prabhupada: In Germany. In Germany.
Tamala Krishna: The devotees there.
Prabhupada: So many complaints.
Tamala Krishna: Therefore change is good.
Prabhupada: No, you become guru, but you must be qualified first of all. Then you become.
Tamala Krishna: Oh, that kind of complaint was there.
Prabhupada: Did you know that?
Tamala Krishna: Yeah, I heard that, yeah.
Prabhupada: What is the use of producing some rascal guru?
Tamala Krishna: Well, I have studied myself and all of your disciples, and it’s clear fact that we are all conditioned souls, so we cannot be guru. Maybe one day it may be possible…
Prabhupada: Hmm.
Tamala Krishna: …but not now.
Prabhupada: Yes. I shall choose some guru. I shall say, “Now you become acharya. You become authorized.” I am waiting for that. You become all acharya. I retire completely. But the training must be complete.
Tamala Krishna: The process of purification must be there.
Prabhupada: Oh, yes, must be there. Chaitanya Mahaprabhu wants that. Āmāra ājñāya guru hañā. “You become guru.” [laughs] But be qualified. Little thing, strictly follower…
Tamala Krishna: Not rubber stamp.
Prabhupada: Then you’ll not be effective. You can cheat, but it will not be effective.
During a GBC Meeting in Vrindavan on 28 May 1977, Srila Prabhupada said: Āmāra ājñāya guru hañā. Be actually guru, but by my order.
He also said: When I order, “You become guru,” he becomes regular guru. That’s all. He becomes disciple of my disciple. That’s it.
These repeated instructions leave no room for doubt. According to Srila Prabhupada, a disciple can only become a diksha-guru if authorised by his own guru. He warned against “rubber- stamped” gurus and insisted that training and authorisation were mandatory.
Intent and Principle Do Not Equal an Order It is important to distinguish between Srila Prabhupada’s intent, general principles, and an actual order.
For example: Srila Prabhupada’s letter to Madhusudana, Navadvipa, 2 Nov 1967 Anyone following the order of Lord Chaitanya under the guidance of His bona fide representative, can become a spiritual master and I wish that in my absence all my disciples become the bona fide spiritual master to spread Krishna Consciousness throughout the whole world.
The first part of the text here is a principle, and in the next part, Srila Prabhupada expresses his desire that his disciples become spiritual masters. However, he issues no specific authorisation.
Srila Prabhupada’s letter to Tusta Krishna, New Delhi, 2 Dec 1975
Keep trained up very rigidly and then you are bona fide Guru, and you can accept disciples on the same principle. But as a matter of etiquette it is the custom that during the lifetime of your Spiritual master you bring the prospective disciples to him, and in his absence or disappearance you can accept disciples without any limitation. This is the law of disciplic succession. I want to see my disciples become bona fide Spiritual Master and spread Krishna consciousness very widely, that will make me and Krishna very happy.
Again, while the letter discusses a general principle and expresses Srila Prabhupada’s desire, it lacks any specific mandate for anyone to become a diksha-guru.
Conversation, Detroit, 18 July 1971
Prabhupada: Yes, it is…, this movement is started from Krishna.
Mohsin Hassan: Yes.
Prabhupada: Then, from Krishna, Narada. From Narada, Vyasadeva. From Vyasadeva to Madhvacharya, from Madhvacharya to Ishvara Puri, Madhavendra Puri, then Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, then His disciples, the six Goswamis, then Krishna dasa Kaviraja, then Baladeva Vidyabhushna. So we are taking account very rigidly from Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, and I am the tenth generation from Chaitanya Mahaprabhu.
Mohsin Hassan: Yeah, the tenth. After you, is it…, any decision has been made who will take over?
Prabhupada: Yes. All of them will take. These students who are initiated from me, all of them will act as I am doing. Just like I have got many Godbrothers, they are all acting. Similarly, all these disciples which I am making, initiating, they are being trained to become future spiritual masters.
Mohsin Hassan: How many swamis do you initiated, American? I’m speaking just on the American…
Prabhupada: About ten.
Mohsin Hassan: You have ten swamis. And outside of swamis, what’s the lower… Prabhupada: Now, they’re competent. They can…, not only the swamis, even the grihasthas, they are called dasa adhikari, and brahmacharis, everyone can, whoever is initiated, he is competent to make disciple. But as a matter of etiquette they do not do so in the presence of their spiritual master. This is the etiquette. Otherwise, they are competent.
They can make disciples and spread. Become, too whom, I mean, recruit more members in this.
They do, but they are being trained up. Just like here in this meeting, one of my disciples, he is acting as priest. Instead of myself; he is acting. So some of my students, they are acting as priest, some of them are swamis. So they are competent to make disciples.
Supporters of the self-made guru system often cite the line “These students who are initiated from me, all of them will act as I am doing,” to justify automatic succession. However, Srila Prabhupada immediately clarifies that they are “being trained to become future spiritual masters.” Later, again he says, “but they are being trained up.” He makes no claim that they are currently qualified or authorised.
Qualification Alone Does Not Constitute Appointment We have the example of Lord Ramachandra, who possessed every qualification to ascend the
throne. He was the Supreme Personality of Godhead, born into a noble kshatriya dynasty as the eldest son of King Dasharatha. Even King Dasharatha earnestly desired to crown Him as the monarch. Yet, did He assume the throne on His own accord? No. He waited for the appropriate order. But He received the order to go into exile. He did not become king, despite being perfectly qualified.
In the same manner, one does not become a spiritual master merely by possessing qualifications. He must first fulfil essential conditions: he should be fully trained under a bona fide spiritual master, completely surrendered, and demonstrate success in his preaching efforts.
The spiritual master must also express the desire to appoint him as successor. Moreover, he cannot become a spiritual master when his spiritual master is physically present, which is the law of disciplic succession.
Even if a disciple meets all these criteria, he cannot act as a guru unless he has received a direct order from his spiritual master.
The Meaning of “Āmāra ājñāya guru hañā” Below is another commonly quoted reference by the supporters of the guru system.
Conversation, Bombay, 15 April 1977
Prabhupada: … “Like father, like son.” You should be. Gaurāṅgera bhakta-jane. Everyone.
Therefore Chaitanya Mahaprabhu said, āmāra ājñāya guru hañā tāra’ ei deśa [Sri Chaitanya- charitamrita, Madhya-lila 7.128]. He asked everyone, “Just become guru.” Follow His instruction, you become guru. Āmāra ājñāya. Don’t manufacture ideas. Āmāra ājñāya. “What I say, you do. You become a guru.” Where is the difficulty? “And what is Your ājñā?” Yāre dekha tāre kaha kṛṣṇa-upadeśa. Bas. Everything is there in the Bhagavad-gita. You simply repeat.
That’s all. You become guru. To become a guru is not difficult job. Follow Chaitanya Mahaprabhu and speak what Krishna has said. Bas. You become guru.
Supporters of the self-appointed guru system often interpret this as an instruction to become diksha-gurus.
But just days later, in the 22 April conversation (given earlier in this article), hardly 7 months before his disappearance, Srila Prabhupada clearly told Tamala Krishna Maharaja that none of his disciples were yet qualified, and that he would personally authorise gurus only when he deemed them ready. He expressed frustration at the idea of unqualified individuals assuming such positions prematurely.
Let us also examine more closely the meaning of āmāra ājñāya, which Srila Prabhupada quotes in numerous purports, lectures, and conversations.
Instruct everyone to follow the orders of Lord Sri Krishna as they are given in the Bhagavad-gita and Srimad-Bhagavatam. In this way become a spiritual master and try to liberate everyone in this land.
(Srila Prabhupada, Sri Chaitanya-charitamrita, Madhya-lila 7.128 Translation) The method of becoming a spiritual master, as described here, is to instruct everyone to follow the orders of Lord Krishna. There is no mention of giving diksha. Hence, this instruction pertains to becoming a shiksha-guru, not a diksha-guru.
Srila Prabhupada writes in the purport to this verse:
One should stay at home, chant the Hare Krishna mantra and preach the instructions of Krishna … This further clarifies that the function being described is not that of a diksha-guru.
If one simply follows the instructions of Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, under the guidance of His representative, and chants the Hare Krishna mantra, teaching everyone as far as possible the same principle, the contamination of the materialistic way of life will not even touch him.
(Srila Prabhupada, Sri Chaitanya-charitamrita, Madhya-lila 7.129 Purport) This again highlights the role of teaching, which refers to preaching rather than initiating.
One should not try to be an artificially advanced devotee, thinking, “I am a first-class devotee.” Such thinking should be avoided. It is best not to accept any disciples. One has to become purified at home by chanting the Hare Krishna maha-mantra and preaching the principles enunciated by Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu. Thus one can become a spiritual master and be freed from the contamination of material life.
(Srila Prabhupada, Sri Chaitanya-charitamrita, Madhya-lila 7.130 Purport) Srila Prabhupada states, “It is best not to accept any disciples.” This strongly reinforces that Lord Chaitanya’s instruction is for everyone to act as shiksha-gurus.
No One Becomes a Guru Without Authorisation
Prabhupada: Direct, direct instruction is important. Just like Krishna. In the books He has given many instructions, but then He says, sarva-dharmān parityaja. If one says that “You gave me instruction before like this. How can I give up this?” so that is not important. The direct instruction is important.(Conversation with the GBC, Mayapur, 27 March 1975) While Srila Prabhupada wished and encouraged that his disciples become qualified gurus, he never gave a blanket order that they automatically become diksha-gurus upon his departure.
Therefore, the current guru system in ISKCON is unauthorised.
To become a diksha-guru, the disciple must be fully trained and qualified, he must strictly follow the teachings, and he must be authorised by their own spiritual master. A general principle, intent, or aspiration does not equate to an authorisation. The spiritual lineage depends not on assumption but on explicit designation.
Srila Prabhupada’s July 9th directive is a clear institutional instruction. It is meant for the entire institution and not intended for selective or individual application. It was an organisational order, not a philosophical proposition. Srila Prabhupada was instructing the GBC to implement this system institution-wide.
Thus, the ritvik system established through this directive remains the only authorised method of initiation he implemented before his disappearance. Any claim to diksha-guru status without specific authorisation stands in contradiction to Srila Prabhupada’s clear and consistent teachings.