For a long time, ISKCON administrators had wanted such a Code. In years gone by,
violations of ethical behavior had led to court cases, schisms within the movement, defections, and the time had come to change that with something formal. We needed a document to point to and say, “Here are our standards.”
Initiating Guru
Initiating Guru, Member GBC
Chair of ISKCON Justice Ministry, Member of ISKCON Dispute Resolution Department
ISKCON General Counsel and Global GBC for Legal Affairs, Member of ISKCON Dispute Resolution Department
Joe Dunham Distinguished Professorship in Ethics, Aurora University
Director, ISKCON Child Protection Office
Legal Counsel
Director, ISKCON Leadership Office
Legal Counsel
Member, ISKCON Dispute Resolution Department
Former Chair, ISKCON SABHA Committee
Member GBC
Project Coordinator
The ISKCON Code of Ethical Behavior was developed by a group of senior ISKCON men and women devotees, chaired by Yogesvara dasa (Joshua M. Greene). An initial draft was created, based on an examination of other ethical codes used by government, religious, and social service organizations. That draft was circulated among the advisory group. After incorporating their suggestions, the revised draft was submitted to the GBC for their vote.
Extensive comments were provided by the GBC body. Those comments were incorporated into a third draft, and the GBC then voted on this most recent version. On August 21, 2021, the GBC ratified the Code and voted it into ISKCON law. This point is significant. Because the GBC ratified the Code as “law,” as opposed to a “recommendation,” they actively support its implementation.
It is noteworthy that the articles of the Code are based on previous GBC laws and resolutions; nothing here is invented or new. Still, seeing our ethical ideals in one concise document is a powerful reminder that spiritual progress in all instances depends on impeccable behavior.
The Code is a “living document,” meaning that it may be supplemented and amended in the future by GBC resolution.
While all initiated devotees are expected to exhibit behavior in line with this Code, those devotees holding office or authority in ISKCON, as opposed to the general devotee population, are subject to sanctions for failure to adhere to this Code. These sanctions are described in Part Two of the Code.
For more information about the Governing Body Commission
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For the document on ISKCON and Interfaith
For information about ISKCON’s stand against caste-based discrimination
ISKCON Child Protection Office
For ISKCON’s statement on child protection
ISKCON Environmental Initiative
For information about ISKCON’s environmental policies
Bio of Prabhupada