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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.
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