The real question is why Mother is considered offensive.

[Guest guest]

--- "Braja Sevaki TKG" <Braja.Sevaki.TKG (AT) pamho (DOT) net> wrote:

 

"Braja Sevaki TKG" <Braja.Sevaki.TKG (AT) pamho (DOT) net>

Thu, 11 Aug 2005 19:30 -0400

"Christopher Shannon" <cshannon (AT) netscape (DOT) com>

Cc: "India (Continental Committee) Open (Forum)" <India.Open (AT) pamho (DOT) net>,

"ISKCON Temple Presidents" <ISKCON.Temple.Presidents (AT) pamho (DOT) net>,

"Basu Ghosh (das) ACBSP (Baroda - IN)" <Basu.Ghosh.ACBSP (AT) pamho (DOT) net>

The real question is why "Mother" is considered offensive.

 

>

> 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.

 

Mother Braja Sevaki wrote:

 

'So you are concluding that there is not a single living entity in ISKCON in a

female body who is "in a higher position" than you, simply because she's in a

female body. . .'

 

I am merely pointing out a discrepancy in Mother Vishakha's use of the

reference. Others should take note of this and make necessary adjustments.

Mother Vishakha in particular should correct this oversight, noting that, like

this misquote, other quotes in her thesis are not necessarily about appropriate

forms of addressing women--that is all.

 

Mother Braja Sevaki wrote: 'Just because a woman is considered "mother"

doesn't negate the fact that she is also "master."'

 

This is a perfectly acceptable idea. Aside from that, the real issue seems to

be objections to "Mother" as an appropriate form of addressing women, at least

within Vaishnava society.

 

Your servant, Krishna-kirti das (HDG)

 

___________

Netscape. Just the Net You Need.

[Guest guest]

> > I am amazed how one can react as feeling offeded when addressed as

> > mother.

>

> That's exactly the point!

 

It is! Thank you for the good explanation, Gauri Prabhu.

 

Your servant

 

Hariballabha dd

>

> Why are mature devotee ladies reacting in such a way to being categorised

> as "matajis". Thus, it's not something to be swept aside or shrugged off,

> we need to listen, understand and then proceed in a sensible way. Just

> quoting and quoting can seem just to simply fundamental. The ladies feel

> the term of reference was abused and now has negative condescending

> connotation. As the issue is obviously very sensitive, why not back of for

> the time being and address them as they individually choose i.e. mataji,

> prabhu, prabhvi, thakurani.

>

> Then in the future should have conference to discuss titles of respect in

> ISKCON. I think it's a bigger topic for instance who is "his grace" or

> "her grace". At present out it seems everyone is his grace.....prabhu. We

> could then look at how the term "mataji" developed into what it did and

> can we actually recover it in some sensible way. Right now it means so

> many things to so many people and therefore we all disagree. Someone from

> Indian tradition may think "that's shocking it's such an affectionate

> term" whereas somebody who was hurt deeply by men using it as refering to

> an untouchable species, may be traumatised each time they here it.

> Therefore it requiries mature and sensitive discussion and that's

> something that cannot take place on email.

>

> Your Servant

>

> Gauridas

>

>

> www.krishnatemple.com

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