Lesson 2 Guru-tattva and Parampara

To help students understand the position, role and importance of, the various categories of guru.
To help students understand the principles of paramapara and fallacious understandings, such as the philosophy of Ritvikvada.

By the end of the lesson students should be able to:
Explain in their own words the role and position of guru, as the representative of Krishna and the previous acharyas.
Discuss how the guru is a manifestation of the mercy of Krishna
List the categories of guru and explain their roles.
Explain the import of Prabhupada’s statement “the guru is one”.
Explain the terms hari-nama-diksha, mantra-diksha and Shiksha, and briefly discuss their importance.
Discuss the necessity of accepting living diksha and shiksha-gurus.
Explain and discuss the significance of the transfer of karma from the disciple to the guru.
Explain, in their own words, the general principles of guru-parampara.
Explain the fallacy of current philosophies, such as Ritvikvada.
Give relevant reference to the teachings of Srila Prabhupada and the broader Gaudiya Vaishnavism tradition.