a letter... ON THE ROLE OF WOMEN
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Dear _____,

I am glad to have received your letter of Aug. 15, 1968, and have carefully
gone through the contents of the same.

There is nothing in life to feel perplexed or puzzled about. We have to
take the facts of life with a broad smile. We, at times, feel agitated
because we are not aware of God's plan and purpose of creation. From the
Perfect One nothing but perfection comes into being. Since we see only the
events and effects on the surface-screen before our eyes, we imagine that
things have come suddenly and swiftly as if out of the blue without any
pre-thought or premonition and we get flabbergasted. If we could but know
that there is nothing that is haphazard or by chance, we will be saved much
of the bother and pother to which we subject ourselves.

Now that you happen to play the role as a female, it does not mean that you
will be assigned this role through eternity. It is really surprising as to
how you have assumed that you have been playing this role in the past and
shall continue to do so in future, ad infinitum. It is just a temporary
phase and you should take it as such. Again, it is merely a role and not
what you really are. You are a living soul with the "Breath of God"
quickening you. "Know ye not that ye are the temple of God and that the
Spirit of God dwells in you. (I Corinthians 3:16). Again in I Corinthians
6:19, "Know ye not that our body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is
within you." As the Spirit of God (the Supreme Power) dwells in us, what
are we but the Spirit of God? "As we are the Spirit of God, and the Spirit
of God is Eternal, why think we can die and beome extinct? You are of the
same essence as that of God." You should think of the indweller in the
body--the spirit arid power of God in you--rather than of the body in which
you are dwelling. Sooner or later this dwelling place shall have to be
vacated and you shall rise into higher life--the life of the Spirit, where
the question of sex will not bother you. There is no sex in the soul--
outward vestures of bodies are as the result of reactions of the past.

Even in the living present, you can know, understand and practice the Art
of Life in fullness and learn how to rise above body consciousness. It is a
regular science of practical self-analysis and once you become familiar
with it, you will get rid of all the horrors that you imagine are in store
for you simply because you belong to the weaker sex. Again, I would advise
you to forget your past, whatever it was, and not to trust the future,
however rosy it may appear to be. We have to make the best use of the
living present and of the God-given opportunities, especially the human
birth which is a rare blessing for it ,is in the tabernacle of flesh
whether male or female--that we can gain the experience of life everlasting
which consists in knowing "the only true God," as the Gospels tell us. Let
us "Live in the Spirit" and also "walk in the spirit," is the injunction of
Master Jesus, who came "to seek and find the lost sheep," sheep lost in the
wilderness of the world.

One should not suppose that women are inferior to men in any respect. Women
play as important a role in the drama of human life as men do, and at times
excel men beyond all measure. In this twentieth century we have on record
memorable accounts of the heroic deeds of women in the various fields of
life--art, science, technology, law, medicine, surgery, engineering and the
like. One fails to understand in what way they are inferior. Except for the
different type of bodily raiment, they are endowed with all that is noble
in life. They are bubbling over with the milk of human kindness. But for
the healthier and holier influence of women, men for the most part would
have been much different than they are. In the art of government and
administration, which is the most difficult one, women of today do not in
any way lag behind. They adorn some of the highest offices in some of the
states and are doing admirably well. They have, both in the east and the
west, now come out of the seclusion of the home-life and vie with men in
all the walks of life. With the spread of education and awakening, vast
fields of activities are opening out, and women are taking an active part
with their counterparts in ameliorating the conditions of society.

God is the God of all, men and women alike. Each has one's own sphere but
part of one is complementary to that of the other, and together they make a
composite whole and work better for evolving the best in them. Wedlock is a
sacrament, a divine institution, meant for development of the inward
spiritual graces. Procreation is just a minor part of it, though a
necessary one. But mind, that marriage is not a hurdle in spirituality. Far
from arresting the spiritual growth and stature, it rather helps and helps
immeasurably if the significance of married life is properly understood and
practiced. All the ills that one imagines are due to our lack of knowledge
on such vital issues as the meaning and purpose of life, the true
happiness, and how it can be had. We have no time and leisure to get a
clear-cut conception of the problems of life. And the result is that we, in
the course of time, become double minded and try to be wise by changing
positions as may suit the exigencies of the moment. This habit works to
make us unstable and unsteady. "Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from
the dead," is the exhortation of St. Paul. The scriptures of each religion
provide a blueprint on the art of living--its meaning, its value, its
purpose and its uses and how to conduct ourselves in the work-a-day world.
But unfortunately we tend to forget our scriptures and find no breathing
space to refer to them for our guidance. St. Paul in his Epistle to the
Ephesians has given clear guidelines--particularly in chapters 5 and 6. If
the women were to work for the "kingdom of heaven," half as zealously as
they do for their household chores, they would certainly hasten the advent
of the same on earth for which we all pray so fervently. We have on record
instances of prophetesses like (1) Miriam (Exodus 15:20); (2) Deborah
(Judges 4:45); (3) Huldah (II Kings 22:15). In Acts 21:9, we read of the
four virgin daughters of Philip the evangelist who also had the gift of
prophecy. Then the accounts of saintly ladies like St. Theresa of Avila in
Spain ( 1515-82); Blessed Juliana of Norwich ( 1343-1420; and Catherine of
Siena (1347-80) who claimed to have received on her body the stigmata.
Similarly, in the east we had, Rabia al-Adawiya Basri, a woman Saint said
to be the founder of Sufism in the 8th century. In India, we had Mira Bai
and Sehjo Bai as prototypes of Maitri, Gargi and Anusuya of ancient times.

The aim and purpose of life, as said before, is to know the true God alone,
to practice Him in daily life, and to consciously live in Him. "Love the
Lord thy God with all thy heart and with all thy mind, with all thy
strength and with all thy soul. This is the first and greatest commandment.
And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself. On
these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets," is what Jesus
said. And again, "Love the kingdom of God and all things (of the world)
shall be added unto you," for "all things work to the good of them that
love God."

God Absolute is no doubt an abstraction. But God-in-action is the Spirit
and Power of God--the Holy Word--which can be both seen and heard with help
of subtle senses within. God reveals Himself in His own life and Light and
when one gets in touch with these lost strands of Reality, he comes to know
the plan and purpose of God. It is of course a practical subject of
self-analysis which is offered free and freely to all alike, like all other
gifts of nature, provided one is prepared to observe and abide by certain
dietary restrictions and to lead a life of rectitude and continence.

And I need hardly assure you that the Master Power above is ceaselessly
taking care of you though you may not be aware of it. You need have no
doubts and misgivings in this behalf nor should you get disheartened and
dismayed. I appreciate your feelings and the spirit of enquiry. May God
help you with His Light of Life, is what I wish for you. My loving good
wishes will be always with you.

With kind thoughts and best wishes,

Yours affectionately,

KIRPAL SINGH

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This letter is a reply to a non-initiate who wrote to Master out of the
depths of her frustration and feelings of inferiority over being a woman.
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