Varna: bit by bit

[Guest guest]

Please accept my humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada.

> Would anyone really question

> Srila Prabhupada if he had told them they were of a certain varna?

What I would like to know is did Srila Prabhupada do that?

 

 

> Are there any ISKCON gurus who are determining the varnas of their

> disciples now? I have requested a list of the same but as yet have not

> received a single name.

I know of many who are guiding their disciples into both materially and

spiritual longterm circumstances. However I would not bring up any names

here because you would want me to defend my statement and I am unqualified

for such a task and would feel like intruding on other persons private life.

 

 

> Obviously, Mother Gunamani feels some natural reluctance in the judgment

> of current ISKCON gurus in determining varnas for people like her own

> children and this is quite mature and wise.

 

Sorry for not expressing myself clear enough,

> I personally feel that we should notice and keep the word *guide* as very

> important, thus keeping the free choice. When dealing with my own kids I

> certainly know that this is the only possible way.

I might be quite sure about my kids varna/qualities but how and why should

I force them to accept my judgement? I am speaking real life here now, it is

a practical example, I am not a guru but I have a some responsibility and a

desire to see my children rightly placed in life. They might accept my

proposals, they might not, should I force them then, how would that work

out? Should I reject them if they dont follow my requests? Should I give

them instructions I know they will not follow, would that benefit them? I

personally chose to try to *guide* allowing mistakes, allowing others their

own decisions and their own responsibility for the decisions they take.

What do you do with your kids?

I think that one of the main ways for us to really start that VADsociety is

to take care of our young people. Not by forcing them into imature

initiations/positions or a varna they will have to keep their whole life,

but by somehow providing them training and work into an area in which they

themselves have an interest and will feel comfortable. I feel at present

that we have very little to offer them in that connection. Practically

nothing, at least around here.

What we need for that is not perfected pure devotees, we simply need to

make a system where all the qualified people with all of their nice skills

and abilities can share it with others. But in traditional templelife it

seems like there will never be time for it. So maybe it will have to come

from the bottom instead of from the top. We can all become perfect in some

area and then we should know it to be our duty to give some time for

training others. At least that is my program.

Part of that is to somehow establish working communication between us,

communication based on listening to what others try to convey not of being

the winner on another persons behalf. Srila Prabhupada had his arms wide

open for all of us, we should learn to respect eachother with opinions and

all and find the area's where we can cooperate.

 

 

 

My judgement of current ISKCON gurus would anyway be a complete joke, and

completely ridiculous like an ant trying to lead the elephants , so please

dont expect that from me. I am foolish enough already.

 

 

Your servant Gunamani d.d.