And now… the exciting conclusion…. [if you missed part one, click here to read it.]

Spiritual Chauvinism
Despite all this, the Hare Krishnas claim that their movement is based on spiritual equality. The truth, however, is that women are awarded absolute superiority, even int he realm of the soul.
“The soul… is supposed to be originally a woman” (SB 3.31.41).

“Women in general, being very simple [simplicity should not be mistaken as an inferior quality. Rather, in Hare Krishna philosophy, simplicity is comparable to purity and truthfulness.] in heart, can very easily take to Krishna consciousness, and when they develop love for Krishna they can easily get liberation from the clutches of maya, which is very difficult for even co-called intelligent and learned men” (KB, p. 206).

“A woman can actually be elevated by advanced Krishna consciousness… She should concentrate her devotional activities in chanting and meditating upon Krishna, as is advised herein. One should not follow the men called shajiya, the so-called devotees who take everything very lightly.” (KB, p.248)

Most shocking is their bold assertion that the highest spiritual perfection is exclusively the domain of the female (Cc. mad 8.79). Without serving these women, a man has no hope of entering the spiritual world (Cc. mad 8.223). It is absolutely impossibly, they say, for a male to achieve this level of advancement. The male must first become a woman (Cc. mad 8.225).

This is spiritual equality?

God is a Woman
How has this religion become so firmly matriarchal? It goes all the way back to their conception of God. They believe the most exalted manifestation of Godhead, superior even to Krishna Himself, is Female. They call Her Radharani. (NOD pp. 16, 375)

In their famous chant (Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna, Hare Hare. Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare), Her name appears twice as often as any of Krishna’s male names.

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THE WHOLE TRUTH
I just conclusively showed how Krishna consciousness is sexist against men. But it’s not true. The facts are true, the quotes are real, but the conclusions are distorted.

Female chauvinism is a distorted view of Krishna consciousness. Male chauvinism in an equally distorted view. Both positions are based on hasty, unwarranted conclusions deduced from the isolated quotes taken out of context.

Here’s a brief explanation of the whole picture, drawn from my four year intensive study of Krishna literature:

Marriage & Maya
Marriage “is actually a duty performed in mutual co-operation” between husband and wife, for the spiritual upliftment of both partners (SB 3.14.19).

Who is the symbol of maya? “Not only is the woman the gateway to hell for man, but man is also the gateway to hell for woman… but if the attachment is transferred to Krishna, both of them become Krishna conscious, and then marriage is very nice… Then there is possibility of liberation from material bondage for both of them” (SB 3.31.42, 41).

Intelligence
“Being transcendental to the issue of men’s or women’s rights, Prabhupada saw beyond the designation of the body. He saw the the criterion for intelligence wasn’t material – one’s sex, race or nationality – but was one’s desire for spiritual life” (Prabhupada-Lilamrita vol. 6, p. 87).

Spiritual Equality
No doubt, Prabhupada mentions different positive and negative tendencies of both men and women. But “Such natural instincts of a woman or a man are manifested only in the bodily conception of life. When either a man or woman is advanced in spiritual consciousness, the bodily conception of life practically vanishes. We should see all women as spiritual units, whose only duty is to serve Krishna.”

Prabhupada “gave women in his Krishna conscious movement the same opportunity as men. ‘So far as Krishna consciousness is concerned,’ he said, ‘we equally distribute. There is no such thing that, “Oh, you are a woman, less intelligent or more intelligent, therefore you cannot come.” We don’t say that. We welcome woman, poor, rich – everyone. Because on that platform there is equality. That is equality’” (P 6, pp. 71, 85).

“To be a man or a woman only involves one’s bodily dress” (SB 3.31.41).

“Krishna consciousness is meant for anyone. Whether one is a man or woman does not matter” (SB 6.18.41).

“One the spiritual platform.. whether one is man, woman, sudra or whatever, everyone is equal” (SB 9.14.36).