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His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada appeared in this world in 1896 in Calcutta, India. He first met his spiritual master, Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Goswami in Calcutta in 1922. Srila Bhaktisiddhanta the foremost scholar and devotee of his time had founded the Gaudiya Matha (a Vedic institute with sixty-four branches throughout India). He liked this educated young man and convinced him to dedicate his life to teaching Vedic knowledge. Srila Prabhupada became his student, and eleven years later (1933) at Allahabad he became his formally initiated disciple.

At their first meeting in 1922. Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura requested Srila Prabhupada to broadcast Vedic knowledge through the English language. In the years followed, Srila Prabhupada wrote a commentary on the Bhagavad Gita, the most important Vedic text, and he assisted the Gaudiya Matha in its work. In 1944 he single-handedly started an English fortnightly magazine called Back to Godhead. He edited and typed the manuscripts, checked the galley proofs and even distributed the copies for free and struggled to maintain the publication.

Recognizing Srila Prabhupada's philosophical learning and devotion, the Gaudiya Vaisnava Society honored him in 1944 with the title "Bhaktivedanta." In 1950, at age fifty-four, Srila Prabhupada retired from family life. Four years liter he adopted the vanaprastha (retired) order to devote more time to his studies and writing, and soon he traveled to the holy city of Vrndavana. There he lived in a small room in the historic Radha-Damodara temple and engaged in several years of deep study and writing In I 959 he accepted the renounced order of life (sannyasa). At Radha Damodara, Srila Prabhupada wrote Easy Journey to Other Planets and started his life s masterpiece – a multivolume translation of and commentary on the eighteen-thousand-verse Srimad Bhagavatam, the cream of the Vedic literatures.

After publishing three volumes of the Bhagavatam Srila Prabhupada came to the United States in 1965 to fulfill the mission of his spiritual master. After that time, His Divine Grace wrote some eighty volumes of authoritative translations, commentaries, and summary studies of the philosophical and religious classics of India. When he first arrived by freighter in New York City Srila Prabhupada was practically penniless. But after nearly a year of great difficulty, he founded the International Society for Krishna Consciousness in July of 1966. Before his much-lamented passing on November 14 1977 he guided the Society and saw it grow to a worldwide confederation of more than one hundred ashrams, schools, temples, institutes, and farm communities.

In 1968, Srila Prabhupada created New Vrndavana, an experimental Vedic community in the hills of West Virginia. Inspired by the success of New Vrndavana (now a thriving farm community of more than one thousand acres), his students have since founded several similar communities in the United States and abroad.

In 1975 Srila Prabhupada s magnificent Krsna-Balarama Temple and International Guesthouse opened in Vrindavana, India. In 1978 a four-acre cultural complex (including a temple, modern theater, guesthouse, and vegetarian restaurant) opened at Juhu Beach, in Bombay. Perhaps Srila Prabhupada s most ambitious project is a planned city of fifty thousand residents in Mayapur, West Bengal. Sridhama Mayapur will stand as a model for the whole world — a microcosm of Vedic life as it was five thousand years ago.

In addition, Srila Prabhupada gave the West the Vedic system of primary and secondary education. The gurukula ("the school of the spiritual master") started only in 1972, but already it has hundreds of students and many branches around the world.

Srila Prabhupada's most significant contribution, of course, is his books. The academic community respects them for their authoritativeness, depth, and clarity, and has made them standard textbooks in numerous college courses. In addition, translations of Srila Prabhupada s books now appear in twenty-five languages. The Bhaktivedanta Book Trust, established in 1972 primarily to publish the works of His Divine Grace, has thus become the world s largest publisher of books in the field of Indian religion and philosophy. A recent project has been the publishing of a seventeen-volume translation and commentary—which Srila Prabhupada completed in only eighteen months—on the Bengali religious classic Sri Caitanya-caritamrta. In just twelve years, in spite of his advanced age, Srila Prabhupada circled the globe fourteen times on lecture tours that took him to six continents. In spite of such a vigorous schedule, Srila Prabhupada continued to write prolifically. His writings are a library of Vedic philosophy, religion, and culture.
 

Srila Prabhupada on Self-sufficiency
(reprinted from the Hare Krsna Rural Life newsletter, Spring, 1995)

From time to time we hear some confusion as to Srila Prabhupada ‘s views on self-sufficiency. Some devotees say that Srila Prabhupada wanted us to become self-sufficient (or "self-independent ), particularly in our rural communities. Others object that only Krishna can be self-sufficient, humans cannot become self-sufficient. Although apparently contradictory, these views are actually brought into harmony in Srila Prabhupada ‘s instructions.

In the absolute sense, it is true that only Krishna can be self-sufficient. Still, the individual jiva-souls are part and parcel of Krishna, so when devotees become purified by worshiping Him, they begin to take on His qualities such as beauty, fame, knowledge and so on. Since self sufficiency is one of Krishna's qualities, it also becomes a quality of Krishna's worshipers, as Prabhupada points out in one of the quotes below.

We hope our readers will enjoy Srila Prabhupada's association by reading the following quotes. Your devoted work toward fulfilling these cherished desires of his will ultimately bring all his books to life and make Srila Prabhupada appreciated by people all over the world. (Hare Krsna dasi)

In Sanskrit grammar, the word mayat is used in the sense of "transformation," and also in the sense of sufficiency." The Mayavadi philosophers interpret that yan-maya or cin-maya indicates that the living entity is always equal to the Supreme. But one has to consider whether this affix, mayat, is used for sufficiency" or for "transformation." The living entity never possesses anything exactly in the same proportion as the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Therefore, this mayat affix cannot be used to mean that the individual living entity is self-sufficient.
Krishna Book, Chapter Eighty-six: Prayers by the Personified Vedas

There is no self-sufficiency. Self-insufficiency. Always remember that. Unless you become perfect in Krishna consciousness, there is no self-sufficiency.
Morning Walk, Vrindaban, September 3, 1975

That you are growing all your own grains is very good. It is my ambition that all devotees may remain self independent by producing vegetables, grains, milk, fruits, flowers, and by weaving their own cloth in handlooms. This simple life is very nice. Simple village life saves time for other engagements like chanting the Hare Krishna Maha Mantra.
Letter to Tusta Krishna Maharaja, 76-08-23, Hyderabad

Who is producing food grain? This is the solution of economic problem. Annad bhavanti bhutani. Therefore we are trying to engage our men to produce their own food. Be self-sufficient so that these rascals may see that how one can live very peacefully, eating the food grains and milk, and chant Hare Krishna.
Prabhupada's Lectures, Srimad-Bhagavatam 1974, Mayapura

The first necessity is that you should be self-sufficient. That is God s arrangement.
Prabhupada's Lectures. Srimad Bhagavatain 1975 Mauritius

We are advising, we are making centers like that, that "Be self-sufficient. Save time for spiritual culture." That is human civilization. This was advised some thousands of years ago by Rsabhadeva.
Prabhupada's Lectures, General - 1974 (740606LE.GEN)

So you have to become an ideal society. You live locally, and be self-sufficient. They will see that it is possible to live locally without movement, and still highly cultured men, self-sufficient. That is required.
Morning Walk, Rome, May 28, 1974

Prabhupada: We re not only chanting, we are giving them work. We are trying to become self-sufficient, the same idea of Gandhi s village organization so they may not come out from the village. They ll be satisfied, village economics.
Interview, Ghandigarh, October 16, 1976

So far the Nellore property is concerned, that is a nice proposal. Now, we should have self-sufficiency. This means to make our own food grains grow and to weave our own cloth—like in Mayapur. If we have food grains, milk, and cloth life becomes easy and we can save time for preaching and chanting.
Letter to Mahamsa Svami: 75-01-19 Bombay

I want the world to see by our example that life can be lived naturally, peacefully if one is self-sufficient with land, some cows and chanting Hare Krishna. That is the idea of purchasing land.
Letter to Jagadisa: 74-06-18, Frankfurt

Our farm projects are an extremely important part of our movement. We must become self-sufficient by growing our own grains and producing our own milk, then there will be no question of poverty. So develop these farm communities as far as possible. They should be developed as an ideal society depending on natural products not industry.
Letter to Rupanuga: 74-12-1 8 Bombay

This farm project you should consider very important. The idea is that people can be self sufficient and raise their own foodstuffs and have sufficient milk to save time and chant Hare Krishna. Why should they work so hard in the hellish factories? Let everyone live simply and be Krishna conscious.
Letter to Nityananda dos: 75-07-01 Denver

All quotes © 1991 Bhaktivedanta Book Trust

 

 

Srila Prabhupada s Vision for a Spiritual Society:

Home Economics

Nobody should take to very hardship labor. The modern civilization has discovered severe types of dangerous industries, and laborers are attracted for high wages. But they should not accept such work. Then naturally there will be less capitalistic idea. Because the laborer cooperates, therefore demoniac persons they take advantage and make unnecessarily increase of artificial demands of the body. Better one should be satisfied with agricultural produce than go into large cities to be engaged in industry.

Peaceful life depending on agricultural produce can bring him real happiness and prosperity, not otherwise. The more persons will be satisfied at their home, with home economics, not to go outside the home, that is peaceful life.

In India, Mahatma Gandhi tried to organize villages in that way so that not to drag the people to the town. So peaceful atmosphere can be attained only when there is large scale village organization, actually village life.

Not to borrow the ideas from the cities in the village life; poet Cowper said that country is made by God. and the cities and towns are made by man. So that is the distinction.

There are many such nice ideas, for peaceful living on this planet and execute Krishna Consciousness, so that one may become completely freed from contamination of material existence, and get eternal life, just after quitting this body.

This is confirmed in the Bhagavad-gita, Taktva Deham Punar Janma Na Eti Main Eti Kaunteya. By simple prosecution of Krishna Consciousness, one goes back to home, back to Godhead, just after quitting this present body.

If people cooperate with this Krishna consciousness movement, certainly a better type of civilization can be introduced for permanent peace and prosperity of the whole world.
Letter to Rayarama: 68-10-17, Seattle

© 1991 by Bhaktivedanta Book Trust

 

 
   

“FORGET THIS CENTRALIZING BUREAUCRACY” 
A Srila Prabhupada letter to: Karandhara dasa — Bombay; 22 December, 1972

  Regarding your points about taxation, corporate status, etc., I have heard from Jayatirtha you want to make big  plan for centralization of management, taxes, monies, corporate status, bookkeeping, credit, like that. I do not at all approve of such plan. Do not centralize anything. Each temple must remain independent and self-sufficient. That was my plan from the very beginning, why you are thinking otherwise? Once before you wanted to do something centralizing with your GBC meeting, and if I did not interfere the whole thing would have been killed. Do not think in this way of big corporation, big credits, centralization—these are all nonsense proposals. Only thing I wanted was that books printing and distribution should be centralized, therefore I appointed you and Bali Mardan to do it. Otherwise, management everything, should be done locally by local men. Accounts must be kept, things must be in order and lawfully done, but that should be each temple's concern, not yours. Krishna Consciousness Movement is for training men to be independently thoughtful and competent in all types of departments of knowledge and action, not for making bureaucracy. Once there is bureaucracy the whole thing will be spoiled. There must be always individual striving and work and responsibility, competitive spirit, not that one shall dominate and distribute benefits to the others and they do nothing but beg from you and you provide. No. Never mind there may be botheration to register each centre, take tax certificate each, become separate corporations in each state. That will train men how to do these things, and they shall develop reliability and responsibility, that is the point. I am little observing now, especially in your country, that our men are losing their enthusiasm for spreading on our programs of Krishna Consciousness movement. Otherwise, why so many letters of problems are coming, dissatisfied? That is not a very good sign. The whole problem is they are not following the regulative principles, that I can detect. Without this, enthusiasm will be lacking. Even mechanically following, and if he gets gradually understanding from the class, he will come to the point of spontaneous enthusiasm. This spontaneous loving devotional service is not so easy matter, but if one simply sticks strictly to the rules and regulations, like rising early, chanting 16 rounds, chanting gayatri, keeping always clean—then his enthusiasm will grow more and more, and if there is also patience and determination, one day he will come to the platform of spontaneous devotion, then his life will be perfect. All of this I have told you in Nectar of Devotion. So I do not think the leaders are themselves following, nor they are seeing the others are following strictly. That must be rectified at once. Each centre remain independent, that's all right, but the president and other officers must themselves follow and see the others are following the regulative principles carefully, and giving them good instruction so they may understand nicely why this tapasya is necessary. And GBC and Sannyasis will travel and see the officers are doing this, and if they observe anything lowering of the standard, they must reform and advise, or if there is some discrepancy I shall remove it. Of course, if new men are coming, they may not be expected immediately to take to our regulative principles cent per cent. Therefore we should not be so anxious to induce them to live in the temple. Anyone who lives in the temple must agree to follow the rules and regulations without fail. So if some new man moves in with us he may become discouraged if he is forced in this way. Therefore let them live outside and become gradually convinced in the class why they should accept some austerity, then they will live with us out of their own accord arid follow nicely everything. It is very difficult to give up very quickly so many bad habits as you have got in your country, so educate them gradually, first with chanting, and do not be so much anxious to count up so many numbers of new devotees, if such devotees go away later being too early forced. I want to see a few sincere devotees, riot many false devotees or pretenders. So my point is that the regulative principles must be followed by everyone. Otherwise their enthusiasm dwindles and they again think of sex and become restless, and so many problems are there. There is some symptom of missing the point. The point is to be engaged in doing something for Krishna, never mind what is that job, but being so engaged in doing something very much satisfying to the devotee that he remains always enthusiastic. He will automatically follow the regulative principles because they are part of his occupational duty—by applying them practically as his occupational duty, he realizes the happy result of regulative principles. So the future of this Krishna Consciousness movement is very bright, so long the managers remain vigilant that 16 rounds are being chanted by everyone without fail, that they are all rising before four morning, attending mangal arati—our leaders shall be careful not to kill the spirit of enthusiastic service, which is individual and spontaneous and voluntary. They should try always to generate some atmosphere of fresh challenge to the devotees, so that they will agree enthusiastically to rise and meet it. That is the art of management: to draw out spontaneous loving spirit of sacrificing some energy for Krishna. But where are so many expert managers? All of us should become expert managers and preachers. We should not be very much after comforts and become complacent or self-contented. There must be always some tapasya, strictly observing the regulative principles—Krishna Consciousness movement must be always a challenge, a great achievement to be gained by voluntary desire to do it, and that will keep it healthy. So you big managers now try to tram up more and more some competent preachers and managers like yourselves. Forget this centralizing and bureaucracy

              © 1991 BBT

        

The Varnasrama Walks

Srila Prabhupada’s “Varnasrama Walks,” a series of informal talks given on March 12, 13, 14 and 15, 1974 to devotees in Vrindavana, India, form the keystone to understanding Prabhupada’s vision for varnasrama society and the kind of training necessary to build that society.

---

Vrindavana, March 12, 1974
Prabhupada: .it will be constituted, that. Their business will be to exploit the poor citizens. And they will be embarrassed and harassed so much: by one side, no sufficient rain, and therefore scarcity of food, and the other side, taxation by the government. In this way, the people will be so much harassed that they'll give up their home and go to the forest. Very piti... Unless they take to Krishna consciousness, they'll not be saved. The varnasrama college has to be established immediately. Everywhere, wherever we have got our center, a varnasrama college should be established to train four divisions: one class, brahmana; one class, ksatriya; one class, vaisya; and one class, sudra. But everyone will be elevated to the spiritual platform by the spiritual activities which we have prescribed. There is no inconvenience, even for the sudras.
Jagadisa: Srila Prabhupada, in a varnasrama society is...
Prabhupada: Eh?
Jagadisa: In a varnasrama society, are most of the citizens sudras?
Prabhupada: Yes. The number of sudras are always bigger. Just like in University education. The, the number of graduates and post-graduates, they're less. Others are big, number bigger.
Bhagavan: The whole idea is that at the end of everyone's life, everyone is required to leave home, perform devotional activities, but not necessarily take sannyasa.
Prabhupada: Devotional activities, either he leaves from home or not leaves, that doesn't matter. It must continue from the very beginning. For the management of affairs, we require to divide. Because there are different classes of brain, so those who have very intellectual brain, they should become brahmanas. Those who are fit for management and protection, they should be trained as ksatriya. And those who are fit for producing food, taking care of the cows, they should be trained as vaisya. And the balance, they’re all sudras. This is the division. You... Everywhere you'll find this division, natural. One class of men, very intelligent. One class of men, very strong, good brain for management, administration. (aside) Jaya. One class of men, fit for tilling the ground, field, and produce food, take care of the cows. And the balance, sudra. That's all. So in our society, this division should be there. The most intelligent class of men, they should be engaged in preaching, reading books and instructing, taking care of Deity worship, temple, and another class should be strong managers, that things are going on nicely. Everyone is engaged, not that eating and sleeping. Everyone must be engaged, employed. So, so if one is very much adapted for eating and sleeping, he should be engaged with plows.
Bhagavan: Fifteen hundred.
Prabhupada: No. According to our present calculated, about 180 mounds.
So there should be 120 mounds excess of grain. Instead of excess, they want ten thousand rupees for maintenance. This is... This management is going on. These things were not discussed in GBC? So what kind of discussion was there? Simply talking? No practical? And the estimate of budget was presented for ten thousand rupees per month. And... And when it was scrutinizingly studied, immediately it came down to six thousand. So what kind of budget? So management should be in that way, that nobody is sitting idly. Automatically he'll fall sick. Sickness means idleness. Or excess eating, sleeping. No excess, no less. Yuktahara-viharasya yogo bhavati duhkha-ha. Yukta. Yukta means actually what you need. (aside:) Hare Krishna. So everywhere, in each center, this system should be introduced, and there must be practical application of the varnasrama.
.Hrdayananda: Oh.
Prabhupada: Doesn't matter. But manage, for management, this division must be there. Otherwise it will be mismanagement. Yes. A Vaisnava coming to the position of doing the work of a sudra does not mean he has become sudra. He's Vaisnava. Try to understand this point. Just like in the stage. If you want to play something, one must be king, one must be queen, one must be..., but neither of them king or queen. That is stage play. Similarly to manage things in the material world we have to... Guna, karma. Karma there must be. Therefore the karma should be done, executed, according to quality.
Atreya-rsi: So in our Movement, the leaders must decide how every devotee and every resource is engaged properly.
Prabhupada: That is leadership. That is leadership. The... Which man is fitted for which work.
.Prabhupada: So if our men are not prepared-Tamala Krishna Maharaja- for doing the plowing work, then what is the use of purchasing land?
Tamala Krishna: They are not prepared.
Prabhupada: Eh?
Tamala Krishna: They are not prepared.
Prabhupada: Then? You have to engage laborer and spend two hundred rupees per head at least, including salary and food, and the production is nil. In this way, there must be ten thousand, twenty thousand expenditure. Am I right or not, that “You bring money some way from anywhere, and let us spend lavishly”? What kind of management this is? We should consider the money, after all, is earned with hard labor. So somebody will bring money with hard labor, and another body will spend like irresponsible prince; that should be stopped. That is management. (break) . . .especially is that the religion means to make a class of men, simply idle... What is? Opiate...? What is called?
Devotees: Opiate of the people.
Prabhupada: Therefore they are against religion. But actually, if we show that we are producing, we are managing, we are educating, then we can counteract the communist tendency. But they are seeing that, that escaping. They say, “They escape responsibility of worldly life and they’re indulging in some religious...” That is the tendency. All... Everywhere the government is complaining like that. Therefore they do not want to increase the number of temples, increase the number of devotees. They do not want. Because they say, “These are a class of idle men. They cannot do anything, and they take to this religious life.” That is the tendency. They are feeling like that. But if you show that you are actually doing something ideal, then they will appreciate. Make a small unit of community and show ideal life, not idle life. Ideal life. . . . So that is government's duty, that a man should be employed according to his capacity. There should be no unemployment. That is very dangerous posit ion of the society. Now this unemployment question is very strong all over the world. Employment, even for the woman, the caraka. You see? Gandhi also studied this. There must be... Woman should be engaged for weaving. What is called?
Devotee: Spinning.
Prabhupada: Spinning, yes. Everyone should be engaged. That is management.
Bhagavan: . . .the society would go to the gurukula, and there it would be decided what their work would be?
Prabhupada: Yes. First of all there should be an instructor on the spiritual life, then according to his position... Our spiritual life is meant, we should always remember... But for management we have to make divisions. That is...
Devotee: Actually the whole society could be Vaisnava.
Prabhupada: Ah. They’re Vaisnava. But because they have got to live in the material world, there must be division of work. If everyone wants to become the brain, who will act as leg? That is also required....
Madhudvisa: He says, “Those who repeat this message of Bhagavad-gita, are most dear friends to me, and there's no one more dear to Me than he...”
Prabhupada: Hm.
Madhudvisa: Wouldn't that indicate that a preacher is higher than a worker?
Prabhupada: Yes, this is preaching, this is preaching. You help. Suppose you are preaching, and if I help you... Just like I'm preaching, you're helping. You are also preaching.
Atreya Rsi: Also this building is preaching.
Prabhupada: This is also preaching. So it is not that preaching means simply talking. Preaching means everything. The construction is also preaching. The designing is also preaching. Everything is... Otherwise what is the use of spending so much money if it is not preaching?
Prabhupada: . . .technological college. Similarly, this is another college, varnasrama college.
Satsvarupa: For the public in general?
Prabhupada: Eh? Yes. Anyone. Just like engineering college is open for anyone. He must be ready to take up the training. Similarly, this varnasrama college, he must be ready, the student, must be ready to take up the training. We are getting so many sannyasis, they should teach. Teaching should be done by the sannyasis. Just like in missionary school, the fathers teaches.
Hrdayananda: How would it be different than gurukula?
Prabhupada: Eh?
Hrdayananda: How would it differ from gurukula?
Prabhupada: Gurukula is only for the small children. Preliminary, primary. And when the children are grown up, they should be sent to the varnasrama school or college for further developed training.
Hrdayananda: They should... Should they be taught also some... Should there also be teaching in some particular skill or varna? Such as say...
Prabhupada: No.
Hrdayananda: Say, for example, someone was a, a ksatriya by inclination, or a...?
Prabhupada: No, inclination can be changed also. If one has got little ad... But we should take little advantage of the inclination. Not that... That is to be decided by the... Inclination or no inclination, we can... That will be done.
Hrdayananda: And there should... Should there be any material subject matters taught like in gurukula?
Prabhupada: Yes. Just like material subject matter, ksatriya, or the brahmanas, ksatriya, as they are described in the Bhagavad-gita, what are the symptoms of brahmana, what is the symptoms of ksatriya. The ksatriyas should be taught how to fight also. There will be military training. There will be training how to kill.
Hrdayananda: Oh.
Prabhupada: Yes. And vaisyas should be trained how to give protection to the cows, how to till the field and grow food. Practical.
Nitai: Not business also?
Prabhupada: Eh?
Nitai: The vaisyas?
Prabhupada: Business, this rascal business, no.
Nitai: No?
Prabhupada: Business means if you have got extra grains or extra foodstuff, you can sell where there is necessity, there is want. That is business. We are not going to open mills and factories and... No. We are not going to do that. That is sudra business. The real business is that you produce enough food grains, as much as possible, and you eat and distribute. That's all. This is business. He does not require any so high technical education. Anyone can till the ground and grow food. Is it difficult? This is the business.
Hrdayananda: What kind of training is there for a sudra?
Prabhupada: Sudra is general assistant.
Hrdayananda: Oh, just...
Prabhupada: Order-carrier. He has no intelligence. He doesn't require intelligence. “Do this.” That's all.
Satsvarupa: What would he learn at the school, though?
Prabhupada: Eh?
Satsvarupa: What would his business be at that varnasrama college?
Prabhupada: Yes. That is also training, to become obedient. Because people are not obedient. What are these hippies? They are not obedient. So obedience also require training. If you have no intelligence, if you cannot do anything independently, just be obedient to the other, higher three classes. That is sudra. He must agree to abide by the orders of brahmana, ksatriyas, vaisya. That's all. So that nobody will be unemployed. Everyone should be trained up to sleep six to eight hours and attend meeting, chant, and arati. And balance. He must work hard. Otherwise, they are little animals with four hand, two legs, two hand, hand animals. That's all. Yes. Rejected them. Vedic civilization rejected them, mlecchas and yavanas. But they can be reformed. The process is the same. Not that because they are rejected, they cannot be reclaimed. They can be reclaimed also. Just like you are being done. Although you are coming from the mlecchas and yavanas, by training, you are becoming more than a brahmana. So there is no bar for them.
[By] Krishna’s grace, Caitanya Mahaprabhu’s grace, they are being now trained up. Now you be trained up and revise the whole edition of the western civilization, especially in America. Then a new chapter will come in. This is the program. Therefore varnasrama school required....
Hrdayananda: Jaya. Yes. And so...
Prabhupada: Hm? History must be for great person. This is history.
Hrdayananda: So in our varnasrama college the students that come to our college, they follow the four principles... They follow...
Prabhupada: Four principles essential. Essential. But only the sudras or the ksatriyas... Just like ksatriyas, they have to learn how to kill. So practically, they should go to the forest and kill some animal. And if he likes, he can eat also. If he likes. he can eat also.
Hrdayananda: What he kills.
Prabhupada: Yes. But not from the slaughterhouse. Those who are ksatriyas, they can, they’re allowed sometimes to eat meat. It is understood Bhima, Bhima also eating sometimes meat. Bhima. Amongst the Pandavas, only Bhima. Not others. So if the ksatriyas, they want to eat meat, they can be allowed on particular occasions. But they must go to the forest and kill the animal. Not that for meat eating regular slaughterhouses should be maintained. This is all nonsense, degradation. If you want to eat meat, you go to the forest. And the sudras, they also sometimes eat meat. Or the candalas. Satsvarupa: Srila Prabhupada, is this school for women also, or just for men? Prabhupada: For men. Women should automatically learn how to cook, how to cleanse home.
Satsvarupa: So they don't attend varnasrama college.
Prabhupada: No, no. Varnasrama college especially meant for the brahmana, ksatriya and vaisya. Those who are not fit for education, they are sudras. That's all. Or those who are reluctant to take education-sudra means. That's all. They should assist the higher class....
Hrdayananda: Not necessary. So in this varnasrama college there would be two divisions, varna and asr... Learning a materia...
Prabhupada: First of all varna. And asrama, then, when the varna is perfectly in order, then asrama. Asrama is specially meant for spiritual advancement, and varna is general division. It must be there in the human society, or they’re on the animals. If varna is not there, then this is a society of animal. And when the varna is working perfectly, then we give them asrama. Varnasrama. That is later on.
Hrdayananda: First they should be taught a skill.
Prabhupada: Yes. First of all, the whole society must be divided into four varnas. Otherwise, there will be chaotic condition. That is what is the position now. What is he, what he has to do, one does not know. And there are so many unemployment. But if you organize the society into varnas. there will be no question of unemployment.
Hrdayananda: But from the very beginning there should be taught Bhagavad-gita and...
Prabhupada: Eh?
Hrdayananda: From the very beginning we should teach Bhagavad-gita?
Prabhupada: Yes. But our, our position is that we are above varnasrama. But for management or ideal society, we are introducing this. We, so far we are concerned, Krishna conscious men, we are above varnasrama. But to show the people that we are not escaping, we can take part in any order of life. That is our position.
Hrdayananda: Prabhupada, can you say something about the training for a brahmana.
Prabhupada: Yes. They are satyam samah damah. He must be truthful, he must control the senses, control the mind... samo damah,... He must be tolerant. He should not be agitated in trifle matters. Satyam samo damah saucam. He must be always clean. Three times he must take bath at least. All the clothing, all, everything is clean. This is brahminical training. And then he must know all what is what, knowledge, and practical application, and firm faith in Krishna. This is brahmana.
Hrdayananda: So what kind of practical work could we engage them in?
Prabhupada: They'll be teaching. They'll be all teachers.
Hrdayananda: Oh, they'll be teachers.
Prabhupada: Yes. Just like Dronacarya. He was brahmana, but he was teaching military art to the Pandavas. General teacher class will be the brahmanas. It doesn't matter what he's teaching. But teaching, perfectly teaching, how to become a military man. Arjuna’s fighting was due to Dronacarya. He learned it from Dronacarya. He was a brahmana. But because he took the position of a teacher, he thought very perfectly. A brahmana should be expert in every kind of knowledge. If requires, he'll become teacher. This is brahmana.
Hrdayananda: So brahmana can teach how to fight?
Prabhupada: Yes. Brahmana means intelligent, brain. So in intelligent brain one can learn anything and teach anything.
Satsvarupa: This is all very new.
Prabhupada: Eh?
Satsvarupa: This is very new. It seems there'll be many difficulties. So we should try to start this school.
Prabhupada: What is the difficulty? If I teach you how to cook, is it very difficult?
Satsvarupa: Yes, we have to... No, we have to learn, though.
Prabhupada: Then similarly, like that. Like that. I am doing that. I am teaching how to mop the floor.
Satsvarupa: Then it becomes easy.
Prabhupada: But I must know everything because I am a teacher. Hrdayananda: So, for example, if I become a teacher at varnasrama, say, the first teacher at the varnasrama college, then I have to also become expert at how to fight, how to...
Prabhupada: Not all of you, but some of you must be, must learn the art of fighting also. But in a practical you are not going to fight. If required, you can fight. I say that we are above all these varnasrama, but we must train others or ourself also for material activities, everything, under these divisions.
Visnujana: For example, in New Vrindavana we have brahmanas that are very expert at tilling the soil and taking care of cows.
Prabhupada: Yes.
Visnujana: And they could travel around and teach others how to do that as well.
Prabhupada: Yes. That's right. He is brahmana, but he's teaching how to take care of the cows and ploughing.
Prabhupada: No, the thing is that actually, at the present moment, they are sudras or less than sudras. They are not human beings. The whole population of the world. It doesn't matter whether it is western or eastern. That is the position. So unless they are trained up, so the society's already in chaos, and it will go on still more in chaos, chaos. It will be hell. How people will live? And these rascals are being elected as government men, and they’re only making budget how to tax. So one side, there is no rain; one side, there is no rice, especially in India; and one side, heavy tax. So they'll be all confused. They have already become confused. So in the confusion state it will be very difficult to make them Krishna conscious. Therefore preliminary help should be given.
Visnujana: Preliminary. Prabhupada: Yes. That they should not be in chaos and confusion. Otherwise, how the brain will work?
Visnujana: Yes. No one can give rapt attention without peace of mind.
Prabhupada: Yes, yes. Our main aim is how to give them Krishna consciousness. But if they are already disturbed in every respect, then how they'll take it? Therefore we are taking these subjects, to help him to come to the Krishna consciousness. And this is the method-varnasrama.
Hrdayananda: So just to clarify, Prabhupada, I want to make sure I have it very clear, that if someone comes to our varnasrama college, even though this may be preliminary help, in general-  you’ve made some exceptions- but in general, when they come to our college, they have to follow the four regulative principles, also learn something about Bhagavad-gita and then, side by side, they learn a...
Prabhupada: Four regulative principles compulsory.
Hrdayananda: Yes.
Prabhupada: But if some of the ksatriya or the sudras, they want, so that is our prescription: “Go to the forest and kill some animal and eat that.” That's all. You can kill one boar. Some disturbing elements, you can kill. You can kill some tiger. Like that. Learn to kill. No nonviolence. Learn to kill. Here also, as soon as you'll find, the ksatriya, a thief, a rogue, unwanted element in the society, kill him.
.Visnujana: So we should perpetuate this technical skill of...
Prabhupada: No. We are not going to... But if somebody's interested doing, so we take it, make the best use of it.
Hrdayananda: Prabhupada, generally in colleges in the West, they charge some fee for going to the college. What is our position?
Prabhupada: No, we don't charge any fee. There is no question of money. Because the brahmanas, they'll teach free. They require money because they have to give fat salary to these rascals. But we haven't got to. And even we have to feed them, we produce our own grain. So where is the question of taking money? So therefore it is required, somebody must produce food. Then there is no necessity of money.
Hrdayananda: The vaisya students will produce the food.
Prabhupada: Yes.
Satsvarupa: Should our children who are at gurukula, when they grow up, should they go to that varnasrama college, or...?
Prabhupada: Yes, yes. They should go.
Hrdayananda: We'll start it right away.
Prabhupada: Varnasrama college means for grown-up students. College means for grown-up students.
Hrdayananda: Is there a minimum age for beginning such a college?
Prabhupada: Yes. Ten to twelve years.
Prabhupada: We have got so many duties to do. Don't waste time, a single moment. And don't eat more and don't sleep more. Then you'll be able to work.
Visnujana: And this is the most auspicious work for now, is this remedial measure of...?
Prabhupada: Eh?
Visnujana: This is the most auspicious work for now, is this remedial measure to stop the chaos in the world?
Prabhupada: Yes.
Visnujana: That's most auspicious.
Prabhupada: Most auspicious. Because if the people are in chaos, how they'll be able to accept the great philosophy? It requires cool brain.
Hrdayananda: So, Prabhupada, in our temples, we have so many devotees. Should the devotees...?
Prabhupada: They should be engaged.
Hrdayananda: Should they be trained in a particular...?
Prabhupada: Yes. Those who are not able to preach or to do other things, they must go to the plough department, agriculture.
Hrdayananda: So we should encourage people, young people, young students to come to our college.
Prabhupada: They'll automatically come if you are ideal. Because they are being forced to poverty. So when there is a question of poverty, they'll come.
Hrdayananda: Room and board and training.
Prabhupada: Yes. This poverty. Why there is poverty? Because they are not producing food. . . . And human beings means trained up under principle. That is the difference between animal. The animals, they cannot take up any training. But the human being, this human form of body is meant for taking training. So if they are not properly trained up, they remain animals and the whole society in chaos and confusion....
Visnujana: When we first go to open a temple in a city we get an apartment or a storefront. But then, when more and more people come, then we should get land and cows and everything and...
Prabhupada: Yes, yes.
Visnujana: . . . and turn it into a society.

Vrindaban, March 15, 1974

Prabhupada: When there will be military march of Krishna conscious soldiers. Anyone who does not believe in Krishna, “Blam!” (laughter) Yes. The same process as the Mohammedans did, with sword and Koran, we'll have to do that. “Do you believe in Krishna or not?” “No, sir. ~ Finished. (laughter, Prabhupada laughs) What do you think, Madhudvisa Maharaja? Is that all right?
Madhudvisa: Yes.
Prabhupada: (laughing) What these communists can do? We can do better than them. We can kill many communists like that. (laughter) Then it will be counteraction of communist movement. And you think like that. “Why you are sitting idly, no employment? Come on to the field! Take this plow! Take this bull. Go on working. Why you are sitting idly?” This is Krishna consciousness movement. ... (break)
.there are many babajis. They are collecting capatis and smoking bidi, and have one or two women. That's all. It is going on. So they should be drawn: “Come on! Chant Hare Krishna and take the plough.” . . . all these babajis should be employed, “Chant Hare Krishna and draw plough.” Then it will be nice....
Prabhupada: Then whatever field is not being worked, we occupy them, and begin to work. And invite all the unemployed, “Come and join us. We shall give you food, shelter, everything.” . . .This is Krishna consciousness. (break) . . .politician, Balavanta? He's not here. So let him preach that “We shall, if you take our Krishna consciousness movement, there will be no unemployment.” He can at least give this manifesto to the..., “There will be no more unemployment.” People will be very nice, very glad to hear. Now this machine, this machine nonsense means unemployment. One machine will work for hundred men. So hundred men becomes unemployed, and one technician, he gets all the salaries. To work on the computer, corn...
Devotee: Computer, yes.
Prabhupada: Machine. And he's very expert. He'll take three thousand dollars. And others will be unemployed. This is going on. And they are thinking:
“Advancement of civilization.” Advancement of civilization means “Exploit others and you become happy.” This is advancement of civilization. “Others may die for such, out of starvation, and one man takes all the money and spends it for wine and women and motor car.” That's all. This is advancement of civilization. Sarve sukhino bhavantu. This is Vedic civilization. “Let everyone be happy.” That is Vedic civilization. And the demonic civilization, they’re: “Let everyone suffer; I become happy. That's all.”... Practically attract. Practically attract. That is the Hare Krishna movement will practically attract the people. If the world affairs are adjusted according to our Krishna conscious plan, there will be no difficulty for all the nations, all the countries. They will be happy. So we have to educate people gradually. And by our example, living example, we'll have to attract.

© 1991 by Bhaktivedanta Book Trust

 

   

 

The Prabhupada Connect Website

Prabhupada Connect

His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada is inarguably one of the greatest acaryas and spiritual teachers within the history of vaisnavism. Any site which dedicates itself to either glorifying Srila Prabhupada and to the spreading of his teachings, therefore, has great relevance to us as aspiring devotees. In this regard, I would like to direct all of our readers to the website "Prabhupada Connect." This site is fully dedicated to Srila Prabhupada's teachings and has highlighted those lessons in a novel and marvelous manner. I encourage all readers of HKRL to visit this site at your earliest opportunity.

Srila Prabhupada ki jaya!!

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