Question 1: Should married women be employed and earn money for living as well as men?

The woman has a sacred role as a mother and homemaker that we should honor. Her place in forming a harmonious society is pivotal. Every woman holds the Shakti power and grace of the Divine Feminine and should cultivate the nurturing, calming and compassionate aspect of her deeper nature to sustain universal peace and harmony, starting with her immediate relationships.

Yet women today must have some vocational training for their emotional and mental well-being. It has become almost a necessity in the modern world that wives have to work to augment the family income. This may be unfortunate but has become a reality that many families must face.

Whether women should have a job also depends upon the welfare and financial status of the family. Besides the monetary aspect it is important that young children have a mother in the home during their formative years. Personal guidance, structure and spiritual initiation is very important in the child’s growing years.

WHAT DO YOU THINK IS THE IMPORTANCE OF FAMILY LIFE FOR HARMONIC MATERIAL AND SPIRITUAL LIFE?
 

Dr. David Frawley:  In yogic thought there are four stages of life, the childhood phase (Brahmacharya), the householder phase (Grihastha), retirement in nature (Vanaprastha) and the renunciate (Sannyasa). It is said that the householder stage where one raises a family and provides for others is the most important, that it is the very pillar and foundation for all the rest. It is the Lakshmi phase through which all the other stages of life are cared for. So it is central for the health of society.

At an individual level there are two approaches to the spiritual life reflecting these. The first is the monastic, renunciate or sadhu tradition in which one gives up all family life, which emphasizes the fourth stage of life. The second is householder tradition in which one continues with the family life but does spiritual practices along with it.

In the Hindu religion, monks and priests are different and also reflect these two roles. Monks renounce the world and generally do not participate in ceremonies or perform priestly roles, except as special attendees. Priests are part of the society and marry and have children. Yet those who are not priests also are expected to marry and contribute to the welfare of the society. For the performance of Hindu and Vedic rituals both the husband and wife are required.