For many years I have been a grateful servant in the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON), deeply appreciative of the spiritual guidance and worldwide movement established by HDG Śrīla Prabhupāda. Like many devotees, I value coherence, unity, and faithful alignment with his instructions.

ISKCON adopted a Constitution on January 23, 2026, intended to safeguard the teachings and mission of HDG Śrīla Prabhupāda. The Constitution affirms the continuation of the disciplic succession and cites that qualified devotees — “men, women, boys, and girls” — become spiritual masters. This matter therefore touches both theological understanding and institutional integrity within ISKCON’s developing constitutional framework.

At the 2026 GBC Annual General Meeting, the Executive Committee stated that, pending further study, qualified Vaiṣṇavīs are to be recognized only as śikṣā-gurus. While understanding that the GBC is being pressured by some ISKCON leaders in India, ISKCON leaders across the world are demanding cohesion between the current announcement and the newly adopted Constitution.

This integrity is key to the success of ISKCON in general and for all those preaching Kṛṣṇa consciousness around the world who do not have the same cultural conditioning/smārta brāhmaṇa conditioning as some ISKCON leaders in India. If we lose integrity, we lose respect and demonstrate hypocrisy to the global community, to the future of this movement, and to Śrīla Prabhupāda’s mission.

We therefore call upon the GBC to uphold the current ISKCON Constitution by rescinding the recent announcement that contradicts Śrīla Prabhupāda’s clear statements about dīkṣā-gurus. Doing so will empower ISKCON to move forward with integrity, truth, coherence, unity, and fidelity to HDG Śrīla Prabhupāda’s mission.

Our shared goal is to support unity, transparency, and faithful adherence to the ISKCON Constitution and ISKCON Law. ISKCON leaders in India function under the GBC and will need to respect the GBC’s decision in upholding our Founder-Ācārya’s direct instructions allowing VDGs.