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EDITORIAL  Sannyasis And Women BY URMILA DEVI DASI EDITORIAL, Jan 5 (VNN) — Dear Bhaktiratna Sadhu Maharaja, Please accept my obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada! Thank you for your wonderful piece about renunciates (VNN story 7065), especially sannyasis, dealing with women. Whether or not all your personal rules are practical, I do not know, but it would be good to at least have a stricter standard. Incidentally, it is dangerous for the woman who does service for a sannyasi, as well. The woman often comes to see the sannyasi as a "husband figure" at least on the subtle, emotional platform. I have a question regarding the following quotes and renunciates hearing a woman's voice. I would be happy to know your answer. Clearly, men, even "stalwart Vaisnavas" hear philosophy and Bhagavatam from women Vaisnavis. We should note that there is no indication whatsoever that the men referred to here are the woman's relatives only, or grhastha men only. Prabhupada set a standard early in the movement of women lecturing on Bhagavatam and Bhagavad-gita, even with brahmacaris and sannyasis in the audience. It seems from the following that such situations would be an exception to hearing a woman's voice. And, where would the renounced men sit? "Thus the prostitute became a celebrated devotee. She became very advanced in spiritual life, and many stalwart Vaisnavas would come to see her. PURPORT Stalwart, highly advanced Vaisnava devotees are not interested in seeing prostitutes, but when a prostitute or any other fallen soul becomes a Vaisnava, stalwart Vaisnavas are interested in seeing them. Anyone can be turned into a Vaisnava if he or she follows the Vaisnava principles. A devotee who follows these principles is no longer on the material platform. Therefore, it is one's strict adherence to the principles that should be considered, not the country of one's birth. Many devotees join our Krsna consciousness movement from Europe and America, but one should not therefore consider them European Vaisnavas or American Vaisnavas. A Vaisnava is a Vaisnava and should therefore be given all the respect due a Vaisnava." CC Antya 3.142 (my comment: It would seem obvious that those who came to see her did not come to literally "see" but to hear from her. It is also noteworthy that this exalted Vaisnava was not even married or protected by any man.) "So you please continue your devotional service, cooking etc, and you can also keep giving Bhagavatam class if you like. Women in our movement can also preach very nicely. Actually male and female bodies, these are just outward designations. Lord Caitanya said that whether one is brahmana or whatever he may be if he knows the science of Krsna then he is to be accepted as guru. So one who gives class, he must read and study regularly and study the purport and realize it. Don't add anything or concoct anything, then he can preach very nicely. The qualification for leading class is how much one understands about Krsna and surrendering to the process. Not whether one is male or female." Letter to: Malati -- Bombay 25 December, 1974 "doesn't matter if boys or girls lecture in the morning. Either boys or girls may deliver lectures if they choose to. We have no distinctions of bodily designations, male or female. Krishna consciousness is on the spiritual platform." letter to Shama Dasi, October 1968 "Regarding lecturing by women devotees: I have informed you that in the service of the Lord there is no distinction of caste or creed, color, or sex. We require a person who is in the knowledge of Krishna, that is the only qualification of a person speaking. It doesn't matter what he is. Materially a woman may be less intelligent than a man, but spiritually there is no distinction. Because spiritually everyone is pure soul. In the absolute plane there is no such gradation of higher and lower. If a woman can lecture nicely and to the point, we should hear her carefully. That is our philosophy. But if a man can speak better than a woman, the man should be given first preference. But even though a woman is less intelligent, a sincere soul should be given proper chance to speak, because we want so many preachers, both men and women." Letter to Jai-Govinda in February of 1968 Your servant, Urmila devi dasi  Comment on this storyContact VNN about this storySend this story to a friend
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