ISKCON DISCIPLE COURSE “ Pakistan”

( 2nd session 2021)

Final Assessment
Candidate Name: Jagdish das

City: Karachi, Pakistan

Q.1 Explain Gurupadasraya in Iskcon?
Ans: In ISKCON, Gurupadasraya is not only limited to one’s Siksha Guru
or diksha guru. Iskcon provides three dimensional protection for the
devotees prosperous spiritual path in the form of three shelters. One is
of his own Siksha guru which can be more than one. Second on is of
Diksha guru which can be selected only once in general cases. Third
shelter is of Srila Prabhupada who has unique relationship with every
single Iskcon devotee as pre eminent Siksha guru. After taking shelter
from all three sources a devotee in Iskcon can say he/she has taken
Gurupadasraya in Iskcon.

Q.2 Explain how Srila Prabhupada functions as the preeminent Shiksha-

guru and Founder Acharya of ISKCON?

Ans: Srila Prabhupada brought to us the authentic guru parampara

system and message of Srila Chaitanya Mahaprabhu being his Senapati
devotee as stated in the (Sutra Khand, song 12, text 564-565). He
established this Krishna consciousness society and this society is standing
upon the instructions of Srila Prabhupada. Being the acharya of this
society Srila Prabhupada function as the pre eminent shiksha guru for
every individual in Iskcon as every individual has to follow the teaching
the of Srila Prabhupada.

Q.3 Why is it important that Srila Prabhupada remains the preeminent

Siksha-guru of ISKCON for future generations?

Ans: Srila Prabhupada being the acharya of this society should be

accepted as the preeminent Siksha guru and one should take his
guidance through the means of his books, lectures, institutional
management, kirtan, daily quotations, letters etc. it is important because
if any case one’s Siksha guru falls downs still he has the shelter of Srila
Prabhupada from where he can still get constant and pure guidance
about the growth and overcoming the issues coming in between his
spiritual life.

Q.4 Describe the appropriate attitude for an ISKCON guru in regard to

the teachings of Srila Prabhupada and the authority structure within
ISKCON?

Ans: Following should be the attitude of Iskcon guru according to the

teachings of Srila Prabhupada:

• Always think and act for the growth of this society without any
desire of getting any personal benefits.
• Always keep himself connected with guru parampara and think
himself the servant of Srila Prabhupada and follow his instructions
without any deviation.
• Currently accept GBC body as the ultimate managing body of Iskcon
and obey their command as instructed by Srila Prabhupada himself.
• Always avoid getting instructins from anyone outside Iskcon even
from the god brothers of Srila Prabhupada.
• Always strictly carry hi own sadhna and carry out preaching
activities.
• Always avoid anything which may cause Guruvada in Iskcon.

Authority Structure within Iskcon

In Iskcon the topmost authority is H.D.G Founder Acharya A.C
Bhaktivedanta Swami Srila Prabhupada. After him as instructed by
himself there comes the ultimate managing body of Iskcon known as
G.B.C body after that there are several ministries to llok after different
affairs of Iskcon and to supervise sanyasis, gurus, regional bodies to the
temple residents and disciples. So according to this in Iskcon no one can
act quite independently by his own desires or motives although they are
always answerable to higher authorities which makes Iskcon a
completely safer place for the current members as well the future
generations.

Q.5 Discuss appropriate and inappropriate methods and reasons for

selecting Guru. Give appropriate reference to Sastra and current ISKCON
Law in your reply?

Ans: Appropriate Methods & reaons

• After following the Iskcon law regarding steps of initiation which
are one year preparatory period, after accepting prabhupadasrya,
diksha & Siksha Gurupadasraya,then Harinama Diksha.
• After inspecting the guru by his personal behaviour and preaching
as stated in Chaitanya charimatra (Antiya Lila 4.103)
• After being in contact with the guru and developing spiritual
understanding with the guru as stated “Here is actually a guru who
can teach me” in SB 1.16.25
• Choosing the guru by his own choice and using intelligence after
developing firm faith in him as stated in Iskcon law resposnisblity
of candidate for initiation.
• Not accepting guru due to someone else forceful behaviour or any
social or family conventions or sastric customs.

Inappropriate Methods & reasons

• Seeing your friend taking initiation and in a thought of giving him
company accepting the guru
• After hearing that diksha remove one’s all past sinful activities
becoming excited about initiation.
• Fakefully disguising yourself as the devotee serving into the
temple since a long time and taking benefit of local
mismanagement taking initiation.
Q.6 Discuss, with examples, the relationship between guru-sevä and
service to the mission of ISKCON? Explain the importance of a balanced
approach to these two.

Ans: Guru directions are always for the Sewa in Iskcon such as carrying
out the message of Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, cooperating with local
body, devotional services into the local temple and if someone is also
doing guru vapuh sewa then he should make balance between both Guru
and Iskcon sewa managing his own time and efforts as it is very uch
necessary for not creating a conflict between Guru and local managing
authority so a disciple should always creating such type of issues among
his higher authorities.

Q.7 Describe what you consider to be the appropriate attitude and

behavior, for an ISKCON disciple, in regard to promoting one’s guru in
public and within the society of Vaiñëavas.

Ans: One should not uselessly promote his own guru until & unless not
being asked individually due to any specific reason. Promoting own guru
is not prescribed in sastras although it is mentioned in Hari bhakti Vilas
that one should hide his own guru. According to Iskcon law it is also
condemnable to promote Guru and his photo wearing t-shirts, posters,
chanting japa etc. one can promote his Guru during Vyas puja ceremony
once in a year being into the limitations set by GBC body.

Q.8 Why is it important to publicly promote Srila Prabhupada as the

Founder-äcärya and preeminent Siksha-guru in ISKCON for the present
and future?

Ans: It is important to publicly promote and present Prabhupada as the

founder acharya of this society so that they can take shelter of
prabhupadasraya and through his means connect with the Guru
parampara system. If we promote Srila Prabhupada publicly then no one
will have any disagreement as in Iskcon everyone is united upon the
name of Swami Srila Prabhupada. If we will continue representing our
founder acharya today and tomorrow then this society will surely keep
growing as it will save the society from the danger of developing sects of
different gurus.

Q.9 Discuss inappropriate attitudes and behavior, for an ISKCON disciple,

in regard to favoritism or bias on the basis of one’s dikshä guru. Why is it
important for ISKCON disciples to develop an appropriate attitude in this
regard?

Ans: Appropriate behaviour

• A disciple should always respect anyone conneted with this society
and always try to maintain such an environment as much as he can
so that no one can quarrel on the basis of guru.
• Always follow the instructions of Local body commission over such
issues so that dispute can be solved at initial stages.
• One should always think Iskcon as his family, and its members as
their own family member so one should can neglect or forgive
someone mistakes/faults.
Inappropriate behaviour
• Trying to make dispute among his own guru, other gurus, local or
GBC body, his own god brothers and disciples of other gurus by
creating rumors or wrong statements.
• Doing such things which may cause discrimination on the basis of
individual’s guru.

Importance of having appropriate behaviour:

It is important to maintain balanced behaviour because it is beneficial for
the society of Srila Prabhupada to keep it growing as if we keep on
fighting over this issue then it will cause a downfall in Prabhupada’s
mission and over bhakti Sadhna as well. If something likes this happen so
it will surely cause a heartbreak to Srila Prabhupada that after him we
failed to run his society following his instructions as he always wanted co
operation between everyone within this society.

Q10. Describe practical ways of developing and maintaining cooperative

relationships with all ISKCON Vaishnavas without inappropriate
discrimination on the basis of guru?

Ans: Following are the practical ways of maintaining co operative

relationships with all vaishnavas:

• Inviting Vaishnavas(doesn’t matter of which guru disciple) available

physically or online as well at home for sankirtana and offering
them respect, care and prasadam.
• Meeting with each other and organizing congregational kirtana and
katha on regular basis.
• Combine educational programs which highlights the need of
maintain cooperative relationships with each other.
• reading the books of Srila Prabhupada, room conversations, daily
quotation, letters etc especially highlighting the need of maintain
cooperative relationships with each other.
• Respecting and meeting with same enthusiasm with other guru
disciples as one meets with his God brothers.
• Avoiding Vaishnava apradh, prajalpa and back biting of devotees
especially on the basis of being the disciple of different guru.