Thank God the GBC has not attempted varnasrama

[Guest guest]

On 18 Mar 1999, Hare Krsna dasi wrote:

 

I apologize for not responding sooner to the following contribution from

Mother Hare Krsna.

On 18 Mar 1999, Hare Krsna dasi wrote:

 

> I certainly

> sympathize with your frustration that varnasrama is taking so long. But

from

> another perspective, the more time goes by, the more thankful I am that the

GBC

> has not tried to implement varnasrama. At this stage of the game it would

be

> dangerously premature.

 

I do not believe the implementation of Srila Prabhupada's order to arrange the

social orders within his movement in accordance with the natural qualities of

humans, however logical and practical it may seem to us, will take place by

the current administration of ISKCON. There is not a good excuse for

neglecting this advice and order of the spiritual master which is meant to

invite and engage all classes of human beings. The so-called leaders who are

not grasping the reality of the need for varnasrama-dharma within the society

of devotees should be re-engaged in other duties for they are not qualified to

administer for the good of the majority of devotees and people in general.

This does not mean that they are not "good" devotees or are not "sincere",

that is between them and their guru and God. But they are not

properly/naturally engaged and thousands of devotees are suffering their

mismanagement. Humble admission of their inability and concerted efforts

towards a transition to a varnasrama-dharma management paradigm would be most

honorable and appreciated. There would be a standing ovation from all devotees

past and present, I believe.

 

 

>

> We really need to straighten out the guru question first. And we really

need

> to

> straighten out the woman question first.

 

 

Which one first? :-)

 

 

> Before we can go very far on the road to varnasrama, we must learn and

practice

> the principle of respecting, encouraging and genuinely appreciating those

who

> assume a dependent position in our society.

 

That IS the road of varnasrama-dharma, I think?

 

 

> 2. Gurus. We are still tangled up in our vision of what a guru is. We are

> going

> in the right direction, but we still have a long way to go before the gurus

> will

> be able to fulfill their critical mission as described by Srila Prabhupada

in

> SB

> 5.19.19 and other places. That is: It is the duty of the guru to guide his

or

> her disciple to select the appropriate varna, and to find appropriate varna

> training. And it is the duty of the ksatriyas to provide the appropriate

varna

> training (by facilitating the brahmanas and arranging for necessary

resources)

> and

> to guarantee productive livelihood for the disciple.

 

 

Varnasrama-dharma IS the answer to this problem. We just have to try it to

realize it.

 

 

>

> But at this stage, we just are not ready for that yet.

 

With respect, I disagree. We are ready according to Srila Prabhupada. Or at

least we WERE ready 22 years ago when Srila Prabhupada said the same to Hari

Sauri Prabhu in his Valentine's day conversations. There were some of us who

were ready to try in 1974 after Srila Prabhupada gave detailed instructions on

varnasrama-dharma in Vrindavana. I was absolutely ecstatic from those

instructions and immediately went to the NY temple authorities to encourage

their participation. This lead directly to my searching for months for the

Gita-nagari farm property and it was a very exciting time for many NY devotees

and many others.

 

One of the biggest objections I have with the GBC/ and "sannyasis/gurus" is

the apathy they have created amongst the devotees of Srila Prabhupada's

movement. They have created a stagnant, non-dynamic cult mentality which

claims superiority over everyone on earth but is more dependent on everyone

else than ever before. It is a very unattractive debacle.

 

 

 

>

> So, I know you are impatient. Sometimes, I'm impatient, too.

 

I am beyond impatient. I'm pissed.!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Sorry. But it is a

horrible situation.

 

I have no respect for anyone who is maintaining a pretentious position when

children, women and cows are suffering. What is the priority level the GBC

gave to Cow Protection this year in Mayapura??????? Last??????? This should

not be tolerated. They MAY, and I stress heavily - MAY - be able to teach

spiritual life OK but they really suck at management. That is why there MUST

be division.

 

> But, all things

> considered, I think it's the healthiest thing to wait until we are a little

> more

> advanced, a little more educated, and a little more mature. In the

meantime,

> we

> have to keep working on becoming more qualified to fulfill Prabhupada's

> expectations for us.

 

 

You see I disagree with this. What effective human cultural improvement

program is available other than daiva varnasrama-dharma? No others have worked

for previous empires or cultures such as: America, Rome, Britain, China, etc.,

etc. There is no modern plan that will develop the qualities you wish for

except varnasrama-dharma (EXCEPT transcendental consciousness, and I hope we

all have ample evidence that none of us are at that stage)(And even if we

were, we would still follow varnasrama-dharma, even more so.).

 

 

My suggestion - Part 1:

 

Divide the entire world (Oh, alright, I'll settle for the movement/ISKCON)

into four (4) TEAMS. This is very appropriate to time and circumstance in the

world today with the emphasis on sports. My suggestion is that the teams be

numbered as TEAM 10, TEAM 20, TEAM 30 and TEAM 40. This will avoid most if not

all attempts at making higher and lower levels of teams like No.1 team or the

"A" team, etc. The only significance the team numbers might play is that the

number of members in the respective teams are of greater quantity than another

based on natural human tendencies.

 

Team 10 would be primarily the EDUCATION team. Team 20 would primarily be the

MANAGEMENT team. Team 30 would be the PRODUCTIVE team and Team 40 would be the

SERVICE Team.

 

Team 10 would be comprised of (and I would appreciate some help filling in

these general descriptions, please):

 

Female and Male: Educators, intellectuals, scientists, philosophers, guidance

counselors, astrologers, doctors(?), spiritual guides, ritviks(officiating

priests) and ASPIRING members of all the aforementioned ...............more?

 

Team 20: Female and Male: Administrators, trained management personnel,

property managers, asset managers, lawyers(?), security administrators,

Administrative Assistants, Construction Managers, Human resource managers,

inspectors, Safety managers, Public Relations managers, utility and energy

managers, communication managers, welfare managers, Natural Resource managers,

Judicial administrators.......and ASPIRING members of all the aforementioned

...............more?

 

Team 30: Female and Male: Agriculturally oriented people(cowherds, shepherds,

cotton farmers, rice farmers, orchard farmers, florists, etc., etc.), bankers,

storekeepers, restaurant keepers, salespeople, miners, .......and ASPIRING

members of all the aforementioned ...............more?

 

Team 40: Female and Male: Artisans, craftsmen, technicians

(electronic/computer, mechanics, plumbing, carpenters, masons, painters,

architects, engineers, etc.), laborers, general assistants, service

personnel(waiters/waitresses, dishwashers, janitors, maids, .......and

ASPIRING members of all the aforementioned ...............more?

 

 

Every member of each team can be a devotee of God. Different levels of each

individual team member's personal development of his or her relationship with

God is to be fully respected and manifested in the form of friendship and/or

friendliness. Each team and team member is equally qualified to serve Krsna

and serve the overall mission of the teams - maintaining a healthy body of

devotees unified in the service of the Lord. If a little spider comes along

and wants to join one of the teams and, through its tiny effort, contributes,

then he or she is very welcome.

 

Each team is equally dependent upon the services of the other teams and no

team is independent of the other teams as far as policy making is concerned. 4

members of Team 10, 8 members of Team 20, 21 members of Team 30 and 4 members

of Team 40 should form a ministry to legislate the positive social development

policies and goals for the four teams. (Along the lines of Sri Bhishmadeva's

instructions for Kings which seems practicable)

 

Prejudice between teams is discouraged and constant encouragement of all team

members of all teams is the *other* daily mantra.

 

Financing the formation, development and maintenance of the teams is to be top

priority of all budgetary decisions for all funds of the movement.