Śrīla Prabhupāda's Documented Directives and Exchanges with His Governing Body Commission

This voluminous Vaniquotes page - All the 905 references to GBC in bullet points and by year presents a comprehensive historical archive directives and exchanges between His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda and His Governing Body Commission (GBC).

Extracted from 551 letters, lectures, conversations, and purports, this compilation tells the poignant, human, and transcendental story of an empowered Ācārya striving to establish institutional continuity through disciples who were often spiritually immature. It is a story of victories won through sincerity and failures born of inexperience, culminating in the final faithful acts that Śrīla Prabhupāda performed toward his chosen leading disciples, who served as his GBC men.

1970–1971: The Genesis of a Global Institution

The Governing Body Commission was not created as a bureaucracy for its own sake. It was born from a specific, urgent need: Śrīla Prabhupāda's desire to complete his translation of the Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam. By 1970, the movement had expanded beyond what one person could manage in detail.

The Hope for Relief

Śrīla Prabhupāda's initial vision for the GBC was optimistic and functional. He saw them as his "zonal secretaries" who would handle the day-to-day affairs, allowing him to withdraw into his literary work.

  • "Now I have set up the Governing Body Commission to handle management, questions of philosophy, and personal problems. These things are too much botheration for me, I simply want time to write books to satisfy my Guru Maharaja." (Letter to Upendra, Aug 6, 1970)
  • "I have formed this Governing Board Commission, the twelve members should each act as my zonal secretaries. So kindly keep me informed... In this way I will be encouraged and can give you direction." (Letter to Bhagavan, Aug 14, 1970)

Early Victories: The "British Empire" Expands

Even in these early stages, the GBC demonstrated its potential. The sheer expansion of the movement was a testament to their youthful energy.

  • "Under the expert leadership of such sincere students as yourself... the GBC is taking on the responsibility that I desired... So by Krishna's Grace everything is taking shape." (Letter to Bhagavan, Sept 22, 1970)
  • "Just like in our institution, International Society for Krishna Consciousness, although I am the head, still, I have got so many assistants, the GBC members." (Lecture, Aug 17, 1971)

1972–1974: The Crisis of Maturity and the Fight for Standards

As the novelty of the position wore off, the reality of spiritual immaturity set in. The years 1972 through 1974 were characterized by severe growing pains. The disciples struggled to distinguish between spiritual management and material bureaucracy.

The Centralization Crisis of 1972

One of the most significant events in GBC history occurred in 1972 when a group of GBC members attempted to centralize all financial and managerial power in New York, effectively bypassing Śrīla Prabhupāda's authority. His response was immediate and devastating to the bureaucratic mentality. He suspended the entire body to save the movement from ossification.

  • "YOUR MATERIAL LEGAL FORMULA WILL NOT HELP US. ONLY OUR SPIRITUAL LIFE CAN HELP US... I HAVE NO APPROVAL FOR ANY THESE PLANS. DON'T CHANGE ANYTHING." (Telegram to Rupanuga, Apr 6, 1972)
  • "Whatever you want to do... please write in a letter and distribute the copies to all the GBC members along with one copy to me also... The majority vote and my opinion should be taken." (Letter to Bhagavan, Aug 20, 1971)

The Struggle Against Bureaucracy

Śrīla Prabhupāda consistently opposed the GBC's tendency toward stagnation as administrators. He demanded that they be active preachers, not just managers.

  • "I think it is best thing if the GBC members always travel on Sankirtana Party in their zone... In this way, they will avoid the propensity to sit down and plot and scheme how to eat and sleep." (Letter to Karandhara, May 4, 1972)
  • "First point is the GBC member must be extensively traveling." (Conversation, May 25, 1972)

"Unity in Diversity": The Antidote to Disintegration

Watching his disciples fight amongst themselves, Śrīla Prabhupāda invoked the tragic history of the Gauḍīya Maṭha to warn them. He realized that without cooperation, the movement would fracture.

  • "Material nature means dissension and disagreement... but for this Krsna consciousness movement its success will depend on agreement... This is called unity in diversity." (Letter to Kirtanananda, Oct 18, 1973)
  • "The difficulty is sometimes things are interpreted in a manner dovetailing one's own sense gratification. I have got this personal experience in my Guru Maharaja's institution... and the whole mission disrupted." (Letter to Tamal Krishna, Oct 18, 1969)

1975–1976: The "Flickering" Leaders and The Push for Books

By the mid-70s, the movement had achieved global prominence, but the leadership's internal stability remained volatile. Śrīla Prabhupāda's tone shifted from hopeful instruction to rigorous correction and, at times, disappointment.

The Failure to Mature

Despite years of training, many GBC members fell victim to Māyā, leaving their posts or deviating from the strict standards. This "flickering" nature was a source of great anxiety for Śrīla Prabhupāda.

  • "The difficulty is that our GBC men are falling victim to maya. Today I trust this GBC and tomorrow he will fall down. That is the difficulty." (Letter to Jayatirtha, Dec 16, 1974)
  • "I appoint GBC for peaceful management of affairs and now you are creating disturbances amongst yourselves. So how can I be peaceful to translate my work." (Letter to Hamsaduta, Oct 16, 1975)
  • "The GBC can not whimsically change the temple president... Why have you threatened to remove him and unnecessarily created this situation? Please be very sober in your dealings..." (Letter to Gurukrpa, May 18, 1976)

The Victory of the Book Trust

While management faltered, the distribution of literature became the movement's saving grace. Śrīla Prabhupāda poured his energy into this area, equating book distribution with the highest preaching.

  • "My general request is that you all distribute as many books as possible... Your book sale statistics are astounding. I am so much pleased." (Letter to Tripurari, Jan 16, 1975)
  • "If we simply rely on book distribution all our needs will be met." (Letter to Rupanuga, Jan 11, 1976)

Standards and Discipline: "Don't Become Hippies Again"

Seeing a drift toward laxity, Śrīla Prabhupāda had to issue strict mandates on personal appearance and behavior, enforcing the identity of the movement.

  • "Now we are becoming hair-headed, we are forgetting shaving... So our request is that instead of chastising, with folded hands I request you, don't you become hippies again by growing hair." (Newsletter to Ramesvara, Nov 26, 1976)
  • "Business must be done by the grhasthas, not by the sannyasis or brahmacaris." (Letter to Jayatirtha, Jan 22, 1976)

1977: The Strategic Shift—Encouragement over Training

The final year, 1977, represents a distinct pivot in Śrīla Prabhupāda's strategy. Realizing that his physical time was ending and that a board of "ideal ācārya-like" leaders had not yet fully materialized, he ceased micromanaging their training. Instead, he appealed to their hearts. He handed them the movement not because they were perfect, but because he trusted that their sincere dedication to his order would be their sustaining qualification.

The Final Mandate: "Manage Very Nicely"

In the final conversations, Śrīla Prabhupāda empowers the GBC with full executive authority, pleading with them to maintain what he had built.

  • "Now you GBC, young boys, all, American, expert, you have got all intelligence, resources, so don't spoil. Let the movements go forward more and more... Don't be anxious for me." (Morning Conversation, Apr 29, 1977)
  • "Now I have given my program. You tackle, GBC men. At least, don't make me Alexander the Great in my lifetime. (laughs) They say, "You are great, great, great." But don't make it small while I am living." (Room Conversation, July 17, 1977)
  • "I am on the deathbed. I may go away at any moment. Then... Now it is up to you to give protection to the sanctity of our institution." (Room Conversation, Nov 2, 1977)
  • "The institution depends on the GBC." (Room Conversation, Nov 5, 1977)
  • "Manage very nicely and consider I am dead." (Room Conversation, Nov 8, 1977)


The Will and Management of Initiations

Śrīla Prabhupāda's Will contains the legal and administrative framework for the society. Additionally, specific arrangements were made to continue the initiation process during Śrīla Prabhupāda's illness.

  • The Will - Ultimate Managing Authority: In his last Will, Śrīla Prabhupāda declared: "The Governing Body Commission (GBC) will be the ultimate managing authority of the entire International Society for Krishna Consciousness."
  • Delegating the Function of Initiation: To manage the increasing number of candidates while he was physically unable to conduct ceremonies, a newsletter on July 9, 1977, named 11 senior disciples to act as "ritvik—representative of the acarya." The letter stated, "The newly initiated devotees are disciples of His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupad, the above eleven senior devotees acting as His representative."
  • The "Regular Guru": In a conversation regarding the future, Śrīla Prabhupāda distinguished between acting on his behalf and the eventual role of a "regular guru." "When I order, 'You become guru,' he becomes regular guru. That's all. He becomes disciple of my disciple." (Room Conversation, May 28, 1977).

Conclusion: A Legacy of Faith

The 905 references tell a story of immense spiritual ambition. Śrīla Prabhupāda's dedication to his mission is evident. Until his dying breath, he labored to establish the authenticity of his movement as representative of Lord Caitanya's saṅkīrtana movement. He wanted the GBC to manage his movement on a platform of sincerity and purity.

  • "You are a sincere worker. Right from the very beginning when you joined me you have always been a sincere worker, therefore, I keep you as GBC." (Letter to Satsvarupa, Sept 8, 1974)
  • "GBC means to be a practical example to all residents of temples and devotees. If all of us follow this principle of purity, our spiritual position will remain sound, and maya will not touch us... A fully surrendered soul always remains untouched by the hand of maya. Otherwise it is not possible." (Letter to Kirtanananda, Oct 5, 1974)

He left the GBC in charge, not as a perfected body, but as a work in progress, armed with his instructions and empowered by his trust. As he said in his final year: "I have given my ideas and direction in my books. People appreciate. I think from my side, I have done everything." The rest was up to them.

Dive Deeper into Srila Prabhupada's Vani

Srila Prabhupada lives within his instructions. This article is a historical narrative based on the 905 specific references found in the Vaniquotes page All the 905 references to GBC in bullet points and by year. We invite you to visit this link to study the complete compilation and experience the raw history of the GBC's formation in Śrīla Prabhupāda's own words.

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