ISKCON North America Child Protection Office Statement Regarding Dhanurdhara

February 10th, 2020

As a matter of community concern the ISKCON Child Protection Office is issuing the following statement:

Dhanurdhara Swami recently requested that the GBC consider how he could reenter ISKCON. In 2006 Dhanurdhara Swami chose to give his official resignation from ISKCON rather than comply with the requirements that would allow him to remain in ISKCON. In particular the ISKCON law which states:

“Whenever the ISKCON Central Office of Child Protection rules that an offense is such as to restrict a person from serving in ISKCON in positions of leadership (including but not limited to offices of GBC, minister, zonal secretary or temple officer), the restriction must include the position of initiating guru. This restriction shall apply to all previous and future decisions of the Central Office of Child Protection.”

After considering Dhanurdhara Swami’s recent request, ISKCON laws, the CPO ruling, as well as the feelings of those directly impacted by Dhanurdhara’s treatment of children in gurukula, the GBC of North America voted to uphold Dhanurdhara Swami’s resignation from ISKCON.

Dhanurdhara Swami remains outside of ISKCON North America. His choice to live as a sannyasi and a guru is his own independent choice.

To clarify, Dhanurdhara Swami is allowed to visit ISKCON centers that allow him to do so. CPO Guidelines state, “No person, who has been determined to have engaged in severe maltreatment of children, will be allowed to remain active in a position of authority or trust within ISKCON, this includes activities such as leading kirtan, giving class, speaking publicly at any ISKCON event or representing ISKCON in official capacities. This sanction is to avert future threats to children and to the society as well as to honor and respect those who have been impacted by abuse.”

As with all CPO case decisions, the restrictions stated are a minimum requirement for all ISKCON related centers or programs. Any temple or program is free to totally restrict the individual.

For more information on ISKCON Child Protection Policies see the ISKCON CPO Guidelines.

Here’s a link to the ISKCON North America Child Protection Office Facebook Page.