From the ISKCON GBC – Minutes Of The Annual General Meeting – February 2017
313: Global Duties & Responsibilities of the Governing Body Commission
[ISKCON Law]
Whereas the GBC wishes to formalize the understanding of its global services to the International Society for Krishna Consciousness;
Whereas it is important that duties and responsibilities be clarified at all levels of the Society;
Whereas the GBC wishes to produce a legacy document for the instruction and training of future GBC members:
RESOLVED:
That the document “Global Duties & Responsibilities of the Governing Body Commission (GBC)” is accepted as an official statement and shall be part of ISKCON Law.
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(The following is an excerpt from the above mentioned document)
Guarding & Representing Srila Prabhupada’s Teachings
In Los Angeles on June 4, 1976, a reporter asked Srila Prabhupada: “Is there anyone who is designated to succeed you as the primary teacher of the movement?” Srila Prabhupada replied: “I am training some, I mean to say, advanced students so that they may be very easily take up the charge. I have made them GBC. They are under my direct training, and I think they will be able to conduct this movement.” Six days later, on June 10, 1976, also in Los Angeles, another reporter asked about succession of spiritual leadership: once Srila Prabhupada departed “Will there be one spiritual leader”? Srila Prabhupada answered: “No, I am training GBC, eighteen all over the world.”
Part of this teaching function is to judge whether Srila Prabhupada’s teachings are being properly applied according to time, place, and circumstance, translating the Founder-Acarya’s instructions and desires within changing conditions and environments. Another part of the teaching function is to identify principles and distinguish them from details. An example of a theme requiring careful analysis is the application of varnasrama-dharma within a contemporary context. The stewardship of Srila Prabhupada’s instructions includes acting as guardians of the Seven Purposes of ISKCON and thus preventing deviation from and neglect of the foundational aims Srila Prabhupada enshrined.
Preserving Srila Prabhupada’s Position as the Founder- Acarya
Srila Prabhupada was very concerned that his status as Founder-Acarya be established and perpetuated. For instance, in a circular signed by two GBC members, approved (and signed) by Srila Prabhupada, and marked “TOPMOST URGENCY” – a document including “AMENDMENTS TO BE IMMEDIATELY ADDED TO ALL OFFICIAL REGISTRATION DOCUMENTS, CONSTITUTIONS, INCORPORATION PAPERS, ETC.” – we find: “It is declared that His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada is the Founder-Acharya of (ISKCON) International Society for Krishna Consciousness. He is the supreme authority in all matters of the society. His position cannot be occupied by anyone else, and his name and title must appear on all documents, letterheads, publications, and buildings of the Society.” (Amendments for Official Documents, July 22, 1974) Srila Prabhupada was alert to ensuring that his unique position in ISKCON not be usurped or challenged. He had been keenly aware of discrepancies in recognizing his status in the movement, and such deviations pained him deeply. He took steps to firmly establish acknowledgement of and respect for the principle of founder-acarya. Even in the Direction of Management document of July 28, 1970, Srila Prabhupada included: “During my absence no one shall live in my apartment.” The GBC should preserve and explain Srila Prabhupada’s position as the Founder-Acarya of ISKCON throughout the generations of devotees.
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