DEAR RENUNCIANTS: I BEG YOU TO NEVER PERSONALLY TALK WITH WOMEN!

[Guest guest]

DEAR RENUNCIANTS: "I BEG YOU TO PLEASE NEVER PERSONALLY TALK WITH WOMEN!"

PLEASE HEED THIS ADVICE OR FACE DISASTER!

Compiled by Tridandi Bhikshu Bhaktiratna Sadhu.

 

(This email has been sent to all the concerned devotees all over the world

for their information. It is my humble service at the lotus feet of all the

devotees in the renounced order in this world. I seek their blessings and

mercy in return. If you like this email kindly pass it on to other

brahmacaries and sannyasis who can be benefitted from this email.)

 

SHRILA PRABHUPADA STATES:

 

"One should not even think of women or look at them, to say nothing of

*TALKING* with them. This is called first-class brahmacarya." (SB 6.1.3

purp)

 

SB 7.12.7: A RENUNCIANT SHOULD RIGIDLY AVOID TALKING TO WOMEN

 

varjayet pramada-gatham, agrhastho brhad-vratah;

indriyani pramathini, haranty api yater manah.

 

"A brahmacari, or one who has not accepted the grhastha-asrama [family

life], must *RIGIDLY AVOID TALKING* with women or about women, for the

senses are so powerful that they may agitate even the mind of a sannyasi, a

member of the renounced order of life."

 

PURPORT:

 

Brahmacarya essentially means the vow not to marry but to observe strict

celibacy (brhad-vrata). A brahmacari or sannyasi should avoid *TALKING* with

women or reading literature concerning talks between man and woman. The

injunction restricting association with women is the basic principle of

spiritual life. Associating or *TALKING* with women is never advised in any

of the Vedic literatures.

 

SB 11.17.33: A RENUNCIANT CAN NEVER CONVERSE WITH A WOMAN

 

strinam niriksana-sparsa-samlapa-ksvelanadikam;

pranino mithuni-bhutan agrhastho 'gratas tyajet.

 

"Those who are not married - sannyasis, vanaprasthas and brahmacaris -

should never associate with women by *CONVERSING*, lustily glancing,

touching, joking or sporting. Neither should they ever associate with any

living entity engaged in sexual activities."

 

SB 6.18.41 PURPORT BY SHRILA PRABHUPADA:

A RENUNCIANT CANNOT HEAR THE VOICE OF A WOMAN.IF HE DOES SO IT IS A SUBTLE

FALLDOWN

 

"Sannyasa means giving up the company of women, but if a sannyasi *HEARS *

the voice of a woman and sees her beautiful face, he certainly becomes

attracted and is sure to fall down. There have been many examples. Even the

great sage Visvamitra fell a victim to Menaka. Therefore a person desiring

to advance in spiritual consciousness must be especially careful not to see

a woman's face or *HEAR* a woman's voice.To see a woman's face and

appreciate its beauty or to *HEAR* a woman's voice and appreciate her

singing as very nice is a subtle falldown for a brahmacari or sannyasi.

[...] We therefore request ALL THE MEMBERS of the Krsna consciousness

movement--both men and women--not to be attracted by bodily features but

only to be attracted by Krsna. Then everything will be all right. Otherwise

there will be DANGER."

 

SB 2.4.20 purp: A RENUNCIANT IS FORBIDDEN TO HEAR THE SONGS SUNG BY THE

OPPOSITE SEX

 

He (Lord Caitanya) never even heard the prayers of the deva-dasis offered in

the temple of Jagannatha because a sannyasi is forbidden to *HEAR* songs

sung by the fair sex.

 

Cc Madhya 22.88-90 purp: COMPLETELY FORBIDDEN

 

The brahmacari, vanaprastha and sannyasi are *COMPLETELY FORBIDDEN* to

associate with women.

 

SB 7.15.36: IN OUR KRSNA CONSCIOUSNESS MOVEMENT - STRICTLY ALOOF

 

In our Krsna consciousness movement it is advised, therefore, that the

sannyasis and brahmacaris keep *STRICTLY ALOOF* from the association of

women so that there will be no chance of their falling down again as victims

of lusty desires.

 

NO ONE SHOULD FEEL LIBERATED IN THE PRESENCE OF A BEAUTIFUL WOMEN

 

No one should think himself liberated in the *PRESENCE* of a beautiful

woman. (SB 8.12.34 purp)

 

ENCOURAGEMENT FROM THE OPPOSITE SEX NOT REQUIRED FOR RENUNCIANTS

 

In the varnasrama-dharma system, certain classes, such as the brahmanas and

sannyasis, do not need encouragement from the opposite sex. (SB 5.1.29 purp)

 

CENT PERCENT, NO CONNECTION WITH WOMEN, THIS IS SANNYASA. THAT IS THE REAL

PLATFORM OF RENOUNCEMENT.

 

That is Caitanya Mahaprabhu's... The sannyasa life is... What is that? *CENT

PERCENT*, no connection with woman. That is sannyasa. What we have

renounced? We have renounced... We are using the motorcar, we are using this

machine, we are eating, we are sleeping in nice room-what is the

renouncement? Only renouncement is no connection with woman. That is the

REAL PLATFORM of renouncement. If one can renounce woman's connection, then

he's liberated man. That is very, very difficult. (Morning Walk January 31,

1977, Bhubaneshwar)

 

A RENUNCIANT CAN NEVER TOUCH A WOMAN

 

padapi yuvatim bhiksur, na sprsed daravim api;

sprsan kariva badhyeta, karinya anga-sangatah.

 

A saintly person in the renounced order should never touch a woman. In fact,

he should not even let his foot touch a wooden doll in the shape of a woman.

By bodily contact with a woman he will surely be captured by illusion, just

as the elephant is captured by the she-elephant due to his desire to touch

her body. (SB 11.8.13)

 

FOR A RENUNCIANT TOUCHING A WOMAN MEANS DEATH.

 

"My dear Govinda," He said, "you have saved My life. If I had touched the

body of a woman, I would certainly have died. (Cc Antya 13.85)

 

Cc Antya 5.36-37: A RENUNCIANT UNDERGOES CHANGES IN HIS MIND & BODY AND

CANNOT REMAIN UNAFFECTED

 

"I am a sannyasi," He said, "and I certainly consider Myself renounced. But

what to speak of seeing a woman, if I even hear the name of a woman, I feel

changes in My mind and body. Therefore who could remain unmoved by the sight

of a woman? It is very difficult.

 

IDEAL HEAVY PUNISHMENT OR ATONEMENT

 

suni' prabhu hasi' kahe suprasanna citta

`prakrti darsana kaile ei prayascitta' (Cc Antya 2.165)

 

When Shri Gauranga Mahaprabhu heard about the suicide of Chota Haridas in

the Triveni at Allahabad, He smiled in a pleased mood and said, "If with

sensual intentions a renunciant looks at women, this is the only process of

atonement."

 

Amrta-Pravaha-Bhashya by Shrila Bhaktivinoda Thakura:

(PLEASE NOTE THIS IS THE HIGHEST IDEAL STANDARD)

 

"If a spiritual practioner who is wearing the dress of a renunciant

willingly (iccha-purvaka) glances (darshan) at women, the only atonement for

him in order to ensure that he will not suffer for this sin in his next

birth, is to give up his body in the Triveni---confluence of three rives

Ganga, Jamuna and Sarasvati at Prayag, Allahabad."

 

Bg 16.1-3 purport: EVEN THE MOST LIBERAL INCARNATION STRICTLY FOLLOWED THE

RULES OF THE RENOUNCED ORDER IN ORDER TO TEACH US. THIS IS NOT A SIGN OF

HATRED FOR WOMEN AS A CLASS BUT IT IS A STRICTURE IMPOSED ON A RENUNCIANT.

 

Lord Caitanya was an ideal sannyasi, and when He was at Puri His feminine

devotees could not even come near to offer their respects. They were advised

to bow down from a distant place. This is not a sign of hatred for women as

a class, but it is a stricture imposed on the sannyasi not to have close

connections with women. One has to follow the rules and regulations of a

particular status of life in order to purify his existence. For a sannyasi,

intimate relations with women and possession of wealth for sense

gratification are strictly forbidden. The ideal sannyasi was Lord Caitanya

Himself, and we can learn from His life that He was very strict in regards

to women. Although He is considered to be the most liberal incarnation of

Godhead, accepting the most fallen conditioned souls, He strictly followed

the rules and regulations of the sannyasa order of life in connection with

association with woman.

 

SB Introduction: SEATS OF WOMAN ACCOMODATED FAR FROM A RENUNCIANT

 

The Lord was an ideal sannyasi. No woman could approach the Lord even to

offer respects. Women's seats were accommodated far away from the Lord. As

an ideal teacher and acarya, He was very strict in the routine work of a

sannyasi.

 

SB 9.19.17: NO WOMAN SHOULD COME VERY NEAR A RENUNCIANT

 

Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu was most strict in such dealings, especially after

He accepted the sannyasa order. Indeed, no woman could come near Him to

offer Him respect.

 

LORD GAURANGA WAS EXTREMELY STRICT

 

Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu never even joked with others' wives. As soon as He

saw a woman coming, He would immediately give her ample room to pass without

talking. He was extremely strict regarding the association of women. (Cc Adi

17.276 purp)

 

Cc Antya 12.59: A RENUNCIANT IS IDEALLY PROHIBITED NOT TO EVEN HEAR THE NAME

OF A WOMAN

 

A sannyasi is (ideally) restricted from even hearing a woman's name, and Sri

Caitanya Mahaprabhu conducted Himself very strictly in His vow.

 

LORD GAURANGA NEVER HEARD EVEN THE WORD 'STRI' TO SET THE IDEAL EXAMPLE FOR

ALL RENUNCIANTS: Caitanya-bhagavata. Adi 15.29:

 

`stri' hena nama prabhu ei avatare

sravan-o na karila,-vidita samsare

 

It is well-known throughout the world that the Lord in this incarnation of

Gauranga did not even *HEAR* the word "stri (woman)."

 

A RENUNCIANT CANNOT ACCEPT PERSONAL SERVICE FROM A WOMAN

SB 3.31.40 purp

 

"Similarly, association with a woman begins when one accepts service from

her, because woman is especially created by the Lord to give service to man.

By accepting her service, a man is entrapped."

 

WOMEN CANNOT SEW CLOTHES FOR SANNYASI DEITIES WHAT TO SPEAK OF SERVING THE

SANNYASIS THEMSELVES ACCORDING TO SHRILA PRABHUPADA

 

So far your suggestion that they sew clothes for the sannyasis Deities it is

not possible. Sannyasis may have no connection with women. (Shrila

Prabhupada's Letter to: Jayatirtha, Calcutta, 13 January, 1976)

 

A RENUNCIANT KEEPING LADY SECRETARIES IS NOT RECOMMENDED BY PRABHUPADA:

 

>From Servant of the Servant, Part One, Chp Three:

 

While the cooking proceeded, Prabhupada again returned to speaking with me.

"It is better that I have a male secretary. Govinda dasi should join her

husband in helping to preach in Hawaii. People may criticize me, saying that

I am too closely connected with a woman. Of course, I do not find any

difficulty personally, nor any complaint with her service. But we must

consider the public's opinion." Prabhupada explained that a sannyasi's

character must be beyond fault and cited the popular example of "Caesar's

wife must be above suspicion." Prabhupada described how Lord Caitanya had

always acted in an exemplary manner and was the ideal sannyasi. Then,

speaking in a hushed tone so that what he said would not be overheard by

Govinda dasi, Prabhupada handed me a letter which he wanted me to mail. It

was addressed to his disciple Purusottama in New York. Prabhupada explained

that he was calling Purusottama to Los Angeles to replace Govinda dasi. It

was better that I mailed the letter, because he doubted whether she would do

so. After Purusottama came, he would gradually induce her to go to Hawaii.

 

A RENUNCIANT KEEPING LADY COOKS IS NOT SO MUCH LIKED BY SHRILA PRABHUPADA:

 

TKG's Diary Feb 22 - April 9:

 

Nava-yogendra Maharaja offered his services as cook, and Srila Prabhupada

proclaimed, "Yes, from now on no more women will cook for me; you will do

all of my cooking."

 

A RENUNCIANT SHOULD NOT BE TOO MUCH INTERESTED IN PREACHING TO WOMEN

ACCORDING TO SHRILA PRABHUPADA AND HIS OWN GURU MAHARAJ:

 

"Srila Prabhupada Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Goswami Maharaja (since he was a

sannyasi) did not very much like preaching amongst women, so you should also

avoid such meetings." (Letter to: Acyutananda, Los Angeles, 4 July, 1970)

 

O RENUNCIANT! ALWAYS REMEMBERING THE REJECTION OF CHOTA HARIDAS BY LORD

CAITANYA, PLEASE DO NOT TALK TO WOMAN EVEN IN DREAMS.

 

svapane o na kara bhai stri-sambhasana

grhe stri chadiya bhai asiyacha vana

yadi caha pranaya rakhite gaurangera sane

chota haridasera katha thake yena mane (Prema-vivarta)

 

Do not *TALK* to women even in dreams. You have accepted the renounced order

of life with a vow that forbids you to associate with women. If you wish to

associate or maintain a relationship with Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu, you must

always remember the incident of Chota Haridasa and how he was rejected by

the Lord simply because of taling to a woman.

 

Cc Antya 2.117: LORD CAITANYA CANNOT TOLERATE TO SEE THE FACE OF A

RENUNCIANT WHO TALKS TO WOMEN. A RENUNCIANT CANNOT TALK TO WOMEN EVEN IF HE

IS FREE FROM FROM ALL SINFUL DESIRES OR EVEN FOR THE DIRECT SERVICE OF THE

LORD. IF HE DOES SO HE BECOMES A DHARMOCCHEDI ACCORDING TO THAKURA

BHAKTIVINODA.

 

prabhu kahe,--"vairagi kare prakrti sambhasana

dekhite na paron ami tahara vadana

 

The Lord replied, "I cannot tolerate seeing the face of a person who has

accepted the renounced order of life but who still *TALKS* with a woman.

 

Amrta-pravaha-bhasya (Shrila Thakura Bhaktivinoda): If a Vaisnava is a

grhastha, he can stay with his wife and family. Otherwise he can give up all

kinds of relationship with women and become a renunciant. Once he becomes a

renunciant he is no longer allowed (no adhikara) to *TALK* (sambhasana) or

to lustily look at (darshan) with women. Even if he is free from all sinful

desires or even if it is required for the purpose of rendering some direct

devotional service to the Lord (like in the case of Chota Haridasa who

talked to a mataji for the direct service of Lord Gauranga but still was

rejected by the Lord), to have a relationship with women in the above two

ways is not the duty of a renunciant. That is why the person who *TALKS* to

women inspite of being in the renounced order of life, I consider him (the

Lord is speaking) a transgressor of religion (dharmocchedi) and will not

see his face again.

 

Purport by Tridandi Bhikshu Bhaktiratna Sadhu:

 

Shrila Thakura Bhaktivinoda says in another purport that Chota Haridasa

being an eternal associate and kirtan-singer of the Lord, had absolutely no

desire for sense-gratification or any other ulterior motive except pleasing

Lord Gauranga when he talked with Madhavi mataji and begged some rice (which

was best rice in Puri) from her for the direct pleasure of Lord Gauranga.

But still he was banished from the Lord's association. This shows that the

renunciant cannot justify his *TALKING* to a women even if he does so for

the direct service of the Lord and thus he has to bear the consequences

caused by giving displeasure to Lord Gauranga. Ofcourse in very special

cases, great empowered associates of the Lord (like Shrila Prabhupada for

eg) who are above the varnashrama rules and regs (on the bhava & prema

platform) can break this principle for a renunciant because they have a

specific mission to accomplish for the Lord. But only they can do so because

only they understand the internal confidential desire of the Lord and thus

they can factually please the Lord even though apparently displeasing the

Lord externally. Shrila Prabhupada states in 7.7.14 purp: "Ordinary persons,

however, should not imitate such highly elevated devotees. ORDINARY PERSONS

must strictly observe the rules and regulations by staying ALOOF from the

association of women. No one should imitate Narada Muni or Haridasa

Thakura." If someone tries to imitate them then he will simply become a

source of disturbance in the pure Gaudiya Vaishnava society and he will

eventually be destroyed. While preaching, a renunciant may not be able to

avoid seeing the face of women but he should avoid talking personally to

them at all costs for maintaining his own purity and vows. The above purport

will be discussed in detail in a later article.

 

AN ORDINARY RENUNCIANT CANNOT IMITATE THE ACTIVITIES OF A MAHA-BHAGAVATA

LIEK SHRILA PRABHUPADA, SHRILA HARIDASA THAKURA OR SHRILA NARADA MUNI

 

UNTIL THE TIME THE DUALTIES CONTINUE ONE SHOULD BE EXTREMELY CAREFUL

SB 7.12.10

 

kalpayitvatmana yavad, abhasam idam isvarah;

dvaitam tavan na viramet, tato hy asya viparyayah.

 

As long as a living entity is not completely self-realized-as long as he is

not independent of the misconception of identifying with his body, which is

nothing but a reflection of the original body and senses-he cannot be

relieved of the conception of duality, which is epitomized by the duality

between man and woman. Thus there is every chance that he will fall down

because his intelligence is bewildered.

 

PURPORT

Here is another important warning that a man must save himself from

attraction to woman. [.]Until that time, the duality continues, and the

conception of man and woman also continues. In this stage, one should be

*EXTREMELY CAREFUL* about mixing with women. No one should think himself

perfect and forget the sastric instruction that one should be very careful

about associating even with his daughter, mother or sister, not to speak of

other women.

 

SB 7.7.14 purp: ORDINARY PERSONS SHOULD NOT IMITATE HIGHLY ELEVATED

PERSONALITIES BUT FOLLOW THEIR INSTRUCTIONS IN THE VEDIC SCRIPTURES

 

"Ordinary persons, however, should not imitate such highly elevated

devotees. ORDINARY PERSONS must strictly observe the rules and regulations

by staying ALOOF from the association of women. No one should imitate Narada

Muni or Haridasa Thakura. [...] Therefore in the previous verse it has been

distinctly said, devarser antike sakuto-bhaya: Kayadhu, the mother of

Prahlada Maharaja, stayed under the protection of Narada Muni without fear

from any direction. Similarly, Narada Muni, in his transcendental position,

stayed with the young woman without fear of deviation. Narada Muni, Haridasa

Thakura and similar acaryas especially empowered to broadcast the glories of

the Lord cannot be brought down to the material platform. Therefore one is

strictly forbidden to think that the acarya is an ordinary human being

(gurusu nara-matih).

 

Antya 2.120: A RENUNCIANT WHO TALKS TO WOMEN BECOMES A DHARMA-DHVAJI,

DHARMA-KALANKA & DHARMOCCHEDDI AND HIS ASSOCIATION SHOULD BE AVOIDED. IF HE

TRIES TO IMITATE GREAT PERSONALITIES, HIS FALLDOWN IS GUARANTEED AS PER

SBSST.

 

ksudra-jiva saba markata-vairagya kariya

indriya carana bule 'prakrti' sambhasiya"

 

"There are many persons with little in their possession who accept the

renounced order of life like monkeys. They go here and there engaging in

sense gratification and *SPEAKING* with women."

 

Amrta-pravaha-bhasya (Thakura Bhaktivinoda): Only such a sadhaka in whose

heart *BHAVA* has arisen and thus real renunciation has taken birth, after

seriously and sincerely practicing sadhana-bhakti for a prolonged period of

time, is actually eligible for the renounced order of life. One who accepts

the saffron garments of a renunciant before achieving such a platform is

known as a markata-vairagi. When such unqualified souls due to various

reasons accept the renounced order of life, they are pushed by the urges of

their senses and thus they go and *TALK* with prakrti or women. Such people

even though in the renounced order of life, they are called dharma-dhvajis

(dangerous pretenders) and dharma-kalankas (black spots on pure religion)

and their association should be compulsorily avoided.

 

Anubhasya (Srila Bhaktisiddhanta): [.] For the sober and inquisitive

sannyasis, this offense of *TALKING* to women leads to great

inauspiciousness for them personally. Unfortunately due to a poor fund of

knowledge if they decide to *TALK* to women and justify that action by

citing the examples of the topmost paramhansas like the greatly learned

Srila Ramananda Raya and the great renunciant Srila Narottama das Thakura,

then their falldown is guaranteed.

 

Cc Antya 2.124: THE LORD DOES NOT LIKE TO SEE ANY RENUNCIANT WHO TALKS TO

WOMAN

 

prabhu kahe,--"mora vasa nahe mora mana

prakrti-sambhasi vairagi na kare darsana

 

Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu said, "My mind is not under My control. It does not

like to see anyone in the renounced order who *TALKS* with women.

 

dekhi' trasa upajila saba bhakta-gane

svapne-ha chadila sabe stri-sambhasane (Cc Antya 2.144)

 

After all the devotees saw this example (of rejection of Chota Haridasa), a

mentality of great fear (of rejection by the Lord) grew among them.

Therefore they all stopped *TALKING* with women, even in dreams.

 

Gauranga-smarana-mangala stotram by Shrila Bhaktivinoda Thakura: Text 62

 

nirvinnanam vipula-patanam strisu sambhasanam yat

tat-tad-dosat sva-mata-carakaraksanartham ya isah

dosat ksudrad api laghu-harim varjayitva mumoda

tam gaurangam vimala-caritam sadhu-murtim smarami

 

To protect His RENOUNCED followers from the *VICES* that follow from their

*TALKING* with women which lead to their subsequent falldown, Lord Gauranga

was very happy as He rejected Chota Haridasa for a small offense. I meditate

on Lord Gauranga, whose activities are faultless and pure, and who is the

personification of the ideal devotee.

_________________________

 

WHAT FOLLOWS IS AN EXTRACT FROM MY EXPLANATION TO A FAMILY ABOUT WHY A

RENUNCIANT HAS TO FOLLOW THIS RULE OF NOT PERSONALLY TALKING WITH WOMEN.

THIS MAY HELP DEVOTEES TO EXPLAIN TO OTHERS ABOUT THIS RULE.

(If some devotee wants to have even stricter rules than this, he is free to

do that.)

 

Before and after accepting the sannyasa order, I have been deeply studying

the Vedic scriptures about the prescribed activities for a Sannyasi so that

I can set a proper example for a sannyasi for the benefit of everyone in

this world. That is when I came across this verse in the Shrimad-Bhagavatam

7.12.7:

 

varjayet pramada-gatham, agrhastho brhad-vratah;

indriyani pramathini, haranty api yater manah.

 

"A sannyasi, or one who has not accepted the grihastha-ashrama [family

life], must avoid talking with women, for the senses are so powerful that

they may agitate even the mind of a sannyasi, a member of the renounced

order of life."

 

There are many other verses in the scriptures in this regard and from them I

could ascertain that the main and basic austerity or tapasya for a

renunciant as prescribed in the scriptures is that he cannot talk personally

with women.This Vedic etiquette was also followed by the Supreme Lord

Gauranga Mahaprabhu Himself when He enacted the pastimes of a sannyasi in

Jagannatha Puri. This austerity of not talking personally with women is

prescribed for the personal elevation and purification of a person in the

renounced order, to prevent the misuse or abuse of the renounced ashram

(which is very rampant nowadays) and to establish the pure Vedic culture.

 

Thus the motive for this rule for a renunciant of not personally talking

with women is for self-discipline and elevation, not harming, breeding

aversion or hatred or marginalizing women in any way whatsoever. Whether

they be men or women, black or white, Indian or Chinese, rich or poor,

everyone of us is a spirit soul, part and parcel of God. So all of us have

equal opportunity to practice Krishna Consciousness. Women and men have an

equal right to understand the science of Krishna Consciousness and to chant

the Hare Krishna maha-mantra. So everyone (man and woman) can hear the

narrations or attend satsanga programs glorifying the Supreme Personality of

Godhead from a renounced sadhu, but the women should follow the Vedic

etiquette of not personally talking to him after the completion of the

lectures and the subsequent question-answer session when all the assembled

ladies and gents can directly ask their questions to him.

 

Men and women are ultimately both spirit souls or atmas encased in men or

women bodies. Women and men have an equal right to practice Krishna

consciousness and hear and chant Lord Krishna’s glories. Women are an

integral part of the Vedic culture. In fact in many cases the devotion and

dedication of women to the Lord’s service supercedes that of men. But this

does not change how a renunciant should conduct himself in relation with

women. A true renunciant expresses his great respect for the women devotees

by not talking to them personally. A renunciant automatically assumes the

great responsibility of becoming the spiritual guide of the people because

he follows a high level of purity and austerity for his own personal

elevation & for the benefit of others.

 

Why should the common people respect a renunciant unless he follows some

tapasya which the common people cannot follow? A renunciant should be a

beacon of bhakti, purity and renunciation for the people. Then the people

will respect him, seriously hear the message of Krishna consciousness from

him and implement his teachings in their day to day lives. In the modern

age, a renunciant uses all the modern facilties in spreading the message of

Krishna. So actually he does not perform much austerity for his own

purification. So the minimum austerity that has been prescribed for him in

the Bhagavatam is that he should not personally talk with women.

 

The acceptance of the renounced order is not very much recommeded for this

most degraded age because it is very difficult (almost next to impossible)

to follow the vows and rules of the renounced ashram till the end. But the

scriptures and Vaishnava acharyas have introduced the system of Tridandi

Sannyasa specifically for the purpose of preaching Krishna consciousness

without any impediment. Thus the renunciants have to very careful to keep

themselves pure for preaching Krishna consciousness by strictly following

the basic rules of the renounced ashram otherwise they will be defeating the

very purpose of accepting sannyasa in the first place.

 

Also it is said in the Vedic literatures that in the degraded age of

Kali-yuga (present age), cheaters and duplicitious people will take on the

garb on renunciants simply to talk and mix intimately with or molest or

exploit women. In this way they will destroy the purity and sanctity of the

topmost renounced ashram as given in the Vedas. A grihastha will talk with

one wife but in the garb of a renunciant he will simply accumulate hundreds

of submissive women disciples, talk initmately with them, enjoy their

company and direct & personal services and thus make a mockery of the Vedic

culture and go to hell. Thus he will use the dress of a renunciant for his

own sense-gratification. Such a person is called a 'mithyachari' or a bogus

pretender by Lord Krishna in the Bhagavad-gita and a 'markata-vairagi' by

Lord Gauranga in Shri Chaitanya-Charitamrita.

 

If one renunciant is a pretender, people automatically think that all

renunciants are cheaters or pretenders. Some renunciant may even begin with

a sincere purpose but because he is careless in following the rules and

regulations of the renounced ashram, he may end up becoming a pretender or

setting a wrong example for the whole world. When the renounced ashram (head

of the society) in not respected in society due to the misbehaviour of these

charlatans posing as renunciants, then there is no chance of establishing

any kind of Vedic culture in society. Because then there is no one to give

spiritual knowledge. Thus it becomes more imperative for all renunciants to

follow this rule of not talking personally with women. Let there be very

very few renunciants in this world who are purely and strictly following the

rules rather than many renunciants who are simply pretenders. As we have

seen, many so-called renounced ascetics and spiritual leaders have abused

(or are abusing) their positions to molest women or marrying their own women

disciples. Thus this injunction for renunciants of not talking with women

personally is primarily for the protection of women themselves, for the

personal spiritual elevation of the sannyasis, for maintaining the sanctity

and purity of the sannyasa ashram and preventing it’s abuse, for

establishing the pure Vedic culture(daivi-varnashram-dharma) and ultimately

for satisfying Lord Shri Gauranga Mahaprabhu, the Supreme Personality of

Godhead.

 

The women who understand and follow this Vedic principle of not talking

personally with renunciants are worshippable souls and are blessed by the

mercy of the Guru and Gauranga. They actually care for their renounced gurus

and thus favourable serve their renounced gurus who become very pleased to

see such proper Vedic behaviour by the women. In this way the women act as

pillars for protecting the Vedic culture and thus become very dear to God.

The true renunciants become very pleased to see such behaviour and bless the

women wholeheartedly for progressing in Krishna Consciousness. Such women

who follow the etiquette of not talking with renunciants thus actually care

for the renounced ashram and Vedic culture and thus become the very

ornaments of this earth. They are the sincere followers of Guru, Krishna and

Gauranga and are glorified in all the Vedas and also by the demigods. It is

said in the Vedas that the most attractive quality of women is shyness which

can be clearly demonstrated by following this Vedic etiquette towards the

renunciants.

 

For day to day practical guidance and furthur discussion, the women devotees

can consult their devotee husbands, other advanced women devotees and other

householder devotees. Besides that they can read the books on Krishna

consciousness by Shrila Prabhupada and his followers, hear audio lectures,

preach Krishna consciousness, distribute books, organize women satsanga

programs or groups etc. Advanced spiritual women leaders can also

vigourously preach the message by training and cultivating hundreds of other

women devotees on the path of bhakti.

 

Simply by proper, attentive and regular hearing of Krishna’s message from a

pure renounced sadhu or a pure Vaishnava, all the unwanted things in the

heart are destroyed and all the questions get gradually answered. The women

can also ask questions to the renunciant at any time through their husbands

or other male people who can call or personally meet the renunciant guru. A

renunciant guru may also compromise a little for preaching and can also

reply to questions from women through email or in written form. I am not

advocating this but this can be the maximum compromise which can be done in

this regard.

 

We have personally seen in the past history so many examples of renunciants

giving up their vows and getting married and thus setting a very bad example

to this world because they never care to follow the instructions and

injunctions given in the scriptures for a renunciant. Thus in the ultimate

sense they cause much harm to themselves and millions of other people by

giving up their vows of renunciation. Some people feel that since very very

few renunciants are trying to follow these Vedic instructions, it is not

practical for a renunciant to follow these injunctions and it may not work.

That is not true and a renunciant who does not follow the Vedic rules is

doing so at his own risk.

 

It is my personal experience in doing satsanga programs in India for the

past one year that most matajis suprisingly appreciate the rule of a

renunciant and they adjust themselves nicely to this situation thus making

life easy for a preacher-renunciant. The men sadhakas in a most-famous

Mayavadi institution which says that their Guru is God do not even see the

shadow of women what to talk of speaking to them. But still millions of

women are members of that group. If explained properly, women will surely

understand the importance of this rule for a renunciant

 

I think that if a renunciant tries to strictly follow the instructions of

Guru, Shastra and Gauranga, he will surely be successful is his preaching

all over the world irrespective of the limitation that he cannot speak

directly with women. Because the Supreme Lord will empower him seeing his

determination to follow the Vedic principle for a renunciant.

 

The main principle of the renounced ashram is to maintain the highest level

of purity and spiritual potency so that everyone can be enlightened by him

to the highest extent in spiritual consciousness. For accomplishing this

effective preaching mission, the renunciant has to renounce personally

talking with women. This is the basic and the most important renunciation or

austerity for the renounced ashram as given in the Vedic scriptures.

 

One has to follow the rules and regulations of a particular status of life

in order to purify his existence. If one accepts the renounced order but

still continues to talk with women, he makes a mockery of the whole Vedic

culture. He is thus technically called as dharmocchedi (transgressor of

religion), dharma-kalanka (black spot on pure religion) or dharma-dhvaji

(bogus pretender) by Shrila Bhaktivinoda Thakura in Amrita-pravaha-bhashya

to Shri Chaitanya-Charitamrita.

 

Thus if someone aspiring for or in the renounced order can’t follow this

Vedic principle of not talking personally with women, then the Vedic

scriptures (like Jaiva Dharma) recommend such persons to get married and

honestly practice Krishna Consciousness in household life alongwith their

wife and children instead of duplicitously remaining externally in the

renounced ashram and thus greatly displeasing the Lord. This is also

perfectly alright because one should discharge Krishna Consciousness by

remaining in that ashram whose rules he can comfortably follow.

 

Ofcourse sometimes very advanced and fully self-realized souls like Shrila

Prabhupada who are fully aware of the internal desires and plans of the Lord

and who are eternally liberated and direct associates of the Lord, can break

this rule for a renunciant for the higher purpose of preaching and

fulfilling the mission of the Lord but it should not be imitated by

renunciants who have still not reached that platform. History has shown that

those who tried to imitate the great acharyas have perished miserably. Even

great souls normally act in a way so that they can set an ideal example to

others. I hope these points are helpful in undertsanding this matter.

_________________________

 

CONCLUSION: THE MINIMUM AUSTERITY FOR A RENUNCIANT SHOULD BE NOT TO TALK

PERSONALLY WITH WOMEN.

 

Compiled by Nitai-Gauranga-bhakta-dasanudas,

Tridandi Bhikshu Bhaktiratna Sadhu.

For furthur detailed quotes please refer to my email: Sannyasa and Talking

to Women on the internet.

 

(Kindly forgive me if I will not be able to respond immediately to email

philosophical queries related to this email or otherwise due to the heavy

load of book writing, translation, publication and preaching work at

present.)