A Gaudiya Vaishnava questionnaire - Let's develop one.

We should fine tune this questionnaire to catch more subtle differences in Gaudiya Vaishnava cultures.

We could model it to find out what personality or other traits can be associated with different Gaudiya factions. For instance, it seems to me that people who gravitate toward the traditional paramparas tend to be a little more liberal (Advaita and Brajamohan excepted ) due to their experience with various different Vaishnava cultures. On the other hand, Ritviks generally seem to me to be the most narrow-minded in the Vaishnava world, though they have competition I'm sure. So maybe the questionnaire should ask for a couple of identifications first: e.g.

Which of the following statements is most true for you--

1. Iskcon and its current system of initiations is a bonafide system, adjusting the Gaudiya Vaishnava traditions to modern circumstances in order to most fully fulfill Srila Prabhupada's mission.
2. Srila Prabhupada is the only acharya of Iskcon and anyone who desires him as their spiritual master can become his initiated disciple through a Ritvik or representative.
3. Iskcon's system of initiations is alright, but since there is no one qualified as a Mahabhagavata, one is best served by taking initiation from a more highly qualified representative of Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati's line.
4. Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati broke with the traditional sampradayas and as such his line cannot truly offer the kind of devotion that was taught by the Vaishnavas who come in disciplic succession from Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu.
5. The Holy Name is all-powerful and there is no need of initiation.
6. ?

Like the Beliefnet questionnaire, the degree of importance given to these questions can fine tune the identity assessment.

Any suggestions? How about contributing relevant questions that would catch distinct moods--

Questions about jiva-tattva, guru-tattva, moral and ethical questions, the importance of vidhi, questions about sexuality, etc., conspiracy theories, etc.

People answer the questionnaire and are categorized in our database, given a number, and are eternally pigeonholed and stereotyped!

I'm a six!

A three dimensional model might be even more interesting--tie in a liberal-conservative axis to the above also. (But I don't know about Brajmohan. I think he is just a form breaker. How else can we understand his views on the validity of sastra, reproductive rights, love for firengi philosophers, etc.? )

An analysis/poll on primary motivations for investigating/joining a traditional line would also be good. (And follow up how these change over time.) Some of the reasons might be:

1. perceived authenticity
2. interest in raganuga bhakti
3. "naturalness" (e.g. lack of strictures such as 4 regs, absence of social/institutional aspect)
4. frustration or disappointment with current guru or institution
5. being strongly influenced by a particular individual
6. ?

Of course, many seem to pass thru one of the Gaudiya Maths on the way, so there's another question to ask or confounding factor to account for. In my own experience, many of my friends joined the Chaitanya-Saraswata Math with a heavy degree of attraction to things like 4 rounds, lack of condemnation for smoking pot, etc. And in the early ISKCON -> Narayana Mhrj days, I think the key factors were his personable nature and the attention he gave coupled with the katha. Of course, it's all quite cynical and presumptuous to "document" such things, but so long as we are willing to apply the same analysis to ourselves, why not?

And systems are useful, afterall. Think how much confusion could be eliminated. No more doubts about qualfication--"What did you get on the Jagatometer?...Oh, too bad. Back to the pot shed."

I have yet to meet a traditional Guru who does not impose or applaud the four regs.....

Now I know where I can't take initiation.

Interseting.I think it is good idea.

The Holy Name is all-powerful alright!

I was attracted to the Holy Name so much so that I asked for a japamala from a very dear devotee friend (Krishna-bhakta) and I initiated myself in Harinam since then, but I wanted that to come through someone so that I could stick to it. Just imagine, if that came from my spiritual master!

To chant the Holy Name you may not need initiation but initiation is even important. You have to take shelter of both. That's what I think.

I hope, one day, I can take shelter of a staunch spiritual master who does not fall or who does not fail, which is becoming harder to find these days.

It is harder to find, but yes their are still Pure spiritual Masters are their in Radh Kund as far I Know. Search and associate with Raganuga Bhaktas you will find. By the mercy of Mahaprabhu and Raganuga vishnavas you can get that treasure. Even Srila Prabhupad said that even the number of hair in the head that much pure devotees are their in Braj. I don't have the exact quote but it is gist of it I heard.

[Like the Beliefnet questionnaire, the degree of importance given to these questions can fine tune the identity assessment. ]

Yeah, the problem would be all about the fine-tuning. This would be fun, even though I hate being categorized.

Here's a possibiltiy for item #6. The holy name is all powerful and there IS need for initiation. However, initiation is not the ceremony. The ceremony is irrelevant to the internal event. Initiation is a progressive, on-going commitment to the path.

Radha Kunda, Vraja, Bengal, Orissa... for the seeker they are there, wherever one sincerely seeks.

How do we know?
What if there aren't any pure vaishnavas anywhere?

If you really need to find one, Bhagavan will arrange for one.

[ Radha Kunda, Vraja, Bengal, Orissa... for the seeker they are there, wherever one sincerely seeks.]

Wherever could then include the Bronx, Peru, Siberia... Not just India right? I'm sure there is a sincere seeker outside of those holy dhama's of India!

Well, though it is likely that they are primarily found in the various lila-sthanas around India, there are no geographical restrictions that I would be aware of.

The answer has already been given, if you sincerely seek, he/she will come.

If there were no pure Vaishnavas anywhere, how would this world go on?