Devaki dd: In these modern days of Kali Yuga, we are conditioned by the common
propaganda of men and women being equal – a very crucial misunderstanding
which leads to so many further misunderstandings and confusions. This little
article is meant to shed some light onto the topic and take us to deeper
levels of understanding.
In Bhagavad Gita Krsna explains that equality is there on the level of the
soul – not only between man and woman, but between all living entities:
panditah sama-darsinah (BG 5.18). All living entities are equal on the level
of the soul, but on the level of the body there is no equality. As the soul
accepts a body, it acts like a certain vehicle. As a little analogy we can
compare the male vehicle to a tractor: male nature is practical and down to
earth, he wants to get things done – to achieve things, to move things
forward. He wants to take charge and be in the front – the nature and
qualities of a tractor. Somebody in this world has to play this role, so
Krishna has given it to those souls in a men’s body. In Krsna’s system the
purifying duties for men are to protect, provide and take charge. And
Krishna has given men a perfect body with the right qualities and natures –
gross and subtle, so they can perfectly perform these roles.
We can compare the female vehicle to a sports-car – feminine energy is very
powerful: so much more powerful than the male energy. And sports-cars are
meant to be a little flashy and fancy – that’s the female vehicle. (And
don’t we all know: most men do like to have a sports car!) The purifying
duty of a woman is to bare children, to raise them and be a good care giver,
and to be the auspicious source of energy and inspiration to men. Prabhupada
very nicely describes this again and again in different purports in the
Bhagavatam (SB 4.26.15., 4.21.4. and others).
Sometimes we find that devotees are a little confused and object: “But isn’t
this the bodily platform?” The answer is: “No, it is not.” To distinguish
between the two vehicles is not the bodily platform – it is a sign of
intelligence. For some reason we ended up in a certain vehicle, and to
understand what kind of vehicle I am driving in this life time, and what is
it’s nature, qualities and purpose is indeed a sign of good intelligence.
Bodily platform would be if we identify with the vehicle, understanding it
to be the very self.
Because of lack of knowledge of the equality on the level of the soul, we
apply it on the level of the body, which leads to very drastic consequences.
It is the root cause of so many further misunderstanding, bringing about
social chaos. Spiritual culture is Krsna’s culture – Krishna’s perfect
system in order to create stability and harmony in this world. All our
social problems which we are facing in these modern days – inside ISKCON and
outside ISKCON – are global reactions for not following Krishna’s system.
Our disease is that we think our modern system is so much better than
Krsna’s system. We take Krsna’s system to be old-fashioned and out-dated –
who would ever accept Krsna consciousness if we present such out-dated
system?! However, as Prabhupada always says: “To every material problem
there is a spiritual solution!” All our social problems like divorce, single
mothers, neglected children, careless and irresponsible men – even child
abuse and violence towards women – are global reactions for not following
Krishna’s system. In Krishna’s system they don’t have any place. If we want
to show the world how human life is meant to be lived, it will be helpful to
get deeper insights into His divine system.
As a result of this misunderstanding of equality of men and women, we women
are competing with men and don’t agree to take the subordinate position any
longer. However, a woman can only be the energy and inspiration to men if
she takes a subordinate position. Prabhupada explains in SB.5.1.29. that men
do need this feminine energy in order to be inspired and motivated. And when
women compete, as a result men become weak and insecure, losing their
masculine qualities and becoming more feminine. In Kali Yuga men become more
irresponsible and careless, whereas women become more masculine and
dominant. Furthermore a man can only protect a woman if she takes the
subordinate position. As soon as she wants to be equal, he cannot execute
his heroic task of giving protection to her.
All these unwanted results lead to so many further problems within society.
It is like in mathematics: when we mistake one plus one to be five, all
further mathematic – no matter how highly developed it may be – is wrong,
because it is based on the wrong concept.
The mid sixties being the heights of women’s liberation and equality, Srila
Prabhupada was very often interviewed on this topic, and his usual answer
was: “Woman becomes pregnant, man cannot; how can they be equal? Can the men
be pregnant, too? Is it possible?” And further he explained: As soon as man
and woman unite, there will be a child. She will become pregnant, and thus
she will be dependent on him for support. That is Krishna’s system. So how
can there be equality? (see interview on 7.7.75)
On June 18, 1974 Srila Prabhupada says in a lecture on BG.2.13. in Germany:
“So this statement will not be very palatable to the Western girls. They
want independence. In Chicago, when I was there, they talked about
independence of the woman. They asked me question. So I replied, “No, woman
cannot be given independence.” So there was a great agitation against me. In
many papers I was very much criticized. But actually it is the fact, because
they are innocent, not so intelligent and… These are all practical. We may
avoid discussing, but Bhagavata is very open for discussing all subject
matter. That is fact. We should not hide anything artificially. We must
discuss the fact. Not only here, the mention it is, the Manu-samhita.
Manu-samhita recommends, “A woman should not be given independence.” For
their interest they must be protected by father, husband, and sons, because
if they are polluted, they become very dangerous.”
To conclude I would like to quote another clear statement which Prabhupada
made on the 27th of May, 1975 in Rome on a morning walk. Yogeshvara is
asking: “Here’s a problem. The women today want the same rights as men. How
can they be satisfied?” Prabhupada is answering: “Everything will be
satisfied. Just like our women, Krishna conscious, they are working. They
don’t want equal rights with men. It is due to Krishna consciousness. They
are cleansing the temple, they are cooking very nicely. They are satisfied.
They never say that “I have to go to Japan for preaching like Prabhupada.”
They never say. This is artificial. So Krishna consciousness means work in
his constitutional position. The women, men – when they remain in their
constitutional position, there will be no artificiali” – and then
unfortunately it becomes indistinct because of loud traffic noise, and we
don’t hear the end of the sentence. Prabhupada very clearly makes his point:
both have to be engaged according to their constitutional position. And if
our men and our ladies play their roles, then we will be able to create
harmony and stability in our society. Then Lord Caitanya’s Sankirtan
Movement will become very powerful. We will be able to show the world how
civilized and cultured human life is meant to be lived: in stability and
harmony – the solid foundation to develop our relationship with Krsna.
For further information please visit www.therootsofspiritualculture.net