Section 200: FINANCE

201. GBC Budget

RESOLVED:

The GBC budget for 2013-14 is (in INR):

As the Founder-Acarya of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) and the preeminent teacher and ultimate authority within our society, Srila Prabhupada has a unique relationship with every ISKCON devotee.

Lord Krishna, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, is the original guru whose Divine Grace descends through the medium of the guru parampara.  As such, a devotee is ultimately delivered by Sri Krishna acting through a combination of various manifestations of His mercy. These include, but are not limited to, the caitya guru, Srila Prabhupada, the guru parampara, one's diksa guru, other siksa gurus, the Holy Name, sastra, and the nine processes of devotional service.

Within these cooperative elements, Srila Prabhupada, as the Founder-Acarya of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness, is the preeminent siksa-guru for all members of ISKCON. All members of ISKCON, for all generations, are encouraged to seek shelter of Srila Prabhupada.  All members of ISKCON are entitled and encouraged to have a personal relationship with Srila Prabhupada through his books, teachings, service, and his ISKCON society.

All members accepting leadership roles within ISKCON, including diksa gurus and siksa gurus, have the duty of serving together under ISKCON's Governing Body Commission (GBC) to fulfill Srila Prabhupada's instructions as he has given in his books, lectures, and personal communications. [1]

Overall, the primary duty of all diksa gurus, siksa gurus, and others in leadership positions, is to assist Srila Prabhupada in his service to his Guru Maharaja Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakur, and our Brahma Madhva Gaudiya Sampradaya.

Those who accept the service of diksa guru or siksa guru in ISKCON are required to be exemplary in representing Srila Prabhupada's teaching in their words and personal behavior. The siksa guru gives spiritual instruction and inspiration on behalf of Srila Prabhupada and our guru parampara. The diksa guru gives spiritual instruction, inspiration, formal initiation, a spiritual name, and later imparts the sacred Gayatri mantras to a qualified disciple as a service to Srila Prabhupada and our guru parampara.

Srila Prabhupada has clearly explained that devotees who are strictly following the Krsna conscious principles are acting on the liberated platform, and, as such, are pure devotees, even though they may actually not yet be liberated. [2] (Such unalloyed devotional service is not necessarily determined by one's role or position of service, but by one's realization.)

Those who accept the service of diksa or siksa guru within ISKCON are mandated to be strict followers of the instructions of Srila Prabhupada, and, as long as they follow, they are acting on the liberated platform. Thus they may serve, as Srila Prabhupada ordered, as bona fide representatives of the Lord and the guru parampara and be a via media of their mercy. Yet it should be clearly understood that if such diksa or siksa gurus deviate from strictly following, they may fall down from their position.

Thus, to act as a diksa guru in ISKCON means to serve under the GBC and in cooperation with other ISKCON authorities by functioning as a "regular guru" as Srila Prabhupada has directed.

• That ISKCON center officials shall be responsible to ensure that any and all web sites published by the center prominently feature a picture of Srila Prabhupada on the introductory page. This picture should be larger than any other individual's photo (such as the GBC, center President, or guru). Srila Prabhupada should be addressed by his formal name and title: "His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, Founder-Acarya of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness," or "ISKCON Founder-Acarya His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada", or an equivalent translation.
• All such web sites shall prominently display direct links that emphasize Srila Prabhupada on their home page such that the casual viewer would have access on the home page to Srila Prabhupada's  teachings and video recordings
• The picture of Srila Prabhupada on the home page, accompanied by his formal name and title, should be free from any other person's image. In other words, Srila Prabhupada's image should be the only personality in the photo or likeness
• The fonts presenting Srila Prabhupada's name and title should be easily legible.

• have the paper translated such that it is accessible to the devotees of their zone
• have the paper distributed to all approved initiating gurus, to all National Councils and other regional bodies, and to temple presidents, congregational leaders, and other officials in their zone

1. All ISKCON sannyasis are strongly advised to attend the Spiritual Leadership Seminar, "Being a Guru in ISKCON", given under the auspices of the GBC Guru Services Committee
2. All sannyasa candidates must attend the Spiritual Leadership Seminar, "Being a Guru in ISKCON", provided it is available in a language appropriate for them

Whereas the GBC has the responsibility to give clear vision, leadership and oversight in regards to scientific preaching and the Bhaktivedanta Institute;

Whereas funds allocated from the BBT to the Bhaktivedanta Institute need to be supervised;

RESOLVED:

The formation of the BI Standing Committee with the following mandate:

• To research Srila Prabhupada's instructions on scientific preaching, and, in consultation with devotees presently engaged in the field, come up with a clear vision for the future of scientific preaching and the Bhaktivedanta Institute. The committee will report to the GBC and the BBT about its progress by the next GBC AGM.
• According to that vision, to provide unified leadership to scientific preaching in ISKCON.
• To formulate systems for receipt of applications, allocation of funds received from the BBT, and reporting and assessment from individuals and projects that have received such funds.
• Individual committee members will not take part in decisions involving projects located in their GBC zones.
• The GBC appoints Devamrita Swami, Sesa Das, Bhakti Vijnana Goswami and Hanuman Das as members of the BI Standing Committee.

 
Whereas the members of this committee have resigned without having achieved their mandate;
 
Whereas the BBT has stated in writing to the GBC that no funding for Bhaktivedanta Institute will be released until the GBC clearly decides whom they consider to be the legitimate heir to Srila Prabhupada's Bhaktivedanta Institute legacy. Once the GBC reaches a decision, and the BBT agrees, funds will be released to this institute exclusively:
 
RESOLVED:
 
The GBC Body hereby commends the important and time-critical nature of the work of Rasaraja Das and Bhaktivedanta Institute Berkeley/Mumbai. The GBC members offer their heartfelt blessings to them for their continued excellence in devotional service.
 
The BI Standing Committee created via the above resolution is hereby dissolved.
 
There shall be a temporary committee to accomplish the following mandate by the beginning of the GBC AGM 2015:

• To research Srila Prabhupada's instructions on scientific preaching and the Bhaktivedanta Institute, and, in consultation with devotees presently engaged in the field, propose to the   GBC a vision statement for the Bhaktivedanta Institute.
• According to that vision, propose a unified structure for the Bhaktivedanta Institute, how it will function on an ongoing basis, and how the BI will be accountable to the GBC body.
• The unified structure for BI should include BI Mumbai/Berkeley. Other entities and initiatives might also be included, at the discretion of the committee.
  

The GBC requests Madana-mohana Das and Hanuman Das to propose a committee within 90 days to the GBC EC for approval.
 
The committee will report to the GBC and the BBT about its progress by the next GBC AGM.
 
Because BI Mumbai/Berkeley will be part of the BI structure, the GBC requests the BBT to direct the BI funds to BI Mumbai/Berkeley during the interim period while the committee is coming to its conclusions.
 
 
312. Executive Secretariat Reporting and Accounting

Whereas the Executive Secretariat has been established recently and a clear line of reporting is needed:
 
RESOLVED:
 
That the Executive Secretariat (ES) receives its mandate from the Governing Body Commission (GBC); the Secretariat reports and is accountable to the GBC. Throughout the year the ES works with the GBC Executive Committee (EC) in its role as representative of the GBC, to ensure and assist the ES to perform as mandated.

In the unlikely circumstances of crisis or a 'state of emergency', the EC may delegate or re-prioritize the service responsibilities of the ES, which shall be discussed by the full GBC at its next meeting.
 

313. Licensing GCal Software
 
Whereas Gopalapriya Das, in consultation with the rest of the GBC Vaishnava Calendar Committee, has written a computer program called "GCal" that has had success in providing ISKCON devotees with a dependable calendar calculation system. It has been very well accepted in the devotee community.
 
GCal was developed on behalf of the GBC Body and it is owned by the GBC West Bengal society. All along, the GBC Vaisnava Calendar Committee has been planning that GCal would become an "open source" program, in the sense that the source code of the program would be available to anyone who agrees to abide by certain licensing terms. This can result in the improvement of the program, since other programmers can study the code and perhaps find problems to be corrected. It also will tend to increase the credibility of the program, since nothing is hidden from the knowledgeable user. However, the committee has not yet released the source code.
 
With the burgeoning of different kinds of hand-held devices, tablets, etc., over the last few years, there is now a demand for GCal to run on these different platforms. Gopalapriya Das, however, has at present little time for GCal programming work. Recently, a number of different devotees have approached the committee with an interest in porting GCal to these other platforms. By releasing the GCal source code now to whomever wants to do whatever they want with it, under the terms of a general open-source software license, it is likely that GCal will become even more successful as a valuable tool for devotees. Since the software belongs to the GBC Body, the GBC Society needs to give permission to do that.
 
RESOLVED:
 
That the ISKCON Governing Body Commission Society hereby agrees that its copyrighted software package "Gaurabda Calendar (GCal)" authored by Gopalapriya Das may be licensed to members of the general public under a suitable open-source licensing agreement. The GBC Vaisnava Calendar Committee, presently constituted with members Bhanu Swami, Gopalapriya Das, Sadasivananda Das, and Bhaktarupa Das, are authorized, in consultation with legal advisors, to finalize the terms of such licensing agreements and devise policies and procedures whereby such agreements may be executed.
 
 
314. ISKCON 50th Anniversary International Committee and International Coordinator

Whereas there is a need for international leadership and coordination of ISKCON's upcoming 50th Anniversary Celebration in 2016;
 
And whereas it is important for ISKCON members and communities around the world to begin planning for ISKCON's 50th Anniversary celebration:
 
RESOLVED:
 
That an International 50th Anniversary Committee is created whose initial members shall include Pancharatna Das, Gauri Das, and Anuttama Das. They shall add additional members as required.
 
A 50th Anniversary International Coordinator shall be engaged under the guidance of the Anniversary Committee to assist in coordinating the 50th Anniversary. The Anniversary Committee shall create a service description and appropriate goals for the Coordinator and support his or her seva up to and during the Anniversary.
 
The Anniversary Committee and Anniversary Coordinator shall work with the GBC, Regional Governing Bodies, ISKCON Ministries, Temples, and other ISKCON communities and projects to encourage them in planning the celebration of the 50th Anniversary through multiple events. The Coordinator shall work closely with the Communications Ministry to promote internationally consistent messages, themes and event ideas.

In addition, all ISKCON GBC members, Regional Governing Bodies, Temples, communities, projects and members around the world are encouraged to develop appropriate strategies to celebrate the 50th Anniversary in their areas, and to ensure such efforts are consistent with the themes brought forth by the 50th Anniversary Committee.  
 
ISKCON leaders and communities are advised to develop preliminary national, regional and local plans during 2013 to be further coordinated and discussed at the International Leadership Sanga in Mayapur in 2014.
 
 
315. Child Protection Policy Manual (passed by correspondence vote in June 2102)

Whereas in 1998 the GBC Body adopted resolution 305, which accepted in total the recommendations of the Child Protection Task Force "outlining a justice system, central office, and various guidelines for GBC Members, Regional Secretaries and Temple Presidents to assure enforcement and implementation";
 
Whereas with now twelve years of experience of the functioning of the Child Protection Office, there is a need to update the existing processes based upon the experiences gained. Specifically, there is a need to expand upon, and clearly detail, among others:
 
    (a) the processes involved in dealing with a complaint of child abuse
    (b) the duties and responsibilities of the various role-players in the processes
    (c) the categories of abuse, offenders, and manner in dealing with them
    (d) the scope of jurisdiction of the Child Protection Office
 
Whereas there is a need to provide guide` for the prevention of abuse and the various processes involved in investigating and adjudicating complaints of abuse;
 
And whereas a committee of Champakalata Devi Dasi (Child protection Office Executive Director), Tamohara Das (GBC and former CPO Director) and Anuttama Das (GBC and original CPO Task Force member) have revised and edited a new version of the CPO Manual and obtained legal review of the document:
 
RESOLVED:
 
That the current revised version of the "CPO Policy and Procedure Manual" shall be adopted by GBC Body and become official ISKCON policy.
 
 
316. Zonal Configuration
 

 Whereas the GBC Zonal Secretaries of many areas of the world together with other leaders of those areas have identified the zones that they wish to formally establish:

 

RESOLVED:

 

That the following zones have been identified. It is to be noted that the full implementation of these zones shall take place gradually, and that this process of identification does not affect or modify existing continental, regional or national bodies:

 

Mexico & Central America shall include two zones:

1. Mexico
2. Central America: Guatemala, Belize, Honduras, El Salvador, Nicaragua, Costa Rica and Panama

   

Spanish Speaking South America shall include three zones:

1. Colombia and Venezuela
2. Ecuador, Peru and Bolivia
3. Chile, Argentina, Uruguay and Paraguay

This configuration shall be revisited in two years.

 

The Caribbean Area shall include two zones:

1. Northern Caribbean: Cuba, Jamaica, Haiti, Dominican Republic, Bahamas, Puerto Rico, Antigua and Barbuda, St. Kitts and Nevis
2. Southern Caribbean: Guyana, Suriname, French Guyana, Trinidad & Tobago, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, St. Lucia, Barbados, Dominica and Grenada

Europe shall include seven zones:

1. UK, Ireland, Iceland, Sweden, Denmark, Norway and Faroe Islands
2. Finland, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Czech Republic and Slovakia
3. France, Belgium, Netherlands, Luxembourg, Monaco, Spain, Andorra and Portugal
4. Italy, San Marino, Vatican City, Malta, Greece, Cyprus and Israel
5. Germany, Austria, Switzerland and Liechtenstein
6. Hungary, Romania, Bulgaria and Turkey
7. Slovenia, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Croatia, Serbia, Kosovo, Montenegro, Macedonia and Albania

 

Australia & Oceania shall include eight zones:

1. Northern Australia
2. Central Australia
3. Southern Australia
4. New Zealand, Samoa and Tonga
5. Papua New Guinea, Solomon Island and Vanuatu
6. Fiji
7. Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Micronesia, Nauru, Palau and Tuvalu
8. Tahiti (French Polynesia) and New Caledonia

 

South East Asia shall include six zones:

1. Myanmar and Thailand
2. Cambodia, Vietnam and Laos
3. Malaysia, Singapore and Brunei
4. Philippines
5. Western Indonesia (Java, Sumatra and Kalimantan)
6. Eastern Indonesia and East Timor

 

The Arab League Area (which includes other Islamic countries) shall include three zones:

1. North Africa: Mauritania, Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, Libya, Egypt, Sudan, Djibouti, Somalia and Comoros
2. Arabic Peninsula: Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Qatar, United Arab Emirates, Oman and Yemen
3. Middle East: Palestinian Authority, Jordan, Lebanon, Syria, Iraq, Iran, Afghanistan and Maldives

 

Japan and Koreas shall include two zones:

1. Japan
2. South Korea and North Korea

 

Brazil shall be a single zone.

 

This resolution will be revisited in the future.

 

317. A Letter of Appreciation and Commendation to the Bhaktivedanta Hospital, Mumbai
 
From the Governing Body Commission of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness
 
March 10, 2013
 
The Governing Body Commission (GBC) of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) offers its deepest appreciation to the members and leaders of the Bhaktivedanta Hospital in Mumbai for their excellent service and dedication to His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Srila Prabhupada and his ISKCON society.
 
We are grateful for the high level of professional and devotional care the Hospital provides for hundreds of Vaisnavas and tens of thousands of others each year, especially for the care provided to the many senior devotees who seek your services.
 
We especially note the contributions of the Hospital through its Spiritual Care Department, and its success in bringing many people to the shelter of Lord Krsna and to active engagement in His devotional service. As such, thousands of people have taken up the chanting of the Hare Krsna mantra and several hundred have taken spiritual initiation.
 
We also applaud the high standard of sadhana that is maintained by many of the doctors, nurses and other staff members.  And, we are pleased to note the Hospital has expanded its services to Vrindavan and Mayapur.
 
We strongly encourage you to continue your good work. We pray for your continued success in pleasing Srila Prabhupada by serving his devotees, his ISKCON society, and all the various constituencies you so excellently serve.