Grievances Regarding Management

If a sannyasi or party leader has a grievance regarding the management of a temple, particularly in regard to the brahmacari program, his complaint should be properly aired to the Temple President and the local GBC representative. The matter should not be brought before the devotees in general.

When a person becomes a member of ISKCON or assumes an office within ISKCON, he does so on the condition of submission to the ecclesiastical jurisdiction of ISKCON, and however much he may be dissatisfied with the exercise of that jurisdiction, he shall refrain from invoking the supervisory power of the civil court, but shall seek redress of any grievance(s) through the ISKCON judicial process. Otherwise, he may be removed from office and/or his membership in ISKCON terminated.(88)

General Guidelines

Prohibition of Chocolate

As it contains various stimulants like caffeine (contained in coffee), theine (contained in black tea) and theobromine (contained in cocoa), chocolate should not be eaten by ISKCON devotees.(93)

AIDS Test

1. The GBC Body requires that all devotees living and/or serving in our temples should take an AIDS test, local laws permitting. All new devotees, as they join, should also take an AIDS test.

2. The GBC Health and Welfare Committee advises that temples should not allow persons who are HIV positive to engage in services within our temples which involve the preparation or serving of bhoga or prasadam.

Holding ISKCON Assets In One's Private Name

Anyone holding ISKCON assets in his private name, in the name of another, or in the name of a corporate entity and controlled by himself or another, shall provide an annual detailed confidential declaration of such assets and the reasons for the holding arrangements to his GBC representative. When the GBC representative holds such assets, he shall disclose the same information to the GBC Body in the manner provided by it.(88)

Asramas (Spiritual Orders) in ISKCON

9.1 Sannyasa-Asrama

Principles

ISKCON sannyasis are individually and collectively responsible for maintaining the purity and high spiritual standard of ISKCON by their personal example and in their preaching according to the instructions of Srila Prabhupada.

Regulations

9.1.2.1 Application for Sannyasa Initiation

1. Any GBC member can nominate a man from his zone for sannyasa each year at the GBC annual meeting. The man must be a preacher and not sexually inclined. He must be an initiated brahmana. A GBC should avoid recommending a sannyasi whimsically.(75)

2. Any GBC member can place a devotee on a two-year trial period for sannyasa. After one year, the GBC Body will discuss the qualifications of the candidate and pending their approval, the candidate will enter into the final one-year trial period. At the end of the final year, the GBC will vote for the appointment of the sannyasi.

3. Sannyasa candidates must meet personally with the Sannyasa Committee in Mayapur before receiving final approval for taking sannyasa, unless exempted by the Sannyasa Minister.(95)

4. Candidates for Sannyasa must submit their applications in accordance with the Society's Rules of Order and include a statement by a GBC member listing the candidate's qualifications to take sannyasa and a letter written by the candidate explaining his reasons for wanting to accept sannyasa.

5. When the GBC Body approves a candidate for sannyasa, they reserve the right to assign the candidate a mission of their choice which may take him far from his previous area of service. Before making such an assignment, the GBC Body shall discuss the suitability of the candidate for the assigned mission with the local GBC, the Sannyasa Committee, the candidate's sannyasa-guru and the candidate.(97-102)

6. A devotee must pass the Bhakti-sastri test before being placed on the sannyasa waiting list. Those who are currently on the list must pass the Bhakti-sastri test before taking sannyasa. Exceptions to this require a two thirds(2/3) vote of the GBC Body.(97-301)

9.1.2.2 Sannyasa Recommendations

1. If a GBC member or initiating guru who has recommended someone for sannyasa withdraws his recommendation, the candidacy is canceled.

2. The GBC Body can waive the preliminary one year of the two years suggested in the previous proposal by its own decision at the time of discussion of the candidates. (At this time the sannyasa-guru of the candidates should be specified).

3. All sannyasa candidates are to be examined on the basis of the following qualifications before their names are accepted on the list of candidates for sannyasa:

a. How free is he from sex desire?

i. How long has he been a brahmacari?

ii. How long has he been living away from his wife?

b. What is his preaching record? Is it demonstrated by his ability to preach strongly? Is he a preaching leader? Has he been doing this for a good amount of time?

c. Is he strict in his personal conduct? Is he beyond suspicion?

d. Is he philosophically strong? Is this demonstrated through his lectures?

e. Is he willing to accept fully the authority of the GBC and work under the auspices of the GBC?

f. Does he have the proper quality of leadership to train and lead brahmacaris who are under his direction?

g. Is he self-reliant?. Does he have the ability to keep himself continuously engaged in some way which contributes positively to our preaching work?

h. Is the field of his preaching after taking sannyasa clear and acceptable to the GBC or other authorities?

4. Applications for sannyasa candidacy should include written endorsements from the local GBC(s) and the local managerial body or bodies where the candidate serves. In addition, it should include a resume detailing the candidate's devotional career.(96)

The sponsor of a proposal for a candidate for sannyasa should each year give a report of the candidate's qualifications according to the GBC Rules of Order, "The Qualification for Sannyasa. " To be put on the list, an initial report is required. Thereafter an annual report is also necessary.(93)