desired activities

[Guest guest]

> > It would seem that Srila Prabhupada's usage of "Desired activities"

> > refers to kaamya-karma, or optional ritualistic observances performed

> > with the aim of gaining a desired object such as a son, and

> > distinguished from nitya-karma and naimmitika-karma, daily and

> > occasional observances that are obligatory. Occasional observances would

> > mean fasting on Ekadasi etc.

>

> That is also what I thought, could you explain more.

 

According to sadharana-dharma (worldly duties), kaamya-karmas, entailing for

instance fasting or observing other vows, may be performed by a woman only

upon getting the permission of her husband, without which she gets no result

except the undesirable one of flouting the authority of her husband.

However, the compilers of smrtis state that for a woman, observance of

various vows is not necessary as her highest dharma is simply to serve and

satisfy her husband, by doing which she obtains all benefits that could be

accrued only with much endeavor by men.

 

Varnasrama rules such as these are generally complementary to pure

devotional service but may sometimes be contradictory, as for instance could

be if the husband is a demon -- although Mandodari is lauded for her

chastity in remaining faithful to Ravana even when he went against Lord

Rama. Overall, Vaisnava acaryas uphold varnasrama directions that women,

even those who take to Krishna consciousness, observe stri-dharma by

remaining faithful to and serving their husbands.

 

These topics can be complex, as generalizations cannot be universally

applied to the whole intricate gamut of human interaction. That is one

reason why gurus are required -- to guide individuals according to sastra

and according to their individual situations. In pristine Vedic culture

women are guided by their pati-guru, who is guided by his guru.

 

Sorry for the lack of sastric refs -- no time to look them up. Maybe others

familiar with them could supply them.

[Guest guest]

Dear Maharajas and Prabhus,

 

All glories to Srila Prabhupada. Please accept my obeisances.

 

The last submission that I heard from Mother Urmila was that she sent a

private response to Mother Sita. Is there some reason that this email be

kept confidential? Personally, I have found the discussion very interesting

and to have it continue would be to the advantage of all of us. Our movement

has an acute need to understand practically the application of individual

roles in a daivi-varnasrama society and the participants in this discussion

have evolved the debate to an intelligent and composed level I have never

been privy to before.

 

So, personally, I would like to request Mother Urmila to publish her email

to Jivanmukta Prabhu and Mother Sita and have the discussion continue. The

bottom line in this discussion is that the debate is being carried out

amongst individual who have genuine respect for each other even though they

may differ in views on the subject. If this respect can be maintained, I

have little doubt that the discussion will bring us all a deeper

understanding of Srila Prabhupada's instructions and hopefully develop a

template for more meaningful examinations of other important issues.

 

So my humble request is that the debate be allowed to continue.

 

Respectfully,

 

Vyapaka dasa

 

 

-

Bhakti Vikasa Swami <Bhakti.Vikasa.Swami (AT) pamho (DOT) net>

Purnacandra (das) ACBSP <Purnacandra.ACBSP (AT) pamho (DOT) net>; Shyamasundara

(das) ACBSP (Vedic Astrologer) (USA) <Shyamasundara.ACBSP (AT) pamho (DOT) net>; Urmila

(dd) ACBSP (ISKCON School NC - USA) <Urmila.ACBSP (AT) pamho (DOT) net>; Bhaktivedanta

Academy (Mayapur - IN) <Bhaktivedanta.Academy (AT) pamho (DOT) net>; Ganga IDS

<Ganga.IDS (AT) pamho (DOT) net>; Mukunda Datta Prabhu <mpt@u.washington.edu>; Sita

Devi Dasi <sitadasi (AT) sympatico (DOT) ca>; Vidvan Gauranga (das) JPS (Mayapur - IN)

<Vidvan.Gauranga.JPS (AT) pamho (DOT) net>; vyapaka Prabhu <vyapaka (AT) nexicom (DOT) net>

Cc: Brahmacarya <Brahmacarya (AT) pamho (DOT) net>

Sunday, June 30, 2002 10:33 AM

desired activities

 

 

> > > It would seem that Srila Prabhupada's usage of "Desired activities"

> > > refers to kaamya-karma, or optional ritualistic observances performed

> > > with the aim of gaining a desired object such as a son, and

> > > distinguished from nitya-karma and naimmitika-karma, daily and

> > > occasional observances that are obligatory. Occasional observances

would

> > > mean fasting on Ekadasi etc.

> >

> > That is also what I thought, could you explain more.

>

> According to sadharana-dharma (worldly duties), kaamya-karmas, entailing

for

> instance fasting or observing other vows, may be performed by a woman only

> upon getting the permission of her husband, without which she gets no

result

> except the undesirable one of flouting the authority of her husband.

> However, the compilers of smrtis state that for a woman, observance of

> various vows is not necessary as her highest dharma is simply to serve and

> satisfy her husband, by doing which she obtains all benefits that could be

> accrued only with much endeavor by men.

>

> Varnasrama rules such as these are generally complementary to pure

> devotional service but may sometimes be contradictory, as for instance

could

> be if the husband is a demon -- although Mandodari is lauded for her

> chastity in remaining faithful to Ravana even when he went against Lord

> Rama. Overall, Vaisnava acaryas uphold varnasrama directions that women,

> even those who take to Krishna consciousness, observe stri-dharma by

> remaining faithful to and serving their husbands.

>

> These topics can be complex, as generalizations cannot be universally

> applied to the whole intricate gamut of human interaction. That is one

> reason why gurus are required -- to guide individuals according to sastra

> and according to their individual situations. In pristine Vedic culture

> women are guided by their pati-guru, who is guided by his guru.

>

> Sorry for the lack of sastric refs -- no time to look them up. Maybe

others

> familiar with them could supply them.

>