## Mission Of The Kṛṣṇa Consciousness Movement: To Create Varṇāśrama Colleges And To Reestablish Varṇāśrama While acknowledging the near impossibility of establishing varṇāśrama in the modern age, Śrīla Prabhupāda cites his spiritual predecessors and puts forth a challenging mission for the Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement: to revive the varṇāśrama-dharma social structure and save human society from gliding down to hellish life. **Is Varṇāśrama Possible In This Age?** **Madhudviṣa:** Prabhupāda, in this Age of Kali when there is no social structure or *varṇāśrama-dharma*, how can one discriminate how he is utilizing his energies for his prescribed duties? **How can one determine his prescribed duties, as Lord Kṛṣṇa has described here, for Arjuna to follow his prescribed duties.** **Prabhupāda:** Yes. Before coming to Kṛṣṇa consciousness were you in the *varṇāśrama*? Then how you have come? How you have come to this position? **Madhudviṣa:** Out of misery. **Prabhupāda:** No, no, no. You have come to execute Kṛṣṇa consciousness. Before coming to this Kṛṣṇa consciousness, were you in *varṇāśrama-dharma*? No. **So at the present moment, there is no possibility of persons following the principles of *varṇāśrama-dharma*, either here or anywhere. Everyone is *varṇa-saṅkara*.** *Kalau śūdra-sambhavaḥ.* In this age, everyone is a *śūdra*. Nobody is *brāhmaṇa*, nobody is *kṣatriya*, nobody is *vaiśya*.* Śūdra*. So in this age, you won't find anybody following the *varṇāśrama-dharma.* Therefore this is the panacea, to engage everyone in Kṛṣṇa consciousness, chanting Hare Kṛṣṇa. He comes above the highest principle of brāhmaṇism. This is the greatest gift to the humanity, that even he is in the, I mean to say, fallen condition, the most degraded position, he can be raised to the highest position simply by chanting. This is the only remedy. Now you cannot again introduce this system of *varṇāśrama*. It is not possible. **But if one takes to Kṛṣṇa consciousness, automatically he becomes immediately a *brāhmaṇa* and above the* brāhmaṇa*. **A Vaiṣṇava is above the *brāhmaṇa*. Just like when we initiate, give Hare Kṛṣṇa *mantra*, he is supposed to be above the all material modes of nature. And when he has practiced, we offer him the sacred thread. This is the prescription of this age. Otherwise, you cannot select who is *brāhmaṇa*, who is *śūdra*, who is *kṣatriya*. It is very difficult. —*Bg.* [[bg/3/18|3.18-30]] Lecture Los Angeles, 30 December 1968 Viṣṇu worship is the ultimate aim of human life. Those who take the license of married life for sense enjoyment must also take the responsibility to satisfy the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Viṣṇu, and **the first stepping-stone is the *varṇāśrama-dharma* system**. *Varṇāśrama-dharma* is the systematic institution for advancing in worship of Viṣṇu. **However, if one directly engages in the process of devotional service to the Supreme Personality of Godhead, it may not be necessary to undergo the disciplinary system of *varṇāśrama-dharma*.** The other sons of Brahmā, the Kumāras, directly engaged in devotional service, and thus they had no need to execute the principles of *varṇāśrama-dharma*. —SB [[sb/3/13/11 1974|3.13.11]] Purport **It is no longer possible to revive the perfect system, *varṇāśrama*. Although we are trying to revive, it is not possible. It is very difficult.** People are so fallen. *Mandāḥ sumanda-matayo manda-bhāgyā hy upadrutāḥ* [SB [[sb/1/1/10 1972|1.1.10]]]. They are so disturbed, *manda-bhāgyāḥ,* unfortunate, and *upadrutāḥ*, always disturbed... There will be no rainfall, and there, food scarcity and taxation by government, income tax. Income tax is to plunder... This is Kali-yuga. So in this position of harassment, how the peaceful *varṇāśrama* can be revived? It is very difficult. **It is almost impossible.** —SB [[sb/3/25/14 1974|3.25.14]] Lecture Bombay, 14 November 1974 *Varṇāśramācāravatā puruṣeṇa paraḥ pumān*, *viṣṇur ārādhyate*. *Viṣṇur ārādhyate* [*Cc Madhya* [[cc/madhya/8/58|8.58]]], that is required, how to become Kṛṣṇa conscious or Viṣṇu conscious and to worship Him. So that begins with this *varṇāśrama*. So Caitanya Mahāprabhu, He knew that this is Kali-yuga; **it is very, very difficult to engage people strictly in the *varṇāśrama-dharma*. Actually it is difficult. Who is going... If you open a *varṇāśrama* college, there will be no student. **Because they will think, "What is this nonsense, *varṇāśrama*? Let us learn technology. We shall get good salary. We shall earn money." Yes. So Caitanya Mahāprabhu immediately said, *eho bāhya, āge kaha āra*. **In this age it is not possible, *varṇāśrama-dharma*. ** —SB [[sb/6/1/24 1975|6.1.24]] Lecture Chicago, 8 July 1975 **The Purpose of The Hare Kṛṣṇa Movement: To Reestablish Varṇāśrama** TRANSLATION **Lord Rāmacandra became King during Tretā-yuga, but because of His good government, the age was like Satya-yuga. Everyone was religious and completely happy.** PURPORT Among the four* yugas—Satya*, Tretā, Dvāpara and Kali—the Kali-yuga is the worst, **but if the process of *varṇāśrama-dharma* is introduced, even in this Age of Kali, the situation of Satya-yuga can be invoked. The Hare Kṛṣṇa movement, or Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement, is meant for this purpose.** —SB [[sb/9/10/51 1977|9.10.51]] So Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement includes this system of division of society. It is perfect society. **Therefore we are trying to introduce the *varṇāśrama* system, although it is very difficult nowadays. ** —Interview with Trans-India Magazine New York, 17 July 1976 **Human society...has artificially created a type of civilization which makes one forgetful of his relationship with the Supreme Personality of Godhead.** Modern society even enables one to forget the Supreme Personality of Godhead's grace and mercy. Consequently modern civilized man is always unhappy and in need of things. People do not know that the ultimate goal of life is to approach Lord Viṣṇu and satisfy Him. They have taken this materialistic way of life as everything and have become captivated by materialistic activities. Indeed, their leaders are always encouraging them to follow this path, and the general populace, being ignorant of the laws of God, are following their blind leaders down the path of unhappiness. **In order to rectify this world situation, all people should be trained in Kṛṣṇa consciousness and act in accordance with the *varṇāśrama* system.** The state should also see that the people are engaged in satisfying the Supreme Personality of Godhead. This is the primary duty of the state. **The Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement was started to convince the general populace to adopt the best process by which to satisfy the Supreme Personality of Godhead and thus solve all problems.** —SB [[sb/4/14/20 1974|4.14.20]] Purport **Because there is no institution to teach people how to become *brāhmaṇas*, *kṣatriyas*, *vaiśyas* and *śūdras* or *brahmacārīs*, *gṛhasthas*, *vānaprasthas* and *sannyāsīs*, these demons want a classless society. **This is resulting in chaotic conditions. In the name of secular government, unqualified people are taking the supreme governmental posts. No one is being trained to act according to the principles of *varṇāśrama-dharma*, and thus people are becoming increasingly degraded and are heading in the direction of animal life. The real aim of life is liberation, but unfortunately the opportunity for liberation is being denied to people in general, and therefore their human lives are being spoiled.** The Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement, however, is being propagated all over the world to reestablish the *varṇāśrama-dharma* system and thus save human society from gliding down to hellish life.** —SB [[sb/5/19/19 1975|5.19.19]] Purport The demigods are situated in the mode of goodness, but sometimes even one who is situated in such an exalted position as King Indra, the king of all the demigods, falls down because of material opulence. We are now actually seeing this in America. **The entire American nation has tried to advance in material opulence without striving to produce ideal human beings. The result is that Americans are now regretting the wholesale criminality of American society and are wondering how America has become so lawless and unmanageable.** As stated in *Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam*, *na te viduḥ svārtha-gatiṁ hi viṣṇum*: [SB [[sb/7/5/31 1976|7.5.31]]] persons who are unenlight ened do not know the aim of life, which is to return home, back to Godhead. Therefore, both individually and collectively, they try to enjoy so-called material comforts, and they become addicted to wine and women. The men produced in such a society are less than fourth class. They are the unwanted population known as *varṇa-saṅkara*, and as stated in *Bhagavad-gītā*, an increase of *varṇa-saṅkara* population creates a hellish society. This is the society in which Americans now find themselves. Fortunately, however, the Hare Kṛṣṇa movement has come to America, and many fortunate young men are giving serious attention to this movement, which is creating ideal men of first-class character, men who completely refrain from meat-eating, illicit sex, intoxication and gambling. If the American people are serious about curbing the degraded criminal life of their nation, they must take to the Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement and try to create the kind of human society advised in *Bhagavad-gītā* (*cātur-varṇyaṁ mayā sṛṣṭaṁ guṇa-karma-vibhāgaśaḥ* [Bg [[bg/4/13|4.13]]]). They must divide their society into first-class men, second-class men, third-class men and fourth-class men. Since they are now creating only men who are less than fourth class, how can they avoid the dangers of a criminal society? Long, long ago, Lord Indra regretted his disrespect to his spiritual master, Bṛhaspati. Similarly, it is advised that the American people regret their mistaken advancement in civilization. They should take advice from the spiritual master, the representative of Kṛṣṇa. If they do so, they will be happy, and theirs will be an ideal nation to lead the entire world. —SB [[sb/6/7/12 1975|6.7.12]] Purport So this Vedic scheme, *varṇāśrama*, is a very important scheme. If possible it should be introduced and taken up very seriously. **That is one of the items of Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement, to reestablish the institution of *varṇa* and *āśrama*. **Not by birth, but by qualification. ...Being separated from family and property, they will take shelter in the hilly ranges or in the forest to get relief. This will be the position. Harassment, so much harassment, by nature, by government. So therefore for complete happy society, this Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement is essential. All intelligent persons, they should join this movement and reform the present social, political, religious. All field of activities, they should reform. Then people will be happy. Not only happy in this life, but also next life. —Evening Darśana Washington, D.C. 8 July 1976 **Although the Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement is a movement of *brāhmaṇas* and Vaiṣṇavas, it is trying to reestablish the divine *varṇāśrama* institution,** for without this division of society there cannot be peace and prosperity anywhere. —SB 7.11.18-20 Purport One of the objectives of the Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement is to establish this *daiva-varṇāśrama*, but not to encourage so-called *varṇāśrama* without scientifically organized endeavor by human society. —SB [[sb/7/14/10 1976|7.14.10]] Purport Before coming to the standard of *varṇāśrama-dharma* there is no question of human civilization. **Therefore, the Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement is trying to establish this right system of human civilization, which is known as Kṛṣṇa consciousness, or ***daiva-varṇāśrama*-divine culture. —Science of Self Realization 3: Discovering the Roots Do not misunderstand that we are trying to spread Hinduism. Hinduism is a fictitious term...We don't find this word in the Vedic literature...This is the convention of latest age.** Actually, we, the followers of Vedic principles, our system is *varṇāśrama-dharma*, four *varṇas* and four *āśramas*. **This is, this can be applicable. **But *varṇāśrama-dharma* is applicable in any, in anywhere. ***Cātur-varṇyaṁ mayā sṛṣṭaṁ guṇa-karma-vibhāgaśaḥ* [Bg [[bg/4/13|4.13]]]. The creation of God... Just like sun. Sun is creation of God. Sun is visible everywhere. Not that something American sun and something Indian sun. No. The sun is the same. Similarly, *cātur-varṇyaṁ*, the four principles of division, *brāhmaṇa*, *kṣatriya*, *vaiśya*, and *śūdra*, they are everywhere. **It is not the monopoly of India.** —The Nectar of Devotion Lecture Vṛndāvana 27 October 1972 So just today is the appearance day of *hlādinī-śakti*. So if you want to please Kṛṣṇa... Because our business is to please Kṛṣṇa. *Hari-toṣaṇam*. **Our this movement is *hari-toṣaṇam*. ***Saṁsiddhir hari-toṣaṇam* [SB 1.2.13]. *Ataḥ pumbhir dvija-śreṣṭhā varṇāśrama-vibhāgaśaḥ*. ***Varṇāśrama-vibhāgaśaḥ*.** —*Bg.* [[bg/18/5|18.5]] Lecture London 5 September 1973 (Rādhāṣṭamī) **Prabhupāda:** So one side, there is no rain; one side, there is no rice, especially in India; and one side, heavy tax. So they'll be all confused. They have already become confused. **So in the confusion state it will be very difficult to make them Kṛṣṇa conscious. Therefore preliminary help should be given.** **Viṣṇujana:** Preliminary. **Prabhupāda:** Yes. That they should not be in chaos and confusion. Otherwise, how the brain will work? **Viṣṇujana:** Yes. No one can give rapt attention without peace of mind. **Prabhupāda:** Yes, yes.** Our main aim is how to give them Kṛṣṇa conscious ness. But if they are already disturbed in every respect, then how they'll take it? **Therefore we are taking these subjects, to help him to come to the Kṛṣṇa consciousness. **And this is the method-*varṇāśrama*.** **Viṣṇujana: ...This is the most auspicious work for now, is this remedial measure to stop the chaos in the world?** **Prabhupāda:** Yes. **Viṣṇujana:** That's most auspicious. **Prabhupāda:** **Most auspicious. **Because if the people are in chaos, how they'll be able to accept the great philosophy? It requires cool brain. **Viṣṇujana:** ...When we first go to open a temple in a city we get an apartment or a storefront. But then, when more and more people come, then we should **get land and cows and everything and...** **Prabhupāda:** **Yes, yes.** **Viṣṇujana:** **...and turn it into a society.** **Hṛdayānanda:** Ah, that's wonderful. —Morning Walk "Varṇāśrama College" Vṛndāvana, 14 March 1974 **My next program is to reinstate the Vedic divisions in society** as recommended in the *Bhagavad-gītā*: > catur varnyam maya srstam/ guna karma vibhagasah tasya kartaram api mam/ viddhy akartaram avyayam [Bg [[bg/4/13|4.13]]] 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.** —Letter to: Śyāmasundara Bombay, 1 April 1974 **Devotee:** Śrīla Prabhupāda, we received news yesterday that one man in northern New South Wales is willing to sell us a farm, a great big farm out there in the southern tropics. Would this be a good place for engaging boys like the Indian..., the Indian boy that came yesterday? **Prabhupāda:** Yes. **Our next program is to organize farming.** Let anyone come. We shall give him free food and employment: "Come on." Not that "I want to work as a clerk in the city." You produce your own food. I give you ingredients. I give you land. And work for five, six hours, and take your food and chant Hare Kṛṣṇa. **Devotee:** **Anybody who comes to the farm has to agree to follow the four regulative principles?** These people? **Prabhupāda:** **Yes. Otherwise you are not coming.** Our main business is to make him Kṛṣṇa conscious. —Morning Walk Perth, 15 May 1975 **Prabhupāda:**...We do not decry, but we point out, "In this way our valuable time of life is being wasted." They say it is primitive life, but it is peaceful life. We want peaceful life and save time for Kṛṣṇa consciousness. That is not primitive. That is intelligent life. **Satsvarūpa:** In order to evidence this, **should we consider that we have to act as *kṣatriyas* or shall we just preach and try to get others...** **Prabhupāda:** No... *Kṣatriyas*, I have already explained who is *brāhmaṇa* and *kṣatriya* according to *guṇa-karma-vibhāgaśaḥ*, as you work, as you are fit for.** If you are fit to become *brāhmaṇa*, become *brāhmaṇa*. If you are fit to become *kṣatriya*, become *kṣatriya*. If you are fit to become *śūdra*, do it...** **Brahmānanda:** **So eventually we should divide up our society in this way?** Our members... **Prabhupāda:** Yes, just to show people how to... **The first-class men, *brāhmaṇa*, second-class, *kṣatriya*, third-class, *vaiśya*, fourth-class...** **So make, organize. I can give you the idea, but I'll not live very long. If you can carry out, you can change the whole... Especially if you can change America, then whole world will change. Then the whole world...** And it is the duty because they are kept in darkness and ignorance, then the human life is being spoiled. These rascals, because they do not know how to live... *Andhā yathāndhair...* They are blind, and they are leading... Others are blind, and they are leading and they, all of them, going to ditch. So it is the duty. There is... Caitanya has explained, *para-upakāra.* Save them. If it is not possible to save everyone, as many as possible. —Room Conversation with Devotees New Orleans, 1 August 1975 Farm project is very nice. Kṛṣṇa gives.* Kṛṣi-go-rakṣya-vāṇijyaṁ vaiśya-karma svabhāva-jam.* [Bg [[bg/18/44|18.44]]] "Farming, cow protection and business are the natural work for the *vaiśyas*...] This is economic problem solved. And *brāhmaṇa*, brain problem solved, and *kṣatriya*, protection problem solved, and *śūdra*, labor problem solved. **Four things combined together, live peacefully, happily. Chant Hare Kṛṣṇa. Introduce this farm project.** —Evening Darśana Māyāpur, 15 February 1977 **Now, our next program will be to organize farming land** to set an example to the whole world how people can be peaceful, happy, and free from all anxieties simply by chanting Hare Krishna Maha-mantra and living an honorable life in Krishna Consciousness. In India especially people are religiously inclined. They like to live in village and also like to love Lord Rama, Lord Krishna. This idealism is running through their blood and veins. **We have to organize their natural tendency and elevate them again back to Home, Back-to-Godhead. **Please think over these points very seriously and as soon as I return we shall take up the program. My beloved sannyasi disciple Swami Pusta Krishna has promised to give me a car, and as soon as I get it I shall move from village to village along with some selected assistants and **organize this farming village development program.** —Letter to: Kartikeya K. Mahadevia Johannesburg, 19 October 1975 One of the item of this mission, Kṛṣṇa consciousness, is to establish real *varṇāśrama* by qualification. —Brāhmaṇa Initiation Lecture New Vrindaban, 25 May 1969 The presidents must be very careful on recommending gayatri initiation. After all, we are criticizing false cast 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 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.** —Letter to: Sudāmā Rome, 26 May 1974 **Satsvarūpa:** In our ISKCON, one becomes a *brāhmaṇa* after a year. It's not very hard. Everyone becomes a *brāhmaṇa*. **Prabhupāda:** That is due to chanting. That lifts very easily. **Hari-śauri:** Where will we introduce the *varṇāśrama* system, then? **Prabhupāda:** In our society, amongst our members. **Hari-śauri:** **But then if everybody's being raised to the brahminical platform**... **Prabhupāda:** **Not everybody. Why you are misunderstanding? *Varṇāśrama*, not everybody *brāhmaṇa*.** **Hari-śauri:** No, but in our society practically everyone is being raised to that platform. So then one might ask what is... **Prabhupāda:** That is... **Everybody is being raised, but they're falling down**. **Hari-śauri:** So then we should make it more difficult to get... **Prabhupāda:** Yes. **Hari-śauri:** ...brahminical initiation. After four or five years. **Prabhupāda:** Not necessary. You remain as a *kṣatriya*. You'll be ha... **Hari-śauri:** **No need for even any *brāhmaṇa* initiation, then...** **Prabhupāda:** **No, no.** **Hari-śauri:** ...unless one is... **Prabhupāda:** No, *brāhmaṇa* must be there. Why do you say, generalize? **Hari-śauri:** **Unless one is particularly...** **Prabhupāda:** **Yes.** **Hari-śauri:** **...inclined.** —Room Conversation Varṇāśrama System Must Be Introduced Māyāpur, 14 February 1977 Varṇāśrama Is Possible and It Must Be Done, February 14, 1977, Māyāpur, Room Conversation