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...

Although this letter is delayed by the unforeseen change of agenda at the Midterm General Meetings in Ujjain, please accept our heartfelt gratitude and appreciation for the decades of service you have rendered on behalf of Srila Prabhupada's GBC Body. For twenty years, you have shouldered the responsibility for the Russian yatra, which is not only one of our largest yatras, but also one of the most successful under your capable leadership. Over and over again, the future of K...

We write to you with saddened hearts. As you well know, HH Bhakti Visrambha Madhava Maharaja has been faithfully and steadily serving his spiritual master, Srila Prabhupada, and the global ISKCON society for more than four decades. From his years of preaching and serving in temples in the United States and India, up to his taking sannyasa so that he could even more fully dedicate his life to Srila Prabhupada's mission, Maharaja has been an example of loyal and humble service...

The GBC directs the Mayapur Executive Board (MEB) to approve the request from the Jayapataka Swami Sisya Samuha to build a structure designated for the purposes of a Guest House, Devotee Care Facility, Offices, Archives and Museum on the five acre plot of land as proposed to the GBC on February 16, 2018. The MEB should ensure the project goes through the standard review procedures with special attention to guarantee proper green space and height limitations. Also, there shou...

Whereas someone skilled and experienced is required to establish and develop the new ISKCON International Office for the Prevention of Leader Misconduct (PLM Office); Whereas Champakalata dd has volunteered to take up this service; Resolved: That Champakalata Devi Dasi is appointed as the Director of the ISKCON International Office for the Prevention of Leader Misconduct (PLM Office) for a period of two years from March 2018 to February 2020. It is further resolved that the ...

Whereas the issues of implementation of Vaishnavi diksa-gurus and disciples initiating in the presence of their initiating guru in ISKCON remain unresolved; Whereas there is a critical need for many more devotees to serve as diksa-guru in ISKCON; Whereas there are at least 9 million congregational members in ISKCON; Whereas ISKCON has less than 80 devotees available to give diksa to potentially 9 million people; Whereas if every congregational member sought initiation eac...

Whereas the Srila Prabhupada Disciple Database was started in 1995 as part of the Srila Prabhupada Centennial Project under the petal of Uniting Srila Prabhupada’s Family and is based on the “Initiation Name Book” which was compiled by Srila Prabhupada’s secretaries; Whereas Mahamaya-devi dasi (ACBSP) has expanded the approximate 3,900 names from the last version of the initiation name book that she typed in 1977 by compiling through research of Srila Prabhupada’s...

The International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) is committed to the well being of all individuals involved with ISKCON, especially children and other more vulnerable participants. ISKCON recognizes that children, for their full and harmonious development, need to be raised in an atmosphere of love, support, guidance and understanding. ISKCON acknowledges that children, when so raised, are likely to play a vital role in the future of our Society. Thus, placing the...

A sannyasi, in the varnasrama society, is expected to have material and spiritual qualifications even more exalted than those possessed by a brahmana. According to the Bhagavad-gita, a brahmana should possess the following qualities: Peacefulness, self-control, austerity, purity, tolerance, honesty, knowledge, wisdom and religiousness – these are the natural qualities by which the brahmanas work. Bg. 18.42 Therefore, a bona fide sannyasi is expected to possess the above qua...

Establishing the Spiritual Advisors Bhagavata Assembly, or SABHA, has manifold functions. It aims at strengthening unity among ISKCON’s global spiritual leaders. It facilitates their cooperation, communication and working relation for the progress of Srila Prabhupada’s movement. The SABHA provides checks and balances on the authority of the GBC and course-correction for its decisions. More consultation, more dialogue and more interaction can be conducive to better, wise...