Guest guest Posted May 27, 2002 Report Share Posted May 27, 2002 Dear Maharajas, Matajis and Prabhus, Hare Krsna! I recently wrote the following article for VNN. It is actually a slightly edited version of a more specific response to a bhaktin's letter on Chakra. Seeing as women's issues are sorely in need of being addressed wholeheartedly throughout our movement, I thought I would send it to you here. I'd appreciate any comments you may have. I'd appreciate it if you added me as a receiver (i.e. mailing me directly too), as due to the large number of posting on the Groups, I cannot always spot replies. Your servant, Rama Kesava dasa ---------- Forwarded Message ---------- WOMEN GURUS? WHY NOT? by Rama Kesava dasa (VNN #7349) EDITORIAL, May 26 (VNN) - Dear devotees, Recently I saw a letter from a bhaktin asking about the status of women in our movement, and what options she had if she found the females to be more inspirational. She raised good and valid points, and I was surprised that these issues, and in particular that of female gurus, had not been addressed earlier. It is very unfortunate that brahmacari men are increasingly becoming ignorant of the proper respect they should give women. The answer "I'm a brahmacari" is hardly a gentlemanly one, smacking of one person being better than another. It is therefore understandable that sometimes bhaktins derive more inspiration and solace from the ladies. Whilst physical disposition should not be the primary grounds of choosing a guru, it understandable why this bhaktin questions that there are not lady gurus to choose from. Indeed this question is one that a good many other new bhaktas and bhaktins must ask. Why do we have no female spiritual masters in our society? Indeed the Gaudiya tradition has seen some, yet it seems we have had none in recent times. I believe this is part of a larger problem endemic to our movement, in which there is a fundamental lack of balance between men and women. However, this is far too large an issue to go in to here. In short the roles of women and of other segments of the devotional community have often been minimized, in favor of the larger segments, e.g. the male brahmacaris and sannyasis. I am not suggesting any magical "empowerment" of any particular segment of society, but would rather stress education of people's options. For example, people should be aware that gurus do not have to be sannyasis (those in the renounced order), or even male. In Vaisnava theology there is division as regards women taking up sannyasa. Whilst we have the examples of Sulabha and Amba in the Mahabharata, some brahminical writers supported the idea, some did not. However, asrama status aside, there are clear examples of women acting as instructing siksa-gurus and initiating diksa-gurus. Jahnavi Devi, Nityananda Prabhu's wife, was an initiating spiritual master in our lineage with a number of disciples. She was very special to Bhaktivinode Thakura, and her bathing spot at Radha-Kunda is still there for all to see. And the pious Gangamata Gosvamini set an example of renunciation and austerity, and initiated men with the Radha-Krsna mantra of ten syllables. It would behoove temple authorities to educate bhaktas and bhaktins to realize that there is not some list of "approved" gurus in ISKCON, but rather a policy of such persons being granted a "no objection" status by the GBC (Governing Body Commission). If a name is submitted to the GBC, then provided there are less than three dissenting voices, after 6 months such a person may accept disciples. Such a concept is actually fairly liberal and non-limiting. It is therefore important that people are educated on its application. However, the fact that someone who we take inspiration and instruction from is not on a "list" does not preclude him or her from acting as the active agent of divinity in our lives. The guru is the manifestation of the divine in our lives, and is there to inspire us in our hearts. In short, if someone inspires us and we should like to take instruction of them, then the distinction of what gender they are should not enter into the equation. We should be able to do so without hindrance. The current lack of women gurus is more a social issue; however, if the person that inspires devotees the most, is a lady and not on that "list", then why can't they petition the GBC to grant such a status to her? Spiritual qualifications should come first, so we should consult Rupa Goswami's Bhakti-rasamrta-sindhu, the great legacy of Srila Prabhupada's instructions, and other Vaisnava acaryas. In the Bhagavad-gita Sri Krsna instructs:- "Just try to learn the truth by approaching a spiritual master. Inquire from him submissively and render service unto him. The self-realized souls can impart knowledge unto you because they have seen the truth." (4.34) If, having done so, a women is found to be that person, there is nothing, except conformity, that says a person cannot take initiation from her. Anyone who is qualified can become guru. Your servant, Rama Kesava dasa rama.kesava.bvts ------- End of Forwarded Message ------ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 7, 2002 Report Share Posted June 7, 2002 Hare Krishna! Dear Rama Kesava Prabhu Please accept my humble obeisances and all glories to Srila Prabhupada. To be honest I feel if we try to approach Srila Prabhupada as our spiritual master there will be no problems. Best wishes Hare Krishna Kasim vediculture, "Rama Kesava (das) BVTS (Edinburgh - UK)" <nine9@u...> wrote: > Dear Maharajas, Matajis and Prabhus, > > Hare Krsna! > > I recently wrote the following article for VNN. It is actually a slightly > edited version of a more specific response to a bhaktin's letter on Chakra. > Seeing as women's issues are sorely in need of being addressed > wholeheartedly throughout our movement, I thought I would send it to you > here. > > I'd appreciate any comments you may have. I'd appreciate it if you added me > as a receiver (i.e. mailing me directly too), as due to the large number of > posting on the Groups, I cannot always spot replies. > > Your servant, > Rama Kesava dasa > > > ---------- Forwarded Message ---------- > > WOMEN GURUS? WHY NOT? > by Rama Kesava dasa > > (VNN #7349) > > EDITORIAL, May 26 (VNN) - Dear devotees, > > Recently I saw a letter from a bhaktin asking about the status of women in > our movement, and what options she had if she found the females to be more > inspirational. She raised good and valid points, and I was surprised that > these issues, and in particular that of female gurus, had not been addressed > earlier. > > It is very unfortunate that brahmacari men are increasingly becoming > ignorant of the proper respect they should give women. The answer "I'm a > brahmacari" is hardly a gentlemanly one, smacking of one person being better > than another. It is therefore understandable that sometimes bhaktins derive > more inspiration and solace from the ladies. Whilst physical disposition > should not be the primary grounds of choosing a guru, it understandable why > this bhaktin questions that there are not lady gurus to choose from. > > Indeed this question is one that a good many other new bhaktas and bhaktins > must ask. Why do we have no female spiritual masters in our society? Indeed > the Gaudiya tradition has seen some, yet it seems we have had none in recent > times. I believe this is part of a larger problem endemic to our movement, > in which there is a fundamental lack of balance between men and women. > > However, this is far too large an issue to go in to here. In short the roles > of women and of other segments of the devotional community have often been > minimized, in favor of the larger segments, e.g. the male brahmacaris and > sannyasis. > > I am not suggesting any magical "empowerment" of any particular segment of > society, but would rather stress education of people's options. For example, > people should be aware that gurus do not have to be sannyasis (those in the > renounced order), or even male. In Vaisnava theology there is division as > regards women taking up sannyasa. Whilst we have the examples of Sulabha and > Amba in the Mahabharata, some brahminical writers supported the idea, some > did not. However, asrama status aside, there are clear examples of women > acting as instructing siksa-gurus and initiating diksa-gurus. Jahnavi Devi, > Nityananda Prabhu's wife, was an initiating spiritual master in our lineage > with a number of disciples. She was very special to Bhaktivinode Thakura, > and her bathing spot at Radha-Kunda is still there for all to see. And the > pious Gangamata Gosvamini set an example of renunciation and austerity, and > initiated men with the Radha-Krsna mantra of ten syllables. > > It would behoove temple authorities to educate bhaktas and bhaktins to > realize that there is not some list of "approved" gurus in ISKCON, but > rather a policy of such persons being granted a "no objection" status by the > GBC (Governing Body Commission). If a name is submitted to the GBC, then > provided there are less than three dissenting voices, after 6 months such a > person may accept disciples. Such a concept is actually fairly liberal and > non-limiting. It is therefore important that people are educated on its > application. However, the fact that someone who we take inspiration and > instruction from is not on a "list" does not preclude him or her from acting > as the active agent of divinity in our lives. The guru is the manifestation > of the divine in our lives, and is there to inspire us in our hearts. > > In short, if someone inspires us and we should like to take instruction of > them, then the distinction of what gender they are should not enter into the > equation. We should be able to do so without hindrance. The current lack of > women gurus is more a social issue; however, if the person that inspires > devotees the most, is a lady and not on that "list", then why can't they > petition the GBC to grant such a status to her? > > Spiritual qualifications should come first, so we should consult Rupa > Goswami's Bhakti-rasamrta-sindhu, the great legacy of Srila Prabhupada's > instructions, and other Vaisnava acaryas. In the Bhagavad-gita Sri Krsna > instructs:- > > "Just try to learn the truth by approaching a spiritual master. Inquire from > him submissively and render service unto him. The self-realized souls can > impart knowledge unto you because they have seen the truth." (4.34) > > If, having done so, a women is found to be that person, there is nothing, > except conformity, that says a person cannot take initiation from her. > > Anyone who is qualified can become guru. > > Your servant, > Rama Kesava dasa > rama.kesava.bvts@p... > > ------- End of Forwarded Message ------ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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