Not everything is Karma - there is also free will

[Guest guest]

Hare Krsna Prabhvi wrote on 5.07.99

 

 

>> Why should we be transcendental to daiva varnasrama dharma?

 

> Very good point. Srila Prabhupada carried a danda and acted the role of the

> perfect brahmana sannyasi. He -- of all people -- could certainly have said

> that he was above varnasrama. Since I am below Srila Prabhupada, how can I

> say that I am above varnasrama. Certainly we do not want to attempt to

> surpass our founder-acarya.

 

> your servant,

> Hare Krsna dasi

 

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Prabhupada's Lectures Srimad-Bhagavatam 1974 741021SB.MAY

 

Actually, a Vaisnava is above this varnasrama-dharma. But we don't claim that

we have become perfect Vaisnava. We are not so impudent.

 

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

 

I still remember your response from last year, to the statement of one of your

Godbrother, which opened my eyes in regard to Varnasrama dharma.

(Actually a misunderstanding of a great majority of devotees I knew until than,

for long time I was thinking the same)

 

He wrote:

 

> The error flows from the misunderstanding that VAD is to be

> implemented within ISKCON. In fact, it is a means for setting up an

> ordered and well-run society OUTSIDE our ISKCON.

 

Hare Krsna dasi comments:

 

For the *final* verdict please refer to Srila Prabhupada's "Mayapura

Valentine" [14 Feb 1977] {I realize that 50% of the devotees on this

conference already have this passage memorized, but there is always

someone new who can benefit from hearing Prabhupada's presentation on

this matter.} :

 

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. Brahmana, ksatriyas. There must be regular education.

 

 

Hari-sauri: But in our community, if the..., being as we're training up

as Vaisnavas...

Prabhupada: Yes.

Hari-sauri: ...then how will we be able to make divisions in our society?

 

 

Prabhupada: Vaisnava is not so easy. The varnasrama-dharma should be

established to become a Vaisnava. It is not so easy to become Vaisnava.

 

 

Hari-sauri: No, it's not a cheap thing.

Prabhupada: Yes. Therefore this should be made. Vaisnava, to become

Vaisnava, is not so easy. If Vaisnava, to become Vaisnava is so easy, why

so many fall down, fall down? It is not easy. The sannyasa is for the

highest qualified brahmana. And simply by dressing like a Vaisnava, that

is... fall down.

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