Lesson 12 Presenting One’s Guru

Aim

To help students appreciate the importance of appropriately presenting their guru (within Vaishnava society and to the general public) consistent with:

• The principles of Gaudiya Vaishnava tradition
• Relevant Shastric parampara
• Current ISKCON Law

Objectives

By the end of the lesson students should be able to:

• Explain why we require to present guru when preaching
• Explain in their own words, with reference to relevant shastric pramana, and current ISKCON laws, the principles of Gaudiya Vaishnava tradition in regard to promoting one’s guru in public and within the society of Gaudiya Vaishnavas.
• Identify areas where, and discuss reasons why, the above principles are not implemented in ISKCON.
• Considering the above mentioned principles, discuss, in relation to gurus other than
  Srila Prabhupada:
  • the appropriateness of wearing clothes and badges promoting ones guru in public
  • the appropriateness of canvassing for ones guru amongst uninitiated new devotees
  • appropriate places for displaying pictures of one’s guru
  • appropriate places for promoting literary and other publications of one’s guru.
  • promoting one’s guru in public preaching programs
• Discuss possible consequences of the disregard of these principles for the present and future of ISKCON.
• Discuss and benefits of, publicly promoting Srila Prabhupada as the Founder-acarya and preeminent Shiksha -guru in ISKCON, for the present and future.