Visakha Priya dasi: Points to be considered
1.Throughout his books, Srila Prabhupada is acquainting us with the Vedic civilization, which is the closest model to the perfect, eternal life of the spiritual world. Vedic culture is meant to show how conditioned souls can return back home back to Godhead while simultaneously enjoying life in the material world. “The demigods, being pleased by sacrifices, will also please you, and thus, by cooperation between men and demigods, prosperity will reign for all.” (Bg 3.11)
2.In Kali-yuga, things have deteriorated to such an extent that everyone is born a sudra (kalau sudra sambhavah) and everything is “topsy-turvy.” Consequently, demons take birth in brahmana families, women have begun supplanting men in all spheres of life, and our ecology is on the brink of disaster.
3.The only way to get out of this predicament is to take up the process of Krsna consciousness, which first and foremost consists in chanting the Lord’s holy name. In this connection, the Caitanya-caritamrta states: “ ‘Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura says that a person who simply chants the holy name of Krsna once becomes perfect and should be regarded as a Vaisnava. This is confirmed by Srila Rupa Gosvami in his Upadesamrta (5): krsneti yasya giri tam manasadriyeta. With such faith in the holy name one may begin a life of Krsna consciousness. But an ordinary person cannot chant the holy name of Krsna with such faith. One should accept the holy name of Krsna to be identical with the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Transcendence Himself. As the Padma Purana states, ‘The holy name of Krsna is identical with Krsna and is like a cintamani gem, a touchstone. That name is Krsna personified in sound and is therefore perfectly transcendental and eternally liberated from material contamination.’ Thus one should understand that the name ‘Krsna’ and Krsna Himself are identical. Having such faith, one must continue to chant the holy name.” (Cc M 15.106)
4.Since, just like a touchstone can turn bell metal into gold, the holy name has the power to change any wretched individual into a pure devotee, there is no question of discriminating between the false identities of male and female in our International Society for Krishna Consciousness. We are simply wasting our time arguing over it.
5.Daivi-varnasrama is based on qualities, not on birth, and before dreaming of reestablishing it in a society entirely made up of sudras and demons in the garb of brahmanas, one needs to consider the time, place, and circumstances and make adjustments accordingly. Then perhaps it can work.
6.“Harer nama harer nama harer namaiva kevalam, kalau nasty eva nasty eva nasty eva gatir anyatha.”
7.“Lord Visnu advised King Prthu that everyone should follow the principles of varnasrama-dharma; then, in whatever capacity one remains within this material world, his salvation is guaranteed after death. In this age, however, since the system of varnasrama-dharma is topsy-turvy, it is very difficult to strictly follow all the principles. The only method for becoming perfect in life is to develop Krsna consciousness. As varnasrama-dharma is executed from different positions by different men, so the Krsna consciousness principles can be followed by everyone in every part of the world.” ( SB 4.20.15 purport)