ABOUT
DEVOTEE CARE
– EmbedDING A Culture of CARE
The Devotee Care (DC) initiative is a recent initiative of the ISKCON Governing Body Commission (GBC), with an aim to “Embed the Culture of Care” within the devotee communities. In this light, a course has been designed, with the purpose that those who have come to the lotus feet of Krishna and Srila Prabhupada may positively identify themselves with ISKCON as a caring society and thus remain active in Krishna Consciousness till the last movement of their lives.
Our Story
Over the Years
2006
Visionary Beginnings
The inception of GBC Strategic Planning Team (GBCSPT) marked a pivotal moment with a heartfelt vision: “More devotees, happier devotees.” This team was formed to offer strategic counsel and solutions, nurturing the well-being and growth of the ISKCON community.
2007
The Birth of Devotee Care
Recognizing the profound truth that the essence of preaching is the care of devotees, the Devotee Care Committee was established. Its purpose was to systematically ensure every devotee felt supported and cherished.
2007-2014
During these years, the Devotee Care Committee passionately organized seminars and discussions. These efforts aimed at enlightening ISKCON’s leadership about the significance of integrating Devotee Care into the fabric of our community.
2014
Ground-breaking Course
HG Rasamandala Prabhu took a monumental step by developing a systematic Devotee Care Course. This endeavor was grounded in a comprehensive survey, reflecting the community’s needs and aspirations for nurturing care.
2016
The Pilot phase
The Devotee Care Course pilot phase commenced, blossoming into a globally recognized program within a year. Endorsed by both IIAC and GBC, it represented a beacon of hope and learning for devotees worldwide.
2017-2020
Flourishing Growth
These years witnessed a remarkable surge in Devotee Care initiatives. From humble beginnings, the movement grew to empower nearly 700 devotees across four continents, fostering a global fraternity of care and compassion.
2021
Uniting in Adversity
In response to the challenges posed by the Covid crisis, the first-ever global online Devotee Care program was conducted. This initiative brought together hearts and minds, offering solace and connection in turbulent times.
2022
Expanding Horizons
This year marked the establishment of three dedicated Devotee Care Offices in North America, UK, and India. It was a testament to the enduring commitment to devotee welfare and the ever-expanding circle of care.
2023
A Continuing Legacy
The journey of Devotee Care forged ahead, deepening its roots across the globe. The endeavors of this year laid down a lasting foundation, ensuring that the principle of Devotee Care remains a guiding light in ISKCON communities.
The Spectrum of Care
12 Areas for Devotee Care
Material well-being is an essential prerequisite for a healthy and fulfilling spiritual life. Gain the knowledge and resources needed to ensure high standards of living are met so devotees can focus more of their time and energy on devotional service.
1. Spiritual Life
2. Healthcare
3. Marriage, Sex & Relationships
4. Child-rearing and Child-care
5. Education
6. Career and Employment
7. Financial Advice
8. Housing
9. Travel and Immigration
10. Consumer and Lifestyle
11. Legal and Civic
12. Mediation Advice
12 Recipients of Devotee Care
Our communities are multi-faceted and ever-growing. Every member has a role to play and needs that must be met.
1. Women
2. Cows, Bulls/Oxen
3. Brahmanas
4. Children & Youth
5. The Elderly
6. Brahmachari Communities
7. Grihasthas Communities
8. Vanaprashthas
9. Sannyasis
10. Other Temple Residents
11. Leaders
12. Senior Devotees
| 1 | Spiritual Life |
Doubt / Loss of faith / weak sadhana / poor sanga / 4 regulative principles / lack of trust in authority figures |
| 2a | Healthcare (Physical) | Diet & prashadam / exercise, sleep and lifestyle / support when ill / palliative and hospice care / care of caregivers |
| 2b | Healthcare (Mental/Emotional) | Mental & emotional health / anxiety / addiction & compulsion / depression / suicide / poor self-image |
| 3 | Marriage, Sex & Relationships | Getting married / marriage counselling / sexuality / strife, separation & divorce / family recreation / community |
| 4 | Child-rearing and child-care | Raising children / child-protection / caring for the second generation / adolescence / succession |
| 5 | Education | Children’s and adult education / spiritual education / social, moral and cultural education / teacher support |
| 6 | Career and Employment | Career advice / life-coaching / workplace issues / temple service / unemployment / unfulfilling work |
| 7 | Financial | Poverty / debt / bankruptcy / tax / social benefits / pension schemes / remuneration of devotees |
| 8 | Housing | Houses to rent / retirement housing schemes / purchasing property / homelessness / ashram standards |
| 9 | Travel and Immigration | Visas / immigration advice / avoiding scam marriages / safety in travelling / relocation / pilgrimage |
| 10 | Consumer and Lifestyle | Ethical buying / care for the environment / care for animals and wildlife / recreation / internet use |
| 11 | Legal and Civic | All legal issues / discrimination / rights / criminality / remaining safe / civic identity |
| 12 | Mediation Advice | Disputes with ISKCON authorities / disputes with others / work-place conflicts / divorce |
|
1 |
Women |
Married ladies / Brahmacharinis / Widows / Elderly single ladies |
|
2 |
Cows |
Cows, bulls & oxen / Other animals / All living creatures |
|
3 |
Brahmanas |
Pujaris & Purohits / Scholars / Educators / Sannyasis / Gurus |
|
4 |
Children and Youth |
Children / Second generation youth, active and fallen away |
|
5 |
The Elderly |
Elders / The sick and infirm / Srila Prabhupada Disciples and other pioneers |
|
6 |
Brahmachari Communities |
Temple Brahmacharis / Those in transition toward married life |
|
7 |
Grihastha Communities |
Married couples / Families / Congregational members |
|
8 |
Vanaprashtas |
Retired couples / mature widows and widowers |
|
9 |
Sannyasis |
Resident sannyasis / Travelling sannyasis |
|
10 |
Other Temple Residents |
Community residents and staff (especially larger projects) |
|
11 |
Leaders |
Managerial leaders / Caregivers (counsellors, mentors, etc.) |
|
12 |
Senior Devotees |
Srila Prabhupada Disciples / Other ‘pioneers’ / Those who have given much |
GBC Resolutions
GBC Resolutions 2019
Global Devotee Care Course Education — 2019
(Proposed by Gauranga Das and sponsored by Anuttama Das and Revati Raman Das)
- Whereas caring for devotees (vaisnava-seva) is one of the three cardinal principles given by Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu;
- Whereas Srila Prabhupada was himself a personification of devotee care (example, he built the Lotus Building before the Mayapur temple to facilitate devotees);
- Whereas there is benefit to ISKCON to develop devotee communities that are spiritually vibrant and materially stable;
- Whereas, often devotees leave or develop bitterness towards the movement due to inadequate devotee care:
Resolved:
That the GBC encourages all ISKCON Temples to hold the four-day Devotee Care Course entitled, “Embedding Care in Krishna Conscious Communities” for all care-givers and administrators.
The course can be conducted in 24 hours: spread over 8 days of 3 hours each or two weekends of 6 hours per day or any other permutation or combination that suits the local yatras.
IIAC Resolution - April 2017
- Whereas the GBC Body of ISKCON has put emphasis on devotee care within ISKCON and has mandated the Devotee Care Committee of the GBC’s Strategic Planning Network to create the curriculum and guidelines for global awareness and implementation of devotee care.
- And whereas the Devotee Care Committee has released course which was blessed by the GBC Body in the AGM, Mayapur 2017.
- And whereas the IIAC body is committed to prioritize implementation of devotee care within the temples and communities of ISKCON in India.
- It is therefore resolved that the IIAC encourages the Devotee Care Committee to create a sub-committee which will implement the following:
- Communicate about the Devotee Care course to all ISKCON India temple leaders.
- Identify temples and devotee communities in India where devotee care systems may be implemented.
- Identify devotees from ISKCON India who may be trained in Devotee Care Courses.
- Arrange for the devotees that are so identified to attend the training courses.
- Translate the Devotee Care course materials into relevant regional languages and arrange for the conduct of the training programs in those languages.
DEVOTEE CARE MATTERS
In his Krishna-lila-stava (112), Sanatana Goswami, a great Vaishnava disciple of Sri Chaitanya, writes, “You [Krishna] take special care for Your devotee’s devotee.”
“Living entities under a devotee’s care get the opportunity for God realization by the management of a devotee-caregiver.”
– Srila Prabhupada
“It is through the love and the compassion of his devotees that Krishna manifests in this world to transform our hearts.“
– Radhanath Swami