Hare Krishna Women explained. Clearing Prabhupada from accusations of misogyny, racism, abuses - Returning such tributes to those distorting his philosophy for power, sex, and personal ambitions.
Sixty Volumes of Elaborate English Version byTridandi GoswamiA.C. BHAKTIVEDANTA SWAMI
CARRIED BY THE SCINDIA STEAM NAV. CO., LIMITED BOMBAY All over the world for scientific knowledge of God.
The sufferings of the entire human society can at once be brought under control simply by individual practice of "Bhaktiyoga" a simple and easy process of chanting the holy Name of God. Every country, every nation and every community throughout the world has some conception of the holy Name of God and as such either the Hindus or the Mohammedans or the Christians every one can easily chant the holy Name of God in a meditative mood and that will bring about the required peace and good will in the present problematic human society.
Any enquiry in this connection will be gladly answered by Sri Swamiji.
The Hindus generally chant the holy Name of God in sixteen chain of transcendental sound composed of 32 alphabets as "Hare krishna, hare krishna, krishna krishna hare hare., Hare rama, hare rama, rama rama, hare hare." The Vedic literatures like the Upanisads and the Puranas do recommend chanting of the abovementioned sixteen holy Names at a stretch and Lord Sri Chaitanya, Who preached this cult of chanting the holy Name of God, gave special importance on these transcendental sounds. In this age of Kali or the age of hate, hypocrisy, corruption and quarrel, the only remedial measure is that every man should chant the holy Name of the Lord both individually and collectively.
The Glories of the holy Name have been described by Sri Chaitanya in His eight verses of "Siksastak" which run as follows:—
1. Glory to the Sri Krishna Samkirtanam which cleanses the heart of all the dust accumulated for years together and thus the fire of conditional life of repeated birth and death is extinguished. Such Samkirtan movement is the prime benediction for the humanity at large because it spreads rays of the benediction - Moon. It is the life of transcendental knowledge, it increases the ocean of transcendental bliss and it helps to have a taste of the full nectarine for which always anxious we are.
2. Oh my Lord! Your holy Name can alone render all benediction upon the living being and therefore you have hundreds and millions of Names like Krishna, Govinda etc. In these transcendental Names you have invested all your transcendental potencies and there is no hard and fast rules for chanting these holy Names. Oh my Lord! You have so kindly made easy approach to you by your holy Names but unfortunate as I am, I have no attraction for them.
3. One can chant the holy Names of the Lord in an humble state of mind thinking himself as lower than the straw on the streets, tolerant more than the tree, devoid of all sense of false prestige and being ready to offer all kinds of respects to others.
4. Oh the Almighty Lord, I have no desire for accumulating wealth nor I have any desire to enjoy beautiful woman; neither I want any number of followers of mine. What I want only is that I may have your causeless devotional service in my life birth after birth.
5. Oh the son of Maharaj Nanda, I am your eternal servitor and although I am so, some how or other I have fallen on the ocean of birth and death. Please therefore pick me up from the ocean of death and fix me up as one of the atoms of your lotus feet.
6. Oh my Lord when shall my eyes be decorated with tears of love flowing incessantly by chanting your holy Name? And when all the holes of hairs on my body will have erruptions by the recitation of your Name?
7. Oh Govinda, feeling your separation, I am considering a moment as 12 twelve years or more than that and tears flowing down my cheeks like the torrents of rains. I am feeling all vacant in the world without your presence.
8. I do not know any one except Krishna as my Lord and He shall remain as such even if he handles me roughly by His embrace or He may make me broken hearted by not being present before me. He is completely free to do anything but he is always my worshipful Lord, unconditionally.
Chanting of the holy Name of God is recommended for every one both for the mass of people and the class of people. Those who are scholars, philosophers, scientists, religionists and educated, may read the English version of SRIMAD BHAGWATAM by A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami with particular attention to the purports appended with each and every verse.They have appreciated the publication as follows:—
"At a time when not only the people of India but those of the west need the chastening quality of love and truth in a corrupting atmosphere of hate and hypocrisy, a work like this will have uplifting and corrective influence. What is God? He is truth, He is love. Even an atheist must accept the supremacy of those qualities and how much they are needed by the people of the world who have been tought to deny God and these qualities, do not require much emphasis."
"The author has attempted a tremendous task... A perusal will give us in the sample measure a knowledge of the original. The essence of Srimad Bhagwatam is the exposition of the Absolute Truth, we would recommend this book."
"The editor's vast and deep study of the subject and critical insight are reflected in these notes and."
"We have no doubt that with the publication of these volumes the rightful interpretations of the Bhagwatam, which has been the gift of Sri Chaitanya and His Goswami followers, has now been available to the English knowing world for the first time."
"The elaborate method is very helpful to the ardent student of Bhagwatam who lack in Sanskrit language. It is admitted in all hands that Bhagwatam is the most difficult text amongst the puranas. The author richly deserve the gratitude of the devotees for his pious learned labour of love."
"These volumes speak very highly of Swamiji's scholarship and specially of his love of cultural pursuits, when we look into the enormous labour and sacrifice in producing them single-handed and that too, at ripe old age of 68. We earnestly pray to the Almighty that He may spare Swamiji for all the years he may require to finish the Magnum opus of 60 volumes, and earn the love and gratitude of his fellowmen in pursuit of Divine Love and Grace, nay of the entire humanity."
"You have done a first class work and you desire the hearty commendations of every Indian every Hindu. Your deep and penetrating study of the subject and your philosophic insight are reflected in this book." etc. etc.
Discovered a spin-off of GHQ. It's ghq for women. Apparently there's always a percentile of women in society who like punishment and abuse. This group is called DASI. Do not confuse with an ISKCON woman group by similar name. There are two dasi organizations. Found little interest in either, but if forced to single out the better of the two, iskcon branch is safer. They may also preach some subservient position, but a difference be, they'll not force you to remain a member to still be worthy of respect. If you leave their group, they may not promote you, however if they find you are still to be a spiritual person they may. Especially you will be allowed to promote yourself.
May sound common sense to the rational. However, just try leaving ghq Dasi and letting them know why. Though no one can force you to remain a member (otherwisthe they would), next you will be condemned to the eternal hell fire, bad mouthed to as involved in serious maya for disagreement with them, others warned they better avoid your association.
Especially you will be chastized if you pointed out recognization of abuse, refusing to play their game that it's spiritual. You my dear friend, are going to hell.
Amusing how ghq men criticize iskcon women in charge of anything, nonetheless here they be, letting their woman in charge of DASI. Apparently iskcon women, even when going through husband to take charge of something, that was not good enough for ghq. If ghq did not know about it, they critized her, until they made sure she had spoken to her husband first. They are authority over her husband? He must inform them? Then hypocritical ghq lets one of their women take charge of DASI.
Their defense? Men are overseeing. With smallest amount of examination it became obvious - she's in charge. Merely look at the countless writings, most are a by woman than by men. They're hers specific. When such men write, it then requiress more colaboration, like mini-meetings, & often purpose is to give additional male glorification to a topic she all ready made.
Amazing they can twist Prabhupada's philosophy to extreme depths, rejecting what they dislike & accepting only what pleases their mind and senses. Then mark claims as superior devotees.
Denail strong. Illusions. Because to admit they've been living long time in make believe castle in the sky, is too much for their false ego to accept. Unless they rid false ego. Unlikely.
DASI is militant. Prabhupada was loving. DASI uses lies and tricks to convert. Prabhupada used "purity is the force," letting people make honest choice. Whether be man or a woman, those who deviate from sublime, beautiful, pure enlightenment of Srila Prabhupada, then present their deviations as truth, have almost always swerved away from his most basic instructions to all devotees:
Chant 16 rounds every day without fail.
Follow the 4 regulative principles strictly and without fail. (Clearly they break this one, more often than they'll ever let you know!)
Rise early.
Attend Mornging and Evening programs (even if have to do it themself as has been done in Preaching Centers throughout the world).
Take cold shower.
Book Distribtion (chances they participate in this is joke.)
Don't eat too much or too little, eat simple. (Often they are wanting of a wife or wives for purpose of cooking fancy meals for their uncontrolled tongue).
HariNama Sankirtana. (Unlikely.)
Prabhupada addressed certain letters to "ALL MY DISCIPLES" with instructions that applies to any and all devotees in his Brahma Sampradaya lineage. They don't follow many, seldom read them, except to argue them, find excuse around it.
Avoid committing the 10 Offenses (which they commit everyday when they call a devotee woman a *hore, think of Vaisnava woman as sex toy, hold hate in mind & heart for women.)
After reading some (the ghq) DASI articles it became clear their female writer is a smart lady, not less intelligent. It also appears she's: A game player of the mind, must always be right, things have to be her way (spoiled) or no way at all, and that her husband will constantly back her up.
Who wouldn't, when they are called guru-pati, given permission to rape (makes you think they are going at it like rabbits, though entire ghq makes you think nearly all of them be going at it like rabbits - or wish they were), shared agreement for polygamy, and get to hear how wonderful they are extensively?
The sincere wouldn't. The healthy wouldn't. The humble wouldn't.
It may seem startling to male readers that a woman would promote ghq philosophies as with DASI. Particularly one with brains. Its common intelligent women in the material world, and devotees, succumbed to abuse for many reasons. It's a misunderstanding that the higher the intelligence, the higher the psychological health. That's not always the case. Intelligent levels are irrespective. The college educated have willingly accepted abuse from patients.
Any woman putting up with abuse of this level, of this weirdness, including sexual opportunities for polygamy with options to include underaged minor, either that wife can't escape; or a wife may be entangled, and some are just messed up. May have formerly lived in worse situations, then discovered Krishna Consciousness, experienced some happiness. If husband turned out to be abuser, weighing against her past experiences, this was standard. Afterall, he's superior because his abuse included a spiritual component, must be right, isn't it?
No, it's sick. Regretably they've not experienced life that did not include some categorical nature of toxic abuse, thinking we be nuts for not surrenderng (to harmful man or situation). To them such surrender be normal, regardless how high their IQ. Don't remain unaware, mark it down or mentallyl that "intellence does not simultaneously indicate emotionally sound."
Therefore, protect yourself and become proficient how to recognize sound mental health from the unsound. Specifically refering to: emotional stinking thinking.
Am in realization they'll insist they're Vedic and healthy, criticize things here. That's part of the delusions. We will even agree some might try live similar lifestyle but its extremely rare do it right in kali yuga and succeed. This has yet to be seen. Most who did it right were sages from ancient time periods. Most born into the realistic current kali yug can't truthfully live that lifestyle. It can be a cause of falldown.
Also why His Divine Grace Srila Prabhuapda outlined a program specificually to those born in this kali yug. DASI (and GHQ) need not manipule Prabhupada's words to fit what they like to believe, such as blind surrender to their husband as if he's higher than he truthfully is, making him worshipable as gurupati, or misogny, polygamy. We ourselves will stick with Prabhupada's clear highest instructions he specifically left behind to follow. and said not to change anything.
Contagious to the weak, unrecognizable to the innocent, worship of man as the way to God has been going around, for some it has set-in as the norm. Beware. Observe it been promoted in smart clever way by smart women (who believe abuse as not abuse) which may confuse, until these perspectives mentioned become more clearly understood.
Be careful and aware of thier use of the word "traditional" roles of women. Sounds warm and fuzzy, can smell the sweet rice cooking from here. However, in truth its code for "man worship, artifical immitating saints, accepting spousal abuse as deserved" & a slew of other 'misunderstandings' they seem to want to maintain as a misunderstanding.
Not intending to engross ourselves with them, debating their infinite reasons they veil themselves with, simply trying to help others recognize misrepresentation of Srila Prabhupada by them. They are adults, can do as they like. Wuld be different if they did so quietly. The problem arises with this misrepresentation of Prabhupada that next causes many to have no interest in his genuine theachings. The other problem they indulge in, is spreading and preaching their ways to others and mislead them as well.
Look to the polititions. Are they all in accuracy with what they preach? No. Yet you probably voted for many who said things you believed in, later to find it was "bait and switch." Watch out for this DASI group, it will cheat you.
They'd debate: No, we don't cheat, we teach you to cope with husbands anger as your saving grace, we teach you its good for 11 or 12 year old girl to marry older men, we teach you its wise to share man with co-wives, we teach you abuse is not abuse but what you deserved.
Some tell themselves these to survive. Worse are those who believe it. They often are its preachers. Now doing the brainwashing that use to be done to them in their past. No one can help those indoctrinated. Srila Prabhupada never indoctrined, and always used loving kindness, pure scripture, & not sexual promiscuity they inform using his name. Offensive.
In passing came upon an editorial on Vedic woman. Mostly likely from Dasi. A picture it showed, two western young ladies from probable 1940s, smiling sweetly in such purity. Their dresses long, hair curly, looked like sisters or twins, ever so happy, nice. Any man would want to marry such a girl. Wait, what was that? In my tracks I stopped. For a moment I fell into the illusion myself, thus can't imagine what a man would feel. They were but a picture of "subtle sex life!" Not the type of purity related to Krishna, but the type of purity related to woman.
We repeatedly seem to need to remind devotees, that on this blog we speak of INITIATED women, or women desiring initiation, not any woman, however pious. Devotee is always about the Hare Krishna Movement, always about Prabhupada's instructions, not about even the sweetest of womanhood. OUr philosophy is we are not our body and to do the correct work to over come that and align with our spirit soul.
While I equally abhor men that next be hateful toward sweet woman once figuring out the sweetness they were drawn to was a sex attraction. Such men need to recognize most devotee woman are not trying to make him fall down, it is his own uncontrolled sex attraction he is feeling. Don't take it out on her.
"Attraction and repulsion for sense objects are felt by embodied beings, but one should not fall under the control of senses and sense objects because they are stumbling blocks on the path of self-realization. PURPORT - Those who are in Krsna consciousness are naturally reluctant to engage in material sense gratification. But those who are not in such consciousness should follow the rules and regulations of the revealed scriptures. Unrestricted sense enjoyment is the cause of material encagement, but one who follows the rules and regulations of the revealed scriptures does not become entangled by the sense objects. " - Bhagavad gita as it is, ch 3, TEXT 34
It is equally an offense for initiated women who takes vows of celibacy and spiritual life seriously, to next see her use other women for attracting devotee men: "Oh look! This picture of innocence, this is what you want now isn't it?" Only two freedback replies, both male, none seeing through the illusion. Within them, surprising to read compliments on writing skills instead of accuracy, or inaccurac,y of the articleIt's It's better to read essays imperfectly composed yet explains unchanged, unbiased, philosophy of Srila Prabhupada.
Repeatedly its been agreed, there's not difficulty accepting the adults of DASI (or ghq) desire for sex, and their desire to live a different lifestyle from the one Prabhupada outlined for the initiate. (However if they are initiated, and most of them are, they are insubordinate to His Divine Grace's instructions to the initiate.) The difficulty arises due to DASI & GHQ's misrepresentation of him, and their arrogance they be superior followers. Just look up his expectations of "disciple" and that will quickly be cleared away. They are following something different.
Vedic woman, as they chronically propose, is not hard for she who all ready Vaisnava following Srila Prabhupada's program. There be many such quotes to promote this also, therefore read Prabhupada's actual instructions for this yug, and don't be mislead by their fanaticism. Vedic woman is part of Varnashrama dharma, and to maintain law. Krishna consciousness is higher, where woman all ready is a Vedic woman, needing no extra endeavor if she is following the vows she took, which included the program specifically outlined by Srila Prabhupada.
A woman who worships Mother Durga is also a Vedic woman, a female who worships Lord Siva - also Vedic woman. Lady who worships the impersonal brahmajyoti - Vedic Woman. She who believes its 'all one' can also be a Vedic woman. Some of these ladies can be even more strict than Dasi women! Dasi is strict, but these other Vedic women, some, be more strict.
Upon times it brings up wonder, can't be helped to ask, what happened in the past of these obsessive promoters of Vedic womanhood, that they must always present themselves as purest of the pure? Srila Prabhupada has not left that out of the process he gave (4 regulative principles, Morning program, Sankirtana service). The highest level of purity is automatically achieved through Krishna conscious activities, why therefore they hanker upon hanker for more and more purity?
Left to specualte, with ideas worth consideration.
Were any of them violated as a child?
Were any of them told they would never be pure?
Were any of them the oppposite, spoiled cild of family who had to be perfect always?
Is there a sexual component to this pushing of Vedic woman purity, since we see it is not abot purity of soul and God, but toward husband?
Though rare, are some such woman narcasists? Aftr reading the definition of the female narcasist, it was startling, recognizing what might be characteristics promoted by wife of GHQ, or DASI.
To have purity of wife, there need be purity of husband. Not showman purity, such as with most and probably all GHQ. Not to marry, then rape, under-aged girl and claim to be Vedic. They are not qualified as the scriptural men they read about, thus they be making offenses.
Admit to have found their next topic and explanation interesting, that woman are considered less intelligent not as much due to intelligence level, but due to emotional level. If this be fact, then it must be given notice, should a husband abuse his wife, she is going to be emotional. If anyone abuses anyone at all, they will react with strong emotions. Blaming women as too emotional often be an escape technique used by irresponsible men to avoid admission of what they've done wrong.
Lets bring to the forefront men often are as emotional as women in kali yug, more likely to use emotions of smart-alec sarcasm, anger, jealousy, picking fights, and other emotions acceptable to them merely because they are recognized as mostly male. However, emotions are emotions, all of which will block the intelligence levels. Its been a constant, for such men to treat their women cruelly, then blame her as overly emotional. Not behavior of Vaisnava husband, thus if he does like karmi or abuser, do not complain she's emotional, thereby less intelligent.
All this is similar to black slaves of Old South America, whose owners were convinced of their intellectual inferiority, while these same owners beat and deprived them of knowledge. Unfortunately may have been difficult to put to knowledge to memory under such stressful abusive situations. Then using that as evidence they are less intelligent. Centuries later when slavery and abuse became illegal, we now have a beautiful colorful world filled with highly intelligent black doctor, architects, teachers.
No one should expect they can abuse another, than complain that other is too emotional, therefore less intelligent. Bogus. Offensive. Offenses accumulate, reactions karmically will return to sender when least expected.
Then in the article comes mention of so many divorced at temples, further suggestive is their buck passing to woman, leaving certain men unaccountable for their actions. If brave enough to look at truth, notice authorities demanded both to husband and wife to minimize child care and do something else. There are more and more authorities as exception today but might still go on. How can woman be blamed she is not homebody mother, under such circumstances? What if your boss said something similar? Are you willing to put many things at risk? Not an easily resolved as they say.
I love the temples, if they would make modifications to respect these needs all would be well. But I will not sit idly by with woman blamed for actions of men. Many godsisters were chastised for taking care of their "bags of stool." DASI or GHQ blames broken homes on woman? They always skirt making man accountable when males do something wrong, even to blame that on woman.
Apparently some of them believe accepting that is to be chaste. But it is dishonest & breed dishonesty. Understandle every once in a while a husband does something wrong, the wife often will pretend to the public he did not, while internally she knows better, but protects him in this way. However, misogynists expect that alall the time. It be nice if he did truthful protection and not put her through reactions that are deserved upon him. Very cowardly for those who make unlimited claims of their superior qualiities. Then why they be such cowards they must hide behind wife's apron strings? If he has the huptza to do wrong actions, let him have courage to accet fullconsequences. If he often performs wrong actions, wife has to take the blame or no longer be though of as chaste, do they not feel in their gut how sickening this is? How dishonest, infection to their own soul? Kali yug is barely standing, and its spiritual success is that it stands on the last leg which is honesty.
Now if woman does something wrong they call her *hore and send her to hell fire.How pusillanimous not to at least admit what faults are his, becauyse then they could improve, advance.
They next quote Prabhupada on 'no divorce,' but so long as they maintain karmi behavior like abuse or serious neglect, they will receive karmi reactions like divorce. Initiated Vaishnava woman do not deisre divorce, might tolerate a man who abuses 'if' he admits its from karmi past and obtains treatment or somehow purifies self. However, can't criticize Vaisnava women for getting free of him if he wont admit his abuse is from his karmi personality, but instead tries to pass it onto Prabhupada or God. Such an offense can not be tolerated.
Additionally, since early on the men were glorified but unfortunately did not come up to outlined standards, too many let it go to their head, abused wife, cheated on her, ignored the children (except to punish), became the center, thinking too often always be right. Rresults in no humility in marriage, which results in abuse if wife disagree with him, which resulted in iskcon divorces. Probably they all went over to the GHQ. LOL Because iskon is more and more purifying, getting rid of this maya.
When there is criticism on iskcon broken homes coming from these who proclaim to be Vedic women we must look deeper. Iskcon has history to look at and learn from, and they are doing exactly what old iskcon did when young and foolish, who have now stopped many such practices after discovering it did not work, as well as learning they misunderstood - spiritual maturity. Here we have DASI women saying they've spoken to iskcon children to find out they are unhappy, when in fact they themselves are training their daughters to marry at age of minor, to serve man as her lifes goal. Sons trained to maintain excessive false ego of never wrong, gurupate of wife who can do anything he wants. They've taken it further than iskcon, yet they think the problems of the children they spoke with are a result of non Vedic woman? That the a good wife will hold family together regardless depths of abusiveness of some husband? They view him not abusive but Vedic? Such actions only make children miserable. They need to come out ofdenail. No protection from mom there.
They criticize our children, but show one blissful teenager in kali yuga? Do they take advantage of that phenomena and use it to claim they have spoken to these kids and they're miserable? Happiness is fleeting for anyone, but more-so the uncentered teenager. At least in iskcon we dont make 11, 12, 13, 14, 15 etc year old girl get married, which will damage them worse.
We would like equal time. Faciliated to similarly talk to their children, without the parents present, because we feel confident when they spoke to iskcon children, the parents were not present. Would DASI and GHQ allow us to ask questions of THEIR children. No. Because we'd discover they are no happier than iskcon children. Their girls, with the idea of having to have sex with older man, or be in weird cowife situation, regarldess how sweet a smile she's been trained to plaster onto her face, she may be deeply frightened.
We are sorry DASI believes there's too much denigerating ideas on raising daughters, wondering why so fanatical they can not pick up a self help book on how to riase children, modify it accordingly. Though they will fault find it not as Veidic, as Prabhupada said to take gold from any place. Its difficult to have much compassion for their complaints that no one is caring about the purity of their daughters, when they themselves train them up to accept rape and all forms of abuse from their future husband! They are indeed focusing on the least important type of purity, the purity of body, which again is automatic if one is truthfully practicing Krishna consciousness. They are practicing caste system of old, not Prabhupada's instructions for this difficult age all live in.
We are sorry DASI does not know how to be good wife wihtout getting fanatical, refusing to read anything in addition to Vedic books teaching how to be good wife. Would make more sense if if they did not come out of karmi background, but most everyone had karmi background, sometimes other books can heal problems.
We are sorry DASI needs to control entire world on these, including devotee world, in order to have the life they want. Fact be their worries about their daughter is not really about their daughter, antheir need to glorify husand and accept mistreatmeant is not really about not their husband, its about them. Sure, some is understandable, as it is always a fear trying to raise a Krishna conscious child in modern day, with little support, and so much going wrong. Simultaneously they are not satisified with Prabhuadapada's outlined method (words they'll never speak) and want to raise their daughters a way to guarantee her purity, the type as in Varnasramadharma. We who'd much prefer our daughter be taught how to be pujari or serive Krishna, can not relate, knowing the morality these organizations fret over are not a concern in Krishna consciousness. Itis true it still happens, this they will point out and develop into an excuse for what they do instead. However, illusion is to think it can't happen in varnashramadharma either. It can happen under any philosophy, any lifestyle. However, if trained to know how to do devotions to God, not man, daughter will be saved not only of the parents morality worries, but also from repeated birth and death.
Therefore it is not about their daughter, it's about how scared, mad, worried, etc the parents feel inside. Unfortunately they do not look for practical solutions for kali yuga, as they still must all be better than everyone else, so must immitate sages in scripture. Understand, they do not feel good unless there is fanaticism in their lifle. Fanaticism helps them feelback in control.
However, just follow Prabhuapda's (accurate) gurukula method, add some mom stuff to it - not so hard. If they find it hard, we wonder why. We suspect its because they are trying to make something different, and more difficult, than what Prabhuapda outlined, for whatever psychological reasons they maintain. But can't change the reality we all were born kali yuga. Prabhupada all ready outlined a program for children, which can even be modified as long as Krishna remains the center. No need to concoct a better one through false unachievable immitations.
When next considering their belief of husband guru, since that was not the process with the presence of Srila Prabhupada, no evidence it was ever instructed to kali yug devotees, thereby causes question why these women desire to think her husband is also her spiritual master?
Likely thinking making him happy will automatically bring her back to Godhead, as they read in scripture. If they have a pure devotee husband, such luck. Since that has yet to be seen, or proven, its but illusion to assume always pleasing the husband when he's in maya, would deliver the wife. It may avoid arguments, but this not be a post on marriage skills, in favor of, or against, which ones. This be a blog of those initiated, only on spiritual qualification of husband as guru. If he's in maya (such as wanting sex without 50 rounds, or bullying), if she passes it off as spiritual, first she is lying to herself. she now has assisted herself and husband to take birth again. Possibly children too, since they train them to be just like them. They are kept very controlled and see not much else. Nowhere has Prabhuapada said husband can do whatever he likes, contrary, he has said husband must live as a paramahansa.
Considering DASI's husbands, the GHQ, attempted to overthrow iskcon, promoted disgrace to any man disagreeing with ghq, desire or believe to marry under-aged girls, add belief its acceptable to rape wife, reject certain aspects of Prabhupadas instructions they dislike, such as woman on book distribution, while pretense they are superior follows.............This is your guru?! How any woman can think this makes for qualification of guru of any sort, maybe she wants illusion too.
False egos' run high. They want to follow something lower and call it higher. Whether that be due to lying to us or themselves, or be due to large false ego rejects awareness of truth, becomes hard to discern. What we know is, those who have studied Prabhupada's letters to his disciples can defeat the bogus DASI and their unqualified husbands GHQ.
This blind acceptance of husband as guru is bogus, devotee husband must prove through example he is first qualified to be even husband, what to speak qualified to be guru. Simply taking to the Hare Krishna religion is insufficient. It is however sufficient to be a devotee himself, but to take an unquestionable position? No, only in the caste system can one automatically be given such a position. Srila Prabhupada spoke repeatedly against the caste system in kali yug, and of the importance of qualification. To give unconditional power to husband just for taking male birth is not in like with Srila Prabhupada's type of Krishna Consciousness, regardless they quote him, they simply be false imitators of past yogis in past yugas.
Will not speak much on devotees of this strange organization, DASI. Wishing only to give warning. They are militant and sexaholics, bowing to their husbands every whim. EVERY. Worship of man. They will sneakily twist this as they twist a myriad of topics they speak on.
Instead, we proclaim:
"JUST SAY NO to MAN WORSHIP."
Here's what they say on guru-pati which is only the half of it. No religion makes bona fide the incontestable worship of earthly man, especially if he wants more women, especially if he be a woman-hater. Woman hater propensity immediately removes him from advanced spiritual position.
Incidentally, that lovely picture of the two innocent looking 1940 girls who sparked probably in all who viewed it, admiration for their satvic appealingly mode of goodness purity? They were melechas! Just see how easy it is to fall under maya's clutches. Repeatedly Srila Prabhupada has explained, we are not interested in the mode of goodness, we are interested in overcoming ALL of the material modes of nature and going further, up to Krishna consciousness:
"Bob: Are the devotees beyond accumulating karma? These devotees--do they feel karma? Do they work in these modes? Are they in the mode of goodness?
Srila Prabhupada: They are above goodness! Suddha-sattva. The devotees are not in this material world. They are in the spiritual world. That is stated in the Bhagavad-gita: mam ca yo 'vyabhicarena bhakti-yogena sevate sa gunan samatityaitan brahma-bhuyaya kalpate ("One who engages in full devotional service, who does not fall down in any circumstances, at once transcends the modes of material nature and thus comes to the level of Brahman.") Devotees are neither in goodness, passion nor ignorance. They are transcendental to all these qualities.
Bob: A devotee who is very faithful reaches this stage?
Srila Prabhupada: Yes. Devotee... You can become a devotee as they have become. It is not difficult. Simply you have to engage yourself in the transcendental loving service of the Lord,that's all." -- Perfect Questions Perfect Answers, Chr 4, TheThree Modes Of Nature, February 28, 1972
Initiated devotee woman are automatically moral, then going higher up to Krishna conscious. Because she is Krsna conscious she may be strong, which is what DASi & GHQ reject, yet Prabhupada instructed woman they should be strong preachers for Krishna. If that instruction does not make for the perfect cozy home-life DASI or ghq dreamed of, too bad. Besides, they practice nice grhastha lifestyle outlined by Srila Prabhupada. These woman are still submissive by nature, just submissive to the pure devotee Srila Prabhupada first and foremost! Incidentally, that lovely picture of the two innocent looking 1940 girls who sparked probably in all who viewed it, admiration for their purity? They were melechas! Just see how easy it is to fall under maya's power. Initiated devotee woman are automatically pure because they are celibate and follow Krishna consciousness program by Prabhupada.
vande ‘ham sri-guroh sri-yuta-pada-kamalam sri-gurun vaisnavams casri-rupam sagrajatam saha-gana-raghunathanvitam tam sa-jivamsadvaitam savadhutam parijana-sahitam krsna-caitanya-devamsri-radha-krsna-padan saha-gana-lalita-sri-visakhanvitams ca
The man having forgotten himself as the son of Godhead, has forsaken his real constitutional nature. He has misidentified himself with everything non-godly and therefore manipulates a material existence conducted by the mind and the six instrumental senses. He is concerned only with his material coverings of gross body and the subtle mind but cannot see either himself or his so-called numerous fellowmen. This is what we mean by Nescience which is darkness. The man having designated himself with the relation of his vehicular body and the finer elements of mind and ego etc., like the motor-car driver who has identified himself wrongly with the motor-car itself, has manufactured a civilization which is self contradictory and self denial.
His so-called rationality having not gone far above the rationality of the lower animals, he laments at the death of his fellowmen or at the loss of his own things which he has never witnessed by real experience. This is what we mean by Nescience which is darkness. He slightly feels only and that after the death of his fellowmen that the body loses something that moves it just like the driver moves the motor-car, but still due to the darkness of Nescience he never concerns himself with the driver of the body but takes care superficially only for the body or the mechanical car. In the darkness of Nescience he is fully amazed with mechanism of the gross body just like a boy who is amazed with mechanism of the motor-car, but he hardly tries to understand that without a driver any amount of astounding mechanical arrangement of the motor-car or that of the human body, it cannot move either of them even by an inch. This is what we mean by Nescience which is darkness.
The defect of the present day civilization is just like the above. This is actually the civilization of Nescience or illusion and has, therefore, civilization been turned into militarization. Every one is fully concerned with the comforts of the body and everything related with the body and no body is concerned with the Spirit that moves the body although even a boy can realise that the motor-car mechanism has little value if there is no driver of the car. This dangerous ignorance of humanity is a gross Nescience and has created a dangerous civilization in the form of militarization. This militarization which, in softer language, is nationalization, is an external barrier to come to an understanding of human relation. There is no meaning in a fight where the parties do fight only for the matter of different coloured dresses. There must be therefore an understanding of human relation without any consideration of the bodily designation or coloured dresses.
“BACK TO GODHEAD” is a feeble attempt by the undersigned under the direction of His Divine Grace Sri Srimad Bhakti Siddhanta Saraswati Goswami Prabhupada, the celebrated founder and organiser of the Gaudiya Math activities–just to bring up a real relation of humanity with central relation of the Supreme Personality of Godhead.
That there is a great and urgent need of a literature like this is keenly felt by the leaders of all countries and the following statements will help much in the procedure.
Some time back a bold statement by the Metropolitan of India in the form of Moral and Spiritual Re-armament movement, was published in the Hindusthan Standard, in which the reverend Bishop declared that “INDIA GUIDED BY GOD CAN LEAD THE WORLD BACK TO SANITY.”
The President of the United States of America in a message to the Senate stated that “the underlying strength of the world consists in the moral fibre of citizens. A programme therefore of moral re-armament for the world cannot fail, to lessen the dangers of armed conflict. Such moral re-armament, to be most highly effective, must receive support on a world wide basis.”
The Ex-president of the United States of America Mr. Herbert Hoover sent a message in a citizen’s meeting in New York which included the following words. “What the world needs today is to return to sanity and moral spiritual ideals. At the present moment, nothing so concerns mankind.”
Some 236 members of the British House of Commons jointly affirmed that spiritual principles which are common heritage of all people, are more fundamental than any political or economic issue. They also strongly affirmed that there is urgent need to acknowledge the sovereign authority of God in home and nation to establish that liberty which rests on the Christian responsibility to all one’s fellowmen and to build a national life based on usefulness, unity and faith.
Sir Stafford Cripps the Lord Privy Seal of Britain in a meeting of Christians sometimes in the month of September 1942, said that the Kingdom of God would be accomplished through the Divine Power of love and he declared that “the tasks before us are, first so to conduct ourselves as individual Christian that in spite of the difficulties of our surroundings, we may work towards the establishment of the Kingdom of God throughout our country and the world and second, so to influence and change our social-economic and political environments as to encourage both ourselves and others to take to the Christian way of life.”
The horrors of the war are pinching every one and all in the world and a statement of Mr. Windel Wilkie after his return from Russia, will tell the story of all other countries in the world. He stated that “Five million Russians have been killed, wounded or missing. At least sixty million Russians are slaves in the Russian territories controlled by Hitler. Food in Russia this winter will be scarce, perhaps worse than scarce. Fuel will be little known this winter in millions of Russian homes. Clothing except for the army and for essential war workers has nearly gone. Many vital medical supplies just do not exist.”
What is true for the Russian people is also true for other people, as we Indians are feeling the same scarcity, the same want and the same disgust.
The disgust of the war is well summarized by the Foreign Secretary of Britain Mr. Anthony Eden who said that “this time we have to finish the job properly. We will not tolerate this business every twenty years. When the job is finished we must see that they cannot start it again. That is the will of the nation and the united nation.”
The Archbishop of Canterbury in his recent broadcast in London said, “In every quarter of earth men long to be delivered from the curse of War and to find in a world which has regained its peace, respite from the harshness and bitterness of the world they have known till now. But so often they want the Kingdom of Heaven without its King. The kingdom of God without God. And they cannot have it.”
“OUR RESOLVE MUST BE BACK TO GOD. We make plans for the future for peace amongst the nation and for civil security at home. That is quite right enough and it would be wrong to neglect it. But all our plans will come to ship-wreck on the rock of human selfishness unless we turn to God. BACK TO GOD, that is the chief need of England and of every nation.”
And lately Sir Francis Younghusband while speaking at World Congress of Faiths said that, “that now religion is everywhere attacked brutally, we, look to India the very home of religion for a sign.” Sir Francis pleaded that India, by her example might show the world how religion can be the most potent of all uniting forces in the conduct of human affairs.” Sir Sarvapalli Radhakrishnan the great Hindu philosopher addressing a crowded public meeting in Calcutta recently, observed:
“At a time like this when there is poverty, malnutrition of body and mind, when many people do not know what it is to have a cooked meal, or to lie on soft bed, when millions of homes turn into homes of hunger and prisoners of poverty, religious men will have to address themselves to the task of removing them.”
“Today the world was noisier, more controversial and violent. There was more hope and more uncertainty, more aspirations and more frustration. And the years that intervened (from the last war) showed the bankruptcy of any spiritual value. The Versailles Treaty, the League of Nations, and the Disarmament Conference failed because they had not the back ground of public opinion to sustain them. This war, when it would be won, would prove to be the breeding ground of other wars if the peace was not saved. It could happen only if powerful nations ceased to take pride and glory in their possessions which were based on labour and tribute of other weaker nations. This perhaps was what Sir Harcourt Butler meant when he said that the principles of Hinduism contained the essential elements for the saving of world civilizations.”
In another meeting the same philosopher pointed out, “We have to defeat tyranny in the realm of thought and create a will for world peace. Instruments for training the mind and educating human nature should be used to develop a proper social outlook without which institutional machinery was of little use.”
These psychological movements of the leaders of all countries–combined with the orders of my Divine Master Sri Srimad Bhakti Siddhanta Saraswati Goswami Prabhupada has led me to venture to start a paper under the above name and style “BACK TO GODHEAD” which implies all the words that we may intend to say in this connection.
India has been politically subjugated so to say for the last one thousand years but very few have been able to exploit her spiritual resources up till now which are measured unlimited by the spiritual masters. Politically India may ask all so-called foreigners to quit the shores of India but spiritually she did never ask any body to do so nor she will do so even now. She will rather invite all the so-called foreigners to come and exploit the spiritual resources of India’s advancement and this transcendental exploitation will not only enhance the glory of India but will also enrich the glory of the whole world for unity, faith and humanity.
It may not be out of place to mention herein that His Divine Grace Sri Srimad Bhakti Siddhanta Saraswaty Goswami Prabhupada, just before his departure from this mortal world, wrote me a letter from Puri dated the 3rd December, 1936 directing me towards my duty in fulfilling His mission in the world for propagating the religion of Divine Love as propounded by Lord Chaitanya. In course of writing that letter, He wrote the following lines amongst other things.
“I am fully confident that you can explain in English our thoughts and arguments to the people who are not conversant with the languages of other members.”
“This will do much good to yourself as well as your audience.” “I have every hope that you can turn yourself a very good English preacher if you serve the mission to inculcate the novel impression to the people in general and philosophers of modern age and religiosity.”
And when I was consulting my well wishers and friends who are able to help me in this great adventure, all of them encouraged me in this connection. His Grace Sripad Bhakti Saranga Goswami Moharaj the Preacher-in-charge for the Western countries appointed by His Divine Grace who has recently returned from London preaching work to his headquarter, very kindly sent his blessing from Sri Nityananda Gaudiya Math in his letter dated the 15-3-43 in the following words amongst other things:–
“I know that His Divine Grace used to admire your intelligence and it was His earnest desire that the world outside be benefitted through your writings in English.”
Under the circumstances since 1936 up to now, I was simply speculating whether I shall venture this difficult task and that without any means and capacity; but as none has discouraged me including late Prof. Nishikanto Sanyal and Spd. Vasudev Prabhu (now Puri Moharaj), I have now taken courage to take up the work. Late Prof. Sanyal used to encourage me always by publishing my articles in his “Harmonist” and sometime back he wanted to give me the charge of the paper which I could not accept due to personal considerations.
But at the present moment my conscience is dictating me to take up the work although the difficulties are not over for the present situation arising out of War conditions.
I wish that every one who is enlightened and educated of all nationality, may take active interest in this periodical publication for wide circulation as this paper will contain only the transcendental messages of the great savants of India and specially of Lord Chaitanya, the Godhead Incarnate Who descended for the deliverance of all fallen souls in the present age. My duty will be simply to repeat in the “BACK TO GODHEAD” just like an interpreter what I have heard from and what I have been ordered to deliver by my great spiritual master H.D.G. Bhakti Siddhanta Saraswati Goswami Prabhupada. Nothing will be manufactured by me by my mental concoction. Such words will descend as Sound Transcendental and when they are given proper serving reception by the aural channel, surely they will act like medicine to carry all back to home and “BACK TO GODHEAD.”
It is proposed that at least part by part issues of this literature shall be published every year and the subscription is fixed up at Rs. 6.- per annum in India or fifteen shillings per annum abroad. The writers of this paper will be mostly those who have dedicated their lives, resources, intelligence and speeches for the service of the Absolute Personality of Godhead and for the welfare of all entities. The readers will therefore derive the highest amount of benefit by their association if they will simply sacrifice a little time for the service of Godhead as will be directed in this paper from time to time. Surely they will go back to Godhead and the present rotten world will be transformed into the Kingdom of God as they will learn to acknowledge the sovereign authority of God in home and outside.
The subject matters delineated in the pages of “Back to Godhead” may seem to be very dry in the beginning as the messages are from a different sphere altogether but still we have to give attention to the messages if we really mean to cure the disease of Nescience and go “BACK TO GODHEAD.” Sugar-candy is never sweet to those who are suffering from the disease of the bile. But still sugar-candy is the medicine for bilious patients. The taste of sugar-candy will gradually be revived if the bilious patient goes on taking sugar-candy regularly for the cure of the disease. We recommend the same process to the readers of “Back to Godhead.”
Abhay Charan De,Editor and Founder. HDG A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
(We do not claim GHQ, other Polygamists, Misogynists, are not devotees. However, superior devotee is a joke. We see they follow avoidance of some of the ten offenses, but they break many.)
The offenses agaisnt the chanting of the holy name are as follows:
1. To blaspheme the devotees who have dedicated their lives for propagating the holy name of the Lord. (This would include blaspheme of women who took spiritual initiation vows. Calling them *hores is committing one of the ten offenses.)
2. To consider the names of the demigods like Lord Shiva or Lord Brahma to be equal to, or independent of, the holy name of Lord Vishnu.
3. To disobey the orders of the spiritual master. (That would include vows, program for initiates, deliberately misconstrue his orders to make them fit their desires. Instead the disciple is simply to surrender to them, or admit to his problem, then fix it.)
4. To blaspheme the Vedic literature or literature in pursuance of the Vedic version. (Would not twisting of scripted fit here as well.)
5. To consider the glories of chanting the maha-mantra to be imagination.
6. To give some interpretation on the holy name of the Lord.
7. To commit sinful activities on the strength of chanting the holy name of the Lord. (Sinful activity, where shall their list of offenses begin?! Then blaming it on God, Guru, Sadhu.)
8. To consider chanting of Hare Krishna one of the auspicious ritualistic activities offered in the Vedas as fruitive activities(karma-kanda).
9. To instruct a faithless person about the glories of the holy name.
10. To not have complete faith in the chanting of the holy names and to maintain material attachments, even after understanding so many instructions on this matter. (Maintaining kali yuga polygamy, man vs woman, power, hoarder or controller of money, overlord of material attachments fits here nicely.)
It is also an offense to be inattentive while chanting. (If only they'd pay more attention to Krishna, and stop thinking about women, sex, their other desires.)
Every devotee who claims to be a Vaisnava must strictly guard against these offenses in order to quickly achieve the desired success, which is Krishna-prema (Love of God).
Most GHQ, and different misogynists, will turn to marriage of a Hindu lady. This is fact. Their hate for western woman will drive them that way.
They might say we are jealous, and we'd laugh. They need to accept truth about their level, or lack of level, of spiritual advancement. Vaisnava means Vishnu devotee, devoted to Vishnu.
On the surface their marriage to a non initiated Hindu lady appears pleasant enough. We can we wish them peace in their marriage (more than they wished upon us).
Save for their attitude they finally rid themselves of the "western" woman, never-mind these women are not their western bodies and strict devotees - such men now have who they want, a Hindu trained since childhoodto fall at their feet. (Some actually demand their wife bow down on her knees before him a minimum once daily.) A Hindu woman, soul in female body, many were taught husband is guru, indisputably. A woman who was cultivated from young age, do ‘whatever’ husbands instructs, regardless if others warn. This training has been set, follow blindly or justify his actions of maya, as not maya.
Interrupting for moment: Desiring to illuminate, not criticizing everyone or woman Hindu. Many be amazing devotees.
Point of fact, every hindu woman does not behave or believe in these ways.
Next point of fact. GHQ or misogynist will hunt down the ladies with beliefs and lifestyle similar to his.
We wish them more goodwill then they did the rest of the grhastha world. Once they each get "their" wife and family, they do not want us to throw a wrench in it or disturb it in any way, as they did ours. They will protect their family life and marriage as if in war, but other devotees were exptected to let them severely bring damage to theirs. Not to worry, we have no intention in that way. These are things only terrorists think up, what to speak, act on.
They are feeling happy with their Hindu wives, and we are happy for them.
We nonetheless don't buy into it as the highest, most first class. Good feelings they experience in such marriages are not automatic same philosophy of Srila Prabhupada merely because they married Hindu, escaping the clutches of Western woman.
Apparently western woman as serious devotee was not as important than the ways of his lifestyle desires, with him receiving many pleasures as central the point.
They may come retort: "We told you so, we said if you did not surrender to us, you would be husbandless." We again laugh. We do not want to marry them (this is where their mind goes). We want them to keep their vows to Prabhupada, and live in accordance to everything they promised him.
Whenever such men get their way, be it right or wrong, they insist to constantly feel good. Never to admit to wrongness, because that doesn't feel good.
Distinguish: while they may seek and find Hindu woman who will agree with them they be glorious male superior births, that's Hinduism, not Krishna consciousness.
Srila Prabhupada repeatedly elucidated that we do not practice Hinduism, are not Hindu's, our path is transcendental. (Hindu's do not be offended, as Hindus are of many religions, some practice Krsna consciousness.)
Misogynists have hard time seeing with transcendental eyes, thus they merge with Hinduism.
Very well, do what you must, what you desire.
Never shall the educated "western" women, "initiated" or equally the women strictly following, never will they accept that now its getting done right, as misogynists claim. Rather, it's obvious to any intelligent human, what’s currently happening is reception of maha sense gratification, all varieties.
Thus a reason such men don't like western women: education. Western women have seriouslystudiedPrabhupada's philosophy, can recognize folly, and will call them out when they are preaching maya.
Too puffed up to admit when wrong, always pretense of right, with demands to be blindly support by wife, even saw them expect this from the generalized population of devotee ladies! Reality: Won't happen with females who made serious commitment to Srila Prabhupada for instructions, lifestyle, initiation.
Consequently, misogynists turn to Hindu women. Such a wife who bows to his feet, accepts a smack as deserving, has sex when he commands, believes her husband as guru-pati. (The intelligent Vaisnava women accepts instructions strictly from Srila Prabhupada, rejecting any distortions.)
The educated Western women was "properly trained" to servetoKrsna. While basic instructions are there for wife to take care of husband, they are also there for husband to take care of wife, then to keep it all extremely simple so they both will have more time to serve God. This is the training of the western Vaisnava. Prominence of attention is in relationship to Krishna. To be with such a woman the GHQ and misogynists would have to come clean about their addiction to sex and power. They never will be truthful, easier to blame on her western birth, avoiding she's often more strict practitioner of a higher process than they could carry out.
Lord Caitanya said one day preaching will go on in every town and village, Prabhupada said many of us be devotees in past life, yet misogynists belittle and demean as "western." Never thinking the Lords plan might have had something to do with. Thus they bring karma onto their head.
They shall not pull the wool over our eyes, which makes them irate that we refuse to play the game. They like to play them on women. Pat each other on back how that lie manipulated so well, that woman.
The unfortunate "blindly" following Hindu ladies, we feel sorry to. We hope one day they read Srila Prabhupada’s detailed literatures, letters, and discern how he treated women setting the example. Discover his genuine higher meanings. Ultimately she might try to get husband out of maya. It may be impossible, at least she tries, then to try to save her own soul.
Also worthy of mention is there be Hindu women who do not believe in absolute power of husband or that abuse as spiritual but got roped into an arranged marriage with fallen misogynist. (Some arranged marries work, don't throw away baby with bath water.) Another, the man may have lied to her and presented himself differently prior to marriage, then after she agreed to marriage, he became bully. Some Hindu ladies have no other way left to be cared for, thus side with him for that reason, and to avoid harm.
It should lastly be commented, there are some Western Women who think and behave exactly like some Hindu ladies, with the glories of men, or abuse as godly. We too feel sorry for these Western Woman.
Although most will balk and claim to not need our pity, in some cases that's possible Stockholm syndrome, but survival is needed when no one can intervene to straighten things up. We hope it doesn't take as long where one day finding themselves, with or without choice, in police office due to husbands abuse (emotional, spiritual, sexual, physical), or in therapist office because he manipulated her mind too much, too long, she now does not know reality from kali yuga expectations, from what he convinced her she should be able to do, like past sages of more divine ages. Trying to be artifically advanced is a cause of falldown, and can drive one crazy too, especially if unrealistic.
We will wait, and hope such women come out of this illusion, study the process Prabhupada gave us as the correct lifestyle for this age, before they get bad experiences. Also that husband comes out of such illusions. It is shocking so many feel the need to change what Prabhupada taught in order to get sense gratification and call it religiosity. We sit and we wait, hoping for delusions to break free.
Yes, Misogynists Like Hindu Ladies, and are lying to Hindu ladies, presenting themselves much nicer than they be.
She thinks: "How lucky I am to have met and married (European, American, Canadian) Vaisnava man. Now I can move to that country with him and live peaceful, spiritual life."
He thinks: "Now I have wife I can be kind to if I 'feel in the mood,' or I beat, rape, mistreat since myself is guru over her, she accepts she deserved it and not to complain, like these stupid western women complain of it. If I have unhappiness I can pick on Hindu wife because she is suppose to keep me happy, knows it, and if I'm unhappy- its her fault or her fault of not knowing ways to return me to happiness. With this woman, I can do whatever I want."
Naturally, other thoughts go through their minds, but take heed, as these are good examples. Do not let them trick you. Remember, word 'misogynist' means "woman HATER." Hate justifies doing anything. They are acting nice? Anger is right on the edge for he who is 'woman hater' misogynist.
These men do not represent Srila Prabhupada or his Hare Krishna Movement. Know this. They are bogus to claim representation. With some looking, better men can be found in Srila Prabhupada's authentic Movement - that would not be the GHQ movement.
1975 His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
Letter to Laksmimoni -- Bombay 2 January, 1975
My dear Laksmimoni devi,
Please accept my blessings. I am in due receipt of your letter dated Dec. 18th, 1974 and have noted the contents. Thank you for your nice pictures of Sri Sri Radha Gopinatha in Toronto.
The thing is, we should have little common sense in all activities. The example can be given that women by nature do not forget to dress very nicely although always engaged in household affairs. Deity worship is just as important as book distribution. As we sing in the Gurvastakam prayers, srivigrahara dhana-nitya-nana-srngara-tanmandira-marjanadau. So, it should be very nicely done, and at the same time, book distribution should be done. Not that we should do one thing at the sacrifice of another. That requires a little common sense. Factually, we should be engaged 24 hours in Krishna's service and everything should be done very nicely and perfectly.
I hope this meets you in good health.
Your ever well-wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/ps
-- Letter to Govinda -- Honolulu 1 February, 1975Letters, My dear Govinda dasi,
Please accept my blessings. In reply to your letter dated nil and have noted the contents. I beg to advise you to come to India and live in Mayapur comfortably in association of devotees. If you go, then I shall arrange to give you a very nice room completely for your use and you can peacefully engage in your painting work and read Srimad-Bhagavatam as well as join in with the devotees for regular kirtana, arati, and prasadam. What you have to do in this connection is as follows: 1) immediately you go to New York and take an entry visa from the consulate general of India. 2) ask your father to send the 200 dollars monthly to the Bank of America -Bombay branch, account number 16026, (International Society for Krishna Consciousness Mayapur-Vrndavana Fund.) This money will be kept for your expenditure. I think 500 rupees monthly will be sufficient for your food and lodging (60-70 dollars). And the balance you can spend as you like. I think this arrangement will be very nice for you according to my idea. Now you decide what to do.
I hope this meets you in good health.
Your ever well-wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/ps
(Notice how nicely he is taking care of her, as opposed to the misogynists philosophy that woman must not live comfortably but always be stressed in case he becomes angry, than she must also know how to fix his unctrolled mind. Here we see Prabhupada treating Govinda dasi with love and true kindness. We also see she is not treated like a stupid woman, but given responsibility.)
--
Letter to Krsna Devi (a female child)-- Tehran 14 March, 1975 Dallas
My dear Krishna Dasi,
Please accept my blessings. I am in due receipt of your letter dated March 4th, 1975 and have noted the contents. Thank you for the karatala bag. It is very beautiful. I was very happy to see all of you bright-faced children at Gurukula. And I am already thinking of when I can come and visit there again. You are so fortunate to have such training in Krishna Consciousness from the very beginning of childhood.
So, take full advantage of it and follow very obediently what your older Godbrothers and Godsisters ask you to do. Chant Hare Krishna all day and dance nicely. Eat nice Krishna Prasadam and go back to Godhead, back to home. I hope this meets you in good health.
Your ever well-wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/ps
(Problems that arose in Gurukula has nothing to do with letters like this, but due to authorities refusing to see the obvious, teachers getting away with nonsense. Whereas the point here is, how sweet this letter is, and it should be kindnes, love, sweetness, that was the intent for Gurukula.)
--
Letter to Lata -- Bombay 19 March, 1975 Pittsburgh
My dear Lata devi dasi,
Please accept my blessings. I am in due receipt of your letter dated nil and have noted the contents. Krishna Consciousness is the only truth that exists. Without Krishna Consciousness everything is illusion. You must not waste this life awaythinking that everything belongs to you. Everything belongs to Krishna and it must be used in His service. Even your body and mind belong to Krishna and it must be used for Krishna's glorification. Otherwise, if you use your body or mind any other way, you will have to suffer so many future miseries such as rebirth, etc. So, I request you to please try and chant 16 good rounds daily and to follow the four regulative principles as well as to read my books carefully. And give up all these foolish ideas. If you sincerely try to do this, Krishna will reciprocate by giving you the necessary intelligence and determination to carry on in Krishna Consciousness.
I hope this meets you in good health.
Your ever well-wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/ps
--
Letter to Rasarani -- Melbourne 22 May, 1975
My dear Rasarani devi dasi,
Please accept my blessings. I thank you very much for your note and your offering.
Always remain engaged in the service of Krishna. That is the sure and safe method to be safe from the grip of Maya. Maya will never touch you if you are cent percent serving Krishna. Follow the rules carefully, chant at least 16 rounds, read and study my books deeply, and in this way be enthusiastic about going back to Godhead in this life.
I hope this meets you in good health.
Your ever well-wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/ps
--
Letter to Shaktimati -- Bombay 18 August, 1975 Nairobi
My Dear Shakti Mati devi dasi,
Please accept my blessings. I have received report from Brahmananda Swami that you are still living outside the temple. This is not good, and I would request you to immediately return to the temple. And they must receive you nicely. They are your spiritual sons and daughters, so Mother and children must live together in the temple.
Please especially see that the Deity worship is going nicely. You are an experienced lady, and you can teach especially the girls there to cook nicely for the Deity, to prepare flower garlands nicely for the Deity, to clean and dressthe Deity nicely.
You organize this to the first class standard, as I have seen they are doing in Los Angeles and in London. Then people will be automatically attracted. You know how to do these things, and they must take instruction from you. And, you can let me know how things are going on there.
I hope this meets you in good health. Your ever well wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/bs
(GHQ and sometimes misogynists criticize brahmacarini ashrama, claiming it not Vedic, not what Prabhupada wanted. Yet in this letter of 1975, less then two years of his leaving the planet, Srila Prabhupada is still wanting women to move into the temple and live there. AlsoGHQ and some misogynists criticize woman going onto altar as Pujari / brahmana priest. Prabhupada not only instructs this lady devotee to do so but tells she is expert and to teach other females. Often Ghq and misogynists claim to start the Movement, Prabhupada had no choice other than allowing woman to do what otherwise men should have done. Whereas in this 1975 letter what he had women doing was same as he always had women doing.
--
Letter to Sharon Suzuki -- 4 September, 1975 Sharon Suzuki Keaau, Hawaii
My dear Sharon Suzuki;
Please accept my best wishes. I am in due receipt of your letter and I have noted the contents carefully. It is quite evident that you are feeling anxiety in your mind. The best way to overcome this, the way to control the mind is to become Krsna conscious. This is stated in the Bhagavad gita in the sixth chapter, that one has to control the mind otherwise the mind will become his worst enemy. The process for Krsna consciousness is that we control the mind through hearing and chanting. We hear the maha mantra, Hare Krsna Hare Krsna Krsna Krsna Hare Hare Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare and we hear the lectures from the spiritual master and read his books. Also we speak by preaching and by chanting. This is the easy method for controlling the mind, by hearing and chanting.
So my advice to you is to somehow or other fix your mind on Krsna then you will experience peace of mind and your mind will be your best friend. I hope this meets you in the best of health. Your ever well wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/bs/hdb
(Fix the mind on Krishna, not sex, power, control.)
--
Letter to ISKCON Artists -- Bombay 2 May, 1974 Brooklyn
My dear ISKCON artists,
Please accept my blessings. I am in due receipt of your letter of April 19, 1974 and have noted the contents. I will answer the points as best as I can.
1. Fresh rice and paddy grains are simply some grains. Still in this country of sandalwood pulp and rice grains are used to put on the forehead in different blessings.
2. Saci should wear a nice sari and nice ornaments, wearing vermillion on the part of her hair. She is dressed not like a queen but a well to do householder.
3. As a baby, boy and young man Lord Caitanya should be dressed opulently. Ornaments are essential.
4. Show the land opulent for the appearance of Maharaja Prthu. 5. & 6. These questions require researching the Bhagavatam. I have asked Pradyumna to look them up for you.
7. No Prthu does not have effulgence. He was a saktyavesa avatara, a living entity empowered.
8. Dhruva should be just as he is shown in your sketch.
9. The sketch is all right. An orange-red dhoti is all right.
10. The airplanes are all right as drawn.
11. The demigods planes are almost equal to the Vaikuntha planes.
12. Yes, the inhabitants of a particular Vaikuntha planet have the same arrangement of symbols in the hands. Nanda and Sunanda should hold as follows: lower right: conch, upper right: disc, upper left: club, lower left: flower.
13. Pracetas should be not clean shaven, but with beards as mendicants. Siva is different colors. Not always yellow. There are eleven kinds of Rudras.
14. No, Siva should not be wearing a garland of skulls. Yes, he can be wearing a short dhoti.
15. They should all be standing around the fire at the sacrificial altar. Do not show the horse there.
16. Yes, although you may not know what Maharaja Prthu or Sita look like, they are present in your paintings due to your consciousness.
I am always pleased and looking forward to seeing more beautiful pictures in our books. In India we make life members simply from the high quality and appearance of our books with illustrations. Our society is unrivalled in this respect and this is your credit who are working so selflessly to illustrate my books. Thank you very much.
Your ever well-wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/sdg
