Are We Not All Gopis to Krsna, or at least Attempt to be?

Isn't gender something to transcend as it is highly tangible and associated with Maya? I dont know if it is due to my ignorance, and if so forgive me, but arent there certain customs a vaishnava should avoid simply due to the fact that they are based on sexual identity?
I understand marriage, since its something done lovingly and not sexually, but why is that there are certain things a male must do and others a female must do. Apart from biological mechanisms, i asking about things on the social level. Shouldnt a vaishnava be more concern about the soul proper than his/her or others bodily dress, is it not just skin disease.?? and avoid activities that would group him or her in a gender category??

Replies

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- Johan September 2, 2010 at 10:14pm
  
  Your next life is determined by the actions you take in this life. It is not necessarily Krishna who determines what body you get next. He gives you whatever you want. If you want to know him, he gives the resources and if you want to forget him, He gives you the means to. Individuality is jivan. Yes transgenders do suffer a lot, but nothing is so simple as men do that, women do that. Its not in everyones individuality to reproduce, to become a householder. I am sure its all easy for you having to please your female body with its natural work in this life, youve been blessed to not have to abhor your phyiscal body. And yes KC can lift all distresses, and since writing this discussion ive realised any action done with Krsna in mind (and as long as its not an offense to Holy) is the best thing you can do.But can you explain the twisted variety of this nature, explain the duty of those who acquire hemaphrodite bodies? Or even boys who at a young age become (and not by there will) eunuchs. I have a hard time understanding that everything can be peachy by simply conforming to a straight secterian society. Yes, KC is the means of solving lifes miseries, but KC is not conforming to society, it is conforming to Krishna, and Krishna is the Absolute. And it ecompasses all existence. otherwise it cant be Absolute. Not to assume or make any offenses but your transgender friends are obviously not always thinking of Krishna , since they struggle with their minds.
  -Hare Krsna
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    - Bhaktin Jenny September 3, 2010 at 12:35am
      
      I must say something on this. Just because let's say, a man wants to performs something that one views as a woman's job does not mean he is tied to his previous life. Why is it so wrong for a man to want to help a woman decorate a temple with flowers? Whats wrong with a man cooking for Krishna? Whats wrong with a man stringing flowers together? I see nothing wrong in that and it does not mean he is tied with their previous lifes. It should be celebrated that a man would want to help the matajis with decorating. Yes, in this age of Kali Yuga everything is different, yes there are certain things a married woman must do as her duty etc...but I think that it is wonderful that a man can help out in woman's duties as well as take part in some of the woman's duties. I think Krsna would smile and bless those that do. As I have stated in other discussions, it does not matter whether you are a monkey, a cat, a dog....human, we can all serve Krishna as we please, Krishna embraces all his devotees. Krsna would not frown upon those that do something out of their regular duties. I'am a woman living under tight conditions due to lack of funds and live in a nasty place with karmis...and until I can move to a residence close to the temple, then things will be better. I perfom Bhakti, I can still be of service to Krsna in these conditions. I go to work, make money to feed myself and my dear friend. I work while my friend goes to school. I do both male and female duties. It does not mean i hold on to my past lives. I'am simply doing what is necessary to live. Maybe someday I can live near the temple on watseka ave.I see nothing wrong with people in general taking part in other duties. We can all do different duties without causing disharmony. Speaking of those families out there whose women work and the children stay at home. It is different because the mother can't be home to nurture her children, when it is not balanced, then it becomes disharmony. That is why everything and all duties must be balanced. PAMHO.
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        nilesh4peace September 3, 2010 at 6:05pm
        
        Hari bol to all bhaktvrinda,
        
        discussion is getting complex and big.
        chant hare krishna and be happy.pls don't use "I must say something on this" such sentense be polite in discussion it may hurt devotee.
        pls forgive me if i presented wrongly and my offenses.
        
        trying to be servant,
        nilesh
ISKCON Desire Tree August 31, 2010 at 7:33am

What you say is true. Our activities should help us transcend the material identity - not just of our sex but also our family, skin colour & nationality.
However, we should also keep in mind that the activity also depends on the kind on body and mind given to a spirit soul by Krishna.
We are suppose to be servant of servant of Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu.
In a marriage a husband should try to assist his wife and vice versa. But there will be certain things based on the body which the husband should do and certain wife should do. This is natural. But this does not mean that they try to dump the work on other partner.
- Bhaktin Jenny > ISKCON Desire Tree August 31, 2010 at 8:39pm
  
  oh yes of course! its all logical, if its a marriage then without love it wouldnt be there to begin with. Outside of what is a marriage, not all devotees marry, my discussion is based on what limitations there are to bhakti yoga, which doesnt make sense if there are any based solely on gender.