The following conversation between Srila Prabhupada and his disciples provides an insight to his vision of Varnasrama education:
When it was suggested that the chanting of Hare Krishna was meant to replace varnasrama for everyone, Srila Prabhupada replied:
Prabhupäda: Yes, it can replace, but who is going to replace it? People are not so advanced. If you imitate Haridäsa Thäkura to chant, it is not possible . . . the sahajiyä’s chanting will come. Just like our (name withheld). He was not fit for sannyäsa but he was given sannyäsa. And five women he was attached and he disclosed. Therefore varnasrama dharma is required. Simply show-bottle will not do. So the varnashrama-dharma should be introduced all over the world, and…
Satsvarüpa: Introduced starting with ISKCON community?
Prabhupäda: Yes. Yes. Brahmanas , Kshatriyas. There must be regular education.
Hari-sauri: But in our community, if the…, being as we’re training up as Vasihnavas…
Prabhupäda: Yes.
Hari-sauri: …then how will we be able to make divisions in our society?
Prabhupäda: Vaishnava is not so easy. The varnasrama dharma should be established to become a Vaishnava. It is not so easy to become Vaishnava. [Mäyäpura 14 February 1977]
From the above, we can understand that the sankirtan movement as introduced by Lord Chaitanya Mahaprabhu based on the chanting of the holy names and the performance of devotional service to Lord Krishna, is not meant to replace varnasrama as a means of societal organization. Rather the varnasrama dharma should be established in society as a supportive measure to help individuals become Vaishnavas.
In Sri Bhaktyaloka, Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura also confirms that Lord Caitanya did not reject varnasrama for social organization. After quoting Bhagavatam 1.2.8 – dharmaù svanuñöhitaù puàsäà viñvaksena-kathäsu yaù / notpädayed yadi ratià çrama eva hi kevalam – the Thakur explains:
“The occupational activities a man performs according to his own position are only so much useless labor if they do not provoke attraction for the message of the Personality of Godhead.”
From this one should not conclude that Sri Chaitanya Mahäprabhu has ordered us to discard varnasrama dharma. If that had been the case, then He would not have instructed all living entities through His pastimes of completely following the orders of grihastha and sannyäsa. As long as one has a material body the system of varnasrama dharma must be followed, but it should remain under the full control and domination of bhakti. Varnasrama dharma is like the foundation of one’s supreme occupational duty. When one’s supreme occupational duty is matured and one achieves his goal, then the process is gradually neglected.
The general population in North America, especially in the United Sates is living in a very fragile state of economy. This economy dwells on the supply of oil and automobiles. Reduction in the supply of oil increases the price of fuel for automobiles which in turn increases the price of all essential commodities such as food items, etc. Srila Prabhupada has explained in several places in Srimad Bhagavatham that drilling oil is the propensity of demons. The situation in the cities has become so intense that sometimes the devotees have to work 80 hours a week to pay off their debts and live a decent life. This creates an unfriendly atmosphere for practicing devotional service and also living a healthy family life.
If a devotee works more than 80 hours a week it can be understood that his / her devotional life is under threat. This is especially true when the devotee has to associate with non-devotees in the place of occupation. Moreover, many devotees are forced by the current economic situation to get indulged in occupations that involve the violation of four regulated principles such as working in grocery stores and restaurants that sell meat products and alcohol. There is a great need to find an alternate atmosphere that provides the devotees with sufficient amount of time and opportunity to practice devotional service. It is to be understood that we may not be able convert the devotees living in the cities into overnight farmers. However, we can create an appreciation for an alternative lifestyle that involves self sufficiency and healthy devotional life.
“Gandhi’s program was very nice, village organize so that they may not come to the city and help the capitalists. Remain satisfied in the village.” [Conversation 12/9/76 Vrindavan]
“So this Krishna consciousness movement is trying to revive the original, constitutional position.
Today, we are living in a world where economic collapse, natural calamities, and deteriorating climate are very much evident. The expansion of the intensity of human greed is fast destroying the amount of tranquility involved in our daily lives. This expansion is supported by television programs, cinema, billboards, consumerism, and many other such elements of our so called human society. Therefore we need to re-establish and facilitate VarnaAshrama Dharma culture to induce the required tranquility to practice devotional service in a very conducive atmosphere.
In the last film footage of Srila Prabhupada we find him lying in his bed with H.H. Jayadvaita Swami holding a microphone close to his lips. Carefully choosing the words for what were to become his final purports, he explained exactly why we need varnasrama as follows:
“According to the association of different natures, we get a body. karanam guna sangasya sad asad yoni janmasu. Therefore, we should always seek good association, devotee association. Then our life will be successful. If we live with good association, then we cultivate knowledge. A man is known by his company. So if we have the chance of association with devotees, then our character, nature becomes better. By hearing, by discussing Srimad Bhagavatam, this rajo guna, tamo guna are subdued. Then sattva guna remains. nasta prayesu abhadresu nityam bhagavata sevaya. Then rajo guna, tamo guna cannot do us harm. Therefore, varnasrama dharma is so essential that people live in sattva guna. Tamo guna, rajo guna increases lust and greediness, and that implicates the living entity who exists in the material world in many, many forms. That is very dangerous. Therefore, they should be brought into sattva guna by the establishment of varnasrama dharma.”
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