Most temple-based members are in training, or serve as clergy engaged in ministerial and missionary work. Some members also help maintain ISKCON rural communities throughout the world.

Governing Body Commission (GBC)
In 1970 Srila Prabhupada formed a Governing Body Commission (GBC) to help manage an expanding ISKCON. Before Srila Prabhupada passed away in 1977, he requested that executive authority for ISKCON be passed to this Commission. The GBC decides ISKCON's major strategies and guidelines by democratic voting and in consultation with Temple Presidents and other leaders.

Bhaktivedanta Book Trust (BBT)
Working tirelessly over 12 years, Srila Prabhupada managed to write over 70 volumes of books - translations of Vedic scriptures into English and extensive commentaries on them.

Established in 1972 for publishing Srila Prabhupada's works, The Bhaktivedanta Book Trust (BBT) has become the world's largest publisher and distributor of books on Indian philosophy and religion.

To date, the BBT has published over 500 million books and magazines in more than 60 languages.

STRUCTURE OF ISKCON MALAYSIA

Governing Body Commission (GBC)

Members from the International GBC appointed to oversee the management of ISKCON in a country. In Malaysia we have HH Srila Jayapataka Maharaj and Srila Prabhavisnu Maharaj as co- GBCs.

Regional Secretary of ISKCON Malaysia

The Regional Secretary is appointed by the GBCs to assist them in the organization of a particular zone or country.

National Council of ISKCON Malaysia

This is the highest management body of ISKCON Malaysia. It is comprised of branch chairmen and leaders of preaching centres. Heads and representatives of special departments and projects also form membership of this council.

Regional Councils of ISKCON Malaysia

Branches and preaching centres in a particular zone form a Regional Council. In Malaysia we have the Northern Regional Council,. Central Regional Council. KL – Klang Valley Regional Council, Southern Regional Council, East Coast Regional Council and East Malaysia Regional Council.

Branches, Preaching Centres, Nama Hattas, Bhakti Vrksa Cell Groups

Branches are official and legal units for ISKCON Malaysia.

Nama Hatta or Preaching Centres operate as good as branches but may fall short of a few qualifications for branch status. In time and by qualification these centres are expected to evolve into branches.

To reach out to the household and to the individual entity effectively Bhakti Vrksa Cell Groups form a unit in the structure. These groups are mostly home based catering to care for not more than 15 members in a unit. When a unit expands to more than 15 it is divided into two to further expand the preaching and to also provide effective care for members. The programmes are more simple and easy to perform while maintaining the essence of a standard Hare Krishna programme.

ISKCON Members

Resident Members

These are members who have dedicated their lives to serve the mission of ISKCON. These include married householders (grhastas) and bramacharies. In some cases the householders receive a nominal allowance for maintaining family and household.

Bramacharies (celibate students), Vanaprasthas (retired householders) and Sannyasis (renunciants) form the other full time membership. They serve the mission according to the orders and instructions of their spiritual authorities.

Congregation Members are those who have begun to attend programmes are termed as members though for official reasons there may be other qualifications for membership.

Initiated members are those from any of the above mentioned categories and who have officially and wholeheartedly accepted a Guru (Spiritual Master) and who have vowed to follow the four regulative principles of No Meat Eating, No Intoxication, No Gambling and No Illicit Sex. Further to that initiated members also chant daily 16 rounds of the Hare Krishna Maha Mantra as their daily sadhana. Whether in the home of temple initiated members follow a rigorous programme of Arati, Study of Scripture, Eating Prasadam (sanctified food) etc.

4.             MEMBERSHIP

a.             Only citizens and residents of Malaysia (hereinafter referred to as `qualified persons') shall be eligible for membership.

b.             All person of not less than eighteen years of age shall be eligible for membership.

c.             The Society shall consist of dedicated, honorary, life and ordinary members.

i.              Dedicated members. Shall be those members who volunteered trained and were initiated into carrying out the objects of the Society and who follow the four principles of:

1.               Abstinence from eating meat, fish or eggs.

2.               Abstinence from gambling of any type.

3.               Abstinence from intoxication whether under drinks, drugs, or any other form whatsoever.

4.               Abstinence from illicit sex life.

ii.              Honorary members              -               all qualified person above the age of eighteen election at the Delegates Conference at the recommendation of the Central Committee.  They may be elected for life or such periods as the delegate conference decides; they shall be entitled to all the privileges of membership except that they shall not be entitled to vote at meetings or serve as officers or on the Central Committee.

iii.             Life members  -  are those who pay RM3006.00 in one payment in advance or by installments, as approved by the Central Committee.

                iv.             Ordinary members  -  All those qualified persons above 18 years paying a registration fee of RM5 and subscription fee of RM 60 per year shall be                             be eligible to be ordinary members.

d.                No university or university college student shall become a member without the prior written approval of the vice- chancellor of the university concerned.

 e.                Every application for membership shall be proposed and seconded by two existing members and shall be forwarded to the

 Secretary of the local Branch, who shall, at the first convenient opportunity submit it to the Branch Committee for approval.  The Branch Committee may at its discretion reject any application without assigning any reason therefor.  Applications for membership in centres where no branches have been established shall be dealt with in the same way by the General Secretary and the Central Committee.

g.             Every applicant whose application has been approved as aforesaid, shall, upon payment of the prescribed entrance fee and first annual subscription, be admitted as a member of the Society and shall be entitled to all the privileges of membership.

 h.             Every candidate shall complete and sign such application form as the Central Committee may from time to time prescribe.  Any omission or inaccuracy in the form may render the admission of the applicant voidable at the discretion of the Central Committee.

 i.              The decision of the Central Committee shall be final.

For membership please download application form

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