In Gaudiya Math, after Srila Bhaktisiddanta
Sarasvati Thakur’s disappearance, one Acarya fell down. And as a result of that the whole structure collapsed. In ISKCON, if you look at the history, many gurus fell down who were very powerful individuals and very charismatic personalities with many, many followers. They fell down. When they fell down, there was a massive disaster in the movement. Naturally, their disciples, their followers became
disheartened and left. They have been a massive loss. But ISKCON did not fall
apart. Why? Because this institution having a collective concept of management.
The gurus have fallen down but the GBC (Governing Body Commission) was in
place. The ISKCON was not resting on the strength of the gurus. The ISKCON was
being substantiated by the collective management of the GBC. And therefore we
have to understand where our real strength lies and we have to act according to that
understanding. We must derive our strength from where the source of our strength
is.
The source of our strength is on our unity, in our collective management. There had
been many attacks that have come to ISKCON in many, many ways. In many ways
there have been many attacks and it seemed as if the society will fall apart but it
didn’t because of this concept of collective management. As I mentioned the gurus,
many powerful gurus have fallen down. Many of you have experienced. And many
of you here, I know, have been even initiated by gurus. Like, for example
PrabhaVishnu? You are been initiated by? ‘Jayatirtha and Bhagavan.’ Okay, so
two gurus fell down. And how were they? They were very very powerful individuals,
with how many followers? Even in South Africa there were hundreds of followers,
hundreds of disciples. And what kind of damage it caused. But ISKCON did not fall
apart. Damage has been caused. A good part of ISKCON collapsed but ISKCON
remained and ISKCON continued and is still continuing. Show me or name how
many spiritual institutions are there that is still continuing, after the disappearance
of the founder, the charismatic founder that the founder is. Very few. We can name
only name a few, say, Christianity, Islam. Then we can go to the extent to say
RamaKrishna Mission. They’re doing pretty good.
Let us see why these three institutions have been successful. Those three institutions
have been successful because the founder of the institution has been recognized and
it is on the strength of the founder that the institution is thriving. Christianity is
centered on Jesus Christ. Can you imagine if Jesus Christ’s position became
obscured and some of his followers took his position, became the leader of the guru?
And Jesus’ position became obscured? Then would there be any Christianity? Same
thing applies with Islam, same thing applies also with RamaKrishna Mission. We
must give credit to Vivekananda. Although he was the main force behind that
institution, not only that, he actually is the createR of the RamaKrishna Mission.
RamaKrishna was not the creator of the RamaKrishna Mission. RamaKrishna
Mission is the creation of Vivekananda, but the thing is he put RamaKrishna in the
centre. And as a result of that, that institution is still thriving. On the other hand,
you look at some other institutions. In the recent past there have been many
institutions, for example, there has been Rajneesh, so many bhogi yogis, these babas
and that babas and so forth. Just wait till they fall apart, till they disappear. What
will happen?
One thing also, in this case I can point out, Sai Baba. Sai Baba did not establish the
institution on his own strength. He established the institution in the name of Sriddhi
Sai Baba, who was a very powerful spiritual leader. But he did not really establish a
spiritual institution. It is this Satya Sai Baba who actually made it possible. It is on
his strength that actually Sai Baba is Sai Baba. He also has some mystic power. No
doubt about that. And people are impressed with this mystic power. Most of the
institutions, after the disappearance of the leaders, fall apart. For example,
Rajneesh? Did you even hear about Rajneesh? Same way, there are so many.
Sachidananda, Balayogi. Balayogi created quite a sensation in his time. But what
happened to their institutions? They fell apart. Now, why is ISKCON still going so
strong, 32 years after Srila Prabhupada’s disappearance? Although ISKCON faced
so many difficulties, so many crises, ISKCON is still going strong. Why? Because of
this collective management and ISKCON has Srila Prabhupada in the centre. And
this putting Srila Prabhupada in the centre is not just a sentimental thing in
ISKCON. Prabhupada IS the centre. How? Because the basis of ISKCON is actually
the books of Srila Prabhupada, Srila Prabhupada’s teachings. They are presented
in books. Prabhupada himself said ‘Books are the bases. In this institution books are
the basis. And we are seeing that it is on the teachings of Srila Prabhupada that
ISKCON’s activities are going on. In the morning, we give Bhagavatam class. Based
on what? Devotees go out and preach. Based on what? On the basis of Srila
Prabhupada ‘s books. Whenever we have any discussion, what is the basis of that
discussion? Srila Prabhupada‘s books.
This is the difference between Christianity and ISKCON. Christianity is thriving,
but when we go into the bottom of it then you see it is empty. It is on some sentiment
that they are carrying on. Why is their basis empty? Because they don’t know the
teachings of Jesus. Jesus’ teachings haven’t been presented. What we got in the
form of the bible, is just the statements of the Apostles, who came much after Jesus
Christ. And that’s why Christianity is so confusing in so many ways. And they don’t
have any philosophical understanding. How can you be considered to be a bona fide
religion when they don’t even recognize that the animals have soul? Christian
understanding is that only human beings have soul, animals don’t have soul. What
does it imply? They don’t know what soul is. They say, ‘Love thy Father, Lord, thy
God.’ But who is God, the Father? No understanding. How can you love somebody
Whom you do not know. They’re saying, ‘Father, Father,’ but they’re saying His
only son is Jesus Christ. What kind of Father is He? Prabhupada once mentioned
that, ‘I had five children and God, the Father had only one child? Impossible.’ So
we can see that their spiritual aspect of it and philosophical understanding is
practically nil. They don’t have any spiritual understanding. Just some rituals and
based on that rituals, that religion is thriving. You know, at least Christianity
admits human beings have souls. You know what about the Muslims? They say only
the men have souls, women don’t have a soul. The point is that they don’t have any
information of the spiritual identity of an individual. They don’t have any
understanding about the spirit soul and the Supreme Personality of Godhead.
Whereas in Prabhupada’s teachings and books. It is not that Jesus didn’t know
about this God, the Father and the identity of the soul. Jesus knew but Jesus’
teachings haven’t been presented properly. For that matter we see that Christianity
was not established by Jesus or even by the Apostles. Christianity was actually
established by Constantine, a king. Just consider that a king is establishing a
spiritual organization. What will you get out of that? That is why there is lots of
regal display but not spiritual understanding.
Anyway to go back to our main point, Srila Prabhupada created ISKCON in a most
perfect way, in the most solid ground on the basis of his books. Books are the basis
and purity is the force. Those who are going to propagate Srila Prabhupada’s
mission, Srila Prabhupada pointed out, they have to be pure. And that’s why
ISKCON maintained such a strict standard. No matter how exalted a personality
you may be, no matter how powerful individual you may be, you deviate from the
spiritual path, please step down. That’s why we find that in ISKCON such strict and
strong measures have been taken whenever the leaders of ISKCON, the gurus of
ISKCON deviate. And who is making these decisions? Individuals will deviate. But
this collective concept of management, the GBC is the judge. They’re judging.
They’re implementing and they are establishing the standard. And then many of
the GBC were also leaders, individually. They have gone and yes, a void has been
created but they have been replaced. One seat has been vacated, another person
came and occupied that seat. This is how collective management has protected the
movement from all kinds of crises and calamities.
Now let us go back to the importance of Srila Prabhupada’s position. Like, let us
consider some big business conglomerations, like one of the most prominent one’s
are Ford, Rockefeller, these giant of organizations. Now just consider, Ford
Motorcar Company was established by Henry Ford. And still today we can see that
who is the … When we think of Ford, when we speak Ford, who do we speak of?
Henry Ford. Ford means Henry Ford. And being the successors or being connected
to Henry Ford , the other Fords had become glorious. Now just imagine if Henry
Ford was … There are many institutions somebody sets up, then it is handed over to
his sons and grandsons, then what happens? They don’t really become that
prominent. Now why the other Ford’s are glorified? Why other Fords are so
fortunate? those who are born in that family? Because they are connected to Henry
Ford. Henry Ford created that giant of an institution. And by being connected to
Henry Ford, they became glorified. Now same thing with Rockefeller. Some
Rockefellers are born in that family. They inherited that legacy, they inherited that
wealth. Some others came, they inherited that wealth. In this same way the
personality, some very special personality creates that institution and those who
become connected, those who are somehow fortunate enough to become connected
to him, they inherit the legacy. Now in this case, let us consider, where does our real
good fortune lie? Our connection to Srila Prabhupada. That somehow or other we
are connected to Srila Prabhupada.
Will Rockefeller institution be the same if we take Rockefeller away from there?
Will the Ford institution be the same if we take Henry Ford away from there? No.
So similarly we have to understand that our main strength actually lies in Srila
Prabhupada ‘s position as THE founder Acarya of ISKCON. And if that concept is
maintained, ISKCON will become stronger and stronger. Like, as I was also
pointing out, the old concept of ashram, guru’s ashram. One guru is there. He sets it
up, then he hands it over to another person. The other person, because the structure
is so small, he can actually continue handling it. But when Srila Prabhupada came,
Srila Prabhupada created an international institution. To run that institution
effectively there has to be a personality who is almost as qualified as Srila
Prabhupada, otherwise he will not be able to handle it. Therefore there is a need for
a collective concept. This structure is so vast, so powerful that in order to manage
that it is not going to be possible to be managed by one particular individual after
Srila Prabhupada. Therefore there is a need for that collective management. And we
can see the way Srila Prabupada structured it that is perfect. What is the structure?
Just look at the ISKCON structure. The whole world has been divided into different
zones. And those zones are managed by the zonal secretaries of the GBC. And in
that zones all over the world there are many , many temples. The temples are
actually the units. Our actual units are the temples. And those temples are managed
by the temple president. Temple presidents have the sole responsibility of
management. Prabhupada made it clear. GBC’s should not interfere in the local
management. They must guide, they must help, and they must see that the standard
is being maintained, but they should not interfere too much. They should see,
interference should be there, whether the spiritual standards are being maintained,
whether enough finance is there, whether they need any manpower, and so on and
so forth. But when it comes to managing the temple is the temple president . And as
a result of that, you can see ISKCON’s development will take place through
effective establishment of the temples.
And in his way we can have hundreds of temples, thousands of temples, being
managed by qualified individuals and then the temple will be run not whimsically
by Temple President but by the Temple council which should have the Temple
President, Vice President, Secretary and other important members of the temple.
So Prabhupada gave the perfect structure. And in this structure we can grow
endlessly. Endlessly we can grow. And anyway, now again I will re-iterate the
structure. What is the structure? Srila Prabhupada is THE founder Acarya. Then
the GBC body is the managing authority of structure and then the temples are the
units from where our preaching and activities and all the spiritual programs will be
conducted. Those temples are managed by the Temple Presidents. Now, in this
structure, what is the most important consideration? Srila Prabhupada’s position. It
is not that Srila Prabhupada after his disappearance, he left. We have to recognize
that Srila Prabhupada is still present. Srila Prabhupada is still present. Srila
Prabhupada is present through his ISKCON. Srila Prabhupada is present through
his vani. Yesterday that point came up a few times. What is the meaning of vani?
Vani means Prabhupada’s books. Prabhupada is still present in his books.
Prabhupada is a spiritual personality. It is not a sentimental concept that ‘Oh
Prabhupada is present, Prabhupada is present.’ We have to see in a practical way
how Prabhupada is present. And one thing I can tell you. Line up with Srila
Prabhupada, dedicate yourself to Srila Prabhupada, surrender yourself to Srila
Prabhupada and commit yourself to the mission of Srila Prabhupada, I can
guarantee you spiritual life will become a success. That is the secret of success.
Thank you very much all GLORIES TO SRILA PRABHUPADA!!
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