Question Abaut Abortion and Initiation in ISKCON
Hare Krsna Dear Maharaja Hanumatpresaka Swami;
Please accept my humble obeisances.
All glories to Srila Prabhupada.
HpS - ASA --- Please forgive us for not answering this sooner. We had INTENSE trip back from Madrid and immediately we had intense work with our accountant for the government filings for NIOS and INTENSE local Sankirtan festival with Indradyumna Swami's 40-man troupe visiting and... but this topic is important.
I hope your health is strength,
HpS - Actual our 'energy' is little low and our pitta element is out of balance, but we are fighting to correct it.
. . . I’m writing for ask about a issue thats worries me, some devotees support the abortion law and do public comments in internet stating their approval. Some months ago I ask to Baladeva Prabhu (our communication leader in ISKCON Arg) to elaborate an article which explain our position about the abortion topic, based on Srila Prabhupada speak about that.
I’ve talk with our GBC, H. H. Srila Virabahu Maharaja, about that and he told me “nobody who support the abortion law, can be recommended for initiation” His Hollines supervise personally, to all members of “administrative head” don’t be in favor of abortion.
I want to ask because in the list for formalize the refugee, one devotee from here want to get it, but we cannot recommend if these person continue supporting that law.
How do you explain it to your disciples?
HpS - ASA -- Well if the GBC Secretary has made this rule then we have to follow it, of course it is an administrative rule and if don't agree we can talk with him and then if we still don't agree we can go three othe GBCs then the Executive Committee. I know devotees who have done this and won their case.
On the other had there is the philosophical perspective. I can give my ideas for anyone who wants to look at us as their teacher.
In SB 1.9, Bhismadeva tells Yuddhisthira how to administer th kingdom. In the purport Srila Prabhupada says that the Brahmanas should know Manu samhita and Parasara's dharma sastras in order to give advice to the Kings. I found a copy after hard research and then I heard Srila Prabhupada quoting from it in room conversations.
Parasara gives different atonements for different sins but when he comes to abortion, for that girl who voluntarily aborts her own embryo, he says that for this there is no atonement possible. She should be reject from her community and what to speak of talking with her, anyone even looks at her becomes sinful.
It seems to be the same as killing cows.
One of our disciples in Mexico's wife's embryo was miscarrying and the doctors were recommending abortion. We talked about it. They said that if the degredation of the embryo advance it could kill the mother also. Our suggestion was that she should wait for as long as she felt secure, because there was a small chance the embryo would recover, and then have the abortion.
So there are different circumstances.
It is killing someone.
If the girl was with her father and three guys knocked him unconscious in a descent place and raped her then maybe it is justified in that situation also, Parasara gives details.
Was she willing, was she protected by her family, what is the charater of the father?
That is all we know. Besides Parasara I think the same idea is there in Srila Prabhupada's direct books. Of course, Brahmana means that we are always ready to learn something new.
Do they consult you?
HpS - Sometimes. On this topic, no.
I hope I do not take much time from you and I am very grateful to you Maharaja.
Hare Krsna
Your servant Nitai Gaurananda das
initiation committee
ISKCON Buenos Aires.
HpS - Thank you for you work!!!!
