women in iskcon

[Guest guest]

Here is something forwarded to me about 'Women in Iskcon'. can somebody

throw some light on this subject matter. Many pts sound confusing. how to

deal with these pts given below.

 

 

 

Hare Krishna,

Please accept my humble obeisances.

All glories to Srila Prabhupada.

 

>

>* When women were made to stand behind men in the back of the temple room

>instead of side by side as established formerly, women went on different

>occasions to Prabhupada who simply answered: "Why, the men on one side, the

women on one side."

>

>* When the women were made to offer flowers after the men during guru-Puja,

instead of simultaneously, Srila Prabhupada, informed by Ekayani, gave the

same

answer: "Why, the men from one side, the women from one side." (Ekayani)

>

>* A devotee woman recalls that she was once in Srila Prabhupada's room for

a

darshan. There were hundreds of visiting devotees from neighboring temples.

Before lecturing he insisted that the women (who were all at the back) come

and

sit up front on one side of the vyasasana. At least 5 sanyasis and about 20

men

had to move to make room for the women. Srila Prabhupada sat quietly for

about

5 minutes while everyone was relocating themselves and getting situated.

>

>* One challenger argues, criticizing Srila Prabhupada for his application

of

the principle of spiritual equality. "If men and women chant together, then

why

don't they sleep in the same room together?" Srila Prabhupada replied that,

although men and women in ISKCON have equal rights, there is a clear line of

demarcation indicating where intermingling of the sexes should end. (Manasa

Ganga)

>

>* "I do not know what these things inventions are going on. That is our

only

business, to invent some new program? We have already got our vaisnava

standard. That is sufficient for Madhavacarya, Ramanujcarya, it was

sufficient

for Lord Chaitanya, six Goswamis, for Bhaktivinoda Thakur, for my Guru

Maharaja

Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati, for me, for all big, big saints and acaryas in

our

line, why it shall be inadequate for my disciples so that they must

manufacture

something? That is not possible. Who has introduced these things, that the

women cannot have chanting japa in the temple, cannot perform the arati and

so

many things. That is not possible. Who has introduced these things, that

women

cannot have chanting? If they become agitated, then let the brahmacaris go

to

the forest, I have never introduced these things. If the brahmacaris cannot

remain in the presence of women in the temple, then they must go to the

forest

for not seeing any women, if they become so easily agitated, but then no one

will either see them and how our preaching work will go on?" (Letter to

Ekayani, 1972)

>

>* In a morning walk in Nairobi in 1975, the same question came up. Being

told

that sometimes devotees leave the temple room to chant japa elsewhere, Srila

Prabhupada replied: "Why should they walk other places? Who says that you go

or

walk other places? Who has allowed him to go outside? There is no need. That

is

the chance of falling down. Why you should go outside? That should be

stopped!

They cannot go outside"

>

>MY TWO CENTS: Some may not understand it, so I would like to point

something

out. In my opinion, Prabhupada expected the temple room was a very pleasant

place, free from pressure and was transcendental. Sometimes they are,

sometimes

they aren't. In any case, that is why I feel he responded like this. That

the

temple is Vaikuntha, so who would want to leave Vaikuntha except to look for

Maya or materialism and sense gratification? Actually, our temples should be

run like Vaikuntha's. Then we would have devotees breaking down the doors to

attend and help out.

>

>Later in the same conversation, the same devotee further explained: "What I

mean to say is that he says he does not want to chant with the women in the

temple room. I have seen this before. He says: "I do not want to chant in a

room with women. I'd rather be away from women." Srila Prabhupada answered:

"That means he has got distinction between men and women. He is not a

pandita.

Pandita sama darsinah. He is a fool. That's all. He should always consider,

"there is a woman, that's alright. She is my mother." That's all. Matravt

para

daresu. Suppose you sit down with your mother and chant. What is the wrong?

But

if he is not so strong, then he should go to the forest. Why should he live

in

Nairobi city? On the streets there are so many women. He'll walk on the

streets

closing his eyes? This is all rascaldom. They are rascals. >They are not

devotees. Simply rascals. (Walk conversation 10/30.75)

>

>YS,

>.........