In discussing varnāśrama-dharma, it is most important to clearly distinguish between the original, divine method (dajva. varņāśrama) and its present perverse manifestation as ásura- varņāśrama, the caste system based solely on birth.” Devotees must clearly understand this difference, both to disabuse others and to not themselves re-create a new kind of caste system in the name of varņāśrama-dharma. It was daiva-varņāśramą- dharma that Śrila Prabhupāda advocated even in his earliest writings. He increasingly emphasized it after establishing Krsna consciousness in the West.
Hearing his conversations and lectures in chronological order gives us the chance to examine the evolution of Srila Prabhupäda’s varņāśrama presentation over time. During the earliest days he presents varņāśrama as an ideal social structure, but one which is probably not possible for the present age. Nevertheless, even in that early period, he is intent on creating brähmanas – devotees who would provide a “head” for society, giving it sound spiritual guidance. During the middle period, he proposes that ISKCON’s brāhmaņas provide the leadership to create a model of varņāśrama in which the rest of the world can can also be included. In the final phase, he presents varņāśrama as an important preaching tool and a structure to be implemented initially “within our ISKCON society,” with devotees in the Krsna consciousness movement participating at every level.[A]
As Śrila Prabhupāda famously stated: “Fifty percent of my work is not complete, because I have not established varnāśrama- dharma.”[B] And: “I have only done fifty percent of what I want to do. The farms have to be done. If they are established, varņāśrama will be established.”[C] While recognizing that it is unfeasible to fully revive varņāśrama-dharma in Kali-yuga,[D] Śrīla Prabhupāda desired to do so as far as possible.[E]
Source: Book : “Mothers & Master”, Page 16-17
Join us today for a critical examination in light of shastra and previous acharyas the…
Join us for an in-depth discussion from our June 12, 2025, meeting exploring the controversial…
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qsnHpPFurKA Buy now: https://books.bvks.com/book/view/the-mood-and-mission-of-srila-prabhupada.html Support us: https://donate.bvksmedia.net/ Recorded on May 20, 2025 in Atlanta, GA,…
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d8tKOB314rE Support us: https://donate.bvksmedia.net/ Recorded on May 2, 2025 in Atlanta, GA, USA. For thousands…
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yZ59taC_9yw In this discussion, members of the ISKCON the India Scholars Board explain why scriptural…
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=notZek_H0nk The end of Ritvik Mayavad || Truth revealed || Ritvikism Debunked || The complete…