By Parasurama Dasa
IDVM Conducts 4 day ISKCON LEAD Seminar on Varnasrama Dharma
To train the leaders on the importance and urgency of establishing varnasrama dharma, both within our own ISKCON society as well as within society at large, forms an important part of Srila Prabhupada’s mission. Taking up this service, the ISKCON Daiva Varnasrama Ministry (IDVM) of India which was formally established in November of 2009, conducted a 4 day seminar on varnasrama in conjunction with ISKCON LEADS (Leadership Education and Development System), a GBC Succession Committee Initiative established in 2008. Participants of the ISKCON LEADS seminars are those devotees who have been recommended to be trained up as future leaders of our society.
The four days seminar was conducted from 7th to 10th of September 2010 in the beautiful temple complex of ISKCON Sri Sri Radha Shyamasundara in the city of Vadodara. Vadodara, formally known as Baroda, is among one of the most important cities of the state of Gujarat, India. Close to 40 delegates from ten ISKCON centers participated in the educational event. Each day was divided in four 90 minute sessions with oral presentations, group discussions, videos, power points, Q&A, etc., thus keeping both the speakers and the participants very much involved.
The theme for the first day was “Introducing Varnasrama Dharma”. HG Hari Kirtana prabhu, State Director for IDVM, acted as MC for the entire 4 day courses. The seminar started with the introduction of participants as well as understanding their expectation from the seminar. A group discussion was conducted to discuss the main obstacles faced to implement the varnasrama mission. This was followed by a presentation by HH Bhakti Raghava Swami Maharaja giving a general introduction to varnasrama dharma. After lunch HG Bharat Chandra prabhu, National Coordinator for IDVM, presented 10 main reasons to convince the audience that it’s important and urgent to establish varnasrama dharma. He quoted extensively from discourses of Srila Prabhupada, as compiled in the Book “Varnasrama Dharma” by HG Hare Krishna dasi. This was followed by the video “Story of Stuff” with gives a clear insight to the suicidal nature of the current economy. The last session, take up by HG Parasurama prabhu, National Secretary for IDVM, gave an overview on the “History of Varnasrama”, explaining various causes of its degradation with extensive quotes from previous acaryas on the need to establish varnasrama dharma.
The second day theme was –“Pre-ISKCON and ISKCON Varnasrama Dharma Development in India”. The first session was covered by HH Bhakti Raghava Swami Maharaj who spoke on “ISKCON’s Four Movements”. References were taken from Srila Prabhupada’s letter of 1949 written to the then Deputy Prime Minister of India – Sardar Dr. Vallavbhai Patel, also well known as the Iron Man of India. The same topic was again presented in Srila Prabhupada’s essay Conceptions of Gita Nagari written in 1956. This was followed by a touching video entitled “The Fourth Wave”, containing some of the last instructions of Srila Prabhupada emphasizing the need to establish varnasrama dharma. The next session was taken by HG Hari Kirtana prabhu who spoke on the “50% Unfulfilled Task of Srila Prabhupada”. After lunch prasadam, HG Bharat Chandra prabhu spoke on the “Varnasrama Ministry Mandate” followed by a group discussion on ideas to implement varnasrama dharma. The last session covered a series of reports such as “Youth Development in India” presented by HG Radheshyam prabhu Temple President of ISKCON Pune, a brief report on the “Govardhana Eco Village” project near Mumbai, the “Venu Madhuri project” in Maharastra and a report on the “Sahyadri Sri Krishna Balarama Ksetra” farm near Udupi in South Karnataka.
The third day theme was the “Global Overview of Varnasrama Dharma Development”. In the first session HH Bhakti Raghava Swami Maharaj shared some statistics of global varnasrama development. This was followed by a video on the success story of the “Krishna Valley Farm” project in Hungary under the leadership of HH Sivaram Maharaja and the “Gita Nagari Baru” project in Indonesia as explained by HG Kisora Krsna prabhu, National Coordinator for varnasrama development in Indonesia. All the participants were very much impressed by the success story of Indonesia project where the whole society had developed since the last 10 years living a simple life even without the use of electricity. After lunch prasadam, HG Hari Kirtana prabhu gave a presentation on “Sikshalaya, Gurukula and Varnasrama College” showing scenes of the remote village of Gundaypalayam in AP. The last session was given by HG Bharat Chandra prabhu on “Self-sufficiency and Reviving Village Technologies”.
The last day theme was “How to Get Involved”. The first session covered “Activities of Brahmanas within Varnasrama” prepared by HG Gaura Nataraja prabhu, Ministry National Director for Education wherein he stressed the need to establish traditional occupations such as Yoga, Astrology, Vastu, etc. The presentation was presented by HG Parasurama prabhu. The next session was on “Practical Application for Kshatriyas, Vaisyas and Sudras”. Discussions were held on “How to Start a New Village Community” and “How to Adopt an Existing Village”. After lunch prasadam, HG Venu Gopal prabhu, National Director for Varnasrama Research Teams (VRT) spoke on the need to establish “Varnasrama Research Teams” in every major city of India where we have temples. A short video entitled “Story of Rocks” was shown, a critic on the temporary nature of modern civilization. This was followed by feedbacks and general question and answers, vote of thanks given by HG Vamsi Vadan prabhu, national secretary for ISKCON LEADS in India.
Everyone felt greatly inspired to take up and contribute to the need of establishing the varnasrama mission. Good accommodation facilities were nicely arranged for all the participants by HG Basu Ghosh prabhu, ISKCON Baroda Temple President. All were very pleased by the wonderful prasadam arrangements and especially with cow milk from the temple’s own goshala. On the last day a special feast was given in the temple’s elegant Govinda’s Restaurant. What follows are a few comments from some of the participants:
“I really heartily appreciate all the efforts that the ministry is taking for advancing the cause of Varnasrama in ISKCON. Especially the towering presence of HH Bhakti Raghava Swami is very convincing. His purity and a life of purpose touches the heart most” – HG Kanai Thakur Dasa – ISKCON Pune.
HG Nanda Dulal Dasa of Mumbai gave feedback that the presentation on “Obstacles in Implementation” and “How to Implement Varnasrama” attracted him the most. He suggested having regular articles on different aspects of Varnasrama in the Back to Godhead magazine to help advancing the cause.
“I really liked and (am) inspired by the dedicated efforts of the team. Your life is meaningful and successful because you are dedicating your life to accomplish Srila Prabhupada’s one of the important desires, which will be very pleasing to HH Bhakti Raghava Maharaj and Srila Prabhupada” – HG Sadayogi Dasa – ISKCON Baroda
“I am really inspired by such a bold and dedicated stand, which you all have taken to serve all humanity and ISKCON devotees. And this inspired me to take this 4th wave seriously along with all (other) 3. – HG Muraru Dasa – Pune
“I aspire to take the dust of the devotees who are doing these (varnasrama) projects and pray the Lord to give you the intelligence and infrastructure and manpower to go ahead” – HG Kesavananda Dasa, Pune.