I very much enjoyed reading your blog. At one point in your column you indicate that several of the God-realized swamis you refer to “have not done much work on Sanskrit interpretation and commentary of sacred scriptures.” Perhaps you aren’t aware of Paramahansa Yogananda’s highly acclaimed translation of and commentary on the Bhagavad Gita, entitled God Talks With Arjuna, a 1200 page, two volume work. (He also wrote a two-volume, 1400-page commentary on the New Testament, The Second Coming of Christ, in which he draws many parallels to India’s ancient scriptures.)

Wishing you many blessings as you continue your journey on the path to God-realization.

In divine friendship,
Lauren

I heard so many different versions of last Tuesday’s satsang when I visited the ashram on Wednesday that I find it a relief to know what really happened ‘from the horse’s mouth’ so to say.

There is no point hiding from the truth – that doesn’t make it fade away. Women are exploited everywhere around the world, and in India, it is made socially acceptable through the institution of marriage. There are so many qualified women who stop working and confine themselves to their kitchens just because their husbands or in-laws feel it is a family dishonor to have women earning. This is just one sacrifice they make, and which is evident on the surface level. I wonder how many more they make in their life-long relationship and how much they suffer silently.

I really appreciate your question, and we really need Amma’s help to put the scriptures into 21st century perspective. Chauvinists often quote ‘Sthree Na Swathanthryam Arhathi’ (A woman doesn’t deserve freedom) from Manusmrithi to scripturally gain support for the atrocities they inflict on their women. The sloka that you have brought up is just as relevant or more and I am sure Amma will put it into the right perspective for us.

At Her Lotus Feet,
Sreedevi