By B. V. Tripurari Swami http://www.swami.org/sanga

Question:      In a past Q&A discussion re: 'women, degradation and trust' you appear to be disregarding the traditional Vedic role of women and their need for protection, etc.

Answer:      All ancient and even not so ancient societies, both religious and secular, have looked similarly upon women in ways that today's society does not. The reason is largely because of the obvious fact that women are no less intelligent, no more lusty, etc., than men. Other religious traditions, such as Christianity, have for the most part moved on from the Bible's traditional description of the role of women to embrace the times that are with us, in which women are involved in every aspect of society.

Are the Vaisnavas to remain what would be considered socially and culturally backward on this issue and still expect to be viewed as a vital spiritual tradition? Are you suggesting that the Vedic statements about women in general are absolute truth, rather than an example of the cultural bias through which the absolute truth manifests?

Question:      I would not venture to say that the liberated women is either good or bad. Women are now demanded to compete with men rather then men learning to become as loving as women. I simply take note of the sage advice of persons like Christ and Prabhupada. I find myself cautious of those who second-guess these personalities.

Answer:      I do not find that the strides that have been taken to give women the right to vote and other equal opportunities has made them any less loving. In many cases they are more loving because they have the opportunity to express their love beyond their immediate family circle. Now they can vote, have a say as to what the world needs, and thus share the loving nature you attribute to them by investing it in determining world leaders. Nor is there any evidence that women are now less caring at home. The equality that women have gained has also caused many men to become more caring.

You choose not to 'second guess' Prabhupada or Jesus Christ. What about the continuing guru parampara that is intended to help us understand the previous acaryas in light of our times? Do you really think that we should to go back to the Bible and determine the place of women in today's society based on what is written there, rather than listening to any number of modern theologians and other religious leaders in the Christian parampara who have made adjustments in this area suitable to our times? If so, you are identifying with a very small, extremely conservative branch of Christian fundamentalism that would no doubt consider Pat Robertson the devil.

I am not second guessing Prabhupada. I am dealing with the reality of our times, as he or any religious reformer would. If you think that the world is going to return to a women- at-home man-at-work ethic by your preaching, and that this is something worth spending time on, you are entitled to do that. But it is not something that I think is very central to Gaudiya Vaisnavism, nor very practical.