Mediation Services

What is Mediation?
Mediation is a voluntary and confidential process that helps two or more people in conflict clarify their issues and goals, communicate about the situation, and try to reach a constructive resolution.

Mediators are members of the ISKCON community trained as neutral facilitators to help the parties in a conflict to work together on the issues that are important to them. Mediators do not make decisions about who is right or wrong or how things should be resolved—all decisions are made by the parties.

Download definition of mediation

Why use mediation?

• Mediation is separate from any formal judiciary process.
• Mediation is private and confidential.
• Mediation is flexible and can help you reach creative solutions.
• It works! In 70-80% of cases, people reach some resolution through mediation. Mediated agreements work because both parties have designed them, and are thus committed to them.

What issues can be mediated?
Just about anything: interpersonal conflict (with juniors, seniors, peers, spouses, etc.), miscommunications, misunderstandings, cultural differences or gender issues. The primary constraint is that both parties must agree to participate in the mediation. If you are unsure whether your conflict with another person (or persons) is appropriate for mediation, contact an ISKCON Resolve mediation coordinator.

Who can use our mediation Program?
Anyone affiliated with ISKCON.

Who are the mediators?
Our pool of mediators is a diverse group of ISKCON devotees. All have completed our ISKCON mediators training course. Disputants may choose a mutually accepted mediator from this pool or have one assigned by the ISKCON Resolve Office. We try to accommodate any preferences the parties may have about who their mediators will be.

How does it work?

1. One of the parties contacts ISKCON.Resolve@pamho.net to request mediation or find out more.
2. The ISKCON Resolve coordinator works with the requesting party to explore whether or not mediation is appropriate.
3. If the contacting party wishes to go forward, the ISKCON Resolve coordinator will get in touch with the other party to see if he/she is willing to participate in mediation. Both parties participate voluntarily.
4. A mediator is selected and the mediation session is scheduled, at a time and place convenient for all.
5. The mediator and parties agree on ground rules, and then begin discussion of what each party wants from the mediation.
6. The mediator facilitates discussion of the issues, and possible ways of resolving the situation. The mediator may sometimes meet privately with each party to further explore the issues.
7. A typical mediation lasts 2-3 hours. Either party can withdraw from the mediation at any point. If needed, additional sessions can be scheduled by mutual agreement.
8. If the parties reach points of agreement, the mediators help them record those points if they wish. A final agreement, if reached, is often written down. ISKCON does not enforce the agreement, and there are no punishments or disciplinary consequences associated with compliance. Mediated agreements tend to hold up well, however, because both parties have contributed to them, and no one needs to sign any agreement he or she does not feel comfortable with.

How do I request mediation, or find out more?
To request mediation, or to find out more about the program and the mediation process, send e-mail to ISKCON.Resolve@pamho.net. We will reply as quickly as possible.