What’s a woman to do? (video)
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The Vedic system appears to have specific roles for men and women, and many times that’s hard to accept or follow in today’s world. At the same time, we also hear of how accommodating the spiritual path of surrender (bhakti) as proposed by HDG Srila Prabhupada actually is. He gave his female disciples many opportunities for varieties of services and made the Vedic culture relevant to today’s world.
Join us for a live conversation with HG Visakha Dasi, a disciple of HDG Srila Prabhupada to understand the following topics in greater depth.
• What is the role of women? Is it fixed for everyone?
• What’s the significance of often rejected qualities like shyness and chastity for women?
• Why should a women not be independent? Why does she need to be protected?
• We hear ‘women are generally less intelligent’? How can we make sense of that?
• Many of the roles and practices proposed for women rely heavily on the assumption and acceptance of marriage and motherhood? Why and what about those that can’t or don’t want to?
• The modern tendency is to reject traditional rules, especially those that discriminate between people (like varnashrama), assuming them to be inherently unjust. How can we understand the benefit of such separation of roles and avoid throwing the baby out with the bath water?
If you are pondering over any of these questions and have questions of your own, come join us live!
Watch it here: https://is.gd/xlavSj
Dear Visakha Prabhu and KIshori devi,
Please accept my humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada.
Yesterday I took great pleasure in hearing your wonderful exchanges and felt encouraged that with devotees like yourselves, ISKCON will survive the onslaught of Kali-yuga.
This morning I came across the following.
“O greatly fortunate one, you came under the influence of lusty desires, and therefore you could not understand the influence of Mother Sita. Now, because of her curse, you have been reduced to this state, having been killed by Lord Ramacandra.” (SB 9.10.27) In his purport to this verse, Srila Prabhupada explains that any woman who follows the example of Mother Sita’s chastity and service can attain similar power—and that, in fact, women should follow her ideal example: “Not only was Mother Sita powerful, but any woman who follows in the footsteps of Mother Sita can also become similarly powerful. There are many instances of this in the history of Vedic literature. Whenever we find a description of ideal chaste women, Mother Sita is among them. Mandodari, the wife of Ravana, was also very chaste. Similarly, Draupadi was one of five exalted chaste women. As a man must follow great personalities like Brahma and Narada, a woman must follow the path of such ideal women as Sita, Mandodari, and Draupadi. By staying chaste and faithful to her husband, a woman enriches herself with supernatural power.”
May this find you well in all respects.
Your servant,
Visakha Priya dasi