Non-dependent Temple Resident Members

Those grhasthas who choose to engage in full-time occupation outside of ISKCON must follow the fifty percent(50%) donation rule, and all of their non-occupational time should also be engaged in devotional service, sacrificing a major portion given in voluntary service to ISKCON.(92)

Restriction of Participation in ISKCONDisciplinary Remedial Measures

ISKCON devotees (temple-resident or congregation) shall be subject to the following disciplinary remedial measures actions:

Censure

Definition

A censure is to be understood as a reprimanding remedial measure aimed at reformation of the member and prevention of further offending acts. It is the warning voice of more serious disciplinary action.

Procedure

The Temple President along with two other temple officers, or by a two third(2/3) majority vote of the Temple Board, if it exists, or by any higher local spiritual authority as per ISKCON Law shall have the power to censure an ISKCON devotee serving within their region.

Reasons for Censuring

An ISKCON Devotee may be censured for any of the following transgressions:

8.4.1.3.1 Misconduct and Indiscipline

1. Willful violation of GBC resolutions.

2. Vilification of ISKCON or the GBC Body or other ISKCON Authority

3. Misconduct in temple or spiritual community (physical assault except in self-defense, inappropriate dealings with opposite sex, abusive behavior to other devotees, and so on).

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

5. Seriously interfering with the guru and disciple relationship with another devotee.

6. Duplicitous or untruthful dealings (lying to spiritual authorities, and other serious prevarication).

Acting irresponsibly in publicly expressing grievances rather than taking recourse to the prescribed process for settling grievances as per ISKCON Law.

Conscious and serious philosophical deviation from Srila Prabhupada’s teachings (1999)

8.4.1.3.2 Improper Discharge and Neglect of Duty, and Misuse of Funds.

1. Consistent disobedience of service instructions.

2. Consistent failure to be accountable to authorities.

3. Consistent or serious misuse of ISKCON funds or any acts that endangers the temple or preaching mission.

4. The GBC Executive Committee, Ministry of Justice, and the Board of Education are authorized to establish time limits wherein their directives (action points) are to be carried out.

5. If whoever is named in the directive (including GBC members, Temple Presidents, sannyasis, or any member of ISKCON) and who has received notice of the directive either personally or through registered post, does not act upon the given direction in the designated time, they are to be automatically censured and subject to probation if they continue to delay or not comply with the directive, are uncooperative or are intransigent.

6. At the time of censure, the censured party has the right to "show cause" why there may be extenuating circumstances making it impossible to carry out the directive. This "show cause" will be presented to and decided on by the body which issued the initial directive and their decision will be binding until the next annual GBC meeting where the situation will be reviewed.(97-401)

8.4.1.3.3 Spiritual Discrepancy

1. Willful and consistent neglect to follow the rules and regulations of Krsna consciousness as appropriate to the vows one has taken.

2. Conscious and serious philosophical deviation from Srila Prabhupada's teachings.

3. Consistently irregular in their personal sadhana as appropriate to the vows one has taken and without bona fide cause.

If the order to censure is given, it shall be put in writing by the respective authorities and copies preserved. Furthermore, it shall be carefully impressed upon the offender the meaning of the censure note. (See appendix section for proforma wording.(page.180))

A member who has been censured three times shall be placed on probation.

Each censure shall last for a period of three years after which it is expired. Once one has successfully satisfied the conditions of probation and has regretted and repented his acts then his slate of censures is wiped clean.

Probation

Procedure and Conditions

A devotee shall be placed on probation by the appropriate authority according to ISKCON Law for a specified time when prescribed in ISKCON Law or when one has been censured three times.

However, if there is a serious spiritual offense as provided for in ISKCON Law, or if the transgressions of spiritual practices for an ISKCON initiated or resident devotee are of a more grave nature involving serious moral turpitude then a member can be directly put under probation without having three censures.

Rectification Programs

A specific program of rectification shall be assigned as deemed appropriate for the period of his or her probation.

Such programs may include:

1. Disciplinary or remedial transfer to another location.

2. Reformatory change of service.

3. Prohibited for visiting or living in a specified temple or community.

4. Specific spiritual remedial programs.

5. A divestiture of certain actions for the period of probation.

6. Reasonable and just reformatory programs.