ISKCON Suspends Guru Initiations 10 27 26

Yes as a matter of fact,

falling down people are 

NOT our guru successors!  

GBC GURU MELTDOWN

PADA: Oh oh pilgrims! Big trouble in River City. It does seem like the ISKCON GBC is having a sort of melt down crisis. There was supposed to be a discussion over Female Diksha Gurus (FDG) and that seems to have reached the same loggerheads it has already been at for over a decade. No agreement could be made on the topic. Nor will any ever be made it seems? 

Now they have suspended ALL of their gurus from initiating, which means? None of them were ever qualified! The conservatives are headed by HH Bhakti Vikas swami, big promoter of Jayapataka, and the liberals are the Kalakantha / Pranada / Hrdayananda / Bir Krishna type people. Oddly Jayapataka says he favors female diksha gurus. OK they are fighting with their own shadow. 

So it looks like they just switched gears and said a study should be made, what is an ISKCON guru? Oh goody, after all the banning, beating, molesting, lawsuits and murders, we might ask what program are we promoting and defending here? I think this is a sign, the dysfunction of the GBC has reached a point where it just cannot continue with business as usual, which is pretty much out of control already. 

Now they want people to sign a legal oath of alliegience, I think that is a sign more folks want to bail out and become independent. There has already been a lot of preliminary discussion on how the succession should continue. Will the new wave of younger gurus get to have their own Vyasa poojas, photos on the altars, unlimited un-monitored bank accounts etc., or what is their status? So it looks like a sort of reckoning is coming to roost. 

Overall I think this is a sign their program is sort of self-imploding, disintegrating, and that is good for us. Yeah what is an ISKCON guru? Same thing Banu swami was saying, he will not become and ISKCON guru until they define what that is. 

Well we know already, the guru is a person who might be engaged in illicit sex with men, women and children, who drinks Vodka, who watches porno and who gets arrested with a machine gun etc. There does not seem to be any standard for guru before he is selected and voted in?

OK Madhu Pandit people! Take their document to court and show how falling apart their whole guru system is. They want Madhu Pandit to accept their gurus, when they do not even know -- if they are gurus? Lets wait until we know if they are even gurus in the first place, according to, themselves! Hee hee! Told ya! 

ys pd angel108b@yahoo.com  

https://akincana.net/2026/10/23/watch-the-gbc-decide-the-future-of-female-diksa-gurus-eight-unreleased-committee-recordings-published-in-full/?

Statement from the ISKCON Governing Body Commission on Srila Prabhupada and the Role of Gurus in ISKCON

The ISKCON Governing Body Commission (GBC) passed several resolutions during its Mid-Term General Meeting 2026 regarding the need to better educate ISKCON devotees with “a clearer understanding and articulation of, the qualification and service of all gurus, and their relationship with ISKCON’s Founder-Acarya, His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Srila Prabhupada, the ISKCON society, and ISKCON’s managerial line of authority.” 

To help achieve this, the GBC determined there should be a temporary moratorium on initiations from December 1, 2026 to Gaura Purnima 2027.

The resolutions are below in full:

Clarity on the Role of Gurus and Disciples in Relationship to Srila Prabhupada and ISKCON To Be Provided by the Guru Services Committee

Whereas, within the ISKCON society there is a need for further clarification on the relationship of ISKCON gurus with ISKCON, and ISKCON’s managerial line of authority,

Whereas, elder ISKCON gurus are passing away and younger devotees are taking up the responsibility of serving as guru, sometimes for large number of disciples,

Whereas, it is seen that some disciples of ISKCON gurus need to better understand their relationship with ISKCON, Srila Prabhupada and ISKCON’s managerial line of authority,

Therefore, the GBC directs the Guru Services Committee to research and highlight Srila Prabhupada’s writings and instructions, existing GBC authorized papers and statements, and relevant ISKCON laws to better educate and clarify for ISKCON members:

The role of an ISKCON guru in relationship to ISKCON and ISKCON’s managerial line of authority,

The proper mood of a disciple towards their initiating guru and other ISKCON authorities,

That gurus in ISKCON have the responsibility in instructing their disciples how to advance in Krishna consciousness, but may not have the expertise to guide disciples in matters of marriage, employment, child rearing, investment of funds, and other areas of life,

The Guru Services Committee shall also determine if educational processes need to be developed or adapted within ISKCON to clarify these issues.

The Guru Services Committee will consult with the various RGBs around the world, the India Bureau, and ICC to better consider how misunderstandings in these areas have manifested in their regions and seek their input to resolve them.

This research is also intended to complement and support the work pursued under the Terms of Reference Working Committee. To be completed by the AGM 2027.
Seeking Clarity on the Comparative Roles and Relationships Between Siksa and Diksa Gurus Within ISKCON

Whereas, there is a need within ISKCON to better understand the comparative roles of, and relationships between, diksa and siksa gurus, and

Whereas, there has been a call for additional clarity of these roles by devotees around the world, therefore, the GBC Body directs the Guru Services Committee (GSC) to do research to develop a comprehensive report and statement on these two services within ISKCON;

In so doing, the GSC shall consult with the ISKCON RGBs around the world, the India Bureau and ICC, the Sastric Advisory Council (SAC), and other scholars put forward by those bodies; 

A report or statement shall be presented to the GBC at its AGM 2027 for ratification.

This research is also intended to complement and support the work pursued under the Terms of Reference Working Committee.
Moratorium on All ISKCON Initiations

Whereas, as we celebrate ISKCON’s 60th Anniversary, it is the GBC’s duty to consider the health and future of our society;

Whereas, many older ISKCON gurus are passing away and many younger gurus are taking up responsibility for large numbers of disciples;

Whereas, there is a need to develop a clearer understanding and articulation of, the qualification and service of all gurus, and their relationship with ISKCON’s Founder-Acarya, His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Srila Prabhupada, the ISKCON society, and ISKCON’s managerial line of authority;

Whereas, many new disciples in ISKCON misunderstand the service role of their guru in ISKCON in relationship with Srila Prabhupada and the ISKCON managerial line of authority, as outlined in the ISKCON document “Harmonizing Lines of Authority”;

Whereas, according to our Brahma-Madhva-Gaudiya Vaisnava Sampradaya, both siksa and diksa gurus are of fundamental importance in the spiritual life of a devotee;

Whereas, in practice, a significant difference can be currently observed in the worship, recognition, and treatment accorded to siksa-gurus and diksa-gurus within ISKCON;

Whereas, since the departure of His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda, the Society has not undertaken a sufficiently comprehensive study and explanation of Guru-tattva, particularly the standards, principles and practices of initiation as related to an unprecedented growing global ISKCON society;

Whereas, it is urgently important to take concrete steps to ensure that Srila Prabhupada’s position in ISKCON as our Founder-Acarya and pre-eminent siska guru for all ISKCON members is not minimized in any way;

Whereas, the GBC has directed the Guru Services Committee to research and further clarify the role of gurus and disciples in relationship to Srila Prabhupada and the ISKCON society, based on Srila Prabhupada’s teachings, existing ISKCON law, and GBC statements, and to present a summary paper on the same no later than the GBC AGM 2027, and,

Whereas, the GBC has directed the Guru Services Committee to research and clarify the service roles of siksa and diksa gurus, with appropriate consultation, and present either a summary paper, or at least a progress report on the same by the GBC AGM 2027;

Therefore,

All initiations by ISKCON diksa gurus shall be put on hold from December 1, 2026, until Gaura Purnima 2027. (This date could be extended.) No ISKCON guru shall initiate new disciples, or offer second initiation to existing disciples, or offer sannyasa initiation during this time. Additionally, no new initiating gurus shall take up or complete the authorization process during that time.*

In addition, before they may restart initiating disciples, all ISKCON gurus will be required to:

Sign a notarized ISKCON Oath of Allegiance, as presented by Srila Prabhupada and,

Submit the required annual financial reports for the previous year (2026).

*Exceptions may be allowed in the case of a qualified aspiring disciple who may pass away before Gaura Purnima 2027 (in the opinion of medical experts), and with the approval of the ISKCON Guru Services Committee.
Terms of Reference Working Committee

It is resolved that a structured Dialogue be convened to enable a meaningful and productive discussion on the relationship of siksa and diksa, including Vaishnavi Diksha Guru, all within the principle of Guru Tattva.

To this end, a working Committee comprising of the GBC EC, and one or two representatives of the IB, ICC and concerned RGBs will be appointed to determine the Terms of Reference for the successful convening of such a Dialogue by 15th November 2026. The Terms of Reference presented by the committee shall be subject to GBC approval.

The anticipated Dialogue shall commence and conclude between the months of December 2026 and January 2027. A .pdf of the statement can be viewed and downloaded here.
Tag: education , gbc , guru , Guru-tattva , gurus , initiations , leaders , leadership

PADA: Jayadvaita swami has already explained all this. A number of their gurus are having illicit sex with men, women -- and maybe children. OK also maybe their messiah who masturbating with cats -- when we include their topmost messiah and samadhi buried acharya Kirtanananda. I forgot, masturbating to porno Gunagrahi also warrants a samadhi in the dham.  

And thus the "clear understanding" is: people who are of less moral character than the town dog catcher are fit to be worshiped as Krishna's successors. Do we have a question? Good, we will be banned, beaten, molested, sued and killed for being a doubting Thomas. Doubts are not allowed! So these guys are gurus, that is very clear, anyone who doubts they are gurus gets poked in the rear with a metal pipe. YS PD

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FULL ISKCON DIKSHA MORATORIUM ANNOUNCED

(Starting December 1st, 2026 till Gaura Purnima 2027. Watch this space for possible extensions.)

It looks like a brazen attempt to pre-empt and/or prepare for a SCHISM.
GBC STEPS TO AVOID A SCHISM OR TO MANAGE ONE AS CLEANLY AND LEGALLY AS POSSIBLE.

STEP 1. Introduce a Full Moratorium to assert GBC dominance over all ISKCON gurus and leaders requiring Oaths of Allegiance clearly stating they must LEGALLY follow the GBC.

STEP 2. Require all ISKCON gurus and leaders to provide full LEGAL FINANCIAL disclosures. This will be important evidence with which to LEGALLY challenge any defectors who might attempt to leave the domination of the GBC and split from ISKCON proper (as the Rtviks in Bangalore have done).

STEP 3. Whatever paper the Guru Services Committee comes up with at Gaura Purnima 2027 it will not satisfy all parties.

STEP 4. When one or more resolutions are made subsequent to the Full Moratorium those who threaten to split from ISKCON will therefore be in a weak position morally and legally because they have already just sworn an Oath of Allegiance and disclosed their full financial details.

STEP 5. Make resolutions that significantly change the system of guru in ISKCON. State clearly and openly that those opposing such resolutions have violated their Oaths of Allegiance and are not allowed to re-start giving initiations in ISKCON unless and until they agree to submit to the "new" system the GBC is proposing.

STEP 6. If necessary take legal steps to bring the financial assets of apostate gurus and ISKCON leaders again under the direct control of the ISKCON GBC.
This whole plan is the GBC realizing their system of the last 50 years is crashing down around them because it was not based on sastra and tradition and yet trying to save themselves from splitting ISKCON further by re-inventing the system in some way. (Presumably the "new" system will introduce tighter controls of ISKCON gurus and leaders).

The ONLY "real" solution to the problem is to establish a truly sastric and traditional system of Guru Tattva within ISKCON which would require the GBC to get rid of many ISKCON Guru Laws and the appointment system altogether and allow the natural system of choosing a guru (or gurus) to be practiced in ISKCON. As per Srila Prabhupada's purport to CC Adi 1.35.

I do not see the ISKCON GBC giving up their position of managing who can and who cannot initiate in ISKCON. This would simply require ISKCON leaders to judge all persons who want to serve within the ISKCON Insitution on their own merits rather than judge who they decide to take Vaishnava Diksha from. But this seems to be a "bridge too far" for the ISKCON GBC.

SUNDAR NITAI DASA

My Response to the GBC’s Recent Announcement on the Guru Situation in ISKCON
When I read the GBC’s statement of 26 October 2026, I feel both hopeful and apprehensive. I feel excited that the GBC is taking steps to revisit guru-tattva and the future of ISKCON, and concerned about the evidence and principles that will guide this important work.

My hope is that those entrusted with this service will make Śrīla Prabhupāda’s own written instructions the central reference point. The primary question is not simply what was practised in another age, during Lord Caitanya’s time, or within traditional Vedic society. It is: What did Śrīla Prabhupāda want for the society he founded, and how did he direct that society to function after his departure?

Prabhupāda brought his understanding of the Vedic and Vaiṣṇava traditions into ISKCON through his own teachings, instructions and institutional arrangements. Those who choose to serve within the society he founded have a responsibility to take his specific directions seriously. General scriptural principles and historical traditions can provide valuable context, but they do not replace an examination of what Prabhupāda himself established for ISKCON.

I therefore respectfully request that the GBC, its Executive Committee, the Regional Governing Bodies, the India Bureau, the ICC, the Guru Services Committee, the Sastric Advisory Council and everyone involved in this review give particular attention to the following:

1. Prabhupāda’s written directives on management

Please give serious consideration to the Direction of Management, which sets out Prabhupāda’s intended managerial arrangements, alongside his other formal written instructions. The review would benefit from establishing how these directives were intended to operate and how subsequent GBC structures and decisions relate to them.

2. The July 9, 1977 directive on initiation

Please examine this directive alongside the other relevant written documents, establishing precisely what arrangement Prabhupāda authorised, how he instructed it to operate, and what the complete documentary record establishes about its intended continuation. The review would also benefit from examining the will, relevant probate documents and other formal instructions in their proper historical context.

3. A clear distinction between written instructions and later interpretations.

Recorded conversations, general statements and discussions about possible future appointments are relevant evidence. However, discussions about hypothetical arrangements need to be distinguished from appointments or directives that were actually finalised and formally communicated. Where an instruction is claimed to have been given, I believe it is important to establish what documentary evidence supports that claim and how it relates to Prabhupāda’s formal written directions.

4. An independent examination of the GBC’s own accountability

The review is considering the relationship between gurus and ISKCON’s managerial authority. It is equally important to examine how that managerial authority itself relates to Prabhupāda’s instructions. The Direction of Management and the other relevant documents deserve careful consideration as possible foundations for assessing the GBC’s own structure, authority and accountability.

5. Putting Prabhupāda back at the centre of ISKCON

I would welcome serious consideration of a model in which Prabhupāda’s position as Founder-Ācārya and pre-eminent spiritual guide is reflected not only in statements of principle, but in the actual arrangements for initiation, discipleship and management.

My own view is that ISKCON would benefit from reconsidering whether initiating devotees need to occupy the distinct institutional position they hold today. Senior devotees could continue serving as spiritual guides, instructing devotees and conducting initiations under an arrangement consistent with Prabhupāda’s documented intentions. The precise form of such an arrangement is a matter for careful documentary examination, rather than assumption.

I would also welcome consideration of how discipleship is understood and recorded within the society: whether those initiated within ISKCON are recognised primarily as members and disciples of Prabhupāda’s society, rather than being defined institutionally by exclusive allegiance to an individual initiating guru. This is an important question about the place of the Founder-Ācārya in the life of every ISKCON member.

I recognise that devotees may interpret some of the evidence differently. My request is that these differences be addressed through an open, independent and thorough examination of the primary documents, with the reasoning and conclusions made available to the wider membership.

This is an important opportunity to put Śrīla Prabhupāda’s documented intentions at the centre of the discussion—not merely to clarify the existing guru system, but to examine whether the system itself reflects the arrangements he intended for ISKCON.

I sincerely hope everyone entrusted with this service will approach it with the care, honesty and responsibility that such an important task deserves.