Open source ISKCON Guru
I have been listening to and taking on board comments and thoughts of my belief in the need for a web based sight for ISKCON Guru’s. It has also been pointed out that whilst I have put forward a proposal someone has posted and ISKCON Guru info sight. All Glories to their service, but not quite what I had in mind.
You see firstly we need to understand the basics, we read about needing a spiritual master so think this is the aim. Forgetting those many elevated souls who assist and guide us day by day.
The need for good temple community and infrastructure, my own experience is that my needs are lovingly met at The Manor; they know I can only make it twice a month due to distance but appreciate this. Giving great association, service opportunities and a stability in my devotional life.
The need for good resources is the key Ok I’ve mentioned it once I’ve mentioned it a million times ISKCON Melbourne is for me a key resource the classes posted given by those within the temple qualified enough is just amazing, and again keeps me focused and grounded in KC. I also know which Spiritual masters visit regularly.
I was also unaware of the fact that by putting an ISKCON Guru only view that those aspiring to and are preparing to go into the role of spiritual master would be neglected or over looked. The many classes I listen to via this source by many senior devotees inspire; correct and directs me on a daily basis. And that by being focused and emphasis on one type of Guru could be seen by some as a making them seen as less important or irrelevant.
The feeling of some is that it could be seen as a way of taking out or diminishing the need of temples and centres within ISKCON.
The proposal appears to have been read as a GURU only info sight, this is not my desire or though I can see how some have got this impression, as I along with most devotees know there is more to devotional life than this.
It has therefore been suggested that by calling it THE ISKCON DIRECTORY or ISKCON WORLD DIRECTORY would be much better and give more of an idea as to what it is and what I desire and feel is needed.
As mentioned a powerful search engine would be needed to link in the different bits but that say I put in my current area ‘Nant Y Moel” the following info would be displayed:
Current ISCKON initiating spiritual masters who visit the area.
Aspiring ISKCON initiating spiritual masters who visit the area
Senior devotees who are in the area
Local temple/centre
These will all be standardised were the individual can get information on each area, so say local temple:
Were it is:
Darshan times:
Temple/ centre activities and times:
A few classes or video clips.
Web links if the temple/centre
The initiating spiritual master:
Name;
Areas visited:
Number of disciples:
Most recent class/selection of classes or video clips
Web links/blog link if available
This would be replicated for each area.
They would also de sectioned so you could look at say:
Temple/centres only
Senior devotees only
Giving a global view of ISKCON
The opening page will also allow you to access written resources giving:
Brief history if ISKCON
Introduction to devotional life
What is Guru, covering both types.
Festivals Including video clips
Links to devotional material (i.e. dandavats.org; planetISKCON and other resource material written by or focused on devotional life)
A one stop shop to which you can locate and find information and hub out and explore gaining accurate information on ISKCON, devotional life.
I have also been made aware of logistics from standardised forms to rule out dais and the individuals needed from web writers, web designers to individuals who know about coding act. Much of which I must confess I know little or nothing about but which in the devotee community there are many and with conferencing, e-mail act this could be easily overcome in bringing together a small team to work on it and then maintain
Thanks for those who have pointed out the problems, faults act and hope this makes my thoughts more clear and help aid understanding of my desire of an internet based resource, pulling all aspects of ISKCON under one roof whilst they all continue to maintain independence to run their own way.
Whilst also allowing to direct individual to who goes were and local centres.
Those who make contact as I said would be cared for and cultivated by the local centre and if they have expressed and interest in a particular individual they will be informed directly.
Many thanks to those who have shown an interest, contributed and directed my thoughts and ideas.
November 18th, 2008 at 11:46 am
I quite like your revised views. It makes perfect sense, especially the bit about the powerful search engine. It is so hard – iskcon is a worldwide movements, but preaching is always local.
November 18th, 2008 at 12:53 pm
May I thank you for your thoughtful input
The proposal has now been forwarded to the GBC commitee who will either approve or decline the proposal; if approved then it goes onto another commitee
Any further suggestions would as always be appreciated
July 13th, 2009 at 8:14 am
You have totally missed what Prabhupada’s mission to spread Gaudiya Vaisnavism is all about. Nonetheless, you also have expressed a desire to serve, which is a high qualification. unfortunately, you are instead serving maya. Are you aware that, so far, 100% over long periods, and 50% over the shorter range, of these so-called gurus, fall down and leave or deviate so severely such as murder, rape illicit sex, theft, drugs, etc. such that their positions become irrelevant? Do you know that the founder of Iskcon said that he is to remain the center and acarya, and that if his disciples deviated from this, they would fall down? Do you know that these so-called gurus have stolen Srila Prabhupada’s temples, money, and disciples, and kicked 95% of their godbrothers outof their spritual mastr’s temples by force including threat of violence, in order to shore up their political deviant schemes of dominance and control of the neophytes and disciples and the fame , money, and power with they represent, and who they lust after? You have much to learn, grasshopper. You will not do well supporting these thieves and kali-chelas. They are not real spiritual masters, but precocious rascals and deviants from the instruction of our bonafide founding spiritual master, Srila Prabhupada. By promoting them, you incurr incalculable sins. Don’t say nobody mercifully took the time and risk to warn you!
Tamoharadasa@yahoo.ca (ACBSP ‘72), BGS, MS, Aud (C)
July 14th, 2009 at 10:20 am
Firstly Srila Prabhupada never claimed to own anything he understood one universal truth, everything belongs to Krishna.
Secondly nothing happens unless Krishna wills it; who can fully understand we see what we wish to see.
Thirdly Srila Prabhupada set up ISKCON, GBC, it may not be perfect but then non of use are pure devotees; so we will see what appears to be imperfections if we look hard enough.
I can only speak about my own observations of my Spiritual Master and one other Spiritual Master but I am sure it is the case for a majority, they give glory not to themselves nor do the wish to accumulate wealth, fame, temples but to simple follow the orders of their spiritual master Srila Prabhupada. The only thing they present is the words and knowledge given to them by their spiritual master what else can they do?
In order to inspire the fallen conditioned soul to read Srila Prabhupada’s books and to take up the process of bhakti.
Yes we have seen some fall down, if we read carefully Srila Prabhupada also understood this point, it is not for us to them condemn the lot for the actions of the few. After all sometimes we have to experience fall down in order to come back much stronger.
We are all rascals and deviants if you want to know and understand this, look in the mirror and ask yourself what you see, and more to the point why you are stood there.
It is our desire to lord it over material nature, to be god that is why we suffer, but by the mercy of a pure devotee and those who are though imperfect are trying to present the wonders of Krishna and help those sincere to go home back to godhead, can neither be classed nor seen as rascals or deviants.
Yes I am a small grasshopper, but one who is well educated and has not only read Srila Prabhupada’s books but listened to a lot of his morning walks and one thing I have realized that those who base their arguments on first attacking those who have dedicated their lives to serving as best they can and follow the orders of the spiritual master they love, is truly not worth listening to.
August 11th, 2009 at 2:47 am
As you say, David, those who deviate from Srila Prabhupada’s instructions should not be listened to. 95% of Srila Prabhupada’s disciples have been banned, attacked, blasphemed and ousted from our own spiritual master’s organization by a handful of greedy manipulative cunning kalichelas. We gave our hearts and lives to sSrila Prabhupada. Still we keep on, despite these abusers, and we see that the light of day is slowly but surely eating away at their false front, sending them and their lies to purgatory.
This guru business of ustealing the master’s assets and setting oneself up as a dictator to be worshipped by fools, is not Srila Prabhupada’s program! Do you think it is ?? In all normal spiritual groups in India, the ashrama of the spiritual master always remains in the hands of his direct disciples, it is not for one or two dictators to usurp it for their own uses or disciples. So the GBCs etc. are deviating from point one all the way through. Don’t be gullible!
For examples; rubber stamping gurus, stealing Prabhupada’s temples and assets, fame, and disciples, setting up rich sannyasis, changing Srila Prabhupada’s books, Hinduization, compromise with interfaith, using the Deities for money making, promoting gay agendas, abusing devotees, murder, illicit predatory gay sex, intoxication, kicking out all opposition, lying, poisoning, paying salaries, etc. None of these are Srila Prabhupada’s program, yet that is what we see! Am I making it up, David? They have admitted it, even. Am I exxagerating or making any of this up? No, you can read the devotees’ testimonies for yourself.
100% of the zonal acaryas, and so far 60% of the new gurus have fallen down! Srila Prbhupada saya that a guru never falls, so this means they are lying and cheating. They were never guru in the first place. It is not a cheap thing, neither can you do it as a neophyte and hope to come up to snuff. That is not allowed. You should not gamble, which is what you do if you take one of these kali chelas as a teacher. They do not love you, they love money and power. When they fall, all your service is ruined and you may go to hell. This is satra, Srila Prabhupada’s own words, not my invention.
My business as senior and brahmana is saving the innocent from the liars.
You are little innocent, though frankly you have a little out-of context knowlege, just enough for you to be dangerous to yourself ! Don’t become a cultist yes-man, or I guarantee you will be cheated! I’m sorry but you are very naive about these things, like I was before I came to know the truth.
Anyway, read SrilaPrabhupada’s books, you may gain insight that will help you. Why accept a fool when you have the greatest pure devotee of the age? YS Tamoharadasa (ACBSP ‘72) MSc. Aud (C)