Whereas, the ICC has taken cognizance of the recent statements of Malati Devi Dasi, a member of the International ISKCON GBC, that are contrary to the teachings of Srila Prabhupada, Gaudiya Vaishnav siddhanta, and vedic literature, that teach that vaishnavas should not be identified by their bodily designations. (as per Padma Purana, Brahma Khanda 25.15-18) 1Whereas, the ICC has taken cognizance of the recent statements of Malati Devi Dasi, a member of the International ISKCON GBC, that are contrary to the teachings of Srila Prabhupada, Gaudiya Vaishnav siddhanta, and vedic literature, that teach that vaishnavas should not be identified by their bodily designations. (as per Padma Purana, Brahma Khanda 25.15-18) 1
Whereas, Malati Devi Dasi has broadcast these derogatory and offensive statements to the whole world via her comments on Facebook, that has been seen not only by many ISKCON devotees, but also by many congregational devotees, as well as leaders of the Indian/Hindu community worldwide. 2
The ICC takes note that these comments of her’s have deeply disturbed many due to their racist and xenophobic overtones, that show ISKCON in a bad light, and that have the potential of having massive adverse effects on ISKCON in India,
Whereas, her comments grossly insulted ISKCON India’s senior most leaders, many of whom are disciples of Srila Prabhupada as well as qualified second generation leaders who have been serving in ISKCON India for decades,
Whereas, the ICC is aware that Malati Devi Dasi has been engaged for years in reversing Srila Prabhupada’s many instructions that women be addressed as “mother” (mataji/mata), and advocating women be addressed as “prabhu” (a masculine word. The feminine is “prabhvi”), thus contradicting the clear teachings of Srila Prabhupada, 3
Whereas, the ICC wishes to point out that for many years, Malati Devi Dasi has been wearing saffron dress, and thus presenting herself as a sannyasini, that contradicts what Srila Prabhupada wrote in his purport to Srimad Bhagavatam 3.24.40, where he wrote that women are forbidden to take sannyas, and “must remain in the home”, 4
Whereas, the ICC notes that Malati Devi Dasi has a very chequered past, that in and of itself is a disqualification for her being a member of the GBC, 5
Whereas, the ICC notes that upon examination it may be seen that she has little to show for years of zonal oversight as a member of the GBC. We know that she was removed as the GBC for New Vrindavan, and there are very few temples that she oversees as a member of the GBC.
Therefore, the ICC feels that the most stringest action in this regard be taken by the GBC:
1. Malati Devi Dasi should be immediately suspended as a member of the GBC, pending an investigation into the above-mentioned offenses. If found guilty, she should be removed as a member of the GBC.
2. Malati Devi Dasi should be banned from representing ISKCON in any official manner whatsoever.
3. Malati Devi Dasi should be made to understand that her statements are offensive, unvaishnava, and that she should undergo a regimen of atonement and reformation.
4. The GBC should inform the entire ISKCON world that her behavior by posting her offensive comments is censurable and subject to rebuke and strictures.
5. Unless the above actions are taken, the ICC resolves to refrain from any further financial support to the International GBC, and hosting GBC meetings in India, as a first step.
Addenda: Screen shots of the offensive statements by Malati Devi Dasi as seen on Facebook
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Footnotes:
1. arcye viṣṇau śilā-dhīr guruṣu nara-matir vaiṣṇave jāti-buddhirviṣṇor vā vaiṣṇavānāṁ kali-mala-mathane pāda-tīrthe ‘mbu-buddhiḥśrī-viṣṇor nāmni mantre sakala-kaluṣa-he śabda-sāmānya-buddhirviṣṇau sarveśvareśe tad-itara-sama-dhīr yasya vā nārakī saḥ
“One who thinks the Deity in the temple to be made of wood or stone, who thinks of the spiritual master in the disciplic succession as an ordinary man, who thinks the Vaiṣṇava in the Acyuta-gotra to belong to a certain caste or creed or who thinks of caraṇāmṛta or Ganges water as ordinary water is taken to be a resident of hell.” (Padma Purāṇa, Brahma Kanda 25.15-18)
2. The offensive statements of Malati Devi Dasi that were seen on Facebook, are:
1. “Sadly, it is true that India, in general, does not have a grip on child abuse.”
2. “Sick Indian “joke”: What is a virgin? A girl who can outrun her uncle. No, not funny, but about says it all”.
3. “So we are trying for decades to deal with this push back mind set and some improvements have occurred but a lot lot lot more to go.”
4. “We are dealing with a “culture,” if you will, that is heavily indoctrinated into these men.”
5. “A few are “getting it,” after time and effort, but it’s generally an up hill battle.”
6. “The Indian Bureau, made up of powerful men who take their strangled views to a new level and up tight hold against it.”
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3. So tapaḥ. And śruta. Śruta means education. Education means Vedic education, not this electrical education. No, that is not education. Nowadays they have taken education, technology as education. That is not education. If I become an expert electrician, that is not education. Education, paṇḍita, the Cāṇakya Paṇḍita, even in the lower stage of life, ordinary life, he said who is educated, paṇḍita. He said,
mātṛvat para-dāreṣupara-dravyeṣu loṣṭravatātmavat sarva-bhūteṣuyaḥ paśyati sa paṇḍitaḥ
(Cāṇakya-śloka 10)
This is education. Where is that education? Mātṛvat para-dāreṣu: all women mother. Where is that education? There is no education. Therefore in this age practically everyone is a mūḍha, not educated. He does not know how to look upon woman. Woman should be looked as mother. Still in India, a unknown woman should be addressed, “Mother.” They have introduced now in the northern India, bahinjī (?). No, this was not the etiquette. “Mātājī.” This is Indian culture, not bahinjī(?). This has been introduced now. No. Mātrā svasrā duhitrā vā (SB 9.19.17). Woman’s connection with man is as mother, as sister or as daughter. No other relationship. This is Indian culture.
mātṛvat para-dāreṣupara-dravyeṣu loṣṭravatātmavat sarva-bhūteṣuyaḥ paśyati sa paṇḍitaḥ
(Cāṇakya-śloka 10)
This is culture. This is called śrauta.
From Srila Prabhupada’s Lecture at Mayapur on February 16, 1976
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This question was raised by Parīkṣit Mahārāja when Śukadeva Gosvāmī described the rāsa-līlā. So that . . . “Kṛṣṇa appeared on this material world,” dharma-saṁsthāpanārthāya, paritrāṇāya sādhūnām (BG 4.8), dharma-saṁsthāpanārthāya. “So why He violated these rules of dharma?” Violation because, according to Vedic civilization, nobody can mix with other’s wife or other woman. Even in moral principle, as Cāṇakya Paṇḍita said, mātṛvat para-dāreṣu: “All women should be treated just like mother.” Not like the present society. Formerly, every woman should be addressed as Mother, Mātājī. And now they have invented “Bahinjī.” No. Woman should be addressed as Mother. Mātṛvat para-dāreṣu.
from Srila Prabhupada’s lecture at Vrindavan on August 6, 1974.
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So a brahmacārī is trained in such a way that although he has collected everything, but he does not claim anything. He does not keep anything with him. Even though he has to eat in the āśrama, but that he will eat upon the calling by the guru, “My dear such and such, please come and take your prasādam.” It is said if the guru forgets to call him one day, he will not take his food. This is called brahmacārī, means strictly following. And they used to call every woman from the beginning of life “Mother.” This is training. Mātṛvat para-dāreṣu (Cāṇakya Paṇḍita). From the very beginning of life, all women they are treated as mother. That is the system, Vedic system. Everyone will call a woman as “Mother,” never mind whether she is younger or older. It doesn’t matter. Woman has to be addressed as “Mother.” That is Cāṇakya Paṇḍita’s instruction. Who is learned scholar? Who has got three qualification, he is learned scholar. What is that? Mātṛvat para-dāreṣu, “To treat all women as mother.” Nowadays it has been introduced in India, “Bahinjī.” No. This is not the etiquette. The etiquette is to address every woman, never mind whether she is young or old, as “Mother.”
From Srila Prabhupada’s lecture at Bombay on April 5, 1974
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Prabhupāda: These are all bogus things. One should train himself that matravāt para-dareṣu: all women, “my mother.” Then it will be possible to live. . . Therefore the etiquette is to address every woman, “Ma.” Ma, mother. That is the etiquette.
Brahmānanda: You say like “Mother Rukmiṇī”? There’s a devotee named Rukmiṇī. You say, “Mother Rukmiṇī”? How do you address a woman? Do you say “Mother,” and then the name of the devotee?
Prabhupāda: No. “Mother,” simply.
Brahmānanda: Just “Mother.”
Prabhupāda: Yes. They should be addressed “Mother.” That will train.
Indian man (4): In our Indian culture they don’t call the name of the mother never, children
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4. SB 3.24.40 – from the purport: “A woman is not supposed to take sannyāsa. So-called spiritual societies concocted in modern times give sannyāsa even to women, although there is no sanction in the Vedic literature for a woman’s accepting sannyāsa. Otherwise, if it were sanctioned, Kardama Muni could have taken his wife and given her sannyāsa. The woman must remain at home.”
5. She had fallen down and left ISKCON, after being in ISKCON for at least a decade. It is reported that she was a drug addict, was partnered with an ex-sannyasi, was running brothel, etc., during her time out of ISKCON.
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Their intention is to destroy ISKCON through giving bad name to the gurus, distorting the scriptures etc. and you will find that they do not follow the principles as well, otherwise how they can have such helish mentality.
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You are providing all these wonderful shastric references, which they hardly ever cared for. It is always might is right.