(The following is an excerpt from the above mentioned document)<\/em><\/p>\nOn July 28, 1970, in the Direction of Management, the document establishing the Governing Body Commission, after listing the twelve Governing Body Commissioners he had selected, Srila Prabhupada wrote: \u201cThese personalities are now considered as my direct representatives. While I am living they will act as my zonal secretaries and after my demise they will be known as Executors.\u201d Executors are responsible of ensuring that a person\u2019s wishes \u2013 in this case, Srila Prabhupada\u2019s \u2013 are granted with regards to the management of his properties and legacy \u2013 in this case, the protection and guidance of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness. The GBC has been entrusted with this fiduciary duty of caring for the whole of ISKCON on behalf of the Founder-Acarya.<\/p>\n
A few weeks after establishing the GBC, Srila Prabhupada wrote to a disciple: \u201cPerhaps you know I have already formed a Governing Body Commission, so in my absence they will manage the affairs of the Society.\u201d (Letter to Umapati, August 23, 1970) Srila Prabhupada expressed the same idea a number of times: \u201cThe future hope of solid standing of our mission is on the proper management of our governing body.\u201d (Letter to Bhagavan, February 16, 1971) \u201cFor better management of the whole institution, the governing body commission is responsible.\u201d (Letter to Satsvarupa, February 26, 1971)<\/p>\n
Within this broad, inclusive mandate we can identify three distinct areas. First, the aspects for which Srila Prabhupada provided clear and detailed instructions, instructions that are universal and ongoing. These should be treated as fundamental, immovable principles \u2013 one such principle is the collegial governance of ISKCON. For instance, in his purport to Sri Caitanya-caritamrita (Adi-lila 12.8), Srila Prabhupada links the history of the Gaudiya Matha to ISKCON: \u201cBhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura, at the time of his departure, requested all his disciples to form a governing body and conduct missionary activities cooperatively. He did not instruct a particular man to become the next acarya.\u201d<\/p>\n
Second, the aspects for which Srila Prabhupada offered only general directions but no firm details. For instance, Srila Prabhupada expressed the desire to create a global legal structure for ISKCON: \u201cNow I want to make an International Trust Board for the whole Society\u201d (Letter to Bali Mardana, August 14, 1974); but the particulars of this overall legal entity need to be defined. In fact, Srila Prabhupada himself wrote to a GBC member: \u201cI have built the skeleton of the building, but there is so much more work remaining before us. The GBC men are there, the world is divided into 12 zones for gradual development by these, my chosen right hand men. So however you manage it, that you know best.\u201d (Letter to Hamsaduta, January 2, 1973)<\/p>\n
Third, aspects Srila Prabhupada did not delve into or discuss; either because they did not exist at the time (such as the Internet) or because they became prominent only at a certain stage of ISKCON\u2019s development. How initiating spiritual masters should relate with local managers is an example. Given these three categories of themes, this document will offer varying degrees of direct evidence from Srila Prabhupada\u2019s words.<\/p>\n
One thing is certain: in his \u201cDeclaration of Will,\u201d signed on June 4, 1977, Srila Prabhupada stated: \u201cThe Governing Body Commission (GBC) will be the ultimate managing authority of the entire International Society for Krishna Consciousness.\u201d Throughout the years, Srila Prabhupada repeated and confirmed the same idea; even in the last recorded mentions of \u201cGBC\u201d: \u201cThe institution depends on the GBC.\u201d (Room Conversation, Vrindavan, November 5, 1977) \u201cI wish that you GBC manage very nicely.\u201d (Room Conversation, Vrindavan, November 8, 1977)<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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By the GBC<\/strong><\/p>\n This document describes the collective service of the Governing Body Commission of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness. The listed functions derive primarily from Srila Prabhupada\u2019s direct instructions. Some details have been shaped, however, by insights gained over decades of observation and experience. The GBC members collaborate to fulfill their various global responsibilities and individually contribute according to their capacity, area of expertise, personal inclination, and specific requirements. It is not expected that every member will display excellence in every aspect; at the same time, absorption in and loyalty to the core elements of Srila Prabhupada\u2019s mood and mission are expected from every GBC member. In fulfilling its mandate, the Body shall involve as many qualified assistants as necessary to accomplish its duties, organizing them in as many offices, ministries, and departments as required. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[47],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-44617","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-gbc"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.dandavats.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/44617","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.dandavats.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.dandavats.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.dandavats.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.dandavats.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=44617"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.dandavats.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/44617\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":44619,"href":"https:\/\/www.dandavats.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/44617\/revisions\/44619"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.dandavats.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=44617"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.dandavats.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=44617"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.dandavats.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=44617"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
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