ISKCON ISKCON ConstitutionConstitution

Srila PrabhupadaSrila Prabhupada• . A GBC member cannot go beyond the

jurisdiction of his power. We are in the experimental stage but in the next meeting of the GBC members they should form a constitution how the GBC members manage the whole affair. But it is a fact that the local president is not under the control of the GBC. Yes, for improvement of situations such as this I must be informed of everything.Letter to: Giriraja -- London 12 August, 1971

Srila PrabhupadaSrila Prabhupada• That is our real work, to educate people in spiritual life

by giving them the practical example, so I wanted that the GBC would be a chosen body of men for that purpose, to see how the students are learning and reporting to me as my secretaries. I do not know how you could have missed these points, as they are clearly spelled out in my original constitution. Anyway, whatever is done, is done. So I am very glad that you are leading all others in book distribution, so you go on with your work in this way and Krishna will give you all the clear idea of how to do everything.Letter to: Satsvarupa -- Tokyo 2 May, 1972

• Note that this is about one year after the Direction of Management which Srila Prabhupada referred to as "original Constitution":

Srila PrabhupadaSrila Prabhupada• As far as your proposals are concerned the real

thing is that we must make broader constitution of the management by GBC. But the difficulty is that our GBC men are falling victim to maya. Today I trust this GBC and tomorrow he will fall down. That is the difficulty. If the GBC men are so flickering then what to speak of the others. Unless this problem is solved whatever we may resolve it will not be very useful. We shall discuss this at our meeting. If the GBC men can ever manage properly then I shall get some time for writing my books.Letter to: Jayatirtha -- Bombay 16 December, 1974

HistoryHistory• 1975

o Srila Prabhupada oversees GBC Resolutionso Key foundational principles established

• 1978 – 2006o Expansion of ISKCON Lawso Several attempts to draft a formal constitution

• 2007 – Presento ISKCON Constitution committee at worko Five GBC review/redraft cycles so faro Expanding circle of input and feedback

CommitteeCommittee• GBC Committee:

o Bhaktimarga Swamio Hrdaya Caitanya daso Sesa das

• Drafting Committee:o Bhaktarupa daso Pancharatna daso Prema Bhakti daso Shalagram das

• Drafting Advisors: o Akruranath Daso Dvarakadisa daso Parivadi daso Vedavyasa das

Core PrinciplesCore Principles• Establish the foundational principles

that govern, guide and inspire ISKCON

• Address both structure and values• Be more inspirational, less legalistic • Leave details to ISKCON Law.

GoalsGoals• To preserve Srila Prabhupada’s direction for

ISKCON• To delineate ISKCON’s structure of

governance• To inspire the members and encourage

cooperation• To clarify the scope of power in individuals

and entities• To determine responsibilities of individuals

and entities• To protect the rights of individuals and

entities

FormatFormat• Brief document • Supporting papers explaining

rationale

ContentsContents• PREAMBLE • ARTICLE I – DEFINITION AND

MISSION   o SECTION 1. DEFINITIONo SECTION 2. FOUNDER-ACHARYA o SECTION 3. MISSION

ContentsContents• ARTICLE II - MEMBERSHIP

o SECTION 1: SCOPEo SECTION 2: GENERAL MEMBERSHIPo SECTION 3: DEDICATED MEMBERSo SECTION 4. LIMITATIONS

• ARTICLE III - ISKCON ORGANIZATIONS o SECTION 1. DEFINITION o SECTION 2. RESPONSIBILITIES o SECTION 3. RIGHTS

ContentsContents• ARTICLE IV. GOVERNING BODY

COMMISSION o SECTION1. DEFINITION o SECTION 2. MEMBERSHIPo SECTION 3. SCOPE & RESPONSIBILITIESo SECTION 4. GEOGRAPHIC REPRESENTATION

• ARTICLE V - ISKCON GOVERNANCE o SECTION 1. AUTHORITY o SECTION 2. PURPOSE OF GOVERNANCE o SECTION 3. ETHOS OF GOVERNANCE o SECTION 4. ETHOS OF MEMBERSHIP

ContentsContents• ARTICLE VI – ISKCON DISPUTE

RESOLUTION• ARTICLE VII –CONSTITUTIONAL

COUNCILo SECTION 1. DEFINITIONo SECTION 2. MEMBERS

• ARTICLE VII – PROCESS OF AMENDMENT RATIFICATION

IssuesIssues• Membership• GBC Scope & Responsibilities• GBC Geographic representation

ProcessProcess• Continue to work with Org. Dev. On

Membership and GBC issues• Create supporting documents• Widen the circle of input• Prepare for public feedback • Strive for unanimous agreement from

GBC body• Strive for consensus amongst ISKCON

leaders• Ratify when ready. Goal is by 2016

Feedback processFeedback process• Attend ILS seminar for full review of

draft document• Complete printed feedback form at

ILS.• Complete online feedback form.

DON’T DON’T CIRCULATE!CIRCULATE!

Draft is not ready for public circulation

ContactsContacts• Sesa@pamho.net• PRD@pamho.net

ISKCON PurposesISKCON Purposes• League of Devotees (1953) – marked up for USA

o (A) To propagate spiritual knowledge systematically for checking the imbalance of life, to the whole world over with a view to educate the people in general in the techniques of spiritual life as the basis of balanced psychic and biological development of the human race and thus to achieve real unity peace of the contending elements of the world situation.

• Constitution of Association (1966)o (A) To educate the greater human society in the techniques of spiritual

life as the basis for a balanced psychic and biological development, and thereby achieve for the first time in human society a real peace and unity among the contending forces in the world today.

• Articles of Incorporation (1966)o a) To systematically propagate spiritual knowledge to society at large

and to educate all peoples in the techniques of spiritual life in order to check the imbalance of values in life and to achieve real unity and peace in the world.

For more information please

contact makingadifference@pamho.net