Varnasrama College Diary

[Guest guest]

Varnasrama College Diary

By Rabindranatha Dasa Adhikari

Thursday, January 13, 2005

 

The day before yesterday when I wrote in this Varnasrama College diary about

how this Varnasrama College would be like, such as it being taught within a

pure atmosphere and that this will be demonstrated. Someone said that this

is not possible. But as Srila Prabhupada says: impossible" is a word

found in fool's dictionary." (Morning walk 27June1975)

 

By surrendering to Krsna anything is possible. As it is said by the mercy of

Lord Caitanya even a dumb man can recite nice poetry, a lame man can climb

over mountains, a blind man can see the stars in the sky and even a dog can

swim across the ocean.

 

So the question may be raised, how can one demonstrate a pure atmosphere?

How are you going to demonstrate at your Varnasrama College a pure

atmosphere? This will be demonstrated by first and foremost having the

leaders of the Varnasrama College setting the standard, for as Lord Krsna

says in the Bhagavad-gita: "Whatever a great man does common men follow." So

basically at this point that means me setting the standards. And what are

those standards? They are the orders of the spiritual master. So what are

some of those orders?

 

1) Chant 16 rounds

2) Attend Mangala Arati and Srimad Bhagavatam class

3) Be neat and clean

For starters lets have a weekly report on that, which will be on the

Varnasrama College website at: www.vacollege.org

 

Quote of the day

 

"The Lord says that the institution of four varnas and four asramas "is

created by Me." Anything created by the Lord cannot be closed or covered.

The divisions of varnas and asramas will continue to exist, either in their

original form or in degraded form, but because they are created by the Lord,

the Supreme Personality of Godhead, they cannot be extinguished. They are

like the sun, a creation of God, and therefore will remain. Either covered

by clouds or in a clear sky, the sun will continue to exist. Similarly, when

the varnasrama system becomes degraded, it appears as a hereditary caste

system, but in every society there is an intelligent class of men, a martial

class, a mercantile class and a laborer class. When they are regulated for

cooperation among communities according to the Vedic principles, then there

is peace and spiritual advancement. But when there is hatred and malpractice

and mutual mistrust in the caste system, the whole system becomes degraded,

and as stated herein, it creates a deplorable state. At the present moment,

the entire world is in this deplorable condition because of giving rights to

so many interests. This is due to the degradation of the four castes of

varnas and asramas." --Bhag. 3.21.52P

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 1/14/2005 8:50:26 AM Mountain Standard Time,

gourdmad (AT) ovnet (DOT) com writes:

please reread my post and see if you can understand what my point was; if

you still can't see I will clarify

 

in any case, thanks for your encouraging response, i can see how my effort

fell short, and will try to learn from your example

 

 

Haribol, Prabhu ~

 

I am going to reread your post. Ok, what I am getting is: you are concerned

that people who are interested in cow protection and farm communities may not

know what they're getting into. I am hearing that you tried to dissuade

unsober persons from overbreading and other bad ideas in the past and that

something (comments to Rabindranath Prabhu's vision statement) you intended to

be a

practical warning was seen as an attack instead of the good advice it was meant

 

to be. You felt attacked by comments in defense of that vision statement.

You felt blamed by expressions of frustration about the perceived negativity.

 

Is that right?

 

[Please bear with me, I am trying to understand.]

 

Also that interested persons shouldn't be unsober and think that kamadhenus

should roam the land breeding to their full satisfaction and we'll all play our

 

bugles while chasing Krsna in the pasture.

 

[sorry, I'm just joking.]

 

But seriously, please don't think that Gopal or whoever was placing blame or

trying to blacklist. (we're probably listmates anyway - ha ha) He was just

frustrated and I felt bad that someone with nice ideas was kind of punished

simply for communicating them. I thought it was nice that R. Prabhu felt

inclined to start sending these diary entries. It's inspiring, in my opinion.

 

I think we have to discriminate and see that when a sincere devotee is trying

to help and do something useful that we don't equate it with overstuffed,

overpaid, overtolerated persons who have actually traumatized this movement and

 

its people.

 

I think that these ideas toward authentic cow protection are not unrealistic

thinking. I think they are right thinking and that if they can be coupled

with right action, we'll see wonderful communities manifest. Of course that's

the real trick, but it *can* be done.

 

It's kind of like saying "families are impossible" based on our bad family

experiences. [sorry again - obscure analogy.]

 

Younger devotees or new-to-cows devotees have a lot of respect for the "ol'

cowherds" from these communities that used to be developing the cow programs.

We feel sad and rotten that selfish people (cheaters in the dress of

Vaisnavas) used, abused, kicked out, burned out and abandoned the sincere

devotees who

really, really wanted to serve the land, cows and spiritual senses for the

glorification of Prabhupada and Krishna. We feel hopeful that we will be able

to

learn, serve and grow these programs and communities with the help and

encouragement of the senior devotees who have sacrificed and stayed. We need

love,

respect and encouragement. That's part of the deal.

 

I personally try to deal with my fury about the huge loss of "what could have

been" on a daily basis. It's something heavy and hard and very, very sad. I

know you sincere devotees must feel it too. That's why we need to help

eachother and get on with the good stuff. We can bury the smoldering soot,

remember the lessons and get on with the beauty and perfection of Krishna

consciousness together.

 

Anyway, now that I've gone on even more, can you tell me if I understood what

you were saying in your post?

 

Your servant,

Kalavati devi dasi