Modern day 'guru-pati' or husband as guru, is an unearned copy-cat desire of misogynists. Quoting ancient scriptures using matchless pure souls from long ago – asserting that like these incredible Vaisnava's, they too should be given position of unquestionable "guru of wife."
Erroneous. At least if we are not interested in practicing Hindu tradition and more serious about following Prabhupada's highest instructions of daily lifestyle for initiated disciples.
A-Husbands of today are not on the same level of Guru-pati’s from the past, not a close second. That's too much pressure for a wife to put on him and unfair. If he puts it on himself, often he secretly discovers he's ill-equipped to handle this illustrious position, evidenced by misogynists application of egotism and verbal or physical abuse. (Possibly sexual abuse too but keep that hidden behind closed doors. Others claim celibacy, but if abusing wife that's often sexual frustration with arrogance. Hopefully some don't abuse, thought we can not accept that on blind belief.)
An example is there of a young man who said he sought to be teacher. Prabhupada replied, first become good student.
Men want to be gurupati? We can accept, on the condition they first become pure devotee. Men should meet qualifications of scripture, just as they command women to meet. Afterwards talk concerns of guru over wife. Guru holds unquestionable authority. Therefore such a level of (valid) perfectionism must, in all actuality, be achieved. Initially to become entirely unpolluted, untainted. That is scriptural. Hence first to be accomplished pure Vaisnava of Lord Sri Krishna, the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Then see if any longer desire remains to be guru-pati of wife.
B-Show even one letter from His Divine Grace Srila Prabhupada, containing instruction of guru-pati to devotees of this age. Do we read of him saying: “My dear boy, you are now guru-pati of your wife.” Do we see: “My dear girl, your good husband is your guru-pati, do whatever activity he tells you to do without question.” No, we see none of that. They're trying to mimic the great souls in scripture.
However, there is a letter with specific information about family guru:
Erroneous. At least if we are not interested in practicing Hindu tradition and more serious about following Prabhupada's highest instructions of daily lifestyle for initiated disciples.
A-Husbands of today are not on the same level of Guru-pati’s from the past, not a close second. That's too much pressure for a wife to put on him and unfair. If he puts it on himself, often he secretly discovers he's ill-equipped to handle this illustrious position, evidenced by misogynists application of egotism and verbal or physical abuse. (Possibly sexual abuse too but keep that hidden behind closed doors. Others claim celibacy, but if abusing wife that's often sexual frustration with arrogance. Hopefully some don't abuse, thought we can not accept that on blind belief.)
An example is there of a young man who said he sought to be teacher. Prabhupada replied, first become good student.
"We may fall down from Vaikuntha at any moment . . . so even in the Vaikuntha, if I desire that 'Why shall I serve Krsna? Why not become Krsna?' I immediately fall down." - Srila Prabhupada Lecture in Honolulu, Jul 4, 1974
Men want to be gurupati? We can accept, on the condition they first become pure devotee. Men should meet qualifications of scripture, just as they command women to meet. Afterwards talk concerns of guru over wife. Guru holds unquestionable authority. Therefore such a level of (valid) perfectionism must, in all actuality, be achieved. Initially to become entirely unpolluted, untainted. That is scriptural. Hence first to be accomplished pure Vaisnava of Lord Sri Krishna, the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Then see if any longer desire remains to be guru-pati of wife.
"Here in Vrindaban I am enjoying my disciples how they are speaking. So two times daily everyone must attend the classes. During the morning and evening times there should be no business, simply kirtana, chant, dance, and be purified. Do not be paramahamsa that now I haven't got to hear Srimad-Bhagavatam and Bhagavad-gita. Don't be a better paramahamsa than your Guru Maharaja. I go and sit and I enjoy the lectures and how they are performing kirtana. So as I am doing, you must also do." Srila Prabhupada Letter to Gopijanavallabha -- Vrindaban 19 September, 1974
"I am practically seeing that as soon as they, our students, begin to learn a little Sanskrit, they immediately feel they have become more than their guru. Then the policy is to kill their guru and become guru themselves". "As soon as he learns that Guru Maharaj is dead, now I am so advanced I can kill guru and become guru. Then he is finished." (Srila Prabhupada 1976).
"Personal realization does not mean that one should, out of vanity, attempt to show one's own learning by trying to surpass the previous acarya. He must have full confidence in the previous acarya, and at the same time he must realize the subject matter so nicely that he can present the matter for the particular circumstances in a suitable manner. The original purpose of the text must be maintained. No obscure meaning should be screwed out of it, yet it should be presented in an interesting manner for the understanding of the audience. This is called realization. No learned man should be willing to hear a person who does not represent the original acarya." -Srimad Bhagavatam 1:4:1 P
Would not true humility be one quality of a guru type husband? Not a show, we have seen GHQ and other misogynists put on a show. Rather honesty, genuine humility.
1970 January 27 : "Just like a tree when overladen with fruits becomes humble and lower down; similarly, a great soul in Krishna Consciousness becomes humbler than the grass and bowed down like the fruitful trees."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1973
"Krsna is unlimited, and His devotees' service should also be unlimited. I am glad you wish to increase your service still further."
Having seen Polygamists propensity to 'read things into' quotes, it needs than to be pointed out, in the above TWO quotes, Prabhupada is not referring to unlimited in accumulation of many wives, but in active devotional SERVICE to KRISHNA.That is the fruit.
"The qualification of guru is that he must be fully cognizant of the science of Krsna. Then he or SHE can become guru. Yei krsna-tattva-vetta, sei guru haya. (break) In our material world, is it any prohibition that woman cannot become professor? If she is qualified, she can become professor. What is the wrong there? She must be qualified. That is the position. So similarly, if the woman understands Krsna consciousness perfectly, she can become guru." -- June 18, 76, Toronto Interview w/ Prof's O'Connell, Motilal & Shivaram
"Personal realization does not mean that one should, out of vanity, attempt to show one's own learning by trying to surpass the previous acarya. He must have full confidence in the previous acarya, and at the same time he must realize the subject matter so nicely that he can present the matter for the particular circumstances in a suitable manner. The original purpose of the text must be maintained. No obscure meaning should be screwed out of it, yet it should be presented in an interesting manner for the understanding of the audience. This is called realization. No learned man should be willing to hear a person who does not represent the original acarya." -Srimad Bhagavatam 1:4:1 P
They may argue guru "pati" is different type of guru. With all their desires to own slaves and rape wife, marry under-aged girls, in name of Veda, willingly taking absolute authority as always right, when it comes to power, they're behaving like any guru. That is, regarding how much absoluteness they insist. Their desires are what's a very different type of guru! (Strange ones.)
Next argument they may come up with, is that 'are' following previous acaryas, better than everyone else. However, no one is to skip THIS acaraya, OUR acarya, or imitate pure devotees in scripture. That could result in sahajiya activities.
Next argument they may come up with, is that 'are' following previous acaryas, better than everyone else. However, no one is to skip THIS acaraya, OUR acarya, or imitate pure devotees in scripture. That could result in sahajiya activities.
Would not true humility be one quality of a guru type husband? Not a show, we have seen GHQ and other misogynists put on a show. Rather honesty, genuine humility.
1970 January 27 : "Just like a tree when overladen with fruits becomes humble and lower down; similarly, a great soul in Krishna Consciousness becomes humbler than the grass and bowed down like the fruitful trees."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1973
"Krsna is unlimited, and His devotees' service should also be unlimited. I am glad you wish to increase your service still further."
Having seen Polygamists propensity to 'read things into' quotes, it needs than to be pointed out, in the above TWO quotes, Prabhupada is not referring to unlimited in accumulation of many wives, but in active devotional SERVICE to KRISHNA.That is the fruit.
"The qualification of guru is that he must be fully cognizant of the science of Krsna. Then he or SHE can become guru. Yei krsna-tattva-vetta, sei guru haya. (break) In our material world, is it any prohibition that woman cannot become professor? If she is qualified, she can become professor. What is the wrong there? She must be qualified. That is the position. So similarly, if the woman understands Krsna consciousness perfectly, she can become guru." -- June 18, 76, Toronto Interview w/ Prof's O'Connell, Motilal & Shivaram
B-Show even one letter from His Divine Grace Srila Prabhupada, containing instruction of guru-pati to devotees of this age. Do we read of him saying: “My dear boy, you are now guru-pati of your wife.” Do we see: “My dear girl, your good husband is your guru-pati, do whatever activity he tells you to do without question.” No, we see none of that. They're trying to mimic the great souls in scripture.
However, there is a letter with specific information about family guru:
Srila Prabhupada Letter to a female disciple-
"Your description of the course you are giving to the interested girls about the role they play in Krishna Consciousness is very nice, and I am pleased that you have begun this project. Actually the role of all conditioned souls is the same; to chant Hare Krishna, tell others to chant, perfect our lives in Krishna Consciousness, and to go back to Godhead when this body is finished. Now if you can induce all the women of Los Angeles to place an altar in their homes and help their husbands have peaceful, happy home life in Krishna Consciousness, that will be very great service for you. The actual system is that the husband is Spiritual Master to his wife, but if the wife can bring her husband into practicing this process, then it is all right that the husband accepts wife as Spiritual Master. Caitanya Mahaprabhu has said that anyone who knows the science of Krishna, that person should be accepted as Spiritual Master, regardless of any material so-called qualifications; such as rich or poor, man or woman, or brahmana or sudra. So if you can show the women of the community how to help their husbands and children to perfect their home life, and all aspects of life, in Krishna Consciousness by chanting, aratrik ceremonies, and eating Krishna prasadam, then you will improve the conditions of the neighboring communities to an incalculable extent. Your ever well-wisher." Srila Prabhupada letter to Silavati devi dasi, New Vrndavana, 14 June 1969
Prabhupda's legitimate Hare Krsna Movement has always been about qualification, not material bodies. Countless times he has not followed what is traditional (he gave women brahmana initiation, his crossing the ocean as a sanyasi), this is no exception. Though note, women do not want to be guru, just spiritual and direct everyone to the pure guru, Srila Prabhupada.
"But the present age of kali is full of ignorant men. Even those who are born by a brahmana father are, in the present age, no better than the sudra or the women. " SB 1.3. 21
Do you want an ignorant man as your guru? Who would. How to distinguish who is ignorant and who is accurate, be through their acitivites and desires.
"How he is realized soul? If he is speaking something wrong, how he is realized soul? Against the sastra. That is not realized soul. Yah sastra-vidhim utsrjya vartate kama-karatah, na siddhim avapnoti. Sastra reference must be there.- Morning Walk -- April 5, 1974, Bombay
Read way a pure guru speaks, instructs, enlightens-
Read how misogynists usually talk, slant Prabhupada's philosophy to please ego-
