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HKdd wrote:

 

>Dear Srila Betaji,

 

Does Prabhupada say somewhere that in women should address men by their

name followed by betaji?

 

>But, I would like to humbly point out that the word "Didi" means "elder

>sister," and Srila Prabhupada specifically mentioned on numerous occasions

>that he did not approve of addressing women as "sister."

 

Was Prabhupada's objection to using "bahinji" (a modern invention) rather

than "didi" or both?

 

>> 129. But to a female who is the wife of another man, and not a

>> blood-relation, he must say, 'Lady' (bhavati) or 'Beloved sister!'

 

Does someone know what is the Sanskrit for "beloved sister"?

 

>As a spiritual master, Srila Prabhupada of course saw most of the women he

>had to deal with as "daughters" not "mothers." But when we search the

>folio carefully, we do find several instances where he refers to women

>outside ISKCON (usually spiritual leaders from other Vaisnava movements)

>as "Mother" but never "Sister."

 

Prabhupada did use the term "didi" as a child:

 

Room Conversation, September 9, 1976, Vrndavana

 

Prabhupada: I have seen that young woman who was married with that

gentleman... In our childhood we used to called her didi. Didi means elder

sister. So the relationship was very thick and thin. But that old man, not

less than sixty-five, and this young woman, utmost twenty to twenty-five.

She was serving the husband like anything. We have seen it. There is no

question of changing or being dissatisfied.

--

 

Conversation about

Old Days in Calcutta

July 1, 1977, Våndävana

770701r5.vrn

 

Prabhupada: Then we began to... I used to call his wife didi, as my sister,

eldest sister. That man was old. At that time he was at least seventy years

old. And his wife died, so he had no children, so he married again. Old

husband, young wife, but the relationship was so nice, great devotee and

the wife devoted.

 

Your servant, Sita dd

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> >Dear Srila Betaji,

>

> Does Prabhupada say somewhere that in women should address men by their

> name followed by betaji?

 

Some times it seems pretty strange to me that we have to ask someone else

what to call each other. In how great a way is ISKCON supposed to control

its members? To even interrupt with the way we address each other?

Especially if we know the other person. I get the "big Brother is watching

you" creeps from such an attitude.

 

I know this relates to vaisnava behaviour and dharma, and that some are very

concerned that these things are adhered to even in regards to what some of

us may consider to be insignificant issues. I would actually suggest that

such discussions are moved to another conferance, maybe to DMW or what it is

called these days.

 

Ys

Jkd

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> >Dear Srila Betaji,

>

> Does Prabhupada say somewhere that in women should address men by their

> name followed by betaji?

 

Some times it seems pretty strange to me that we have to ask someone else

what to call each other. In how great a way is ISKCON supposed to control

its members? To even interrupt with the way we address each other?

Especially if we know the other person. I get the "big Brother is watching

you" creeps from such an attitude.

 

I know this relates to vaisnava behaviour and dharma, and that some are very

concerned that these things are adhered to even in regards to what some of

us may consider to be insignificant issues. I would actually suggest that

such discussions are moved to another conferance, maybe to DMW or what it is

called these days.

 

Ys

Jkd

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