ISKCON 1 temple

ISKCON 2 temple

ISKCON temple “Outsiders” 3 devotees temple “Congregation”

ISKCON Congregatio n 4

ISKCON Congregatio n 5

ISKCON Congregation 6

ISKCON Congregation 7 temple

 Defines only one äçrama, brahmacarya (sannyäsa).  Gives no sense of identity to gåhasthas in the congregation.  Increased alienation between temples and congregation.  Temples become irrelevant, structure becomes more unwieldy and anarchistic. 8

Devotees are not getting a fair chance at Kåñëa consciousness. 9

 They don’t have enough association.  They don’t have opportunities for service other than donating.  They don’t receive regular guidance.  They don’t feel part of/or accepted into ISKCON.  They don’t feel ISKCON cares for them. 10

 Non-missionary gåhasthas will be abandoned.  Live in constant tension with Congregation.  Because numbers limited, work of ISKCON is limited.  Have little security for a lifetime of service as congregation does not support them. 11

 Just a union of temples with a few “priests”.  Certainly not a Society. 12

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temple 15 ISKCON

 ISKCON is the sum of temples and congregations that we can call the “community”.  And the temples are the smaller part of the community that  provide place of spiritual inspiration  supply spiritual guides for community  the ultimate authority on community standards. 16

 Rule 1. Stop using the terminology “temples”.  Rule 2. Start using the terminology “community”. 17

 The community is not just everyone who believes in Kåñëa.  It is about people who accept a set of common values and have established “rights” and “obligations”. 18

One therefore has to define requirements of community membership. 19

 Empower community for social, religious and economic services:  Mediation, Ombudsman, Judiciary  Organizing Sunday Program  Organizing special events  Chamber of commerce, educational, economic incentives  Summer camps and outings  Nursery’s, schools, hospices  Recreational centres 20

 But the community needs to be established and sustained.  For that we need a devotee care and counselor system.  This is compulsory for being a community member. 21

How to build and maintain a community I will leave to Guruttama Prabhu. 22