# VARNASRAMA ## The Importance of Varnasrama ==49-02== “The fourth item is to organize the much discussed caste system as a solution of natural division of the human beings all over the world. ==Naturalistic division of human race is artificial but scientific division of the caste system as envisaged by the Bhagavad-gita is natural. We shall have to pick up brahmanas and other not only from the Indian people but from the peoples all over the world.== The vitiated caste system of present India is never sanctioned by the scriptures. But the caste system is made by God according to quality and work of the subject and it was never designed for the benefit of accidental birthright. Thus whatever is made by God cannot be destroyed by man. Destruction of the caste system as contemplated by some exponents, is therefore out of the question. By modes of nature different persons are imbued with different qualities and the scientific way of division of human society, from the qualitative aspect, by the caste system is quite natural. But the basic principle of such caste system is to serve the plan of Godhead and by doing so the four orders of caste system make a headway by the cooperative method. When such spiritual progress is definitely made, the materialistic progress is automatically affected as a matter of course. That makes a real classless society.” (SPL to Dr. Vallabhaiji Patel, 28 * * th* February, 1949) 52-01 “In the old days life was not so much conditional and encumbered. The simple problems were then the problems of bread, clothing, and shelter which were solved by the simplest process. By agriculture they used to solve the bread, clothing and shelter problems and industrialization was unknown to them. Thus they had no idea of living in big palatial buildings at the cost of sacrificing the boon of humanity. They were satisfied to live in the cottages and yet they were perfectly intelligent. Even the famous Canakya Pandita who was the Prime Minister of India during the reign of Candragupta used to live in a cottage and draw no salary from the State. Such simple habits did not deteriorate his high intelligence and dignity and as such he had compiled many useful literatures which are still read by millions for social and political guidance. Thus the simplicity of brahminical culture was an ideal to the subordinate other of the society and in the deductive way the subordinate orders, namely *ksatriyas* , the *vaisyas* , and the *sudras* would follow the instructions of the cultured *brahmana* . Such ways of approaching the Truth is always simple, plain and perhaps the most perfect. The cultured *brahmana* order of the society would declare that there is God or Brahman and the *ksatriyas, vaisyas* and the *sudras* who were less cultured then the *brahmanas* —would follow the latter faithfully, call it blindly or otherwise. By such faithful following the subordinate classes would be able to save much time in the matter of arguing or reasoning the existence of God at all, and still they would not be faithless. In the old days even a politician *brahmana* like Canakya would say that: A really cultured learned fellow is far above a politician because a politician is honored by the votes of his countrymen while a cultured and learned fellow is honored everywhere all over the world. So we say that Radindranath and Ghandi were never dependent for the votes of their countrymen but they were honored all over the world for their cultural contribution. The same Canakya Pandita defined the standard of learning. The standard of learning had to be testified by its result and not by the manner of university degrees. He said that one who looks upon all women, except one’s married wife as mothers, all other’s wealth as the pebbles on the street and all living beings as one’s own self, is really learned fellow. He never stressed on the point of standard how many grammars, rhetoric’s or other books of knowledge one might have gone through, or how many doctorates of different universities one might have been decorated with. At the present moment we know very well that a few look upon other women besides one’s married wife as mothers; very few men will look upon other’s wealth as pebbles on the street and very few men will try to behave with other living beings as one wants to be treated oneself. The sages of old discovered it by spiritual culture that man’s energy should be utilized only for spiritual realization. Not to speak of Lord Sri Krsna who spoke the philosophy of *Bhagavad-gita* near about 5,000 years ago, we know that within 2,000 years of human history no sages including Jesus Christ, prophet Mohammed, Lord Buddha, Acarya Sankara, Madhva, Ramanuja, or even Lord Caitanya gave any importance to materialistic way of living. They saw it that the bread problem, clothing problem, and shelter problem are never solved by material activities because in the law of nature the elephant is given the whole jungle to eat and the little ant is given a grain of sugar to solve their respective bread problems and yet the animals remain hungry. It is not the question of a jungle or grain of sugar that can solve our bread problem but it is the question of real food that can quench the hunger of the human being and revitalize him to proper life. Human being should therefore not be encouraged to satisfy his unsastiated hunger like the giant elephant or the little ant but he should be trained up otherwise which shall provide for his real food. The wonderful temples, the mosques, and the cathedrals of the past centuries were built up to give them real food and were not built up by blind or unquestioning faith. They were built up on full faith and reasoning which were based on the deductive process. The *Vedas* , the *Bible* , or the *Koran* would ask the human being to make proper use of his conserved energy in the transcendental service of God and unsophisticated men in the old days would follow such instructions unhesitatingly for realizing the Absolute Truth. Such temples, mosques were therefore centers of high culture to provide real food to human consciousness. But in the present age in the absence of such high culture this is hardly any difference between the temples, mosques, and cathedrals and the high commercial building in a busy city. If the culture is to be revived it is quite possible to do it even in your parliamentary building in New Delhi or in the commercial buildings of New York, As the Socratesian way of reasoning is not bound up within the walls of Athens so also the brahminical culture is not bound up within the walls of India. ==You can find out the nine prescribed qualifications of a brahmana, the seven of the ksatriyas, the three of the vaisyas, and the one qualification of the sudra world-wide. You can therefore pick up brahmanas and other orders of society all the world over.== Gandhiji although born in a *vaisya* family, possessed almost all the nine qualifications of a *brahmana* and if possible we can find out such *brahmana* in other parts of the world. One *brahmana* -Gandhi congressman is quite competent to guide its principle whereas thousand other *sudra* congressman can only help to break it up into pieces. Thus if we want to approach the Absolute Truth by new way in harmony with the present environment we should try to be true to one another in the qualified way of brahminical culture. Only a dozen of real qualified *brahmanas* from all parts of the world should combine to guide the principles of the *ksatriyas,* the *vaisyas* and the *sudras* all over the world. The Socratesian way of reasoning should be fully utilized because that makes the only difference between the human being and a beast. There is ample scope for this new way of approaching the Absolute Truth and that will only solve the acute distressing world problem. If there is scarcity of such qualified *brahmanas* which I honestly think there is, we should combine to evolve such brahminical culture not by blind faith but by sound reasoning and questioning. But all the same we must be sincere and thorough in our attempt. As a humble disciple of Om Visnupada Sri Srimad Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Goswami, I wish to remain always true to you and everyone. And if you sincerely be true to your forefather, I mean the brahminical culture, you have the strength and capacity to save the world by presenting the brahminical culture once again for consummation of the distressed world. In such acts of your broadness of mind, I am always at your service. Awaiting your reply with interest.” (SPL to Nehru, 20 * * th* January, 1952) ==68-08 “My idea of developing New Vrindavan is to create an atmosphere of spiritual life where people in bona fide order of social division,== namely, *brahmacaris* , *grhasthas* , *vanaprastha* , *sannyasis* , or specifically *brahmacaris* , and *sannyasis,* and *vanaprasthas,* ==will live there independently, completely on agricultural produce and milk from the cows.== The life should be simplified without being hampered by laboring day and night for economic development, without any spiritual understanding. The New Vrndavana idea is that persons who live there will accept the bare necessities of life to maintain the body and soul together and the major part of time should be engaged in development of Krsna consciousness. The whole Vedic principle is to develop Krsna consciousness, without creating much botheration for the program of sense gratification.” (SPL to Hayagriva, August 17 * * th* , 1968) ==68-10== “Next—regarding your point: program for a spiritual world civilization—it is very nice suggestion. And practically our Krsna consciousness movement is built on this idea, that ==we want to make a world civilization on the basis of spiritual understanding. So I am giving you some point which you may expand of do it for understanding the people in general.== But the point should be as follows: 1st point, that any civilization devoid of God consciousness or Krsna consciousness, is no civilization at all. It is simply a polished type of animal society. This is the first point. So at the present moment, the modern civilization on the basis of so-called scientific knowledge and economic development is trying to avoid God consciousness, or Krsna consciousness—that is the defect of the modern civilization. Therefore, in spite of all advancement it is zero. So zero has no value. And millions of zeros put together does not make any value. But one is put on the left side of the zero and it increases the value. The one zero becomes 10, two zeros become 100, three zeros become 1,000 so it is very nice. This point should be clearly discussed, that without God consciousness, Krsna consciousness, and attempt of human civilization so-called philosophical or political or economic or labor, they are all zeros. The human society should be divided as a social order, as the intellectual men, the administrator class, and the mercantile class, and the laborer class. And so far spiritual order, they should be divided as the renounced order of life, retired order of life, householder and student life. Third point, all of these eight divisions are meant for understanding the Supreme Personality of Godhead and this Krsna consciousness movement is meant for teaching these necessities of human civilization. Fourth point, so far the administrator class of men, or the mercantile class of men and laborer class of man, there are many institutions but to train a first-class intellectual man, there is no institution all over the world. And there is no institution for spiritual training also. So this Krsna consciousness movement is trying to help the human society on these two points, which they are lacking. So we have therefore taken a large tract of land to begin with West Virginia, the place is called New Vrndavana. So we want to train student for becoming first-class intellectual persons and instruct the whole human society about the aim of life and Krsna consciousness or God consciousness. So we are inviting the desiring or intending students to join us in our institution and we invite the public and government to cooperate with our movement. The fifth point is that in whatever division one may be situated, this very aim of life should be to satisfy the Supreme Personality of Godhead. It is the duty of everyone; it doesn’t matter in what status of life he is situated, but if he wants to have a successful life, then he must learn to see how by his activities the Supreme Lord is satisfied. That should be the aim. Then it does not matter what is the position and occupation of the man, but he is in the right order of civilization because his very aim is to satisfy the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Next point; and in order to learn this art, how he is able to satisfy the Supreme Personality of Godhead, on has to take instruction or education in the art of Krsna consciousness, by reading *Bhagavad-gita As It Is* , by reading *Srimad-Bhagavatam* , which are calculated as the science of God and following the *Teachings of Lord Caitanya* , such practice should be performed 24 hours. It is not that one may mediate for fifteen minutes and he becomes spiritually advanced, it is not possible. So the Krsna consciousness movement is training people how to be absorbed in the thought of Krsna twenty-four hours. Take for example, the *Bhagavad-gita* : the instruction of Krsna in the *Bhagavad-gita* is just suitable for a perfect human civilization. So one should learn this teaching of *Bhagavad-gita As It Is* Next point: in order to understand these teachings of *Bhagavad-gita* and *Srimad-Bhagavatam* , there should be centers where people can assemble daily, morning and evening, and try to understand Krsna consciousness or God consciousness movement. So we are trying to open branches all over the world in every city, in every town, in every village, and people should take advantage of it. There is no question of monetary transaction to enter into these centers and institutions, but because we have to maintain such institutions, the public should voluntarily contribute and that is very gladly accepted. Next point, when people are accustomed to associate with these different centers of the Krsna consciousness movement, they will one day come out of the material concept of life. Just like one becomes awakened from sleep. While sleeping, one sees so many nonsense dreams, but as soon as one is awakened he becomes conscious that oh!, I was seeing so many nonsense dreams, actually it has no existence. Similarly, when a person becomes Krsna conscious, he can understand the falsity representation of this material civilization. Next point, by such understanding one is not so much materially active. One is satisfied with income which can simply maintain his body and soul together and he is no more interested to increase the bank balance unnecessarily for sense gratification. The defect of modern civilization is that everyone is earning money undoubtedly in large volumes but he does not know how to spend. He is spending simply for sense gratification and the last word of sense gratification is sex, therefore, all money is being spent up for intoxication and sexual life, nudey dance, nudey theater in so many ways. That means they are spoiling their human source of energy. Next point, one should be so trained up that within the heart he will be freed from all material attraction but so long the body is there, to keep the body and soul together, he has to work like an ordinary man. Next point, the society, friendship, and love of material existence may be accepted without any attraction, and whatever the so-called society, friendship, and love wants to take service from us, one should simply say, yes, it is very nice, but actually he should give more importance for spiritual advancement of life. Next point, one should know it for certain that material resources, either in this planet or in other planets, either in the sky or within the earth, namely in the mines, all the properties, that is being utilized at the present moment as economic development, one should understand definitely that all the ingredients supplied or all the ingredients stocked, for example, the petroleum now stocked within the earth, and people are utilizing it for so many power machinery—one should know that this petroleum belongs to the Supreme Personality of Godhead. It is not man-made. Nor the scientists can manufacture. Similarly, everything, all things, all properties, they are made by the Supreme Personality of Godhead. This understanding must be there. Next point, one can enjoy such properties but with this understanding, that they belong to the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Just like one is situated in the public park but one should always remember that the public park does not belong to him, personally. But it is the property of the government or the state. Next point, therefore the properties made by the Supreme Personality of Godhead can be utilized by all living entities. Every living entity, not only the human beings, but also the animals, they have got right to live on the property of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Next point, nobody can encroach upon the right of other living entities. Everyone is supplied by the Lord, the food, the shelter, by natural arrangement, so nobody should encroach upon the right of living of others. As such, the human being considered to be the highest developed conscious animals, so if they utilize this consciousness in relationship with Krsna, that is called Krsna consciousness. Next point, a Krsna conscious person does no encroach upon the right of other living beings, as such they do not approve organized slaughterhouses for killing animals. Next point, if you maintain slaughterhouses then you have to suffer the consequence, because in the law of nature there is no distinction between one life to another. Every living entity is equally valuable. Next point, every living entity is claimed as the son of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, they may be dressed differently, because the body is the dress; the body is not identification with the living entity, therefore the living entity may be dressed in 8,400,000 of different dresses, and the living entity as he is, there is no qualitative difference between human being and animal. Therefore, their material necessities are the same, namely, eating, sleeping, mating and defending. Next point, the foolish idea that animals or plants or other living entities have no life, *is the basic cause of human sinful activities* . Next point, one should be satisfied only to fulfill the belly, that is the eating process. If you can satisfy your belly by such things as grains, vegetables, fruits, and milk, you have no right to kill other animals for satisfying the taste of your tongue. The human society is meant for living on the natural production, namely, grains, fruit, vegetables, and milk. They should not indulge extravagantly for other things. And if actually they are Krsna conscious they know the art of how to prepare the thousands of palatable dishes only from the varieties of vegetables, grains, fruit and milk. If anyone takes more the he requires then he is understood to be a thief. Nobody should accumulate for future consumption of family, society or nation, more money or more grains or more vegetables or more eatables, one should have only as much as he requires. *If there is a greater production, that should be distributed to all persons who need them* . Because food grains, especially, they are meant for all living entities, they should not be spoiled. Next point, therefore, one who spoils food grains unnecessarily, he is criminal. And one who accumulates more money than is actually required, he is also criminal. And according to the law of nature, or according to the law of God, such persons are surely to be punished. This punishment may not be visible in this life, but because life is eternal, it is continuity, one must be prepared to accept such punishment in this life, or next life, and because they are taking the risk, therefore, the living entity is transmigrating from one body to another, and that is his problem of life. The human life is meant for solving this problem. All the animals like deer, camel, ass, monkey, even flies and snakes, none should be ill treated. Even if they enter into the house or in the fields and take their eatables, they should not be stopped. Because they have also got the right to eat, eatables supplied by the Lord. And they will not eat more, neither they will take at home. They are better then human beings. If a human being is allowed to enter into a field of into the garden, he will try to take away something for selling or stocking, but the animals do not. So the innocent animals should be accepted as children of the householder. Nobody should take to the 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 take advantage and make unnecessary increase of artificial demands of the body. Better one should be satisfied 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 person will be satisfied at 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 in the town. So a 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 nice ideas, for living peacefully on this planet and executing Krsna 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:tyaktva deham punar janma, naiti mam eti so ’rjuna* . By simple prosecution of Krsna consciousness, one goes back to home, back to Godhead, just after quitting this present body. If people cooperate with this Krsna consciousness movement, certainly a better type of civilization can be introduced for permanent peace and prosperity of the whole world.” (SPL to Rayarama, 17 * * th* October, 1968) ==69-09== “I am pleased that you are doing nicely in Philadelphia temple, and Subala has written to me that you are a great help to him there. Regarding Rohini devi, don’t worry about her. ==Perhaps Krsna wishes you to remain brahmacari.== You were not willing to marry, but she insisted. Now she has been taken away by her father; so you may take it as Krsna’s desire. If you decide to remain as *brahmacari* , then I may call you back for my personal assistance when I return to the States. I was very much pleased with your service. May Krsna bless you more and more.” (SPL to Sridama, 22 * * nd* September, 1969) 70-01 “This means ==as stated in the Bhagavad-gita there are different symptoms of different classes of men—== just like a *brahmacari* is truthful, clean, self-controlled, equipoise, tolerant, simple, full of knowledge, theist, and so on. Similarly, a *ksatriya* has symptoms ==—== a tendency for ruling over others, martial spirited, charitable, does not flee away from the battlefield and so on. Similarly, as *vaisya* is his tendency is to agriculture, trade, cow protection, and banking; and the *sudras* tendency is to some way or other work anywhere and gets some wages. So Narada Muni says these symptoms are not stereotyped or stagnant; they are flexible. As man may be born in a family of *brahmana* but he might have the tendencies of *ksatriya* or *vaisya* or *sudra* . Similarly a man may be born in the family of a *sudra* or *candala* but he may have the tendencies of *brahmana* . Just like Kaballabha was born in a *candala* family but he had the tendencies of a *ksatriya* . Similarly Visvamitra Muni was born in a family of *ksatriyas* but his tendency was becoming of a *brahmana* . So Narada Muni says that men should be judged by his tendencies, not by his birth, and this is also confirmed in *Bhagavad-gita* by Lord Krsna that the four divisions of human society should be judged by quality in actual work. Therefore with reference to all Vedic scriptures our members are all *brahmanas* and therefore we offer them the sacred thread although they are born, according to Vedic culture, in families of other than that of *brahmanas* or even *sudras* . But that does not mean they cannot be purified. Actually they are being trained in such a way, their hearts are being purified by chanting the *maha-mantra* . And after some days when the spiritual master sees that one followed the regulative principles faithfully and has abstained himself from the restricted items like illicit sex, etc. and has chanted regularly sixteen rounds then say after a year or six months when he appears to be purified in the judgement of the spiritual master he is offered the sacred thread, and he is given the chance of Deity worship in the temple. These *smarta brahmanas* contest that unless one is born in a *brahmana* family one cannot be given these facilities. But Narada Muni says no; a man should be judged by the symptoms of his character. And *Srimad-Bhagavatam* says that the Kiratas, etc. can be purified by a pure devotee because of the influence of Lord Visnu is so strong. Prabha Visnave means the powerful Visnu; *prabha* means that the light or heat of Visnu is so strong that it is possible to melt them. Only the devotees of Lord Visnu or Krsna can be purified, not the devotees of any demigod. They will have to wait for their next birth according to their own karma. So under this formula the whole European and American people who are so intelligent and materially advanced can be converted into pure Vedic *brahmanas* , and thus their mission of human life becomes successful, and the whole world becomes a garden of blooming flowers. Take all these words very seriously and try to propagate Krsna consciousness with all serenity. It will be a great gift to the human society. You are learned and intelligent and young man; think over the formula and try to execute to the best of your capacity. That is my request. (SPL to Janardana, January 16, 1970) ==70-02== “The Krsna consciousness movement has a basic philosophy in view, which is the propagation of the ideal of one God, one religion, one scripture, one hymn and one human society. So far we Indian are concerned, we are ordered to preach the philosophy of Krsna consciousness throughout the whole world, after personally realizing what it is. This mean that as we have different types of limbs for different functions, but at the ultimate end all the different limbs of the body cooperate for the maintenance of the whole body. Similarly, ==if we accept the human society as one, then different sections of the human society may act differently for one purpose of growth of human civilization.”== (SPL to Sriman Anil Grover, 5 * * th* Febuary, 1970) ==72-05== “Your idea to recruit many *brahmacaris* is nice. ==We need a class of men purely brahmanas. The whole world is full of sudras. The Krsna consciousness movement is meant for re-establishing the system of four varnas and asramas, then there will be progress of civilization. We have got such a nice process that even from the base of sudras we can create brahmanas of the highest calibre.== All the presidents of our centers should see that all the members are strictly observing the brahminical standards, such as rising early, cleansing at least twice daily, reading profusely, attending *arati* , like that. You begin immediately this process. That is the main work of GBC. Sometimes we see that even they do not wash hands after eating. Even after drinking water we should wash hands. That is *suci* . *Suci* means purest. Everyone should join *mangala-arati* . Gradually, we should become more regulated and strict for following the rules and regulations. Otherwise we shall fall down.” (SPL to *Rupanuga* , May 3rd, 1972) 72-06 “The President, The White House, Washington. [Mr. Richard Nixon] My dear Mr. President, Several thousand years ago, a great pious Emperor ruled over this planet. He was a descendant of the great Kuru dynasty and the grandson of Arjuna, the hero of the *Bhagavad-gita* and the personal associate of the Lord, Sri Krsna. The people lived under his domain in peace. He provided protection for all the people and the cows, as well as all other living entities. He engaged many *brahmanas* , spiritual leaders, to educate his people and advise him in all matters. The people were just and God-conscious. They had a good understanding of the meaning and purpose of life and lived in happiness and prosperity. They respected their Emperor and received kindness and benedictions from him. ==You are a great president of a great nation. In this age of unrest and quarrel, your strength, as well as the strength of your nation, will be lasting if it is built upon the pillars of spiritual knowledge and Absolute Truth.== I am seventy-six years of age and am in the renounced order of life. I came to this country from India six years ago to introduce Krsna consciousness, the scientific process of spiritual life, to the English-speaking people of the Western world. Now by the grace of Krsna I have many thousands of disciples, young American and Europeans boys and girls. Many of them have come to me bewildered, rebellious and addicted to all sorts of sinful activities. Like so many of the young people today, they were lost and confused. They follow strict principles of spiritual life, with no desire for intoxication of any kind, or illicit sex life. They are always engaged in meaningful work, serving God and their fellow man. They have become the flower of your country and all over the world they are being treated with the highest respect. I would humbly like to request an interview with you to discuss the possibilities of my providing further service. My disciple, Atreya Rsi das (Mr. Marz Attar of Arthur Young and Company, 277 Park Avenue, New York, N.Y., phone 212-922-5957) will assist your aides to arrange a suitable time and place for a meeting. I hope this meets you in the best of health. Your ever well-wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami” (SPL to The President,The White House, Washington D.C., 28 * * th* June, 1972) 74-03 ==“In the material life there must be division of activities. That is accepted in the Bhagavad-gita as:== So in the beginning if we start a *Varnasrama* college to teach internationally students from all over the worlds to learn to be educated as *brahmanas* , as *ksatriyas* , as *vaisyas* , as *sudras* , by quality and work, that will be the basic principle of Krsna consciousness. It is the duty of the government to see that everyone is employed. That is only possible when *varnasrama* is established. At the present moment everyone is *sudra* . That is not very good for the human society. Everyone has a right to approach the Supreme Personality of Godhead but there must be a process for keeping the society in order. The intelligent class of men or the *brahmanas;* the martial class of men or the *ksatriyas* ; the productive class of men or the *vaisyas* ; and the working class of men—or the *sudras;* all have the right to chant the Hare Krsna mantra and by such devotional service everyone will be elevated to the transcendental platform. But there must be a division according to quality and work. At the present moment, so many so-called educated persons are unemployed because the division of work is neglected. If this division of society is maintained no one will be unemployed and there will be no unrest in society. It is a very scientific way of keeping peace in the world. The *brahmana* class should be highly cultured in spiritual understanding; by their Vedic knowledge they will be able to educate the *ksatriya* and the *vaisya* in the value of life. It is the government’s duty that according to the division of society everyone should be engaged in responsible duties. On the whole, at the present moment, there is not guidance from the authorized intellectual class. Therefore everyone is in darkness. The Krsna consciousness movement is supposed to create actual intellectuals to guide society. The process is very simple. If you kindly consider on this point, and the *varnasrama* college is started, I am sure the chaotic condition of human society will be completely settled up. You think over this matter and we shall talk more when we meet again. Or if you like to discuss seriously by correspondence with me I shall be very glad to reply to you point to point on the basis of *sastra* . (SPL to Tarun Kanti Babu, 11 * * th* March, 1974) 74-04 ==“My next program is to reinstate the Vedic divisions in society as recommended in the Bhagavad Gita:== Without this division there cannot be any systematic peaceful running of human activities. There must be a very intelligent class to guide the whole population with *brahminical* qualifications. There must be a class of people to give protection to the people at the time of danger and ordinarily to maintain peace and order, the *ksatriyas* . There must be a section to produce food and grains sumptuously for feeding both animals and humans without discrimination. Especially cows must be protected by this class. The meat eater class may not be encouraged but if they are stubbornly attached they can eat hogs and dogs or goats or lambs under certain conditions only, but not by maintaining slaughterhouses. Then human society will be very peaceful and everyone engaged in employment without producing any idle brains which only are devils workshops. If England and America as well as France and Germany can understand this philosophy there will be great theistic revolution which will counteract the atheistic philosophy of Marxism. The present communistic philosophy must be countered by revival of the principles of *catur-varnyam* .” (SPL to Syamasundara, 1 * * st* April, 1974) ==74-04== “You have analyzed that you are distressed because you are not given an engagement in Krsna consciousness. This observation is correct, unless we are engaged with all our senses and intelligence in serving Krsna where is the question of Krsna consciousness? We are reading here in the evening how in the fourth chapter of *Bhagavad-gita* Krsna has arranged for *catur-varnyam* , the social division of four orders, whereby ==everyone has some engagement according to his personal propensity, his quality and work, and thus everyone can go back to Godhead while performing their work.”== (SPL to Rupanuga, April 7 * * th* , 1974) ==74-04== “Our students who are making this political program must be fixed in one point that ==human society unless divided into the four classes and division is animal society. Among the animals there is no intelligence for self realization or how to make life successful.== In human life intelligence is better than animal thereby they should know what is the aim of life and to educate human society there is the whole Vedic literature, of which the *Bhagavad-gita* is the quintessence. The Supreme Personality of Godhead ordered that there must be four divisions of human society, a 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, and 5th class, like that, and the 1st must be ideal. If the whole society is full of rogues, thieves, drunkards, cheaters and demons, where is there question of decent government. There must be division so the lower class men may aspire to be second class men. So far we are concerned we are trying to train first-class men. How much great responsibility we have to follow regulative principles, chant the beads, live with personal character, etc. Regulative principles means to especially execute devotional service in terms of the revealed scriptures under the direction of the spiritual master. By fulfilling the regulative principles you come to the platform of spontaneous love for Krsna. Spontaneous love for Krsna is there already but is covered by the influence of *maya* . The regulative principles are a device how to overcome the influence of *maya* and once to the platform of spontaneous love of Krsna. If we want to exist as first-class mean in society all our students must be induced to following the regulative principles. One shouldn’t think artificially he has to come to the spontaneous platform. That is *sahajiyaism* .” (SPL to Rupanuga Maharaja, 28 * * th* April, 1974) ==74-04== “I beg to acknowledge receipt of your recent undated letter along with enclosed new paper clippings and I thank you very much. I have studied your statements in the paper and you have repeated my ideas and at the same time sounded like a politician, and this combination is very effective. You are certainly the right man for this preaching work. They have taken you as a serious candidate and according to your statement, you feel you may even win. So I am very much encouraged by his political field in America. The people there are very intelligent and they take your statement seriously. I do not need to tell you to push on with this work in serious concentration because I see you are already very determined. In this connection you may see a letter I have just sent you yesterday to Rupanuga Goswami in which I described the need for our political devotees to always stay firmly fixed up in the regulative principles so they will be actually *brahmanas* . ==Preach on the basis of the division of the society into four orders, as without this the society is useless and people cannot be happy or even have the necessities of life.== I am keeping your news clippings in a special scrapbook and reading them to my important guests in India to show them the potential of this movement. Unfortunately in India they do not take it very seriously; it is up to you in America to actually accomplish something in terms of introducing the *Bhagavad-gita As It Is* into government.” (SPL to Amarendra, 29 * * th* April, 1974) ==74-05== “I am enclosing *brahmana* threads and *Gayatri* mantra * for Adi Kesava dasa and Vivisvan dasa. ==You must be very careful before you award the brahminical thread by recommending a man to me. Now that we are dividing our society into the four orders as much as possible, it is not that every man has to be made a brahmana after a year.== Especially if one cannot get up early and go to * mangala-arati * he cannot be become a * brahmana *. So consider it carefully before you recommend further men to me (SPL to Trai dasa, 27* *th* May, 1974) ==75-01== “I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter dated December 22nd, 1972, and I have noted the contents with care. For these questions arising between married husband and wife, you are requesting me to leave your wife and take the *vanaprastha* order of life, for these questions you must consult with and take permission from the presidents and GVC. Yes, I know your wife Lilasakti, and I know she is very serious and advanced disciple. But now you are married to her, there is some obligation according to our Krsna consciousness or Vedic system .These things cannot be taken so lightly, otherwise the whole thing will be become a farce. Simply get married without considering what is the serious nature of married life, then if there is a little disturbance, or if I do not like my wife or my husband, let me go away, everyone else is doing like that. So in this way the whole thing is becoming a farce. You say that your ’association together was hindering your advancement’ ==But Krsna consciousness marriage system should not be taken in that way, that if there is any botheration that means something is hindering my spiritual progress, no. Once it is adopted, the grhastha life, even it may be troublesome at times, it must be fulfilled as my occupational duty.== Of course, it is better to remain, celibate. But so many women are coming, we cannnot reject them. If someone comes to Krsna it is our duty to give them protection. Krsna has informed us in *Bhagavad-gita* that even women and *sudras* and other inferior classes of men can take refuge in him. So the problem is there, the women must have a husband to give protection. Of course, women can remain unmarried, and if there is suitable arrangement for the temple to protect them, just like in the Christian Church there is nunnery for systematic program of engaging the ladies and protecting them, that is also nice. But if there is sex desire, how to control it? Women are normally more lusty, more lusty than men, and they weaker sex, it is difficult for them to make spiritual advancement without the help of a husband. For so many reasons, our women must have a husband. That’s all right, but if once they have got a husband he goes away quickly, that will not be very much happy for them. Now I do not know the situation in your particular case, I am simply giving you the general policy or background understanding. We should never think of our so-called advancement as be conditioned by or depending upon some set of material circumstances such as marriage, *vanaprastha,* or this or that. Mature understanding of Krsna consciousness means that whatever condition of life I am in at the present, that is Krsna’s special mercy upon men, therefore let me take advantage in the best way possible to spread this Krsna consciousness movement and conduct my spiritual master’s mission. If I consider my own personal progress or happiness or any other thing personal, that is material consideration. If there was unhappy adjustment for becoming married, why you get married at all? Whatever is done, is done, that is a fact, but I am only pointing out that once before you did something without proper study of your real responsibility, now you are contemplating again some drastic action in a similar manner. Therefore consider if carefully in this light. There is one similar verse from the *Bhagavad-gita:* ’He for whom no one is put into difficulty and who is not disturbed by anxiety, who is steady in happiness and distress, is very dear to Me.’ (12.15) One mistake of judgement often made by the neophyte devotees is that anytime there is some disturbance or some difficulty they are considering that the conditions or external circumstances under which the difficulty took place are the cause of the difficulty itself. That is not the fact. In this material world there is always some difficulty, no matter in this situation or that situation. Therefore simply by changing my status of occupation or my status in life, that will not help anything. Because the real fact is that if there is any difficulty with others, that is my lack of Krsna consciousness, not theirs. Is this clear? Krsna says that His dearest devotee is one who does not put others into difficulty, in fact, who puts no one other into difficulty. So try to judge the matter on these points, whether or not you are putting either your wife or yourself into some difficulty. Of course, our occupational duty is as preachers of Krsna consciousness. So we must stick to that business under all circumstances, that is the main thing. Therefore married, unmarried, divorced, whatever condition of life, my preaching mission does not depend on these things. The *varnasrama-dharma* system is scientifically arranged by Krsna to provide facility for delivering the fallen souls back to home, back to Godhead. And if we make a mockery of this system by whimsically disrupting the order, that we must consider. That will not be very good example if so many young boys and girls so casually become married and then go away from each other, and the wife is unhappy, the husband is neglecting her in so many ways, like that. If we set this example, then how the thing will go properly? Householder life means wife, children, home, these things are understood by everyone, why our devotees have taken it was something different? They simply have some sex-desire, get themselves married, and when the matter does not fulfill their expectations, immediately there is separation- these things are just like material activities, prostitution. The wife is left without husband, and sometimes there is child to be raised, in so many ways the proposition that you, and some others also, are making becomes distasteful. We cannot expect that our temples will become places of shelter for so many widows and rejected wives, that will be a great burden and we shall become the laughing stock in the society. There will be unwanted progeny also. And there will be illicit sex-life, that we are seeing already. And being the weaker sex, women require to have a husband who is strong in Krsna consciousness, so that they may take advantage and make progress by sticking tightly to his feet. If their husband goes away from them, what will they do? So many instances are already there in our Society, so many frustrated girls and boys. So I have introduced this marriage system in your Western countries because there is custom of freely intermingling male and female. Therefore marriage is required just to engage the boys and girls in devotional service, never mind distinction of living status. But our marriage system is little different than in your country, we do not sanction the policy of divorce. We are supposed to take husband or wife as eternal companion or assistant in Krsna consciousness service, and there is promise never to separate. Of course if there is any instance of very advanced disciples, married couple, and they have agreed that the husband shall now take *sannyasa* or renounced order of life, being mutually very happy by that arrangement, then there is ground for such separation. But even in those cases there is no question of separation, the husband, even he is *sannyasa* , he must be certain his wife will be taken care of nicely and protected in his absence. Now so many cases are there of unhappiness by the wife who has been abandoned by her husband against her wishes. So how can I sanction such thing? I want to avoid setting any bad example for future generations, therefore I am so much cautiously considering your request. But if it becomes so easy for me to get married and then leave my wife, under excuse of married life being impediment to my own spiritual progress, that will not be very good at all. That is misunderstanding of what is advancement in spiritual life. Occupational duty must be there, either this one or that one, but once I am engaged in something occupational duty then I should not change that or give it up, that is the worst mistake. Devotional service is not bound up by such designations. Therefore once I have chosen, it is better to stick in that way and develop my devotional attitude in to full-blown love of Godhead. That is Arjuna’s understanding.” (SPL to Madhukara, January 4 * * th* , 1975) ==75-01== “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 Mayapur. If we have food grains, milk, and cloth, life becomes easy and we can save time for preaching and chanting. Not that everyone should do these activities of farming, but if one is less intelligent, or not intelligent enough to preach nicely, he can do. ==If one is capable, then he should preach. On the whole, our society should be divided into four divisions, but such divisions are not material. Just like Krsna belonged to the vaisya community but He is worshipped by the brahmanas.== We shall utilize everything for Krsna’s service.” (SPL to Mahama Swami, 19 * * th* January, 1975) ==75-02 == “I am very happy to hear your report. ==Krsna is giving you facility there to develop a very nice varnasrama society in New Zealand.== Try your best to develop an ideal society there to set a perfect example for the human society of how one can live very simply, chanting Hare Krsna and developing love for Krsna. Make sure that you keep the whole program pure by carefully following all of the rules and regulations that I have given, rising early, attending *mangala-arati* and holding classes, chanting sixteen rounds daily, observing the four regulative principles, no intoxication, meat-eating, etc. I think you can understand how to manage things very nicely there.” (SPL to Tusta Krsna Swami, 2 * * nd* February, 1975) ==76-01 “In our Vedic universities we will not encourage anyone to be merely a book worm. There must be life—rising early in the morning, attending mangala-arati, taking prasadam, etc. The man who studying there will be brahmana, the farmer will be vaisya. In this way there will be divisions, but they are all one in service to Krsna.”== (SPL to Tusta Krsna Maharaja, 9 * * th* January, 1976) ## Krsna Consciousness Is Above ==70-04 “Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu did not give much importance to the Vedic system of varnasrama which is very important for mundane people because Krsna consciousness is above everything.== So any suitable position in the order of our life is good it is utilized for Krsna’s service. You thought that with a wife you will be more enthusiastic, so Krsna has given you a nice wife, now you move in the European countries and try to promote centers as many as possible.” (SPL to Tamala, 14 * * th* April, 1970) ==72-01 “== In our Krsna consciousness Society we are training our students up to the standard of brahminical culture. So the great respect we are getting here in India and throughout the rest of the world is due to these restrictions. Actually our students have surpassed the category of *brahmana* because ==they are Vaisnavas which means they are transcendental to any material position, and brahmana is a material order of life, part of the varnasrama system== . Many times I have been told by other so-called holy men that I should not expect that foreigners will be able to avoid these sinful activities. But I have never compromised in any way and as a result of our sticking strictly to our principles our position is unique.” (SPL to Niranjana, January 5 * * th* , 1972) ==74-04 “There is no question of a devotee becoming a sudra if he does certain work. No, a devotee is never a sudra. He is transcendental.== Because their activity is done in transcendental loving service unto the Lord, it is all on the transcendental plane, *Brahma bhuyaya kalpate* . You should not quit your present job, it is good service to Krsna. Although you may be working hard, you are always working for Krsna; so do not be confused about your position and never forget Krsna in any circumstances” (SPL to Goal Krsna, 27 * * th* April, 1974) 74-10 “Regarding the farm, farm opening is not very essential, but if you can do it conveniently, then do it. The *varnasrama* system is for convenience sake in the material world. It had nothing to do with spiritual life. Acceptance of *varnasrama* means a little easy progress to spiritual life, otherwise it has no importance to us. For example, all my Europeans and American disciples have no *varnasrama* position, but spiritually because they have followed the rules and regulations and also my instructions, their advancement spiritually is being appreciated by everyone. ==Always remember that varnasrama life is a good program for material life, and it helps one in spiritual life; but spiritual life is not dependent upon it.== After all the systems of *varnasrama* has to be realized before accepting spiritual life; and the renounced order of *sannyasa* is the last stage of *varnasrama* .” (SPL to Hamsaduta, 19 * * th* October, 1974) 74-01 “So far the Nellore property is concerned, that is a nice proposal. Now, we should have self-sufficiency. That means to make our own food grains grow and to weave our own cloth—like Mayapur. If we have food grains, milk and cloth, life becomes easy and we save time for preaching and chanting. Not that everyone should do these activities of farming, but it one if less intelligent, or not intelligent enough to preach nicely, he can do. ==If one is capable, then he should preach. On the whole, our society should be divided into four divisions, but such divisions are not material. Just like Krsna belonged to the vaisya community, but He is worshipped by the brahmanas.== We shall utilize everything for Krsna’s service.” ([[letters/1975/750119_radhavallabha| *Mahamsa Swami* , 19 January, 1975]]) ## Varnasrama College 74-03 “In the material life there must be division of activities. That is accepted in the *Bhagavad-gita as:* ==So in the beginning if we start a varnasrama college to teach internationally students from all over the world to learn to be educated as brahmanas, as ksatriyas, as vaisyas, as sudras, by quality and work, that will be the basic principles of Krsna consciousness.== It is the duty of the government to see that everyone is employed. That is only possible when *varnasrama* is established. At the present moment everyone is *sudra* . This is not very good for the human society. Everyone has a right to approach the Supreme Personality of Godhead but there must be a process for keeping the society in order. The intelligent class of men or *brahmanas* ; the martial class of men or the *ksatriyas* ; the productive class of men or the *vaisyas* ; and the working class of men or the *sudras* ; all have the right to chant the Hare Krsna *mantra* and by such devotional service everyone will be elevated to the transcendental platform. But there must be a division according to quality and work. At the present moment, so many so-called educated persons are unemployed because the division of work is neglected. If this division of society is maintained no one will be unemployed and there will be no unrest in society. It is a very scientific way of keeping peace in the world. The *brahmana* class should be highly cultured in spiritual understanding; but their Vedic knowledge they will be able to educate the *ksatriya* and the *vaisya* in the value of life. It is the government’s duty that according to the division of human society everyone should be engaged in responsible duties. On the whole, at the present moment, there is no guidance from the authorized intellectual class. Therefore everyone is in darkness. The Krsna consciousness movement is supposed to create actual intellectuals to guide society. The process is very simple. If you kindly consider this point, and the *varnasrama* college is started, I am sure the chaotic condition of human society will be completely settled up. You think over this matter and we shall talk more when we meet again. Or if you like to discuss seriously by correspondence with me I shall be very glad to reply to you point by point on the basis of *sastra* . (Tarun Kanti Babu, 11 * * th* March, 1974) ==74-05 “The success of Bhavananda Maharaja’s English lessons of the Varnasrama College has given me great pleasure and I am sure many devotees will come from this program. It is a first-class idea.”== (SPL to Jayapataka and Bhavananda, 9*th May, 1974) ==74-11 “I have also received the enclosed clipping from Ottawa and the information about the property. This property must be considered by the GBC. If it can be properly utilized, it is nice, for varnasrama college and dairy farm.== With 100 acres for cultivation you can make much production. The land is attractive. If it can be utilized but the opinion of the GBC, then it is good. I think it should be utilized.” ([[letters/1974/741112_tripurari| *Jagadisa dasa* , 12 November, 1974]]) ==75-07 “It is very good suggestion to open the vanaprastha institute. The elderly people can live there according to the Vaisnava principles and worship the Deity and take prasadam. I also want to open the Varnasrama College there as there is sufficient land”== (SPL to Tejyas Dasa, 13*th July, 1975) ==76-01 “In our Vedic universities we will not encourage anyone to be merely a book worm. There must be life- rising early in the morning, attending mangala-arati, taking prasadam, etc. The man who studying still will be brahmana, the farmer will be vaisya. In this way there will be divisions, but they are all one in service to Krsna.”== (SPL to Tusta Krsna Maharaja, 9*th January, 1976) ## Brahmanas ==68-03 “Next time when I come back to San Francisco, some of the boys who have regularly chanted sixteen rounds, at least for one year shall be initiated for the second time, and offered sacred thread to recognize them as complete brahmanas”== (SPL to Gargamuni, 31 * * st* May, 1968) 70-01 “The verse which you have requested is as follows: These are different names of non-Aryans or *candalas* , less than the *sudras* . They are called *pancamas* or fifth-grade men. *Brahmanas* are first-grade men; *ksatriyas* , second-grade men; *vaisyas* , third-grade men; *sudras* , fourth-grade men, difficult to find who are these fifth-grade persons in present society. But the point is that they are less than *sudra* . So these persons are all less than *sudras* but *Srimad-Bhagavatam* says even they, under the guidance of a pure devotee, can also be raised up to the highest standard more than the *brahmanas* . If somebody questions how it is possible, how the most degraded of the human society be more than a *brahmana* that is also confirmed in Vedic language that it does not matter if one is born of low-grade family or *candalas* , if he is a devotee of the Lord, he is first-class man. There are other statements that a man after becoming a devotee becomes immediately qualified to execute sacrificial ceremonies. In this connection, Jiva Goswami has given his commentation that a person born even in a *brahmana* family is dependent on the purificatory processes of accepting initiation and sacred thread, but a devotee without waiting for such recognition becomes fit to act as a *brahmana* , and this is the statement of Narada Muni in this verse. This mean as stated in the *Bhagavad-gita* there are different symptoms of different class of men—just like a *brahmana* is truthful, clean, self-controlled, equipoised, tolerant, simple, full of knowledge, theist and so on. Similarly a *ksatriya* has symptoms—a tendency for ruling over others, martial spirited, charitable, does not flee away from the battlefield and so on. Similarly, the symptoms of a *vaisya* is his tendency to agriculture, trade, cow protection and banking. And the *sudra’s* tendency is to some way or other work anywhere and get some wages. So Narada Muni says these symptoms are not stereotyped or stagnant; they are flexible. A man may be born in the family of *brahmani* but he might have the tendency of a *ksatriya,* or *vaisya* or *sudra* . Similarly a man may be born in the family of a *sudra* or *candala* but he may have the tendencies for a *brahmana* . Just like Ekalavya was born in a *candala* family but he had the tendency of a *ksatriya* . Similarly Visvamitra Muni was born in a family of *ksatriyas* but his tendency was of becoming a *brahmana* . So Narada Muni says that men should be judged by their tendencies, not by their birth, and this is also confirmed in *Bhagavad-gita* by Lord Krsna that the four divisions of human society should be judged by the qualities in actual work. ==Therefore with reference to all Vedic Scriptures our members are all brahmanas and therefore offer them the sacred thread although they were born, according to Vedic culture, in the families of other then brahmanas or even than the sudras.== But that does not mean they cannot be purified. Actually they are being trained in such a way, their hearts are being purified by chanting the *mahamantra* . After some days when they spiritual master sees that one has followed the regulative principles faithfully and has abstained himself from the restricted items like illicit sex life, etc and has chanted regularly sixteen rounds then say after a year or six months when he appears to be purified in the judgement of the spiritual master he is offered the sacred thread, and he is given the chance of Deity worship in the temple. 70-11 “Regarding Dr. Sen’s grandson’s theory of species, if they are species—the species horse is a kind of species; it draws a cart. The ass is another kind of species, he carries load. So ass is never engaged for drawing cart. ==If brahmanas are a species, why do we see that sometimes a ’brahmana’ does a sudra’s work? We have got many negro disciples and they are worshipping the Deity;== so why they should not worship the Deity? Krsna says He accepts the service even from the *papayoni* those who have taken impious births. Actually Krsna does not say that caste is determined according to species, but according to the quality of work the divisions of society are made. Narada says one must be judged according to his qualifications, even if he is in a different class or species, still he should be accepted according to the qualities which he exhibits i.e. *brahmana* ,etc. Sridhara Swami says birth is not so much important as quality. (You have very wrongly remember something about Sridhara Swami’s view). In *Srimad-Bhagavatam* it is said that if one is a Vaisnava, immediately he becomes qualified for executing Vedic rites. About this verse, Srila Jiva Goswami remarks that the *brahmana* awaits the scared thread ceremony, but a Vaisnava is qualified to execute the Vedic rites without waiting for the sacred ceremony. The real fact is that because of non-observance of the *garbhadhana-samskara* in this age, there is on real *brahamanas* by birth at all and even they cannot be called a *dvija-bandhus* properly because there has been no such observance for a long time: *kalau sudra sambhavah* . The claim of *brahmanism* by birthright is a false display of material situation only. It is our duty therefore to train all kinds of men up to the standard of qualified *brahmanas* , initiating them as such by qualification in accordance with the above authorities, so that they may go on progressively unhindered in their march back home, back to Godhead. This system introduced by my Guru Maharaja is a chance for all members of the society, scientifically based and applied, apart from the exploitative sentiment of birthright ’caste’ system, to be actually situated on the transcendental platform. The literal meaning of the term *brahmana* is one who is *brahma-bhutah* or on the theoretical stage of *brahma-jnana* . Since it is that one progresses from the stage of *brahma-jnana* to the stage of knowledge of Paramatma and then to Bhagavan, one who has come to the first stage, *brahma-jnana* , is automatically a *brahmana* fully qualified as such. So for a Vaisnava, who has come to the highest stage of knowing Bhagavan, naturally he has already established his qualification as a *brahmana* .” (SPL to Acyutananda Maharaja, November 14 * * th* , 1970) ==71-05 “You will be glad to know that Bhanu is now a complete devotee, that is to say he has received gayatri mantra. So when he goes there both you and him can convert many young Japanese people to becoming Krsna conscious devotees.” (SPL to *Sudama* , May 25th, 1971) ==71-07 “I am so pleased to know that you have been recommended by Sriman Bhagavan dasa Prabhu for Gayatri-mantra initiation. Actually that is what I am trying to do in your country is to establish a brahminical life.== So when I see that these young American boys are becoming eligible by qualification to take second initiation and become qualified *brahmanas* , I become very much pleased and my Guru Maharaja becomes pleased also. ==So you must live up to the rules and regulations of brahminical life. First and foremost is cleanliness.== * * In your country they have so many filthy habits. For example they don’t wash after eating. A * brahmana* does not do like that. If he did so in India, he would be highly criticized. So even if you eat a little, still you must wash immediately. And the place that you eat at must be washed off immediately also. In this way. A *brahmanas* name is *suci* , or one who is clean. In the toilet room wash with water and wash your hands with soap. Then wash feet, face, and mouth. Your cloth must be washed daily, especially any cloth used to sleep in. In the kitchen also, things should be kept spotless and cooking should be done only by *brahmanas* ; others may assist. That is the same procedure followed with Deity worship. So these are some of the points to note in brahminical life. Keep yourself clean outside by bathing, etc. and keep clean inside by chanting Hare Krsna *mantra* . Go on in this way and your rapid advancement in Krsna consciousness will be certain.” (SPL to Laksmi Narayana, July 8 * * th* , 1971) ==71-08 “So far brahminical rules for cleanliness, those I have already described in the letter mentioned by you. Brahminical means cleanliness. We are trying to create brahminical society. So all the devotees under your care in Cleveland should be trained up in that light. Cleanliness is next to Godliness.”== (SPL to Sri Govinda dasa, August 5 * * th* , 1971) ==72-01 “In our Krsna consciousness Society we are training our students up to the standard of brahminical culture.== So the great respect we are getting here in India and throughout the rest of the world is due to these restrictions. Actually our students have surpassed the category of *brahmana* because they are Vaisnavas which means they are transcendental to any material position, and *brahmana* is a material order of life, part of the *varnasrama* system. Many times I have been told by other so-called holy men that I should not expect that foreigners will be able to avoid these sinful activities. But I have never compromised in any way and as a result of our sticking strictly to our principles our position is unique.” (SPL to Niranjana, January 5 * * th* , 1972) 72-05 “Your idea to recruit many *brahmacaris* is nice. ==We need a class of men purely brahmanas. The whole world is full of sudras. The Krsna consciousness movement is meant for re-establishing the system of four varnas and asramas, then there will be progress of civilization. We have got such a nice process that even from the base sudras can create brahmanas of highest calibre.== All the presidents of our centers should see that all the members are strictly observing the brahminical standards, such as rising early, cleansing at least twice daily, reading profusely, attending *arati* , like that. You begin immediately this process. That is the main work of GBC. Sometimes we see that even they do not wash hands after eating. Even after drinking water we should wash hands. That is *suci* . *Suci* means purest. Everyone should join the *mangala-arati* . Gradually, we should become more regulated and strict for following the rules and regulations. Otherwise we shall fall down.” (SPL to Rupanuga, May 3 * * rd* , 1972) ==72-06 “I am very glad to hear that you are keeping active in the political arena, and if we are able to establish Krsna conscious leader throughout the country in important posts, we will be able to save== everyone from the present dangerous position of the world. People in general are being guided into hellish conditions of life by the rascal leaders, ==so we must establish qualified brahmanas as the head of the society, and widely distribute Krsna conscious principles.== So you continue in this way, and Krsna will give you the needed strength and intelligence.” (SPL to Balavanta, June 17 * * th* , 1972) ==72-07 “Yes, that is the right idea, to strengthen whatever devotees we have got in spiritual life, fix them beyond any doubts. Then our potency will increase and we may recruit dozens of new devotees easily. Main thing is to make sure everyone is chanting minimum sixteen rounds daily of Hare Krsna mantra. Otherwise they will not be able to perform the other practices of brahminical life, such as early rising, cleanliness, etc.”== (SPL to Jagadisa, 22*nd July, 1972) ==72-12 “So far this making false story for collecting money or selling book, of course we may do anything for Krsna, but that is supposed to be reserved for very advanced experts in Krsna consciousness,-== they know how to catch the big fish without themselves getting wet. So it is not very much advisable to make lies just to sell books. If we simply stick to describing how wonderful is Krsna, then whatever we may lie or exaggerate that will not be lie! But other things, lies, they will not help is to train ourselves in truthfulness. ==Lie to some, not to others, that is not a good philosophy. Rather the brahmanas are always truthful, even to their enemies.== There is sufficient merit in our books that if you simply describe them sincerely to anyone, they will buy. That art you must develop, not art of lying. Convince them to give by your preaching the Absolute Truth, not by tricking, that is the more mature development of Krsna consciousness.” (SPL to Sri Govinda, 25 * * th* December, 1972) 73-01 “ Now you appear little restless, I know that is your nature, you like to do big things and you are capable and intelligent young man for executing tremendous tasks on behalf of Krsna. But I think that you have got a huge field of endeavor in the German speaking countries and other countries of Scandinavia, Communist countries and other places like that. Now work very vigorously to develop these places, that is your great task at hand. You needn’t look further to find some big challenge. The challenge is very near at hand. That mean developing and expanding along the lines as you have begun. Of course we are not ever very much anxious to repeat the same activity many times, that is the nature of the living entity, that he seeks to enjoy varieties of flavors. But mature understanding of activity means to take it as our occupational duty. That is to say, suppose I am established as good carpenter, then it will be foolish if after some time I am thinking ’Oh, I have done this cutting of woods so many times, now it is becoming boring and uninteresting, therefore let me become a doctor,’ no. That is not recommended by Krsna, neither is it common sense. Occupational duty meant to stick with one type of occupation which is just suitable for me, considering that it is my duty, therefore, I am throughout my life obligated to perform it to the best of my ability. This is mature understanding of occupation. That means I must not leave it even for so-called good cause, just like Arjuna wanted to stop his fighting activities just to avoid killings so many of his kinsmen, cousin brothers, and other friends. ==So we are preaching on the behalf of Lord Krsna, that is our occupational duty, we haven’t got to search any further some new challenge or change our engagement.== No, that has been already settled up. Now best things will be to develop more and more what we have begun. I have built the skeleton of the building, but there is so much more work remaining before us. The GBC men are there, the world is divided into 12 zones for gradual development by these, my chosen right-handed men.” (SPL to Hamsaduta, 2 * * nd* January, 1973) ==73-05== “I can understand your difficult position in preaching work. Not only you, but I also had some difficulty when I wanted to start this Krsna consciousness movement from India. ==I approached many respectable gentlemen and requested that, ’My dear sir, you have got four children, out of them can you spare one only under my guidance, because I want to make a brahminical society all over the world?’== Everyone replied in this connection, ’Sir what benefit will there be in becoming a *brahmana* ?” (SPL to Niranjana, 21 * * st* May, 1973) ==73-08== “By your recommendation I have chanted upon the enclosed sacred thread and agree to accept the devotee Jambavan dasa *brahmacari* for second initiation become twice born, or *brahmana* . The qualifications of *brahmana* are listed in the 18th chapter verse 42 of the *Bhagavad-gita* : ’Peacefulness, self control, austerity, purity, tolerance, honesty, wisdom, knowledge, and religiousness—these are the qualities by which the *brahmanas* work.’ So you should be very much careful to see that our devotees are following the regulative principles and standard practices such as attending morning *arati* , classes, *sankirtana* , and reading our books. ==We want to create some men who give guidance to the human society, because at the present moment the society is without any intelligent head, namely brahmanas,== therefore the whole world is confused for want of real guidance in the matter of ultimate goal of life. They have taken sense gratification as the ultimate goal and therefore everyone is frustrated, because the living entity has nothing to do with the temporary material senses. The senses will never be satisfied, Krsna must be satisfied and then the living entity as eternal part and parcel of the Supreme Lord is automatically satisfied. So the *brahmanas* are supposed to serve the whole society by distributing this important information. Please help me in this way and Krsna will bless you.” (SPL to Bhutatma, 7 * * th* August, 1973) ==74-01== “Regarding second initiations, I have become very concerned lately, that some of our older students who have been given the second initiation, have not been strictly following the rules and regulations. So from no on I want our presidents to be very sure about the devotees they are recommending to me for second initiation. ==I think sometimes in the past devotees have been recommended chiefly because some more helpers were required maintaining the Deity work.== Of course, necessity is there. It is just like in government, the government has need for a number of men to fill important posts, but first the person must be qualified before they can be awarded the post. ==Even though there may be a pressing demand, first the man must be qualified.== Our system is that after one year from the first initiation, if the devotee is strictly following our principles without deviation, and if he will sign a statement in seriousness, that he will not deviate from the chanting and regulative principles, then, on your mature consideration you can recommend him to me. It is not that we are stopping second initiation, but I want to be sure it does not become a farce and names be sent to me without proper qualification. We are criticizing the caste *brahmanas* for saying that the Americans and Europeans cannot be awarded *brahmana* initiation, because according to the Vedic *sastra* , anyone who is properly trained up under a bona fide spiritual master, can become twice born. But if our *brahmanas* do not take their second initiation seriously then we will be deserving of criticism. So on this basis, if you think the men you have recommended are still eligible, you can resubmit their names to me and I will accept them.” (SPL to Sahadeva, 23 * * rd* January, 1974) 74-03 “In the material life there must be division of activities. That is accepted in the *Bhagavad-gita* as: So in the beginning if we start a *varnasrama* college to teach internationally students from all over the world to learn to be educated as *brahmanas* , as *ksatriyas* , as *vaisyas* , as *sudras* , by quality and work, that will be the basic principle of Krsna consciousness. It is the duty of the government to see that everyone is employed. This only possible when *varnasrama* is established. At the present moment everyone is *sudra* . This is not very good for human society. Everyone has a right to approach the Supreme Personality of Godhead by there must be a process for keeping the society in order. The intelligent class of men or the *brahmanas;* the martial class of men or the *ksatriyas;* the productive class of men or the *vaisyas* ; and the working class of men or the *sudras* ; all have the right to chant the Hare Krsna *mantra* and by such devotional service everyone will be elevated to the transcendental platform. But there must be a division according to quality and work. At the present moment, so many so-called educated personas are unemployed because the division of work is neglected. If this division of society is maintained no one will be unemployed and there will be no unrest in society. It is a very scientific way of keeping peace in the world ==The brahmana class should be highly cultured in spiritual understanding; by their Vedic knowledge they will be able to educate the ksatriyas and the vaisya in the value of life.== It is the government’s duty according to the division of human society everyone should be engaged in responsible duties. On the whole, at the present moment, there is not guidance from the authorized intellectual class. Therefore everyone is in darkness. The Krsna consciousness movement is supposed to create actual intellectuals to guide society. The process is very simple. If you kindly consider on this point and the *varnasrama* college is started, I am sure the chaotic condition of human society will be completely settled up. You think over this matter and we shall talk more when we meet again. Or if you like to discuss seriously by correspondence with me I shall be very glad to reply to you point by point on the basis of *sastra* .” ([[letters/1974/740311_tarun_kanti_ghosh_babu|Tarun Kanti Baba, 11 March, 1974]]) ==74-03== “I have also accepted one devotee, Prabhupāda dasa Adhikari, for second initiation, upon your recommendation. ==Please impress on him that this second initiation is not awarded cheaply or automatically and that he must be very strict in following the regulative principles of bhakti-yoga.== I am enclosing a sacred thread and *Gayatri mantra* . Have him hear the tape of me chanting in the right ear.” (SPL to Bahudaka, 21 * * st* March, 1974) ==74-04== “Yes, inflation is due to paper currency. As for land ownership, in Vedic civilization the land was given to the people for cultivation, not for ownership, and a tax was collected that was 25% of the person’s income. The land belonged to the state and the man would cultivate it and pay 25% to the state. If he has no income then he doesn’t have to pay. If he doesn’t pay tax he may be disowned of the land. One cannot get land from the government unless he agrees to produce something and if everyone produced food then there is no scarcity. At least he has his own food produced by himself. Now people are educated *sudras.* They are going to work to produce what is not urgently needed by society. ==The actual social structure should be that, the first intelligent class, the brahmanas, should be for studying and educating people for God consciousness.== They are the gurus of all other classes.” (SPL to Balavanta, April 28 * * th* , 1974) 74-04 “The GBC must be vigilant by following the regulative principles and teach their by ideal character the presidents of the centers, and the presidents by their ideal character must teach the others that then automatically all members of the whole institution will be ideal to the human society. Then we can dictate to administrators or sometimes take hold of the administration. In the absence of competent leaders we may take the post. But we must be very careful in the flow of the political movement we may not forget our ideal life. For example, Parasurama was a *brahmana* but when he found the *ksatriyas* were mismanaging he killed them twenty-one times and some of them fled to European countries. This is the history. ==So far we are concerned we shall keep ourselves in ideal brahminical position and if we need be, if no ksatriya or vaisya is here, we can take up their work as emergency.== Our business if to create ideal *ksatriyas and vaisyas* but beyond that our real business is to keep ourselves as ideal *brahmanas.* If we are not ideal we cannot create others as ideal. Training is required for the first, second, and third classes of social constitution. Persons who are not fit for being advanced by training are *sudras* and less than that. There are no ideal *brahmanas* or *ksatriyas* . But these four divisions are imperative. So our business is to keep fit as *brahmanas* and to train others to be ideal *ksatriyas* and *vaisyas* for advancing the whole society. As Krsna says in the *Srimad-Bhagavatam.* ” (SPL to Rupanuga Maharaja, 28 * * th* April, 1974) ==74-04== “Initiation should be given as a future hope, but we should be careful about the second initiation. As recommended by the president or GBC they should only do so when they are quite confident of a man. Otherwise, he should not be recommended. If you follow this principle it will be successful. ==Every day I am getting request for second initiation, but I do not know. The responsibility goes to the presidents who pick them. Unless they are thoroughly convinced, second initiation should not be given.== In the beginning we may be a little lenient. But if someone falls down after being initiated he should not be credited with second initiation.” (SPL to Rupanuga Maharaja, 28 * * th* April, 1974) 74-04 “Our students who are making this political program must be fixed in one point that human society unless must be divided into the four classes and divisions is animal society. Among the animals there is no intelligence for self-realization or how to make life successful. In human life intelligence is better than animals therefore they should know what is the aim of life and to educate human society there is the whole Vedic literature, of which the *Bhagavad-gita* is the quintessence. The Supreme Personality of Godhead orders that there must be four divisions in human society, a first, second, third, fourth, and fifth class, like that, and the first must be ideal. If the whole society is full of rogues, thieves, drunkards, cheaters and demons, where is there question of decent government? There must be divisions so the lower class men may aspire to be second class men. ==So far we are concerned we are trying to train first-class men. How much great responsibility we have to follow regulative principles, chant the beads, live with personal character, etc.== Regulative principles mean to especially execute devotional service in terms of the revealed scriptures the direction of the spiritual master. By fulfilling the regulative principles you come to the platform of spontaneous love for Krsna. Spontaneous love for Krsna is there already but is covered by the influence of *maya* . The regulative principles are a device how to overcome the influence of *maya* and come to the platform of spontaneous love of Krsna. If we want to exist as first-class men in society all our students must be induced to following the regulative principles. One shouldn’t think artificially he has come to the spontaneous platform. That is *sahajiyaism* . ([[letters/1974/740423_niranjana|Rupanuga Maharaja, 23 April, 1974]]) *** 74-04 “My next program is to reinstate the Vedic divisions in society as recommended in the *Bhagavad-gita:* Without this division there cannot be any systematic peaceful running of human activities. ==There must be a very intelligent class to guide the whole population with brahminical qualities.== There must be a class of people to give protection to the people at the time of danger and ordinarily to maintain peace and order, the *ksatriyas* . There must be a section to produce food and grains sumptuously for feeding both animals and human without discrimination. Especially cows must be protected by this class. The meat eater class may not be encouraged but if they are stubbornly attached they can eat hogs and dogs or goats or lambs under certain conditions only, but not by maintaining slaughterhouses. Then human society will be very peaceful and everyone engaged in employment without producing any idle brains which are devil’s workshops. If England and America as well as France and Germany can understand this philosophy there will be great theistic revolution which will counteract the atheistic philosophy of Marxism. The present communistic philosophy must be countered by revival of the principles of *catur-varnyam* .” (SPL to Syamasundara, 1 * * st* April, 1974) ==74-05== “I want to stress to you to ==be very cautious about giving me recommendation for second initiation.== There are four orders of life, it is not that everyone has to be *brahmana* just because he has been initiated 1 or 2 or any number of years. Especially if one cannot even rise early for *mangala-arati* he should never be given *brahminical* initiation. All your programs are encouraging to me and keep sending me information” (SPL to Nityananda, 27 * * th* May, 1974) ==74-05== “I am enclosing *brahmana* threads and *Gayatri* mantra for Adi Kesava dasa and Vivisvan dasa. ==You must be very careful before you award the brahminical thread by recommending a man to me. Now that we are dividing our society into the four orders as much as possible, it is not that every man has to be made a brahmana after a year.== Especially if he cannot even get up early and go to *mangala-arati* he cannot be become a *brahmana* . So consider it carefully before you recommend further men to me” (SPL to Trai dasa, 27 * * th* May, 1974) ==74-05== “Based on their declarations of sincerely following all the prescribed Vaisnava regulations for one year, and on your recommendation, I have accepted Jagat Prabhu das, Praghosa das, Kanva dasa, and Nitai Gauracandra dasa for second initiation and I have enclosed sacred thread and *Gayatri.* You were present in Hawaii when I was there and was particularly stressing that the presidents must be very careful on recommending *Gayatri* initiation. After all, we are criticizing false caste *brahmanas* , if we ourselves are bogus *brahmanas* then our position is very bad. ==Now that we are more and more trying to implement the varnasrama divisions of society, we should not think that everyone has to be a brahmana *.== * For example you are developing a farm there; so those who work the farm do not necessarily have to be a *brahmana* if they are not inclined to the brahminical standards. In this way, be careful about awarding the second initiation.” (SPL to Sudama Maharaja, 26 * * th* May, 1974) ==74-06== “I can understand that you want to run for political office, but we cannot spend money even if we have money. If you have money of your own and you want to spend it for running for office you can do that. But for running we not only have to draw on the society’s money but also on our men. This is not desirable. By competing with the politicians we may drop from our spiritual ideal… ==Our actual business is to become brahminical.== We want to train some *ksatriyas* but that we can do in our own communities. Where’s the money for this political work, that is my main question. And also, so much attention paid in this area is a diversion from our spiritual life.” (SPL to Amarendra, June 10 * * th* , 1974) ==74-06== “I appreciate that you say you have carefully considered the names and the candidates have several interviews and written statements before you would consider them, both for first and second initiation. ==I am especially concerned that the second initiation not be taken cheaply and devotees who do not even rise early be recommended for brahmana.== Therefore I have accepted the devotees recommended by you and their new spiritual names are as follows….” (SPL to Jayatirtha, 18 * * th* June, 1974) ==74-08 “Regarding the second initiation, I am especially concerned that the second initiation not be taken cheaply. Brahmanas are expected to rise early in the morning and follow strictly all the devotional practices.”== (SPL to Dayananda dasa, 8 * * th* August, 1974) ==74-11== “It is very good that you have purchased a third bus and also that you are rotating men. This is a good idea. Yes, train up the *brahmanas* very carefully. Many Indians and foreigners criticize us how we can create *brahmanas.* They are under the impression that *brahmanas* are born like according to *guna* and *karma* . ==So training the brahmanas should be so nice that people will be forced to accept them as brahmanas by guna—quality, and karma—action.”== (SPL to Tamala Krsna Goswami, 21 * * st* November, 1974) ==74-12== “So now do everything nicely and cooperate together, and keep everything purified. ==That is the brahminical qualification, truthfulness, and cleanliness, satyam and saucam. These are first qualifications.== Then controlling the mind and the sense, simplicity, full knowledge, and practical application of knowledge, and faith in the *Vedas* and the spiritual master. Those who are initiate by the brahminical thread, their first duty is to maintain cleanliness and truthfulness. I hope you can understand the importance of this.” (SPL to Radhaballabha dasa, 8 * * th* December, 1974) 74-05 “So, immediately, what I want is, in the Kuruksetra university a class should be opened for studying Krsna consciousness and there are already 50 books in English and Sanskrit, so if the university offers degree, B.A., M.A., and Ph.D. in different grades of understanding, I can arrange for many foreign students to come there. My first business is to spread Krsna consciousness all over the world. Actually, this movement is not to be limited in India only—that is the mission of Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu. As desired by you, I can immediately take up the task of opening a center there and open a *varnasrama* college there, affiliated by the university. In this college we shall train up pure *brahmanas (qualified * brahmanas *), * ksatriyas *, and * vaisyas *, that is the injunction of * Bhagavad-gita *. And this institution will be open for all without any discrimination. As I am training these European and American boys, most of them coming from Christian and Jewish families, and they are accepting to become a pure * brahmana * and then a pure * sannyasi *, this system should be introduced. They must sit for proper examination after being trained. And then why not accept them as real * brahmana * by quality and work? This procedure is recommended both in the * Bhagavad-gita * and in the * Srimad-Bhagavatam *. In the * Bhagavad-gita * it is said that the * brahmana *, * ksatriya, vaisya and sudra * should be selected by quality and work. Similarly, in the * Srimad-Bhagavatam, * it is said that if quality and work is present in a different * varna*, that is to say, ==if the quality of such a brahmana is visible in a person both in a sudra family, such a person on account of quality and work, should be accepted as brahmana.== So, if we start a *varnasrama* college in terms of *Bhagavad-gita* instructions and approved by *Srimad-Bhagavatam* , why the university will not give degree to a qualified person as approved *brahmana* . This is necessity of the present day. In the days past, when Prithu Maharaja was the Emperor, his government was inspecting to see whether a *brahmana* is acting actually like a *brahmana* , whether a *ksatriya* is acting as a *ksatriya* , and all the different castes were engaged in all their respective duties. At the present moment, even though one is qualified *brahmana* , he does not get sufficient opportunity to act as *brahmana* , and therefore he is obliged to accept the occupational duty of someone who is outside the brahminical post. But if we accept the principle of *varna* and *asrama* as they are recommended in the *sastra* , and if we push on the Krsna consciousness movement, surely everyone will be engaged in his occupation and the question of unemployment will be finished. Therefore, I think if we propagate this movement on the principles of *Bhagavad-gita* , all the problems of the human society will be solved.” ([[letters/1975/750531_prabhakar| *Prabhakar* , 31 May, 1975]]) ==75-07== “I therefore suggested in my last letter that now you are in ripe old age, so you can accept *vanaprastha* life which is your duty as you are born in a *brahmana* family. According to our Vedic principle a ==brahmana is supposed to accept the four asramas, namely brahmachari, grhastha, vanaprastha, and sannyasa. Others do not accept sannyasa, but a person who is a brahmana must accept sannyasa at the end of his life.== So I would suggest that you now retire from family life and accept at least *vanaprastha* order of life keeping your wife with you as assistant and fully engaged in translating the Vedic literature as far as possible.” (SPL to Dinanatha, 26 * * th* July, 1975) ==75-09 “There is no need of accumulating wealth more. You can get wealth more, and also spend wealth more. This is brahmanism. Get and spend, but not to spoil and squander. This example should be shown to others. That the city was paying you means that they are appreciating. Gradually they will all appreciate very much.”== (SPL to Kurusrestha dasa, 26 * * th* September, 1975) ==75-12 “Brahmincal life means to be very, very clean, inside and out. Inside by chanting and hearing, and outside by bathing three times daily, if not possible, at least two time, but never less than once.== Bathing after passing stool. The qualifications of the *brahmanas* are described in the Eighteenth Chapter of *Bhagavad-gita* verse 42: ’Peacefulness, self-control, austerity, purity, tolerance, honesty, wisdom, knowledge, and religiousness—these are the qualities by which the *brahmanas* work’. So see that these instructions are being followed nicely.” (SPL to Sivarama dasa, 7 * * th* December, 1975) ==75-12== “I have chanted on the sacred threads and they are enclosed here with, now hold a fire ceremony and have the students hear the *Gayatri mantra* chanted by me and the tape recording through the right ear. ==Instruct the newly initiated brahmanas about cleanliness, taking bath three times daily, taking bath each time after passing stool. Cleanliness within and without, that is very important for brahminical life.== The qualifications of the *brahmanas* are described in the Eighteenth Chapter, 42nd verse of the *Bhagavad-gita* . You may chant on the beads of the first initiates, and they must chant at least sixteen rounds daily, that will keep them strong.” (SPL to Madhudvisa Maharaja, 7 * * th* December, 1979) ==75-12== “The newly initiated *brahmanas* should hear the *mantra* from the tape recording through the right ear. ==Brahmana initiation means to be very clean, inside and outside. Inside by chanting the glories of the Lord, and outside by bathing regularly, washing hands and mouth after eating.== Instruct them all these things, and do it yourself, example is better than precept.” (SPL to Bhagavan dasa, 19 * * th* December, 1975) ==76-01 “In our Vedic universities we will not encourage anyone to be merely a book worm. There must be life—rising early in the morning, attending mangala-arati, taking prasadam, etc. The man who is studying will be brahmana, the farmer will be vaisya. In this way there will be divisions, but they are all one in service to Krsna.”== (SPL to Tusta Krsna Maharaja, 9 * * th* January, 1976) 76-01 “If we get chance, we must open a center in Kanpur. It is very important city in India. I heard that there was someone who was willing to give us a house. Kanpur is the third most important city in India next to Calcutta and Bombay. We must open a center there, if there is a chance. Padampat Singhania can himself build the whole *gurukula* . Similarly Banthuram Jaipuria who is our member, I think, can build the whole thing. If anyone gives the whole money for the building, then we can call the building in his name. ==The mercantile community is advised to follow the brahmanas. So you are bona fide brahmanas. And if the vaisyas follow your instruction, they will be happy and pious.”== (SPL to Aksayananda Swami, 28 * * th* February, 1976) ==76-08== “The names and beads duly chanted upon by your local GBC man, may be given at a fire *yajna.* The *brahmana* thread and *Gayatri* mantra * which must be heard through the right ear may also be given at the fire * yajna *. All initiated disciples must chant sixteen rounds a day without fail and observe the four regulative principles very strictly. ==The brahmanas must become learned in the sastras and very clean internally and externally by regularly bathing with water and the holy name. A brahmana must be fixed up in understanding of Brahmana. One should not take it cheaply.== The initiation is very serious and one should endeavor to follow the orders of the spiritual master with great determination. * Daksina * should also be offered when one presents oneself for initiation.” (SPL to Ajita dasa, 20* *th* August, 1976) ==76-09== “The newly initiated *brahmanas* may hear the *mantra* by tape in the right ear. The local GBC man may chant on the beads. All initiates must practice chanting sixteen rounds daily and strictly follow the four regulative principles which must be stressed with great care so that they are very familiar with them. ==The brahmana must be cleaned inside and out by bathing with water and mantra. They must become fixed up in the sastra so that they may overcome the bondage of maya with the sword of knowledge.”== (SPL to Sukadeva dasa, 11 * * th* September, 1976) ==74-04== “I have also accepted the *brahmanas* who you have recommended; Sukalini devi dasi, Vedapriya devi dasi, and Aravinda dasa. Enclosed please fine a sacred thread duly chanted on for Aravinda dasa. After putting on the sacred thread he may be allowed to hear from the tape the *Gayatri-mantra* in the right ear. Since there is no sacred thread for the women, they may have already heard the *mantra* . In any case there are enclosed three *mantras* sheets, one for each of them. ==Now teach them to be good brahmanas by keeping clean internally by always chanting Hare Krsna and externally by always bathing.”== (SPL to Kuladri dasa, 28 * * th* April, 1977) ## Ksatriyas ==69-06== “Mr. John Lennon is anxious for peace in the world, so also everyone is anxious for peace in the world, but it should be known how that peace can be attained. If we keep the human society as it is, there is no possibility of peace. It is not a question of simply accepting God as the center of everything and peace will be achieved, but the question is how to live in God. ==Mr. Lennon wants to stop war, but war is the creation of different politicians. So unless on the summit of administration there are actually Krsna conscious men we cannot stop war.== Therefore people in general must understand the importance of Krsna consciousness, and they must in this democratic day send their real representatives who can make right decisions whether there should be war or no war. We find from the history of *Mahabharata* that the battle of Kuruksetra was because of the belligerent attitude of Duryodhana. So such war as was conducted under the advice of Lord Krsna is not bad, but war declared and executed by demoniac politicians is certainly very bad. A Krsna conscious person like Arjuna is not inclined to the activities of warfare, but when there is a necessity for peace in the world to educate men to become Krsna conscious, a Krsna conscious person does not lag behind. Therefore the first necessity for peace in the world is to instruct men how to become Krsna conscious, because as soon as one becomes Krsna conscious all the good qualities in human society are manifested. So if it is possible that Mr. Lennon and Mr. Harrison cooperate with the Krsna consciousness movement, I am sure we shall be able to stop all the nonsensical war.” (SPL to Bibhavati, 12 * * th* June, 1969) ==69-09== “Regarding the outlaws, why police protection is not there? Does it mean that in the United States if somebody is threatened, he will have no state protection and must submit to the atrocities of the outlaws? ==Our point should be that we shall take all necessary steps for self-protection, depending for the result on Krsna. We should not idly sit down simply depending on Krsna.== Arjuna had to fight in the battlefield, but at the same time he heard *Bhagavad-gita* . Our motto shall be like that. Neither we shall fight alone, without Krsna consciousness, nor we shall give up all possible facilities in Krsna consciousness.”(SPL to *Brahmananda,* September 9th, 1969) ==73-06 “The Deities may be immediately repaired and worshipped. Now we must take precaution as you have suggested. You may get some guns and some of the boys may be trained as ksatriyas.== Such gunshots could have taken place long ago since we are challenging everybody. So we must be prepared to fight. We cannot stop this movement. It is actually fighting *maya* . So *maya* may also sometimes cause casualties in our camp. So, we must thank Krsna and seriously dedicate everything to him. So, you are Kīrtanānanda Maharaja, take pleasure in performing *kirtana* . That is our real weapon against *maya* .” (SPL to Kīrtanānanda *Maharaja,* 14th June, 1973) ==74-04== “I understand that some philosophers in Russia are thinking of autocracy with good sense. I am also advocating this philosophy. I have explained many times, the Vedic system of autocracy or monarchy in good training of God consciousness can save the world though less political thieves have failed Marxism. If England people can become Krsna consciousness where monarchy is superficially maintained and if the next is a Krsna conscious autocrat it will be a great revolution in the political field. ==Such noble king is not an autocrat but guided by brahmanas how to rule and see everyone employed in their respective duties as brahmana, ksatriya, vaisya, and sudra and no one unemployed.== There is no question of unwanted upheaval in society.” (SPL to Syamasundara, 1 * * st* April, 1974) ==74-04== “Yes, inflation is due to paper currency. As for land ownership, in Vedic civilization ==the land given to the people for cultivation, not for ownership, and a tax was collected that was 25% of the person’s income.== The land belonged to the state and the man would cultivate it. If he doesn’t pay tax he may be disowned of the land. One cannot get land from the government unless he agrees to produce something and if everyone produces food then there is no scarcity. At least he has his own food produced by himself. Now people are educated as *sudras* . They are going to work to produce what is not urgently needed by society. The actual social structure should be that the first intelligent class, the *brahmanas* , should be for studying and educating people for God consciousness. They are the gurus of all other classes. ==The second class, the ksatriyas, give protection from dangers and they can distribute the land.== The third class, the *vaisyas* , are for producing. So after the first, second, and third class, the remaining should help the upper three classes, then everybody will be employed. As for speaking this knowledge effectively, that requires a little experience. The more you experience then you will be able to give examples.” (SPL to Balavanta, April 28 * * th* , 1974) 74-04 “My next program is to reinstate the Vedic divisions in society as recommended in the *Bhagavad-gita* : Without this division there cannot be any systematic peaceful running of human activities. There must be a very intelligent class to guide the whole population with *brahminical* qualifications. ==There must be a class of people to give protection to the people at the time of danger and ordinarily to maintain peace and order, the ksatriyas.== There must be a section to produce food and grains sumptuously for feeding both animals and human without discrimination. Especially cows must be protected by this class. The meat eater class may not be encouraged but if they are stubbornly attached they can eat hogs and dogs or goats or lambs under certain conditions only, but not maintaining slaughterhouses. Then human society will be very peaceful and everyone engaged in employment without producing any idle brains which only are devil’s workshops. If England and America as well as France and Germany can understand this philosophy there will be great theistic revolution which will counteract the atheistic philosophy of Marxism. The present communistic philosophy must be countered by revival of the principles of *catur-varnyam. (SPL to Syamasundara, 1* *st* April, 1974) ## Vaisyas ==74-03== “Now that we are more and more trying to implement the *varnasrama* divisions of society, we should not think that everyone has to become a *brahmana* . For example you are developing a farm there; ==so those who work the farm do not necessarily have to be a brahmana if they are not inclined to the brahminical standards. In this way, be careful about awarding the second initiation.”== (SPL to Sudama Maharaja, 26 * * th* May, 1974) 74-04 “My next program is to reinstate the Vedic division in society as recommended in the *Bhagavad-gita* : Without this division there cannot be any systematic peaceful running of human activities. There must be a very intelligent class to guide the whole population with brahminical qualifications. There must be a class of people to give protection to the people at the time of danger and ordinarily to maintain peace and order, the *ksatriyas* . ==There must be a section to produce food and grains sumptuously for feeding both animals and human without discrimination. Especially cows must be protected by this class.== The meat eater class may not be encouraged but if they are stubbornly attached they can eat hogs and dogs or goats or lambs under certain conditions, but not by maintaining slaughterhouses. Then human society will be very peaceful and everyone engaged in employment without producing any idle brains which only are devil workshops. If England and America as well as France and Germany can understand this philosophy there will be great theistic revolution which will counteract the atheistic philosophy of Marxism. The present communistic philosophy must be countered by revival of the principles of *catur-varnyam. (SPL to Syamasundara, 1* *st* April, 1974) ==75-04== “The actual social structure should be that the 1st class intelligent class, the *brahmanas* should be for studying and educating the people for God consciousness. They are the gurus of all other classes. The second class, the *ksatriyas* give protection from dangers and they can distribute the land. ==The third class vaisyas are for producing. So after the first, second, and third class, the remaining should help the upper three classes, then everyone will be employed.”== (SPL to Balavanta, 28 * * th* April, 1974) ==76-01== “In our Vedic universities we will not encourage anyone to be merely a book worm. There must be life—rising early in the morning, attending *mangala-arati* , taking *prasadam* , etc. ==The man who is studying will be brahmana, the farmer will be vaisya. This way there will be divisions, but they are all one in service to Krsna.”== (SPL to Tusta Krsna Maharaja, 9 * * th* January, 1976) 76-07 “You’ll be pleased to learn that along with the Hare Krsna movement in the foreign countries, we are taking care of cow protection very vigorously. There are already dozens of such centers and farms where we are protecting cows like our New Vrndavana community in West Virginia, Bhaktivedanta Manor in London, altogether over fourteen such projects have been started throughout the world to date. We are giving protection to cows with great profit. We are getting huge amounts of milk from which we are preparing lovely yogurt, *dahi* , *sandesa* , *rasagulla* , *gulabjamon,* etc. We have sufficient quantity of ghee for preparing *kacori* , *samosa* , and other very palatable confectioneries. The people of this country gradually taking this idea very seriously the vegetarian diet and stopping cow killing in the practical way. We have got more than 100 temples all over the world and attached to every temple we are opening farms, and in many cities restaurants, and all of them are going very successfully. In India the difference is that no enthusiastic young men education are joining this movement whole-heartedly whereas in the foreign countries hundreds and thousands of qualified respectable men are joining us. I hope that you are a young man and along with other young friends you should also join us whole heardedly, then we can do the same work in India. It is the duty of the *vaisyas* to take to agriculture and cow protection. That is mentioned in the *Bhagavad-gita: krsi-go-raksya-vanijyam, vaisya-karma svabhava-jam* . (18.44). Unfortunately in India, the *vaisyas* are not very much interested in agriculture and cow protection. They are more interested in opening factories. So how things can be done ==if the vaisyas give us free advice for cow protection and then they themselves are more interested in opening factories, then how can cow protection be properly done?== If you see me personally in this connection I shall talk to you in detail.” (SPL to Krsna dasa Mahesvari, 11 * * th* July, 1976) ## Sudras ==73-05 “The position is that whole world is full of sudras. The sudras business is to somehow or other catch up some nice service under some good master and get a nice wife and home. That is their success in life.== This is the position of India especially. The whole of India is under technological instruction which means to become *sudras* . Just like carpenter can manufacture so much nice furniture by his technological education, but in our Vedic society, the carpenter is considered a *sudra* . Similarly tannery expert was called a cobbler. So these things are now lost. Everyone is prepared to become a cobbler, a carpenter, a chemist, a physicist, an electrician and so many other things, but they do not know that after such education one has to depend on other’s mercy. So-called highly qualified technologists cannot earn their livelihood without getting a suitable job. It is just like a dog, however stout and strong it may be, it cannot be happy without having gotten a wealthy master. Without being protected by a wealth master it is nothing but a street dog and he is never happy. So all students at the present moment are getting educated how to become first-class *sudras.* How they can be interested in Krsna consciousness, which is the business of high class *brahmanas* and Vaisnavas? Still it is our duty to preach, and our sincere endeavor for preaching work will be appreciated by the Lord. That much we want. Our mission is to see that Lord Caitanya is satisfied, never mind if we could not turn many of them to this cult. Here is the quotation from Caitanya Mahaprabhu’s instruction, ’ *Yare dekha, tare kaha ’Krsna’-upadesya/amara ajnaya guru hana tara’ ei desa. Caitanya-caritamrta, Madhya-lila,* 7:128. So our mission is, by the order of Caitanya Mahaprabhu, we shall try to teach people about the *Bhagavad-gita* and *Srimad-Bhagavatam* , etc., without being depressed whether people are accepting them or no. This is our credit. We shall be judged by the quality of our work and not by the material return.” (SPL to Niranjana, 21 * * st* May, 1973) ==74-04== “The actual social structure should be that the first-class intelligent class, the *brahmanas* should be for studying and educating people for God consciousness. They are the gurus of all other classes. The second class, the *ksatriyas* give protection from dangers and they can distribute the land. ==So after the first, second, and third class, the remaining should help the upper three classes, then everyone will be employed.”== (SPL to Balavanta, 28 * * th* April, 1974) ==74-04 “There is no question of a devotee becoming a sudra if he does certain work. No, a devotee is never a sudra. He is transcendental.== Because their activity is done in transcendental loving service unto the Lord, it is all on the transcendental plane: *brahma-bhuyaya kalpate* . You should not quit your present job, it is good service to Krsna. Although you may be working hard, you are always working for Krsna; so do not be confused about your position, and never forget Krsna in any circumstances.” (SPL to Gopala Krsna, 27 * * th* April, 1974) 74-04 “My next program is to reinstate the Vedic divisions in society as recommended in the *Bhagavad-gita:* Without this divisions there cannot be any systematic peaceful running of human activities. There must be a very intelligent class to guide the whole population with brahminical qualifications. There must be a class of people to give protection to the people at the time of danger and ordinarily to maintain peace and order, the *ksatriyas* . There must be a section to produce food and grains sumptuously for feeding animals and humans without discrimination. Especially cows must be protected by this class. ==The meat eater class may not be encouraged but it they are stubbornly attached they can eat hogs and dogs or goats and lambs under certain conditions only, but not by maintaining slaughterhouses.== Then human society will be very peaceful and everyone engaged in employment without producing any idle brains which are devil’s workshops. If England and America as well as France and Germany can understand this philosophy there will be great theistic revolution which will counteract the atheistic philosophy of Marxism. The present communistic philosophy must be countered by a revival of the principles of *catur-varnyam* .” (SPL to Symasundara, 1 * * st* April, 1974)