The Plan

Our Service

Every day, ISKCON members throughout the world actively respond to people’s needs with the timeless spiritual science of Krishna consciousness, making it possible for thousands of people to find sustained happiness. Working through ISKCON’s network of temples, centers, and home-based efforts, devotees strive to fulfill the mission given to them by His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada in the founding document of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness:

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.

Srila Prabhupada established the Governing Body Commission (GBC) to serve ISKCON in achieving these ends by providing leadership and governance, establishing global policies, and developing strategies for the sustained growth of the Krishna consciousness movement. And, as Srila Prabhupada requested, the GBC serves as ISKCON’s ultimate managerial authority.

The GBC, of course, cannot work in isolation; rather, it needs extensive collaboration with ISKCON members and projects throughout the world. Aside from the obvious need for this collaboration, the GBC is driven by one of Srila Prabhupada’s last requests: that we show our love for him by cooperating to serve him.

A Growing Need

The challenges and opportunities of our times call for both dynamic visionary planning and the effective execution of those plans. ISKCON is growing, and with it, the need for better social support, leadership and global coordination.

The GBC, aided by a dedicated Strategic Planning Team (SPT), has increased its attempts to address these needs – first by identifying some of the ways ISKCON needs support in its growth, and then by developing practical strategies to offer that support. Carrying out these strategies will allow the members of the GBC to underscore Srila Prabhupada’s vision for ISKCON as a cooperative society that recognizes unity in diversity, maintains Vaisnava behavior and high spiritual standards, works on both love and trust and sound organizational principles, and encourages a broad and active participation among its members.

As ISKCON embraces Srila Prabhupada’s vision and learns how to better implement it worldwide, we will find ourselves able to reach people from any background and nurture their spiritual advancement and happiness as well as the advancement and happiness of our own members.