By HH Bhakti Raghava Swami
Money is so dear that one conceives of money as being sweeter than honey. Therefore, who can give up the desire to accumulate money, especially in household life? Thieves, professional servants [soldiers] and merchants try to acquire money even by risking their very dear lives. [SB 7.6.10] “Money is sweeter than honey” is a common expression which has a special significance for most people living in today’s modern era of industrialization. The global politics of governance and diplomacy now place more emphasis on artificial factory-based economic growth than on the traditional natural agriculture-based growth of a country thus forcing people to live in such a way that they will not be able to subsist without receiving a pay check at the end of the month. That is the propaganda being promoted and to a large extent, that is today’s “reality of life”. The recent article entitled “Need to Migrate Workers from Agriculture to Services for High Growth: RBI”, which appeared in the Press Trust of India in Mumbai on June 18, 2010 in no unclear terms give credence to this on-going policy. This trend is a global one which has been in practice now since many decades. That such an article appeared in a public forum simply shows how governments take for granted that economic development through industrialization is meant to be the norm for one and all. [http://beta.profit.ndtv.com/news/show/need-to-migrate-workers-from-agriculture-to-services-for-high-growth-rbi-75760]
For most people in today’s modern world, if one does not receive a pay check at the end of the month, one cannot survive. Those who cannot join the labour force due to illness, lack of job opportunities, or sometimes due to sheer laziness, will approach government established agencies in order to receive social assistance benefits commonly referred to in the West as “welfare assistance”. With rising unemployment in different countries, more and more people are either receiving a monthly “welfare check” or a monthly “unemployment check”. Others, who may be disabled due to either natural calamities or due to the tragedies brought about by the modern way we live, may receive a monthly “disability pension check”. In some of the more “developed” countries people who reach 60 or 65 years of age qualify to receive an “old age pension check” at the end of every month until they expire. All of this is extremely taxing on governments who can only meet such expenditures by levelling increased taxes upon the few healthy folks who can work.
All of the above has come about due to severe deviations from the standard Vedic norms of life. The Vedic view of life is that one should strive for self-realization and be satisfied with whatever Krishna arranges while working a reasonable number of hours a day, the general norm being not more than eight. The goal of life was not based on economic development as we find in modern day society, but on self-development or self-realization. In the Vedic culture, the medium of exchange was not based on an artificial and fraudulent paper money currency but was based rather on real wealth, gold coins and similar minerals. Actual wealth was measured in how much grains one had in stock, in how many cows one protected and in how much land one cultivated. Before marriage, the criteria for accepting a bridegroom was how many cows and how much land he owned.
Canakya Pandita, one of the well known moralists of his times, stated that real happiness was not having to leave home to make a living and not being a debtor. Srila Prabhupada made a similar statement when he said that intelligence means not leaving the village and going to the cities to engage in hard labour. Canakya Pandita also explained that three things should never be neglected: fire, disease and debts. According to the Vedic teachings, “one should own as much as he immediately needs.” [SB 7.13.36]. For this reason, Srila Bhaktisiddanta Sarasvati Thakura would instruct his temple leaders to spend all they had received the same day and thus avoid keeping money which could be a source of anxiety.
Dharma, Artha, Kama, and Moksa
The four pillars in the Vedic culture are found in 1) dharma (religion), 2) artha (money), 3) kama (satisfaction of the senses) and 4) moksa (liberation). Vaisnavas generally reject these four activities thinking them to be maya and binding one to this material world. However, these four activities can either be a source of bondage or a source of liberation depending on the consciousness in which they are performed.
Religion (dharma) practiced for selfish material motivation, money (artha) gained through non-traditional occupations and for merely material pursuits, satisfaction of the senses (kama) performed merely for unrestricted self-centered sense enjoyment and liberation (moksa) pursued for merging into brahman, will certainly bind one more and more to this material world. However, these same activities of dharma, artha, kama and moksa when performed in proper knowledge and understanding of the real goal of life can help one make steady progress in spiritual life. The varnasrama system gives this proper understanding and guidelines as to how such four activities are meant to be performed in life, with a view of satisfying Lord Hari.
Dharma should be performed in the context of devotional service (param dharma) which will result is “yayatma suprasédati” [SB 12.6], where all things will be satisfied. Artha should be in keeping with the standard traditional occupations given within an agrarian based society (production of food and protection of cows, krishi go raksya [Bg 18.43], being by far the most prominent activities) where the emphasis on self-sufficiency and the bartering system resulted in most people not having to deal the local currency. Kama should be performed in a regulated way for the purpose of keeping body and soul together with the goal and higher purpose of rendering devotional service to the Lord. Moksa will then be automatically attained by one who performs the three above activities in such higher consciousness.
Modern Paper Currency Flawed
Within the system of varnasrama, three-fourth of the population does not earn money, namely the brahmacaris, those in the vanaprastha and those in the sannyasa asrama. Grhasthas, in particular the ksatriya householders and the vaisya householders, assisted by the sudra householders, are meant to support the rest of society. The brahmanas and sudra class do not earn money, only the ksatriya class through taxation and the vaisya class, but only one portion of the vaisya class, those engaged in trade, vanijyam. Those engaged in both krishi, agriculture and go-raksya, cow protection, also do not deal with money but rather with goods.
The real currency should be in minerals such as gold or silver, and the real wealth should be in having tangible goods such as land, cows, grains, etc. The artificial paper currency currently in use is both artificial and fraudulent since it does not represent real wealth. Most countries in the world are in severe debts (and increasing every year), including the USA, with only temporary and flawed adjustments being made to salvage the present global economic crisis.
It was only a few decades ago that in most countries of the world, the majority of people were living in rural areas and most people did not even need money. The land is meant to provide for all our necessities of life. Even in a country like Canada, going back to the early part of the 20th century when most Canadians were living in the country, practically speaking all their necessities were met from the land, including clothing and shelter.
The Emerging Politics of Food Scarcity [http://www.earth-policy.org/]
“The last century has seen ballooning populations develop impossible economies – all based on a dream of perpetually cheap energy, and based on ignorance of the laws of finiteness in regards to all the natural elements that make our life possible. The cheap energy bubble is bursting, soil and water are in overdraft, and the result is acute vulnerabilities for nations who’ve exceed their resource base. Industrialized countries amongst these are passing those vulnerabilities along – to nations that still have true wealth (soil, water) but who do not have social infrastructures sufficient to properly protect them. Many poor [countries] are having their natural capital sold out from under them,” said Lester R. Brown, Earth Policy Institute .
Spiritual Economics
The Vedic model of local and global economy is based on simplicity, psychology, logic, and God conscious principles. Sriman Dhanesvara Das is well versed in the basic concepts of varnasrama dharma and has deeply studied the essential teachings of the Bhagavad-gita in the context of economy. He has compiled a Krishna conscious thesis in the form of a book entitled “Spiritual Economics”. A portion of his introduction can help us gain more insight on the topic of money.
“Spiritual Economics as a cross-disciplinary study combining psychology, economics and the spiritual science of the Bhagavad-gita explains why there is vulture capitalism, cut-throat competition, unending economic hardship, exploitation, inequity, and struggle in this world. “Spiritual Economics” explains the origin and solution of our ecological problems. “Spiritual Economics” explains why the present economic methods can do nothing to solve these problems, reveals the actual source of our economic problems, and explains the only factual solution that can create an economy that serves everyone. “Spiritual Economics” explains the actual source of our economic problems and how to solve them, once and for all.”
A Memo From the Past
What Have we Learned in 2064 Years?
The following short message written during the time of the Roman Empire by Cicero (55 BC) gives us a little insight regarding the topic at hand:
“The budget should be balanced, the Treasury should be refilled, public debt should be reduced, the arrogance of officialdom should be tempered and controlled, and the assistance to foreign lands should be curtailed lest Rome become bankrupt. People must again learn to work, instead of living on public assistance.” The answer is: “Nothing.”
Conclusion
As widely advised by our acaryas, whatever money comes our way, we should utilize in the service of the Lord. The Vedic norm is that 50% of one’s income is meant to be used for helping spread Krishna consciousness. Money, when thus used in the Lord’s service, becomes a means of liberation for the living entity. But money used for sense gratification, either self-centered or extended, becomes a source of bondage to this material world.
The varnasrama system is so designed as to help us minimize and ultimately do away with the need for paper money by stressing a lifestyle of simple living and high thinking, in keeping with the principles of self-sufficiency and sustainability, depending on the mercy of the Lord.
HH Bhakti Raghava Swami
For Further details:
Contact the author: “Bhakti Raghava Swami” bhakti.raghava.swami@pamho.net
Or Contact: vrindavanlila.brs@gmail.com
Dear Bhakti Raghava Maharaja
Please, accept my humble obeissances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada.
All glories to Sri Guru & Sri Gauranga.
Thank you for your explanations about what was an ideal society organized around the varnashrama system in Vedic times. Moreover, thank you very much for your involvement, to promote and implement some of the principles of varnashrama within ISKCON.
However, if I may humbly present some point of view, my vision is that we have to:
• be progressive in our presentation and implementation, in a given context
• engage devotees and members of society at large, according to their guna karma
There are several points which are questionable and would face great challenge and opposition from experts in particular and members of society at large, not only because they are supposed to be in illusion and only motivated by greed! In that respect, we have to be careful not to fall into the caricature by a tendency to simplify everything, all the more if we are not experts in economics or other related topics ourselves.
For instance, to dismiss the monetary system, while forgetting that currencies are also backed up by reserve banks which do store huge amounts of gold, is somewhat of a shortcut. Besides, would going back to a generalized barter system really ease everybody’s life?
Another example could be in relation to the assertion that 25% of the society maintain the other 75% i.e. that three ashramas out of four, namely brahmacaris, vanaprasthas and sannyasis, are to be maintained by only one, the grihastas while amongst them, only part of the vaisya community, namely the merchant class, are authorized to earn money, when simultaneously part of it, is being collected in the form of taxes by the ksatriyas…
Then, considering that one is a brahmacari till the age of 25 and a grihasta till the age of 50 (if one chooses not to remain a brahmacari) before entering the vanaprastha ashrama, one may wonder how feasible such a system may be, all the more considering the increased longevity of the population!
Besides, under those circumstances, expecting the only money earning grihasta class, i.e. the merchants, to give away 50% of their income to spread Krishna consciousness, one may also wonder what would be left for those grihasta families to survive unless they have a sufficiently large income (in comparison, Islam suggests 10% and Christianity, to my knowledge, leaves it open). When Bill Gates and Warren Buffet respectively give away 95% and over 80% of their wealth and still remain very much well-off, what would happen to a family having a very limited income, while living in one of our expensive modern cities? In other words, if we unrealistically place the bar too high, the question will then arise of how many will be willing to adhere to such a system…
Of course, the system you depict implies considerably reducing the contemporary standard of living, which is obviously by far much too detrimental to the environment. But one may also wonder how one may be able to convince everyone to renounce modern technology, i.e. cars, computers and internet, airplanes, washing machines, etc., and just have everyone go back to rural life, travel on bullock carts, move from one continent to another by sailing boats, wash the family laundry by hand, etc.
Much resistance will surely manifest, even in India, at a time when India is becoming a super power and has for instance, a worldwide reputed community of computer engineers and IT specialists…
So, rather than promoting another version of the Amish vision of the world, i.e. refusing all modern technology, shouldn’t we promote yukta vairagya, and engage as far as possible everyone and everything in the service of Krishna, in the line of Srila Bhaktisiddantha Sarasvati who went to Radha kunda by car in 1930s, as well as of Srila Prabhupada who used all modern tools to travel the world and spread Krishna consciousness…
In this way, we should promote ideal farm communities where one could live by the slogan “simple living and high thinking” and simultaneously allow the surgeon, the pilot, the scientist, the managing director, etc, to become Krishna conscious while remaining in their position in society…
That is to say that our target in establishing the varnashrama system should be wide enough to embrace all aspects of society and all phases of life…
Let us not forget that Rupa and Sanatana were ministers in the government of the Muslim ruler before joining Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu and dedicating themselves fully to spiritual life!
Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakur was a judge in Puri and Srila Prabhupada acted as a vaisya, running a small pharmaceutical business of his own…
These examples not only show that these great souls were not afraid of becoming involved in society and taking up responsibilities (rather than taking advantage of society by living on welfare, while still criticizing it, like many), but that they were also capable of changing their occupation and thereby both their external varna and ashrama in the course of their lives…
On one hand Srila Bhaktisiddantha said that is the only thing missing in this world was Krishna consciousness and on the other hand, Srila Rupa Goswami mentioned that it was easier to develop some attachment for Krishna, rather than develop some detachment from Maya!
We should therefore allow both people and society to progressively evolve according to the superior master plan of Krishna, as well as under the individual and collective determinism of karma, while facilitating the opportunity for everyone, according to their capacity, to both develop and express their full potential in pleasing Guru and Krishna, through their service…
Thereby, in the present context, rather than only promoting oxen power to plough the fields and thereby only an image of “fundamentalist go back to nature” and “pre-industrial revolution life style”, we should also promote a “post pollution-based mode of production and consumption”, based on renewable sources of energy (solar, wind, tidal, etc), as well as on global sustainable development…
There are many talents around us in the world, and not everyone is ready for no TV, no movie, no nothing, except chanting Hare Krishna all day long, wearing only some loincloth on the bank of the Ganges…
So, it is for us to conceive a new model of society, where we will be able to keep the best of modern technological advancement, and develop it in a environment friendly way, so as to satisfy essential needs such as communicating or traveling, which enabled Srila Prabhupada to spread Krishna consciousness worldwide and also keep everybody happy, by not giving them the impression that Krishna consciousness would mean for the population of developed countries to basically run from riches back to rags…!
In this way, we have to use a lot of pedagogy not to scare everybody away, as well as set some reachable goals, rather than sound like extremists having only utopist unattainable goals…
For instance, when Srila Bhaktisiddanta Sarasvati Thakura would instruct his temple leaders to spend all they had received the same day, it is to be understood that this money was to be engaged in the service of Madhava and for the welfare of manava (mankind), i.e. print and distribute Krishna conscious literature, prasadam, etc. which is to say give in charity the excess lakshmi, so that other jivas be benefited. However, I assume that when it came to building temples, some of the lakshmi was to be saved for that purpose and spent in a timely manner too.
In conclusion, Srila Prabhupada said that “lashmi was his blood”, and not just one more aspect of maya, for we need it to spread Krishna consciousness. In the same way that we accept donations from members of society performing different types of activities, for us to be able to accomplish our daily temple activities, as well as develop our projects, there should also be some scope for existing and aspiring vaishnavas to fulfill their mission in life, by playing the role in society which they have been assigned to, according to their guna karma, and encourage them to cultivate attachment for Krishna, while offering some the fruits of their labor at His lotus feet…
Which may be why, we also need different devotees belonging to various varnas and ashramas to promote and contribute to implementing the varnashrama system, both within our ISKCON society and society at large…
Wishing you all, all the best, I remain
Your servant in the service of Srila Prabhupada
Puskaraksa das
In this too-long response to Maharaja’s article, Puskaraksa ignores proper Vaishnava etiquette, displays much ignorance of the facts, and misses the thrust of what the article is about. Sadly, it seems that everyone is considered equal online, but I would be very surprised if Maharaja is not senior to Puskaraksa by age, initiation, ashrama and education. It would seem therefore that instead of instructing the Swami that he would do better to place some submissive queries, as we are taught by all of our acaryas and throughout the pages of the Srimad-Bhagavatam.
As far as Puskaraksa’s misunderstandings are concerned, NO modern currencies are backed by gold. That standard was removed almost 40 years ago, waaaay back in the 1970s, beginning with Richard Nixon. All of today’s currencies are fiat, which means they are back by nothing more significant than air. And there are many reasons why barter is significantly superior to a money system, and yes, everyone would be better off with barter. Why? Because the money system is designed to allow some people to cheat others without their even being aware of it. There was no widespread poverty before the ubiquitous use of money, which has facilitated extreme disparity in which a mere 500 or so billionaires have the same amount of wealth as half the population of the planet. For more information about that please view the section on my website (spiritual-econ.com) labeled “your economic education.” Also please view the article I am sending to Dandavats today titled “Money and Varnashrama Culture.” Money is indeed an anathema to the Krishna culture.
Further, it is a fact, that formerly at least (before the exploitative notion that mothers should have a paid job), that one-fourth of the population did indeed support the remainder of society, regardless of longevity, which in earlier times was actually quite a bit longer than today.
There are too many points made here to go into detail with all of them. I suggest that before we offer our “suggestions,” that we read more thoroughly Srila Prabhupada’s many comments on the subjects of varnashrama dharma and money, many of which Bhakti Raghava Maharaja repeats in his article, and try to appreciate what Maharaja has brought to us by his long study of the subject.
Dear Dhanesvara Prabhu
Please accept my humble obeissances.
All glories to Srila Prabhupada. All glories to Sri Guru & Sri Gauranga.
I hope you are doing well and are not suffering from some form of pain or anxiety which would explain the way you have rebuked this menial servant of the Vaishnavas.
However, in essence, you are right as I am low, fallen and devoid of any good quality. As a matter of fact, when I study myself carefully, I find nothing of value! So, why would you?
Nevertheless, I am worried about the way you wish to close the door to any form of debate and for anyone to voice an opinion, allowing anyone else to only submissively ask questions, according to criteria such as when each of us joined ISKCON, etc. …!
If an aspiring devotee, like this fallen servant of yours, may accept on the basis of “trinad api sunicena, taror eva sahisnuna” to be accused of all forms of evil, in the form of ignorance at large and ignorance of vaishnava etiquette in particular, for having dared promote a broad-minded vision and progressive implementation of varnasrama within ISKCON and within society at large, I am really worried about the way citizens and scholars of all spheres will feel and react, after having been rebuked in such an unwelcoming way… !
You have perceived me as an enemy, as you felt I was challenging whatever dogma you are promoting. However, please do not you fail to realize that any attempt which would disregard the implementation of Vedic principles according to time, place and circumstances, contrarily to what Srila Prabhupada did and taught us according to the principle of buddhi-yoga, will not be crowned with success.
In that regard, I would first like to reassure you and assert the fact that I am neither Maharaja’s enemy, nor yours. To the contrary, I am aspiring to be worthy of Maharaja’s association, as well as yours, despite my above mentioned obvious lack of spiritual qualifications, and of material qualifications, which you have assumed.
The funny part (if I may keep some sense of humor), is that I am sympathetic to the cause of varnasrama. So, it is not only all the more painful for me to be considered and treated as an enemy, but it would be really counterproductive for you and the cause you try to promote, if you were to turn away all supporters or potential supporters, on the basis of your not allowing them to voice an opinion, all the more if they seem to, even slightly, differ from yours…
The funny part (if I may keep some sense of humor), is that I am sympathetic to the cause of varnasrama. So, it is not only all the more painful for me to be considered and treated as an enemy, but it would be really counterproductive for you and the cause you try to promote, if you were to turn away all supporters or potential supporters, on the basis of your not allowing them to voice an opinion, all the more if they seem to, even slightly, differ from yours…
In that respect, we may, if you kindly allow, seize the opportunity to reflect on the words of Kasyapa Rsi to his dear wife Aditi:
“The demigods are our friends and the demons are our enemies; this vision of the duality of enemy and friend only occurs to those who are infatuated by the illusory energy (maya) of the Supreme Lord. Due to forgetfulness of the Supreme Lord, people experience the negation of knowledge (viparita-buddhi) of their own constitutional position, and consequently all sorts of troubles and difficulties originate. Actually, all are engaged in a mutual interrelationship of love by dint of their relationship with the Supreme Lord. A pure understanding of knowledge does not include any vision of enmity. My advice to you is that you should give up bodily misidentifications along with false relations and worship Hari with full dedication.”
This being said, the fact that the US hold over 8000 tons of gold (which represent over 68% of their Forex reserves) and that the IMF sold, a couple years back, 200 tons of gold to India, etc. is incidental, as are all other points I raised, which you rapidly dismissed as being born out of sheer ignorance…
So, I won’t express myself further on the topic, for the time being, taking into consideration the feed-back you gave and the mood you expressed, which of course, I am aware, doesn’t necessarily reflect either the opinion of all ISKCON members in general, or the personal attitude Maharaja would have himself, as an expected advanced devotee…
Whatever be the case, I guess you are the expert. So, I’ll let you have the final word, as you are my senior…
All glories to you. All glories to your service.
An insignificant servant of the Vaishnavas
Puskaraksa das
Dear Puskaraksa,
Please accept my humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada. Upon reading your reply to Bhakti Raghava Maharaja’s article I was lamenting the culture of the internet. Certainly had you been sitting in front of him during pravachan at which he delivered this same message it is highly doubtful that you would have responded in the same fashion. You would likely have place a submissive inquiry, or a comment or two. Why do we see that Vaishnavas sometimes forget their culture on the internet?
Well, I accuse you, but it seems that I am also guilty of the same. Words expressed online have a different impact than that expressed in person, resulting in flame-wars, etc. that we do not see in personal discussions. By again looking over your reply, and mine, I can understand that I have spoken too strongly. I apologize to you for that.
The fact remains that I do not agree with your statements about money and its value to society, nor the implications that you made regarding money in relationship to Maharaja’s article. If you accept my apology and want to discuss these differences further, please say. I promise to be a gentleman.
Your servant,
Dhanesvara Das
Hare Krsna Puskaraksha prabhu,
Please accept my humble obeisances
All Glories to Srila Prabhupada
All Glories to Sri Sri Guru and Gauranga
First let me thank you for your interest in varnasrama dharma.
I read your ‘technical’ queries related to money and economic structure with great interest. Superficially it may appear that a society economically supported by just one varna and ashrama may crash down, but interestingly the moment we remind ourselves of the fact that varnasrama is Lord’s own creation as He declares in Bhagavad-gītā 4.13: “cätur-varëyaà mayä såñöaà guëa-karma-vibhägaçaù” [According to the three modes of material nature and the work associated with them, the four divisions of human society are created by Me…] many of our doubts will be cleared.
Further, since the Lord Himself is the creator of varnasrama, this too is to be understood as perfect and complete like His ownself:
om purnam adah purnam idam / purnat purnam udacyate
purnasya purnam adaya / purnam evavasisyate [Invocation, Isopanishad.]
[The Personality of Godhead is perfect and complete, and because He is completely perfect, all emanations from Him, such as this phenomenal world, are perfectly equipped as complete wholes. Whatever is produced of the Complete Whole is also complete in itself. Because He is the Complete Whole, even though so many complete units emanate from Him, He remains the complete balance.]
Though technically it may appear that one varna/ ashrama cannot support the rest three and still be good and self-sustainable…IT WILL.
If the Lord can capture countless generations of trees/lives in one tiny seed, cannot He do this? Let us just simply try to follow what the Lord has instructed us, the rest will follow. The problem is we have so farther away from the ideal, that a return seems very difficult, so much so that it borders on impossibility. BUT still it is POSSIBLE, simply because it also happens to be the desire of a pure devotee of the Lord, Srila Prabhupada. I presume, you have already read the varnasrama newsletter (THE EIGHT PETALS) issue that focused on ‘money’ (as your comment indicates in the other section dealing with the release of the concerned newsletter).
Thank you once again for your interest and support to the revival of Daivi-varnasrama dharma!
Aspiring to serve,
Vrndavanlila dd
Dear Dhanesvara Prabhu
Please, accept my humble obeissances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada. All glories to Sri Guru & Sri Gauranga.
Thanks you very much for your apologetic words which I humbly accept with an open heart. It is to be brought to your credit to have the humility to analyse your own attitude and decide on some improvements.
Similarly, I guess I should also apologize to Maharaja in case he felt offended, as it was not my intention. On my part, my menial contribution to the debate is only a based on serving the truth and commonly acting for the welfare of our ISKCON Movement.
I cherish devotees in the core of my heart and pay respects to them everyday…
However, I hope the fact that we may not always agree on everything may not be interpreted as committiing offenses and lacking vaishnava etiquette.
Hoping this finds you well and in goods spirits
Your servant in the service of Srila Prabhupada
Puskaraksa das
Dear Vrindavanlila Mataji, dear devotees
Pranams. All glories to Srila Prabhupada. All glories to Sri Guru & Sri Gauranga.
Of course, far from me the idea of questioning the existence of the four varnas and ashramas set up by the Supreme Personality of Godhead, neither of doubting the potency of the Supreme Whole…
My concern is that, despite the fact that one may have read about the varsashrama system, as it used to be in Vedic times, we still have to be practical and see how what can be best implemented at a given time. The general idea is that we have to be progressive in our implementation and not prematurely try to jump to the end result, prior to having followed a whole necessary transformation process.
In this way, to be preaching, at the present moment, in favor of the eradication of all currencies in the world, to promote the barter system only, is not only unpractical and then unrealistic; but it will also launch some discredit on our whole endeavor, for most people will think we are “dangerous fundamentalists…”.
This is what I took the liberty to warn Maharaja or Dhanesvara Prabhu about, beyond the sincere respect I have for their involvement in promoting varnashrama and the knowledge they have acquired along the way in pursuing this goal, as I believe it will be more beneficial if useful warnings and appropriate support and, at times, counseling comes from within ISKCON, from devotee friends and well-wishers, rather than from external sources who may be much harder and harsher!
In this way, we have to polish our presentation, so that it may not only be accepted by juniors who may complacently behave only as “yes men”, as it should also be sound enough to be able to convince both devotees who are conversant with our contemporary world and beyond, members of society at large who are not only potential devotees but who are also the reservoir of a lot of expertise and assets which should hopefully be engaged in Lord Krishna’s service…
Besides, we should also be careful about not sending the wrong message to devotees.
In this line, when one states that “Grhasthas, in particular the ksatriya householders and the vaisya householders, assisted by the sudra householders, are meant to support the rest of society”, we should be careful about the end result induced by these words within ISKCON (since they will not convince outsiders anyway). As a matter of fact, Srila Prabhupada instructed that in our temples, there should be “no lazy, no crazy”. He also stated “work now, samadhi later”. Beyond pure devotional service has to be ahaituki apratihata, selfless and uninterrupted…
So, where is the question of being supported by others, when one works and is dedicated to serving the Lord’s lotus feet and the mission of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu ?
Is the brahmacari ploughing the land and looking after cows supported by others, because someone else will sell the vegetable he has grown and the dairies he has produced?
Won’t brahamcaris be allowed to distribute and sell Srila Prabhupada’s books anymore?
Should sannyasis refuse donations, for the sake of not dealing with money, even if they could have engaged this lakshmi in Lord Krishna’s service?
Again, we have to be practical, i.e. not encourage laziness and not shift everyone’s responsibility to only a few…
Therefore, I suggest that our preaching be grounded in reality, as Srila Prabhupada’s was, so that we may not only come about with big big theories and allow our egos to become inflated by our big big knowledge and then remain only “the kings” ruling over a small group only (if not “the dictators”, in the worst case, if we do not even allow some elementary freedom of speech), while achieving very limited results only.
In that respect, promoting some rural community based on the “back to nature model” is certainly useful and a clue for the future. But it should not be the only target and concern of our varnashrama implementation program. There are many devotees hosting various talents and qualities who should be engaged in the service of Srila Prabhupada’s mission, according to their guna karma…
Then, they will be able to penetrate all spheres of society and influence others as well…
Let us not forget that the gage set by Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakur is that only when judges in the high court will bear tilak on the forehead, will we be able to acknowledge that we have spread Krishna consciousness successfully…
So, the goal to reach is high and all forces should be welcome…
Farmers may preach to farmers… Business people to their community, etc.. Otherwise, if one pretends to be a know-it-all on all subjects, it won’t work. People will expose our pride, when we should become known for our humility, in the line of the verse Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu “trinad api sunicena taror eve sahisnuna” wich Srila Prabhupada mentioned we should wear like a garland around our neck…
Hoping not to have offended any valuable devotee engaged in Srila Prabhupada’s sacred mission…
I remain a menial & insignificant jiva
Das dasanudasa
Puskaraksa das