Vedic Personality Inventory

[suchandra]

Vedic Personality Inventory

 

This test was designed by Dhira Govinda das, the Director of ISKCON Office for Child protection (Alachua, Florida).

You can check which guna predominates your habits.

 

*Scoring key is at the bottom

Underline the number under each statement which corresponds the statement about you.

 

1 Very Strongly Disagree

 

2 Strongly Disagree

 

3 Somewhat Disagree

 

4 Neutral

 

5 Somewhat Agree

 

6 Strongly Agree

 

7 Very Strongly Agree

 

1. I am straightforward in my dealings with other people.

1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5 - 6 - 7

2. I have very little interest in spiritual understanding.

1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5 - 6 - 7

3. I am satisfied with my life.

1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5 - 6 - 7

4. Fruits and vegetables are among my favorite foods.

1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5 - 6 - 7

5. All living entities are essentially spiritual.

1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5 - 6 - 7

6. In conducting my activities, I do not consider traditional wisdom.

1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5 - 6 - 7

7. I often act without considering the future consequences of my actions.

1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5 - 6 - 7

8. I usually feel discontented with life.

1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5 - 6 - 7

9. I become happy when I think about the material assets that I possess.

1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5 - 6 - 7

10. I am good at using willpower to achieve goals.

1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5 - 6 - 7

11. I enjoy spending time in bars.

1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5 - 6 - 7

12. Cleanliness is very important to me.

1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5 - 6 - 7

13. Others say that my intelligence is very sharp.

1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5 - 6 - 7

14. I often feel depressed.

1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5 - 6 - 7

15. I often put off or delay my responsibilities.

1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5 - 6 - 7

16. I greatly admire materially successful people.

1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5 - 6 - 7

17. When I speak, I really try not to irritate others.

1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5 - 6 - 7

18. I believe life is over when the body dies.

1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5 - 6 - 7

19. I often feel helpless.

1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5 - 6 - 7

20. I enjoy foods with strong tastes.

1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5 - 6 - 7

21. I am constantly dissatisfied with my position in life.

1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5 - 6 - 7

22. Having possessions is very important to me.

1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5 - 6 - 7

23. When things are tough, I often bail out.

1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5 - 6 - 7

24. I often feel like a victim.

1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5 - 6 - 7

25. I feel that my knowledge is always increasing.

1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5 - 6 - 7

26. I prefer city night life to a walk in the forest.

1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5 - 6 - 7

27. For me, sex life is a major source of happiness.

1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5 - 6 - 7

28. I take guidance from higher ethical and moral laws before I act.

1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5 - 6 - 7

29. I enjoy intoxicating substances

(including coffee, cigarettes and alcohol).

1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5 - 6 - 7

30. I often feel greedy.

1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5 - 6 - 7

31. I become greatly distressed when things don’t work out for me.

1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5 - 6 - 7

32. I am often angry.

1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5 - 6 - 7

33. I often feel fearful.

1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5 - 6 - 7

34. I do not have doubts about my responsibilities in life.

1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5 - 6 - 7

35. I often feel emotionally unbalanced.

1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5 - 6 - 7

36. I enjoy eating meat.

1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5 - 6 - 7

37. I am self-controlled.

1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5 - 6 - 7

38. I am very dutiful.

1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5 - 6 - 7

39. When I give charity, I often do it grudgingly.

1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5 - 6 - 7

40. Self-realization is not important for me.

1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5 - 6 - 7

41. I often feel grudgingly.

1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5 - 6 - 7

42. I carry out my responsibilities regardless of whether there is success or failure.

1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5 - 6 - 7

43. I often neglect my responsibilities to my family.

1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5 - 6 - 7

44. I am easily affected by the joys and sorrows of life.

1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5 - 6 - 7

45. I often whine.

1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5 - 6 - 7

46. Regardless of what I acquire or achieve, I have an uncontrollable desire to obtain more.

1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5 - 6 - 7

47. I am currently struggling with an addiction, physical or psychological, to some type of intoxicant (including caffeine, cigarettes and alcohol).

1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5 - 6 - 7

48. I often envy others.

1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5 - 6 - 7

49. My job is a source of anxiety.

1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5 - 6 - 7

50. I never think about giving up my wealth and position for a simpler life.

1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5 - 6 - 7

51. It often happens that those things that brought me happiness later become the source of my suffering.

1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5 - 6 - 7

52. I often feel mentally unbalanced.

1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5 - 6 - 7

53. I don’t have much will power.

1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5 - 6 - 7

54. I often neglect my responsibilities to my friends.

1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5 - 6 - 7

55. I often act violently towards others.

1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5 - 6 - 7

56. I am good at controlling my senses and emotions.

1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5 - 6 - 7

 

SCORING KEY FOR VPI

Instruction: Add up the numbered responses for all the items for a particular guna. Then divide the guna raw score by the total possible score for that guna (number of items in the guna subscale multiplied by 7) and multiply by 100. This will give the percentage score for that guna. Do this for all 3 gunas and you will see what guna is predominant in your life.

Numbers for statements corresponding each guna:

 

Sattva

1,3,4,5,10,12,13,17,25,28,34,37,38,42,56.

Rajas

8,9,16,18,20,21,22,23,26,27,30,31,39,44,46,48,49,50,51.

Tamas

2,6,7,11,14,15,19,24,29,33,32,35,36,40,41,43,45,47,52,53,54,55

 

source: veda.harekrsna.cz

[CorunumUs]

Dear Sir,

 

Pleased in find this information in this web site!

 

But I'm strongly disagree with the mathematical method to determine the guna's contribution.

 

It's imposible determine this guna's contribution in percentage, in a simple lineal mathematical way.

 

Why? Because some gunas items, have negative or possitve contribution, and in different value under different global answered items.

 

Why? Just the Holy Baghavad Guita, don't explain how gunas works, in mathematical way, in any verse.

 

Why? Because gunas isn't a mathematical cience...

 

But, it's possible made ' just ' an approach trought statistical way (The method explained, is a lineal classical mathematical method).

 

I don't like do this kind of replies when a see things not all right, but in this case is necesary explain in a simple way, the essence of what is wrong... Holy Baghavad Guita, is not a mathematical explanation of anything in any verse.

 

Just a little contribution

 

In Divine Friendship

Fernando M Maldonado M

d.ashram@ymail.com

[AncientMariner]

I read something that one of the acarayas said that if you go to the lord because you are in distress you are a sudra. If you go to him for money you are a vaisya. I can't remember what the ksaitrya one was. If you go to the Lord for wisdom you are a brahmana.

[theist]

I forgot how to do math. I must be a sudra.

[bhaktatraveler]

 

I read something that one of the acarayas said that if you go to the lord because you are in distress you are a sudra. If you go to him for money you are a vaisya. I can't remember what the ksaitrya one was. If you go to the Lord for wisdom you are a brahmana.

 

Could the ksatriya be inquisitive? Was this from Prabhupada or a predecessor acaraya?

 

RCB

[Sonic Yogi]

NOD CH.2

 

 

Thus the Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement is so nice that there is no need of even designating oneself brāhmaṇa, kṣatriya, vaiśya, śūdra, brahmacārī, gṛhastha, vānaprastha or sannyāsī. Let everyone be engaged in whatever occupation he now has. Simply let him worship Lord Kṛṣṇa by the result of his activities in Kṛṣṇa consciousness. That will adjust the whole situation, and everyone will be happy and peaceful within this world. In the Nārada-pañcarātra the regulative principles of devotional service are described as follows: "Any activities sanctioned in the revealed scriptures and aiming at the satisfaction of the Supreme Personality of Godhead are accepted by saintly teachers as the regulative principles of devotional service. If one regularly executes such service unto the Supreme Personality of Godhead under the direction of a bona fide spiritual master, then gradually he rises to the platform of serving in pure love of God."

The Vedic varnashrama system requires to be implemented by a class of brahmanas who guide the King in administrating the kingdom.

Without a King and a qualified cabinet of brahmanas to guide him there can be no varnashrama system.

 

ISKCON being a headless society managed by a GBC that is a mix of sannayasis and ghrastas cannot properly practice varnashram.

 

There is no military leader as King in ISKCON.

[Kyros]

 

I read something that one of the acarayas said that if you go to the lord because you are in distress you are a sudra. If you go to him for money you are a vaisya. I can't remember what the ksaitrya one was. If you go to the Lord for wisdom you are a brahmana.

 

 

Could the ksatriya be inquisitive? Was this from Prabhupada or a predecessor acaraya?

RCB

 

A brahmana is inquisitive.

 

If you were curious as to what was going on (in the Krsna conscious movement) you are a kshatriya.

 

I don't remember who said it though, but definetly not Prabhupada.

[Sonic Yogi]

 

If you were curious as to what was going on (in the Krsna conscious movement) you are a kshatriya.

 

I don't remember who said it though.

These varna designations are not something intrinsic to the soul or mind.

You aren't kshatriya, vaishya or sudra if you aren't working within a varnashrama system

 

Like, if I say I am a doctor but I have no training and no work as a doctor then that is just an illusion.

 

One's guna and karma would get one a position as a ksatriya or vaishya etc. if in fact one lived in a varnashrama society of a Vedic king.

 

What it means is that we all have an acquired nature - a guna or combination of the three gunas.

 

A person in the mode of goodness is of the brahmincal nature, though if he doesn't have a position in a Vedic culture as a brahmana then how can we say he is a brahmana?

 

A ksatriya is predominantly in the mode of passion - raja guna.

 

The Vaishya is in the mixed mode of passion and ignorance.

 

The sudra is appointed his work as a sudra because he is predominantly in the mode of ignorance - tama guna.

 

However, in the western world things are very mixed-up.

A teacher might be in the mode of ignorance even though in the Vedic system a teacher would come from the brahminical class in the mode of goodness.

 

So, in the western world we cannot say that one's karma or work is correctly reflective of his guna.

 

The priests are supposed to be brahmans but we can see that in western world most priests are meat-eaters in the mode of ignorance.

 

So, without a proper Vedic king and a cabinet of brahmans, it is totally ridiculous to try and compare western people in divisions of labor and castes.

 

That is basically what the caste system has done.

It let's ignorant sudras pose as brahmans while some persons in the mode of goodness are labled as sudras.

 

As such the caste system of India has become just a bigoted, prejudiced system of false designations based upon some family traditions.

[Beggar]

Audarya Personality Inventory

 

This test was designed by Dhira Govinda das, the Director of ISKCON Office for Child protection (Alachua, Florida).

You can check which guna predominates your habits.

 

*Scoring key is at the bottom

Underline the number under each statement which corresponds the statement about you.

 

1 Very Strongly Disagree

 

2 Strongly Disagree

 

3 Somewhat Disagree

 

4 Neutral

 

5 Somewhat Agree

 

6 Strongly Agree

 

7 Very Strongly Agree

 

1. I am straightforward in my dealings with other people.

1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5 - 6 - 7

2. I have very little interest in understanding why the Iskcon gurus are bogus.

1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5 - 6 - 7

3. I am satisfied with my wife.

1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5 - 6 - 7

3A. I am satisfied with my dog.

1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5 - 6 - 7

4. Fruits and vegetables are among my dog's favorite foods.

1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5 - 6 - 7

5. All living entities are essentially spiritual except the Iskcon gurus.

1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5 - 6 - 7

6. In conducting my activities, I do not consider traditional wisdom.

1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5 - 6 - 7

7. I often post without considering the future consequences of my actions.

1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5 - 6 - 7

8. I usually feel discontented with life except when I am arguing with people on Audarya.

1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5 - 6 - 7

9. I become happy when I think about the computer assets that I possess.

1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5 - 6 - 7

10. I am good at using willpower to smash my opponents on Audarya.

1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5 - 6 - 7

11. I enjoy spending time in internet hotspots.

1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5 - 6 - 7

12. Computer cleanliness is very important to me.

1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5 - 6 - 7

13. Others say that my tongue is very sharp.

1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5 - 6 - 7

13 A.. Others say that GBC speak with forked tongue.

1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5 - 6 - 7

14. I often feel depressed when there are no controversial subjects on Audarya.

1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5 - 6 - 7

14A. I want to argue endlessly about the origin of the soul.

1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5 - 6 - 7

15. I often put off or delay my responsibilities so that I can post on Audarya.

1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5 - 6 - 7

16. I greatly admire materially successful people.

1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5 - 6 - 7

17. When I write on Audarya, I really try not to irritate others.

1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5 - 6 - 7

18. I believe life is over when my computer crashes.

1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5 - 6 - 7

19. I often feel helpless.

1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5 - 6 - 7

20. I enjoy foods with strong tastes.

1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5 - 6 - 7

21. I am constantly dissatisfied with my position in Iskcon and want to be a bogus guru.

1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5 - 6 - 7

22. Having possessions is very important to me.

1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5 - 6 - 7

23. When things are tough, I want the U.S. Congress to bail out the rich bankers.

1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5 - 6 - 7

24. I often feel like a victim of Iskcons bogus gurus.

1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5 - 6 - 7

To Be Continued

[Sonic Yogi]

 

Audarya Personality Inventory

 

This test was designed by Dhira Govinda das, the Director of ISKCON Office for Child protection (Alachua, Florida).

You can check which guna predominates your habits.

 

*Scoring key is at the bottom

Underline the number under each statement which corresponds the statement about you.

 

1 Very Strongly Disagree

 

2 Strongly Disagree

 

3 Somewhat Disagree

 

4 Neutral

 

5 Somewhat Agree

 

6 Strongly Agree

 

7 Very Strongly Agree

 

1. I am straightforward in my dealings with other people.

1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5 - 6 - 7

2. I have very little interest in understanding why the Iskcon gurus are bogus.

1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5 - 6 - 7

3. I am satisfied with my wife.

1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5 - 6 - 7

3A. I am satisfied with my dog.

1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5 - 6 - 7

4. Fruits and vegetables are among my dog's favorite foods.

1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5 - 6 - 7

5. All living entities are essentially spiritual except the Iskcon gurus.

1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5 - 6 - 7

6. In conducting my activities, I do not consider traditional wisdom.

1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5 - 6 - 7

7. I often post without considering the future consequences of my actions.

1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5 - 6 - 7

8. I usually feel discontented with life except when I am arguing with people on Audarya.

1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5 - 6 - 7

9. I become happy when I think about the computer assets that I possess.

1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5 - 6 - 7

10. I am good at using willpower to smash my opponents on Audarya.

1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5 - 6 - 7

11. I enjoy spending time in internet hotspots.

1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5 - 6 - 7

12. Computer cleanliness is very important to me.

1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5 - 6 - 7

13. Others say that my tongue is very sharp.

1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5 - 6 - 7

13 A.. Others say that GBC speak with forked tongue.

1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5 - 6 - 7

14. I often feel depressed when there are no controversial subjects on Audarya.

1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5 - 6 - 7

14A. i want to argue endless about the origin of the soul.

1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5 - 6 - 7

15. I often put off or delay my responsibilities so that I can post on Audarya.

1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5 - 6 - 7

16. I greatly admire materially successful people.

1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5 - 6 - 7

17. When I write on Audarya, I really try not to irritate others.

1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5 - 6 - 7

18. I believe life is over when my computer crashes.

1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5 - 6 - 7

19. I often feel helpless.

1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5 - 6 - 7

20. I enjoy foods with strong tastes.

1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5 - 6 - 7

21. I am constantly dissatisfied with my position in Iskcon and want to be a bogus guru.

1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5 - 6 - 7

22. Having possessions is very important to me.

1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5 - 6 - 7

23. When things are tough, I want the U.S. Congress to bail out the rich bankers.

1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5 - 6 - 7

24. I often feel like a victim of Iskcons bogus gurus.

1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5 - 6 - 7

To Be Continued

Somebody has a lot of time on their hands.

Have you made your bed yet and washed your laundry?

 

Don't forget to wash your bead bag everyday.

[Beggar]

25. I often quote Srila Prabhupada about cats, that cats are demoniac and cause women to have miscarriages, but in real life I have a cat named Fluffy that sleeps on my head at night.

1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5 - 6 - 7

[andy108]

 

25. I often quote Srila Prabhupada about cats, that cats are demoniac and cause women to have miscarriages, but in real life I have a cat named Fluffy that sleeps on my head at night.

1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5 - 6 - 7

 

OMG LMAO!!

 

Beggar you Da Man!

[theist]

 

25. I often quote Srila Prabhupada about cats, that cats are demoniac and cause women to have miscarriages, but in real life I have a cat named Fluffy that sleeps on my head at night.

1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5 - 6 - 7

 

 

 

Fluffy, Beggars cat, spots a pregnant woman.

[Kyros]

 

These varna designations are not something intrinsic to the soul or mind.

You aren't kshatriya, vaishya or sudra if you aren't working within a varnashrama system

 

Like, if I say I am a doctor but I have no training and no work as a doctor then that is just an illusion.

 

One's guna and karma would get one a position as a ksatriya or vaishya etc. if in fact one lived in a varnashrama society of a Vedic king.

 

What it means is that we all have an acquired nature - a guna or combination of the three gunas.

 

A person in the mode of goodness is of the brahmincal nature, though if he doesn't have a position in a Vedic culture as a brahmana then how can we say he is a brahmana?

 

A ksatriya is predominantly in the mode of passion - raja guna.

 

The Vaishya is in the mixed mode of passion and ignorance.

 

The sudra is appointed his work as a sudra because he is predominantly in the mode of ignorance - tama guna.

 

However, in the western world things are very mixed-up.

A teacher might be in the mode of ignorance even though in the Vedic system a teacher would come from the brahminical class in the mode of goodness.

 

So, in the western world we cannot say that one's karma or work is correctly reflective of his guna.

 

The priests are supposed to be brahmans but we can see that in western world most priests are meat-eaters in the mode of ignorance.

 

So, without a proper Vedic king and a cabinet of brahmans, it is totally ridiculous to try and compare western people in divisions of labor and castes.

 

That is basically what the caste system has done.

It let's ignorant sudras pose as brahmans while some persons in the mode of goodness are labled as sudras.

 

As such the caste system of India has become just a bigoted, prejudiced system of false designations based upon some family traditions.

 

Hey, something I agree with you on!

 

It would probably be more correct to say that one who inquisitive is potentially a brahmana, but like you said, you have to follow the rules of varna and ashrama.

 

I only made those statements because just as AncientMariner said, I too saw it from a book that was written by one of the previous acaryas, and I remember it said that a person who was attracted to Krsna Consciousness through curiousity is (potentially) a kshatriya.

[andy108]

 

Hey, something I agree with you on!

 

It would probably be more correct to say that one who inquisitive is potentially a brahmana, but like you said, you have to follow the rules of varna and ashrama.

 

I only made those statements because just as AncientMariner said, I too saw it from a book that was written by one of the previous acaryas, and I remember it said that a person who was attracted to Krsna Consciousness through curiousity is (potentially) a kshatriya.

 

The 4 pious approaches generally equate with the 4 varnas in their most general sense, that being Bra=goodness, Ksy=Passion, Vai=Passion mixed with ignorance, Sudra=ingorance.

 

Since a person first approaching is not yet spiritual, they may be civilized and generally be approaching Piety due to one type of approach, but tinges of other approaches may be included.

 

Approaching through...

 

Wisdom (materially speaking) = potential Vaisnava brahmana/mode of goodness/scientist/philosopher/educator - approaches through wisdom and by virtue of approaching a Guru has some "inquiry"

 

Inquisitiveness = potential Vaisnava Ksyatria/ mode of passion guided by righteousness/administrator/military man - approaching due to frustration with material pleasures mainly by inquiring "is there more?", thus showing some "wisdom"

 

Needs money = potential Vaisnava Vaisya/ mode of ignorance reaching toward passion/ businessman/banker/monocrop farmer - approaching with hopes of being able to survive better without fruitless struggle born of ignorance (will be happy with learning wise Vedic/Vaisnava agricultural methods and proper animal husbandry/land management.

 

In distress = Slaves of ignorant men = potential Vaisnava Sudra/ mode of ignorance/ largely abused servant of fools - approaching hoping for something better than the abuse they live with now. (Will be happy serving a higher Varna Vaisnava).

 

In the following lecture Srila Prabhupada describes how the modes interact materially in each Varna, and how when one sincerely approaches God (accepting education or training from a Spiritual Master) one can bascially be educated to understand their constitutional position, who is God, and what activities they can engage in for that relationship to be manifest. Regardless of what Varna or approach one uses, each can get directly engaged.

 

 

Lecture Engagement and Prasada Distribution -- Boston, April 26, 1969

 

All Varnas have tinges of other modes. Just like in the material qualities, some men are very good men—the quality of goodness—and some men are in passion. That is the rajo-guṇa. And some men are in darkness. So there are three qualities in the material world: sattva-guṇa, rajo-guṇa, and tamo-guṇa. So those who are situated in the modes of goodness, they are called perfect in the material world, very good men. That "very good man" does not mean that he is spiritually advanced. He may be moralist. He may be philanthropist, just like so many leaders of nations. That is another thing. The spiritual state is called viśuddha-sattva. Viśuddha-sattva means goodness where no other quality can contaminate. Here even one man is very good man, sometimes he is tinged with passion or ignorance. Just like I told you that Mahātmā Gandhi, he was a recognized good man, but he committed so many mistakes. So pure goodness is not possible in this material world. Pure goodness means spiritual life.

 

 

lecture Montreal Oct. 26, 1968

 

Therefore education, training, and all so many things there are in every civilized human form of life so that he may come to the platform of goodness. And not only that goodness. One has to surpass that platform of goodness and come to the platform of pure goodness. In this material world it is very difficult to stand on the platform of goodness pure. Even a good man sometimes commits some mistake, commits some blunder in the material world. Because you should always remember that there are three modes of material nature—ignorance, passion, and goodness. Even you are on the platform of goodness, the other two qualities may be studied. Because it is the kingdom of māyā, or material nature, these things are very prominent. Sometimes goodness is prominent, sometimes ignorance is prominent, sometimes passion is prominent. In this way sometimes they are mixed up...

 

...Similarly, our senses, our present senses, they are incapable of understanding what is God or what is God's kingdom. They cannot understand. It is not possible. The senses are blunt, ignorant. Ignorance and passion, the covering. But if you come out of this ignorance and passion, you come to the platform of goodness, then you can understand a little. Not fully. Then again you have to surpass, transcend the platform of goodness, which is called śuddha-sattva, without any tinge of material qualities...

 

...Goodness is the qualification, is the symbolic representation of becoming a brāhmaṇa. You have heard this name brāhmaṇa. The brāhmaṇa means qualified man in goodness. That is the brāhmaṇa. And kṣatriya means qualified man in passion, and vaiśya means qualified man in ignorance and passion, and śūdra means qualified man in ignorance. These are the natural division of human society. In the Bhagavad-gītā you'll find it is said, cātur-varṇyaṁ mayā sṛṣṭaṁ guṇa-karma-vibhāgaśaḥ [bg. 4.13]. By the division, qualitative division and their engagement, there are four castes. You sometimes criticize that India has got caste system. Everywhere the caste system is there—everywhere, throughout the whole universe. Because the three qualities are ruling. So some of them are in goodness, some of them are in passion, some of them are in ignorance, and some of them are in mixed-up qualities. So mixed-up qualities means vaiśya, and pure goodness is brāhmaṇa, and pure passion is kṣatriya, and pure ignorance is śūdra. So these divisions you'll find everywhere throughout the universe. It is not that... But in India also at the present moment this caste system has become a hereditary. No. It is not hereditary. A śūdra can become a brāhmaṇa—if he qualifies himself. Just like a policeman can one day become the learned judge of high-court if he qualifies himself. There is chance. There is educational facilities. You educate yourself. You become doctor of law, you also one day. You become one day president. Everyone is open. Similarly, the chance is open for everyone how to become the supreme man. Supreme man means one who understands God and his relationship. He is supreme man. All others, they are below the supreme man. The supreme man is the first-class man, and the others, who are below God understanding, or Kṛṣṇa consciousness, they are second class, third class, fourth class, fifth class, like that. This is the classification. So below the third-class, fourth-class man, śūdras, they are called caṇḍālas. Caṇḍālas. Caṇḍālas means fifth-grade man. The fifth-grade man also can be elevated to the first-grade man. That is the instruction of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam.

kirāta-hūṇāndhra-pulinda-pulkaśā

ābhīra-śumbhā yavanāḥ khasādayaḥ

ye 'nye ca pāpā yad-apāśrayāśrayāḥ

śudhyanti prabhaviṣṇave namaḥ

[SB 2.4.18]

God is so powerful. Just like sunlight is so powerful it can sterilize any infected thing. Any infected. Infection, we are afraid of being infected. But if you come to the sunlight, no infection. No infection. This is scientific. Similarly, whatever your qualification may be, however you may be impelled by the qualities of this material nature, if you come to the sunlight of Kṛṣṇa consciousness you become immediately purified. There are many instances among my students, how they have become immediately purified..."

 

[AncientMariner]

 

These varna designations are not something intrinsic to the soul or mind.

You aren't kshatriya, vaishya or sudra if you aren't working within a varnashrama system

 

Like, if I say I am a doctor but I have no training and no work as a doctor then that is just an illusion.

 

One's guna and karma would get one a position as a ksatriya or vaishya etc. if in fact one lived in a varnashrama society of a Vedic king.

 

What it means is that we all have an acquired nature - a guna or combination of the three gunas.

 

A person in the mode of goodness is of the brahmincal nature, though if he doesn't have a position in a Vedic culture as a brahmana then how can we say he is a brahmana?

 

A ksatriya is predominantly in the mode of passion - raja guna.

 

The Vaishya is in the mixed mode of passion and ignorance.

 

The sudra is appointed his work as a sudra because he is predominantly in the mode of ignorance - tama guna.

 

However, in the western world things are very mixed-up.

A teacher might be in the mode of ignorance even though in the Vedic system a teacher would come from the brahminical class in the mode of goodness.

 

So, in the western world we cannot say that one's karma or work is correctly reflective of his guna.

 

The priests are supposed to be brahmans but we can see that in western world most priests are meat-eaters in the mode of ignorance.

 

So, without a proper Vedic king and a cabinet of brahmans, it is totally ridiculous to try and compare western people in divisions of labor and castes.

 

That is basically what the caste system has done.

It let's ignorant sudras pose as brahmans while some persons in the mode of goodness are labled as sudras.

 

As such the caste system of India has become just a bigoted, prejudiced system of false designations based upon some family traditions.

 

 

 

That makes a lot of sense.

[andy108]

 

"So, without a proper Vedic king and a cabinet of brahmans, it is totally ridiculous to try and compare western people in divisions of labor and castes."

 

This was the only portion of Sonic's post that I was unclear about. His use of the word compare is incongruent with the context of the rest of that sentence, and the only words I can think of that would fit are nothing like the word "compare".

 

But as for the rest of his post, that is spot on and the very reason why Srila Prabhupada gave duties to engage the westerners who had the closest to brahminical nature, the most sattva guna compared to the rest of society, and then offered detailed instructions on how to create a system of DAIVA Varnasrama, which was a tailor made system which took into consideration the large amount of tama guna that is mixed with any westerners who have any goodness or passion. It was to meet us where we were actually at, and gradually help us advance.

 

It was based on Sri Narada's Pancaratrik Vidhi at heart, and Srila Prabhupada added some instructions based on what Krsna dictated to him.

 

Unfortunately, by and large the Iskcon crew thought they would reproduce Vedanta Vidhi, based on their minimal exposure to the traditions of bygone ages when people were qualified to engage in the full Vedic program.

 

They did this because they could pretend to be fully qualified Brahmanas according to Dwarpa Yuga standards, following this strict system that none of them, and noone else could actually follow.

 

But since they were the Leaders and Srila Prabhupada was not there in Vapu to walk into the room and correct their deceptions, they could modify their presentation of the system enough to appear that they were the learned experienced elders, and no-one would ever be able to get to their level, thus keeping a slave labor force struggling to climb the ladder to the glass ceiling.

 

If they had implemented Daiva Varnasrama, all comers would be immediately engaged based on where they were at in their Kali Yuga degradation, and they would not need anyone falsely Lording it over them perpetually.

 

Lucky for us Srila Prabhupada is here in his Vani, and has through that exposed the charade.

[AncientMariner]

 

This was the only portion of Sonic's post that I was unclear about. His use of the word compare is incongruent with the context of the rest of that sentence, and the only words I can think of that would fit are nothing like the word "compare".

 

But as for the rest of his post, that is spot on and the very reason why Srila Prabhupada gave duties to engage the westerners who had the closest to brahminical nature, the most sattva guna compared to the rest of society, and then offered detailed instructions on how to create a system of DAIVA Varnasrama, which was a tailor made system which took into consideration the large amount of tama guna that is mixed with any westerners who have any goodness or passion. It was to meet us where we were actually at, and gradually help us advance.

 

It was based on Sri Narada's Pancaratrik Vidhi at heart, and Srila Prabhupada added some instructions based on what Krsna dictated to him.

 

Unfortunately, by and large the Iskcon crew thought they would reproduce Vedanta Vidhi, based on their minimal exposure to the traditions of bygone ages when people were qualified to engage in the full Vedic program.

 

They did this because they could pretend to be fully qualified Brahmanas according to Dwarpa Yuga standards, following this strict system that none of them, and noone else could actually follow.

 

But since they were the Leaders and Srila Prabhupada was not there in Vapu to walk into the room and correct their deceptions, they could modify their presentation of the system enough to appear that they were the learned experienced elders, and no-one would ever be able to get to their level, thus keeping a slave labor force struggling to climb the ladder to the glass ceiling.

 

If they had implemented Daiva Varnasrama, all comers would be immediately engaged based on where they were at in their Kali Yuga degradation, and they would not need anyone falsely Lording it over them perpetually.

 

Lucky for us Srila Prabhupada is here in his Vani, and has through that exposed the charade.

 

 

 

Beautifully said. It is so sad and tragic because this is such an incredible philosophy but it still remains basically hidden, obscure and inaccessible to the masses of general people.

[Beggar]

39. When I give charity, I often do it grudgingly knowing that these guys are not really collecting for the temple. Then somehow I get changed-up, anyway and I wonder just what happened?

1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5 - 6 - 7

[AncientMariner]

 

39. When I give charity, I often do it grudgingly knowing that these guys are not really collecting for the temple. Then somehow I get changed-up, anyway and I wonder just what happened?

1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5 - 6 - 7

 

 

 

How much did they get from you?