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any ways of life as the Americans do. Not only myself, all my
disciples who are following me, they are also not Americans.
They’re different from American behavior, American way
of life. I don’t accept any consciousness of America. And I
teach my disciples also to take to that consciousness... so if
you take to Kṛṣṇa consciousness and you remain in Kṛṣṇa
consciousness, you don’t belong to this world.” (Bg Lecture,
LA, December 16, 1968)
Though Mahārāja uses not only quotes from Śrīla Prabhupāda’s
teachings, but from other sources as well, clearly, his objective
is to clarify, adhere to and promote the teachings and purpose
of our founder-ācārya Śrīla Prabhupāda.
Śrīla Prabhupāda predicted that if ISKCON were to fall apart,
it would be due to internal strife tearing our society apart
from within. We have already seen in our short fifty years as a
fledgling movement the beginnings of internal crumbling. This
book is a wake-up call for those of us who do not want to see
the further disintegration of ISKCON. If such sensibly presented
essays as Women: Masters or Mothers? are not carefully read
and given serious consideration by the deep thinkers of our
ISKCON Society, we may see the demise of our own institution
within our very lifetimes.
There have been objections voiced by devotees who find the
book’s cover unappealing or who find some fault with Mahārāja
for discussing standards of cleanliness for his female disciples
during their menses. I appeal to the leaders of our movement,
Please read this book with a humble, open heart and don’t
make the mistake of shooting the messenger! His Holiness
Bhakti Vikāsa Swami is simply representing Śrīla Prabhupāda’s
stance and teachings on delicate subjects which some would
prefer to ignore and discredit as irrelevant due to their over-
sympathizing with American or Western ways of life.