Sthree

Embodiments of love,

A man has only three qualities, while women have seven.

Man is egoistic because he earns money. Man is praised because of his position. Man marches ahead in respect to job. So his ego is increased. All these three things are performed by women also, but they are humble. There is both good and bad in the world but the majority of women are patient and peaceful. Man is courageous because of the guidance and teaching of women. Such courage is only in women and not man.

Up until recently, in the United Kingdom, the Prime Minister was a woman. Indira Gandhi was the Prime Minister for twelve years. In Ceylon too the Prime Minister and President was a woman, (mother and her daughter). Today, wherever you see all male Prime Ministers in position, there are only problems and troubles. If a man completes five years of his term as a Prime Minister, it can be taken as a surprise. Yet Indira Gandhi could complete more than ten years as a Prime Minister. A woman has that type of courage to protect the country.

In devotion, woman first enters the spiritual path and then slowly, the man. In spiritual path also, the woman is ahead. Man may have wisdom but the devotion is prominent in women. Without devotion one is nowhere.

In the court of the Maharaja (King), men can enter only up to the hall, whereas women can go up to the palace. Man has no right to enter the palace. What is palace here? Antapuri - (inside body) - palace which is within. Only women are permitted, not men. In history no persons attained wisdom. Only women attained liberation through devotion. Never consider women weak. Respect them. Man also should be respected.

In the Bhagavad Gita, woman has seven powers. Because Rama was born to Kausalya, Rama could be called God. Due to the tender care of Sita, Luv and Kush, the twin sons, became so great. The greatness is only due to the mother. The father only earns money, whereas the mother cautions the children, keeping in view the education and behavior. All over the world, it is women who are powerful. There's nothing they cannot do. They have plenty of power. Spiritually speaking, all are women. For example, in a girls college all are females only. When a drama is being enacted, the king, servant, ministers, etc. are all women. Though the dress is that of a King, they are women only. To both men and women, food, sleep and fear are common. Both eat, cry and have desires. Brindavan belongs to all. Govinda belongs to all. All the Gopikas stepped into Brindavan as it belonged to all. In order to show the qualities and capacities of women, Krishna enacted a drama. At the main gate a watchman was standing. Krishna said, "See that no woman enters into Brindavan." One day Radha come. She was stopped by the watchman. She told him that it belongs to all. He replied that women were not permitted. She asked him what he was. He replied that he was a man. Radha said that there is no man. All are women only. Only God is the male. All are the Prakrith: (created). All are children of the earth. Arjuna had many titles. 'Dhananjaya' was the title of 'Holding the weapon'(of courage). But in the battlefield, while he was in the chariot, he dropped his bow and lost his courage.

Krishna said, "Get up. The fate is strong. Justice will win. Selfishness will die. That is the nature in every age. Know this. Though Dhritarashtra had one hundred sons, there was not one even to do the obituary rites. What a destiny."

So Krishna encouraged Arjuna not to lose courage. Losing courage is a feminine quality.

The world symbolized womanhood. So one's country is called 'Motherland'. The earth is termed as Mother Earth. All are born out of the earth. In all, Mother is important. Motherly feeling is supremest. Motherly feelings always ensures the welfare of a country.

Once the sage, Vishwamitra, went to Dasaratha for help in the ritual that he was performing. He said that though he had the power to kill the demons, he could not use it as in the sacred ritual no violence should be there. He was chief priest. So he requested him to send his two sons, Rama and Lakshmana to safeguard the yajna. Vishwamitra told the king that the two sons were highly divine. They prayed to the Goddess. They never prayed to 'father'. Vishwamitra paid respects to Mother first, the father next and then the preceptor. Why? The mother only gives birth. The mother is alert and awake when father sleeps. If a child suffers from fever, the mother will not eat. Such love is found in a mother. The father has only 75% of love. The mother has 90%. The progress of the entire world depends on the women. Women are not for the kitchen alone.

For example, today both men and women go to work and earn salaries. They keep a cook, a driver and servants. Thus, the salaries to these staff are more than their earnings. If the woman stays at home, she can take care of all the matters. Since she goes to work, the entire family is disturbed. Listen to this point carefully.

The Bhagavad Gita refers to purity in three (3) aspects: The vessel, the process of cooking and the cook - (all need to be pure and clean). It is very important that the cook should be a pure person. He should not only be clean and pure outwardly but inwardly as well. That is why we say the food prayer, "Brahmarpanam, Brahmahavir", we offer all the food to God. Since ancient times, food was offered to God and so it became prasad. Then we can ensure the purity of the food which becomes transformed. Nowadays, the husband and wife are fighting (at) the dining table. The reason is that the impurities of the cook causes all these disturbances. The cook cooks for a salary. The housewife cooks with purity. It was the same in the royal families also. The queen alone should serve the members, and not the servant. As is the feeling, so is the reaction. If the family is secure and happy, the society is happy, if the society is happy, then the entire state is happy. So it should begin with the individual.

Once in Hardwar there was a businessman. He was sixty years old but had no one to take care of his family as he was busy with his business. He married a sixteen year old girl who had no mother. The girl was very sad as she had no mother. Right from the beginning this girl was crying. She was given in marriage to this old man. The businessman came late at night. She decided to end her life by jumping into the Ganges River. As it was the custom to feed people on the tenth day ceremony, this businessman contributed sweets to the ashrams in Rishikesh. That evening, a certain renunciant sat in meditation. Normally he could meditate very well, but that evening he could see a sixteen year old girl crying. He asked his guru and the guru replied that he must be having bad thoughts. He replied that he did not. Then it was finally discovered that it was because of the sweets that came from the businessman whose wife, the sixteen year old girl, had committed suicide. Since that day they stopped all feasts and were content with whatever they had. Thus, we should offer to God all the food we eat. You are God. The alter is the heart. Love is the Food. Bliss is His Power. Many ask where does Baba get His energy because He eats so little? I am Energy! That is Divinity.

Women are not to be looked upon as cheap. A house without the woman is like a forest. When a woman is present it is "for rest". Respect them like that and give them all the comfort. If a woman sheds tears, no prosperity will stay. So do not make women suffer. Woman stands for love and devotion. All are children of God. From the point of view of Atma there is no difference. All are His creation. So God is your friend. Old is Gold friend. Modern friends are friends today but they will say "good-bye" tomorrow. They have motives and are friends only for your money. This friendship is changing moment to moment. So love such a God. Develop devotion. That is the purpose of life.