Woman and Bhakti Yoga in the Hare Krishna movement: challenges, pedagogical aspects and the act of caring

Abstract

This article discusses women in the Hare Krishna movement, as well as the “caring” issue

present in the practice of bhakti yoga. We are investigating a specific movement (Hare Krishna), which appeared in 1965 in the west, in New York-USA. The purpose of this text is to reflect on the issue of “caring” within the Gaudya Vaishnava tradition as well as on the position and the knowledge woven by women over the years within this tradition and since the creation of ISKCON. So, we aim to reflect on the possibilities of this issue of caring and women’s knowledge to contribute to the processes of struggle against a misogynistic and patriarchal view that exists in society in general. As final considerations, we highlight that ISKCON is a recent institution, having completed 54 years in this year 2020. Despite being new, compared to other religious institutions that are even millennial, ISKCON has been showing maturity and human development. Apologies to women and recognition of their knowledge and rights also demonstrate that the institution is making progress in combating machismo and the oppressions arising from it.