Resolved: The following categories must be used to define any proposal being presented to the GBC Body to describe the intent of the proposal. This language which will be included in the final resolution shall henceforward have the following meanings:

The following are the candidates for sannyasa along with their respective waiting periods: Navadwip Dwija Gauranga Das (Bangladesh) This year. Priti Vardhana Das (Mayapur) This year. Pushpashila Shyam Das (Bangladesh) This year. Vrindavan Chandra Das (Vrindavan) This year.

Whereas ISKCON requires common standards, policies, and procedures for managing investigations of misconduct or abuse, in instituting corrective and rehabilitative consequences for offenders, as well as in restorative justice for all involved when guilt is established; Resolved: That the GBC Body hereby recognizes that an “ISKCON Legal Development Committee” has been created by the ISKCON Ministry of Justice and has been delegated the following responsibilities...

The GBC Body endorses the recommendation of the GBC Vaisnava Calendar Committee that it may proceed as follows: 1. That the observance of "Lalita Sasti" be removed from the calendar. 2. That the observance of the "Appearance of Radhakund" be shifted to Caitra Purnima. 3. That the observance of Bhadra Purnima be added to the calendar.

ISKCON Law 7.3.2 is amended to read as follows: As taught by Srila Prabhupada, the etiquette of not initiating in the presence of one's diksa-guru will be upheld in ISKCON. However historical precedents also teach us that disciples may sometimes, in exceptional cases, initiate in the physical presence of their diksa-gurus. The GBC clarifies that an individual devotee taking up the service of diksa-guru in the physical presence of their guru may be allowed as an exception when the following conditions are met. The Guru Services Committee will confirm that the candidate for becoming a second ge...

In order to start a cow protection project that will be accredited within ISKCON and accepted as an ISKCON supported project, a “Cow protection Certificate of Readiness” needs to be obtained. The following are the requirements for obtaining such a certificate, which will allow new cow protection projects to commence their operations: 1. The GBC Minimum Cow protection Standards ISKCON Law 507(1999) needs to be read and fully understood before applying for the certificate. 2. An exam must be taken and passed. The questions in the exam will be based on the content of Law 507. 3. A well-th...

Whereas the current commercial dairy systems of the world in which the older cows, practically all bulls, young and old, and most female calves are slaughtered is thoroughly condemned and abhorrent; Whereas Srila Prabhupada wrote in this regard: “These greatly sinful acts are responsible for all the troubles in present society.” (SB 1.17.3 Purport) Resolved: By Janmastami 2022 all ISKCON centers should develop a plan whereby all milk and milk products — butter, ghee, yogurt etc. — offered to the deities are procured from protected cows. The centers may approach the International Ministr...

Whereas plastic is often used once-off and then thrown away; Whereas the lifetime of plastic varies from 50 years to more than 1000 years; Whereas plastic contaminates mother earth and her inhabitants; Whereas many ISKCON temples use plastic and foam cups, plates, spoons, water bottles, maha-prasadam packages, plastic bags, etc., once-off and then discard them despite there being biodegradable alternatives; Whereas Srila Prabhupada states that first you become conscious and then you become Krishna conscious; Whereas there is an increasing awareness in the general public about such issues and ...

On behalf of the GBC Body, we respectfully offer you the title of GBC Emeritus with gratitude and appreciation for your years of contributions and services to ISKCON and dedication to Srila Prabhupada. You pioneered Krishna consciousness and laid the foundation for ISKCON’s future growth in Switzerland in 1971, later establishing ISKCON as a legally recognized Swiss Church foundation. Thereafter, you organized Srila Prabhupada’s official reception by the Government of Geneva and, in 1978, organized the first public Rathayatra in a major European city outside the UK. Later, you successfully ...

We have leaders who are expert managers and we have leaders who are deeply immersed in Krsna consciousness, thus bringing another sort of expertise to management. You, however, are that very rare Vaisnava who is a brilliant manager yet deeply Krsna conscious, committed to your service in Srila Prabhupada's mission yet conscious of the needs of others, philosophically astute, yet humorous and lighthearted. There is scarcely a committee or project that has not benefitted from your input. And whenever a new topic arises, yours is often the first input we seek out. It is an understatement to say tha...

We hereby accept your letter of resignation with immense gratitude for your service to the GBC Body. Beginning with your contributions to developing and maintaining the Child Protection Office as its director, you have steadily accepted your service as a leader in ISKCON with integrity and dedication. Your educational background, your insights, and your focus on serving the devotees of Srila Prabhupada's ISKCON have brought so much benefit to our society. In addition, your balance of understanding and compassion along with firm adherence to Srila Prabhupada's instructions were particularly high...

Global Devotee Care Course Education — 2019. Whereas caring for devotees (vaisnava-seva) is one of the three cardinal principles given by Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu; Whereas Srila Prabhupada was himself a personification of devotee care (example, he built the Lotus Building before the Mayapur temple to facilitate devotees); Whereas there is benefit to ISKCON to develop devotee communities that are spiritually vibrant and materially stable; Whereas, often devotees leave or develop bitterness towards the movement due to inadequate devotee care: Resolved: That the GBC encourages all ISKCON Temples t...

In recent years, there has been much concern about the psychological and physical condition of HH Bhakti Visrambha Madhava Swami, an ISKCON guru and sannyasi. Despite repeated spiritual counseling, psychiatric treatment, and many efforts at intervention, it has become clear that BV Madhava Swami's mental state no longer allows him to function in a leadership position. It is our duty to advise you that BV Madhava Swami's psychological condition is declinin...

It has come to our attention that an idea is circulating that the GBC Body has overturned the CPO's ruling in a recent case. We wish to clarify that the GBC Body, by its own rules, does not have the authority to overturn a ruling by the Child Protection Office. A verdict can only be changed if the accused is granted an appeal by the CPO. No exceptions are acceptable in this regard. The GBC Body regularly reviews the CPO manual, and in some case, it has made changes to en...

GBC Nominations Committee: Members – Bhakti Caitanya Swami (Chairman), Prahladananda Swami, Praghosa Das, Gopal Bhatta Das (Convenor), Tamohara Das, Anuttama Das, Revati Raman Das, Radha Krsna Das, Gauranga Das, Aniruddha Das, Devakinandan Das (MVG), Laxmimoni Dasi, Manohara Das, Kaunteya Das, Tapana Misra Das (Non-voting Executive Member)

One Year Waiting List: Bhaktipada Das Deva Deva Das Ekalavya Das Navadwip Dwija Gauranga Das Priti Vardhana Das Pushpashila Shyam Das Raghava Pandit Das Santa Nrsimha Das Vrindavan Chandra Das Two Years Waiting List: Asim Krishna Das Premadata Das Sundarlal Das Venudhari Das

Zonal Assignments for GBC Members Acyutatma Das Co-Zonal Secretary with Bhakti Caitanya Swami for: Russia: Northwest Co-Zonal Secretary with Gopal Krishna Goswami and Niranjana Swami for: Russia: Moscow Anuttama Das Zonal Secretary for: Delaware Illinois Indiana Iowa Kansas Maryland Minnesota Missouri Nebraska North Dakota South Dakota Washington DC Wisconsin Co-Zonal Secretary with Devamrita Swami for: Pennsylvania: Eastern Co-Zonal Secretary with Tamohara Das for: West Vir...

Whereas when Deity worship is done properly following the rules of worship and maintaining strict cleanliness and punctuality, the worship is enlivening to devotees; Whereas, it has been seen that in temples where the worship is below the required minimum standard, it is often a result of zonal leadership, temple management, and/or the head pujari not knowing the proper standards of worship; Whereas GBC members and other leaders of ISKCON may not have the time to learn appr...

Resolved: That the ISKCON Law governing the commencement of worship of Deities in ISKCON centers shall be amended to include the following: ISKCON centers proposing to commence worship of Radha-Krishna Deities must ensure that their proposed head pujari is well-versed and sufficiently trained in required minimum standards of worship for Radha-Krishna in ISKCON. In order to achieve this, the candidate for head pujari must be a graduate of the Mayapur Academy.

Resolved: 1. The ISKCON International Office for the Prevention of Leader Misconduct (PLM Office) be established as a permanent ISKCON organizational entity subject to review by the GBC Body (as with other Offices and Ministries). The PLM Office Director will be responsible to the GBC EC through the ISKCON Executive Secretariat. 2. The immediate goals of The PLM Office will be to draft a document of ISKCON International Policies and Procedures for a) preventing Leader Sexua...

The GBC Body grants Romapada Swami a Leave of Absence based on his below letter: I am requesting permission from the GBC Body to take a leave of absence from my GBC duties and ISKCON management responsibilities until the Freeport Temple litigation is finally resolved. I will, however, continue as before with the performance of my duties as the GBC for the Freeport Temple. My reasons are: 1. To dedicate myself to the Freeport Temple litigation, which I have been handling on...

Whereas the GBC law passed as resolution 104 of 1999 “COMPLAINTS ABOUT SANNYASIS” states as follows in its entirety: THAT the GBC Sannyasa Sub-committee shall deal with any complaints against sannyasis. An investigation will be initiated if a majority of the members judges a complaint to merit investigation. Decisions will be made by a majority vote. The GBC Executive Committee shall present the decision to the GBC Body either by correspondence or at the next annual general meeting. A decision of th...

For nearly five decades, His Grace Harivilas Prabhu has been exemplary in his service to Srila Prabhupada. From the beginning of his life in Krsna consciousness, Harvilas Prabhu earnestly took on the responsibility of Srila Prabhupada's mission in many capacities and many places, beginning with the development of the French yatra. Along with much service responsibility, Harivilas Prabhu has been an ideal grhastha, caring for his family and giving generously towards the print...