Culture evolves through the practical application of a worldview and
ideology and manifests in all aspects of daily life. Culture also promotes
and reinforces the very same underlying worldview. In BG.2.69, Krishna
states how different spiritual and materialistic culture are:
“What is night for all beings is the time of awakening for the self-
controlled; and the time of awakening for all beings is night for the
introspective sage.”
The two cultures are as different as day and night – based on entirely
opposite worldviews and goals in life, and ultimately incompatible. This
day-night principle accompanies us through various aspects of devotional
life: What is success in spiritual life is regarded as weakness and failure
in material life. For example, the qualities of tolerance, shyness and
chastity are highly important qualities within devotional practice, whereas
for a materialist they are seen as undesirable. Furthermore, the attitude
within these two cultures towards various sections of society are entirely
opposite: for example towards the elderly, children and mothers.
Between the “day of the materialist” and the “day of the spiritualist” is a
broad spectrum of all kinds of shades and mixtures. Krishna consciousness
is meant to bring about a transformation, so the day of the materialist
eventually becomes night to us. We are meant to transform our
likes/dislikes, tastes, world views, patterns of behaviour – our very
heart, so that bhakti can grow. Our mundane conditioning is very subtle and
deep – it truly requires a paradigm shift! However, this transformation
cannot be imposed or forced upon people – it can only be inspired.
The first step in spiritual education is to teach sambhanda jnana – our
basic philosophy. Now we require to move to the next level by offering
systematic training and education, how to practically live our philosophy
in our daily life. Such cultural education will give insights into our
Vaishnava culture as being Krishna’s system, which He gives us to establish
stability and harmony in our life, so we can develop our relationship with
Him. It will empower our devotees to make a conscious choice, how much of
which culture they want to invite into their lives.
If this education is not offered, devotees may “go with the flow” and
accept all kinds of modern trends into their lives, seeing them as
progressive and trendy – not realising that they promote the opposite world
view which we don’t want to cultivate. We may encounter the danger of
watering down the process of Krishna consciousness, and the spiritual
strength may get lost.
The following are practical examples where education is highly required:
* Family life as an ashrama. We are not there yet – our high divorce rate
confirms this fact!
* The Vanaprastha ashrama. It is not established!
* Our children are our future! We still maintain the immature
understanding that children are a distraction and burden!
We can conclude that a Vaishnava society will not be able to sustain
without cultural education….!
For further information on this topic please see the video below:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zovvRVtbMyY
Your servant, Devaki dd