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6 Mothers and Masters
Vedas stand as a single comprehensive whole in the matter
of transcendental understanding. Only the incomplete views
of various parties apart from the bona f ide Vedic lines of
teaching give a rupturous appearance to the Bhagavad-gītā.”
1
Similarly, since Śrīla Prabhupāda perfectly represents a bona
f ide Vedic line, his statements should also be assumed to be
“a single, comprehensive whole in the matter of transcendental
understanding.” And therefore any bona f ide vision of a Kṛṣṇa
conscious society must mainly derive from Śrīla Prabhupāda’s
books. As a general principle, statements made by Śrīla
Prabhupāda in his books are more authoritative than other
of his statements – which certainly are valuable, but only if
accepted as secondary evidence.
Feminism within ISKCON is further discussed in Part Two of
this book. Therein, more stress has been given to women’s
duties than to those of men, because a major disparity in
modern society is that of women trying to become like men –
not vice versa – and because accordingly there is little dispute
over men’s roles; indeed, there is broad consensus regarding
the expected moral duties and social responsibilities of men.
Moreover, any discussion about the reforming of men must
involve extensive analysis of the role of females, due to the
phenomenon of lust arising when the opposite sexes associate
closely. Of course, it is essential that men know how to relate
properly both with their wives and with other women. Hence,
that topic is examined later in this book.
Kṛṣṇa Consciousness Is Largely Incompatible
with Modern Culture
Śrīla Prabhupāda forthrightly and untiringly pointed out the
defects of modern society, because he wanted to awaken people
to their plight and give them the truth of Kṛṣṇa consciousness,
1. The Science of Self-Realization, ch. 3m.