“We Are Vaisnavas” by Sankirtana Das (ACBSP)
The debate in ISKCON for the last decade or two about women gurus is still unresolved. In 2019 a GBC resolution allowed Vaishnavis (devotee women) to initiate disciples of their own with specific conditions – they had to be at least 55 years old and in a stable ashrama situation, as well as fulfilling all the other requirements for Vaishnava men. The resolution was passed by a vote of 19 in favor, 2 opposed, and 8 abstentions.
Most devotees saw this resolution as fulfilling Srila Prabhupada’s vision for his movement, first stated in a lecture of August 17, 1968 – “So all my students present here who are feeling so much obliged… I am also obliged to them because they are helping me in this missionary work. At the same time, I shall request them all to become spiritual master. Everyone of you should be spiritual master next.”
Several months later, in a letter January 3, 1969, he again expressed his desire: “I want that all of my spiritual sons and daughters will inherit this title of Bhaktivedanta so that the family transcendental diploma will continue through the generations. Those possessing the title of Bhaktivedanta will be allowed to initiate disciples. Maybe by 1975, all of my disciples will be allowed to initiate and increase the numbers of the generations. That is my program.”
Over the years Prabhupada made similar statements reaffirming his desire and vision for his International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON). But for some reason the GBC withdrew their 2019 decision. Now the topic has been relegated into a limbo state of perpetual discussion with no resolution in sight.
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