 | Material creation is centered on male-female attraction. This complicates the dynamic between the sexes and is something both must be aware of and cautious about. Otherwise havoc reigns for the individuals concerned as well as for society in general. Both men and women should not try to allure one another through their dress, behavior, or words. Every devotee should be careful of this:
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| | “pumsah striya mithuni-bhavam etam
tayor mitho hridaya-granthim ahuh
The whole material world is going on because of the attraction between male and female.
(SB 5.5.8)”
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| | “Unfortunately, in this present civilization both men and women are allowed to be attracted to one another from the very beginning of life, and because of this they are completely unable to come to the platform of selfrealization. They do not know that without selfrealization they suffer the greatest loss in the human form of life... The span of youth expires very quickly. One who wastes his life simply by committing sinful activities in youth immediately becomes disappointed and disillusioned when the brief period of youth is over.
(SB 4.27.4-5, purport)”
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| | Prabhupada and the scriptures give many warnings in this regard. The Krishna conscious culture seeks to minimize the attraction between the sexes. Previously (in part one), I mentioned the importance of women’s shyness. This shyness does not mean that women are barred from services or from voicing their opinions, but that they conduct themselves sensibly in dealing with men.
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| | “The strong desire for sex will continue as long as we are in material existence, because sex is the center of all material pleasure.
(Srila Prabhupada discussing Arthur Schopenhauer’s philosophy)”
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| | Sex attraction is a serious issue that we ignore or take lightly at our peril. “Female psychology dictates that when a woman offers her heart to a man for the first time, it is very difficult for her to take it back.” (SB 3.22.15, purport) Thus young women who are lax in their relationships with men will get hurt. With the exception of our spouse, we are all advised not to associate intimately with members of the opposite sex.
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| | “Sometimes our Krishna consciousness movement is criticized for mingling men and women, but Krishna consciousness is meant for everyone. Whether one is a man or woman does not matter. Lord Krishna personally says, striyo vaisyas tatha sudras te ’pi yanti param gatim: whether one is a woman, sudra, or vaisya, not to speak of being a brahmana or ksatriya, everyone is fit to return home, back to Godhead, if he strictly follows the instructions of the spiritual master and sastra. We therefore request all the members of the Krishna consciousness movement — both men and women — not to be attracted by bodily features but only to be attracted by Krishna. Then everything will be all right. Otherwise there will be danger.
(SB. 6.18.41, purport)”
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| | Prabhupada asks us to be serious about Krishna consciousness, to keep Krishna and our spiritual master always in the center. When we’re focused on pleasing them, we experience harmony and self-control; then our lives become beautiful. Otherwise, mayhem.
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| | “My Lord, I know that young girls have natural affection for young boys, and that young boys have natural affection for young girls. I am praying at Your lotus feet that my mind may become attracted unto You in the same spontaneous way.
(Padma Purana)”
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