Philosophy: How did the zonal acaryas dissappear?

I was wondering the other day because i was not around when this happened.

Anyone who can give some brief unbiased history?

Here's a 1999 GBC resolution and apology, which seems to me a pretty good broad historical recount:

403 [ACTION ORDER] CONCERNING GURUS IN ISKCON

Whereas Srila Prabhupada established ISKCON in 1966, and prior to his disappearance in November 1977, he stated in his will that the GBC Body is "the ultimate managerial authority" for the Society. Unfortunately, shortly after Srila Prabhupada's disappearance, the GBC Body allowed for an unauthorized "zonal acharya" system to evolve in ISKCON, elevating eleven exclusive successor diksa gurus;

Whereas ISKCON leaders at the time then introduced the concept that ISKCON diksa gurus were mahabhagavatas and the only current links to Srila Prabhupada and the disciplic succession;

Whereas some ISKCON diksa gurus who had formerly practiced vairagya vidya, but in the process of expanding the movement began living opulently, accumulated property, wealth, disciples and prestige far beyond the necessities for effective preaching;

Whereas in their overemphasis on diksa gurus, Srila Prabhupada's disciples and followers failed in various ways to properly establish and sustain Srila Prabhupada's unique role and personal relationship with all ISKCON devotees as the Founder-Acarya and preeminent siksa guru in ISKCON; ISKCON leaders failed to also properly establish the importance and role of siksa gurus in ISKCON;

Whereas the authority and resources of the GBC Body were minimized by the exaggerated prominence of ISKCON diksa gurus, resulting in a fragmented ISKCON composed of many guru-zones instead of a united ISKCON movement under the auspices of the GBC Body;

Whereas despite warnings by Pradyumna prabhu and others, for many years the Governing Body Commission, being weakened due to the Zonal Acarya deviation, failed to correct these errors to the detriment of many ISKCON members;

And whereas, despite GBC Body efforts to correct the Zonal Acarya deviation as flaws in the system surfaced and many of the Zonal Acaryas left ISKCON, our society continues to be affected by the misunderstandings of that system:

It is hereby resolved THAT:

A. APOLOGY TO SOCIETY FROM THE GBC BODY

The GBC Body offers the following apology to the members and friends of ISKCON:

As humble followers of His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Srila Prabhupada, it is the GBC Body's duty to execute his will to the best of our ability as we collectively understand it. During Srila Prabhupada's physical presence, he simultaneously empowered the GBC Body and guided us when we erred. We continue to pray for his guidance and feel it is his will that we now correct the misunderstandings of the past. Thus, the GBC Body, both individually and collectively, wishes to express its deepest apologies to, and beg the forgiveness of, the followers of Srila Prabhupada who were offended or hurt by our past decisions resulting in the excesses and abuses of the zonal acharya system and its ongoing ramifications.

B. APOLOGY TO PRADYUMNA PRABHU FROM GBC BODY

The GBC Body offers the following apology to Pradhyumna dasa:

The GBC Body extends its heartfelt apologies to Sriman Pradyumna dasa Adhikari for any offences caused in its dealings with him in 1978-9. During this period Pradyumna Prabhu wrote to the GBC via Satsvarupa dasa Goswami warning them of serious repercussions with the Zonal Acharya system in his letter dated 7th August 1978. Unfortunately Pradyumna prabhu's good advice was not taken seriously. In retrospect the GBC Body and ISKCON could have benefited greatly by heeding his well-meant and pertinent observations.

Although it is now many years hence, we nevertheless wish to state publicly that we sincerely regret the actions and words of the GBC Body that contributed to his leaving his active service in ISKCON. We unreservedly and humbly beg the forgiveness of Pradyumna Prabhu for any offences caused to him by our dealings.

We would also like to extend our most heartfelt invitation to Pradyumna Prabhu to participate actively in ISKCON activities and we pray that Srila Prabhupada and Sri Sri Radha-Madhava continue to bestow Their causeless blessings upon him.

(end)

What happened to the 11 Zonal Acaryas?

1.) Jayatirtha Swami - decapitated in a London antique shop with a serrated knife

2.) Ramesvara Swami - issues with women

3.) Hansadutta Swami - issues with women

4.) Bhagavan Swami - issues with women

5.) Kirtanandana Swami - issues with young boys

6.) Bhavananda Swami - issues with young men

7.) Harikesh Swami - issues with women

8.) Tamal Krishna das Goswami - died in car accident in Ranaghat, West Bengal

9.) Satsvarupa das Goswami - issues with women, now 'retired'?

10.) Hrdayananda das Goswami - still active

11.) Jayapataka Swami - still active


What's the lesson from this?

yes i was not referring to the actual fall downs etc but more on this line.

thank you so much ccd.

They apologized for HOW they did it -- not WHAT they did. There was no RIGHT way to implement the establishment of eleven appointed gurus because THERE NEVER WAS SUCH AN APPOINTMENT (and no, I'm not a ritvik). Srila Prabhupada never authorized anybody to begin initiating after his departure. These guys were given power of attorney to represent Prabhupada at initiation ceremonies as officiating ritviks while he was present and that's it and that's all. In their confusion Prabhupada was asked (specifically by Satsvarupa) whose disciple would a person be if one of his disciples happened to give diksha. That's about as brilliant as one of my sons asking, "dad -- if and when I have children, whose children would they be?" Yes -- another case of Stupid Questions, Perfect Answers. So that broken up conversation was extrapolated, cut and pasted onto another conversation which was stapled to some letter which went through some misinterpretations and the next thing ya know -- some shnook is putting his tush on a vyasa asana and becoming a Pada. It was as scary as that movie "Invasion of the Body Snatchers" when pods were taking over people -- but in this case Padas were taking over, usurping, hijacking, ruining the greatest spiritual movement in the history of the world.

So now they ELECT gurus. Another ingenious invention. They went from telling the world that two plus two equals three to two plus two equals five. What a mess! From the zonal acharya insanity to an ecclesiastic ecumenical body that gathers together once a year to vote in new gurus.

ISKCON could have and should have gone on with Prabhupada's books and vani presence as siksha guru for one and all and so what if some time went by with no initiations taking place. What's the big deal? Prabhupada didn't take initiation until years after meeting his guru maharaja. It's not mechanical. By the mercy of Krishna one gets guru and by the mercy of guru one gets Krishna. It's a thing of the heart -- a transcendental magnificent phenomenon that spontaneously takes place according to the sincerity of the seeker. The idea isn't to set up an assembly line for giving out names and neck beads. If some self effulgent person would come out at some later date then it would have been obvious to one and all. That was Bhaktisiddhanta's idea as well.

Hey -- don't get me started! It's too depressing.