Misconduct and Failure to Follow Religious Principles or Higher Spiritual Authority

1. Wilful violation of GBC resolutions, in particular, but not limited to, deviating from ISKCON’s procedural requirements, such as canvassing for disciples, or not obtaining permission from local authorities before initiating someone, or being neglectful in the standard spiritual practices.

2. Vilification of ISKCON or the GBC Body.

3. Misconduct, such as physical assault, except in self-defense, improper relationships with the opposite sex, improper sexual behavior, abusive behavior to devotees, improper dealings with external society, etc.

4. Habitually or knowingly making false charges and accusations or other vaisnava-aparadhas.

5. Disregard of the devotees’ need to accept and receive guidance and shelter from spiritual guides of their choice.

6. Duplicitous or untruthful dealings, such as giving false promises to devotees, lying, or other serious prevarications.

7. Having taken re-initiation/shelter of a non-ISKCON guru or institution.

8. Having rejected ISKCON or Srila Prabhupada.

9. Having undergone a change of service, of asrama, or of living situation, which threatens the initiating guru’s ability to give guidance or set a proper standard of personal conduct.

 

Improper Discharge and Neglect of Duty

1. Misuse of Funds.

2. Consistent failure to submit required reports.

 

Spiritual Discrepancy

1. Failure to follow strictly the rules and regulations as described in Srila Prabhupada’s books.

2. Philosophical deviation.

3. Failure to regularly attend the temple morning program without a bona fide or good cause.

4. Failure to follow any of the four regulative principles or to regularly chant sixteen rounds of japa.

 

Depending on the severity of any activity deemed improper, corrective steps may consist of informal discussions, written warnings or censures, or measures such as placing the devotee on probation, suspension of giving initiation, rescinding of giving initiation, or any other measures deemed appropriate to the situation by the GBC. Disciplining Authority A devotee serving as an initiating guru in ISKCON may be censured by any of the following:

 A simple majority vote of the GBC Body.

 The GBC Executive Committee.

 A simple majority vote of a Regional Governing Body.

 A simple majority vote of a Divisional or National Council.

 Where there is no Regional Governing Body or Divisional or National Council, three GBC’s, which must include the GBC(s) of that area.

 

In the case of probation, suspension or rescinding of the privilege to initiate, a diksa-guru in ISKCON may be disciplined by the following:

 A simple majority vote of the GBC Body. The GBC Body shall then delegate a committee to perform the necessary follow-up actions.

 The GBC Executive Committee.

 

The disciplining body or officials must ensure that all details of the disciplinary action are placed on record with the GBC Secretary and, if applicable, entered into the relevant resolutions of the disciplining body. Nothing in this law section shall be deemed to limit the ability of any Regional Governing Body, Divisional Council, National Council, or other local authority to withhold permission for a devotee serving as diksa-guru in ISKCON from conducting initiation ceremonies within their jurisdiction. Censure Censure is a reprimand aimed at reformation of the devotee and prevention of further offending acts. It is preliminary step that may lead to probation or rescindment. Censure may serve as a precedent to other forms of religious discipline. When imposing censure, the disciplining authority must clearly set forth in writing to the disciplined person the specific basis of the censure, including the actions that were irresponsible, inappropriate, or in violation of ISKCON Law and the grounds thereof. Probation Probation is an opportunity for a devotee to rectify and regain his or her status as an ISKCON initiating guru in good standing. Probation does not mean that the service of initiating has been withdrawn, but it may include a partial curtailment. When ordering the probation, the disciplining authority must clearly set forth in writing to the disciplined person:

 the specific actions that were irresponsible, inappropriate, or in violation of ISKCON Law and the basis thereof.

 the specific program of rectification.

 the specific partial curtailment of the privilege to initiate, if any.

 the specific prerequisites for restoration, if any.

 the time period of the probation, which shall be no longer than one year.

 

After the period of probation, the disciplining authority must decide one of the following:

 The devotee is rectified and is no longer on probation.

 A determination of further probation under the same or modified conditions is required to complete the rectification process.

 The devotee has not been rectified and the privilege to initiate should be suspended or rescinded.

 

Suspension Pending Investigation Where there is substantial reason to believe that an ISKCON diksa-guru has acted irresponsibly, inappropriately, or in violation of ISKCON Law such that continuation of the privilege to initiate is likely to damage the good name, reputation, or other resources of Srila Prabhupada or the society, or if there are serious allegations of impropriety requiring investigation, then the devotee’s privilege to initiate should be suspended pending investigation. Suspension pending investigation is to separate the devotee from his or her role as initiating guru so that a thorough investigation of allegations may be conducted and the advisability of continuing to serve as diksa-guru is determined. The disciplining body must conduct an immediate investigation so as to minimize any disruptions. After completion of the investigation, the body shall make a determination and decide the future course of action. They may order one of the following:

 The suspension shall be revoked and the privilege to initiate restored.

 There shall be a probationary period with a program of rectification as described under probation above.

 It is not expected that the devotee can be rectified within a reasonable period of time and the privilege to initiate shall be suspended or rescinded as per the terms given below.

 

There shall be no public worship of a devotee whose privilege to initiate is under suspension pending investigation by the ecclesiastical action of the GBC.

 

Suspension When there has been a determination that a diksa-guru has acted irresponsibly, inappropriately, or in violation of ISKCON Law such that the privilege to initiate is likely to damage the good name, reputation, or other resources of Srila Prabhupada and the society, but there is possibility that eventually the devotee may be rectified, then the devotee’s privilege to initiate should be suspended. When suspension is imposed, the disciplining authority must clearly set forth in writing to the disciplined person:

 

 the specific transgression or misconduct causing the suspension and the grounds thereof

 the specific requirements for reinstatement

 

Such suspension of the privilege to initiate is not limited by a period of time and shall remain in effect until specifically withdrawn by the disciplining or any higher authority. There shall be no public worship of a devotee whose privilege to initiate has been suspended by the ecclesiastical action of the GBC.

Rescindment

When there has been a determination that a diksa-guru has acted irresponsibly, inappropriately, or in violation of ISKCON Law such that the privilege to initiate is likely to damage the good name, reputation, or other resources of Srila Prabhupada and the society, and there is little or no possibility that the devotee may eventually be rectified, then the devotee’s privilege to initiate shall be rescinded. When the privilege to initiate has been rescinded, the disciplining authority must clearly set forth in writing to the disciplined person the grounds or reasons thereof. There shall be no public worship of a devotee whose privilege to initiate has been rescinded by the ecclesiastical action of the GBC.

Appeals

If an ISKCON initiating guru is disciplined by a National or Divisional Council, he/she shall have the right of appeal to the Regional Governing Body (if one exists in the area) or the GBC Body (if there is no Regional Governing Body in the area).

If he/she is disciplined by three GBC members he/she shall have the right of appeal to the GBC Executive Committee or the GBC Body. If he/she is disciplined by a Regional Governing Body he/she shall have the right of appeal to the GBC Body. If he/she is disciplined by the GBC Executive Commitee he/she shall have the right of appeal to the GBC Body.

Any disciplinary action taken against an ISKCON initiating guru by any of the abovementioned entities shall stand unless and until it is overruled by a higher ecclesiastical body, up to and including the GBC.