Law of Disciplic Succession
BY: MAHAVIDYA DASA (ACBSP)
Mar 26, UK (SUN) — Regarding the ongoing discussion on continuing the Parampara, I came upon the following passage amongst Srila Prabhupada's letters contained in the Siksamrta.
I found it very explicit.
"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 Krsna consciousness very widely. That will make me and Krsna very happy."
Srila Prabhupada's letter to Tusta Krsna Swami, 2 Dec 1975:
Srila Prabhupada's letter speaks for itself.
He says:
"This is the law of disciplic succession."
And what is that Law ?
"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."
He also says:
"I want to see my disciples become bona fide spiritual master and spread Krsna consciousness very widely."
In case we are not sure what the definition of "bona fide spiritual master" is, Srila Prabhupada gives an explanation in His purport to this verse found in Caitanya Caritamrta:
kiba vipra,kiba nyasi,sudra kene naya
yei krsna-tattva-vetta,sei 'guru' haya
Translation
"Whether one is a brahmana,a sannyasi or a sudra---regardless of what he is---he can become a spiritual master if he knows the science of Krsna."
And in Caitanya-caritamrta Madhya 8.128:
"Sometimes a caste guru says that ye krsna-tattva-vetta,sei guru haya means that one who is not a brahmana may become a siksa-guru or a vartma-pradarsaka-guru but not an initiator guru. According to such caste gurus, birth and family ties are considered foremost. However, the hereditary consideration is not acceptable to Vaisnavas. The word guru is equally applicable to the vartma-pradarsaka- guru, siksa-guru and diksa-guru. Unless we accept the principle enunciated by Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, this Krsna consciousness movement cannot spread all over the world. According to Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu's intentions, pritivite ache yata nagaradi-grama sarvatra pracara haibe mora nama. Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu's cult must be preached all over the world. This does not mean that people should take to His teachings and remain sudras or candalas."
Once again Srila Prabhupada's purport is self explanatory.
"Don't remain sudras and candelas."
However...
I have yet to find any quotes from Srila Prabhupada wherein He says,
"become a bona fide guru then leave ISKCON and start your own society ".
It has been over 30 years since Srila Prabhupada's disappearance,
yet,
to date I have never seen or heard of anyone produce such an explicit instruction.
