This short essay is in response to a recent decision by the ISKCON International Governing Body (GBC) in the matter of supporting, allowing, instituting, establishing, and blessing female diksha gurus in the ISKCON Hare Krishna Movement. In the GBC resolution authorizing female diksha gurus, it is written: “The GBC BodyContinue Reading
I have always been a faithful ISKCON follower. Over the years I have waited patiently, observing occasional mistakes made by ISKCON’s Governing Body Commission (GBC). Discovering that after many years of holding the line against introducing leftist feminist ideology into ISKCON, that the GBC finally caved-in to pressure to authorizeContinue Reading
My most sincere obeisance. Kindly bless me to someday approach bhakti marg. All glories to Srila Prabhupada. Being further requested to expand on my earlier appeal for ‘due diligence and due process’, I had already indicated that the history of our GBC dealing with important issues is not encouraging, toContinue Reading
Godbrother: Today, armchair observers may agree or disagree. But we who preach to Westerners every day know that what Srila Prabhupada did in America still works, and imposing Vedic social constructs does not. Outside studies affirm that today’s Western youth largely judge religious organizations by how they treat women. BasuContinue Reading
The following is a thread of quotes and ideas which ties together several aspects of approaching a guru and taking initiation. It’s by no means complete, but if one insists on a different understanding it should be kept in mind that quotes given here should also be accommodated and notContinue Reading
Haribol Prabhus! Please accept my humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada! Yes, we are JIVAS, we are not the body. We are equal. But it would be better not to approach a tiger to explain this philosophical point! WE ARE EQUAL in the sense that both men and womenContinue Reading
To all who aspire to serve and those who do serve Srila Prabhupada, My sincere obeisance. I have been reflecting on the FDG issue, which some of you are currently debating with a majority of our GBC Godbrothers and feel that understanding of any such issue requires it firstly toContinue Reading
Dear Godbrother Prabhu, Namonamaha. Jaya Srila Prabhupada! Received your message. Godbrother: Now, India is flourishing and America is struggling. When we in America who are still managing to reach Americans ask our Indian brothers to allow us to do what works (both for Srila Prabhupada and us) in America, we are told we areContinue Reading
Dear Godbrother Prabhu, Namonamaha. Jaya Srila Prabhupada! Received your message: Godbrother: These days it is rare that young people in North America join ISKCON.The first Navadwip Parikrama that I attended in 1975 was nearly all Americans, with a smattering of Europeans and Australians. A couple of years ago, out of 9000 participants, onlyContinue Reading
7. But there are so many Vaiṣṇavī gurus in the Gauḍīya sampradāya. What about that? In an interview, Śrīla Prabhupāda’s godbrother B.R. Śrīdhara Mahārāja said that female ācāryas, dīkṣā-gurus, are “very rare.” Mahārāja further added, “The number can be counted on fingers, lady ācāryas.” 8. Indeed, the few examples of lady ācāryas in Gauḍīya VaiṣṇavismContinue Reading