There are some quotes from His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta
Swami Prabhupada that are commonly misused to discriminate against
women and minorities. These quotes concern relative social and
bodily issues that have nothing to do with the spiritual nature
of the soul. They are frequently taken completely out of context
and delivered in a fashion that is both mean-spirited and ill
motivated. The result has been that many sincere people and
prospective devotees are completely turned off to the Krsna
consciousness movement and given a poor impression of Srila
Prabhupada. As society continues to evolve in a way that accepts
diversity, minimizes bodily distinctions and rejects bigotry,
we must correspondingly present Vaishnava culture as equal-visioned
and all embracing. We must also present Srila Prabhupada as
the loving and compassionate person that his own life exemplified—someone
who befriended and treated all living beings equally as spiritual
parts and parcels of God. When we instead misuse his quotes
and scriptures to exclude, oppress and demonize other groups
of people, I think it is fair to say that we have veered off
the intended course and are endangering our own spiritual foundation.
I normally do not take interest in these types of quotes, in
fact, I would rather they were not even made public. However,
since they are often misused to hurt others and, after all,
Srila Prabhupada did say them, I am throwing them out on the
table for open discussion. There are some devotees who relish
these quotes and use them constantly in their preaching. I have
to hear them all the time myself as a member of a minority group
and they give me much pain. I am not pained because I am a minority,
but because my own spiritual master’s words are being misused
to limit and demean other human beings in direct contrast to
the personal example he always so lovingly set.
The subject of our movement’s slowness to evolve in certain
areas (e.g. attitudes towards women, gay people, etc.) is something
that concerns me greatly. The core Vaishnava truths all have
to do with the spirit soul, and everything else changes with
time. It always has and always will. Srila Prabhupada presented
the essential truth and adapted the outward details to a certain
degree according to time and circumstance. This has been done
by all great acaryas throughout the ages. Had he not passed
away several decades ago he might well have instituted other
social changes to the movement. Who knows? The world now is
vastly different (in certain ways) from the world he grew up
in.
I know one thing: Any religious movement that remains inexorably
rooted in some past era becomes extinct. There are many examples.
Krsna consciousness must always remain dynamic and adaptable
to the times. Let us therefore focus and preach on Srila Prabhupada’s
essential and timeless spiritual teachings. We should not dwell
upon relative social statements that may change with time. Most
importantly, we should not misuse those statements to vehemently
put forth our own personal prejudices—in a manner devoid
of love—which only succeeds in discouraging others from
the path of bhakti.
Quotes Used Against Women…
“…woman has no independence, because they cannot
keep their independence---it is not possible.”
“By nature they are weak…”
“In the Western countries, the women are given freedom
like man, but that is unnatural.”
“So, woman—the conclusion is that women are weak.”
(Srimad Bhagavatam Lecture, Los Angeles, November 30, 1973)
“Independence for women means they become like prostitutes.”
“Women cannot do anything independently. To give them
independence means to create some trouble.”
(Srimad Bhagavatam Lecture, Los Angeles, May 19, 1972)
“Women are inferior to men, and… men are given full
charge of the women.”
“Women are supposed to be less intelligent.”
(TLK 5)
“Women should not be given freedom. Like a child, she
is not given freedom.”
(Srimad Bhagavatam Lecture, Los Angeles, July 11, 1974)
“It is found that the brain substance in man is found
up to 64 ounce. They are very highly intellectual persons. And
in woman the brain substance is not found more than 34 ounce.
You’ll find, therefore, that there is no very great scientist,
mathematician, philosopher, among women. You’ll never find
because their brain substance cannot go.”
(Bhagavad-Gita As It Is lecture, Hawaii, February 3, 1975)
“Women as a class are no better than boys, and therefore
they have no discriminatory power like that of a man.”
(Srimad Bhagavatam 1.7.42, purport)
“According to Canakya Pandita, women are generally not
very intelligent and therefore not trustworthy.”
“As children are very prone to be misled, women are similarly
very prone to degradation.”
(Bhagavad-Gita As It Is 1.40, purport)
“Now, in the Manu-Samhita it is clearly stated
that a woman should not be given freedom. That does not mean
that women are to be kept as slaves, but they are like children.
The demons have now neglected such injunctions, and they think
that women should be given as much freedom as men.”
(Bhagavad-Gita As It Is 16.7, purport)
“Women as a class are no better than boys, and therefore
they have no discriminatory power like that of a man.”
(Srimad Bhagavatam 1.7.42, purport)
“A woman’s attachment to her husband may elevate
her to the body of a man in her next life, but a man’s
attachment to woman will degrade him, and in his next life he
will get the body of a woman.”
(Srimad Bhagavatam 3.31.41, purport)
“It is understood that the sexual appetite of a woman
is nine times greater than that of a man.”
(Srimad Bhagavatam 3.23.44, purport)
“Women in general are very much sexually inclined. Indeed,
it is said that a woman’s sex desire is nine times stronger
than a man’s.”
(Srimad Bhagavatam 4.27.1, purport)
“Women as a class are merciless and cunning. They cannot
tolerate even a slight offense. For their own pleasure they
can do anything irreligious, and therefore they do not fear
killing even a faithful husband or brother.”
“Because of her nature, a woman can respond to even a
slight offense from her husband by not only leaving him but
even killing him if required. To say nothing of her husband,
she can even kill her brother. That is a woman’s nature.”
(Srimad Bhagavatam 9.14.37)
“It is the nature of women to fight verbally at even a
slight provocation. As we see from this incident, this has been
their nature for a long, long time.”
(Srimad Bhagavatam 9.18.16, purport)
“To satisfy their own interests, women deal with men as
if the men were most dear to them, but no one is actually dear
to them. Women are supposed to be very saintly, but for their
own interests they can kill even their husbands, sons or brothers,
or cause them to be killed by others.”
“Women must be cared for so that they will not be free
to manifest their natural tendency for gross selfishness. There
have been many cases, even in the present day, in which women
have killed their husbands to take advantage of their insurance
policies. This is not a criticism of women but a practical study
of their nature.”
(Srimad Bhagavatam 6.18.42, purport)
“A man is always famous for his aggression toward a beautiful
woman, and such aggression is sometimes considered rape. Although
rape is not legally allowed, it is a fact that a woman likes
a man who is very expert at rape.”
(Srimad Bhagavatam 4.25.41, purport)
Quotes Used Against Blacks…
“It may be concluded that white or a golden hue is the
color of the higher caste, and black is the complexion of the
sudras [lower class].
(Srimad Bhagavatam 4.14.45, purport)
“[The dark-skinned races] are not allowed to live in cities
and towns because they are sinful by nature. As such, their
bodies are very ugly, and their occupations are also sinful.”
“They are always engaged in sinful activities like stealing…”
(Srimad Bhagavatam 4.14.46, purport)
“Sudra is to be controlled only. They are never to be
given freedom. Just like in America. The Blacks were slaves.
They were under control. And since you have given them equal
rights they are disturbing, most disturbing, always creating
a fearful situation, uncultured and drunkards. What training
they have got? They have got equal right? That is best, to keep
them under control as slaves but give them sufficient food,
sufficient cloth, not more than that. Then they will be satisfied.”
(Room Conversation, Varnasrama System Must Be Introduced,
Mayapura, February 14, 1977)
“…the higher classes of men are white (sukla), and
the lower classes of men are black. This division of white and
black is in terms of one’s white and black duties of life.
Pious acts lead one to… acquire beautiful features. Impious
acts lead one to… acquire ugly bodily features.”
(Srimad Bhagavatam 3.5.9, purport)
“Yes. We hate to mix with you (a man reported to be homosexual).
No gentleman tries to mix with loafers. Even in America, they
don’t like to live with the Blacks. Crows will not like
to live with the ducks and white swans. And white swans will
not like to live with the crows. That is natural division. ‘Birds
of the same feather flock together.’”
(Allahabad, January 11, 1977)
Quotes Used Against Gays and Lesbians…
“…the homosexual appetite of a man for another
man is demoniac and is not for any sane male in the ordinary
course of life.”
(Srimad Bhagavatam 3.20.26, purport)
“In India there are some such low-class (homosexual) men,
but not (lesbian) women, never women. This is very low class.”
(Conversation with Govinda dasi, Montreal)
“When after enjoying so many women, they become impotent,
then they artificially create another impulse in homosex. This
is the psychology. So people are degraded so much.”
(Chicago, July 3, 1975)
“The world is degrading to the lowest status, even less
than animal. The animals also do not support homosex. They never
have sex life between male to male. They are less than animal.
This is all due to godlessness.”
(Los Angeles, May 25, 1972)
“They are discussing in the university homosex. Just see.
They are not even fourth class men; they are animals, producing
so many animals, that’s all, dogs and hogs.”
(Perth, May 14, 1975)
“Now the priestly order is supporting homosex. I was surprised.
They are going to pass a resolution for getting married between
man to man. The human society has come down to such a degraded
position. It is astonishing.”
(Los Angeles, May 25, 1972)
“They have mind, but that is deprecated mind. Just like madman, he has got mind, but what is the value of that mind? You are not going to take opinion of a madman. He has mind, but he is a madman. His knowledge has been taken away. The mind being, what is called, in disordered condition, there is no value of his opinion.”
(Perth, May 21, 1975)
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