Global
Coordination Team – Lokanath Swami, Janananda Goswami,
Ekalavya Das
Vrindavan
Samadhi Standing Committee
Gopal
Krsna Goswami, Malati Devi Dasi, Satyanarayana Das,
Naresvara Das, and Pancagauda Das (convener)
GBC-BBT Team
Members – Badrinarayan Das Goswami
(Coordinator), Gopal Krishna Goswami, Sivarama Swami,
Madhu Sevita Das, Hrdaya Caitanya Das, Praghosa Das
Section 200: FINANCES
201. GBC Budget
RESOLVED:
The GBC budget for 2014-15 is (in
INR):
Child Protection Office
6,60,000
Dandavats
3,42,000
Emergency Fund
2,40,000
Executive Committee
Travel
2,40,000
Finance & Bank
Charges
24,000
GBC Annual General
Meeting
4,50,000
GBC Community Relations
Office
1,80,000
GBC Corresponding
Secretary
3,60,000
GBC EC Secretariat
3,60,000
GBC Strategic Planning
Team
6,60,000
ISKCON Congregational
Development Ministry
90,000
ISKCON Database
1,26,000
ISKCON Deity Worship
Ministry
6,00,000
ISKCON Office of Dispute
Resolution
1,80,000
ISKCON News
210,000
ISKCON Resolve
4,80,000
ISKCON’s 50th
Anniversary Committee
2,40,000
Legal Fees – final
repayment
85,860
Mayapur GBC Office
3.00.000
Ministry of Cow
Protection & Agriculture
1,83,000
Ministry of Education
3,60,000
Ministry of Sannyasa
Services
30,000
Vaisnava Calendar Web
Site
24,400
Vaisnavi Ministry
36,600
Total:
64,57,860
202. Appointment of Auditor
Sri Ritesh Shah and Associates, F.C.A., Chartered
Accountant, of 125 Netaji Subhash Road, Room No. 45, Kolkata
700 001, is appointed as statutory auditor for the year
2014-2015.
Section 300: INTERNAL ISKCON
301. Midterm Meeting 2014
The Midterm Meeting of the ISKCON GBC Society shall take place
from October 13-19, 2014, at ISKCON Tirupati, AP, India.
302. Annual General Meeting 2015
The Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the ISKCON GBC Society
shall take place from February 16-March 2, 2015, at ISKCON
Mayapur, WB, India.
(Note:
Resolutions
303-308, originally passed at the October 2013 Midterm
Meetings, were reconfirmed as follows:)
303: ISKCON’s 50th Anniversary
Whereas the GBC Body has recognized the extraordinary importance
of the upcoming 50th Anniversary of ISKCON and the
great opportunities it presents
RESOLVED:
Every GBC member
shall promptly appoint a 50th Anniversary zonal
coordinator for each country in his or her respective zone.
All GBCs, Ministers,
and Regional Governing Bodies shall prepare and submit
preliminary ideas and plans for 50th Anniversary
local events and celebrations.
Both
of
the above shall be reported to the Global Coordinator, Ajay
Kumar (UK), by Aksaya Tritiya (02 May) 2014 at
ajay@iskcon50.org, who will then assist as a central resource
for the society.
304: Plans for Increasing Book Distribution
Whereas
in
some parts of the world book distribution is not increasing
(and even decreasing);
Whereas
in
parts of the world where there is some increase, we could do
better;
Whereas
cooperation
and shared planning between the local GBCs and local BBT
trustee has proved successful in North America;
Whereas
creating
goals, timelines, and targeted results works;
Whereas
without
goals, timelines, and targeted results, the tendency is to
drift and to accept the status quo as success or the best that
we can do;
Whereas
Srila
Prabhupada said that the GBC’s gathering together in Mayapur
is to make annual plans and then measure the results the
following year
RESOLVED:
The trustee of
each BBT division will meet with the local GBCs to develop a
plan for how to increase book distribution in their area.
The scope of the plan will be from the Mayapur GBC meeting
of 2014 to the Mayapur GBC meeting of 2015. The development
of such a plan would naturally include the local Temple
Presidents and other leaders as well.
“Local GBCs” means
those GBCs in a distinct region or set of countries who all
buy the majority of their books from the same BBT division.
For example, such a region or set of countries could be:
(a)Latin
America and the Caribbean—Latin BBT
(b)Australia
and New Zealand—Australian BBT
(c)Western
Europe—NE and Mediterranean BBTs
(d)Eastern
Europe—NE BBT
(e)Canada
and the USA—NA BBT
(f)Japan
and Southeast Asia—Far East/Middle East BBT
The GBCs and BBT trustees for other parts of
the world should also meet to decide if they can develop plans
for their parts of the world.
There
is
flexibility and some overlap in how designating these areas or
regions would be decided.The
local GBCs and BBT division director can work out the details
in consultation with each other.
Each
group
of GBCs will select one GBC member to serve as the chief
liaison with the BBT divisional director or trustee. That GBC
member will also serve as coordinator of the execution of the
plan developed.
A
summary of the plans thus developed will be presented by as
many temples or regions as possible to the full GBC at the
Mayapur 2014 GBC meeting. The individual GBC member selected
as the liaison/coordinator will make the presentation for his
or her region and local BBT.
The
selection
of the GBC liaison officer for each group must be completed by
the local GBC group by the end of November 2013 at the latest.
While
ISKCON,
the GBC, and the BBT are independent entities and thus the GBC
cannot instruct the BBT trustees, the GBC humbly appeals to
the BBT trustees to kindly get involved in pushing this
process forward and making sure that the development of these
plans actually happens.
The
Indian
BBT and Indian GBCs are exempted from this resolution as they
are already doing such powerful book distribution. Of course,
they are welcomed and encouraged to present a plan for the
coming year if they wish.
The
results
of this resolution will be assessed at the 2015 Annual GBC
Meeting. At that time the GBC will determine whether to make
this resolution permanent.
305:
Establishing
the Division of Legal, Accounting and Regulatory
Compliance
Whereas Srila Prabhupada
wanted a high standard of legal, regulatory and accounting
compliance in ISKCON with the aim of protecting the
properties, preventing lawsuits, maintaining standards, etc.;
Whereas the GBC wishes all
leaders to collaborate and communicate timely with the
Division of Legal, Accounting, and Regulatory Compliance
RESOLVED:
The GBC Division of Legal,
Accounting, and Regulatory Compliance is hereby established;
the Division shall report to the Executive Secretariat.
The Compliance Division is
authorized to request and receive legal and financial
documentation from all over the world and all managers must
make every effort to provide any information the Division may
request in regard to the National Councils, projects, centers,
etc. under their management—subject
to the discretion of the GBC Zonal Secretary/ies.
Within their zones, the GBC
Zonal Secretaries are responsible to ensure the gathering of
the data and documents as required by the Compliance Division.
To facilitate this task, they are encouraged to identify and
establish, for each country in their zone, a Compliance
contact person, who will contact project officers, board of
directors' members, etc. to obtain data and documents. The
Compliance contact person shall upload information to the
Compliance website and provide updates as needed, at least
annually.
Twice a year, before the AGM
and midterm meetings, the Compliance Division Director shall
submit to the GBC reports on national and local performance in
regard to:
Corporate-bylaws
BoD succession
provisions
Oaths of Allegiance
for all project leaders
Property Trustee
System (PTS) and other forms of property protection
systems
Intellectual
Property such as trademarks, etc
Other
relevant information
Such reports will be provided
also to each GBC zonal secretary for their confirmation of the
reports' accuracy.
The Compliance Division shall
ensure confidentiality and protection of the data.
306: Zonal Configuration
RESOLVED:
1. North America Area - Idaho is divided
along the time zone line; the Northern part remains with
the North West zone while the Southern part becomes part
of the Pacific/West zone.
2. Europe – instead of being divided
into seven zones, Europe shall include the following
thirty-seven zones:
1.
Great Britain (England, Wales & Scotland) 2.
Ireland (including Northern Ireland) 3.
Iceland 4.
Sweden 5.
Denmark & Faroe Islands 6.
Norway 7.
Finland 8.
Estonia 9.
Latvia 10.
Lithuania 11.
Poland 12.
Czech Republic 13.
Slovakia 14.
France & Monaco 15.
Belgium & Luxembourg 16.
Netherlands 17.
Spain & Andorra 18.
Portugal 19.
Italy, San Marino & Vatican City 20.
Malta 21.
Greece 22.
Cyprus 23.
Israel 24.
Germany & Austria 25.
Switzerland & Liechtenstein 26.
Hungary 27.
Romania 28.
Bulgaria 29.
Turkey 30.
Slovenia 31.
Bosnia & Herzegovina 32.
Croatia 33.
Serbia 34.
Kosovo 35.
Montenegro 36.
Macedonia 37.
Albania
3.
Indian Subcontinent Area – the Eastern part shall
include nine zones:
1. Odisha (Orissa) 2.
Bihar & Jharkhand 3.
Nepal 4.
West Bengal (except Sridham Mayapur), Sikkim &
Bhutan 5.
Sridham Mayapur 6.
Bangladesh 7.
Asom (Assam) (without the Barak Valley), Meghalaya &
Arunachal Pradesh 8.
Tripura & the Barak Valley (three Bengali-speaking
districts of Asom) 9.
Manipur, Mizoram & Nagaland
4.
Indian Subcontinent Area – South India shall include
nine zones:
1. Andhra Pradesh, Coastal Zone (districts:
Srikakulam, Vijayanagaram, Visakhapatnam, East Godavari,
West Godavari, Krishna, Guntur, Prakasam & Nelluru)
2. Andhra Pradesh, Rayalaseema Zone
(districts: Chitoor, Ananthapur, Kadapa & Kurnool).
3. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana Zone (districts:
Hyderabad, Rangareddy, Medak, Nizamabad, Adilabad,
Karimnagar, Warangal, Khammam, Nalgonda &
Mahabubnagar).
4. Karnataka, Bangalore Zone
5. Karnataka, Southern Districts Zone (all
districts up to & including Shimoga, Davangere
Chitradurga)
6. Karanataka, Northern Districts Zone
7. Kerala (whole state)
8. Eastern Tamil Nadu (Nilgiris &
Coimbatore districts)
9. Rest of Tamil Nadu
5. Indian Subcontinent Area –
Maharashtra & Goa shall include five zones :
1. Greater Mumbai (including Thane)
2. Goa & Konkan
3. North
West Maharashtra
4. South
West Maharashtra
5.
Vidarbha (North East Maharashtra)
6.
Indian Subcontinent Area:
1. Sri Lanka: one zone
2. Uttar Pradesh: four zones
3. Delhi & National Capital Region: one
zone
4. Jammu & Kashmir: one zone
5. Uttarkhand & Himachal Pradesh: one
zone
6. Rajasthan: three zones
7. Madhya Pradesh: two zones
8. Punjab: one zone
9. Haryana & Chandigarh: one zone
10. Chhattisgarh: one zone
7.
Indian Subcontinent Area – Pakistan shall be a
single zone
8. Russian Sphere Area - Russia shall be
a single zone
9. Russian Sphere Area - Azerbaijan
shall be a single zone
10. Russian Sphere Area:
1. Mongolia: one zone
2. Ukraine &
Moldova: one zone
3. Belarus: one zone
4. Central Asia
(Kazakhstan, Kyrgystan, Taijikistan, Uzbekistan &
Turkmenistan): one zone
5. Georgia: one zone
6. Armenia: one zone
11. Sub-Saharan Africa Area:
1. Angola, Zambia
& Namibia: one zone
2.
South Africa, Botswana, Lesotho & Swaziland: one zone
3. Mozambique,
Zimbabwe & Malawi: one zone
4. Madagascar &
Mauritius: one zone
5. Senegal, The
Gambia, Guinea, Guinea Bissau, Sierra Leone, Cape Verde
& Liberia: one zone
6. Cote d’Ivoire,
Ghana, Burkina Faso, Togo & Benin: one zone
7. Cameroon,
Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Republic of the Congo,
Democratic Republic of the Congo, São Tomé and Príncipe
& Central African Republic: one zone
8. Kenya, Tanzania
& Uganda: one zone
9. Rwanda &
Burundi: one zone
10. Ethiopia & Eritrea: one
zone
11. South Sudan: one zone
307: Amendment of Property Trustee Law
11.3.3
[ISKCON LAW]
Whereas Srila Prabhupada’s will states as
follows regarding the removal of a Property Trustee:
The executive directors who have herein
been designated are appointed for life. In the event of the
death or failure to act for any reason of any of the said
directors, a successor director or directors may be
appointed by the remaining directors, provided the new
director is my initiated disciple following strictly all the
rules and regulations of the International Society for
Krishna Consciousness as detailed in my books, and provided
that there are never less than three (3) or more than five
(5) executive directors acting at one time.
[Note: The terms
“director” and “executive director” used by Srila
Prabhupada here are now referred to in ISKCON parlance as
“Property Trustee”.]
Whereas
it
has come to the attention of the GBC that according to the
conventions of standard trust law, the term “failure to act”
can refer to any failure on the part of a trustee to fulfill
his/her assigned duties under the trust. Thus, the above
statement from the will is referring not only to inaction by a Property
Trustee but also any other failure of the Property Trustee to
properly discharge their assigned duty,
including
acting beyond the scope of their authority;
Whereas ISKCON Law, Section 11.3.3 states, in
part, as follows:
If
the property trustee fails to act within a reasonable time
upon a specific proposal related to a property from either
the local management, a co-trustee, the ISKCON property
office, or the GBC Body, the local management or the
co-trustees, may submit a request for removal of the trustee
to the ISKCON property office stating the facts of the
failure to act. The ISKCON property office may grant the
request immediately, if the submitted facts are sufficiently
compelling, or it may again formally request the trustee to
act on the proposal. If the trustee continues to fail to
act, then the trustee shall be removed. Temple management
can approach the property office to bypass a non-functioning
trustee without replacing him.
This section requires to be rewritten to take
into account the newly-understood intention of Srila
Prabhupada as to when a Property Trustee may be replaced or
removed.
RESOLVED:
That the final paragraph of Section 11.3.3 of
the ISKCON Property Trustee Law shall be amended as follows:
If the property trustee is seen to be failing
to properly execute his duties under ISKCON property law or is
seen to be acting beyond the scope of his authority, then the
local management or the co-trustees may submit a request for
removal of the trustee to the ISKCON Property Office, which,
after hearing the response of the trustee and considering the
matter carefully, may grant the request. In the case of a
property trustee that is simply not responding promptly to
specific requests for trustee action, the local management
responsible for the property in question or the local Zonal
Secretary(ies) may, alternatively, approach the ISKCON
Property Office for permission to bypass such a
non-functioning trustee without removing him.
308:
Adding New GBCs
RESOLVED:
Adding
new
members to the GBC, including all levels of GBC, shall
generally be put on hold until the AGM 2016. The GBC requests
the Succession Committee, Org Dev and the GBC Appointment
Committee to give a priority to collaboratively strengthen the
system of identifying, developing and vetting new GBCs.
Potential improvements shall be presented for review at each
GBC meeting. Final review shall be ready for the Midterm
Meeting 2015.
310: “Srila
Prabhupada:
The Founder-Acarya of ISKCON” on founderacharya.com
[Guideline]
Whereas
the booklet, “Srila Prabhupada: The
Founder-Acarya of ISKCON,”
released by Ravindra Svarupa Das and published by the ISKCON
GBC Press, is approved by the GBC body as the foundational
document on this topic;
Whereas
the booklet is now available for free download on the website
www.founderacharya.com;
Whereas
making the booklet widely available is important for the
future of ISKCON, because establishing Srila Prabhupada’s
position of Founder-Acarya will benefit devotees generation
after generation
Whereas at present there are no official guidelines regarding
the fiscal responsibility of ISKCON centers and other entities
for the healthcare of resident or full-time devotees;
Whereas
Srila
Prabhupada prioritized the health of devotees as number one,
followed by sadhana, then seva;
And
whereas
serving devotees is very important.
RESOLVED:
1.
All
ISKCON entities are encouraged to ensure that all essential
medical and dental expenses of its resident and fully
supported devotees are supplied. The authorities of those
ISKCON entities are recommended to investigate options for
local insurance plans, government plans, or other reliable
options to ensure as far as possible that quality health care
is provided.
2.
A
person choosing to become a resident or fully supported
devotee dependent on an ISKCON entity should be informed as to
the extent of medical and dental insurance or coverage, or absence thereof, that
will
be supplied by the entity before they commit to dedicate
themselves to the ISKCON entity.
3.
All
such assurances may be
put into writing, with a copy given to the devotee, and the
original retained in the permanent files of the ISKCON entity.
312: Should Women be Called “Prabhu”,
“Mataji”, or “Devi”?
Whereas in
ISKCON men had generally been taught to see all women other
than their wives as mother;
Whereas in
more recent times a practice has gained momentum that women
should not be called "Mataji," but "Prabhu;"
Whereas the
word "Prabhu" is traditionally used to address men;
Whereas one
section of ISKCON considers addressing women as "Prabhu" to
have no cultural or
linguistic
backing, or any evidentiary or experiential support from Srila
Prabhupada's teachings;
Whereas
another section of ISKCON cites conversational or
correspondence-based evidence that Srila Prabhupada addressed
female disciples as "Prabhu;"
Whereas
there is increasing discord among the proponents of these two
opinions;
Whereas all
initiated women also have the title "Devi" as part of their
spiritual name, an address that could also apply to the
non-initiated
RESOLVED:
That the
Sastric Advisory Committee is requested to research the
evidence for women being called "Mataji", "Prabhu" or "Devi"
and give a conclusive directive as to which of these terms
should and should not be used by members of ISKCON.
313: Sound Systems Guideline
[Guideline]
Whereas the sound pressure levels produced by sound systems,
especially during festivals, can produce volumes of sound that
can be dangerous;
Whereas
when
sound systems are pushed into levels of extreme volume and
distortion the sound produced is potentially less than
pleasant, sweet, and attractive;
Whereas
ours
is a preaching movement and we want to attract people as
opposed to discouraging them from listening to our sound
vibrations;
Whereas
the
volume of sound can be measured by Sound Pressure Level (SPL)
meters, that can be purchased professionally, or downloaded as
apps for iPhone, Android, and other devices
RESOLVED:
That
the
GBC Body hereby encourages ISKCON managers to monitor the
levels of the sound systems in use at their centers. The sound
system should be adjusted so that it sounds clear, sweet and
attractive as opposed to overly loud, distorted or painful.
Whenever
possible,
the sound pressure levels should regularly be measured using
sound pressure level meters to make sure that dangerous sound
pressure levels are prevented. Such meters are available on
mobile devices. (For example, dB Meter Pro on the App Store.)
According
to
the National
Institute
for Occupational Safety and Health of the USA, exposure to
a noise level of 85 dBA over an eight hour work day and a 40
year working life is acceptable. For every 3 dBAs
over 85dBA, the permissible exposure time before occupational
noise-induced hearing loss can occur is cut in half.
314: The Hare Krsna Maha-mantra Should be the
Primary Mantra in all ISKCON Kirtans
[ISKCON Law]
Whereas
Srila
Prabhupada has stressed the preeminent position of the Hare
Krishna maha-mantra in ISKCON kirtan:
“In
our
temple, strictly Hare Krishna chanting should be given more
importance. There is no harm in this mantra you have heard,
but it is not very important. There are many such common songs
composed by common devotees out of sentiment. But our
principle is to stick to the authorities, and always remember
that Hare Krishna is the prime authorized mantra.” (Letter to
Malati Dasi, 28 January 1969);
Whereas
it
has been observed that it is commonplace in ISKCON kirtans
that many mantras are chanted.Often the chanting of the maha-mantra occupies only a
small percentage of the kirtan.
Whereas
the
Hare Krishna maha-mantra is the primary mantra to be chanted
in the age of Kali as presented by Sri Krishna Caitanya, our
previous acaryas and Srila Prabhupada:
hare
krsna hare krsna krsna krsna hare hare
hare
rama hare rama rama rama hare hare
iti
sodasakam namnam kali-kalmasa nasanam
natah
parataropayah
sarva vedesu drsyate
The
sixteen
words of the Hare Krsna mantra are especially meant for
counteracting the sins of the age of Kali. To save oneself
from the contamination of this age there is no alternative but
to chant the Hare Krsna mantra. After searching through all
the Vedic literatures, one cannot find a method of religion
for this age so sublime as the chanting of Hare Krsna.
[Kali-Santarana Upanisad 5-6]
RESOLVED:
That
in
all ISKCON kirtans, the Hare Krsna maha-mantra should be the
primary mantra.
Note:
This
is for kirtans, but does not apply to bhajans such as Jaya
Radha Madhava, Nrsimha prayers, etc.
315: Chanting of the Holy Names of Srimati
Radharani
[Guideline]
Whereas
many
devotees have expressed concern that the standard upheld
during Srila Prabhupada’s presence in regards to the chanting
of Srimati Radharani’s holy names and related mantras appears
to be diminishing;
Whereas
there
have been conflicts amongst our devotees arising as a result
of not having a definitive policy on this topic.
Whereas
although
it is neither mandatory nor necessary to do so because all
personalities are automatically glorified within the
maha-mantra, it is understandable that some devotees may want
to emphasize the name of Srimati Radharani on Radhastami;
Whereas
it
is well known that no one could come before Srila Prabhupada
and chant “Radhe Radhe” repetitively as he would not allow it.
He always told us to chant the Hare Krishna mantra.Srila Prabhupada
himself was never heard chanting “Radhe Radhe”.There is no evidence
to show that Srila Prabhupada chanted or encouraged others to
chant Srimati Radharani's names in isolation at any time,
including Radhastami. Whenever Srila Prabhupada was greeted
with “Jaya Radhe” he always replied by saying “Hare Krishna”,
even in Vrndavana.
Whereas
there
is risk of deviation if we do not follow Srila Prabhupada and
the acaryas. Srila Prabhupada disapproved of the introduction
of mantras which were not given by the previous acaryas or
were not found in shastra
RESOLVED:
The
following
should be avoided in all temple and public programs, as well
as in recorded media:
(1)
Chanting of the holy name of Srimati Radharani without the
holy name of Sri Krishna, i.e.Radhe, Radhe, Radhe, Radhe, Radhe. . . .
(2)
Chanting of the holy name of Srimati Radharani within mantras
that were not introduced by Srila Prabhupada, previous Gaudiya
Vaisnava Acaryas, or in sastra, including but not limited to:
(a)Jaya Radhe, Jaya
Radhe. Jaya Radhe Jaya Radhe
(b)Radhe Radhe, Radhe
Radhe
(c)Jaya Radhe Jaya
Radhe Radhe, Jaya Radhe Jaya Sri Radhe
On
Radhastami, devotees may chant Srimati Radharani’s holy name
in isolation of Sri Krishna’s name to a limited degree, not
more than two or three minutes.
If
ISKCON devotees want to give some special emphasis or
attention to the glorification of Srimati Radharani, beyond
chanting of the maha-mantra, they should do so by chanting
mantras or bhajans which are authorized by Srila Prabhupada
and our disciplic line.An
example of this is the chanting of Sri Radhika-stava from the
Stava-mala of Srila Rupa Goswami.
316: Gender Kirtan
[Guideline]
Whereas
a new practice has emerged in ISKCON kirtan consisting of:
Kirtan
Leader Chants
Ladies
Only Respond
Kirtan
Leader Chants
Men
Only Respond
Kirtan
Leader Chants
Full
Congregation Responds
Whereas there is no description of Srila
Prabhupada ever leading kirtan like this, nor of any devotee
leading kirtan like this in Srila Prabhupada’s presence;
Whereas
this new practice emphasizes the bodily conception of life and
our false designations as man and woman;
Whereas
when
such questionable chanting occurs, some devotees are
uncomfortable, alienated, disturbed, or may even refuse to
participate in such a kirtan, and thus the unity of our
movement, even in its most core activity—sankirtan—is
jeopardized
RESOLVED:
Kirtan
leaders in all temple and public programs, should refrain from
separating the congregation into responding sections based on
bodily considerations like male, female, young, old, etc.
317: ISKCON Disciple Course Mandate
Whereas there
is a need for standardized training of new devotees about the:
a.Preeminent
position of Srila Prabhupada
b.Duties of a
disciple regarding the guru and other ISKCON authorities
c.Appropriate
selection of a diksa-guru
d.Importance of
initiation vows
e.Service to our
parampara and the mission of ISKCON
f.Other relevant
matters
Whereas ISKCON
does not have a standard training system or course for new
members in regards to the specific duties of initiated
disciples;
Whereas such a
course would promote shared vision, unity, and cooperation
among ISKCON devotees around the world;
Whereas an
ISKCON Disciple Course was created under the auspices of the
GBC Guru Services Committee, the Mayapur Institute, and ISKCON
Communications with the input of senior devotees, diksa-
and siksa-gurus, and educators from around the world;
Whereas the
Disciple Course was taught and tested for two years in many
diverse countries evoking positive results and feedback from
new and senior devotees;
Whereas the
Disciple Course is translated into major languages including
Hindi, Bengali, Spanish, German, Portuguese, Italian, Russian
and Chinese, and is also available online in English via the Bhaktivedanta College,
Radhadesh;
Whereas the Guru Services
Committee is working with ISKCON Desire Tree to create online
versions of the Course in several Indian languages;
Whereas ISKCON
leaders have requested the Disciple Course be mandatory before
initiation and ideally before devotees select a diksa-guru
RESOLVED:
That the ISKCON Disciple
Course, as developed by the GBC Guru Services Committee, shall
be a mandatory pre-requisite for all devotees accepting first
or second initiation by an ISKCON guru, effective Janmastami, 2015.
After that date, no guru may initiate a disciple who has not
first completed the Disciple Course. This is in addition to
current requirements of new initiates.
Furthermore, all GBC Members
and Temple Presidents shall ensure that within their
respective areas of authority, no later than Janmastami, 2015:
1. Devotees shall be advised
and encouraged to complete the Disciple Course before
selecting a diksa-guru
2. Devotees shall have
reasonable access to enroll in the Disciple Course
3. A sufficient number of
teachers shall be identified and facilitated to teach the
Course
4. No devotee shall be allowed
to accept initiation before completing the Course (subject to exemptions below)
Teachers/facilitators of the ISKCON Disciple
Course must:
a. Beinitiated
for at least 5 years
b.
Have completed the ISKCON Disciple Course
c.
Be recommended by their Disciple Course facilitator
d.
Have completed the VTE Teacher Training Course 1 (TTC1)* or
have equivalent training or experience
e.
Have the approval of their local GBC representative
f.
Teach from the official curriculum, manuals and other
materials as approved by the GBC Guru Services Committee
Illiterate
devotees
are welcome to participate in the Course. Upon completion they
shall be required to undergo a minimal oral examination at the
discretion of the teacher.
In
rare
cases of the infirmity or terminal illness of a prospective
disciple the requirement for completing the Disciple Course
may be waived by the local Temple President.
GBC members who find a specific
area within their jurisdiction needs more time for
implementation due to exceptional circumstances, may request
an extension of up to one year by submitting a request no
later than July 31, 2015, to the GBC Executive Committee
for approval.
*An
exemption for the requirement of the TTC1 may be granted by
the local GBC Zonal Secretary based upon an assessment of the potential
teacher’s maturity and teaching skills. The Mayapur Institute
shall provide to the GBC a list of criteria by which such
evaluations should be made.
318: Regulations for Commencing the Service
of Diksa-guru in ISKCON
[ISKCON Law]
Preamble
ISKCON’s
ethos
of multiple diksa- and siksa-gurus serving
under the auspices of a global managerial board is unique in
the history of Vaisnavism, and so is the challenge it poses:
the institutional management has the obligation of
safeguarding devotees in their quest for spiritual guidance
while simultaneously not intruding upon the necessary freedom
of inspiration that is the very heart of this journey.
There
has
been an ongoing discussion about how ISKCON Law should be
structured to meet this challenge, with proposals ranging from
rigid standardization of guruship to full dependence on a
policy of caveat emptor
("consumer beware") provisions. However, the model that seems
optimal is one in which aspiring disciples are empowered
through education, the vetting process for guru candidates is
delegated as much as possible to local leaders, and the GBC,
per Srila Prabhupada’s mandate, retains a level of oversight
over all individual ISKCON leaders.
Below
are
the amendments of ISKCON law on the guru topic, which
·facilitate
the
education of devotees in the principles of guru-disciple
relationships
·empower
devotees
in the acceptance of guru
·provide
for
a more organic, secure, and sensitive vetting mechanism for diksa-guru
candidates
·allow
for
the identifying and vetting of diksa-guru candidates
more efficiently and in better accordance with other tenets of
ISKCON law
·as
far as possible, delegates the responsibility of vetting diksa-guru
candidates to local leaders
PART
A
Amendments
to
ISKCON Law, Part 7 “Discipleship in ISKCON”
Whereas
the
scriptures and Srila Prabhupada emphasize that ascertaining
the qualifications of a prospective guru is the duty of an
aspiring disciple:
So
therefore
the process is before accepting a guru, one must hear him at
least for one year. And when he's convinced that "Here is
actually a guru who can teach me," then you accept him,
guru. Don't accept whimsically. This system now should stop
that somebody's coming for three days – "Prabhupada,
initiate him." Why... This should not be allowed. Therefore,
in Hari-bhakti-vilasa by Sanatana Gosvami it is directed
that the spiritual master and the disciple must meet
together at least for one year so that the disciple may also
understand that "Here is a person whom I can accept as my
guru," and the guru also can see that "Here is a person who
is fit for becoming my disciple." Then the business is nice.
(Lecture on Srimad-Bhagavatam 1.16.25 – Hawaii, January 21,
1974)
[Note
that
even though Srila Prabhupada was at that time the only diksa-guru
in ISKCON, and qualified par excellence, in his eyes this fact
did not relieve aspiring disciples from the duty of testing
him as a prospective guru.]
Whereas
current
ISKCON Law states:
It
is
the personal responsibility of candidates for initiation to
correctly decide, by the exercise of their own intelligence,
to surrender to a particular devotee as spiritual master.
Candidates for initiation should accept initiation from a
spiritual master only after developing firm and mature faith
in that devotee and in his ability to take them back to
Godhead. Sadhu, sastra, and guru are the authoritative
references to apply in ascertaining the level of advancement
of a devotee.
Receiving official ISKCON guru approval
signifies that the devotee has successfully completed the
authorization process set forth in ISKCON Law, and that in
the judgment of certain senior devotees the candidate
measures up to the standards and guidelines given in ISKCON
law. However, such approval is not automatically to be taken
as a statement about the degree of God-realization of the
approved guru,
and it is not intended to replace the intelligent
discrimination of the candidate. (ISKCON Law 7.2
“Responsibility of Candidate for Initiation”)
Whereas,
according
to Vaisnava philosophy as reflected in the existing ISKCON
Law, 6.4.2, “Vows of Guru,” one's position as a guru derives
from and is dependent on one's position as a disciple:
A
devotee authorized to act as a guru in ISKCON
must publicly take the following vows in a ceremony before
Srila Prabhupada’s vyasasana:
.
. . .
3.
I recognize that a bona fide guru is first of all a bona
fide disciple.
Whereas
in
this regard, the role of the GBC and ISKCON is to educate
these prospective disciples, prior to their accepting shelter
of a devotee as their guru:
·about genuine symptoms
of spiritual advancement in prospective gurus
·about the principles
governing guru-disciple relationships
·about ISKCON laws
concerning the lines of authority in ISKCON
Whereas
the
newly developed ISKCON Disciple Course is aimed at preparing
prospective disciples for a mature, sastrically sound, and
responsible approach to accepting a spiritual master, soon to
be a standard educational requirement for prospective
disciples before they accept a spiritual master;
Whereas,
in
addition to such education, the GBC simultaneously has the
responsibility of monitoring and regulating ISKCON leaders,
including gurus, in order to maintain appropriate standards of
Vaisnava behavior and principles of devotional service as
taught by Srila Prabhupada within ISKCON.
RESOLVED:
1.Part
7
of ISKCON Law, “Discipleship in ISKCON” becomes Part 6, and
Part 6 of ISKCON Law, “ISKCON
Spiritual Masters (Diksa- & Siksa-Gurus)” becomes
Part 7, with corresponding renumbering of their subsections.
2.The
sections of ISKCON Law 6.1, “Right of Devotees to Choose their
Guru,” and 6.2 “Responsibility of Candidate for Initiation,”
(not including the subsections) are replaced in their entirety
with the following:
6.1:
“The Process for Accepting a Spiritual Master”
Srila
Prabhupada
spoke and wrote consistently both on the vital importance of
accepting a bona fide guru for one’s assured progress in
spiritual life as well as on qualifications essential for a
devotee to serve as spiritual master, such as:
tasmad
gurum prapadyeta jijnasuh sreya uttamam
sabde
pare ca nisnatam brahmany upasamasrayam
"Any
person
who is seriously desirous of achieving real happiness must
seek out a bona fide spiritual master and take shelter of him
by initiation. The qualification of a spiritual master is that
he must have realized the conclusion of the scriptures by
deliberation and arguments and thus be able to convince others
of these conclusions. Such great personalities, who have taken
complete shelter of the Supreme Godhead, leaving aside all
material considerations, are to be understood as bona fide
spiritual masters." (SB 11.3.21 quoted in SB 4.29.55
purport)
and
“The
expert
spiritual master knows well how to engage his disciple's
energy in the transcendental loving service of the Lord, and
thus he engages a devotee in a specific devotional service
according to his special tendency. A devotee must have only
one initiating spiritual master because in the scriptures
acceptance of more than one is always forbidden. There is no
limit, however, to the number of instructing spiritual masters
one may accept. Generally a spiritual master who constantly
instructs a disciple in spiritual science becomes his
initiating spiritual master later on.” (CC Adi 1.35
purport.)
Having
developed
some faith in the process of Krishna consciousness and prior
to accepting a devotee as his or her spiritual master, a
person should have scrutinized Srila Prabhupada’s teachings on
this essential topic in the association of ISKCON devotees
and, when available, have taken the ISKCON Disciple Course.
According
to the instructions of Srila Prabhupada and the previous
acaryas, a person who has developed some faith in the process
of Krishna consciousness, should further strengthen it by
associating with one or more devotees and hearing from them
about devotional service. Such devotees of varying levels of
realization and maturity in Krishna consciousness give
knowledge about devotional service.One or more of these
may come to be a source of substantial instruction vital for
one’s ongoing progress, along with providing an inspiring
personal example and a shelter for that person, thereby
becoming his or her instructing spiritual master(s).
By
regular association with, and service to, such instructing
spiritual masters, the spiritual aspirant may develop a
particularly strong reciprocal connection with one of the siksa-gurus,
who demonstrates both willingness and practical ability for
the ongoing guidance of the spiritual aspirant. After testing
this connection for an extended period of time by further
association, inquiries, and service, the candidate may desire
to solidify that relationship by taking initiation from this siksa-guru.
He
or she should then approach the local ISKCON authorities for
further guidance as to accepting this devotee as one’s diksa-guru.
PART B
Amendments
to ISKCON Law, Part 7.4 “Regulations”
Whereas
in
connection with prospective diksa-gurus, ISKCON Law
6.4.1.4 states:
“If
the Corresponding Secretary receives at least three letters
of non-approval, the candidate shall not take up the role of
guru, and his candidacy shall be considered by the GBC body
at its next Annual General Meeting”;
Whereas
the
GBC, per Srila Prabhupada’s mandate, must retain an essential
level of oversight over all individual leaders of ISKCON,
including diksa-gurus;
Whereas
a
multi-tier vetting process for a diksa-guru candidate
will further clarify that the GBC does not directly appoint diksa-guru
candidates;
Whereas
the
current ISKCON Law terminology of GBC’s authorizing or
approving diksa-gurus
adds to the perception that the GBC certifies and appoints diksa-gurus;
Whereas
with
the rising number of diksa-guru nominations, the GBC
will be increasingly less informed and thereby less equipped
to assess a given candidacy and/or to provide a candidate with
appropriate guidance in case of non-approval;
Whereas
the
Local Area Council is generally in the best position to assess
eligibility of a particular devotee to serve as a diksa-guru
and to advocate that devotee’s candidacy to the GBC Body, if
necessary, as well as to guide the candidate towards
improvement as a spiritual guide and preacher;
Whereas
it
is generally against a Vaisnava’s nature to consider oneself
qualified to be a guru, what to speak of promoting and
advocating one’s qualification as a guru to others
RESOLVED:
1.
All
references in ISKCON law to authorization or approval in
relation to being allowed to serve as a diksa-guru are
changed to appropriate forms of “will/may commence the service
of diksa-guru.”
2.
ISKCON
Law, part 7.4 “Regulations,” be amended as follows:
7.4.1:
Procedure
for Commencing the Service of Diksa-guru
A
devotee may serve as diksa-guru in ISKCON after the
completion of the following procedure:
7.4.1.1:
Endorsement
by a Local Area Council [AMENDED]
When
the Zonal Secretaries for a local area, in consultation with
the local leadership, conclude that a particular devotee,
through preaching in that area, has been providing substantial
guidance and shelter to devotees, they may convene a Local
Area Council to consider nominating this devotee for serving
as a diksa-guru.
In
addition to the Local Area Council, Regional Governing Bodies
may, at their discretion, have additional oversight for
candidates in their area of responsibility.
7.4.1.1.1:
Composition
of Council [AMENDED]
The
Council must consist of the local Zonal Secretaries and at
least ten other devotees from the local area who are familiar
with the candidate. It must include all Regional Secretaries,
Temple Presidents, and resident sannyasis in the area. The
Council members should elect a Chairman from among themselves.
7.4.1.1.2:
Principles
of Evaluation [new]
The
Council shall evaluate the candidate by confirming, to the
best of their ability, that the candidate:
1.is
twice-initiated for at least ten years
2.
has been requested to initiate by the candidate’s own
diksa-guru, if physically present
3.
is in good standing in ISKCON
4.
has good sadhana, including chanting a minimum of sixteen
rounds daily and following the four regulative principles
5.
has shown consistent adherence to the principles of one’s
asrama in terms of: - acceptable Vaisnava behavior (sadacara) - engagement in Srila Prabhupada’s mission
6.
has substantial knowledge and realization of sastra,
including a Bhakti-sastri degree
7.
preaches according to Srila Prabhupada’s teachings
8.
works cooperatively with local authorities
9.
recognizes the GBC body as the ultimate managing authority
in ISKCON, supports the GBC system, and follows the GBC
10.has
no loyalties that compete with or compromise the candidate’s
loyalty to Srila Prabhupada, to his teachings, and to ISKCON
7.4.1.1.3:
Council Integrity Maintained [UNCHANGED]
Once
the Council has been formed to evaluate a particular
candidate, it cannot be reconstituted except to replace a
member who has left his position as a local ISKCON leader, or
who has resigned from the Council, or who has become
spiritually unfit.
7.4.1.1.4:
Communication
of Objection [amended]
If
the candidate for serving as diksa-guru is not
supported by the Local Area Council, the Chairman of the Local
Area Council shall inform the candidate and aspiring
disciples, if any, of this decision in writing.
7.4.1.2:
Provision
for “No Objection” Letters [AMENDED]
If
the candidate for serving as diksa-guru has been
active for less than five years in the area making the
nomination, the nominating Local Area Council shall obtain “no
objection” letters from the Zonal Secretaries and Temple
President(s) of the other area(s) the candidate was active in
during the five years previous to the candidacy.
Additionally,
the Local Area Council shall formally consult the leadership
of every area outside the jurisdiction of the nominating Local
Area Council in which the candidate spends significant time
before deciding on the candidacy.
7.4.1.3:
Names
Sent to All GBC Members
7.4.1.3.1:
Letter
of Nomination to GBC Corresponding Secretary [AMENDED]
If
the candidacy receives support from the Local Area Council,
the Chairman of the Council shall send a letter to the GBC
Corresponding Secretary that includes the following:
1.
A description of how the candidate conforms to the GBC
standards and guidelines for guru
2.
A complete history of the devotional service of the candidate,
including the dates and places of his engagements
3.
A list of the nominating council members along with their
service, tenure, vote, and rationale
7.4.1.3.2:
Corresponding
Secretary Verifies and Distributes [AMENDED]
After
verifying that the candidate has been properly nominated, the
Corresponding Secretary shall send the candidate’s name to all
members of the GBC.
7.4.1.4
Three GBC Requests for Further Review [amended]
During
the six months from the date of submission of the candidate’s
application to the GBC, members of the GBC who question the
suitability of the candidate as per the qualifications in
ISKCON Law 7.4.1.1.4 may file written statements with the GBC
Corresponding Secretary requesting further review.
7.4.1.4.1
Absence
of Three Requests for Further Review [NEW]
If
the GBC Corresponding Secretary has not received at least
three requests for further review by the end of the six month
period, the GBC Corresponding Secretary shall so inform the
Chairman of the recommending Council. Then the candidate,
after taking the prescribed vows, may commence the service of
a diksa-guru in ISKCON.
7.4.1.4.2
Requests
for Further Review [NEW]
If
the Corresponding Secretary receives at least three requests
for further review by the end of the six month period, and if
the rationales are deemed legitimate by the GBC Executive
Committee per ISKCON Law 7.4.1.1.4, then the GBC Executive
Committee will communicate the reasons for the review requests
to the Chairman of the Local Area Council that nominated the
candidate and ask for the Local Area Council's response.
The
same applies if even a single request for further review
provides sufficient doubt about the candidate’s good standing
as a devotee.
If
the GBC Executive Committee, in consultation with the GBC
members requesting the review, as necessary, is able to
resolve the said concerns with the local area council, then
the candidate, after taking the prescribed vows, may commence
the service of a diksa-guru in ISKCON.
If
the GBC Executive Committee, in consultation with the GBC
members requesting the review, as necessary, is unable to
resolve the said concerns with the Local Area Council, then
the candidate shall be reviewed by the GBC Body at its next
Annual General Meeting. If the candidacy receives a simple
majority vote, then the candidate, after taking the prescribed
vows, may commence the service of a diksa-guru in
ISKCON.
7.4.1.4.3
Local Area Council Presenting at the Annual General Meeting
[NEW]
The
Local Area Council has the option of making a presentation to
the GBC Body before its final vote on the candidacy,
preferably by sending a delegation of one or two members to
address the Body. The candidate may also make a presentation
to the Body, preferably by personal appearance.
7.4.1.4.4
Further Direction to Candidate [NEW]
If
the GBC chooses to not approve the candidacy, then the Guru
Services Committee shall provide direction to the candidate,
which might include recommendations on how the candidate can
come to the standard to serve as a diksa-guru in the
future.
7.4.1.4.5
Corresponding Secretary Monitors and Informs [UNCHANGED]
The
Corresponding Secretary shall monitor this procedure and keep
all the concerned parties informed as needed.
7.4.2
Appeal of the Local Area Council Decision [amended]
If
a Local Area Council does not support a diksa-guru
candidate, the case may be appealed by any interested party to
the relevant Regional Governing Body, if existing in the area.If the Regional
Governing Body decides that the candidate has met the
mandatory qualifications and eligibility requirements for
serving as diksa-guru per ISKCON Law 7.4.1.1.4, then
the Regional Governing Body may, at their discretion, decide
to support the candidate. After notifying the Local Area
Council, the Chairman of the Regional Governing Body shall
then send a letter of nomination to the GBC Corresponding
Secretary accompanied by the decision of the Local Area
Council so the process may continue with the Regional
Governing Body acting as the nominating body instead of the
Local Area Council.
If
there is no Regional Governing Body, the case can be appealed
directly to the GBC Body.(Any proposal to the GBC Body must be sponsored by a
GBC member.)
NOTE:
To be compliant with this Resolution, the wording of some
current GBC Laws requires editing and updating. The GBC
Executive Committee has requested
the GBC Deputies to take up this task. These adjustments
will be reviewed at the next GBC meeting.
319: Extension of the Sastric Advisory Council’s Number of
Members
Whereas
the
Sastric Advisory Council has proved to be a valuable resource
in many GBC decisions on philosophical and practical matters;
Whereas
the
GBC Resolution 604 of 2002 establishing the Sastric Advisory
Council (SAC) sets the upper limit of the number of its
members at 12:
Procedure
for
Selecting and Endorsing SAC Members:
a. SAC core
members will number between six and twelve.
b. The SAC
core members should be mutually acceptable to both the GBC
Body and SAC.
Whereas
both
the SAC and some GBC members feel that the SAC service can
benefit from adding a few more members;
Whereas
there
should ideally be an odd number of SAC members to avoid split
votes
RESOLVED:
GBC
Resolution 604 of 2002 is hereby amended as follows:
Procedure for Selecting and Endorsing SAC
Members:
a. There will be an
odd number of SAC core members between seven and fifteen.
b. The SAC core members should be mutually acceptable to both
the GBC Body and SAC. [unchanged]
320: General Membership
Whereas there is a need to
recognize as general members those who wish to identify with
the spiritual family of ISKCON,
Whereas such recognition
should include some basic parameters,
Whereas such recognition
should not involve any legal rights for the general members,
RESOLVED:
Whoever, regardless of gender,
race, nationality, religion, etc., subscribes to the following
statement, shall be considered a general member of ISKCON:
“I wish to be counted
as part of the spiritual family of the International Society
for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON), and I will practically
support its mission.I
accept the
teachings of Lord
Krishna as presented by His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta
Swami Prabhupada, Founder-Acarya of ISKCON.
“While I
understand that this
general membership does not confer upon me any rights
in ISKCON organizations, I am grateful to
participate in this spiritual movement
intended for the upliftment of the
entire human society.”
321. Female Diksa Gurus
The subject of Vaisnavis initiating in ISKCON is
further tabled until additional discussion at the 2014 GBC
Midterm Meeting. In the meantime the
GBC Eexecutive Committee will work on the following process:
1. Creating a committee of devotees who
have no pre-determined view on this topic who will gather
documents from all sources on the subject of female diksa-gurus.
2. The committee will sort, summarize, and
categorize all documentation. Categories could include Srila
Prabhupada's quotations, varnasrama-dharma, history
within our sampradaya and other
Vaisnava sampradayas, etc.
3. As far as possible all documentation
will be verified for accuracy, authenticity,
etc.
4. As far as possible this committee will
do whatever other research may be required.
5. The committee will
then provide all those documents to the GBC members prior to
the Midterm meeting. Thus all GBC members
will come to the Midterm Meeting well
aware of all the arguments,
information, and evidences available. This will then enable
the GBC to make either informed progress or an informed
decision on this matter.
322: Guru Paper
GBC Resolution 307 of 2012 commissioned the Guru Services
Committee to produce a paper explaining the commencement of
the service of diksa-guru. The second draft of this
paper is currently under review.
323:
Letter of Appreciation to Ravindra Svarupa Das
March
2,
2014
Dear
Ravindra
Svarupa Prabhu,
Please
accept
our humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada.
The
entire
Governing Body Commission of the International Society for
Krishna Consciousness wishes to extend its heartfelt gratitude
to you for your many years of service to the GBC.
You
have
served as a member of the GBC with the highest standard of
integrity, loyalty and dedication. This is a great credit to
both yourself and our spiritual master, Srila Prabhupada. For
almost three decades, your thoughtful comments, academic and
sastric insights, bold analysis and devotional perspectives
have helped to inform and form GBC opinion and resolutions.
You
came
onto the GBC Body in 1987 during a period of great challenges.
At that time, there was a need for calm consideration,
intelligence and renewal. Your voice and presence on the GBC
provided all three. Thus, you helped to steady the "ship" of
ISKCON through those turbulent waters and into a bright and
new beginning.
Your
next
twenty-seven years on the GBC--including your two terms as our
Chairman--tested your patience and determination, but you did
not waiver in your commitment to making ISKCON spiritually
sound.
Among
your
many unique contributions, you guided us through the difficult
years of bringing the New Vrindavana community back into
ISKCON. You contributed to the development of the
Bhaktivedanta Institute and its pioneering scientific and
cultural outreach and preaching.You have written prolifically for Back to Godhead
magazine. And, you continue to lead the research developing
key elements of Srila Prabhupada's Temple of Vedic
Planetarium.
As
our Chair in 2000, you completed a vow to chant 64 rounds a
day for a month at the foot of the sacred Govardhan Hill, thus
praying for ISKCON and personifying the need for sincere
personal austerity and purification to advance us in service.
During
the
last two years, your leadership and academic skills again were
fully manifest as you researched, consulted with GBC members
and leaders world-wide, and then wrote "Srila Prabhupada: The
Founder-Acarya of ISKCON." It is an historic text for ISKCON,
and your pivotal role in its creation will not be forgotten.
While
acknowledging
your significant contributions, we must also recognize your
able and highly qualified wife, Saudamini Devi Dasi. She too
has made great sacrifices and contributions in the service of
Srila Prabhupada, and she has stood by your side throughout
your entire career of service to ISKCON.
Ravindra
Svarupa
Prabhu, you have chosen to retire this year from active
full-time GBC service, and we reluctantly accept your
resignation. We will deeply miss your regular association at
GBC meetings.
As
a token of our respect, love, and appreciation, we hereby
bestow upon you the position of GBC Emeritus.
We
are grateful that we will still be able to call upon you for
special projects and writing assignments in service to Srila
Prabhupada and his ISKCON--that great cause for which you have
so honorably, and lovingly, given your life.
We
pray that the eternal blessings of your beloved Sri Sri
Radha-Sharadbihari, Sri Jagannath, Sri Baladeva, Srimati
Subhadra Devi, and Sri Sri Gaura-Nitai may be upon you, and
for your continued empowerment in Their service for the rest
of this life and beyond.
On
behalf
of the Governing Body Commission, and with the unanimous
approval of the GBC,