"Prabhupada sometimes says things which are unreasonable"

[Bhakti Vikasa Swami]

Caitya guru: Tilaka's wife, she told me... She was very upset, you know. One
day she, when she came to see you and that one rascal yogi was there, and he
said that in the Vedas everything is mentioned that we can drink, and woman and
the man have equal right. Then you answered her -- and she was also saying the
same thing -- and you answered her, "Okay, if woman and the man have equal
right, then why not your husband begot the children..." No, "Why not you begot
the children in the womb of your husband?" And she was very upset, you know.
She said, "Prabhupada sometimes say the things like that which are
unreasonable, you know."
Prabhupada: It may require... No, I said that "If you are equal rights, then
make some arrangement: sometimes you become pregnant; sometimes he becomes
pregnant. Why there is not right, equal right?"
Caitya guru: She was telling me when... She... I said that "Prabhupada
sometimes says these things that we feel all ashamed, you know, because..."
Devotee (2): The medicine is not always palatable for these people.
Prabhupada: But in speaking spiritual understanding we cannot make any
compromise. What to speak of in Mauritius; in Chicago I told. There was great
agitation in papers.
Harikesa: In the TV, on television.
Caitya guru: Same thing?
Devotee (2): In France also.
Prabhupada: They were very upset. And when I was coming, I think, in Chicago,
in the aeroplane, one of the host girl, she was seeing... [makes some gesture]
[laughter] I asked her to supply one 7-Up. And, "I have no key." She was so
angry. But all the captains and others, they gathered around me. [laughter]
Harikesa: I think that was the same stewardess who came in the back and asked
us, "Why the Swamiji doesn't like women?"
Prabhupada: No, no, I don't say that I don't like women, but I cannot say that
equal rights. How can I say? First of all show that you equal rights -- your
husband becomes sometimes pregnant and then you become pregnant, alternately.
Aksayananda: Yeah, that doesn't mean you don't like them.
Prabhupada: No, it is truth. I am speaking the truth, that "If you have equal
right, then let your husband become pregnant. Make some arrangement."
Harikesa: Visakha was preaching to her. She said that "Actually, we are less
intelligent." [laughter] That started a big scandal...
Prabhupada: Yes. And that is Krsna consciousness. [break] They are in equal
right, then... Nowadays, of course, they are thinking like that, that man
should remain independent, and they'll have homosex, and the woman also
independent, and they will make some... This is most immoral things.
Caitya guru: If only people think that they have equal right...
Prabhupada: Where is equal right? Even in Russia there is no equal rights. They
have created some of them are managers and some of them are workers. Why? If
equal rights, then everyone should be manager.
Harikesa: Well, in America they have women senators now.
Prabhupada: Huh?
Harikesa: Women senators. Women are in charge of companies sometimes.
Devotee: Here they have woman prime minister.
Caitya guru: No, in India there are two women, they are high commissioners of
India to the foreign countries.
Prabhupada: No, that is possible. That requires education. That is another...
By nature the woman's body is different from man's.
Caitya-guru: Womans are subordinate.
Prabhupada: Not subordinate actually. The occupations are different. It does
not mean... That is another mistake. Just like the leg is walking and the head
is directing, so although the occupation is different, both of them are
important. We require the head and leg also. If simply head is there, if there
is no leg, then who will walk? This is the understanding. Not equal. Everyone
must have his separate duties to serve the whole. That is the arrangement. This
is real understanding.

Morning Walk – December 10, 1975, Vrndavana