“The GBC should all be the instructor (siksa) gurus. I am the initiator (diksa) guru, and you should be the instructor guru by teaching what I am teaching and doing what I am doing. This is not a title, but you must actually come to this platform. This I want.” (Srila Prabhupada Letter, August 4th, 1975)
Tdasa; Srila Prabhupada told us, "I am diksha guru, you be siksha" paraphrase. So, he suggests both are wanted. Similarly, how many of us read and understood Gita, all on our own? For most, we needed association with disciples through parampara to understand, so, it is clearly the case that the books may be adequate, but is the follower ADEQUATE ?? I don't think so. So, when Gour Govinda Swami and others emphasize the importance of association with the person Guru, not just reading alone, it should be understood correctly. Srila Gour Govinda said that a tape alone is not enough, but he used them in combination with siksha. This Srila Prabhupada did. Now, it is incumbent upon all of us to act as SIKSHA to the extent possible. One new person alone is unlikely to understand Gita without it.
Indian lady: How does one contact the spiritual master? Through a book can you contact the spiritual master?
Prabhupāda: No, you have to associate.
Śyāmasundara: "Can you associate through a book?" she asked.
Prabhupāda: Yes, through books, and also personal. Because when you make a spiritual master you have got personal touch. Not that in air you make a spiritual master. You make a spiritual master concrete. So as soon as you make a spiritual master, you should be inquisitive...
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