Constitution Of Association

Dear Prabhus, dandavats and pranams. It is with interest that we read the recent article about an ISKCON constitution. There is no real need for anyone to make up a new one. Srila Prabhupada wrote one already. It can be found on pages 154-155 of "The Beginning," the l966 New York Journal of His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, Founder-Acarya for the International Society for Krishna Consciousness.

"The Beginning" was published by The Bhaktivedanta Archives, Copyright The Bhaktivedanta Book Trust, l996, from diaries that are owned and held by Bali Mardan prabhu and other original documents. Bali Mardan Prabhu, a life trustee of the Bhaktivedanta Book Trust lent the archives his source material with my encouragement for re production. They have printed Srila Prabhupada's diaries in two very nice books,"The Beginning" and "The Jaladuta Diary" which you can get from : The Bhaktivedanta Archives
P.O. Box 255
Sandy Ridge, NC 27046
Phone (910) 871-3636

Here is a true copy of the aforementioned Constitution:

CONSTITUTION OF ASSOCIATION

1. The name of the society is the International Society for Krishna- Consciousness.

2. The headquarters of the Soceity are located at Radhakrishna Temple, 26 Second Avenue, New York City, 10003, USA.

3. The objectives for which the Society is being established are: (A) To educate the greater human society in the techniques for spiritual life as the basis for a balanced psychic and biological development, and thereby achieve for the first time in human society a real peace and unity among the contending forces in the world today.

(B) To propagate the Sense of Godhead, the all attractive Personality of primal and eternal Form, as He Himself revealed in His own words in the Bhagavad-gita, The Holy Scripture of the Lord Sri Krishna, the Godhead.

(C) To bring together individuals in a Society, regardless of national- ity and irrespective of creed or caste, in order to develop a nearness to the Godhead and thereby the idea that within the members and humanity-at-large there is an infinitesmal soul-spirit that is part and parcel in quality with the Godhead, the Supreme Soul.

(D) To encourage the teachings of Lord Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu who demonstrated practically the transcendental process of approaching the absolute Personality of Godhead by His acts of congregational chanting of the holy name of God, a process known as Samkirtan.

(E) To prove by active work and preaching that Lord Sri Krishna is the only enjoyer of all the outcomes of individual and collective sacrifice, penance, meditation, arts, culture, sciences, because He is the Supreme Proprietor of the whole universe, eternally apart of Him eveyone knows Him as a friend. Real peace can be attained when this is realized, in fact.

(F) To assist whenever and wherever possible in the buidling of a social structure on the real foundation of spiritual progress and es- tablishment of peace and unity between men throughout the world.

(G) to attempt to save men individually from the chain of victimization the ongoing trend in modern civilization operates by, in the name of ideologies of false sentiment, so that man may again be a free soul, to act and live freely with spiritual vision. This is possible by individual spiritual initiation, Diksha, when a man can see everything in Godhead and Godhead in everything.

(H) To further toward realization this highest truth as revealed by Lord Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu and the six Goswamins headed by Srila Rupa and Santana Goswamins.

(I) To have for its objective amongst the others four principles which the Goswamins had in view. They are the following: 1. To erect a holy place of transcendental pastimes as well as a place where members of the Lord Sri Krishna can flourish.

2. To propagate all over the world in the form of missionaries the process of devotion, the transcendental service to the Godhead, and to make known that this devotional service is the main function of the human being.

3. In order to accomplish this, to adopt proselytizing methods of peaceful means and to establish a broader society of association for all members, including scholars and admirers, to engage in this service as put forth in the Srimad Bhagwatam.

4. To install, wherever it is possible, the worship and temple of Radhakrishna and that of Sri Chaitanya, and to give facility to everyone to become trained in the modes of Archan or preparatory principles of devotional service.

(J) To introduce to the members of the Society and humanity-at-large a simpler and more natural purpose in life by means suitable to the particular place and time, and as enjoined in the Bhagavad Gita.

(K) To organize educational programs, such as classes and lecture tours, and to institute services, such as mailing, for the benefit of the members of the Society and humanity-at-large.

(L) To publish periodicals, books and/or pamphlets in all important languages in order to reach human society and give an oportunity to same to communicate with the Society.

(M) To invoke the quality of goodness particularly in every member of the Society, individually by the process of Diksha and by establishing one in the status of a Brahmin (good and intelligent man) on the basis of truthfulness, knowledge and faith in the transcendental service of the Lord.

(N) Among the secondary objectives of the Society, it shall undertake the following activities:
1. To revive the scientific system of social orders of classification based on intellligence, martial spirit, productivity and commmon assis- tance, generally known as the four castes with reference to quality and worth for the common cause of world society.

2. To discharge as a matter of coures the vitiated system of supremacy of one man over another by false prestige of birthright or vested interests.

(*Note from Puru Das Adhikari - Please don't misunderstand "2." The New Webster's Dictionary defines discharge -.to unload, to discharge cargo,to absolve, free oneself from, to release (am arrow or bullet) to rid of an electrical charge, to dismiss etc. . . . vitiated- spoiled ., made defective, corrupted (morals or taste), invalidated or made wholly or partly ineffective.)

3. To popularize the vegetable-grain diet under apporved methods in order that full value of protein, carbohydrate, fat and vitamin benefit may be derived therefrom.

4. To discourage intoxication or addicting habits of all descriptions and dimensions and to expose such persons thus affliced to approved methods of spiritual realization.

This document is signed by:

A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami - Acharya
Raymond Marais
Michael A. Grant
Robet Lefkowitz
James S. Greene

I let this wonderful piece of writing speak for itself.

Om Tat Sat.

Your servant,
Puru Das Adhikari
Curator of
The Bhaktivedanta Memorial

Srila Prabhupada Page