If the last Prabhupada disciple was a women, and someone wanted to take shelter but no they cant because she's a woman, what a waste that would be. There is nowhere in sastra which categorically, and directly says no to female gurus. The criterion for guru has never been male, no where does it say that the requirment to be guru is a male body. Indeed the requirments can apply to both men and women because they are centred around ones ability to be both self controled and a knower of the scoence of Krishna.
Jaya Prabhupada
K
Kunti dd
7 years ago
I strongly support this petition. I feel it is long overdue. The principle is we are not the body. We are spirit soul.
C
Chaitanya Gosai Dasa Vanachary HDG
7 years ago
Krishna consciousness is, really, a spiritual science, completely above material concepts of life, like gender, race, etc.
S
Sankarsana Das
7 years ago
Reply to Pancaratna prabhu: When women are placed in prominent leadership positions such as temple presidents, GBCs, and diksa gurus, they are forced to interact with men by those roles, thus setting the example of increased or free mixing between the sexes. This is unavoidable. As siksa gurus to other women free mixing is not being demonstrated or practiced. Women who distrust men in general can take formal diksa from a man and take primary spiritual guidance from a woman as a diksa guru. Following what is revealed in sastra (detailed in siddhanta.com for reference), women diksa gurus is a rarity reserved for liberated women of the highest perfected status such as the wife of Lord Nityananda, Jahnava Thukurani.
L
Lina Lukaseviciute
7 years ago
United Kingdom
C
Chris Downes
7 years ago
United States
J
Jaya Lalita-devi dasi
7 years ago
Trinidad & Tobago
N
Narada muni dasa
7 years ago
Srila Prabhupada would approve this in my humble opinion
K
Krsna Bhamini- ACBSP
7 years ago
Definitely this should be instituted if Any Vaisnavi is Spiritually qualified.
S
Saheli Datta Rupamanjari Dasi
7 years ago
There are many incredibly elevated Vaishnavi disciples of Srila Prabhupad who have perfectly served for decades. They consistently, frequently turn away aspiring initiates out of humble reluctance deference to the unity of the society. This is only further proof of their qualification. Preventing them from satisfying the sincere spiritual quest of young aspiring devotees is increasingly becoming an obstacle for those devotees. Putting obstacles in the path of sincere seeker, especially in a mood of deprecation of a Vaishnavi's qualifications, is not good for the overall spiritual health of the society. Rectifying this situation will inject the society with a Renaissance of flourishing service and preaching of Mahaprabhu's mission and Srila Prabhupad's teachings. Please allow his senior daughters to do this last great service before it's too late.
B
Braja Lal Weld
7 years ago
New Zealand.
M
Maha Visnu Das
7 years ago
Hari Hari. I support female diksha gurus. However, I believe it is largely secondary in the spiritual growth of the ISKCON. What I find to be of much greater consequence and detriment to the health of ISKCON as an institution, as well the individual devotees, is the haphazard manner that diksha initiation is bestowed altogether. Regardless, in my opinion, of whether the diksha guru is male or female what is of far more importance is the qualification of aspiring diksha disciples. This is of far greater concern. The elephant in the room is that the vast majority of the newly initiated do not keep their vows for the rest of their lives. These vows have been made before Krishna and the entire parampara. This is very serious and is the very definition of vaisnava aparadha. Furthermore, we have not honestly addressed the issue of brahmacarya/illicit sex as it pertains to grihastas. We are all well aware of this and yet we tacitly turn a blind eye to it and continue initiating aspiring vaisnavas knowing full well that the vast majority simple cannot keep all the vows they are taking. We are setting them up for failure in the worst way. 1) Diksha initiation should be awarded with the same stringency as sannyasa. 2) Only Vanaprasthas (50+ years) devotees can take diksha; when physiological, financial, familial, and social pressures and obligations are minimal. 3) Switch to a formalized Shiksha initiation process that is available to people of all ages and all walks of life. Such shiksha initiated devotees can receive a Sanskrit name; vow to refrain from meat-eating and alcohol; vow to chant 1-3 rounds daily; and be allowed to engage in auxiliary deity worship activities. Initiating more unqualified, though sincere, aspiring vaisnavas is doing them, Srila Prabhupada, and the future of ISKCON a grave injustice and disservice. Whether the diksha guru is male or female, qualified or unqualified is secondary if the disciples being initiated cannot and are not keeping their vows.
F
Frances Beirne
7 years ago
It's very clear that the GBC members/ males , should vote to allow qualified females to be able to give diksa to devotees in ISKCON . Hare Krishna
N
Narahari
7 years ago
Hare Krishna
A
Anonymous
7 years ago
yes. in favour
G
Gopi dasi
7 years ago
It just seems logical that if a soul has the qualifications, regardless of the body they are wearing, that they be allowed the opportunity to express their love and dedication to Srila Prabhupada and Lord Caitanya by serving in this way. Especially considering the need to expand this movement in every way possible and, the glaring global need for Prabhupada's evocative solution to be heard.
Hare Krishna
Brasil
If the last Prabhupada disciple was a women, and someone wanted to take shelter but no they cant because she's a woman, what a waste that would be. There is nowhere in sastra which categorically, and directly says no to female gurus. The criterion for guru has never been male, no where does it say that the requirment to be guru is a male body. Indeed the requirments can apply to both men and women because they are centred around ones ability to be both self controled and a knower of the scoence of Krishna. Jaya Prabhupada
I strongly support this petition. I feel it is long overdue. The principle is we are not the body. We are spirit soul.
Krishna consciousness is, really, a spiritual science, completely above material concepts of life, like gender, race, etc.
Reply to Pancaratna prabhu: When women are placed in prominent leadership positions such as temple presidents, GBCs, and diksa gurus, they are forced to interact with men by those roles, thus setting the example of increased or free mixing between the sexes. This is unavoidable. As siksa gurus to other women free mixing is not being demonstrated or practiced. Women who distrust men in general can take formal diksa from a man and take primary spiritual guidance from a woman as a diksa guru. Following what is revealed in sastra (detailed in siddhanta.com for reference), women diksa gurus is a rarity reserved for liberated women of the highest perfected status such as the wife of Lord Nityananda, Jahnava Thukurani.
United Kingdom
United States
Trinidad & Tobago
Srila Prabhupada would approve this in my humble opinion
Definitely this should be instituted if Any Vaisnavi is Spiritually qualified.
There are many incredibly elevated Vaishnavi disciples of Srila Prabhupad who have perfectly served for decades. They consistently, frequently turn away aspiring initiates out of humble reluctance deference to the unity of the society. This is only further proof of their qualification. Preventing them from satisfying the sincere spiritual quest of young aspiring devotees is increasingly becoming an obstacle for those devotees. Putting obstacles in the path of sincere seeker, especially in a mood of deprecation of a Vaishnavi's qualifications, is not good for the overall spiritual health of the society. Rectifying this situation will inject the society with a Renaissance of flourishing service and preaching of Mahaprabhu's mission and Srila Prabhupad's teachings. Please allow his senior daughters to do this last great service before it's too late.
New Zealand.
Hari Hari. I support female diksha gurus. However, I believe it is largely secondary in the spiritual growth of the ISKCON. What I find to be of much greater consequence and detriment to the health of ISKCON as an institution, as well the individual devotees, is the haphazard manner that diksha initiation is bestowed altogether. Regardless, in my opinion, of whether the diksha guru is male or female what is of far more importance is the qualification of aspiring diksha disciples. This is of far greater concern. The elephant in the room is that the vast majority of the newly initiated do not keep their vows for the rest of their lives. These vows have been made before Krishna and the entire parampara. This is very serious and is the very definition of vaisnava aparadha. Furthermore, we have not honestly addressed the issue of brahmacarya/illicit sex as it pertains to grihastas. We are all well aware of this and yet we tacitly turn a blind eye to it and continue initiating aspiring vaisnavas knowing full well that the vast majority simple cannot keep all the vows they are taking. We are setting them up for failure in the worst way. 1) Diksha initiation should be awarded with the same stringency as sannyasa. 2) Only Vanaprasthas (50+ years) devotees can take diksha; when physiological, financial, familial, and social pressures and obligations are minimal. 3) Switch to a formalized Shiksha initiation process that is available to people of all ages and all walks of life. Such shiksha initiated devotees can receive a Sanskrit name; vow to refrain from meat-eating and alcohol; vow to chant 1-3 rounds daily; and be allowed to engage in auxiliary deity worship activities. Initiating more unqualified, though sincere, aspiring vaisnavas is doing them, Srila Prabhupada, and the future of ISKCON a grave injustice and disservice. Whether the diksha guru is male or female, qualified or unqualified is secondary if the disciples being initiated cannot and are not keeping their vows.
It's very clear that the GBC members/ males , should vote to allow qualified females to be able to give diksa to devotees in ISKCON . Hare Krishna
Hare Krishna
yes. in favour
It just seems logical that if a soul has the qualifications, regardless of the body they are wearing, that they be allowed the opportunity to express their love and dedication to Srila Prabhupada and Lord Caitanya by serving in this way. Especially considering the need to expand this movement in every way possible and, the glaring global need for Prabhupada's evocative solution to be heard.
Woman power
Hare Krishna