Varnashrama dharma - still relevant

Kulapavana · 09-15-2003, 04:49 PM

Srila Prabhupada wanted us to re-establish the Vedic society based largely on varnashrama dharma. It starts with each and every one of us. Do you know what is your varna and do you try to act accordingly?

Kulapavana · 09-17-2003, 08:22 AM

From lack of response here one could assume that not much thought is given to your own varna. That is my general observation as well. Most devotees seem to think of themselves as brahmanas, even when they routinely fall asleeep during morning Bhagavatam class...

yasodanandana · 09-17-2003, 11:38 AM

born as a mleccha, my job is musician... i.e. sudra

what to say more?

stonehearted · 09-17-2003, 12:07 PM

I'd suggest that those who attend morning Bhagavatam class are rather rare these days.

Guess I'm a shudra since I just work my arse off. I teach, but I do it for a pay check.

Kulapavana · 09-17-2003, 01:03 PM

Re: falling asleep in class. It was a slightly sarcastic remark on my part. Some of most strict pursuers of brahminical lifestyle would do much better if they realized their varna and acted accordingly, without having a constant guilt trip about their "less than brahminical" standards.

Just because you are a teacher on salary that does not make you a sudra. Many brahmanas in the past served kings as advisors and received steady monetary compensation. There were many types of brahmanas. Ksatriya soldiers routinely received steady pay from the king and that did not make them sudras.

theist · 09-17-2003, 01:36 PM

I have come to the conclusion that my modes are so mixed up that i can't get a proper read. So I guess I'm just a mutt.

livingentity · 09-17-2003, 02:00 PM

cute!!

Since this was originally posted I have been thinking a lot about this and quite honestly do not know.

Perhaps someone out there can help...I do not consider myself Brahmana. I am too weak and lazy and chicken to be kshatriya.

I have been a secretary since I was 17 with a few detours here and there. But in my off time I do a lot of reading studying.

So where do I stand...am I also a mutt? [img]/images/graemlins/grin.gif[/img]

Where is the quote about everyone being shudras in this age? I can not find it now. I suspect I am either a "mutt" or shudra.

Kulapavana · 09-17-2003, 03:13 PM

We are all mixed to a certain degree, basicaly it is a fluid spectrum without rigid divisions. But there are no sudra/brahmana mixes: just sudra/vaishya, vaishya/kshatriya or brahmana/kshatriya. Look at other clues as well (besides the modes of nature as perceived by you) such as your parents varna(s) or your hobbies and weaknesses. If you cant figure out clearly what your varna is - most likely you are not brahmana or kshatriya. There is no shame in being a Vaishnava who happens to have a sudra body. Millions times better than being an asura in a brahmana body... Hare Krishna!

I_love_krishna_ · 09-17-2003, 03:28 PM

"Srila Prabhupada wanted us to re-establish the Vedic society based largely on varnashrama dharma. It starts with each and every one of us. Do you know what is your varna and do you try to act accordingly? "

Sudra, untouchable... somewhere in the cowherds. [img]/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img]

Kulapavana · 09-17-2003, 03:31 PM

cowherds are usually considered vaishyas ;-)

livingentity · 09-17-2003, 03:32 PM

to find I am shudra. No problem. I will continue to chant and read of the pastimes of our dear Lord Sri Krsna.

Besides, I am still looking the quote saying we are all sudra in this age.

I_love_krishna_ · 09-17-2003, 03:42 PM

I am lower than krishna anyway... so it doesn't matter [img]/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img]

Yea we are all sudras anyway...

livingentity · 09-17-2003, 03:45 PM

From Krishna Book...Srila Prabhupada tells us...
"Vasudeva was a ksatriya, and Nanda Maharaja was a vaisya. It is the duty of the ksatriya to give protection to the citizens of mankind, and it is the duty of the vaisyas to give protection to the cows. The cows are as important as the citizens. Just as the human citizens should be given all kinds of protection, so the cows also should be given full protection."

Kulapavana · 09-17-2003, 03:46 PM

"in the Age of Kali everyone is born sudra" ...that quote simply means that varna is not determined by birth in this age (the smskaras are either ineffective or not performed at all). More important are the verses in Geeta where Krishna proclaims the 4 varnas and declares that everyone fits in that system

livingentity · 09-17-2003, 03:49 PM

for finding the quote for me.

Question...as devotees or aspiring devotees we do not eat Mother Cow and thus in our own way are practicing cow protection. Does that mean then that we are Vaisyas at least in part?

Kulapavana · 09-17-2003, 03:58 PM

Post deleted by Kulapavana

livingentity · 09-17-2003, 03:59 PM

we eat Mother Cow. I say we do not eat Mother Cow!!

Although, we might not be keeping Mother Cow in our yards and caring for her. We do not eat her so is this considered a form of cow protection?

I_love_krishna_ · 09-17-2003, 04:00 PM

We are brahmanas= We read scriptures and chant "Hare krishna Maha Mantra"

We are Kshatriyas= We have protected atleast one person in our life...let it be other people's children, or your own child...

We are Vaisyas= We protect cows by not eating meat and protesting against the slaughtering of animals.

We are Sudras= Because we do all the dirty work also... there are no maids to do our dirty work unless we are extremely rich. [img]/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img]

We are untouchables... because we are not touched by krishna's grace ?- [img]/images/graemlins/frown.gif[/img] Yet.
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So, I think we are above everything, because we are fans of krishna. [img]/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img] [img]/images/graemlins/grin.gif[/img]