Cults & Society
 Department: Group Report
__________________________________________________
Featured Group Report

Hare Krishna: women
  
 
   
 
     

3/12

Participation, Protection and Patriarchy: An International Model for the Role of Women in ISKCON

Radha Devi Dasi

[continued]

Human Rights Law and Vaishnava philosophy 

International Law is a particularly useful tool for ISKCON because there is a theoretical similarity between Human Rights Law and our own scripture.  That similarity is in the idea of equality.  In a sense, it is ironic for members of ISKCON to discuss equality between men and women because so often equality does not occur in practice. However, the principle of spiritual equality is undoubtedly described in our scriptures.  There is a similar concept in International Law. International Human Rights Law rests on the principle that everyone is entitled to certain fundamental things because all human beings share the same essence, and that essence is somehow sacred.[i]   This fundamental principle is also described in our own scripture.  Krishna goes even a little further in the Bhagavad-gita when he says that the enlightened sage sees a brahmin, a cow, an elephant, a dog and a dog eater with equal vision.[ii]  In the related purport, Shrila Prabhupada explains that this equal vision arises from the fact that all living entities have the same essence and we all have the same relationship to Krishna.[iii]  There is, thus, an obvious philosophical basis on which to compare our scripture and International Human Rights Law.   

Despite this fundamental teaching, we have not yet accepted this principle of equality in our society.  There is a feeling in ISKCON that souls in women’s bodies are not equal, but suffer instead from serious mental and emotional deficits.  We are seen as being less intelligent, untrustworthy, and over emotional.  Jyotirmayi Devi Dasi described thoroughly in her paper, "Women in ISKCON in Shrila Prabhupada’s Times,"[iv] all of these misconceptions about women and explained through Shrila Prabhupada’s own writings exactly why they are misconceptions. 

A very brief examination of Shrila Prabhupada’s statements reveals that he did not view his female disciples as being less intelligent or less able than his male disciples.  In the Caitanya Caritamrita, Shrila Prabhupada described his disciples, saying, " . . . both boys and girls are being trained to become preachers . . . these girls are not ordinary girls, but are as good as their brothers who are preaching Krishna consciousness."[v]  Shrila Prabhupada made a similar statement about equality between Vaishnavas and Vaishnavis in a lecture in which he described how women, vaishyas and sudras are transformed through Krishna consciousness: 

[It is] Not that even though they become interested they keep behind.  No . . . with equal force with men, they also promoted.  So Kunti, out of her humbleness, meekness, she is presenting herself that ‘We are women, striya’. But she’s not ordinary woman.  She’s devotee.  Similarly, any devotee woman is as good as Kunti.[vi]

1/12 < > 12/12
______________________________________________ ^
 

Cults & Society
 Department: Group Report
__________________________________________________
Featured Group Report

Hare Krishna: women
  
 
   
 
     

3/12

Participation, Protection and Patriarchy: An International Model for the Role of Women in ISKCON

Radha Devi Dasi

[continued]

Human Rights Law and Vaishnava philosophy 

International Law is a particularly useful tool for ISKCON because there is a theoretical similarity between Human Rights Law and our own scripture.  That similarity is in the idea of equality.  In a sense, it is ironic for members of ISKCON to discuss equality between men and women because so often equality does not occur in practice. However, the principle of spiritual equality is undoubtedly described in our scriptures.  There is a similar concept in International Law. International Human Rights Law rests on the principle that everyone is entitled to certain fundamental things because all human beings share the same essence, and that essence is somehow sacred.[i]   This fundamental principle is also described in our own scripture.  Krishna goes even a little further in the Bhagavad-gita when he says that the enlightened sage sees a brahmin, a cow, an elephant, a dog and a dog eater with equal vision.[ii]  In the related purport, Shrila Prabhupada explains that this equal vision arises from the fact that all living entities have the same essence and we all have the same relationship to Krishna.[iii]  There is, thus, an obvious philosophical basis on which to compare our scripture and International Human Rights Law.   

Despite this fundamental teaching, we have not yet accepted this principle of equality in our society.  There is a feeling in ISKCON that souls in women’s bodies are not equal, but suffer instead from serious mental and emotional deficits.  We are seen as being less intelligent, untrustworthy, and over emotional.  Jyotirmayi Devi Dasi described thoroughly in her paper, "Women in ISKCON in Shrila Prabhupada’s Times,"[iv] all of these misconceptions about women and explained through Shrila Prabhupada’s own writings exactly why they are misconceptions. 

A very brief examination of Shrila Prabhupada’s statements reveals that he did not view his female disciples as being less intelligent or less able than his male disciples.  In the Caitanya Caritamrita, Shrila Prabhupada described his disciples, saying, " . . . both boys and girls are being trained to become preachers . . . these girls are not ordinary girls, but are as good as their brothers who are preaching Krishna consciousness."[v]  Shrila Prabhupada made a similar statement about equality between Vaishnavas and Vaishnavis in a lecture in which he described how women, vaishyas and sudras are transformed through Krishna consciousness: 

[It is] Not that even though they become interested they keep behind.  No . . . with equal force with men, they also promoted.  So Kunti, out of her humbleness, meekness, she is presenting herself that ‘We are women, striya’. But she’s not ordinary woman.  She’s devotee.  Similarly, any devotee woman is as good as Kunti.[vi]

1/12 < > 12/12
______________________________________________ ^
 

Cults & Society
 Department: Group Report
__________________________________________________
Featured Group Report

Hare Krishna: women
  
 
   
 
     

3/12

Participation, Protection and Patriarchy: An International Model for the Role of Women in ISKCON

Radha Devi Dasi

[continued]

Human Rights Law and Vaishnava philosophy 

International Law is a particularly useful tool for ISKCON because there is a theoretical similarity between Human Rights Law and our own scripture.  That similarity is in the idea of equality.  In a sense, it is ironic for members of ISKCON to discuss equality between men and women because so often equality does not occur in practice. However, the principle of spiritual equality is undoubtedly described in our scriptures.  There is a similar concept in International Law. International Human Rights Law rests on the principle that everyone is entitled to certain fundamental things because all human beings share the same essence, and that essence is somehow sacred.[i]   This fundamental principle is also described in our own scripture.  Krishna goes even a little further in the Bhagavad-gita when he says that the enlightened sage sees a brahmin, a cow, an elephant, a dog and a dog eater with equal vision.[ii]  In the related purport, Shrila Prabhupada explains that this equal vision arises from the fact that all living entities have the same essence and we all have the same relationship to Krishna.[iii]  There is, thus, an obvious philosophical basis on which to compare our scripture and International Human Rights Law.   

Despite this fundamental teaching, we have not yet accepted this principle of equality in our society.  There is a feeling in ISKCON that souls in women’s bodies are not equal, but suffer instead from serious mental and emotional deficits.  We are seen as being less intelligent, untrustworthy, and over emotional.  Jyotirmayi Devi Dasi described thoroughly in her paper, "Women in ISKCON in Shrila Prabhupada’s Times,"[iv] all of these misconceptions about women and explained through Shrila Prabhupada’s own writings exactly why they are misconceptions. 

A very brief examination of Shrila Prabhupada’s statements reveals that he did not view his female disciples as being less intelligent or less able than his male disciples.  In the Caitanya Caritamrita, Shrila Prabhupada described his disciples, saying, " . . . both boys and girls are being trained to become preachers . . . these girls are not ordinary girls, but are as good as their brothers who are preaching Krishna consciousness."[v]  Shrila Prabhupada made a similar statement about equality between Vaishnavas and Vaishnavis in a lecture in which he described how women, vaishyas and sudras are transformed through Krishna consciousness: 

[It is] Not that even though they become interested they keep behind.  No . . . with equal force with men, they also promoted.  So Kunti, out of her humbleness, meekness, she is presenting herself that ‘We are women, striya’. But she’s not ordinary woman.  She’s devotee.  Similarly, any devotee woman is as good as Kunti.[vi]

1/12 < > 12/12
______________________________________________ ^