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Recommendations for Initiation in the UK

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UK Management Council.
The following is a clarification of ISKCON UK initiation recommendation policy.

Recommendations for initiation shall be implemented in accordance with ISKCON Law 7, specifically 7.2.1.3 (reproduced below).

In addition the UK standards for initiation must be applied for all candidates.

In summary, those entitled to recommend are as follows:

For devotees residing in temple communities:
The local GBC or the chairperson of his/her established Board of Initiations.
The temple president.
(excluding the prospective initiating guru)

For devotees residing away from temple communities:
As above plus:

The local GBC
Nearest Temple President
Local Zonal Supervisor
Congregational Preaching Director
ISKCON sannyasi preaching in that area.
(excluding the prospective initiating guru)

In addition, under this second category, the following specific leaders are entitled to recommend within the UK until further notice:

Leader of the UK Festival Program
Leader of Food for All UK

From ISKCON Law Book

7.2.1.3 Procedure of Formal Recommendation
This formal recommendation process is not intended to replace or overshadow the (more important) need for other regular contact among the various ISKCON devotees guiding the candidate and his prospective spiritual master regarding the spiritual progress of the candidate. Furthermore, the prospective spiritual master is under no obligation to initiate a devotee because a proper recommendation has been given.

7.2.1.3.1 Guru Receives Recommendation in Writing
Before a candidate can receive first initiation, his prospective guru must receive a formal written recommendation from the appropriate ISKCON spiritual authority, as determined by the candidate’s situation.

7.2.1.3.2 Contents of Recommendation
The recommendation of the recommending ISKCON authority must certify that the candidate has fulfilled the qualifications for initiation to the best of his understanding. The recommending authority must specifically attest that the candidate has been engaged in favorable devotional service, has chanted sixteen rounds of japa daily, has adhered to the four regulative principles, and has regularly attended a morning program, all for the previous twelve months. The recommender must also attest that the candidate is sufficiently knowledgeable in the philosophy of Krishna consciousness and in the structure and purpose of ISKCON to have passed the prescribed examination, and that he has accepted shelter of the guru for at least six months.

7.2.1.3.3 Recommender Contacts Previous Authorities
If the candidate has not been serving continuously within the jurisdiction of the recommending
ISKCON authority for the previous twelve months, then the recommender must still satisfy with the activities of the candidate for the full twelve-month period by contacting other ISKCON authorities with knowledge of the candidate’s activities during the balance time.

7.2.1.3.4 Devotees Residing In Temple Communities
Before a candidate can receive first initiation, the guru must receive a written recommendation from the Temple President under whom the candidate is currently serving. If the Temple President is also the prospective initiating guru, then the following special procedures must be observed: Either the local GBC shall write the recommendation himself, or he shall establish a local Board of Initiations, which does not include the prospective guru as a member, to review the qualifications of the candidates. The chairman of this Board of Initiations may then prepare the necessary written recommendations. In the extreme case that the local GBC, Temple President, and prospective guru are all the same person, the GBC Executive Committee shall establish the appropriate procedures to be followed.

7.2.1.3.5 Devotees Residing Away from Temple Communities Qualified candidates for initiation who reside away from temple communities may be recommended for initiation (in the manner prescribed above) by one of the following spiritual authorities (excluding the prospective initiating guru) who knows them well: a local GBC, the nearest Temple President, the local Regional Secretary, the concerned congregational preaching director, or an ISKCON sannyasi who is regularly preaching in that area.

For full version, please refer to ISKCON Law Book:

https://archive.org/details/IskconLawBook

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