The Varnasrama Cell Project-- a call for constitutional framers.

[Guest guest]

That Amish piece was nice. I'll take this opportunity to share with you the

latest posting from the

discussion group varnasrama (AT) listbot (DOT) com that is focusing on development of the

Varnasrama Cell

Project.

 

Some of you may be interested in participating with one or more of the areas

that the project seeks

to explore. The following post gives you a clear picture of the project and

its aims. To join the

discussion you can go to http://www.marketingonline.com/varnasrama.htm or you

can send a blank

email to varnasrama (AT) listbot (DOT) com and follow the directions in the reply email

that will be sent to you.

 

Thank you for your time and space to post this.

 

Ys, PA

 

Varnasrama Forum - http://www.marketingonline.com/varnasrama.htm

 

Welcome to our new members! Thank you for joining.

 

This posting will explain what this discussion list is all about. Even if you

think you already know,

please read this posting, you might be surprised. Be kind enough to share your

thoughts about this

posting.

 

 

THE FOCUS OF THIS DISCUSSION

 

The focus of this discussion list (varnasrama (AT) listbot (DOT) com) will be the

creation of a prototype for the

smallest possible functional and dynamic varnasrama community unit--called a

"varnasrama cell"

(VAcell for short). It will be a new experimental community that will attempt

to apply the most

ancient principles of social organization known. The principles of varnasrama

community organization

given in the Vedas are as old as the DNA codes that govern the organization of

living cells. Both are

created by Krishna.

 

We can see by looking at biological cell function and modern day society how

destructive and toxic a

cell culture or a culture of human beings can become when the original

instructions given by Krishna

are lost or mutated. Getting our Society back in touch with these original,

natural and healthy ways of

living and working in harmony with the Supreme Absolute Truth is one of the

major aims of our

previous acaryas and is at the center (nucleus) of the Varnasrama Cell

Project.

 

 

THE VARNASRAMA CELL PROJECT

 

A "DYNAMIC" community is what we are after, and dynamic means that we want to

design and

implement a community "cell" that, like biological cells, has the ability to

grow and replicate itself

rapidly, without losing its integrity. In cell theory we find that the

instructions governing cell definition,

maintenance, growth, and replication are found in the DNA within the cell

nucleus. The set of rules

that will define and govern the Varnasrama Cell Project will be a constitution

developed here on this

discussion list as the 1st Varnasrama Constitutional Congress of 2000/514

Gaurabda. Srila

Prabhupada desired that ISKCON develop a constitution, which has

yet-to-be-realized. So the

concept of constitutional governance is something we want to adopt for this

project, and which may

even play a small role in helping ISKCON define its own much needed

constitution.

 

To create a constitution that can be easily read, accepted and implemented,

only essential cell functions and principles will be incorporated into the

constitution itself. Details can

be left to the individual varnasrama cells to define for themselves. We are

looking for core principles

and values that serve the cell's consitutional purpose and objectives and will

stand the test of time

while allowing for individual "flavoring" or expression of the cells by its

members.

 

 

CONSTITUTIONAL BASIS

 

The constitution will be based on the teachings of ISKCON Founder- Acarya His

Divine Grace

A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada.

 

CONSTITUTIONAL PURPOSE

 

The Varnasrama Cell Project is meant to exist initially as an independent

social organization whose

aim is to benefit all living beings by paving the way to the prescribed

religious process for this

age--chanting Hare Krishna. The Varnasrama Cell Project is essentially meant

to serve Lord

Caitanya's Sankirtana Movement by serving the spiritual and material needs of

the individuals of that

movement that are presently not being fulfilled by ISKCON.

 

CONSTITUTIONAL OBJECTIVES

 

Specifically, the Varnasrama Cell Project will strive to provide the

individual cell members the

opportunity to:

1) work for Krishna in an occupation they are qualified to perform, 2) live

closer to devotees and

nearer to Krishna, and 3) to charitably facilitate individuals within and

outside of the cell who have

demonstrated their ability to further Srila Prabhupada's Sankirtan mission as

brahminically qualified

preachers/ teachers.

 

BACKGR0UND

 

The Varnasrama Cell Project is not meant to replace or replicate the direct

preaching efforts of

ISKCON, nor is it meant to replicate the monastic path of social development

ISKCON has

followed in recent years.

 

The Varnasrama Cell Project is meant to supplement and serve ISKC0N members,

currently living

off ISKCON property, who are not being served by the present ISKCON social

model. The initial

focus will be on serving the unfullfilled social and spiritual needs of

grihastas, who have the greatest

resource needs, who have historically been the most underserved segment of our

ISKCON Society,

and who currently represent the largest social segment of our Society. This

will be achieved by

practical implementation of the yet-to-be-realized Varnasrama portion of Srila

Prabhupada's mission

and instructions, originally intended for ISKCON.

 

Information about the Varnasrama Cell prototype, and its successes and

failures will be shared with

ISKCON leaders and members who may participate and/or inquire about the

project from

time-to-time, with the hope that ISKCON takes up the challenge to meet the

social and occupational

needs of the members of our Society, which, as Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura,

Srila Bhaktisiddhanta,

and Srila Prabhupada taught, are ultimately required for meeting the spiritual

needs of souls bound-up

within this material realm.

 

The Varnasrama Cell Project will attempt to help ISKCON meet these needs of

its members in a

practical way that supplements present ISKCON institutions without requiring

anything from them, or

requiring dramatic internal changes/challenges to ISKCON's status quo. The

approach will attempt

to be one of cooperative service, rather than condemnation, competition or

challenge to the status quo.

 

 

VARNASRAMA CELL PROJECT AGENDA 2000

 

 

By Gaura Purnima 2001/515 Gaurabda, we will work towards:

 

1) Having a fully developed constitution that will define and govern the

first Varnasrama Cell

Community of the project (current focus of the discussion list).

 

2) Developing a general outline of a strategic multiphase 5 Yr plan for

realizing replication of the

first varnasrama cell.

 

3) Having a fully developed plan for Phase I of the 5 Yr. plan.

 

4) Securing all resources necessary to implement Phase I of the plan.

 

5) Beginning implementation of Phase I.

 

 

 

The fact that the previous acaryas want it, and the fact that it is

yet-to-be-realized, is reason enough

for our present attempt to implement varnasrama in the manner we are

attempting it.

 

Whoever makes the attempt is successful. The success is that we tried to

please Lord Caitanya's

representatives. May all our spiritual masters bless us and be pleased by our

humble efforts.

 

If even one living entity comes closer to loving Krishna as a result of this

project, then we should

consider it a success.

 

This is admittedly an experiment that will require a pioneering spirit,

personal dedication, risk taking,

and personal sacrifice in order to realize success. We may realize success in

short order or it may

take an entire lifetime or even several lifetimes to accomplish. The results

of this project are ultimately

in the hands of Krishna.

 

Please participate in this varnasrama cell project with an open mind, an open

heart, and an open

wallet (that comes later in Phase I fund raising) and be ready to maximize the

utilization of your time

and wealth (the only two things we have to work/serve with) for pleasing Srila

Prabhupada by

cultivating Krishna consciousness within ourselves and others.

 

Thank you in advance for your valuable participation. Feel free to invite

anyone who you think may

want to participate in this project. Hare Krishna.

 

Your Servant,

 

Prabhupadacarya Dasa

Moderator

The Varnasrama Cell Project's

1st Varnasrama Constitutional Congress of 2000/514 Gaurabda.

 

varnasrama (AT) listbot (DOT) com

 

P.S. If you are so inclined, please feel free to replicate these efforts and

start your own varnasrama

cell project. Opportunities abound and the world needs as many people working

on as many fronts

as possible. The more cells we get up and running the more chances we have of

succeeding. One cell

or even one cell project isn't going to accomplish the mission objectives. If

you don't like the "flavor"

of this cell project, then you should be encouraged to make your own flavor.

Some will be attracted

to your flavor, some to others. Variety is the spice of life.