Reviving Varnasrama

The other day being interested to read, I downloaded a copy of Chanakya-niti-sastra from ISKCON desire tree. It is a very nice translation by one of ISKCON devotees, a disciple of Srila Prabhupada. The reason I wanted to learn Chanakya niti is because firstly Srila Prabhupada used to quote Chanakya pandit many times in his lectures. We know the most quoted ones are matravat para daresu paradravesu lostravat…, ayusah ksana ekopi na labhyah svarna-kotibhih..,putra hinam grham sunyam etc. In Srila Prabhupada lectures and books we can see numerous places where Prabhupada quotes moral principles mentioning Chanakya pandit. The author of this translation also mentions in the introduction that Srila Prabhupada had expressed a desire that Sri Chanakya Niti-Sastra be properly translated into English. Secondly why I wanted to read this book is that devotees are expected to be intelligent even in worldly dealings. We see even our acharyas like Srila Rupa gosvami, Sanatana gosvami, Jiva g...

Varnasrama is a very powerful model for running the society; everyone will be happy in their lives and they will be successful both materially and spiritually. Krishna consciousness along with varnasrama dharma is an ultimate combination for delivering the whole world, for the betterment of the entire mankind. But what is the step now for the better future? From what I have heard from great souls and from what I understood from my scriptural study I have listed down a few steps within my comprehension. 1. Huge outreach:- We have to reachout the scriptural message to all different kinds of people. It shouldn't just go to one section of people. The message should go to all the leaders of society firstly. In Srimad Bhagavatam it is mentioned that the parents, teachers, heads of state and the king are the natural leaders of the society. So, firstly they have to understand how to live their lives in a god conscious way. They should understand the religious principles and they hav...

Prabhupada: Varnasrama-dharma should be introduced all over the world, and... Satsvarupa: Introduced starting with ISKCON community? Prabhupada: Yes. Yes. Brahmana, ksatriyas. There must be regular education. Hari-sauri: But in our community, if the..., being as we're training up as Vaisnavas... Prabhupada: Yes. Hari-sauri: ...then how will we be able to make divisions in our society? Prabhupada: Vaisnava is not so easy . The Varnasrama -dharma should be established to become a Vaisnava. It is not so easy to become Vaisnava. Hari-sauri: No, it's not a cheap thing. Prabhupada: Yes. Therefore, this should be made. Vaisnava, to become Vaisnava, is not so easy. If Vaisnava, to become Vaisnava is so easy, why so many fall down, fall down? It is not easy. —Room Conversation Varnasrama System Must Be Introduced Mayapura 14 February 1977   Actually, a Vaisnava is above this Varnasrama -dharma. But we don't claim that we have become perfect Vaisnava. We are...

Prabhupada: So one side, there is no rain; one side, there is no rice, especially in India; and one side, heavy tax. So they'll be all confused. They have already become confused. So in the confusion state it will be very difficult to make them Krishna conscious. Therefore preliminary help should be given. Visnujana: Preliminary. Prabhupada: Yes. That they should not be in chaos and confusion. Otherwise, how the brain will work? Visnujana: Yes. No one can give rapt attention without peace of mind. Prabhupada: Yes, yes. Our main aim is how to give them Krishna consciousness. But if they are already disturbed in every respect, then how they'll take it? Therefore we are taking these subjects, to help him to come to the Krishna consciousness. And this is the method-varnasrama. Visnujana: ...This is the most auspicious work for now, is this remedial measure to stop the chaos in the world? Prabhupada: Yes. Visnujana: That's most auspicious. Prabhupada: Most auspicious. Because...

Nowadays we see that although people are having better facilities of life, more technology which is making their life easier, more and more comforts etc., still there are sufficient number of people who are deep down not happy and satisfied with the way they are living their lives. On an average, people's lives have become very complicated; anyone you touch and ask them about their problems they either have health problems (majorly) or financial problems or family problems or relationship problems or legal issues or property litigations and many more. Common man is very very disturbed mentally. Some people are earning lot of money but they are not an exception. Somehow if we carefully observe, the life in the cities is pointless. Because cities are centred around luxury and higher standard of living. In cities everything is expensive. Food, clothing and shelter which are a fundamental requirement for everyone are very expensive on an average. Moreover, the principle of city life i...

Varnasrama in a nutshell means performing ones duties according to ones nature and work. Everybody has got a particular nature according to ones past karmic activities and also according to what one associates with in this lifetime as well. This is actually the secondary nature whereas the primary nature is that of the soul, but because of the bodily identification the secondary nature becomes very prominently functional and the primary nature of the soul is very much covered up. The goal of our life should be to revive our primary nature which is what we call as self realization by which one can become free from the innumerable sufferings of this world and be situated in ones natural position as a servant of God as sat-cit-ananda.. eternal, full of knowledge and bliss. But reviving our primary nature is a gradual process and the identification with the gross and subtle bodies which has been there from many lifetimes does not go away so fast. For that one has to do two things simul...