Do ISKCON women now have equal rights with sannyasis?

[Guest guest]

Below is an excerpt from a letter to HH Gopala Krsna Maharaja, re. the

recent Executive order issued to the devotees in Vrindavana.

 

>Tue, 9 Nov 1999 19:03:20 -0500

>Gopala Krishna Maharaja <gopala.krsna.goswami (AT) bbt (DOT) se>

>btb (AT) georgian (DOT) net

>Executive Order

 

snip

 

>I do have a concern I would like to present to you for clarification on.

>Just recently, we heard the disturbing news about the Vrindavana temple

>where some women devotees had been pushed around by some of the men. We

>were waiting to hear the GBC make a statement on the matter and yesterday,

>someone sent us a copy of the Executive Committee's statement on the

>situation there. We were informed that you are a member of the EC. What

>concerns me, and some of our friends, is not the GBC's objection to the

>alleged manhandling, but their condemnation of any and all preference for

>men. This doesn't make any sense to me as far as Vaisnava etiquette goes.

>Prabhupada describes the "male prerogative" as a sastric principle that

>guides male and female relationships. Yet, it appears the GBC is

>contradicting this principle by the following order:

>

>>The GBC will not tolerate any mistreatment of female devotees,

>>discrimination against female devotees, or **preferential treatment >given

>>to male devotees in any form.**

>>

>>This is an official directive from the GBC Executive Committee.

>>

>>Your servant,

>>Bir Krishna das Goswami

>>Chairman-GBC

>

>I am having a hard time digesting this and was hoping for your

>clarification on the above section dealing with "preferential treatment

>given to male devotees in any form". Does "male devotees" include

>sannyasis? or gurus? or husbands? Should wives not give their husbands any

>"preferential treatment...in any form" including offering their husbands

>prasadam first? Should daughters not show their fathers any "preferential

>treatment"? Even Jahnava Devi showed male devotees preferential treatment

>and She was the Lord's own internal potency. Is there any sastra which

>supports that male devotees NOT be shown any preferential treatment?

>

>Your servant, Sita devi dasi

>