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On 30 May 1999, Bhaktarupa das wrote:

 

> I found your original statement distasteful because it seems to be

> forgetting that in spite of all our neglect of Srila Prabhupada's many

> instructions on varnasrama and other areas of management, that ISKCON

> devotees chant the Hare Krishna Mahamantra and avoid gross sinful

> activities, and there doesn't seem to be any sign that these principles are

> changing. And the Hare Krishna Mahamantra is so powerful that it will

> eventually overcome all obstacles, provided we don't give it up. Thus you

> may be able to say so many things, but you cannot say that our deity worship

> and diksa ceremonies are totally useless, which is what "offering oblations

> into ashes" means, as they both are saturated with the holy name.

 

 

This is nice sentiment and I love the Deities also. But it is NOT Srila

Prabhupada's prescribed program. Until we accept this fact we will continue to

experience the current and on-going chaos. Certainly you cannot say that the

movement has increased in numbers or influence at the same level as when Srila

Pranhupada was leading? We MUST admit our weaknesses or we cannot move forward

what to speak of jump-starting this movement to get back on track.

 

So many "nice" things are going on I do not deny or fail to see this. But

ESSENTIAL instructions have been neglected. Fundamental organizational

management paradigms inaugurated by Srila Prabhupada himself just before he

departed from this world - varnasrama-dharma, dividing and training every new

and existing member of this movement into four daiva varnas. Asrama will come

later.

 

Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakur said when we see high-court judges who

are devotees with tilaka then we can know that the Krsna consciousness

movement is being successful.

 

 

Do we really think that will ever be possible without implementing

varnasrama-dharma and the requisite training of all classes? Get real!

 

 

We are moving in the opposite direction of realizing devotees of ISKCON as

high court judges, in my opinion.

 

> We should all pray to Krishna that he will bless us that we will be able to

> give up our quarrelling spirit and take shelter of the holy name for the

> solution to all of our problems.

>

> Your servant, Bhaktarupa Das

 

 

Nice sentiment again, but Srila Prabhupada had a bit more specific ideas in

mind than that:

 

Prabhupada: Not required. Caitanya Mahaprabhu denied, "I am not brahmana, I am

not ksatriya, I am not this, I am not this." He rejected. But in the

Bhagavad-gita, the catur-varnyam maya srstam. So we are Krsna..., preaching

Krsna consciousness. It must be done.

Hari-sauri: But in Caitanya Mahaprabhu's practical preaching He only induced

them to chant.

Prabhupada: That is not possible for ordinary man.

Hari-sauri: What, to simply induce people to chant?

Prabhupada: Hm?

Hari-sauri: He only introduced just the chanting.

Prabhupada: But who will chant? Who'll chant?

Satsvarupa: But if they won't chant, then neither will they train up in the

varnasrama. That's the easiest.

Prabhupada: The chanting will be there, but you cannot expect that people

will chant like Caitanya Mahaprabhu. They cannot even chant sixteen rounds.

(And) these rascals are going to be Caitanya Mahaprabhu.

Satsvarupa: No. But if they at least will chant and take some prasada...

Prabhupada: Chanting will go on. That is not stopped. But at the same time the

varnasrama-dharma must be established to make the way easy.

Hari-sauri: Well, at least my own understanding was that the chanting was

introduced in the age of Kali because varnasrama is not possible.

Prabhupada: Because it will cleanse the mind. Chanting will not stop.

Hari-sauri: So therefore the chanting was introduced to replace all of the

systems of varnasrama and like that.

Prabhupada: Yes, it can replace, but who is going to replace it? The...

People are not so advanced. If you imitate Haridasa Thakura to chant, it is

not possible.

Satsvarupa: We tell them go on with your job but chant also.

Prabhupada: Yes. Thakaha apanara kaje, Bhaktivinoda Thakura. Apanara kaja

ki. Caitanya Mahaprabhu recommended, sthane sthitah. And if they do not

remain in the sthana, then the sahajiya's chanting will come. Just like the

sahajiyas also have got the beads and..., but they have got three dozen women.

This kind of chanting will go on. Just like our (name withheld). He was not

fit for sannyasa but he was given sannyasa. And five women he was attached,

and he disclosed. Therefore varnasrama-dharma is required. Simply show-bottle

will not do. So the varnasrama-dharma should be introduced all over the world,

and...

Satsvarupa: Introduced starting with ISKCON community?

Prabhupada: Yes. Yes.

 

 

This will solve any problems we are fortunate enough to be able to solve.

 

Let's give it a try since it's been over 25 years since Srila Prabhupada

"suggested" it. Maybe its a good idea.