After visiting the devotees in Nottingham/England I traveled further to Birmingham where I spent the weekend of the 12th/13th of October associating with the devotees in programs. During my visit I was well taken care off by a nice young couple, and I effortlessly distributed the 40 copies of my books to the eager devotees. On Monday evening we had a ladies' sanga, which was well attended in lively discussions on women's empowerment.
Once our men understand the important role of us women being the auspicious source of energy to them, it becomes evident that men have to protect and care for this important source of inspirational energy, by fulfilling the needs of women and giving care and protection — within family life and within our ISKCON society at large.
The British writer and Nobel Prize Laureate for Literature, Sir William Golding, made the following statement: “I think women are foolish to pretend that they are equal to men, they are far superior and always have been. Whatever you give a woman, she will make greater. If you give her sperm, she will give you a baby. If you give her a house, she will give you a home. If you give her groceries, she will give you a meal. If you give her a smile, she will give you her heart. She multiplies and enlarges what is given to her. So, if you give her any [rubbish], be ready to receive a ton of [garbage].”
In the Manu-samhita 3.56, we find the following statement:
“Where women are honored, there the gods are pleased; but where they are not honored, no sacred rite yields rewards.”
Even the sankirtana yajna will not have good results, and Lord Chaitanya’s sankirtana movement will not flourish unless we deeply understand the important role women are playing. Thus women as a class have to be highly respected, honored, protected, and cared for.
In a culture where sense gratification and especially sex life are the overall goal in life, women are seen as an object for enjoyment and thus disrespected. A culture of sense gratification always goes hand in hand with a culture of disrespect. Unless we disrespect others, we will not want to use them for our own gratification.
However, in spiritual culture women are highly valued as being the jewel within human society - the Laxmi Devis. Once again, the two cultures are as different as day and night.
Once I heard a lecture given by one of our Sannyasis on the topic of women's powerful energy. At the end a brahmacari asked the question what it means for a brahmacari to treat a woman as a mother. Maharaja's answer was striking: "Women are very powerful. If they want, they can finish you off! So you better respect them.....!"
The British writer and Nobel Prize Laureate for Literature, Sir William Golding, made the following statement: “I think women are foolish to pretend that they are equal to men, they are far superior and always have been. Whatever you give a woman, she will make greater. If you give her sperm, she will give you a baby. If you give her a house, she will give you a home. If you give her groceries, she will give you a meal. If you give her a smile, she will give you her heart. She multiplies and enlarges what is given to her. So, if you give her any [rubbish], be ready to receive a ton of [garbage].”
In the Manu-samhita 3.56, we find the following statement:
“Where women are honored, there the gods are pleased; but where they are not honored, no sacred rite yields rewards.”
Even the sankirtana yajna will not have good results, and Lord Chaitanya’s sankirtana movement will not flourish unless we deeply understand the important role women are playing. Thus women as a class have to be highly respected, honored, protected, and cared for.
In a culture where sense gratification and especially sex life are the overall goal in life, women are seen as an object for enjoyment and thus disrespected. A culture of sense gratification always goes hand in hand with a culture of disrespect. Unless we disrespect others, we will not want to use them for our own gratification.
However, in spiritual culture women are highly valued as being the jewel within human society - the Laxmi Devis. Once again, the two cultures are as different as day and night.
Once I heard a lecture given by one of our Sannyasis on the topic of women's powerful energy. At the end a brahmacari asked the question what it means for a brahmacari to treat a woman as a mother. Maharaja's answer was striking: "Women are very powerful. If they want, they can finish you off! So you better respect them.....!"
On the 15th of October I flew to Cologne/Germany. My time in Europe was coming to an end - the cool and rainy autumn season had announced its arrival, and the trees were losing their yellow colored leaves creating an atmosphere of melancholy. The time had come for me to move on to India.....
I offered several programs in Cologne: the Sunday feast lecture, a SB class and a lively house program at Mother Dhara's home, who knows the art of attracting many nice people to her sangas by creating a homely atmosphere and feeding everyone with delicious prasadam - just like a mother....
And I spent my days with devotees in private discussions - accompanying them through their challenges by lending them an open ear. Simply having time for others and hearing them can be a full-time service....
On the 21st of October I flew off to Delhi....
Your servant, Devaki dd
I offered several programs in Cologne: the Sunday feast lecture, a SB class and a lively house program at Mother Dhara's home, who knows the art of attracting many nice people to her sangas by creating a homely atmosphere and feeding everyone with delicious prasadam - just like a mother....
And I spent my days with devotees in private discussions - accompanying them through their challenges by lending them an open ear. Simply having time for others and hearing them can be a full-time service....
On the 21st of October I flew off to Delhi....
Your servant, Devaki dd
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