Founder Acarya PDF

8/10/2019 Founder Acarya PDF

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Srila Prabhupada - Founder-Acarya

of ISKCON


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Five Key Steps taken

by Srila Prabhupada inShaping his ISKCON

* The founding of the institution under the name of ISKCON

* The recognition of that founder with the title Prabhupada

* The further recognition of Prabhupada with the title Founder-

acarya

* The establishment of the Governing Body Commission

* The acquisition of land at Sridham Mayapur for the world

headquarters and construction of the ToVP


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Why the Founding

of ISKCON?Within a year or so of Srila Prabhupada arriving

in the US, he had established his ISKCON societyTo deliver pure love of God to suffering humanitythe example taken from all previous acaryas

An institution that would be able to achieve theabove with united force over large spans of spaceand time, needed a unique form


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Why it had to be

ISKCONI am one of the workers of the Gaudiya Math, I

have no ambition of becoming the proprietor of

any Math or Mandir [SPL November 8th 1965 to Kunja Bihari dasa]

Just start a branch of your Sri Caitanya Math or

designate the branch as New York Gaudiya

Math [SPL November 23rd 1965 to Kunja Bihari dasa]

I am prepared to accept any condition for your

cooperation [SPL May 23rd 1969 to Gaudiya Math secretary]


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Why it had to

be ISKCONSo far as my starting a separate organisation known as the International Societyfor Krishna Consciousness, it was inevitable because there was no cooperation. Iam still prepared to accept this cooperation in any condition [SPL to the Secretary, GaudiyaMission, May 23, 1969]

Yet

In his last two month on earth, !r"la Prabhup#da put time and energy intoestablishing the Bhaktivedanta Swami Charity Trust, with the central aim ofuniting the S#rasvata familythe followers of Bhaktisiddh#nta Sarasvat"!h#kurain a cooperative effort to restore and develop Gaura-ma"#ala-bh$mi.

Tamal Krishna Goswami recorded how !r"la Prabhup#da laid down the aim andprovided a concrete example. Prabhup#da said, No more non-cooperation. Noweveryone cooperate to spread Lord Caitanyas movement. Just like !r"dharaMah#r#ja is having trouble finishing his Nath Mandir. So in that way,cooperate [TKG 293].


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Why

Prabhupada?As followers increased and more and moredevotees became initiated and more and more

books were published, the devotees becameenabled to better understand their master andhow unique he was

Just as the maha-mantra gradually reveals itselfto those who properly chant, so the spiritualmaster becomes revealed to his disciples whoproperly chant


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Why Prabhupada?My husband decided he wanted to call me

Govindaji so he asked Prabhupada was that okay

Srila Prabhupada said, no, actually ji is a third

class form of address

I then piped up, well if it is a 3rd class form ofaddress why are we addressing you as ji

swamji?


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Why Prabhupada?

Srila Prabhupada said, it is not very important

I said, oh no it is VERY important we do not want toaddress you in a 3rd class way, please what would be a

good way to address you?

Well Gurudev, Guru Maharaja or Prabhupada

That is three! Which one is best?

Well Prabhupada is nice, is the best

Ok from today on you will be called Srila Prabhupada!

[Govinda D!s", DVD 1: November 1965 Summer 1970. Following#r"la Prabhup!da : A Chronological Series. (ISKCON Cinema, 2006]


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Why Founder-

Acarya?This title is quite rare.

Aside from two obscure exceptions the only other referenceis to the successors of the original vaisnava sampradayas

(1) Lakshmi - Sri sampradaya (Ramanuja)

(2) Lord Brahma - Brahma sampradaya (Madhvacarya)

(3) Rudra sampradaya - (Vishnuswami)

(4) Kumara sampradaya - (Nimbarka) [SKC Pg 150]


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Why Founder-

Acarya - ExceptionsThe Gaudiya Math is also identical with its founder

Acharyya. The associates, followers and abode of His

Divine Grace are limbs of himself. None of themclaim to be anything but a fully subordinate limb of

this single individual. This unconditional, causeless,

spontaneous submission to the Head, is found to be

not only compatible with, but absolutely necessaryfor the fullest freedom of initiative of the

subordinate limbs [Harmonist October 1930]


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Why Founder-

Acarya - ExceptionsThe Gaudiya Math is the instrument andcounterpart of His Divine Grace Paramahansa

Paribrajakacharyya Sree Sreemad Bhakti SiddhantaSaraswati Goswami Maharaj. It lives and moves and has itsbeing in the Founder-Acharyya. [Harmonist December 1936]

A week following the publication of these words,

Bhaktisiddh!nta Sarasvat"!h!kura left this world. So bothgiven the term Founder-Acharya was only used twice andthe second time only a week before SBSST departed, itnever took hold as a permanent title for him.


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Founder-AcaryaSuitable and

ConsistentSBSST revived and reformed a weakened tradition

Engendered a society formed in and pervaded by, hisown spirit

Embodied the mood of the ancient and original

sampradaya acaryas

Not least to satisfy the desires of the Lord

In delivering pure love of God to suffering humanity


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Founder-

Acarya Suitableand Consistent

Countered impersonal monism

Restored the true theistic siddhanta

Spread that siddhanta vigorously

And exceptionally propagated the synthesis of

the four ancient sampradaya acaryas acintya-

bhedabheda-tattva


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Founder-Acarya

Suitable andConsistentHowever after SBSST left this mortal world hisGaudiya Math were deprived of being able to be;an extension of the centre of the bestowal of gracefor the benefit of souls in all parts of the world.

Consequently his servant, to be able to carry out

the order of his master, became the Founder-Acarya with the aim to have his movement fulfilthe aspiration his master had for his Gaudiya Math


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ISKCONs

Founder-Acarya

Will be with us for evermore

But only as long as we remain

His unwavering servants, come what may


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Srila Prabhupada -

our masterWhen the mortal body of the spiritual master expires, hisdisciples should cry

Exactly as a queen cries when her king leaves his body

However the disciple and spiritual master are never separated

Because the spiritual master always keeps the company of his

disciple

As long as the disciple follows strictly the instructions of theirspiritual master. [SB 4.28.47, purport]


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Srila Prabhupada

- our masterThe Gaudiya Math is. . . identical with its founder

Acharyya. The associates, followers and abode of His Divine

Grace are limbs of himself. None of them claim to be

anything but a fully subordinate limb of this single individual[Harmonist October 1930]

You have very nicely stated that I am your life. This means

you are my body and so neither life nor body can be

separated because on the spiritual platform there is no suchdistinction. On material platform sometimes life is separated

from body, but on the Absolute platform there is no such

distinction [SPL Jan 11th 1968]


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Srila Prabhupada - our master

SBSST exceptionally propagated the synthesis of the fourancient sampradaya acaryas - acintya-bhedabheda-tattva,

Srila Prabhupada uniquely propagated unity in diversity

Material nature means dissension and disagreement

This K$%"a consciousness movements success will

depend on agreement, even though there are varieties of

engagements.

In the material world there are varieties, but there is noagreement.

In the spiritual world there are varieties, but there is

agreement. That is the difference.


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Srila Prabhupada

- our master

The materialist without being able to adjust the varieties and the

disagreements makes everything zero

If we keep K$%"a in the center, then there will be agreement in

varieties. This is called unity in diversity.

With all GBC and senior men present we should discuss how to

make unity in diversity.

Please try to maintain the philosophy of unity in diversity. That

will make our movement successful[Therefore those who are advanced in spiritual knowledge see unity in diversity (SB 6.8.32). The principle of unity in

diversity is philosophically known as acintya-bhed#bhedasimultaneous oneness and difference (CC Madhya

10.113)]


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Srila Prabhupada

- notable years1922 first meets SBSST - preach in english

1933 receives initiation1944 begins BTG [sajjana tosani, harmonist]

1955 establishes the league of devotees

1966 forms ISKCON

1977 leaves the material world


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Srila Prabhupadas

worthinessIn a lecture on SBSSTs disappearance in LA 1968, Srila Prabhupadaspoke;

I was born in a different family; my Guru Mah#r#ja was born in a differentfamily. Who knew that I will come to his protection?

Who knew that I would come in America?

Who knew that you American boys will come

to me?

These are all K$%"as arrangement.

We cannot understand how things are taking place.


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SrilaPrabhupadasworthiness

In 1936today is ninth December, 1968 in Bombay,I was doing some business:

All of a suddenperhaps on this date, I wrote aletter: My dear master, your other disciplesbrahmac#r", sanny#s"they are rendering you direct

service. And I am a householder: I cannot live withyou, I cannot serve you nicely. So I do not know.How can I serve you?


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Srila Prabhupadas

worthinessOn the 13th of December, 1936, SBSST replied:I am very glad to receive your letter. I think you should try topush our movement in English. That will do good to you and to

the people who will help you.

Then on the 31st of December, 1936just after writing thisletterSBSST passed away.

But I took that order of my spiritual master very seriously

If we strictly try to serve the spiritual master, his order, thenK$%"a will give us all facilities


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Srila Prabhupadasworthiness - our

legacyvyavas#y#tmik#buddhir ekeha kuru-nandana.

Vi%van#tha Cakravart"!h#kura gives hiscommentary that we should take up the words fromthe spiritual master as our life and soul.

We should try to carry out the instruction, thespecific instruction of the spiritual master, veryrigidly, without caring for our personal benefit orloss


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Srila Prabhupadas

worthiness, our legacySo I tried a little bit in that spirit. So he has given me allfacilities to serve him.

Things have come to this stage, that in this old age I havecome to your country

You are also taking this movement seriously, trying to

understand it.

We have got some books now. So there is little foothold ofthis movement.


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Srila Prabhupadas

worthiness, ourlegacySo on this occasion of my spiritual masters

departure

As I am trying to execute his will

Similarly, I shall also request you to execute thesame order through my will.


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Srila

PrabhupadasWill

1. The Governing Body Commission (GBC) willbe the ultimate managing authority of the entire

International Society for Krishna

Consciousness.


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Establishing theGoverning Body

CommissionIn 1970 Srila Prabhupada was able to have hismovement fulfil another aspiration SBSST had for his

Gaudiya Math

Forming a Governing Body Commission [GBC]

This was one of SBSSTs final instructions to his

disciples

Srila Prabhupada was convinced that disobedience ofthis order led to the disintegration of the Gaudiya Math


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Establishing theGoverning Body

Commission

Just as his own spiritual master had requested a GBC tosucceed him, Srila Prabhupada implemented the same

Departing from the custom of an acarya naming his solesuccessor in his will

Instead the first article in Srila Prabhupadas will was;

The Governing Body Commission (GBC) will be theultimate managing authority of the entire InternationalSociety for Krishna Consciousness.


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Mayapur ISKCONs WorldHeadquarters and SrilaPrabhupadas Place of

Worship

After many setbacks and local opposition

Srila Prabhupada was able to purchase land in Mayapurfor ISKCON

He quickly revealed his plans for that land - we haveproposed to hold a nice festival there from Janmastami day for

two weeks. At that time the foundation stone [for the temple]will be set down. I wish that all our leading disciples come toIndia at that time. There are 50 branches, so at least one fromeach branch should attend the function[SPL May 28th 1971 - Govinda dasi]


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Our Central

ChallengeAfter establishing the GBC Srila Prabhupada

stated that he wanted there to be;

hundreds and thousands of spiritual masters

within ISKCON

He implied that the normative guru-disciplerelationship would be perpetuated within the

unified institution under the direction of a GBC.


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Our Central

ChallengeMaintaining and increasing the cooperation

between the GBC and all devotees, perhaps most

important of all, cooperation of ISKCON gurus

I offer you my longevity Srila Prabhupada -

That is not important

Only our cooperation with one another to

advance Srila Prabhupadas mission after his

departure is important


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Our Central

ChallengeCooperation is the essence of vani-seva

By which we attain and sustain association withSrila Prabhupada

Cooperating together to spread Krsna

consciousness is really the essence of sankirtana

Srila Prabhupada explains this wonderfully


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Our Inspirational Example

Even Lord Caitanya Mah#prabhuHe is God himself, K$%"a HimselfHe felt,

alone, unable to do this task

So this is the position. You are cooperating; therefore I am getting the credit.Otherwise alone what could I do?

Ek#k"#m#ra n#hi p#ya bolo. Caitanya Mah#prabhu Himself wanted our

cooperation. He is God, K$%"a

Therefore cooperation is very important thing. Nobody should think that I havegot so great ability. I can do. No. It is simply by cooperation we can do very bigthing.

United we stand; divided we fall. . . . . So be strong in pushing on K$%"aconsciousness, and K$%"a will help.

He is the strongest. Still, we must be combined together. Sa&k"rtana. Sa&k"rtanameans many men combined together chanting. That is sa&k"rtana. That is CaitanyaMah#prabhus mission, combined together.


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Our Eternal Master

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Founder Acarya PDF