09/23/1998 - 2265

Illicit Sex In Iskcon Marriages And Varnasrama

Editorial (VNN) - by the ISKCON Reform Party

Well Prabhu, here is what I have understood. When a person takes initiation he is certifying that he is free from the bad habit and desire for "Illicit sex". If he is not up to that standard, then he should not declare before the spiritual master, the Vaishnavas and the Lord that he is qualified to take such a vow. If one is not prepared to follow a vow, then one must not take it. Is illicit sex life demoniac? Yes. Of course it is. So is gambling.

So is meat eating. Is every type of sex life illicit? Practically, but not exactly. So what is legal sex? That depends on who you are, and whatposition you claim that you are qualified for. There is a hierarchy ofpositions that human beings operate within. Legal sex for one man is illicit sex for another. One man's food is another man's poison.

Becoming initiated by a Vaishnava guru means that you are claiming that you are at least a qualified brahmana. Otherwise, he won't and can't give you initiation into Vaishnava mantras. Becoming initiated as a brahmana, ksatriya or vaisya (dwija) by a brahmana means that you are certifying that you are qualified to follow the regulations of those occupations. The guru in all cases will also test you and observe you for at least a year to confirm your qualifications to become a dwija, or twice-born man. If you are entering into the service of a qualified brahmana, ksatriya or vaisya, then you are certifying that you are qualified to follow the regulations of a sudra. That means you don't eat beef, and stick to your quota allotted to you by Krishna for eating meat, intoxication, sex, and gambling. Every progressive stage of development in the human spectrum is assigned a quota of sense gratification that is allowable.

Nevertheless, a concession is a concession. One is not required to cash-in on these concessions and unnecessarily engage in sense gratification. Vaishnavas represent the highest stage of human attainment, and as such, they adhere to the most stringent standards of sense regulation. Theyfollow the brahminical principles of strictly no illicit sex, nointoxication, no gambling and no meat eating. Srila Prabhupada required that all prospective initiates prove that they are completely free of these habits for at least six months to one year prior to granting them first initiation (Harinama initiation).

So brahmanas and Vaishnavas follow these highest standards. Illicit sex for them means sex outside of marriage, or even within marriage if it is not for the sole purpose of conceiving a child, and not more than once a month during the period of the woman's fertility. Also not for six months after the woman has given birth, nor during pregnancy. Any other type of sex life is illicit for a brahmana or a Vaishnava. We cannot change that.

Actually, Srila Prabhupada says this is the standard for all dwijas(brahmanas, ksatriyas and vaisyas). The apparent exception is if they have more than one wife. Then they may attempt to produce a child with each wife as mentioned above. So a dwija with 5 wives may have sex 5 times in a month, if he wants to impregnate all his wives and all other conditions are met. One who can afford this and who desires more legal sex may opt for multiple wives. Ksatriyas are generally known for this practice. There are ample quotes showing Srila Prabhupada's approval of this practice.

On the other hand, it may not be practiced by those living on ISKCONproperty as it could jeopardize the movement legally in most countries. WhenSrila Prabhupada was informed that there was a place where it was legal he said, "Then all our men can go there."

Srila Prabhupada noted that sudras were allowed to have sex with their wife whenever they desire. There is no restriction within marriage, except one would imagine during pregnancy and thereafter. It must be noted however, that this does not apply to Vaishnavas who happen to be performing sudra work and who have taken a vow of no illicit sex! If an initiated Vaishnava adopts this sudra principle, then it is to be understood as a fall down from the ideal Vaishnava platform and breaking one's vows.

On the other hand, if one sticks to sex within marriage, he is at least still qualified as a human being, although a sudra. It means that the person is overcome by the mode of ignorance. So they are not demons, they are 4th class human beings. We cannot compromise on what is the standard qualifications of Vaishnava behavior. One cannot assume a position of a Vaishnava (superior to a brahmana) when he is having sex like a sudra. Such a position is not even kanistha adhikari, though it is at least 4th class human life.

So Srila Prabhupada said that we should establish varnasrama in ISKCON and stated directly that some devotees are not able to maintain the brahminical standards. He did not say kick them out, he said send them to the plow department to do work that they are qualified for. He also said that now that we are doing varnasrama that not everyone needs to get brahminical initiation. So what does that mean? That means they can't follow the four regs as a brahmana would follow. They will follow some regulation, but not to the strictness of brahminical standards. So there is room in ISKCON for sudras and anything higher. Srila Prabhupada even said that the sudras in our varnasrama colleges and even ksatriyas can eat meat on occasion according to regulation.

 So these people that are not following the brahminical standards may live and work in ISKCON, but they cannot go on the altar, and give classes, and all the other brahminical occupational duties. If they are overcome in this way by the modes of passion and ignorance, that means that they need to be listening to the classes and watching the arotikas to get purified first.

Otherwise, what you seem to be introducing is a variation of sahajiya, "We are all Vaishnavas, but we just have sex like sudras." Srila Prabhupada says that sahajiyas are persons who chant Hare Krishna and are addicted to illicit sex or intoxication. In Nectar of Devotion he says, "Although such (sahajiyas) may be very anxious to establish a relationship with Krishna in conjugal love, their conditioned life in the material world is still most abominable. A person who has actually established his relationship with Krishna can no longer act on the material plane, and his personal character cannot be criticized."(NOD pg 316-7)

So there are (1) Vaishnavas that act within varnasrama and adhere to the brahminical standards despite the occupation/varna they take up to serve Krishna, and (2) varnasrama followers that are aspiring to become qualified Vaishnavas and follow the concessions for sense regulation Srila Prabhupada spoke about like eating meat for sudras and ksatriyas and so on. By the association and hearing from the qualified Vaishnavas the varnasrama followers will eventually become purified and become qualified Vaishnavas themselves. In the meantime, they will work for Krishna in karma-yoga by dedicating the fruits of their work for Krishna, as Krishna says in the Gita, "If you cannot practice the regulations of bhakti-yoga, then just try to work for Me, because by working for Me you will come to the perfect stage." The stage of becoming a fully qualified Vaishnava. In the purport Srila Prabhupada gives the perfect definition for varnasrama in ISKCON and how to engage the different varnas in the "propagation of Krishna consciousness".

Working for Krishna means varnasrama, and varnasrama means harnessing the power and the resources of devotees and aspiring devotees to spread Krishna consciousness. According to Srila Prabhupada and Lord Krishna, one does not need to be a qualified brahmana to live in ISKCON and grow food for Krishna and His preachers.

In the name of so-called purity so many persons who had the right to remain in ISKCON and work for Krishna were kicked out. Instead of transferring them from brahminical occupational duties to one's they materially qualified for, they were asked to leave because they couldn't follow the brahminical standards and "ISKCON was only for brahmanas." Of course, in many cases this kicking out program was orchestrated by child molesters, murderers and woman-chasers. This is a great injustice that needs to be rectified by the GBC. It is simply due to a misunderstanding of Srila Prabhupada's instructions and an elitist tendency that continues to crop up again and again in different forms within our leadership.

So this is what ISKCON leaders are balking at. They don't want to allow this in ISKCON, even though Srila Prabhupada said he wanted it. When ISKCON is ready and willing to implement varnasrama-dharma the way Srila Prabhupada taught it, is the day ISKCON will become poised to actually deliver this world. Until then we will remain a sectarian elitist closed society that people in general will neither relate to nor benefit spiritually from. What to speak of people in general, it has practically become true for most initiated devotees that have become all but disconnected from ISKCON.

ISKCON has lost most of all its manpower resources to attrition. A handful of GBCs and temple presidents occupy ISKCON's properties, while the majority of devotees are living independently disconnected lives outside the movement. Most of their time, energy, resources and income now goes out to the non-devotee sector instead of into ISKCON for propagating Krishna consciousness. ISKCON has lost much and gained little by not facilitating the grihastas in varnasrama communities within ISKCON.

This sex issue may have something to do with it, admittedly. But justbecause so many are having illicit sex and are breaking their vows to their spiritual masters and Krishna, doesn't mean we have to redefine what it means to be a Vaishnava. If they are having sex whenever they want with their wives, then they are overcome by ignorance, and that means sudra. Maybe they are THE BEST of the sudras, but that is not Vaishnava behavior. It is more sahajiya behavior than anything else. Nevertheless, it is better for one to not pose as a pure and qualified Vaishnava preacher when he is really only qualified to assist a devotee in weeding Krishna's vegetable patch.

So the solution is let them live in ISKCON and participate in an ISKCON varnasrama community and work for Krishna as a sudra, a position they are qualified for. Why imitate a brahmana when they cannot follow and are not qualified? Srila Prabhupada say that it is better to fix up a principle that one can actually follow and is qualified to perform. So if you can't follow the brahminical standards, then follow the sudra principles. Do one thing properly and then you can advance from that position. If you artificially assume a position you are not qualified for then you can only degrade yourself by imitation. People who were having sex with their wife whenever they life wouldn't even be given initiation if they were living like that before getting initiated. So their position is fallen from Vaishnava and brahminical life into human sudra platform. Let them work for Krishna until they become purified again and then let them take up their former position when they are qualified. That is honest, noble and what I believe Srila Prabhupada would want to see happen.

FOR YOUR RECORDS:

The ISKCON Reform Party is not associated with the ISKCON Reform Group. IRP is pro-parampara system and not ritvik. We are against banning ritviks from ISKCON, yet we welcome attacks against the ritvik theory. We are pro parampara system in its original sense, the way Srila Prabhupada taught it and followed it. We are supportive of the principle of the GBC, yet we obviously see the need for GBC reform in several important areas. Specifically we are against the GBC's involvement in the appointment of gurus and the legislation/resolutions that have been fabricated around this issue by the GBC. We believe the GBC's role is to vigilantly protect ISKCON from unqualified gurus, and as such we strongly believe that gurus should not become GBCs mostly due to the potential conflict of interest and the politics that creates (nothing particularly against the bona-fide gurus or their qualification to be GBC). We are not against qualified gurus giving diksha in ISKCON today. Those that are not qualified must stop acting as gurus and stop the imitation. Our email is ISKCONReformPart@hotmail.com