Important

[Guest guest]

Please accept my humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada.

> Equality is possible only on the platform of the soul. This equality is

> > founded upon the qualitative and quantitative sameness of all jivas.

> > Nevertheless, no one should imagine that they have attained spiritual

> > perfection and thus discard these gender ethics. (388) While

> > understanding and realizing the fundamental nature of spiritual

> > equality, no one should disturb the different material roles and social

> > positions prescribed by sastra; they must be maintained. That is what

> > Srila Prabhupada wanted. (389) While living in this material world and

> > acting through the agency of these material bodies, there is simply no

> > possibility for achieving material equality nor should such a futile

> > attempt be undertaken.

 

Well making all women materially equal might be just as futile.

The sameness or equality we are speaking about is the equal duty or right

to performing devotional service.

Some women might do it in the home, others out on the streets, others

again are preaching in academic circles, others being pujaries, others

leading a school, others doing business, others farming. Some are married,

some divorced, some widdows, some childless, some brahmacarinis, some

completely renounced, some going to college, some making wonderful music,

some managing a restaurent, some giving wonderful lectures and so on, all

dependant on the different circumstances in which they are put by the

Supreme Lord combined with their personal quality-mixture.

 

They are under the protection of their spiritual father by following his

instructions. So how can they be considered unchaste or independent?

 

"Under any circumstances, if we remain in the condition allotted to us by

the Supreme Lord and follow His instructions, we will become perfect. The

main purpose of life is to follow the instructions of the Supreme

Personality of Godhead. It is such instructions that constitute one´s

religion or occupational duty."

Srila Prabhupada then quotes the sarva dharma verse and says : "This

process of surrendering by following the instructions of the Supreme

Personality of Godhead is not meant for any particular caste or creed. A

brahmana can surrender, and so can a ksatriya, vaisya or sudra. Everyone can

adopt this process."

And later Srila Prabhupada continues:

"The Lord therefore says: "Always think of Me, become my devotee, and offer

respect and obeisances unto Me. Then you will certainly come back home, back

to Godhead. I promise you this because you are My very dear friend." This

instruction is meant for everyone - brahmana, ksatriya, vaisya or sudra. If

anyone, from any division of life, surrenders to the Supreme Personality of

Godhead and follows His instructions, his life will be successful." (SB

5.1.15 Purport)

 

> Regarding lecturing by women devotees:I have informed you that in the

> service of the Lord there is no distinction of caste, or creed, colour or

> sex. In the Bhagavad Gita, the Lord especially mentions that even a woman

> who has taken seriously is also destined to reach Him. We require a person

> who is in the knowledge of Krishna, that is the only qualification of a

> person speaking. It doesn´t matter what he is. (SPL to Jayagovinda,8th

> February,1968)

 

Considering the fear of unrestricted mixing, I would think that it is quite

possible to maintain under most circumstances. The rule is that we should

not be alone with someone of the opposite gender, that is possible to follow

without too much endeavour amongst devotees. It is also a very good

restriction in regard to abuse of children and to avoid false accusations.

 

 

ys Gunamani d.d.