INTERNATIONAL SOCIETY FOR KRISHNA
CONSCIOUSNESS
Founder-Acarya: His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
RESOLUTIONS OF THE GOVERNING BODY COMMISSION
Annual General Meeting -- February 7-21, 1993 -- Mayapur, India
1. That the Governing Body Commission wishes to offer sincere thanks to
His Holiness Bhakticaru Swami, who has generously presented a most excellent
gift of a furnished meeting hall for the Annual GBC Meetings. Bhakticaru Maharaja not only donated the
entire cost of the hall, but he also helped with the design and oversaw the
construction. He was ably assisted by
his disciples Svarup Damodar Das Brahmacari and Sudhir Krishna Das Brahmacari.
2. That the system of running the GBC Meetings as presented in parts one
through five of the paper "Avoiding Endless GBC Plenary Meeting" be
provisionally adopted for use during the 1993 GBC Meetings. During the actual
running of the meeting, the Executive
Committee shall be allowed to make minor adaptations of the aforesaid rules as
they see fit.
3. That HH Suhotra Swami is appointed as a Full GBC Member.
4. That HH Sridhara Swami is appointed as a Full GBC Member.
5. That HG Madhu Sevita Prabhu is appointed as an Acting GBC Member.
6. That HH Romapada Swami is appointed as an Acting GBC Member.
7. [Correspondence Resolution Effective 31 July, 1992] WHEREAS,
uninitiated devotees who, after taking formal shelter of an initiating guru and
subsequently wanting to change their spiritual master, have no standard
required minimum period for remaining under the shelter of the new guru before
being considered eligible to be initiated, and the lack of such a standard has
reduced the stature of the initiation process;
It is therefore RESOLVED that the following standard for changing gurus
shall be adopted as ISKCON Law:
That, in the case of candidates for initiation who had formerly accepted
shelter from one spiritual master and subsequently desire to change to another,
this change must be communicated to the former prospective spiritual master,
new prospective spiritual master, and local Temple President. The candidate must also remain fixed under
the shelter of the newly proposed initiating guru for six continuous months
from the time of newly accepting formal shelter prior to receiving
initiation.
8. [Correspondence Resolution Effective 31 July, 1992] WHEREAS, sometimes there are
misunderstandings between temple authorities and spiritual masters on whether
recommendations for initiation have actually been given, which would be solved
if the recommendations were always given in writing;
WHEREAS, occasionally, temple authorities have not fully understood the
gravity of their responsibility in recommending candidates for initiation,
which would be solved by clarifying the extent of the Temple President's
responsibility in this regard;
WHEREAS, occasionally, candidates for initiation request initiation
without having received proper recommendation; and
WHEREAS, lack of standards in these matters has reduced the stature of
the initiation process;
THEREFORE, IT IS RESOLVED: that the following standard for initiation
recommendations shall be adopted as ISKCON Law:
That before a candidate can be (first) initiated, the guru must receive
a written recommendation from the Temple President under whom the candidate is
currently serving. In the case of
candidates who are not full-time ISKCON members, the recommendation must be
given by the Temple President of a temple near the candidate who has
familiarity with the spiritual status of the candidate. If said Temple President is also the
prospective initiating guru, then special procedures must be followed (see Note
below.) Future legislation will deal
with situations where there is no Temple President with sufficient familiarity
to make or deny a recommendation, as may occur in the case of congregational
members who do not live near an ISKCON temple.
The recommendation of the Temple President must certify that the
candidate has fulfilled the qualifications for initiation to the best of his
understanding, and, specifically, it must state that the candidate has been
engaged in favorable devotional service, has chanted sixteen rounds of japa
daily, and has adhered to the four regulative principles, all for the previous
twelve months. It must also state that
the candidate is sufficiently knowledgeable in the philosophy of Krishna
Consciousness and the structure and purpose of ISKCON to have passed the
prescribed examination, and has accepted shelter of the guru since more than
six months. If the candidate has not
been serving continuously under the recommending Temple President for the
previous twelve months, then the Temple President must still satisfy himself
with the activities of the candidate for the full twelve month period by
contacting other ISKCON authorities with knowledge of the candidate's
activities during the balance time.
The Corresponding Secretary shall prepare and make available to Temple
Presidents and Initiating Gurus a standard form which may be used for the
recommendation letter.
This formal recommendation process is not intended to replace or
overshadow the (more important) need for other regular contact between the
ISKCON devotees who are guiding the candidate and the prospective spiritual
master regarding the spiritual progress of the candidate. Also, the prospective spiritual master is
under no obligation to initiate a devotee because a recommendation has been
given or is available to be given.
The same procedures apply for reinitiation. In the case of second initiation, a written recommendation is
also required from the appropriate ISKCON authority as above. This recommendation must certify that the
candidate has fulfilled the qualifications for second initiation to the best of
his understanding, and, specifically, it must state that the candidate has been
steadily engaged in favorable devotional service, has chanted sixteen rounds of
japa daily, and has adhered to the four regulative principles, all for the
previous twelve months (having received first initiation more than twelve
months before). As in the case of a
recommendation for first initiation, if the candidate has not been serving
continuously under the recommending Temple President for the previous twelve
months, then the Temple President must still satisfy himself with the
activities of the candidate for the full twelve month period by contacting
other ISKCON authorities with knowledge of the candidate's activities during
the balance time. A similar standard
form shall also be prepared which may be used for second initiation
recommendations.
Note -- Procedures to be followed if the prospective guru is also the
Temple President with appropriate jurisdiction: In this case, the local GBC shall either write the
recommendations himself or establish a local Board of Initiations, which does
not include the prospective guru as a member, to review the qualifications of
the candidates. The chairman of this
Board of Initiations may then prepare the necessary written
recommendations. In the extreme case
that the local GBC, Temple President, and prospective guru are all the same
person, the GBC Executive Committee shall establish the appropriate procedures
to be followed.
9. [Correspondence Resolution Effective 25 December, 1992] That the GBC
Body establishes a Farm Research Committee to propose guidelines for rural and
farm communities. The Committee shall
research the following points and report to Ksetra Committee 1 as soon as
possible. Ksetra Committee 1 shall, after review, editing and approval, present
the full and final report to all members of the GBC:
a. What are Srila Prabhupada's instructions on farms and rural
communities?
b. To what extent are they workable by ISKCON now? In other words, under the different
circumstances existing in different parts of the world, to what degree can they
be actualized?
c. What kind of farm projects should ISKCON have? What economic, social and agricultural
systems are best and/or most appropriate?
d. Are there successful models we can follow, either in ISKCON or
elsewhere?
e. What requirements should be met before a farm or rural project is
started?
f. How can we maintain high spiritual standards, efficient and
productive cow protection, viable and efficient agricultural production, and
proper educational programs for our children in these communities?
Committee chairman to be Suresvara das, other initial members to be
Muralivadika das, and Balabhadra das.
The Committee and/or Ksetra Committee 1, may coopt other qualified
members as required including some from other continents to provide a broader
perspective and practical input. All
GBC members and farm community leaders shall be solicited to make any submissions
to the committee during their deliberation.
10. [Correspondence Resolution Effective 25 December, 1992] WHEREAS,
occasionally devotees or associates of the movement advertise their business
affairs as supporting ISKCON activities, but quite often less benefit actually
accrues to ISKCON than the advertisements represent;
WHEREAS members and the public have had their faith shaken by shady
dealings; and
WHEREAS ISKCON can be legally implicated in such affairs.
It is hereby RESOLVED:
That any individual or group wishing to advertise that ISKCON or an
authorized affiliate or project of ISKCON is a recipient of proceeds from a
particular business or fund raising scheme must adhere to the following
standard:
a. There must be a written contract between the
individual or group conducting the business or fund raising scheme and the
ISKCON authorized affiliate or project which clearly spells out:
i. The names of the
proprietors/owners/directors of the business or scheme, and the legal name of
the authorized affiliate or project.
ii. Exactly how ISKCON will benefit from the
proceeds. For example, if a monetary
contribution is pledged, is it to be a fixed amount, or calculated as a
percentage of gross revenue, of gross profit, or of net profit. Will the devotees involved in working in the
business or scheme be supported by the business directly or by ISKCON? If so, how much devotee support or salary is
paid to them.
iii. That the business or scheme will follow
all relevant government laws and regulations.
b. A prospectus must be prepared by the business
which includes a copy of the above-mentioned contract, and, if the contract has
been in operation for more than one year, it must also include a statement from
an Officer of the ISKCON temple or project stating that the terms of the
contract have been fulfilled to date.
This prospectus must be updated annually and readily supplied to any
person who so requests. The
availability of the prospectus must also be advertised wherever the
relationship with ISKCON is advertised.
11. [Correspondence Resolution Effective 25 December, 1992] That, when
an ISKCON entity is registered as a religious, charitable, or non-profit
organization under the laws of its particular state or country, if those laws
prohibit such an entity from engaging in activities of a commercial nature,
then, of course, the ISKCON entity must comply.
Such businesses, though, cannot be contained as part of the ISKCON
entity's activities when the ISKCON entity is constituted as a non-profit corporation. The managers of such businesses may decide
to donate funds from their business activities to ISKCON. Such donations cannot encumber ISKCON with
any obligations toward the donor or the business.
It may be seen that certain activities like prasadam distribution,
restaurants, temple stores, book distribution, life membership, or soliciting
of donation with devotional paraphernalia, are carried out by ISKCON non-profit
organizations as part of their missionary activities. As long as these activities are not of a primarily commercial
nature, are not for the benefit of individuals, are not in violation of local
law, and do not endanger the ISKCON entity with unnecessary liability, they may
be conducted by the ISKCON entity directly.
If the activities develop such that the primary focus is profit rather
than preaching, such that local laws would be violated by the non-profit ISKCON
entity, or such that unnecessary liability is risked, then they must be legally
separated.
12. [Correspondence Resolution Effective 25 December, 1992] That, since
preaching Krishna Consciousness is the principle business of ISKCON, the GBC
recommends that, as far as possible, devotees living in the ashrams of ISKCON
temples should collect money through preaching activities such as book
distribution, membership, cultivation of the congregation, restaurants, temple
stores, etc. Since Srila Prabhupada
stated that "business means to help the preaching", it may also be
necessary for ISKCON leaders to organize businesses which utilize devotee
resources in generating income for the support of the temple. However, ISKCON leaders involved in such
activities should insure that the main focus of the temple remains on preaching
and not on business.
Business activities other than as described above are permissable,
provided they are not in contradiction to the regulative principles. As far as possible, ISKCON leaders should
encourage devotees for preaching work, while also engaging devotees according
to their nature and ashram, and the temple needs.
Recognizing that there are varied economic and social conditions in
different parts of the world, as well as the fact that sometimes special
collection drives have to be organized for particular projects, the GBC accepts
that the sale of paraphernalia may be necessary as a means of generating
income. These programs of paraphernalia
sales, however, fall within the realm of "business", or
"collection" activities and should therefore not be termed as
"sankirtan".
The GBC recommends that all ISKCON leaders endeavor to gradually orient
the income-generating activities of the devotees in the ashrams primarily
towards preaching-related sources. The
pace of such a shift is to be determined by the local leadership. ISKCON leaders and travelling preachers
should respect and cooperate with the policies being instituted in the various
zones.
This guideline is not in any way intended to contradict or create an
exception to any ISKCON law restricting the commercial activities of legal
entities which are ISKCON Affiliates.
ISKCON leaders and/or members encouraging the conduct of or engaging in
activities prohibited for ISKCON Affiliates under such laws should take care to
see that such activities are conducted by other entities.
13. [Correspondence Resolution Effective 25 December, 1992] Only
initiated devotees of Krishna who are strictly maintaining their vows of
initiation may be married before the Deities in a Vaisnava ceremony.
An ISKCON devotee priest can perform a ceremony for uninitiated devotees
that may include the lighting of the sacred fire, but not before Deities, if he
is reasonably certain that the devotees to be married are not engaged in
regular and/or serious deviation from the four regulative principles. It is preferred that this ceremony not be
held in the temple room if other facilities are available.
An ISKCON devotee who is qualified under local law to perform religious
ceremonies may marry other uninitiated devotees at his own risk.
14. [Correspondence Resolution Effective 25 December, 1992] That ISKCON
Law 90-14 shall be modified to state as follows in its entirety:
That every GBC member must submit a form annually to the Executive
Committee indicating briefly the status of all approved ISKCON gurus normally
residing, regularly preaching, or initiating in his zone. (The Executive Committee will assign each
guru to a GBC member(s) for monitoring.)
If any approved guru has:
a) taken reinitiation/shelter of a non-ISKCON
guru or institution;
b) rejected ISKCON or Srila Prabhupada; or
c) undergone a change of service, of ashram,
or of living situation, which the local GBC member feels threatens to hamper
the approved guru's ability to give guidance to or set a proper standard of
conduct for disciples.
Then the GBC member's report shall, if possible, include a written
statement from the approved guru as to his intentions in regard to his
disciples and his devotional service.
If not possible, then it shall at least include a description of the
approved guru's intentions as best they can be discerned through the
investigation of the GBC member. The
report shall also contain any other information which would be of value to the
GBC Body in determining the guru' status, as well as the recommendations of the
local temple presidents, zonal councils, etc.
The Executive Committee shall review the reports and take any necessary
action.
15. [Correspondence Resolution Effective 25 December, 1992] That GBC
Rule of Order 91-91, paragraphs 1.b) and 1.c), defining "Supporting
Objective" and "Progressive Goals" be modified as follows:
b) Supporting Objective:
In order to realize the broad Statement of Mission there are essential,
integral and supporting objectives that must first be achieved. These are
called the "Supporting Objectives".
They are by definition more specific and detailed than the Statement of
Mission. They deal with a sub-topic within a Statement of Mission. Supporting
Objectives for ISKCON worldwide are established and modified by the GBC body
and by lower levels of administration for their respective areas of
responsibility following the worldwide supporting objectives, but not limited
to them. For example, a continent by a
Continental Committee, for a zone by the Zonal Secretary or zonal council, and
for a temple by a temple council with approval of the local Zonal Secretary.
c) Progressive Goals:
In order to work towards progressively realizing ISKCON's Statements of
Mission and Supporting Objectives, each zone (or temple) will adopt
intermediary stages or goals called Progressive Goals. Unlike both Mission
Statements and Supporting Objectives, Progressive Goals are time bound,
quantitative, specific, and localized. The respective authorities for each
level of administration within a zone should establish and update their own
Progressive Goals based on their areas of responsibility. As a general principle, one year and five
year goals shall be set. The GBC Body,
for the world, and a Continental Committee, for a continent, may also adopt
Progressive Goals if practical.
16. [Correspondence Resolution Effective 25 December, 1992] That the
Governing Body Commission may, at its discretion, appoint a senior ISKCON
member in good standing to be a "Candidate for GBC" to fulfill a need
for additional GBC presence for a specified geographical area or ministerial
position. Upon successful completion of the terms of appointment, the Candidate
for GBC shall be considered at the plenary GBC meeting for the post of
Assistant GBC.
Voting: Official Candidates for GBC may be appointed by the Governing
Body Commission by a simple majority vote.
Duties: There shall be specific duties given to the Candidate along with
the appointment, which will vary according to individual circumstances, such as
the following:
a. To establish permanent ISKCON centers or
develop an undeveloped or underdeveloped part of the world as an active Krishna
conscious missionary.
b. To reside or remain in a particular area for
a minimum total period of time or time per year.
c. To dedicate himself to preaching in a particular
area or field.
d. To demonstrate his abilities and capacities
successfully for a specified minimum period of time.
e. To provide an Annual Report to the GBC in
approved format.
f. To improve on some deficiencies in some
aspects of the person's character, attitude, knowledge, abilities, skills or
behavior.
Powers: A Candidate for GBC shall be given specific powers as deemed
necessary to enable him to fulfill his duties.
These powers may include:
a. Acting as an official representative of the
GBC body for the assigned area.
b. Having any or all of the general powers of a
Zonal Secretary or Minister, as qualified under the "Supervision"
section below.
c. Other special powers for fulfilling some
special assignment or service as the GBC Body may deem appropriate.
d. Attendance at GBC plenary or committee
meetings.
Supervision: It shall be required that a Candidate for GBC be under the
supervision of a GBC member, group of members, or committee. They shall assist
the Candidate for GBC as needed, and make reports on his progress and
activities to the GBC body or a committee assigned for this purpose.
17. [Correspondence Resolution Effective 25 December, 1992] That, when
reasonable warning is given by the GBC Body that a particular authority is
deviating, followers who continue to accept instructions from such deviants
cannot claim to be exonerated from personal responsibility by virtue of
obediently or blindly following that authority.
18. [Correspondence Resolution Effective 25 December, 1992] That ISKCON
has a moral obligation to Srila Prabhupada, as well as a legal right to pursue
deviant managers who encumber ISKCON entities with liabilities stemming from
unauthorized acts. If ISKCON
representatives cannot convince deviant managers to accept personal liability
through reason and argument, or through the ISKCON Judicial System, they have
the right to pursue them through the competent courts.
19. [Correspondence Resolution Effective 25 December, 1992] That
transactions between ISKCON entities and devotees involving the transfer of
funds over US $1,000 or equivalent, should be substantiated by written
contracts, purchase orders, invoices and/or other appropriate
documentation. This principle should also
be followed in dealings between devotees and non-devotees.
20. [Correspondence Resolution Effective 25 December, 1992] That a
devotee who has left ISKCON after receiving first initiation is required to
wait for a least two years after returning before being given second
initiation. The recommendation letter
prepared by the Temple President for all second initiations must certify that
the candidate has either not left ISKCON since first initiation or has been in
good standing for at least two years since leaving and returning. For the purposes of this rule, "having
left ISKCON" is defined as having renounced or neglected one's vows of
initiation or having given up the regular association of ISKCON Vaisnavas, in a
serious or prolonged way.
21. That the GBC Body accepts the resignation of Toshan Krishna Prabhu.
The Executive Committee shall send a letter to him expressing the deep
appreciation of the Body for his years of dedicated service to Srila Prabhupada
and to ISKCON. We hope for his continued association in service to Srila
Prabhupada and ISKCON.
22. That the GBC Body accepts the resignation of Atreya Rshi Prabhu. The Executive Committee
shall send a letter to him expressing the deep appreciation of the Body for his
years of dedicated service to Srila Prabhupada and to ISKCON. We hope for his
continued association in service to Srila Prabhupada and ISKCON.
23. Whereas Krishna Balaram refused to follow the GBC mandate and since
then he has criticized ISKCON and its members with concocted accusations,
twisted the Gaudiya Vaisnava philosophy, and whereas there is fresh evidence of
continued sexual impropriety, it is resolved that Krishna Balaram is hereby
expelled from ISKCON. The body recommends that anyone aspiring to cultivate
spiritual life reject his association and teachings.
24. [Guideline] That as far as possible, donations to ISKCON should be
accepted without any conditions. However, donations may also be accepted with
limited conditions. Acceptable conditions are those which define a general
category or use, such as deity worship, education, construction, etc. which
define a specific geographic location
or project, or which give the donor a modest amount of recognition.
Unacceptable conditions are those which:
a. Give some
right to the donor to reclaim
part or all of the donation in the future. All donations become ISKCON's inviolable property without any
possibility of alienation.
b. Which are vague or ambiguous, and thus risk
future disputes over interpretation.
c. Which in other ways risk future litigation or disputes, or which
could harm ISKCON's reputation.
d. Which compromise ISKCON's right on ability to manage its assets in
accordance with Srila Prabhupada's
instructions and ISKCON law.
ISKCON managers must use
donations with conditions in accordance with the agreed terms.
25. [ISKCON Law] That, in the case of donations of real property or
other donations specifically for real estate purchases or improvements, any
conditions relating to the property imposed by a donor must be clearly spelled
out in writing. The Property Trustees
associated with the property must consider the conditions in light of the
ISKCON Guidelines for donations with conditions, and if they agree in writing
that the conditions are within the specified guidelines, then the donation may
be accepted.
26. That the GBC Body gives its approval to the Copenhagen Temple to
sell its present house in Frederiksberg and relocate the Deities to a better
location.
27. That the GBC Body offers its blessings to Niranjana Swami and ISKCON
Boston to move Sri-Sri Radha Gopivallabha to a new location in the Boston area,
under the supervision of the Property Trustees.
28. That if an Acting GBC Member is elected to the Executive Committee,
he shall have voting rights while serving on the Executive Committee. He must
still undergo any required confirmation process before becoming a full GBC
member.
29. That the GBC Body is responsible for establishing the proper
standards of conduct for its members
and others to whom it delegates authority.
If an individual to whom the GBC Body has delegated authority fails to
perform his mandated duties or acts in a manner contrary to ISKCON law or
principle, then the GBC Body is responsible to correct or remove the deviant.
If it is demostrated that the
GBC Body did not function in a timely manner to rectify one of its
representatives, and as a result, an individual ISKCON temple or project
suffers inordinately, then the GBC Body
should consider how to help the local temple or project overcome its
difficulties, but the GBC Body cannot be held liable in any way.
30. That the GBC Ministry of Life Membership should make one of its top
priorities during the next year the implementation of a world-wide program of
rectification and righting of relationships with all present and past Life
Members. GBC Members and Temple
Presidents should fully cooperate with this effort. The Minister should prepare
written guidelines by the end of April 1993.
31. That, as it contains various stimulants like caffeine (contained in
coffee), theine (contained in black tea) and theobromine (contained in cacao),
chocolate should not be eaten by ISKCON devotees.
32. That the outgoing Chairman, who is just completing his term of
office upon the completion of running the GBC meetings, has the final responsibility
to personally complete or delegate to completion all correspondence arising
from the resolutions passed at the meeting he has chaired. He and the new
Chairman should both sign the correspondence.
In addition, all officers who originally deal with a matter should open
a file (format to be prepared by the Corresponding Secretary) for the keeping
of notes of explanation and copies of correspondence whenever action is taken.
If the matter is referred to another officer the file should be passed on. All pending files will be given
to the new Executive Committee. Completed matters will be deposited with the
Corresponding Secretary.
33. That the GBC Body accepts the resignation of His Grace Kirtiraj
Prabhu. The Executive Committee shall send a letter to him expressing the deep
appreciation of the Body for his years of dedicated service to Srila Prabhupada
and to ISKCON.
34. That every Continental Committee will select one GBC member from the
continent to serve as "GBC Executive Committee Continental Representative"
for the year, commencing from Gaura Purnima.
For areas that do not have Continental Committees, the GBC Members from
the area will meet at Mayapur and select a Continental Representative for the
year. These Representatives will be
chosen for a) North America, b) South America, c) Europe-CIS-North Africa-West
Africa, d) India-Middle East-East Africa-South Africa, and e) the Pacific Rim. In addition, a sannyasi will be assigned to
each area to assist.
The job of the Executive Committee Continental Representative shall be
as follows:
a. To directly receive notifications of all
problems referred to the Executive Committee from within his continent.
b. To send to the Chairman of the GBC a regular
report every three months on all significant issues which were brought to his
attention from within his area.
c. To ensure that the normal procedures for
resolving a problem have been attempted (going through the Temple President,
Zonal Secretary, etc.) or are not applicable.
d. To consult with the GBC Chairman and/or
Executive Committee if any issue occurs that he feels he cannot or should not
deal with by himself.
e. To serve as a voting member of the Executive
Committee on any issues concerning only his area, and to be consulted before
any decision affecting his area is taken.
f. To pass on to the Chairman any issue that:
i. has global consequences or consequences
reaching beyond his continent;
ii. b.is an emergency on the level that he
cannot comfortably deal with;
iii. intimately deals with a GBC member or
ISKCON guru;
iv. deals with the workings of the GBC Body.
g. To engage the assigned sannyasi and/or
Candidates for GBC assigned to his continent for the year in assisting him in
resolving emergencies as required.
The improved job of the GBC Executive Committee
a. With the Chairman of the GBC and the other
Executive Committee members relieved of overseeing any specific area of the
world, they can concentrate on global issues.
b. Every year they should meet in Mayapur and,
reviewing previous reports, divide the
practical workload amongst themselves for a more even distribution. This could include: correspondance,
forwarding matters to appropriate persons, personally going to resolve problems
which could not be resolved otherwise,
follow up, overseeing the implementation of Resolutions, functioning of
GBC Office, etc.
c. At the end of the year they should make a
review of the previous year's workload and make suggestions for handling the
work better, propose new amendments to the system, etc.
The job of the Chairman
The Chairman should himself not directly oversee any area of the world,
other than his designated area of GBC responsibilities. He should work with his
Executive Committee and the Continental Chairman in the following ways:
a. Delegate appropriate issues arising from a
continent to the concerned Continental Representative. Delegate issues related to a Ministry to the
appropriate Minister to reply.
b. Receive, coordinate, and correspond about the regular reports sent to
him by his Executive Officers and Continental Representatives, and other
correspondence to GBC Chairman.
c. Consult with a Continental Representative
on any issue concerning the continent or as the Continental Representative
feels necessary, and to take their vote and input on issues concerning their
continent which are being considered by the Executive Committee.
d. Accept and deal with all issues passed up to him from the Continental
Chairmen.
e. Follow up, after the initial notification by
the past GBC Chairman, on all previously passed GBC resolutions.
f. Directly deal with issues of global
consequence, or delegate to another member of the Executive Committee.
g. To discuss with other members of the
Executive Committee on major issues of greater consequence, and get their help
and input for resolving the problem.
h. Establish practical procedures to ensure
that before matters are brought up to the Executive Committee the applicants
have gone through the normal avenues for redressing the problems, to forward
improperly submitted matters to appropriate persons, and to propose legislation
in this regard as necessary.
i. To directly deal with emergencies requiring
immediate attention due to their urgency.
These shall be discussed with the executive committee as
appropriate.
j. From time to time to see that the other
elected members of the Executive Committee are updated about the global issues
which have surfaced and important continental issues.
k. To delegate an elected member of the Executive
Committee (Vice-Chairman or Secretary)
to deal with a problem which cannot be resolved by a continental
chairman or sannyasi and cannot wait until the annual GBC meeting.
l. To coordinate sannyasis to resolve problems
as required.
35. That Virabahu Prabhu is elected Chairman of the GBC Body for
Gourabda 507 (1993-94).
36. That the Continental Representatives to the Executive Committee for
Gourabda 507 shall be:
a) North America - Ravindra Svarupa Prabhu
b) South America - Loka Saksi Prabhu
c) Europe, CIS, North and West Africa -
Suhotra Swami
d) India, East and South Africa - Giriraja Swami
e) Pacific Rim - Kavicandra Swami
37. That Kavicandra Swami is elected as Vice-Chairman of the GBC Body
for Gourabda 507
38. That Giriraja Swami is elected as Executive Secretary of the GBC
Body for Gourabda 507.
39. That Navina Krishna Prabhu be appointed as Assistant GBC and GBC
Minister of Finance and Management
40. That Bhakti Raghava Swami be appointed as Assistant GBC.
41. That Rohini Suta Prabhu be appointed as Assitant GBC.
42. That the GBC Body accepts Vasudeva Prabhu's request to retire from
the GBC Body in order to concentrate on the temple project in Suva. The GBC Body encourages Vasudeva Prabhu to
complete the Suva Temple as an offering for Srila Prabhupada's Centennial.
43. That Ayodhyapati Prabhu is
approved to take sannyasa this year.
44. That Atmanivedana Prabhu is
approved to take sannyasa this year.
46. That permanent residency visas ("green cards") should not
be given quickly or indiscriminately to foreign nationals coming to serve in
U.S. temples. Rather they should be first given only temporary religious worker
or temporary religious minister visas.
Three to five year visas should be given prior to green card issue. No North American temple shall sponsor a
foreign devotee for a temporary religious worker or minister visa unless the
devotee has written permission from the GBC representative in his country of
origin, as well as a character reference as a devotee in good standing from his
spiritual master or local temple authority.
47. That the Health and Welfare Ministry should conduct an adequate
survey of all those who are fully active in ISKCON. The survey should determine
what services the devotees feel the temple should provide so the devotees can
be secure and enthusiastic in their devotional service as life-long dependent
members of ISKCON. Life insurance, health insurance, basic lodging and food,
old-age programs, etc. are some of the areas that could be covered.
48. That Resolution 92-76 is withdrawn.
49. Whereas the GBC is hopeful that in the spirit of the Srila
Prabhupada Centennial all of Srila Prabhupada's family may unite for this
celebration, and understanding that this may only be a first step in many
cases, the GBC body hereby formally extends apologies to any devotees who have
been hurt by poor treatment or mistakes made by ISKCON leaders.
50. That the Centennial Ministry will organize a global survey or audit
of devotees living both within ISKCON Communities and outside as well as those
who have left the full-time practice of Krishna Consciousness in order to help
understand the steps that can be taken to develop a strong united ISKCON. Similar efforts are encouraged in open
forums like istagosthis, conferences, ISKCON publications, etc.
51. Whereas the
Centennial Ministry has recognized that there are several groups of devotees
and congregation who are interested in the Srila Prabhupada Centennial, and
that finalizing plans for the celebration requires information on the specific
interests of these groups and their potential participation. It is therefore
resolved that a world-wide feasibility study shall be conducted during the year
Gourabda 507 (1993-94) for determining:
a. The interest of each group
b. The priorities of each group
c. The volunteer forces that can be mobilized,
including leaders.
d. The fund raising goals that each group
determines is feasible.
e. The time table of events.
f. How the different groups can work together,
where needed.
g. All resource requirements and budgets that
are realistically obtainable.
Temple Presidents and National & Continental Committees shall
provide the following information according to deadlines determined by the
Centennial Ministry:
a. What local, national, continental and
international projects and programs they are likely to do for the Centennial
and what are their anticipated schedules and budgets.
b. What are the sources and plans to fund these
projects.
c. What assistance and/or guidance is required in
fund-raising, communications, event planning and management.
The study shall be completed and results presented to the GBC body no
later than the Annual GBC Meeting, 1994.
52. Whereas the Srila Prabhupada Centennial has unique potential to
accomplish the following ISKCON objectives:
appreciation &
recognition of Srila Prabhupada
unity & strength in ISKCON
family
developing and involving
ISKCON's congregation
expansion of sankirtan,
especially book distribution
and whereas, the Srila Prabhupada Centennial can function as a deadline
for achieving certain agreed upon goals, it is resolved:
That the International Society for Krishna Consciousness shall make the
campaign for and celebration of Srila Prabhupada Centennial a focus of all its
activities through 1996.
53. The following ISKCON Laws on Deity worship are modified to read as
follows:
Law: 25.2.1 becomes:
That the pictures of His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami
Prabhupada, His Divine Grace Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Prabhupada, Srila Gaura
Kisora dasa Babaji, Srila Bhaktivinode Thakura, and preferably Jagannatha dasa
Babaji should always remain on all ISKCON temple altars.
Law: 25.2.3 becomes:
That a pujari who is not initiated by Srila Prabhupada shall keep the
picture of his guru on the altar while offering arati. The picture must be substantially smaller
than those of the predecessor acaryas in disciplic succession, or, if not
substantially smaller, be placed on a lower level. After the arati, the picture should be removed from the altar.
Law: 25.4.1 becomes:
There should be one
seat for ISKCON gurus and their Godbrothers/sisters (in addition to Srila
Prabhupada's vyasasana), for giving sastra classes. Disciples of ISKCON gurus
should sit on a lower asana or cushion, since it is improper to sit on the same
asana used by one's diksa guru.
Law: 25.4.2 becomes:
That the sastra being read in class must be higher than the speaker's
seat and the stand should be at least as opulent as the speaker's asana,
following Vedic custom.
Law: 25.5.1 becomes:
That in the temple room kirtana, only the name of Srila Prabhupada and
his predecessors may be chanted. An exception to this restriction is the
Vyasa-puja celebration of an ISKCON-guru.
Law: 25.6.1 becomes:
That pictures of gurus other than Srila Prabhupada, the previous
Vaisnava acaryas, and approved ISKCON spiritual masters shall not be placed in
ISKCON temples.
54. That all existing GBC Resolutions concerning property management and
Deity relocation matters are hereby superceded by the following Law Section:
§1 Definitions:
1.1 Definition of an
ISKCON Property:
An ISKCON Real Property is a real property owned by
an ISKCON Affiliate, or held for the exclusive and perpetual benefit of one or
more ISKCON Affiliates; or buildings owned on land which is contractually under
the exclusive control of an ISKCON Affiliate for a total period of minimum
fifty years.
1.2 Definition of an
ISKCON Property with Deities:
For the purpose of property related laws, an ISKCON
Property with Deities is a property on which there is a Deity which has been
either formally installed, or publicly
worshipped according to the ISKCON standard for formally installed
Deities.
1.3 Property Trustees
Definition:
A Property Trustee is an ISKCON official with certain
duties for the protection of ISKCON's interests for properties assigned to
him.
1.4 Executors Committee
Definition:
The Executors Committee is a permanent GBC Committee
assigned to assist the GBC for executing the details of Srila Prabhupada's
Will, overseeing and coordinating the activities of Property Trustees, and
additional duties relating to ISKCON Properties.
1.5 Definition of
"Property Trustee Principle":
(The following section is from Srila Prabhupada's
Will, consisting of part of paragraph 4 and all of Paragraph 5.)
None of the immovable properties standing in the name
of ISKCON in India shall ever be mortgaged, borrowed against, sold,
transferred, or in any way encumbered, disposed of, or alienated. This direction is irrevocable. Properties outside of India in principle should
never be mortgaged, borrowed against, sold, transferred, or in any way
encumbered, disposed of, or alienated, but if the need arises, they may be
mortgaged, borrowed against, sold, etc. with the unanimous consent of the Property Trustees.
§2 Regulations:
2.1 Registering Real
Properties:
2.1.1. No funds of an ISKCON Affiliate or of the
BBT may be used for or pledged against the purchase or major development of any
real property that is not held or will not be held as an ISKCON property.
2.1.2. All ISKCON properties shall be registered
in such a way that the Property Trustees shall have, to the maximum degree
possible under local law, the actual authority to perform the functions
required of them under ISKCON Law.
2.1.3. The copies of the registration deed and
corporate papers shall be submitted to the Secretary of the GBC Executors
Committee, who shall hold them.
2.2 Encumbering or
Alienating ISKCON Properties:
2.2.1. No ISKCON Property outside of India shall
be sold, mortgaged, borrowed against, transferred or in any way encumbered,
disposed of, or alienated without the prior unanimous written permission of the
Property Trustees assigned to that property.
Property Trustees, in granting permission, should consider that, in
principle, Srila Prabhupada did not want ISKCON Properties to be sold,
mortgaged, etc., except "when the need arises". (See Property Trustee
Principle definition.)
2.2.2. Any legal equity held by a private
individual or a non-ISKCON entity in a structure built on ISKCON Property
constitutes an encumberance on that property, and is prohibited by ISKCON Law.
2.2.3. No ISKCON property in India shall ever be
mortgaged, borrowed against, sold, transferred, or in any way encumbered,
disposed of or alienated. This
direction is irrevocable.
2.3 Mortgaging
Properties with Installed Deities:
An initial purchase mortgage may be taken against a
real property in which a Deity will be installed, but no additional mortgages
or shall be permitted without the permission of the GBC Body.
2.4 Regulations for
Alienating Properties with Deities
2.4.1. No property in which the Deity of the Lord
is installed can be sold without approval of the GBC Body.
2.4.2. A proposal to the GBC for sale of an
ISKCON Property and relocation of installed Deities must be accompanied by:
a) a written recommendation with explanation by the local Temple
President and management council;
b) The written request of the local GBC Zonal Secretaries.
c) the written approval of the Property Trustees; and
d) a report by the Trustees giving their reasons for the approval.
2.4.3. In the event the local GBC, temple
management and Property Trustees are not all unanimous in recommending that an
ISKCON property with installed Deities be sold, and/or the Deities be moved,
and a majority wants to sell or relocate, or if there is an imminent risk of
losing the property, the GBC Executive Committee shall appoint an
impartial 3-man committee to
investigate the situation and prepare a comprehensive report with their
recommendation for or against the proposal.
If the 3-man committee finds that the proposal is acceptable, then the
entire GBC body may be approached either at its annual meeting or by
correspondence proposal, for approval of the plan.
2.4.4. If a local GBC Zonal Secretary finds
himself unable to maintain an ISKCON Property in which installed Deities
reside, and also is unable to obtain the consent of the Property Trustees to
sell the property, then he may approach the Executive Committee, which is empowered to take whatever steps
are necessary in collaboration with the Property Trustees to save the property,
including the appointing of an ad-hoc co-GBC.
2.4.5. If installed ISKCON Deities are being
relocated to a new property, the Trustees of the Deities' original property are
responsible to oversee the relocation, according to GBC directives, to ensure
that
a) any funds realized from the
sale of ISKCON property are not mismanaged or in anyway diverted so as to
decrease the Deity's equity; and
b) the new property is adequate
to the needs of the Deities and the community.
2.5 Regulations for
Maintaining Records of Real Properties:
2.5.1 The copies of
the registration deed and corporate papers shall be held by the Secretary of
the Executors Committee. The ISKCON
Affiliate having purchased or acquired a real property shall be responsible to
submit these documents within 6 months from the date of purchase.
2.5.2 That a record of
all ISKCON properties shall be maintained by the Secretary of the Executors
Committee, including current value,
purchase price, address of property, owner's name, and other information as specified
by the Executors Committee. The
Secretary of the Executors Committee shall provide the above information to the
GBC Executive Officers and Members as required .
2.6 Non-Adherence to
Property Registration Regulations:
That unless the Executors Committee grants a special
temporary exemption, those temples who do not adhere to the Property Trustee
Principle may not be considered as authorized ISKCON Affiliates.
2.7 Registering
Properties in a Non-ISKCON Affiliate's name:
If an ISKCON Property cannot be registered according
to these regulations then the property registration must have the prior consent
of the GBC Executors Committee .
§3 Property Trustees
3.1 Property Trustee
Duties:
3.1.1. To have their names included on ISKCON
property titles or on holding corporations for properties assigned to them;
3.1.2. To see that assigned properties are
properly registered according to ISKCON Law and to advise local managers in
this regard;
3.1.3. To report transgressions of ISKCON
property law in assigned properties;
3.1.4. To consider proposals of local managers
for acquiring new properties in areas under their jurisdiction, and to grant or
withhold approval of the proposals;
3.1.5. To oversee the tax and legal status of
entities owning assigned properties in order to certify that the properties are
adequately safeguarded;
3.1.6. To give or withhold permission on merit to
allow any ISKCON property without an installed Deity to be mortgaged, borrowed
against, sold, transferred, or in any way encumbered, disposed of, or
alienated;
3.1.7. To give or withhold recommendation on
merit to allow any ISKCON property with an installed Deity to be mortgaged,
borrowed against, sold, transferred, or in any way encumbered, disposed of or
alienated;
3.1.8. To give written reports to the GBC body,
or the Executors Committee, regarding proposals to move an installed Deity or
alienate the property of the Deity;
3.1.9. To assist the GBC Executive Committee in
saving an endangered property on which installed Deities reside;
3.1.10. To be responsible to oversee the
relocation of installed ISKCON Deities to a new property ensuring that property
sale proceeds are not mismanaged or in anyway diverted so as to decrease the
Deity's equity, and that the new property is adequate for the Deities.
3.1.11. When assigned by the GBC, to approve
purchase of property or perform special assignments regarding property
safeguards;
3.2 Property Trustees
Powers:
3.2.1. To grant or withhold approval to sell,
mortgage, borrow against, transfer, or in any way encumber, dispose of, or
alienate an ISKCON property under their jurisdiction that does not have an
installed Deity.
3.2.2. To grant or withhold recommendation to
sell, mortgage, borrow against, transfer, or in any way encumber, dispose of,
or alienate an ISKCON property under their jurisdiction that does have an
installed Deity.
3.2.3. To inspect and review on demand an ISKCON
Affiliate's institutional or corporate records, financial accounts, tax
records, or property records in order to safeguard assigned real properties
held in the name of the Affiliate from being alienated or encumbered due to
negligence, error, mismanagement, or other improper acts, or in order to
determine if all ISKCON property laws are being followed by the Affiliate;
3.2.4. To act as required signatories on all real
estate transactions involving assigned properties;
3.2.5. To act as trustees for any funds held in
trust from sale proceeds of the Deity's property until new property is
purchased and the Deity permanently and properly settled.
3.3 Property Trustees
Appointment Procedures:
3.3.1. The Property Trustees who have been
designated in Srila Prabhupada's Will have been appointed for life, except as
mentioned below.
3.3.2. In the event of the death or failure to
act for any reason for any of the said Property Trustees, a successor Trustee
or Trustees may be appointed by the remaining Trustees, provided the new
Trustee is an initiated disciple of ISKCON who is following strictly all the
rules and regulations of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness as
detailed in Srila Prabhupada's books, and provided that there are never less
than three or more than five Trustees acting at one time.
3.3.3. Any changes, filling of vacancies, or
additional appointments of Property Trustees that cannot practically be done by
the Property Trustees as above shall be done by GBC Body, or on behalf of the
GBC Body by the Executors Committee, which shall take into consideration the
local GBC Zonal Secretary's recommendations.
Property Trustees shall be selected primarily from among the GBC
members, or alternatively from among senior responsible devotees. At least one
Property Trustee shall not be involved in the local management.
3.4 Property Trustees
Regulations:
Wherever legally possible, the names of the Property Trustees shall be
included on all new and existing titles to ISKCON properties or where
applicable as Directors or Trustees of the controlling Board of Directors or
Trustees of the "holding trust"of the property.
§4 The Executors Committee
4.1 Executors Committee
Powers:
4.1.1. To delegate authority to individual
members to guide and monitor, the Property Trustees.
4.1.2. To make rules for ISKCON regarding property
related standards and execution of legislation and Srila Prabhupada's
Will. These rulings may be amended or rescinded by the GBC Body at
their discretion.
4.1.3. To nominate and appoint Property Trustees
where none exist or to replace vacancies according to approved procedures.
4.1.4. To make recommendations and to propose
legislation to the GBC in regard to property matters and Srila Prabhupada's
Will.
4.1.5. To grant special temporary exemptions from
placing their properties in the name of ISKCON or having Property Trustees as
trustees of the property.
4.2 Executors Committee
Duties:
4.2.1. To implement the specific legal and
familial provisions of Srila Prabhupada's Will; and to take appropriate steps
to insure that ISKCON members duly fulfil their specific responsibilities in
relation to Srila Prabhupada's Will.
4.2.2. To oversee the performance of all Property
Trustees in seeing that all ISKCON properties are properly registered according
to ISKCON Law.
4.2.3. The Executors Committee shall delegate
authority to its individual members for implementing the Property Trustee
Principle.
4.2.4. To submit an Annual Report to the GBC.
4.3 Executors Committee
Annual Meeting Agenda:
4.3.1. To elect Officers of the Committee.
4.3.2. To review old business and to review the
activities of its members and of the Property Trustees.
4.3.3. To deal with matters referred by the GBC
Body.
4.3.4. To deal with other agenda topics as may be
proposed by the members.
55. That if the appeal to the European Court of Human Rights on the
usage of Bhaktivedanta Manor fails, the members of the U.K. Yatra (in
connection with the GBC Standing Committee on the Manor) may negotiate a
limited usage of the Manor with local authorities. An example of this may be a limited public attendance on a ticket
basis of 500 persons per day and more on festivals.
56. Whereas His Holiness Gaura Govinda Maharaja requests the help of the
International GBC and the Presidents of ISKCON Centers worldwide in correcting
the wrong philosophical views of some of his disciples and followers. It is
resolved:
That the GBC wishes to convey to all ISKCON devotees that Gaura Govinda
Maharaja neither believes in, nor endorses, and indeed deplores such notions
as...
a. only a nitya-siddha liberated soul descended
from the spiritual world can initiate disciples and instruct them in Krsna
consciousness;
b. the only nitya-siddha uttama-adhikari guru
for ISKCON is Gaura Govinda Maharaja;
c. a superior acarya at whose feet all 'genuine'
devotees must take shelter will soon be revealed within ISKCON (that acarya
being Gaura Govinda Maharaja);
d. there are at present many gurus in ISKCON
only for material managerial reasons (i.e. just to give the gurus positions
they want);
e. a 'genuine' devotee may reject even his own
guru in good standing to take shelter of Gaura Govinda Maharaja;
f. after
connecting with Gaura Govinda Maharaja, a 'genuine' devotee may give up his
assigned responsibility within ISKCON and simply collect for ISKCON
Bhuvanesvara;
g. there should be a 'two-tiered' guru system
within ISKCON consisting of monitor gurus to keep discipline and the uttama
adhikari (Gaura Govinda Maharaja) to give siksa to everyone;
h. the illusory energy of Krsna supplies ISKCON
with its 'local' gurus;
Gaura Govinda Maharaja assures all ISKCON devotees that he does not
sanction the propagation of the above ideas. To protect his good name, he
wishes it to be known throughout the Society that anyone proclaiming such
things should be immediately reported to the Maharaja in writing. A copy of the
letter should be sent by the informant to the GBC Executive Committee Chairman.
Gaura Govinda Maharaja will correct the offending person's erroneous views. If
necessary he will seek further direction from the GBC Executive Committee on
how to rectify disturbances generated by such wrong preaching.
57. That an ISKCON Temple shall be responsible for preaching to the
congregation in the city, adjacent areas nearby, and any other extended area
as may be designated by the local Zonal Secretary(s) and Zonal Council (if
any). The congregational preaching
program in such cases shall operate as a department of or part of the ISKCON
temple, who shall bear the expense and shall provide the other requirements
needed for this preaching.
However, there are geographic areas which fall beyond the capacity or
desire of ISKCON temples to supervise, promote, and expand the congregational
preaching. For these areas the local
GBC Zonal Secretary(s) and the Zonal Council (if any) can appoint a responsible
devotee in good standing to be a "Director" of a "Congregational
Preaching Directorate" or "Branch" of ISKCON who can lead a team
of preachers to systematically cultivate, preach to, and expand the congregational
preaching in a specified area. A
"Director" of a Congregational Preaching Branch for purposes of
ISKCON Law shall have for all effective purposes the position and
responsibilities of a Temple President over his team of preachers and
establishment. He should also have the basic qualifications for a
responsibility of this nature. The
central office of the "branch" may be based in a temple premises with
the permission of the President, or they may have a separate place. In addition
the Director shall have the following specific duties:
a. To provide leadership and spiritual guidance
for devotees under him.
b. To manage the finances of his program.
c. To recommend qualified candidates for
initiation.
d. To encourage persons ready for joining a
temple to do so.
e. To concentrate on congregational preaching.
f. To be accountable to the GBC Zonal
Secretary.
g. To perform additional duties as assigned by
the GBC Zonal Secretary and Zonal Council.
If any ISKCON temples exist nearby or do preaching in the area, then
their no-objection shall be required to establish such a branch. Arrangements for sankirtan rights and other
aspects needed to maintain good relations and cooperation shall be made with
the concerned Temple President(s).
Each GBC Zonal Secretary shall allocate the responsibility for preaching
to the congregation in the different geographic areas of his zone to temples or
Congregational Preaching Directorates to insure maximum effectiveness in
congregational preaching and development.
If a nama hatta center upgrades to become an ISKCON temple or otherwise
a temple is established in a Congregational Preaching Directorate area, then
naturally the Zonal Secretary will make new arrangements to re-allocate the
respective geographic responsibilities for preaching to the congregation in the
affected areas.
58. That Harikesa Swami, Hari Vilasa Prabhu, and Navina Krishna Prabhu
are added to the Executors Committee.
59. That a Minister of Justice will not be appointed for the coming
year. The functions of the Ministry shall be provisionally divided into two
areas:
a. Justice Monitoring: As per GBC Resolution
92-96, to monitor the development of
the worldwide judicial system in ISKCON for the GBC body. Bhakti Raghava Swami will perform this
function.
b. Justice research and development: As per
GBC resolution 92-96, to do the necessary research and development of knowledge
to establish and continue the judicial system in ISKCON. All findings and conclusions to be presented
to the GBC body for final approval. This function to be performed by a
committee of Hari Vilasa das, Loka Saksi das, Sesa das, and Padmanabha
das. Convener of the committee to be
Hari Vilas. Research Coordinator to be Sesa das.
60. That the paper entitled "Devotees Initiating Before Their
Guru's Physical Departure" is
approved by the GBC as the official ISKCON position on this question. [A copy
of this paper is attached.]
61. The organizational structure for the Srila Prabhupada Centennial
presented by the Srila Prabhupada Centennial Ministry is approved by the GBC.
The following devotees are approved to fill the top positions in this
structure:
Global Executive Director - Naveen Krishna dasa
Global Fund Development Coordinator - Sridhara Swami
Global Communications Coordinator - Mukunda Goswami
All GBC members are requested to assist the Centennial Ministry's effort
to recruit additional persons to fill the balance positions in the structure.
62. That any ISKCON Affiliate wishing to purchase property to be used as
a public place of worship must obtain the written permission of the local
GBC(s) and the majority of the Property Trustees associated with the property. The Property Trustees should give or
withhold permission only on the basis of whether the new property will be
secure and whether the new purchase will prejudice the security of any other
ISKCON properties. The Executors
Committee may give more specific guidelines.
63. For a devotee to be approved as an initiating guru in ISKCON, all of his initiations must
be from ISKCON gurus in good standing. Devotees who have been initiated by
bonafide Gaudiya Vaisnavas and who later join ISKCON may be considered as
special cases by the GBC Body.
64. That devotees who do not live in a temple and who do not come to the
temples for programs every day (including those that regularly attend only a
nama hatta center) may be initiated, provided they have regular morning
programs at home or attend regular morning programs at the nama hatta center
and are recommended (in the prescribed form) by one of the following (other
than the initiating guru) who knows them well: a local GBC, the nearest Temple
President, the local Regional Secretary, the concerned Congregational Preaching
Director, or an ISKCON sannyasi who is regularly preaching in that area.
65. That the GBC Body commissions the Philosophical Research Group to
prepare a paper on the topic, "The Significance of Srila Prabhupada's
Position as Founder-Acarya of ISKCON."
66. That a Dependent Resident ISKCON Devotee (or Member) is defined as a
devotee who is dependent upon ISKCON for residential facilities, food,
clothing, and basic health care.
Dependent Resident Devotees have voluntarily taken a more renounced,
less materialistic, plainer form of life for the purpose of dedicating maximum
energy toward spiritual advancement and devotional service to Lord Krishna.
Such devotees are free to leave the ashram at any time and continue their
residence on their own free will for the purpose of engaging in Krishna
consciousness.
Dependent Resident Devotees shall have the following obligations and
responsibilities:
a. To maintain the Krishna conscious standards
of behaviour, including following the
four regulative principles and chanting a minimum of sixteen rounds of
japa per day.
b. To adhere to ISKCON Law and the regulations
of the Temple or ashram.
c. To be honest and straightforward in all
dealings.
d. To settle disputes through the ISKCON
Judicial System or through ISKCON approved arbitration, and not to take
recourse in a court of law against ISKCON except where expressly allowed under
ISKCON Law.
e. To attend the spiritual programs regularly.
f. To engage in devotional service as
instructed by the local authority (minimum 48 hours practical service a week.)
g. To be loyal to ISKCON and report any
deviations from ISKCON standards to higher authorities.
h. To make no claim of ownership over ISKCON
property which has been allocated for use in one's service, and to return such
property when requested or when one has decided to leave the ashram or
community of residence.
i. To agree to be transferred from one temple
to another as may be needed from time to time.
Such circumstances require mutual consideration. (Special consideration
and sensitivity should be given when asking families with children to transfer
to another temple.)
j. To take any regular health test according to
local temple policy.
The facilities ISKCON temples should provide for Dependent Resident
Devotees will vary according to local conditions. Generally, though, the
minimum should include:
For All Members:
a. Modest but adequate dormitory facility.
b. Adequate Krishna prasadam.
c. Suitable clothing for protection of body.
d. Basic medical care or health insurance as
affordable by the temple. (Strong encouragement is given that temple managers
see this as a basic requirement and not a luxury.)
e. To not have their privilege of residence
revoked without adequate cause.
f. Reasonable allowance for study time.
g. Sufficient time for health programs if
required.
h. Regular program for attending India
pilgrimage
i. Reasonable time for cultivation of family
members.
For Married Families, Additionally
a. Adequate residence for family and
children.
b. Education for children
c. Life insurance for parents to maintain dependents
in case of unexpected death, as affordable by temple.
d. Reasonable
arrangements for family needs to be met with dignity.
A simple written agreement should exist between the temple and
residential dependent members stating conditions under which the residential
dependent members will be maintained by the temple.
67. That the Property Trustees for a certain property outside India can
recommend the sale of a temple with installed Deities if the new location is
obviously an upgrade in property and value for the Deities and is financially
not a risky burden to the local devotees.
The approval can be achieved as follows:
a. First, the Property Trustees must unanimously
agree in writing to move to the obviously better property. One of the non-managerial property trustees
and/or a non-related Executors Committee member, and/or a neutral person
appointed by the Executors Committee should physically inspect the property and
give a complete report.
b. The GBC Body hereby delegates authority to
the Executors Committee by two-thirds absolute majority, to approve the change
to an obviously better property in the middle of the year.
c. The Executors Committee should be on COM to
facilitate and expedite property work. Expenses to be part of their budget.
d. A report should be made to the GBC Body at
the Annual Meeting.
68. That the zonal assignments for 1993-94 are as
follows:
Badrinarayan Das:
GBC for Southern California, Nevada, New Mexico, Colorado, Idaho, Utah,
Illinois, Iowa, Nebraska, Kansas, Missouri
co-GBC with Virabahu for Los Angeles
Bhakti Bhusana Swami:
GBC -- Argentina, Uruguay, Paraguay
co-GBC with Guru Prasad Swami for Colombia
co-GBC with Virabahu for Southern Florida
Bhakti Caru Swami:
co-GBC with Jayapataka Swami for West Bengal
co-GBC with Jayapataka Swami and Prabhavisnu Swami for Bangladesh
co-GBC with Bhakti Swarup Damodar Swami for France, except Dole
co-GBC with Giriraj Swami for South Africa, Mauritius, Reunion,
Madagascar, Comoro Islands, and Seychelles
co-GBC for Mayapur and Calcutta (*)
Bhakti Raghava Swami
Assistant GBC to Jagadisha Goswami and Niranjana Swami for Ontario
Assistant GBC to Niranjana Swami and Gopal Krishna Goswami for Quebec
and Maritime Provinces
Assistant GBC to Jagadisha Goswami and Hari Vilas for Western Canada,
State of Washington, and Alaska
Bhakti Swarup Damodar Swami:
GBC -- Manipur, Nagaland, Mizoram, Arunachal Pradesh
co-GBC with Jayapataka Swami for Tripura, Assam, Meghalaya
co-GBC with Jayapataka Swami and Prabhavisnu Swami for Tirupati
co-GBC with Prabhavisnu Swami for Burma
co-GBC with Gopal Krsna Goswami for Kuruksetra
co-GBC with Bhakti Caru Swami for France, except Dole
co-GBC with Jayapataka Swami and Gopal Krishna Goswami for Andhra
Pradesh, except Tirupati
Bhurijana Das:
co-GBC with Gopal Krishna Goswami and Jagadisha Goswami for West Uttar
Pradesh (including Vrindaban), Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh
co-GBC with Gopal Krishna Goswami, Giriraj Swami, and Tamal Krishna
Goswami for Bombay
Giriraj Swami:
GBC -- Fiji, Swaziland, Lesotho, Namibia, Zimbabwe, Botswana,
Mozambique, Malawi, Zambia, Angola, and Cape Verde Islands.
co-GBC with Bhakti Caru Swami for South Africa, Mauritius, Reunion,
Madagascar, Comoro Islands, and Seychelles
co-GBC with Jagadisa Goswami for Spain, Portugal
co-GBC with Gopal Krishna Goswami, Bhurijan, and Tamal Krishna Goswami
for Bombay
co-GBC with Hari Vilas for Pakistan
co-GBC with Jayapataka Swami for Sri Lanka
Gopal Krsna Goswami:
GBC -- Goa, Delhi, Maharashtra (other than Bombay), Punjab, Haryana,
Chandigarh, Gujarat, Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Burundi, and Rwanda
co-GBC with Tamal Krishna Goswami, Bhurijan, and Giriraj Swami for
Bombay
co-GBC with Jayapataka Swami and Bhaktisvarup Damodar Swami for Andhra
Pradesh, except Tirupati
co-GBC with Bhaktisvarupa Damodar Swami for Kuruksetra
co-GBC with Prabhavisnu Swami for East Uttar Pradesh
co-GBC with Jagadish Goswami and Bhurijan, for West Uttar Pradesh
(including Vrindaban), Rajasthan, and Madhya Pradesh
co-GBC with Niranjana Swami assisted by Bhaktiraghava Swami for Quebec
and Maritime Provinces
co-GBC with Ravindra Swarup for Washington DC
co-GBC with Niranjana Swami for Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan,
Tadjikistan, and Kirghizia
GBC, assisted by Rohini Suta for Golden Circle cities (Russia), and
Azerbaijan
Gour Govinda Swami:
co-GBC with Jayapataka Swami for Orissa
Guru Prasad Swami:
GBC for Arizona, Central America, Mexico, and Trinidad
co-GBC with Virabahu for Venezuela
co-GBC with Bhaktibhusan Swami for Colombia
Harikesa Swami:
GBC -- Germany, Switzerland, Austria, Denmark, Sweden, Norway, Finland,
Iceland, Faroe Islands, Yugoslavia, Lichtenstein, and Dole, France.
co-GBC for Mayapur and Calcutta(*)
co-GBC with Niranjana Swami for Moscow and St. Petersburg
co-GBC with Hari Vilas, assisted by Rohini Suta,for Armenia
GBC, assisted by Rohini Suta for Georgia
Hari Vilas Das:
GBC -- Turkey, Jordan, Syria, Iraq, Iran, North and South Yemen,
Afghanistan, Morocco, Algeria, Tunesia, Libya, Egypt, Ethiopia, Somalia,
Djibouti, Gambia, Senegal, Mauritania, Mali, Burkino Faso, Niger, Chad,
Northern California, Oregon, Jammu and Kashmir, Hardwar and Rishikesh
co-GBC with Jagadisa Goswami for Western Canada, State of Washington,
and Alaska
co-GBC with Jayapataka Swami for Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar,
United Arab Emirates, and Oman
co-GBC with Harikesa Swami, assisted by Rohini Suta,for Armenia
co-GBC with Giriraj Swami for Pakistan
Hrdayananda Das Goswami:
GBC for North and Central Florida
co-GBC with Loka Saksi for Brazil
Jagadisa Goswami:
co-GBC with Madhu Sevita for Italy
co-GBC with Niranjana Swami assisted by Bhakti Raghava Swami for Ontario
co-GBC with Giriraj Swami for Spain and Portugal
co-GBC with Gopal Krsna Goswami and Bhurijan for West Uttar Pradesh
(including Vrindaban), Rajasthan, and Madhya Pradesh
co-GBC with Hari Vilas assisted by Bhakti Raghava Swami for Western
Canada, State of Washington, and Alaska
Jayapataka Swami:
GBC for Karnataka, Kerala, Pondicherry, Maldives, Bhutan, Andaman and
Nicobar Islands, Tennessee, North and South Carolina, Georgia, Alabama,
Mississippi, Louisiana
co-GBC with Virabahu for Bolivia, Ecuador, Chile, and Peru
co-GBC with Prabhavisnu Swami for Bihar, Sikkim, Nepal, Malaysia, and
Tamil Nadu
co-GBC with Prabhavisnu Swami and Bhaktiswarup Damodar Swami for
Tirupati
co-GBC with Bhaktiswarup Damodar Swami for Tripura, Assam, and Meghalaya
co-GBC with Prabhavisnu Swami and Bhakticaru Swami for Bangladesh
co-GBC with Kavicandra Swami for Thailand, and Singapore
co-GBC with Bhakti Caru Swami for West Bengal other than Calcutta and
Mayapur
co-GBC with Gour Govinda Swami for Orissa
co-GBC with Gopal Krishna Goswami and Bhaktisvarup Damodar Swami for
Andhra Pradesh, except Tirupati
co-GBC with Giriraj Swami for Sri Lanka
co-GBC with Hari Vilas for Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, United
Arab Emirates, and Oman
co-GBC for Mayapur and Calcutta(*)
Kavicandra Swami:
GBC -- Japan, Vietnam, Laos, Israel, Cambodia, Hawaii, Nigeria, Ghana,
Ivory Coast, Sierra Leone, Benin, Togo, Liberia, Camaroon, Guinea,
Guinea-Bissau, Zaire, Gabon, Rio Muni, Central African Republic, and Congo
co-GBC with Suhotra Swami for Indonesia
co-GBC with Jayapataka Swami for Thailand, and Singapore
Lokasaksi Das:
co-GBC with Hrdayananda Goswami for Brazil
Madhu Sevita Das:
co-GBC with Suhotra Swami for Belgium, Luxembourg, Holland, Greece and
Cyprus
co-GBC with Jagadisha Goswami for Italy
Mukunda Goswami:
GBC Minister of Communications
Navina Krishna Das
GBC Minister of Finance and Administration
Niranjana Swami:
GBC -- New England, Festival of India, Ukraine, Lithuania, Estonia, and
Moldova
co-GBC with Gopal Krsna Goswami assisted by Bhakti Raghava Swami for
Quebec and Maritime Provinces
co-GBC with Jagadisa Goswami assisted by Bhakti Raghava Swami for
Ontario
co-GBC with Prabhavishnu Swami for
Belarus and Latvia
co-GBC with Harikesa Swami for Moscow and St. Petersburg
GBC, assisted by Rohini Suta for Russia west of Nijney Novgorod and
north of Voronesh, except for Moscow and St. Petersburg areas
co-GBC with Gopal Krishna Goswami for Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan,
Uzbekistan, Tadjikistan, and Kirghizia
Prabhavisnu Swami:
GBC -- Australia, New Zealand, Russia east of Nijney Novgorod and south
of Voronesh (except for Ural Mountain region), Brunei, Papua New Guinea, and
New Caledonia
co-GBC with Bhaktisvarup Damodar Swami for Burma
co-GBC with Jayapataka Swami for Bihar, Sikkim, Nepal, Malaysia, and
Tamil Nadu
co-GBC with Jayapataka Swami and Bhaktiswarup Damodar Swami for Tirupati
co-GBC with Gopal Krsna Goswami for Eastern Uttar Pradesh
co-GBC with Jayapataka Swami and Bhakticaru Swami for Bangladesh
co-GBC with Niranjana Swami for Belorus and Latvia
GBC, assisted by Rohini Suta for Ural Mountain Region of Russia
Ravindra Svarup:
GBC -- Michigan, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, Ohio, and Virginia
co-GBC with Gopal Krishna Goswami for Washington DC
Rohini Suta Das
Assistant GBC to Niranjana Swami for Russia west of Nijney Novgorod and
north of Voronesh, except for Moscow and St. Petersburg areas
Assistant GBC to Gopal Krishna Goswami for Golden Circle Region of
Russia and Azerbaijan
Assistant GBC to Harikesa Swami for Georgia
Assistant GBC to Harikesa Swami and Hari Vilas for Armenia
Assistant GBC to Prabhavishnu Swami for Ural Mountain Region of Russia
Romapada Swami:
co-GBC with Sridhara Swami for New York and New Jersey,
Sivarama Swami:
GBC -- England, Scotland, Wales, Channel Islands, Ireland, Hungary
co-GBC for Mayapur and Calcutta (*)
Sridhara Swami:
GBC Minister of Life Membership
co-GBC with Romapada Swami for New York and New Jersey
Suhotra Swami:
GBC - Czechoslovakia, Poland, Bulgaria, Romania and Albania
co-GBC with Kavicandra Swami for Indonesia
co-GBC with Madhu Sevita for Belgium, Luxembourg, Holland, Greece and
Cyprus
Tamal Krsna Goswami:
GBC -- Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Hong Kong, China, Korea, Taiwan,
Philippines, Polynesia
co-GBC with Gopal Krishna Goswami, Bhurijan, and Giriraj Swami for
Bombay
co-GBC for Mayapur and Calcutta (*)
Virabahu Das:
GBC for Guyana, Puerto Rico, Dominican Republic and balance of Caribbean
except for Trinidad
co-GBC with Bhaktibhusan Swami for Southern Florida
co-GBC with Badrinarayan for Los Angeles
co-GBC with Jayapataka Swami for Peru, Ecuador, Bolivia and Chile
co-GBC with Guru Prasad Swami for Venezuela
* co-GBC's for Mayapur and Calcutta are Jayapataka
Swami, Harikesa Swami, Tamal Krishna Goswami, Sivarama Swami, and Bhakticaru
Swami
69. That the GBC Body wishes to remind ISKCON members that since 1982
ISKCON law holds that devotees in ISKCON may take initiation only from approved
ISKCON gurus.
ISKCON members who, in violation of ISKCON law, take initiation from
non-ISKCON gurus should, according to standard etiquette, serve within the
institution of their guru and should not serve within ISKCON. (This rule does
not apply to persons who were already initiated before they became ISKCON
members.) Persons who have taken
initiation from non-bona fide gurus should follow the injunction of Srila Jiva
Goswami that such a useless guru, a family priest acting as guru, should be
given up, and that the proper, bona fide guru should be accepted. [reference:
S.B. 8.20.1 Purport.] )
Those who have already taken harinam or first initiation from Sripad
Puri Maharaj: Asraya-tattva Das, Govindaraja Das and his wife, Laksman Das,
Namahatta Das, Anadi Das, and Bhakta Tommaso may be considered exceptions
subject to the following guidelines:
a. They should keep their relationship internal.
b. They should follow ISKCON laws, standards,
and authorities, and not cite their guru's statements in opposition to ISKCON
standards.
70. That the GBC Chairman shall write a letter to Bhakti Tirtha Swami
expressing the Body's appreciation for his vaishnava qualities and achievements
in preaching. But we regret that, for personal reasons, he has not been able to
attend the GBC meetings in Mayapura. We would like to have his association and
to hear his realizations.
Regular attendance is one of the prescribed duties of a GBC Member. The
GBC Body feels that if he is unable to participate fully, specifically by
attending the meetings, he should
tender his honorable resignation from the GBC body, as several others have
done. If he doesn't resign during the
year, nor attend the 1994 meeting, we may take such action as an unspoken
resignation.
During this year GBC members should as far as possible visit and
correspond with Bhakti Tirtha Swami and discuss with him about how he can be
accountable to the GBC Body, and how he and his Godbrothers on the GBC can
improve their relationships to the point where he can be brought into full
participation on the Body.
71. a. That the GBC Health and Welfare Committee advises that temples
should not allow persons who are HIV positive to engage in services within our
temples which involve the preparation or serving of bhoga or prasadam.
b. That the Health and Welfare Committee should produce a booklet about
what AIDS is, how it is communicated, how to prevent it. This booklet should be
practical and not alarmist.
c. That the GBC Body requires that, local laws permitting, all devotees
living and/or serving in our temples should take an AIDS test. All new
devotees, as they join, should also take an AIDS test.
72. That each GBC shall submit goals for the Centennial in the different
areas of ISKCON's Mission, along with one year goals for the coming year.
Temple Presidents should also submit their goals for individual Temples.
These should be submitted to the Centennial Ministry office in New Delhi
by July 15, 1993. The Centennial Ministry will compile these Centennial ISKCON
Mission Goals in a booklet to be offered to Srila Prabhupada on Vyasa Puja,
1993.
73. That the Gaura Purnima class in Mayapur shall be given by three
speakers: The GBC Chairman (or his deputed Executive Committee representative),
a Mayapur GBC Zonal Secretary, and one other senior devotee.
74. That the sponsor of a proposal for a candidate for sannyasa should
each year give a report of the candidate's qualifications according to the GBC
Rules of Order, "The Qualification for Sannyasa." To be put on the list an initial report is
required. Thereafter an annual report is also necessary.
75. The GBC Body approves the appointment of Loka Sakshi Prabhu as the
Coordinator for Grhastha Advisory Services. He will be responsible to the
Health and Welfare Committee Chairman, who will report on the coordinator's
progress to the GBC Body. The Coordinator's responsibilities are:
a. To assemble materials for a grhastha ashram
handbook;
b. To gather information on how marriage matches
occur in different parts of the world;
c. To work out guidelines in consultation with
senior grhasthas in good standing about child raising, economic security, etc.
(theoretical and practical);
d. To correspond with grhasthas and managers
worldwide about householder questions;
e. To tabulate the successes and failures of
grassroot efforts to deal with grhastha problems now underway in different
regions of the ISKCON world and make the information available to all ISKCON
devotees.
76. That, in personal dealings between individual devotees and their
authorities, appealing the decision of a lower authority to a higher authority
for reaching a final solution is a standard principle in ISKCON. In such cases,
if a devotee feels aggrieved by a decision, or the lack of a decision, of his
Temple President for something which affects him in his personal spiritual life
(initiation, marriage, transfer, removal, permissions, etc.) the devotee may
appeal the matter to the local GBC Zonal Secretary, or an assistant of the GBC
approved for this purpose. While the appeal is being considered the concerned
devotee must follow the decision of the Temple President unless the GBC has
given a stay order for the duration of the appeal. During an appeal, all
concerned parties should be heard and the decision in the appeal shall be
considered as final. If requested,
decisions should be given in writing.
If the Temple President wants to appeal a matter relating to a decision
of his GBC Zonal Secretary he can do so to the GBC Body, or in emergencies to
the GBC Executive Committee, but while the appeal is going on he should follow
the decision of the Zonal Secretary unless the Executive Committee gives a stay
order from following it.
When the matter being appealed is related with something which will
produce an irrevocable consequence or contravene ISKCON Law the status quo
should be maintained until the appeal is decided.
77. Whereas the present system of assessing Education Fees is not
equitable due to having only two fees, it is resolved that the same breakdown
ratio for determining GBC fees be used for calculating Education Fees taking
into account size of temples, number of devotees, third world countries, etc.
79. That the GBC approves a second year Centennial Campaign with a
minimum target of US $ 120,000 for Gaurabda 508. This fund-raising campaign will consist of a
combination of the following:
-Centennial Ministry Fund-Raising Campaign Tour in cooperation with
local ISKCON leaders.
-Gour Purnima '93 Fund-raising Drive in Mayapur
81. That Jayapataka Maharaj, as
Chairman of Ksetra Committee 3 as a subcommittee, will draft a paper for
establishing minimum standards for Temple Presidents and their activities. This proposal, when circulated to the GBC
members, can recieve suggestions from the GBC members which will in turn be
analysed by the committee. The following areas should be covered:
a. Minimum spiritual standards for a being a
permanent Temple President (in emergency someone may be an Acting Temple
President). The GBC standards can serve
as a guideline for this.
b. The degree of authority a Temple President
can exert over members of a Temple.
From both Temple President and devotee point of view.
c. Guidelines for Temple President's
dealings:
i. In removing a devotee from a temple.
ii. In disciplining a devotee of the temple.
iii. In engaging devotees according to nature.
iv. In investing and spending Temple's funds.
v. In following ISKCON Laws and GBC directives.
vi. In relation to his GBC zonal secretary(s).
vii. In dealings with members of the opposite sex.
viii. In dealings with his own family affairs
(if grihasta).
ix. In following local laws.
x. In dealings regarding guru disciple
relationships and with guru's whose disciples reside in temple.
xi. In all other major aspects of Temple President dealings (This is not to be
confused with general advice for temple management to be covered in the Temple
Administration Guidebook. These
standards are more specific and regulatory in nature.)
d. The degree of material facilities a Temple
President may utilize for his own family maintenance from Temple assets.
e. The procedures that must be followed to
censure, place on probation, suspend or remove a Temple President.
82. A book on Sadacara should be
published that establishes the basic behavior expected of an ISKCON devotee,
and that targets behavior indicative of further advancement in Krsna
Consciousness.
The basic theme of this book should be "trnad api sunicena"
and "amanina manadena".
The implementation of correct Vaisnava acara must be first observed
within ISKCON's leading devotees before movement-wide changes can be expected.
The Sadacara book shall be prepared by Bhakti Caru Swami and Bhakti
Vidya Purna Swami, and the first draft should be completed by the GBC meetings
of 1994. Copies should be distributed to the GBC members for review, comments,
and suggestions.
83. That ISKCON Auckland (New Varshan) is given permission to mortagage
their property and take a bank loan of NZ Dollars 165,000- in order to
re-develop their grihastha housing facility as per their submitted plan.
84. That the 1993-94 Annual Fee Assessment List is accepted. The budget
for the year is approved as follows:
Executive Committee Expenses
and
Related Travel $ 6,000
Legal Work 7,000
Executors Committee Expenses 3,500
Calendar Mailing 600
Communications Office Expenses 5,000
Meeting Costs 4,400
Current Year Surplus (9,000)
----------
Total $ 17,500
86. That the major service of the Minister of Finance and Management,
Navina Krishna Das, shall be to teach the principles and techniques of sound
financial management and reporting systems, and to teach the principles and
techniques of non-profit management throughout the world. He will also increase his knowledge in these
professional areas for the benefit of ISKCON.
87. That ISKCON World Review shall not be permitted to carry advertising
for astrological services.
89. That the Managing Board of the Bhaktivedanta Institute be
reconstituted with the following members:
HH Bhaktisvarupa Damodara Swami, HG Sadaputa Das, HG Ravindra Svarupa
Das, HG Rasaraja Das, HH Romapada Swami, HG Navina Krishna Das, HG Amarendra
Das.
90. That all decisions in regard to satisfying the desires of Srila
Prabhupada in Bhaktivedanta Institute preaching and workings shall be decided
by a simple majority vote of the Bhaktivedanta Institute Board.
91. That the Bhaktivedanta Institute Board should convene its first
meeting as soon as possible, with Romapada Swami as the convener. At this meeting the following issues should
be addressed: election of officers, constitution and bye-Laws, agenda for the
upcoming year, and preaching goals and strategies. Minutes of the meeting as well as plans for future meetings shall
be sent to the GBC Chairman and BBT Secretary.
92. That the GBC Body accepts the resignation of Balavanta Prabhu. The
Executive Committee shall send a letter to him expressing the deep appreciation
of the Body for his years of dedicated service to Srila Prabhupada and to
ISKCON. We hope for his continued association in service to Srila Prabhupada
and ISKCON.
93. [Note: The implementation of
the following has been temporarily stayed by the current Chairman, Virabahu
Prabhu, pending resolution of a possible conflict with existing GBC Laws 88-62
and 91-72.] Whereas members of the congregation who are not initiated need
means of being recognized and feeling accepted by ISKCON; whereas other groups
are giving recognition to ISKCON congregation taking advantage of our lack of
giving recognition; and whereas since congregational members often take
considerable time to advance in sadhana bhakti a graduated system of
encouragement and recognition is needed to serve as guidelines and inspiration;
therefore it is resolved that:
a. ISKCON Managers and GBC Members shall,
within their area of authority, be permitted to publicly bestow acceptance and
recognition to members of its congregation for devotional achievements and
progress in devotional service.
b. Local temples and congregational preaching
units should implement programs for aiding the congregational members to
enhance their standing, and for training them to qualify for the higher
levels. This should include following a
recommended study course for the different levels. (Adult Education and
Congregational Preaching Monitors shall recommend.)
c. Standard certificates shall be issued
worldwide. (The proforma certificates shall be created and circulated by the
Corresponding Secretary in consultation with the Congregational Preaching
Monitor.)
d. The recognition shall be granted in any of
the following categories (giving these is optional, as also the bestowal
ceremony according to local time, place and circumstance):
i. Accepting Sacred Order of Lord Caitanya
(Short name: Sat-sangi, or Sraddhavan)
Qualifications: Accepting the instructions or sacred
order of Lord Caitanya to chant Hare Krishna (minimum one round), to worship
Lord Krishna (to visit the temple or otherwise cultivate devotional service as
far as possible), and to read the teachings of Lord Krishna (Bhagavad Gita,
Srimad Bhagavatam, and other books of Srila Prabhupada). [Note: Since this broadly correlates with
sraddha or sat-sanga stages of devotion, they can generally be called as
"Satsangi" or "Sraddhavan".]
ii. Krishna (or Gauranga) Sevak
Qualifications: Chanting a minimum of four rounds of
Hare Krishna japa, refraining from meat-eating, believing in Lord Krishna as
the Supreme Personality of Godhead, possessing a devotional attitude, and
avoiding of grossly immoral acts (drugs, prostitution, etc.)
iii. Krishna (or Gauranga) Sadhak
Qualifications: Chanting a minimum of eight rounds of
Hare Krishna japa, refraining from intoxication, meat-eating, gambling, and
extra-marital sex, offering of bhoga to pictures, establishing an altar at
home, and generally accepting the process of sadhana bhakti.
iv. Srila Prabhupada Asraya
Qualifications: Practicing the minimum standard of
Krishna Consciousness for ISKCON members as given by Srila Prabhupada, namely
chanting of minimum sixteen rounds of Hare Krishna japa, refraining from
intoxication, meat-eating, gambling, and illicit sex, and generally showing a
strong conviction in Krishna Consciousness.
v. Sri Guru Caran Asraya
Qualifications: Same as Srila Prabhupada Asraya, with
additional faith and surrender in an authorized spiritual master coming in the
disciplic succession. Must have been
practicing Srila Prabhupada Asraya standard for a minimum of six months. They should pass the exam provided for in
ISKCON Law.
94. That a budget of US $7,200 per year is approved for the Board of
Education. This includes $3,000 for Sri
Ram's personal maintenance, $1,800 for communication and office expenses, and
$2,400 for printing and distribution of the ISKCON Education Journal.
95. That the Sannyasa waiting list for 1993-94 shall be:
Mahamantra das 3 years
Hari Katha das 1 year
Prabhupada das 2 years
Mahatma das 4 years
Birsingha das 1 year
Raghubhir das 1 year
99. That the GBC Body expresses its deep appreciation for all who
assisted the Body during the Annual Meeting, especially the secretarial staff,
Medhavi Das, Krishna Rupa Devi Dasi, Tyaga Caitanya Das, Prem Vikash Das, Vraja
Bihari Das, Brijlata Devi Dasi, and Bhakta Eckhardt. They would also like to thank Bal Gopal Devi Dasi, Rukmini Devi
Dasi, Bhakti Vidya Purna Swami, and their assistants who kept the GBC Members
healthy and happy by providing tasty prasadam, well served.