Guest guest Posted November 24, 1999 Report Share Posted November 24, 1999 >I would hope we can agree >that Srila Prabhupada most likely would have modified that statement today >to include only *those Indian men who are following a Vaisnava lifestyle*. No, because there are many, many Indians who aren't Vaishnavas but still are quite upright in their moral character. (I thought you've been to India, didn't you see that?) For example, by far, in Gujarat, the biggest religious festival is Navratri, in which goddess Durga is worshipped by young girls (and everyone else participates too.) If you go to South India, there are many followers of Ayappa, Shiva, etc., besides Vaishnavas. (If you went to South India and didn't see an Ayappa bhakta, then definitely your contact with the locals was minimal, to the point of avoidance--almost like saying "I swam in the ocean but didn't get wet"). And second of all, your propensity to speculate what Srila Prabhupada would have said is out of hand. Do you know Srila Prabhupada's heart to say something he never said? >I don't think anyone would argue that he would condone alcoholism, wife >beating and adultery, all of which are probably a larger part of Indian >society today than it was 20-30 years ago. Nor that he would want his >disciples to imitate those behaviors. It's an insult to Srila Prabhupada >to suggest anything else. Because you have not spent an extended time in India, associating with the society as it is, and not specifically its problems, you find it difficult to believe that, yes, even today, by far, most Indian men are very dutiful and good husbands to their wives. Since you don't have such extended experience with the Indian public, your superimposition of your baised, and stunted experiences on a society of which you know little are so much bunk. >So let's stop generalizing to all Indians in future postings and qualify >our use of them as role models to those who are behaving like true >Vaisnavas. Tell this to Srila Prabhupada, who said, "Still India, so fallen, you... 95% people, living, husband and wife, very peacefully. And in the Western countries after six months' marriage, divorce." (May 14, 1975 Perth) >>Why do you think Srila Prabhupada was erroneous in his generalization? > >You are putting words in my mouth, dear son. I never said he was. Good, that means we can understand from you that in general (as per Srila Prabhupada's generalization and as opposed to the west) Indian men are dutiful husbands who can serve as role models for their western counterparts. And since Srila Prabhupada was talking about married couples (not simply men), that Indian women may also serve as role models for their western counterparts. Don't you agree? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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