Comments from Srutakirti Prabhu or Kusha Mata?

[Guest guest]

Here is a nice pastime on an airplane flight wherein Prabhupada ridicules

western women who demonstrate their inferior intelligence (34 ounces!) by

demanding equal rights:

 

'On the PanAm flight from Tokyo to Hawaii Srila Prabhupada was reading

something about womens' liberation. He said, "If these women want to be

liberated, then tell them to shave their heads like us and they can be

liberated." Prabhupada asked Nitai dasa to call one of the stewardesses over

and tell her, "If you want to be like a man, then shave your head."

 

"Go ahead," Prabhupada nudged Nitai. "Cut a joke. Call her over here. Tell

her." Nitai hesitated, but Prabhupada seemed serious. "Tell her to shave her

head. Then she can be a man if she wants to be liberated." Although

Prabhupada repeatedly asked that he call the stewardess and make the joke,

Nitai wouldn't do it. So Prabhupada finally let it go.' (From "Prabhupada

Lila" -- told by Srutakirti Prabhu, Kusha Mata's pati-guru)

 

Here is another exchange wherein Prabhupada explains another altercation

with a feminist stewardess. It is also interesting to note that Vishaka dd

also was preaching that women are less intelligent and was prepared to take

flak from the feminists. What has happened to her? Poor girl. Someone

should talk to her. It also interesting to note that even Prabhupada was

accused of being a misogynist.

 

Morning Walk December 10, 1975, Vrndavana

 

Indian man: Tilaka's(?) wife, she told me... She was very upset you know.

One day she, when she came to see you and that one rascal yogi was there

and he said that in the Vedas everything is mentioned that we can drink and

woman and the man have equal right. Then you answered her, and she was also

saying the same thing and you answered her, "Okay, if woman and the man

have equal right, then why not your husband begot the children... Why not

you begot the children in the womb of your husband?" And she was very

upset, you know. She said, "Prabhupäda sometimes say the things like that

which are unreasonable, you know."

Prabhupada: It may require... No, I said that "If you are equal rights,

then make some arrangement: sometimes you become pregnant; sometimes he

becomes pregnant. Why there is not right, equal right?"

Indian man: She was telling me when... She... I said that "Prabhupäda

sometimes says these things that we feel all ashamed, you know, because..."

Devotee (2): The medicine is not always palatable for these people.

Prabhupada: But in speaking spiritual understanding we cannot make any

compromise. What to speak of in Mauritius, in Chicago I told. There was

great agitation in papers.

Harikesa: In the TV, on television.

Indian man: Same thing?

Devotee (2): In France also.

Prabhupada: They were very upset. And when I was coming, I think, in

Chicago, in the airplane, one of the host girl, she was seeing...

(laughter) I asked her to supply one 7-up. And, "I have no key." She was so

angry. But all the captains and others, they gathered around me. (laughter)

Harikesa: I think that was the same stewardess who came in the back and

asked us, "Why the Swamij doesn't like women?"

Prabhupada: No, no, I don't say that I don't like women, but I cannot say

that equal rights. How can I say? First of all show that you equal

rights-your husband becomes sometimes pregnant and then you become

pregnant, alternately.

Aksayananda: That doesn't mean you don't like them.

Prabhupada: No, it is truth. I am speaking the truth, that "If you have

equal right, then let your husband become pregnant. Make some arrangement."

Harikesa: Visakha was preaching to her. She said that "Actually we are less

intelligent." (laughter) That started a big scandal...