© 1998 VNN
| EDITORIAL November 23, 1998 VNN2546 See Related VNN Stories Women, Equality and GHQ BY PRTHA DEVI DASI EDITORIAL, Nov 23 (VNN) — I give Guru-Krsna das credit for being the only one, as of this writing, courageous enough to come forward and speak publicly, though I cannot say I agree with him. It does appear, however, he is sincere and believes what he says as truth. Regarding his definition of conspiracy, what actually resulted certainly was not harmonious. Comments about investigating for the purpose of discovering garbage on others and bringing it forward to disempower them is not harmonious. Just look at the mentality/consciousness of some of those posts. Their true level of advancement shows through, even swearing, making degrading comments about *another* name for IWM. This is not a sign of spirtually advanced qualified men. Though I will not lump them all in, as each is an individual. To have the IWM superseded by, amalgamated with, or governed by the Grihasta Ministry is not as sweet as it sounds. If they succeed with their concept of Vedic, a wife must do whatever her husband tells her to do. "Right or wrong, my husband is always right." He, in turn, will do whatever the good old boys club tell him to do. Thus, the Grihastha Ministry would result with men predominantly in charge. Women have already tried this. It didn't work. What makes them think they are more qualified this time around? Not a criticism. No one is perfect. It is Srila Prabhupada who is perfect and qualified. That is who devotee women want to follow. Therefore there is nothing to fear, and that is what it is about. Fear, and loss of power and control (which they fear). Let the IWM do it's job. Secure men who are doing well in their devotional service, their self-esteem and aren't control freaks, will not find such women a threat. Some devotee men state that women are to be protected and that is all they are trying to do. Unfortunately there is often confusion between protection and control. They are different. When gurukulis hear the kind of preaching of the GHQ, it pushes them right out the door. They stop coming around. However, they get the criticism for it and not those who are propagating such philosophies. If the GHQ sincerely care about woman and child protection, they need to stop and consider the effect they will have on these gurukulis. Regardless of their age, they are still our children. We made the mess, we need to clean it up. Ignoring them is not protection. They still need us, if we can only qualify ourselves to connect with them. That would be a better mission. Such philosophies are not preaching. So, who is it really for? Not a question to be answered. Just a little food for thought. No one is going against the "right" contravene the sacred duty of a Vaisnavi as wife and mother. Some ladies have dedicated theimself to raising their children and so on, yet have godsisters who are of another nature. They must be responsible for their children of course (as must the fathers), but if they can take care of that, there is no reason they should not do devotional service according to what they know as their natural propensity, not what others tell them their natural propensity should be. It simply needs to be understood that wife and mother alone will not get one back to godhead, neither did Prabhupada instruct women to do only this. Srila Prabhupada: "It is not that women should only produce children, but they are meant for advancing in devotion." (letter to Jayatirtha, 1975) If Srila Prabhupada wanted us to follow Manu Samhita and other scriptures, he would have translated them. "Prabhupada Nectar, Vol 1, by Satsvarupa dasa Goswami (p. 27) "I discussed the contents of your letter with His Divine Grace Srila Prabhupada. Srila Prabhupada stated that our grihastas should simply chant fifty rounds before conceiving a child. Prabhupada said, 'We do not want all these rituals. Chanting Hare Krsna is our only business. According to Manu-samhita you are all mlecchas and yauvanas. You cannot touch the Manu-samhita, what to speak of translating it. So if you try to follow the Manu-samhita then you will become a mleccha and yauvana and your career is finished." -- Letter of May 19, 1977 That last line is important. If we try to follow Manu-samhita we will become mleccha's and yauvana's and our career as a devotee is finished. Srila Prabhupada has said like this. That is sufficient. It is therefore dangerous to rationalize in the mind why it is all right to continue reading other scripture. The instruction has been given. Finished. We need to read Srila Prabhupada's books. He went out of his way to translate them for us and now we think we need something more? Or that we've got it, time to move on? No. We all have a long way to go. However, not only must we focus on Prabhupada's books, but his lectures, letters and personal instructions. These are of equal importance to Vedic literature, if not more. The instructions of the pure devotee jagat guru are the most important. Some of the men on GHQ believe in polygamy for kali-yuga. It was an experiment Srila Prabhupada had us try. It did not work. He ended it. That's that. Their desire for another wife has little to do with woman protection and will not resolve the divorce issue as some claim. We all know the *real* reason men want more than one wife. When Srila Prabhupada speaks of the lower or inferior position of women, he is speaking of Varnasrama -dharma social order in a Vedic system, not transcendental Krishna Consciousness, which has entirely different instructions. Srila Prabhupada did not come here to teach us to be Vedic, but to teach us to be Krishna Conscious. Vedic is a culture. Krishna Consciusness is transcendental. He gave women brahman initiation. That is not Vedic. Why would he give brahman initiation if he did not want women on the altar? So he wanted women as pujaris. He also had them go out in the streets and preach, talk to men, distribute books. That is not Vedic. Many examples can be given. Let us not get stuck in terminology used to please the senses. Though all such literature is to be respected, the flowery words of the Vedas are what Prabhupada preached. Some men have a hard time accepting the idea that woman are equal. They hide behind Vedic scriptures, but more often than not it has to do with their manhood rather than their spirit soul. Therefore it needs to be understood that equality does not mean a man looses his manhood if he accepts women as equal, and a woman must not become like a man to be equal. They are different, yes, but still equal. After all, kalau sudra sambhavat: in this age of kali- yuga, everyone is sudra. However, the idea is to get beyond these bodily designations and treat everyone right. Srila Prabhupada: "We are Vaishnavas. We are not concerned with male of female position in life. That is simply bodily concept of life. It is not spiritual. Whether one is male or female, it does not matter, simply chant Hare Krishna and follow the four regulative principles and your life will be perfect." (letter to Jennifer, 1975) Srila Prabhupada: '"You dance, she dances. You sing, she sings, you cook, she cooks, there is no difference. You are the same in Krishna's eyes." "I am all-devouring death, and I am the generator of all things yet to be . Among women I am fame, fortune, speech, memory, intelligence, faithfulness and patience." Bhagavad-gita 10:34 Srila Prabhupada: "Regarding your questions about the examination to be given, the girls will also be able to take these. In Krishna Consciousness there is no distinction between girls and boys. The girls also may become preachers if they are able." (letter to Himavati, 1969) I wish to add, not all devotee men believe like the GHQ. It will be hard for those who have spent half a lifetime believing they are superior to admit they made a mistake. This is understandable. I pray that after reading Srila Prabhupada's instructions on transcendental Krishna Consciousness they will be humble enough to admit to this as a mistake and have a change of heat. Your Servant, Prtha devi dasi See Related VNN Stories This story URL: http://vnn.org/editorials/ET9811/ET23-2546.html NEWS DESK | EDITORIALS | TOP |
