The vote passed and qualified Vaishnavis are finally getting the recognition they deserve to give diksa which feels surreal after all these years of back and forth conversations. I am honestly just buzzing right now (my tea is stone cold and I do not even care) because this changes everything …
May 24, 2019
Final supporters
Dear GBC Member,
Please accept our respectful obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada.
When asked whether women could be gurus, Srila Prabhupada replied, “Yes, but not many.”
After 17 years of debate, a balanced GBC committee has proposed to allow qualified Vaishnavis to give diksa in ISKCON with some restrictions.
We feel this proposal appropriately captures Srila Prabhupada’s intent.
Some sincere devotees oppose this proposal for local considerations and other reasons. We note that, even with the proposal passed, ISKCON leaders would remain empowered to nominate their preferred candidates to give diksa and to allow or prohibit anyone they choose from preaching in their local areas.
For the few senior Vaishnavis who may choose to apply, and for ISKCON in general, we applaud and support this proposal as an important way for the GBC body to express and preserve Srila Prabhupada’s love, encouragement and compassion for his 1500 spiritual daughters and countless spiritual granddaughters for generations to come. Please vote in favor of the GBC committee's proposal.
We the undersigned….
(PS: please enter your comments and name your country in the comment section as well).
Уважаемые члены GBC,
Пожалуйста, примите наши почтительные поклоны. Вся слава Шриле Прабхупаде.
На вопрос о том, могут ли женщины быть гуру, Шрила Прабхупада ответил: «Да, но не так много».
После 17 лет дебатов равноправный комитет GBC предложил разрешить квалифицированным вайшнави давать дикшу в ИСККОН с некоторыми ограничениями.
Мы считаем, что это предложение должным образом отражает намерения Шрилы Прабхупады.
Некоторые искренние преданные выступают против этого предложения по соображениям местного характера или по другим причинам. Мы отмечаем, что даже при принятом предложении лидеры ИСККОН будут по-прежнему уполномочены выдвигать своих кандидатов на дикшу и разрешать или запрещать кому-либо из уже выбранных гуру проповедовать в своих регионах.
И для немногих старших вайшнави, которые могут быть выбраны для того, чтобы подать заявление, и для ИСККОН в целом, мы приветствуем и поддерживаем это предложение как важную возможность Джи-би-си выразить и сохранить любовь, поддержку и сострадание Шрилы Прабхупады к его 1500 духовным дочерям и бесчисленным духовным внучкам в будущих поколениях. Пожалуйста, проголосуйте за предложение комитета GBC.
Мы, нижеподписавшиеся….
(PS: пожалуйста, введите ваши комментарии и укажите свою страну в разделе комментариев).
Updates
March 3, 2019
I logged on to find that we actually passed the one hundred mark which honestly feels surreal because I was just staring at the screen wondering if anyone else felt the same way as me about this proposal. It is really moving to see so many names piling up since I honestly thought I was the only one worried about getting this out there.
Reached 1,000 supporters
March 3, 2019
March 2, 2019
Seeing this momentum build up honestly leaves me reeling because I remember when this felt like a distant conversation meant for a far off future. It truly blows my mind how many people are resonating with this call to honor Srila Prabhupada's vision and honestly I am just sitting here reading your comments and feeling so much gratitude for everyone who keeps bringing this up in their own circles.
March 2, 2019
I keep refreshing the page seeing those numbers climb closer to a thousand and it feels like we are finally moving somewhere real. If you know anyone who hasn't seen this yet just send them the link right now because we really need that extra energy to keep the momentum going before the GBC meeting happens.
Reached 100 supporters
March 2, 2019
739 Comments
It is my deep desire that myself and many, many more devotees will have the opportunity to take Diksa initiation from the spirit souls whom Krishna has already connected us to, regardless of whatever material body they inhabit.
Of course women should be allowed to offer diksa. I've sat in classes given by Vaishnavi who are as learned and inspirational and their male counterpart. I am confident Srila Prabhupada would give them his blessing. Srila Prabhupada ki jai!
Some Women will feel comfortable to serve and take advice from woman guru. women can deal better with emotional people. Also to find a woman renounced and detached from her family is hard. Any way all women should learn how attachment is the cause of all their miseries.
I resently read PREMA VILASA by Nityananda das who was traveling with Nityananda Prahus wife Jahnavi Mata and she were His Guru and first of all instructed Him to write this awesome book, which will make all Vaisnavas cry. So therefore - no question
Following the guidance of Srila Rupa Gosvami, please uncover Bhakti Devi from the influence of karma (varnasrama) thus allowing Her full potency to continue to flood the world with the mercy of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu freed from material, bodily designations.
I've seen so much discrimination by devotee men towards devotee women and I imagine it's down to identification with the body. That, in itself, will take time to purify, each one of us doing this in different stages, and lifetimes. Therefore, surely it would behoove us just to accept Srila Prabhupada's instructions and 'do the needful'?
If Srila Prabhupada would approve of this we all would have to agree. There are quotes from Prabhupada on both sides of the issue, so it's something the GBC have grappled with for many years. From statements in sastras Narada Pancaratra and Bharadvaja-samhita, only women who are siddha, or attained the stage of bhava are eligible to become diksa gurus. Women are singled out that way. While Prabhupada made adjustments to spread Krishna consciousness in the western world, are there instances where he went against conclusions in the sastras? I asked a senior devotee about this and he gave no reply. From the Nectar of Devotion there are principles of devotional service which are never to be changed, and then there are details which are changeable. In my view what is stated in scripture as a standard is not something which is changeable.
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The vote passed and qualified Vaishnavis are finally getting the recognition they deserve to give diksa which feels surreal after all these years of back and forth conversations. I am honestly just buzzing right now (my tea is stone cold and I do not even care) because this changes everything …
May 24, 2019
Final supporters
Dear GBC Member,
Please accept our respectful obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada.
When asked whether women could be gurus, Srila Prabhupada replied, “Yes, but not many.”
After 17 years of debate, a balanced GBC committee has proposed to allow qualified Vaishnavis to give diksa in ISKCON with some restrictions.
We feel this proposal appropriately captures Srila Prabhupada’s intent.
Some sincere devotees oppose this proposal for local considerations and other reasons. We note that, even with the proposal passed, ISKCON leaders would remain empowered to nominate their preferred candidates to give diksa and to allow or prohibit anyone they choose from preaching in their local areas.
For the few senior Vaishnavis who may choose to apply, and for ISKCON in general, we applaud and support this proposal as an important way for the GBC body to express and preserve Srila Prabhupada’s love, encouragement and compassion for his 1500 spiritual daughters and countless spiritual granddaughters for generations to come. Please vote in favor of the GBC committee's proposal.
We the undersigned….
(PS: please enter your comments and name your country in the comment section as well).
Уважаемые члены GBC,
Пожалуйста, примите наши почтительные поклоны. Вся слава Шриле Прабхупаде.
На вопрос о том, могут ли женщины быть гуру, Шрила Прабхупада ответил: «Да, но не так много».
После 17 лет дебатов равноправный комитет GBC предложил разрешить квалифицированным вайшнави давать дикшу в ИСККОН с некоторыми ограничениями.
Мы считаем, что это предложение должным образом отражает намерения Шрилы Прабхупады.
Некоторые искренние преданные выступают против этого предложения по соображениям местного характера или по другим причинам. Мы отмечаем, что даже при принятом предложении лидеры ИСККОН будут по-прежнему уполномочены выдвигать своих кандидатов на дикшу и разрешать или запрещать кому-либо из уже выбранных гуру проповедовать в своих регионах.
И для немногих старших вайшнави, которые могут быть выбраны для того, чтобы подать заявление, и для ИСККОН в целом, мы приветствуем и поддерживаем это предложение как важную возможность Джи-би-си выразить и сохранить любовь, поддержку и сострадание Шрилы Прабхупады к его 1500 духовным дочерям и бесчисленным духовным внучкам в будущих поколениях. Пожалуйста, проголосуйте за предложение комитета GBC.
Мы, нижеподписавшиеся….
(PS: пожалуйста, введите ваши комментарии и укажите свою страну в разделе комментариев).
Updates
March 3, 2019
I logged on to find that we actually passed the one hundred mark which honestly feels surreal because I was just staring at the screen wondering if anyone else felt the same way as me about this proposal. It is really moving to see so many names piling up since I honestly thought I was the only one worried about getting this out there.
Reached 1,000 supporters
March 3, 2019
March 2, 2019
Seeing this momentum build up honestly leaves me reeling because I remember when this felt like a distant conversation meant for a far off future. It truly blows my mind how many people are resonating with this call to honor Srila Prabhupada's vision and honestly I am just sitting here reading your comments and feeling so much gratitude for everyone who keeps bringing this up in their own circles.
March 2, 2019
I keep refreshing the page seeing those numbers climb closer to a thousand and it feels like we are finally moving somewhere real. If you know anyone who hasn't seen this yet just send them the link right now because we really need that extra energy to keep the momentum going before the GBC meeting happens.
Reached 100 supporters
March 2, 2019
739 Comments
Estoy de acuerdo con que devotas calificadas den diksa, pues hombres y mujeres tienen la misma capacidad de guiar, sentir, empatizar y equivocarse. Además pienso que es una alternativa que hace mucho se debió haber aprobado.
It is my deep desire that myself and many, many more devotees will have the opportunity to take Diksa initiation from the spirit souls whom Krishna has already connected us to, regardless of whatever material body they inhabit.
Of course women should be allowed to offer diksa. I've sat in classes given by Vaishnavi who are as learned and inspirational and their male counterpart. I am confident Srila Prabhupada would give them his blessing. Srila Prabhupada ki jai!
Some Women will feel comfortable to serve and take advice from woman guru. women can deal better with emotional people. Also to find a woman renounced and detached from her family is hard. Any way all women should learn how attachment is the cause of all their miseries.
I resently read PREMA VILASA by Nityananda das who was traveling with Nityananda Prahus wife Jahnavi Mata and she were His Guru and first of all instructed Him to write this awesome book, which will make all Vaisnavas cry. So therefore - no question
Following the guidance of Srila Rupa Gosvami, please uncover Bhakti Devi from the influence of karma (varnasrama) thus allowing Her full potency to continue to flood the world with the mercy of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu freed from material, bodily designations.
I've seen so much discrimination by devotee men towards devotee women and I imagine it's down to identification with the body. That, in itself, will take time to purify, each one of us doing this in different stages, and lifetimes. Therefore, surely it would behoove us just to accept Srila Prabhupada's instructions and 'do the needful'?
If Srila Prabhupada would approve of this we all would have to agree. There are quotes from Prabhupada on both sides of the issue, so it's something the GBC have grappled with for many years. From statements in sastras Narada Pancaratra and Bharadvaja-samhita, only women who are siddha, or attained the stage of bhava are eligible to become diksa gurus. Women are singled out that way. While Prabhupada made adjustments to spread Krishna consciousness in the western world, are there instances where he went against conclusions in the sastras? I asked a senior devotee about this and he gave no reply. From the Nectar of Devotion there are principles of devotional service which are never to be changed, and then there are details which are changeable. In my view what is stated in scripture as a standard is not something which is changeable.
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Estoy de acuerdo con que devotas calificadas den diksa, pues hombres y mujeres tienen la misma capacidad de guiar, sentir, empatizar y equivocarse. Además pienso que es una alternativa que hace mucho se debió haber aprobado.