Pariprashnena — Q&A Archive

It means dont see women as an object of enjoyment.

All women should be treated just like mother." Not like the present society. Formerly, every woman should be addressed as "mother," Mataji. And now they have invented "Bahinji." No. Woman should be addressed as "mother." Matrvat para-dareuc0u347 u.
(Vrn, August 6, 1974, Bg.4.14)

That is the system still in India, any unknown woman who has no introduction with you, (s)he is addressed "Mataji." Address her. She may be just like daughter or granddaughter, but one would address, as a respect to the woman, as "Mother, Mataji." This is Indian system. Now some rascals have introduced "Bhaginiji, sister." But that is not shastric. In the u347 astra, all the woman, except ones wife, should be addressed as "Mother."
(LA, January 7, 1974, SB. 1.16.10)

Woman should be looked as mother. Still in India, a unknown woman should be addressed, "Mother." They have introduced now in the northern India, bahinji (?). No, this was not the etiquette. "Mataji." This is Indian culture, not bahinji (?). This has been introduced now. No. Matra svasra duhitr'e4 v'e4 [SB 9.19.17]. Womans connection with man is as mother, as sister or as daughter. No other relationship. This is Indian culture.
(May, February 16, 1976, SB. 7.9.9)

SB 9.19.17
From Vanisource
Srimad Bhagavatam, Ninth Canto, Chapter 19: King Yayuc0u257 ti Achieves LiberationSB 9.19.16 SB 9.19.18
His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupu257 da

TEXT 17
mu257 tru257 svasru257 duhitru257 vu257
nu257 viviktu257 sano bhavet
balavu257 n indriya-gru257 mo
vidvu257 u7745 sam api karu7779 ati

SYNONYMS
mu257 tru257 '97with ones mother; svasru257 '97with ones sister; duhitru257 '97with ones own daughter; vu257 '97either; na'97not; avivikta-u257 sanau7717 '97seated closely on one seat; bhavet'97one should be; balavu257 n'97very strong; indriya-gru257 mau7717 '97the group of senses; vidvu257 u7745 sam'97the very learned and advanced person; api'97even; karu7779 ati'97agitates.

TRANSLATION
One should not allow oneself to sit on the same seat even with ones own mother, sister or daughter, for the senses are so strong that even though one is very advanced in knowledge, he may be attracted by sex.

PURPORT
Learning the etiquette of how to deal with women does not free one from sexual attraction. As specifically mentioned herewith, such attraction is possible even with ones mother, sister or daughter. Generally, of course, one is not sexually attracted to his mother, sister or daughter, but if one allows himself to sit very close to such a woman, one may be attracted. This is a psychological fact. It may be said that one is liable to be attracted if he is not very advanced in civilized life; however, as specifically mentioned here, vidvu257 u7745 sam api karu7779 ati: even if one is highly advanced, materially or spiritually, he may be attracted by lusty desires. The object of attraction may even be ones mother, sister or daughter. Therefore, one should be extremely careful in dealings with women. u346 ru299 Caitanya Mahu257 prabhu was most strict in such dealings, especially after He accepted the sannyu257 sa order. Indeed, no woman could come near Him to offer Him respect. Again, one is warned herewith that one should be extremely careful in dealings with women. A brahmacu257 ru299 is forbidden even to see the wife of his spiritual master if she happens to be young. The wife of the spiritual master may sometimes take some service from the disciple of her husband, as she would from a son, but if the wife of the spiritual master is young, a brahmacu257 ru299 is forbidden to render service to her.

Thank you for your replies so far. I was rather hoping for some personal realizations, thoughts, social observations, experiences of what it means from a male point of view. Is it difficult to have a vision like that of women? Or does some kind of struggle take place in the psyche? I suppose only a realized person can genuinely have this vision of women as mother. And for women, in familiar situations, in a community, sometimes it seems that a man just wants another material mother. But I dont think seeing women as mother means that. Now I have to ask a silly question: what is a mother? To live in a community where there are a lot of men and have them doing their best to see you as mother, its an odd experience. Are there any women out there (or men) who understand what I am grappling to explain, or to explore?

to see all women as a mother is still a material vision. To see all living entities as spirit souls and servants of Krsna is an ultimate pure vision. in general Vaishanvas are striving to see all women except their wife as mothers (older women), sisters (similar age women), or daughters (younger women) before they reach the stage of spiritual vision. Is it easy? For some people it is easy, for others it is hard. Still, one must try to look at women in that way because it keeps one from falling down.

I guess the answer not to see oneself as woman (or a man). I think Prabhupada gave use best possible example on how to do it. He never used to call his disciples Mataji, for a rare exception. We should follow his example.