"Sastra does not give any third parties the right to chose a guru for someone else". Very important point, become educated in Spiritual life and then choose your own Guru.

Compiled by His Grace Gaura Keshava Dasa ACBSP

The ISKCON GBC should get out of the guru approval business.

They can solve their dilemma immediately by making a disclaimer that they do not approve of any gurus.

"Sastra does not give any third parties the right to chose a guru for someone else".

Very important point.

Let them educate people how to choose a proper guru, then as the sastra says let the prospective disciple choose.

If you want to choose a fat guru or a thin guru or a male or female guru, that is your choice not theirs as long as you have tested them and found them qualified according to sastra.

They should concentrate on helping ALL ISKCON members follow basic spiritual standards required for ISKCON membership.

If they can do that then what business is it of their's who amongst ISKCON members is guru of whom and who is disciple of whom?

They already have women GBCs. And historically Gaudiya sampradaya has had women diksha gurus. Some misogynist devotees in ISKCON may not like it but for sure must be accepted.

And if you don't want to accept a woman guru no one is forcing anyone to accept them as their guru. But neither can you tell others they cannot have faith and love and trust in a female guru if they do.

Women Vaisnavas already are siksha gurus. The only difference between what they do now and what they would do at diksha gurus is speaking a mantra into someones ear. Does it make sense they can't do that?

Read the following letter by Srila Prabhupada where he specifically orders his female disciple to chant the gayatri mantra in the ear of her husband to initiate him on his behalf into becoming a brahmin:

Bombay
4 April, 1971
71-04-04

Georgetown, Guyana

My Dear Vaikunthanatha and Saradia,

Please accept my blessings. I beg to acknowledge receipt of your very encouraging letter dated 21st March, 1971 and have noted the contents carefully....

Even though you have had no gayatri mantra, still you are more than brahmana. I am enclosing herewith your sacred thread, duly chanted on by me. Gayatri mantra is as follows:

[TAKEN OUT - ]

ASK YOUR WIFE TO CHANT THIS MANTRA AND YOU HEAR IT AND IF POSSIBLE HOLD A FIRE CEREMONY AS YOU HAVE SEEN DURING YOUR MARRIAGE AND GET THIS SACRED THREAD ON YOUR BODY. SARADIA, OR ANY TWICE-INITIATED DEVOTEE, MAY PERFORM THE CEREMONY....

Hoping this will meet you in good health.

Your ever well-wisher,
A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami
ACBS/adb

After reading this no one can argue that Srila Prabhupada would allow a woman to initiate someone with the gayatri mantra he had given her or even perform a fire ceremony.

READ IT AGAIN IF YOU DON'T GET IT. - Compiled by Gaura Keshava