The Root of the Problem -- Lest We Forget

A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, at the time of his departure, requested all his disciples to work together with the governing body and conduct missionary activities cooperatively. He did not instruct a particular group of men to become the next acaryas. But just after his passing away, his leading secretaries made plans, without authority, to occupy the post of acarya, and they split into eleven factions over who the next acarya would be. Consequently, all eleven factions and the supportive GBC body were asara, or useless, because they had no authority, having disobeyed the order of the spiritual master. Despite the spiritual master's order to cooperatively execute the missionary activities of the International Society for Krsna Consciousness, the eleven unauthorized factions began fighting and competing with one another and with their godbrothers and that is still going on after thirty years with no conclusion.... The members of the self-appointed acaryas’ party and their offshoots who occupy the property of the International Society for Krsna Consciousness are satisfied, but they could make no progress in preaching. Therefore, by the result of their actions, one should know that they are asara, or useless.

"Why this Gaudiya Matha failed? Because they tried to become more than guru. He, before passing away, he gave all direction and never said that 'This man should be the next acharya.’ But these people, just after his passing away they began to fight, who shall be acharya. That is the failure. They never thought, 'Why Guru Maharaja gave us instruction so many things, why he did not say that this man should be acharya?’ They wanted to create artificially somebody acharya and everything failed. They did not consider even with common sense that if Guru Maharaja wanted to appoint somebody as acharya, why did he not say? He said so many things, and this point he missed? The real point? And they insist upon it.They declared some unfit person to become acharya. Then another man came, then another, acharya, another acharya. So better remain a foolish person perpetually to be directed by Guru Maharaja. That is perfection." (Srila Prabhupada Room Conversation,16 August 1976, Bombay)