These standards fall within eight categories, as follows:

The general principle is to avoid giving out free books. Nevertheless, there are notable exceptions namely:

Qualifications of the Book Distributor

1. Follow the four regulative principles and chant sixteen rounds daily
2. Accurately represent the movement
3. Cooperate with temple and sankirtana authorities
4. Be of balanced character
5. Have completed the appropriate level of training

Customer Care

1. A devotee should always act as a perfect lady or gentleman thus leaving members of the public with a favorable impression.
2. Book distributors should give clear information on their identity and about the books they are selling.
3. Clothes should always be neat and clean.
4. Srila Prabhupada said, “First dress, then
5. Avoid mixing of devotee and non-devotee clothes.
6. The devotee should wear respectable, functional clothing according to the climate and season.

Dress Code

1. Clothes should always be neat and clean.
2. Srila Prabhupada said, “First dress, then
3. Avoid mixing of devotee and non-devotee clothes.
4. The devotee should wear respectable, functional clothing according to the climate and season.

Driving and Vehicle Maintenance

1. Ensure that you meet all legal requirements.
2. Absolutely no driving while feeling sleepy. Either swop drivers or stop to take rest.
3. No japa or listening to Walkmans whilst driving.
4. Vehicles must be serviced at the specified intervals.
5. Vehicles must be regularly cleaned, inside and out.
6. Oil and water must be checked at least weekly.
7. Cookers, heaters etc. must meet all health and safety standards.

Finance

1. All income and expenditure, without exception, must be accounted for and recorded.
2. Grihastas may be allowed to keep some Lakshmi towards their maintenance - generally 50% of the profit (though this figure may vary according to the decision of local authorities).
3. Congregational devotees (ie. those living outside of the temple) should pay a 50% mark-up on the BBT price and may keep any profit they subsequently raise.

   1. Free Books

      1. Those who are very interested but genuinely have no funds to spare
      2. V.I.P.’s or other people at special functions
      3. Books specially sponsored for distribution to places where they will be used and valued (eg. prisons, libraries and schools)

   2. Sadhana

      Book distributors should:

      1. Follow the four regulative principles and chant sixteen rounds per day
      2. Read Srila Prabhupada’s books for a minimum of one hour daily
      3. Rise early and attend the morning programm, which while on traveling sankirtana may be somewhat abbreviated

   3. The Congregation and Book Distribution

      Congregational members should adhere to the above-listed standards. However, non-initiated members:
      1. May not necessarily follow the four regulative principles, nor chant daily sixteen rounds.
      2. Must nevertheless avoid all illicit activities whilst performing sankirtana.
      3. Should not present themselves as full-time or fully-fledged representatives of ISKCON.