The real question is why Mother is considered offensive.

[Guest guest]

Just one note, this reference in Mother Vishakha's short essay is quoted

out of context:

 

###### As quoted in Mother Vishakha's essay ########

 

3. Women devotees as well as men devotees are addressed as "prabhu"

 

The Lord Caitanya is called MahAprabhu. MahAn-prabhu. Prabhu, master.

There are different kinds of master, but He's the mahAn-prabhu, the

Supreme Master, Supreme Master, and Purusa at the same time. Prabhu, you

can say... A woman also can become the master. . . (Cc Adi 7.108 lecture

February 18, 1967)

 

#####################

 

###### Actual ################################

 

The Lord Caitanya is called Mahaprabhu. Mahanprabhu. Prabhu, master.

There are different kinds of master, but He's the mahan-prabhu, the

Supreme Master, Supreme Master, and Purusa at the same time. Prabhu, you

can say... A woman also can become the master. Just like in England

there is queen.

 

####################

 

Notice how the inclusion of the next sentence "Just like in England

there is queen." changes the meaning of the quoted passage? Now it is

clear that Srila Prabhupada is talking about offering appropriate forms

of respect to people in a higher position, not advocating the use of a

specific form of address.

 

The real question being obscured is not whether it is inappropriate to

address a woman by the word "Prabhu", but why some are trying to make it

an offense to address a woman as "Mother."

 

Your servant, Krishna-kirti das (HDG)

 

 

 

 

Malati (dd) ACBSP (GBC) (New Vrindavan/Columbus - USA) wrote:

 

>

>In a message dated 8/6/2005 2:20:37 PM Eastern Daylight Time,

>Isvara.GGS (AT) pamho (DOT) net writes:

>

>In as much we can not call a lady Diana as Mr. Diana, rather Ms. or Mrs.

>Diana, similarly Prabhu is a masculine words, it is not just a term denoting

>a devotee. Srila Prabhupada would never instruct his disciples to use

>masculine terms in addressing the females. There might have being some

>isolated incidents in typed letters, which may likely be typograghical

>errors. Basically calling the lady devotees "Prabhu" is nothing but

>hijacking of Sanskrit language, which would invoke laughters from Sanksrit

>linguists.

>

>

>

>

>PLEASE READ THE ATTACHED FILES:

>

>

>-----------------------

>To from this mailing list, send an email to:

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>