Can anyone answer this?

[Guest guest]

Question: Is a person whose life is not centered around Kåñëa, but who

follows the regulated principles of different orders of life,

transcendentally situated?

 

 

The varnaasrama institution has been made to make the general people follow the

regulative principles but such observance is not devoid of Krsna Consciousness

as stated and confirmed from the following references. For only devotees can be

transcendentally situated in the strict sense of the term.

 

References:

___________________

atah pumbhir dvija-srestha

varnasrama-vibhagasah

svanusthitasya dharmasya

samsiddhir hari-tosanam

SYNONYMS

atah -- so; pumbhih -- by the human being; dvija-sresthah -- O best among the

twice-born; varna-asrama -- the institution of four castes and four orders of

life; vibhagasah -- by the division of; svanusthitasya -- of one's own

prescribed duties; dharmasya -- occupational; samsiddhih -- the highest

perfection; hari -- the Personality of Godhead; tosanam -- pleasing.

TRANSLATION

O best among the twice-born, it is therefore concluded that the highest

perfection one can achieve by discharging the duties prescribed for one's own

occupation according to caste divisions and orders of life is to please the

Personality of Godhead.

PURPORT

Human society all over the world is divided into four castes and four orders of

life. The four castes are the intelligent caste, the martial caste, the

productive caste and the laborer caste. These castes are classified in terms of

one's work and qualification and not by birth. Then again there are four orders

of life, namely the student life, the householder's life, the retired and the

devotional life. In the best interest of human society there must be such

divisions of life, otherwise no social institution can grow in a healthy state.

And in each and every one of the above mentioned divisions of life, the aim

must be to please the supreme authority of the Personality of Godhead. This

institutional function of human society is known as the system of

varnasrama-dharma, which is quite natural for the civilized life. The

varnasrama institution is constructed to enable one to realize the Absolute

Truth. It is not for artificial domination of one division over another. When

the aim of life, i.e., realization of the Absolute Truth, is missed by too much

attachment for indriya-priti, or sense gratification, as already discussed

hereinbefore, the institution of the varnasrama is utilized by selfish men to

pose an artificial predominance over the weaker section. In the Kali-yuga, or

in the age of quarrel, this artificial predominance is already current, but the

saner section of the people know it well that the divisions of castes and

orders of life are meant for smooth social intercourse and high-thinking

self-realization and not for any other purpose.

Herein the statement of Bhagavatam is that the highest aim of life or the

highest perfection of the institution of the varnasrama-dharma is to cooperate

jointly for the satisfaction of the Supreme Lord. This is also confirmed in the

Bhagavad-gita (4.13).

SB 1.2.14

 

>>> Ref. VedaBase => SB 1.2.14

_____________________________

TRANSLATION

The highest perfection of human life, achieved either by complete knowledge of

matter and spirit, by practice of mystic powers, or by perfect discharge of

occupational duty, is to remember the Personality of Godhead at the end of

life.

PURPORT

Narayana is the transcendental Personality of Godhead beyond the material

creation. Everything that is created, sustained, and at the end annihilated is

within the compass of the mahat-tattva (material principle) and is known as the

material world. The existence of Narayana, or the Personality of Godhead, is

not within the jurisdiction of this mahat-tattva, and as such, the name, form,

attributes, etc. of Narayana are beyond the jurisdiction of the material world.

By the speculation of empiric philosophy, which discerns matter from spirit, or

by cultivation of mystic powers, which ultimately helps the performer to reach

any planet of the universe or beyond the universe, or by discharge of religious

duties, one can achieve the highest perfection, provided one is able to reach

the stage of narayana-smrti, or constant remembrance of the Personality of

Godhead. This is possible only by the association of a pure devotee, who can

give a finishing touch to the transcendental activities of all jnanis, yogis,

or karmis, in terms of prescribed duties defined in the scriptures. There are

many historical instances of the achievement of spiritual perfection, such as

that of the Sanakadi Rsis or the nine celebrated Yogendras, who attained

perfection only after being situated in the devotional service of the Lord.

None of the devotees of the Lord ever deviated from the path of devotional

service by taking to other methods as adopted by the jnanis or yogis. Everyone

is anxious to achieve the highest perfection of his particular activity, and it

is indicated herein that such perfection is narayana-smrti, for which everyone

must endeavor his best. In other words, life should be molded in such a manner

that one is able to progressively remember the personality of Godhead in every

step of life.

SB 2.1.7

 

>>> Ref. VedaBase => SB 2.1.7

_______

 

PURPORT

There are three kinds of men within this material world. Those who are trying

to enjoy the senses to the utmost are called karmis, above them are the jnanis,

who try to conquer the urges of the senses, and above them are the yogis, who

have already conquered the senses. None of them, however, are situated in a

transcendental position. Only devotees. who belong to none of the

above-mentioned groups, are transcendental. As explained in Bhagavad-gita

(14.26):

mam ca yo 'vyabhicarena

bhakti-yogena sevate

sa gunan samatityaitan

brahma-bhuyaya kalpate

"One who engages in full devotional service, who does not fall down in any

circumstance, at once transcends the modes of material nature and thus comes to

the level of Brahman." Lord Brahma herein advises Priyavrata to remain

transcendental in the fortress not of family life but of the lotus feet of the

Lord (abja-nabhanghri-saroja). When a bumblebee enters the opening of a lotus

flower and drinks its honey, it is fully protected by the petals of the lotus.

The bee is undisturbed by sunshine and other external influences. Similarly,

one who always seeks shelter at the lotus feet of the personality of Godhead is

protected from all dangers. It is therefore said in Srimad-Bhagavatam

(10.14.58):

samasrita ye pada-pallava-plavam

mahat-padam punya-yaso murareh

bhavambudhir vatsa-padam param padam

padam padam yad vipadam na tesam

For one who has taken shelter of the lotus feet of the Lord, everything becomes

easier. Indeed, even crossing the great ocean of nescience (bhavambudhi) is

exactly like crossing the hoofprint created by a calf (vatsa-padam). For such a

devotee, there is no question of remaining in a place where every step is

dangerous.

Our actual duty is to carry out the supreme order of the Personality of

Godhead. If we are fixed in our determination to carry out the supreme order of

the Lord, we are always secure, regardless of where we are situated, whether in

hell or in heaven. Herein the words prakrtim bhajasva are very significant.

Prakrtim refers to one's constitutional position. Every living entity has the

constitutional position of being an eternal servant of God. Therefore Lord

Brahma advised Priyavrata, "Be situated in your original position as an eternal

servant of the Lord. If you carry out His orders, you will never fall, even in

the midst of material enjoyment." Material enjoyment achieved by dint of one's

fruitive activities differs from material enjoyment given by the Supreme

Personality of Godhead. A devotee sometimes appears to be in a very opulent

position, but he accepts that position to follow the orders of the Supreme

Personality of Godhead. Therefore a devotee is never affected by material

influences. The devotees in the Krsna consciousness movement are preaching all

over the world in accordance with the order of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu. They

have to meet many karmis, but by the mercy of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, they are

unaffected by material influences. He has blessed them, as described in the

Caitanya-caritamrta (Madhya 7.129):

kabhu na badhibe tomara visaya-taranga

punarapi ei thani pabe mora sange

A sincere devotee who engages in the service of Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu by

preaching His cult all over the world will never be affected by visaya-taranga,

material influences. On the contrary, in due course of time he will return to

the shelter of the lotus feet of Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu and will thus

have perpetual association with Him.

SB 5.1.20

 

>>> Ref. VedaBase => SB 5.1.20

 

_________

TEXT 23

TEXT

tasya me tad-anusthanad

yan ahur brahma-vadinah

lokah syuh kama-sandoha

yasya tusyati dista-drk

SYNONYMS

tasya -- his; me -- mine; tat -- that; anusthanat -- by executing; yan -- that

which; ahuh -- is spoken; brahma-vadinah -- by the experts in Vedic knowledge;

lokah -- planets; syuh -- become; kama-sandohah -- fulfilling one's desirable

objectives; yasya -- whose; tusyati -- becomes satisfied; dista-drk -- the seer

of all destiny.

TRANSLATION

Maharaja Prthu said: I think that upon the execution of my duties as king, I

shall be able to achieve the desirable objectives described by experts in Vedic

knowledge. This destination is certainly achieved by the pleasure of the

Supreme Personality of Godhead, who is the seer of all destiny.

PURPORT

Maharaja Prthu gives special stress to the word brahma-vadinah ("by the experts

in the Vedic knowledge"). Brahma refers to the Vedas, which are also known as

sabda-brahma, or transcendental sound. Transcendental sound is not ordinary

language, although it appears to be written in ordinary language. Evidence from

the Vedic literature should be accepted as final authority. In the Vedic

literature there is much information, and of course there is information about

the execution of a king's duty. A responsible king who executes his appointed

duty by giving proper protection to all living entities on his planet is

promoted to the heavenly planetary system. This is also dependent upon the

pleasure of the Supreme Lord. It is not that if one executes his duty properly

he is automatically promoted, for promotion depends upon the satisfaction of

the Supreme Personality of Godhead. It must ultimately be concluded that one

can achieve the desired result of his activities upon satisfying the Supreme

Lord. This is also confirmed in the First Canto, Second Chapter, of

Srimad-Bhagavatam: (SB 1.2.13)

atah pumbhir dvija-srestha

varnasrama-vibhagasah

svanusthitasya dharmasya

samsiddhir hari-tosanam

The perfection of one's execution of his appointed duties is the ultimate

satisfaction of the Supreme Lord. The word kama-sandohah means "achievement of

the desired result." Everyone desires to achieve the ultimate goal of life, but

in modern civilization the great scientists think that man's life has no plan.

This gross ignorance is very dangerous and makes civilization very risky.

People do not know the laws of nature, which are the rulings of the Supreme

Personality of Godhead. Because they are atheists of the first order, they have

no faith in the existence of God and His rulings and therefore do not know how

nature is working. This gross ignorance of the mass of people, including even

the so-called scientists and philosophers, makes life a risky situation in

which human beings do not know whether they are making progress in life.

According to Srimad-Bhagavatam (7.5.30), they are simply progressing to the

darkest region of material existence. Adanta-gobhir visatam tamisram. The Krsna

consciousness movement has therefore been started to give philosophers,

scientists, and people in general the proper knowledge about the destiny of

life. Everyone should take advantage of this movement and learn the real goal

of life.

SB 4.21.24

 

>>> Ref. VedaBase => SB 4.21.24

_____________________________

_______

[Guest guest]

> TRANSLATION:

> The transcendental qualities are conducive to liberation, whereas the

> demoniac qualities make for bondage. Do not worry, O son of Pandu, for you

> are born with the divine qualities.

>

> PURPORT:

> Lord Krsna encouraged Arjuna by telling him that he was not born with

> demoniac qualities. His involvement in the fight was not demoniac, because

> he was considering the pros and cons. He was considering whether

> respectable persons such as Bhisma and Drona should be killed or not, so

> he was not acting under the influence of anger, false prestige or

> harshness. Therefore he was not of the quality of the demons. For a

> ksatriya, a military man, shooting arrows at the enemy is considered

> transcendental, and refraining from such a duty is demoniac. Therefore

> there was no cause for Arjuna to lament. Anyone who performs the

> regulative principles of the different orders of life is transcendentally

> situated.

>

> >>> Ref. VedaBase => Bg 16.5

>

> Question: Is a person whose life is not centered around Kåñëa, but who

> follows the regulated principles of different orders of life,

> transcendentally situated?

 

I'd say that dharmic lifestyle without direct KC (a la Manu) is

transcendental in a sense that such persons are within the scope of

varnasrama which gradually leads to Transcendence. Still, if one doesn't

reach the goal, Krishna, or turns one's back to Him, it's an useless effort

as per Visnu Purana 3.8.9. See the lila with Vedic brahmanas and their wives

giving food to Krishna and boys (SB 10.23).

 

Hope this helps

 

ys bh. Jan

 

www.veda.harekrsna.cz (Bhakti-yoga Vedic Encyclopedia Vedic Library)