Section B - Survey Questions
Please indicate your degree of agreement with the following statements.
The GBC came to a decision after studying the Founder-Ācārya’s teachings, which include the following exchange (reproduced here so that the context and sequence are clear), Śrīla Prabhupāda clearly says there that women could be gurus "in the line of disciplic succession." He also reiterates the "kṛṣṇa-tattva-vettā" principle:" man or woman . . . yei kṛṣṇa-tattva-vettā sei guru haya (CC Madhya 8.128) . . . Then he or she can become guru."
Please read it carefully and then rate your agreement with the statement at the end.
The following is an audio excerpt of Śrīla Prabhupāda’s interview with Professor O’Connell and others (June 18, 1976 – Toronto, Canada).
Interview with Professors O'Connell - June 18, 1976, Toronto:
Following is the transcription of the above audio clip.
Guest: Swāmījī, would you say something about the place of women in your movement?
Prabhupāda: There is no distinction between man and woman. That is clearly said in the Bhagavad-gītā. Māṁ hi pārtha vyapāśritya ye 'pi syuḥ pāpā-yonayaḥ striyo śūdrās tathā vaiśyāḥ (BG 9.32). The first is mentioned, striya. Striyaḥ śūdrās tathā vaiśyāḥ. These classes are understood to be less intelligent—woman, śūdra and the vaiśyas. But Kṛṣṇa says, "No, even for them it is open." Because in the spiritual platform there is no such distinction, man, woman, or black, white, or big or small. No. Everyone is spirit soul. Paṇḍitāḥ sama-darśinaḥ (BG 5.18). Vidyā-vinaya-sampanne brāhmaṇe gavi hastini śuni caiva śva-pāke ca paṇḍitāḥ (BG 5.18). One who is actually learned, he is sama-darśinaḥ. He does not make any distinction. But so far our material body is concerned, there must be some distinction for keeping the society in order.
Guest: The women could become paṇḍitas, then.
Prabhupāda: Oh, yes. Te 'pi yānti parāṁ gatim. Not only become, she can also attain perfection. There is no such restriction. Kṛṣṇa said.
Guest: Do you have any paṇḍitas in the Western movement, women?
Prabhupāda: There are so many Western woman, girls, in our society. They are chanting, dancing, taking to Kṛṣṇa consciousness. Many. Of course, because superficially, bodily, there is some distinction, so we keep women separately from men, that's all. Otherwise, the rights are the same.
Professor O'Connell: Is it possible, Swāmījī, for a woman to be a guru in the line of disciplic succession?
Prabhupāda: Yes. Jāhnavā devī was—Nityānanda's wife. She became. If she is able to go to the highest perfection of life, why it is not possible to become guru? But, not so many. Actually, one who has attained the perfection, she can become guru. But man or woman, unless one has attained the perfection... yei kṛṣṇa-tattva-vettā sei guru haya (CC Madhya 8.128). The qualification of guru is that he must be fully cognizant of the science of Kṛṣṇa. Then he or she can become guru. Yei kṛṣṇa-tattva-vettā, sei guru haya. (break) In our material world, is it any prohibition that woman cannot become professor? If she is qualified, she can become professor. What is the wrong there? She must be qualified. That is the position. So similarly, if the woman understands Kṛṣṇa consciousness perfectly, she can become guru.
The GBC resolution (passed on Oct 2019) states that: "Vaiṣṇavīs are eligible to give dīkṣā in ISKCON provided that they:" - the resolution then lists four prerequisites. Please indicate your level of agreement with each of four conditions:
The GBC resolution came with the following "Statement on the Resolution Allowing Vaiṣṇavīs to Serve as Dīkṣā-gurus in ISKCON." Please read it carefully and then express your degree of agreement with this GBC statement.
ISKCON Governing Body Commission
“Just adhere yourself to the lotus feet of Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu. Then you become spiritual master. That’s all. So I hope that all of you, men, women, boys and girls, become spiritual master and follow this principle. Spiritual master — simply, sincerely, follow the principles and speak to the general public. Then Kṛṣṇa immediately becomes your favorite. Kṛṣṇa does not become your favorite; you become Kṛṣṇa’s favorite. (…) So if you want to become recognized by Kṛṣṇa very quickly, you take up this process of becoming spiritual master, present the Bhagavad-gita as it is, your life is perfect.” (Śrī Vyāsa-pūjā Lecture — August 22, 1973, London)
“… as far as Kṛṣṇa consciousness is concerned, everyone is capable of becoming a spiritual master because knowledge in Kṛṣṇa consciousness is on the platform of the spirit soul. (…) The word guru is equally applicable to the vartma-pradarśaka-guru, śikṣā-guru and dīkṣā-guru . Unless we accept the principle enunciated by Sri Caitanya Mahāprabhu, this Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement cannot spread all over the world”. (Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 8.128 purport)
On October 15, 2019, the Governing Body Commission of the International Society for Kṛṣṇa Consciousness (GBC) at their mid-term general meeting passed a resolution allowing, under certain conditions, mature and qualified Vaiṣṇavīs to serve as dīkṣā-gurus in ISKCON.
The primary bases for this decision are the expressed desires and instructions on guru qualifications of ISKCON’s Founder-Ācārya His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedānta Swami Prabhupāda.
This resolution concludes over 15 years of the GBC’s thorough research and in-depth discussions of:
• the letter and spirit of Śrīla Prabhupāda’s numerous instructions on the subject of the importance and qualifications of various types of spiritual masters for ISKCON as a worldwide movement;
• Śrīla Prabhupāda’s expressed desire that all his “sons and daughters” become spiritual masters;
• Śrīla Prabhupāda’s well-documented personal dealings with and engagement of his female disciples in various roles of spiritual responsibility;
• Śrīla Prabhupāda’s approach to the balance between spiritual and societal roles of Vaiṣṇavas and Vaiṣṇavīs in the context of pure devotional service;
• as appropriate, the broader historical and śāstric evidence in regards to dīkṣā in Lord Caitanya’s Gauḍīyā-Vaiṣṇava sampradāya.
While Śrīla Prabhupāda indicated that Vaiṣṇavī spiritual masters had been historically “not so many”, he also taught that the service of dīkṣā-guru required an equally advanced level of Kṛṣṇa consciousness for both genders that is achievable by strictly following the authorized devotional practices he prescribed.
At the same time, Śrīla Prabhupāda severely criticized and warned against bodily and mundane considerations in regard to the role and eligibility of dīkṣā-guru — whether in the form of casteism, selfish motives for profit, adoration or distinction, or as conformity to social, cultural or modern trends and artificial “equality”:
“…Generally a spiritual master who constantly instructs a disciple in spiritual science becomes his initiating spiritual master later on. (…) Sri Jiva Gosvami advises that one not accept a spiritual master in terms of hereditary or customary social and ecclesiastical conventions. One should simply try to find a genuinely qualified spiritual master for actual advancement in spiritual understanding”.
We, the GBC, are convinced that Śrīla Prabhupāda by his devotional potency and perfect guidance continues to empower many devotees, men and women alike, to properly follow and represent his teachings in the mission of spreading Kṛṣṇa Consciousness; and that some of them thus become competent to solidify their śikṣā by giving dīkṣā as faithful representatives of Śrīla Prabhupāda.
We recognize that some members and friends of ISKCON may object to this resolution based on their own reading of śāstra, their own social experiences, or deeply held Vaiṣṇava convictions. At the same time, and on the same basis, others will think this resolution does not go far enough or that the additional requirements are unfair. To assuage these concerns, we will further describe the milestones leading to this decision and the philosophical underpinnings of this resolution in an upcoming document.
In the meantime, we humbly request ISKCON devotees to see this resolution in the light of the inclusiveness of Lord Caitanya and our previous ācāryas, and as facilitating senior, mature and exemplary followers of Śrīla Prabhupāda in their dedicated service to him and his ISKCON. Please bless them in this new important spiritual responsibility.
“So one who is spreading kṛṣṇa-upadeśa, simply repeat what is said by Kṛṣṇa, then you become ācārya. (…) Suppose you have got now ten thousand. We shall expand to hundred thousand. That is required. Then hundred thousand to million, and million to ten million. So there will be no scarcity of ācārya, and people will understand Kṛṣṇa consciousness very easily”.
- End of Statement -
21. Do you have any comments regarding the above GBC resolution authorizing Vaiṣṇavī dīkṣā-gurus? Please give below.
53. Comments / suggestions (open-ended). Feel free to write as much as you like below; on any of the above statements or on anything related to the topic of Vaiṣṇavī dīkṣā-gurus or any ideas on how the disagreement on this topic could be resolved.
SUBMIT RESPONSE
