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I do not prevent men from sitting around me. In fact, in the office, there are quite a
number of them always surrounding me. They sit on the bench provided for visitors; and the
ladies, naturally in keeping with Indian tradition, sit on the ground, around my table. While
walking about, the European custom prevails; and the men, of their own accord, let the ladies
first. Therefore, the ladies seem to crowd round me and the men walk a few paces behind.
But, when all is said and done, no one can deny that women have more devotion than
men who have been endowed with more of intellect. It is the ladies’ devotion that makes them
sit near my table in the office; and it is the men’s intellect that makes them question the propriety
thereof! When the intellectual man cultivates devotion too, the result is an understanding heart
and breadth of vision that lead him soon to Self-realization.
I am as much interested in the spiritual welfare of women as in that of men; perhaps I take
a little more interest in guiding women on the path of Sadhana. There are three reasons for this.
Firstly, you know the wise saying: “The hand that rocks the cradle rules the world”. Woman is
the maker of man; if she is spiritual, then there is no doubt that the whole of mankind would be
pious and peaceful. Secondly, while men all over the world are busy running after the shadow,
trying to acquire wealth and the useless objects of this world, it is the women who preserve
Dharma as best as they can. They need all the spiritual strength and encouragement that we can
provide them. Thirdly, as man’s “better half”, I know that if woman is spiritually inclined, she
will not leave her man behind, but will take him along with her on the spiritual path. She is
man’s ‘Sahadharmini’, and even if in the busy work-a-day world man forgets his role for a while,
woman will not; and she will be patiently working for his welfare and will convert him to the life
divine.

From "May I answer that" by Swami Sivananda (1987-1963). More Informations on Swami Sivananda: on the Website of Divine Life Society, Photographs of Swami Sivananda, German Pages on Swami Sivananda