Knowing without thinking?

[Guest guest]

> One aspect of varnashrama which deals specifically with this unfortunate

> fact of the propensity to criticize is the respect given to the sannyasa

> order. Lord Caitanya took sannyasa because, although He was certainly

> preaching, others were criticizing Him. He took sannyasa because people

> were, by custom, inclined to offer respect to sannyasis, and by offering

> obeisances to the Lord, offenders would become free of their offenses.

> One of the purposes of varnashrama-dharma, therefore, is to curb the

> tendency to commit offenses (caused by criticism, envy, negligence, etc.)

 

 

 

It is always nice to read a positive plug for varnasrama-dharma.

 

 

 

 

 

 

> We have to surrender, and that means accepting a means of purification

> suitable to our level of advancement. Not only must we engage in sravanam

> kirtanam, but we should also follow as far as possible the prescriptions

> of varnashram-dharma (accepting things favourable to the discharge of

> devotional service). Although Varnashrama dharma is not specifically

> devotional service, it helps the sadhaka because the spiritual practices

> of a devotee who is not yet fully purified can be disturbed by material

> circumstances. (One of the specific characteristics of pure devotional

> service are that it cannot be disturbed by any material circumstance.)

 

 

This is a practical viewpoint. And, varnasrama-dharma saddled with sravanam,

kirtanam, etc., becomes completely "Krsna-ized" or daiva

varnasrama-dharma/sanatana-dharma. Pure devotees, though "above"

varnasrama-dharma, will always manifest their symptoms of purity through the

application of varnasrma-dharma in their living daily examples; Arjuna,

Prithu, Dhruva, Krsna, Yudhishtira, Priyavrata, Vivasvan, Bhismadev,

Prahlada, etc., etc.

 

Advanced human society manifests the symptoms of varnasrama-dharma.

 

Bhaktisidddhanta said that when he sees devotees in the position of high

court judges he will know that the Krsna consciousness movement is

progressing. Without varnasrama-dharma implementation we will not see that

day come. We can continue in the illusion that "Krsna will just magic wand

us into the high court position because He knows we are all better than

those dirty karmis and demons" even though we don't possess even the simple

material qualifications because we are "transcendental" to

varnasrama-dharma.

 

Or we can prove to Bhaktisiddhanta and Srila Prabhupada that we truly desire

to see the Krsna consciousness movement progress and that we are willing to

work hard and focus on our material AND spiritual duties of daiva

varnasrama-dharma practicable implementation and really become the advanced

humans that they would be proud of.

 

Lip service and pretentious "advancement" gets us nowhere. If we are at

least "advanced" enough to admit that we are all fallen and agree that we

are all basically in the same boat then we can begin to work together

cooperatively in the spirit of a family and help those who are in need when

they are down and know that we will have our down days also and someone will

be there with compassion to be patient and compassionate with us.

 

We have got all the time in the world; lets be patient and satisfied with

even a grain of devotion in another person trying to get out of this

miserable material consciousness.