Constructive Dialpgue on Varnasrama Dharma evolution of ISKCON

[Guest guest]

On 27 Jul 1999, Janesvara Dasa wrote:

 

> I never take anything away from

> those who are rightly situated and not holding pretentious positions

> wherein they take on responsibilities to innocent people needing help and

> protection for which they are not qualified to provide for sufficiently.

>

> You can't possibly support such misappropriation of resources where the

> result is terrible suffering which can be avoided through proper

> application of varnasrama-dharma management?

 

What would be in your opinion a proper application of varnasrama-dharma

management in ISKCON? Maybe you could inspire us a little bit with your vast

knowledge on this matter.

 

ys

Harsi das

[Guest guest]

> On 27 Jul 1999, Janesvara Dasa wrote:

>

> > I never take anything away from

> > those who are rightly situated and not holding pretentious positions

> > wherein they take on responsibilities to innocent people needing help

and

> > protection for which they are not qualified to provide for sufficiently.

> > You can't possibly support such misappropriation of resources where the

> > result is terrible suffering which can be avoided through proper

> > application of varnasrama-dharma management?

 

 

> What would be in your opinion a proper application of varnasrama-dharma

> management in ISKCON? Maybe you could inspire us a little bit with your

vast

> knowledge on this matter.

 

 

I do not have "vast" knowledge on this matter. I have been studying

varnasrama-dharma for the last 26 years and the more I read the more I

realize how little I know. With the help of genuinely interested souls like

you we can team up and truly fulfill Prabhupadas wishes to complete his

mission - varnasrama dharma.

 

In my opinion a proper application of varnasrama dharma management in ISKCON

would first start with the opening of varnasrama counseling/discussion rooms

in EVERY center for EVERY devotee, EVERYDAY. The study of all of Srila

Prabhupada's conversations and references about varnasrama dharma should be

read everyday and discussed openly and enthusiastically amongst temple, farm

and household devotees. The goal is to engage everyone in an occupation

amongst the four divisions of "need" for the "body" of the movement; head,

arms, belly and feet. Natural inclination of people can used to advantage to

divide properly and with consideration for peoples natural desires, but

training can be done to bring anyone to the standard of a varna occupation.

 

It is said by some sentimentalists and speculators that "the varnas already

exist naturally so why don't we just let everyone just live naturally

according to this or that job and let the chips fall where they may". This

is foolish and not supported by scripture.

 

"These four classes of men are already there according to nature, BUT it is

the governments duty to see that all four of these classes follow the

principles of their varnas METHODICALLY. " SB 4.29.81.

 

In every temple, asrama or farm or any community of devotees or people,

there are four things which need to be done: intellectual, administrative,

productive and assistance/labor. ISKCON management MUST provide organized

and methodical training and occupations according to the four varnas.

Qualifications must be obtained and substantiated before assuming positions.

[Guest guest]

> On 27 Jul 1999, Janesvara Dasa wrote:

>

> > I never take anything away from

> > those who are rightly situated and not holding pretentious positions

> > wherein they take on responsibilities to innocent people needing help

and

> > protection for which they are not qualified to provide for sufficiently.

> > You can't possibly support such misappropriation of resources where the

> > result is terrible suffering which can be avoided through proper

> > application of varnasrama-dharma management?

 

 

> What would be in your opinion a proper application of varnasrama-dharma

> management in ISKCON? Maybe you could inspire us a little bit with your

vast

> knowledge on this matter.

 

 

I do not have "vast" knowledge on this matter. I have been studying

varnasrama-dharma for the last 26 years and the more I read the more I

realize how little I know. With the help of genuinely interested souls like

you we can team up and truly fulfill Prabhupadas wishes to complete his

mission - varnasrama dharma.

 

In my opinion a proper application of varnasrama dharma management in ISKCON

would first start with the opening of varnasrama counseling/discussion rooms

in EVERY center for EVERY devotee, EVERYDAY. The study of all of Srila

Prabhupada's conversations and references about varnasrama dharma should be

read everyday and discussed openly and enthusiastically amongst temple, farm

and household devotees. The goal is to engage everyone in an occupation

amongst the four divisions of "need" for the "body" of the movement; head,

arms, belly and feet. Natural inclination of people can used to advantage to

divide properly and with consideration for peoples natural desires, but

training can be done to bring anyone to the standard of a varna occupation.

 

It is said by some sentimentalists and speculators that "the varnas already

exist naturally so why don't we just let everyone just live naturally

according to this or that job and let the chips fall where they may". This

is foolish and not supported by scripture.

 

"These four classes of men are already there according to nature, BUT it is

the governments duty to see that all four of these classes follow the

principles of their varnas METHODICALLY. " SB 4.29.81.

 

In every temple, asrama or farm or any community of devotees or people,

there are four things which need to be done: intellectual, administrative,

productive and assistance/labor. ISKCON management MUST provide organized

and methodical training and occupations according to the four varnas.

Qualifications must be obtained and substantiated before assuming positions.

[Guest guest]

Someone wrote this -apparent- contradiction:

 

> In my opinion a proper application of varnasrama dharma management in

>ISKCON would first start with the opening of varnasrama

>counseling/discussion rooms in EVERY center for EVERY devotee, EVERYDAY. >The

study of all of Srila Prabhupada's conversations and references about

varnasrama dharma should be read everyday and discussed openly and

enthusiastically amongst temple, farm and household devotees.

 

That sounds so nice, especially the "and discussed openly". But then, the

author adds:

 

>It is said by some sentimentalists and speculators that "the varnas >already

exist naturally so why don't we just let everyone just live >naturally

according to this or that job and let the chips fall where >they may". This is

foolish and not supported by scripture.

[Guest guest]

Someone wrote this -apparent- contradiction:

 

> In my opinion a proper application of varnasrama dharma management in

>ISKCON would first start with the opening of varnasrama

>counseling/discussion rooms in EVERY center for EVERY devotee, EVERYDAY. >The

study of all of Srila Prabhupada's conversations and references about

varnasrama dharma should be read everyday and discussed openly and

enthusiastically amongst temple, farm and household devotees.

 

That sounds so nice, especially the "and discussed openly". But then, the

author adds:

 

>It is said by some sentimentalists and speculators that "the varnas >already

exist naturally so why don't we just let everyone just live >naturally

according to this or that job and let the chips fall where >they may". This is

foolish and not supported by scripture.