c/o mayesvara dasa
Unequivocal FDG Evidence?
Once upon a time someone asked the question of it would be appropriate for a properly trained Vaishnava mataji to give Diksa initiation in ISKCON. Once the question was asked, it set the pundits off seeking an answer. What evolved since then has been basically two types of answers. One camp focused on what Srila Prabhupada said, what he did, and what his senior disciples felt he wanted for the future of ISKCON. The other camp stressed scriptural evidence, and history examples to address how ISCKON should evolve.
Every disciple understands how essential it is to follow the orders of the spiritual master. RtVik’s apply a very legalistic interpretation to the word “order,” to justify their own ambitious agendas. However, those who really want to please the spiritual master understand that pleasing him extends to doing what he wants, even if he does not end every instruction with the military refrain… “…and that’s an order!”
Many clauses have been extracted from the BBT archives where Srila Prabhupada emphatically encourage both his male and female disciples to find their dharma and perfect their life via the path of Bhakti Yoga. There are even quotes where he further confirms how both men and women are equally capable of becoming fully Krishna Conscious. These clauses have been used as evidence to endorse the idea that Srila Prabhupada wanted his qualified Vaishnavis to initiate.
The loggerheads that have evolved over the FDG appears to be so emotionally charged it is destined to create yet another massive doctrinal split in ISKCON. It is heading in the same direction as the RtVik-Charade for a very similar reason. ISKCON loyalists clearly see how the RtVik sophistry destroys the parampara. It swings open the door wide open to: “Do-It-Yourself” mayavadi interpretations and reckless speculations.
Similarly, permitting matajis to take on the karma of those they accept as disciples undermines and unnecessarily complicates the essential role women play in holding society together as attentive mothers and supportive wives.
Empathy for the Plight of ISKCON Vaishnava Women
I have always been empathetic to how some men have mistreated women thinking ISKCON gave them a license to do that which I knew was wrong. So, I have intentionally kept a distance from the FDG debate in order to allow myself the opportunity to consider both sides of this controversy to present their arguments as objectively as possible. I consider myself a dedicated “Prabhupada Man” which is a declaration of the conviction I strive to earn, although it is a title I feel overwhelmingly unqualified to claim. What I have learned from studying the behavior of ISKCON-Bashers, is how quickly they become overwhelmed by what is referred to in the secular world as the “Dunning-Kruger Effect.” (The last snare of maya in the form of an excessively egocentric and misleadingly glorious opinion of oneself.)
As much as I wish I could find the magic words to end the FDG debate, so we can all get back into our respective gosthyanandi services, I am sadly resolute to accept that the FDG controversy has already created an irreparable fracture. Unless there is a serious divine intervention, I believe it is inevitable that this will lead to another massive walk out from ISKCON. The catalyst for that is Kali’s agent Gloria Steinman, who convinced women that they should compete with men in everything without ever feeling any reason to doubt themselves. History confirms that originally many ladies welcomed the contribution Ms. Steinman made towards a more equitable treatment of women. OK. Bravo for that! However, after 45 years denouncing a woman’s natural affection towards a caring man, she herself got married which left many who supported her feeling abandoned. This sobered a lot of women up who then referred to her as a hypocrite and the reputation for destroying family values. They realized that Ms. Steinman put women in the dilemma of having to choose between raising their own children or joining the workforce so they break through the glass ceiling and compete for the title of Chief Executive Officer (CEO). Srila Prabhupada noted that some men welcomed the Woman’s Liberation Movement because it tricked the women into going to work to pay their own bills and giving sex freely under the illusion of equality without guilt! Each of us now face a similar situation. It is incumbent for each of us to ask: “What convinces me to either concur or oppose implementing the FDG’s into ISKCON.”
FDG Scriptural Evidence
Those in favor of instituting FDG have carefully studied the scriptures to find references that open the door for FDG. They offer historic examples where extraordinary women have led spiritual institutions and even initiated disciples. Yet despite these meritorious efforts, everyone must agree that historically, the role of FDG is extremely rare. These exceptions are not what has been traditionally practiced for thousands of years and it can be a very dangerous to propose that the exception should be now promoted as the new rule. The rebuttal to this line of thinking is that Srila Prabhupada took the liberty to introduce various unconventional practices in order to introduce and establish ISKCON as his gift to the world.
I have struggled with weighing the pros and cons on both sides of the FDG issue while watching from a distance to see where the debate would go. I had my own “opinions,” on this subject but so what! Everyone has their own opinions about everything and personal inuendo is tinged by our conditioning. I have been looking for more than just scriptural references to resolve this issue because Srimad Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati compared the Vedas to a kamadhenu cow. They can give you whatever you spend enough time looking for.
Preserving What Srila Prabhupada Wanted
My quest was to understand with certainty, what Srila Prabhupada’s vision was for ISKCON. Then while researching something for a new project I am currently working on, super-soul guided me to the following testimony from Revatinandana Prabhu. (Found in his memorial as preserved by Siddhanta Prabhu’s multi-volume “Memories” series.) Way before the FDG controversy became what it is today in the year 2002 Revatinandana prabhu captured the mood Srila Prabhupada had about this topic in less than 1:35 minutes. Although he asked if he would ever grant sanyasa to his female disciples, I consider his answer he got would have been even more emphatic if he inquired from His Divine Grace about blessing his female students in the service of accepting their own disciples.
Others will no-doubt spit hairs about this point and rationalize not respecting the vision Srila Prabhupada had for ISKCON as captured in this exchange. Srila Prabhupada reveled how repulsed he was about the idea of granting sanyasa to his female disciples. With that, it is very obvious to me that he would be even more reluctant to bless any of his female ISKCON students to accept their own disciples. What Revatinandana prabhu shares in this testimony was an epiphany of awareness for me on this sensitive issue. End of discussion.
Unequivocal Testimony
See:
Conclusion
What Revatinandan’s conversation reveals is that Srila Prabhupada had a very conservative vision for the future of ISKCON. The role of sanyasi requires a comprehensive understanding of scripture, a very austere lifestyle owning very little and the ability to rigorously travel and preach in a world ready to pounce on a woman whenever the opportunity arises. Srila Prabhupada had protective reasons to not expect his female disciples to take on those responsibilities and it was also evident many of his western male disciples could hardly keep such ideal standards.
The role of a diksa guru has even higher levels of sever austerities that begin with being meticulously scrutinized by everyone 24/7 who will deride and aggressively criticize a “Guru” for even the slightest display of weakness. Srila Prabhupada would never subject his female disciples to that type of vicious cut-throat daily evaluation. Living in a fishbowl is intolerable for even strong willed men to bear so how would women blessed with a much softer nature stand up to such a relentless assault?
This is a rational progression of thought which seems quite obvious and logical to me, however I anticipate there will be others who will not concur for their own reasons. There may be a few exceptional exceptions to the concerns expressed here, but radically changing a long standing tradition to accommodate such rare exceptions is the more conservative and protective way to proceed and it is always more prudent to err on the side of caution.. The fact remains that whoever takes on the service of initiating the children of Kali Yuga do so at the cost of having to take on all their karma and I am warry about anyone rushing forward demanding the right to do that service.