Ministry for Sannyasa Services

^APPLICATION ^FOR ^SANNYASA 
Please fill in the following information and send to: 
Ministry for Sannyasa Services• c/o ISKCON Radhadesh • Château de Petite Somme • B-6940 Septon • Durbuy • Belgium,   Or to: Prahladananda.swami@com.bbt.se  Please use separate paper from the form to answer longer questions where necessary (on A4 size preferably).

GENERAL INFORMATION

Spiritual Name |
Legal Name |
Date of Birth | Day:                                             Month:                                            Year:
Place of birth |
Country of birth |
Time of birth |
Address |
E-mail address |
Legal Nationality |
Legal Residency |
Telephone nr. |
Fax nr. |
SPIRITUAL INFORMATION:

Year joined the movement |

Years of initiation
Spiritual master
Years of re-initiation
Spiritual master
(if not currently a member of  ISKCON state which movement he belongs to:

1st:

2nd:

Sannyasa:

| 1st: | 2nd | Sannyasa
Proposed sannyasa guru |

Asking to take sannyasa
in how many years

GBC

Recommending GBC (s) |
Have signed an oath of loyalty to GBC | 1yes, (please send to return address)   1no
FAMILY

Marital 
status

1never married

1brahmacari

1married

1divorced

1separated

How long have you been a brahmacari?
…………………

Year of marriage

……………...

Year of
divorce*

……………...

Year separated

………………..

Wife**  
Name

Address

Date of birth

Service/ Occupation

Children

Names

sex

age

In school

Addresses

Occupation

Merital status

How are wife and children supported?…………...…………………………………………………………………… ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..
What will be their support after you take sannyasa?……………………………………………………………….. ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….……………………

*     Please enclose legal separation papers
* *  Please enclose written statement by wife that she is in agreement that her husband take sannyasa.

SCRIPTUAL TESTS PASSED:
	
Bhakti sastri | 1yes, (please send photo copy of diploma to return address)
Other |

SERVICE: (use separate paper if there is not enough room)

Current service within ISKCON……………..……………………………………………...……………………………
What is your preaching experience? (please mention time periods)………………………………………….
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
What are your future preaching plans?………..……………………………………………………………………… ………………………………………………………………………………………….…………….……………………………………………………………………………………………………………….……………….…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….……………………….…………
What were some of the responsible positions that you have held in ISKCON?
 (please mention time periods)……………………………………………………………………..………………..
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
What is your experience in leading and training brahmacharis? ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

•	Enclose a separate letter with a resume detailing your devotional career in ISKCON or other similar spiritual organizations.
•	Enclose a separate letter explaining your reasons for wanting to take sannyasa.
•	Please submit letters of recommendation from 5 senior ISKCON devotees (i.e. sannyasis, GBCs, temple presidents etc.)

CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION:

Criminal record | Felonies which one had to serve more than one year in jail                   1no    1yes
| Ever asked to leave a temple because of child molestation?                 1no    1yes
| Did you ever leave the movement?  1no    1yes   When and for how long?………………
| Have you broken the regulative principles within the last 10 years?      1no    1yes

Please make sure to enclose the following:

•	two photos of yourself.
•	a signed oath of loyalty to GBC.
•	legal separation papers from the wife.
•	a written statement by the wife that she is in agreement of your taking  sannyasa.
•	photo copy of Bhakti Sastri diploma.
•	a separate letter with a resume detailing your devotional career in ISKCON or other similar spiritual organizations.
•	a separate letter explaining your reasons for wanting to take sannyasa.
•	letters of recommendation from 5 senior ISKCON devotees (i.e. sannyasis, GBCs, temple presidents etc.)
•	Endorsements local GBC & managerial body.

Name:

List of papers included:

•	two photos.
•	a signed oath of loyalty to GBC.
•	legal separation papers from the wife.
•	a written statement by the wife that she is in agreement of the candidate's taking sannyasa.
•	photo copy of Bhakti Sastri diploma.
•	a separate letter with a resume detailing candidate's devotional 
career in ISKCON or other similar spiritual organizations.
•	a separate letter explaining candidate's reasons for wanting to 
take sannyasa.
•	letters of recommendation from 5 senior ISKCON devotees (i.e. sannyasis, GBC's, temple presidents etc.)
•	Endorsements local GBC & managerial body. 
•	Annual report of recommending GBC | •	1998
| •	1999
| •	2000
| •	2001
| •	2002
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

Relevant G.B.C. Resolutions 
for Sannyasa Candidacy as of 1997              

^G.B.C. ^Resolutions ^1975
Resolved: Method of initiating sannyasi: 
Each year at Gaur Purnima festival, any GBC member can nominate a man from his zone for sannyasa. 

^G.B.C. ^Resolutions ^1979
5. That  the qualifications of a Sannyasi are to be listed, and all candidates are to be examined on the basis of these qualifications before their names are accepted on the list of candidates for Sannyas.

GBC Rules of Order 
The Qualifications for Sannyasa:

A. 	How free is he from sex desire?
1. How long has he been a Brahmacari?
2. How long has he been living away from his wife?
B. 	What is his preaching record? 
Is it demonstrated his ability to preach strongly?  Is he a preaching leader?  
Has be been doing this for a respectable amount of time?
C.	Is he very strict in his personal conduct?  
Is he beyond suspicion?
D. 	Is he philosophically strong?
E. 	Is he willing to accept fully the authority of the GBC and work under the auspices of the GBC?.
F. 	Does he have the proper quality of leadership to train and lead brahmacaries who are under his direction?
G. 	Is he self-reliant?
Has he the ability to keep himself continuously engaged in some way which contribute positively to our preaching work?.
H. 	Is the field of his preaching after taking Sannyasa clear and acceptable to the GBC or other authorities?

57.  That  a grhastha or vanaprastha should not take the sannyasa order, unless:
    	a.  the wife is in agreement by writing, and all necessary legal separation papers
are provided whenever possible.
		b. All of the daughters are married or financially independent or of legal majority age
		c. The sons are self-supporting, or of majority age, and the  father has no further 
legal responsibility

d. He has arranged financial support for the wife if there are no grown sons or sons-
in-law who have agreed to provide support; and 

e. He agrees that, in principle, ISKCON is not responsible  for such support or   
  	arrangements.    

That  a brahmacari be considered for sannyasa only if he has actually strictly followed his vows for at least ten years and is at least forty years old.  

Relevant G.B.C. Resolutions for Sannyasa Candidacy as of 1997               

In exceptional cases, a man may be awarded sannyasa before the age of forty by a 2/3 majority vote  of the GBC Body.  (now 4/5 vote)
To take sannyasa at the age of 50, one must have been on a waiting list for two years:
•	at 45, three years; 
•	at 40, four years, and 
•	at 35, five years.

^GBC ^resolution ^1991
20.  That ISKCON Law 88-57 is modified. Any of the provisions of the requirements for sannyasa waiting list and approvals may be waived in exceptional cases by a vote of at least 4/5ths majority of the GBC.

^GBC ^resolution ^1993
74.  That the sponsor of a proposal for a candidate for sannyasa should each year give a report of the candidate's qualifications according to the GBC Rules of Order, "The Qualification for Sannyasa."  To be put on the list an initial report is required. Thereafter  an annual report is also necessary. 

^GBC ^resolution ^1995
22.  That sannyasa candidates must meet personally with the Sannyasa  committee in Mayapur before receiving final approval for taking sannyasa, unless exempted by the Sannyasa Minister.

23.  That candidates for sannyasa must submit their applications in accordance with the GBC Rules of Order and include along with the statement by a GBC member listing the candidate's qualifications to take sannyasa, a letter written by the candidate explaining his reasons for wanting to accept sannyasa.

^GBC ^resolution ^1996
110.  That applications for sannyasa candidacy should include written endorsements from the local GBC(s) and the local managerial body or bodies where the candidate serves. In addition it should include a resume detailing the candidate’s devotional career.

111.  That a standing GBC sub-committee be established to deal with sannyasa matters.  Prahladananda Swami will finalize its members in consultation with this year’s GBC executive committee.

Relevant G.B.C. Resolutions for Sannyasa Candidacy as of 1997            

GBC Law 1997

[LAW] 102.  That when the GBC Body approves a candidate for sannyasa, they reserve the right to assign the candidate a mission of their choice which may take him far from his previous area of service.  Before making such an assignment, the GBC Body shall discuss the suitability of the candidate for the assigned mission with the local GBC, the Sannyasa Committee, the candidate's sannyasa guru and the candidate.

 [LAW] 301.  That a devotee must pass the Bhakti Sastri test before being placed on the sannyasa waiting list. Those who are currently on the list must pass the Bhakti Sastri test before taking sannyasa.  Exceptions to this require a 2/3 vote of the GBC Body.