20241017 - Varṇa and āśrama

Hare.

Hare Krishna.

Dear devotees, today we will continue with.

The reading from Sri Chaitanya Shiksharvanta Vaishna Sachidananda Bhakti Vinod Thakur. Today we will continue with the second Shaba considered entitled Consideration of Secondary Rules and fourth stream of the second Shaba entitled Ashrama Consideration.

Walking in October is presenting sounds different rules.

So we are seeing Bhakti Vinant Thakur is presenting different roles. But eventually we are seeing that he is coming to the point presenting Vaishnava Dharma as transcendental. Can you hear me? Varna and Ashrama Karma is born from human nature. Karma is situated in human's Ashrama, the Ashrama in which the human being stays taking shelter. Of that Ashrama, Karma is also situated. Therefore, caste, Varuna and Ashrama are mutually dependent. Therefore Karma is called as Varnashrama Dharma. There are four types of Ashrama, Brahmacharya, Grihestha, Vanaprastha and Sannyasa.

Prabhupada.

So Srila Prabhupada. He established this Ashram ras in iskcon.

It's still debatable.

How.

Are the Karmas varanas fit in?

It's still debatable. How do varanas fit in?

So how are this?

So ISKCON follows this Ashrama system.

The Varna system is partially followed and.

The varnish system is partially followed. Note. For a Brahmana there are six occupational duties. A Kshatriya should not accept charity, but he may perform other five of these duties. A king or Kshatriya is not allowed to levy taxes on Brahmanas but he may make his livelihood by levying minimal taxes, custom duties and penalty fines upon other subjects. The mercantile community should always follow the directions of the Brahmanas and engage in such occupational duties as agriculture, trade, protection of cows. For the Suidras, the only duty is to accept a master from a higher social order and engage in his service among the mixed classes known as Shankara. Those who are not thieves are known as Ante Vasayi or Chandalas, dog eaters and they also have their hereditary customs. If one acts in his profession according to his position in the modes of nature and gradually gives up this activity, he attains the Nishkama stage.

Army order.

So people who identify themselves or identify themselves as managers or army, they are in the Kshatriya order so they can leave a income tax 25%.

25% most countries much higher rate in.

Most countries there are much higher rates.

In the Vedas it says 25% but.

In the Vedas it says 25%. So.

At a later time judges.

So because in the Vedic times the Kshatriyas don't levy tax on the Brahmanas.

Only the Brahmanas.

And only the Brahmanas can actually beg.

Because.

Because they're giving benefit to all. The medicine duty of a Brahmacharya with Brahmana nature. A person with Brahmana nature has the right to Brahmacharya with a restrained mind, with purity of conduct in a very humble manner while accepting various austerities or physical afflictions. Residing in Gurukula will resort to Brahmacharya until the end of studies. After completing the studies while giving Dakshina the Guru and with his permission to the Guru and with his permission would enter the Grahastha Ashrama in place of Murarigupta. It is said in Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu chaitanya chaitam adilila 10.50 murari gupta never accepted charity from friends nor did he accept money from anyone. He practiced as a physician and maintained his family with his earnings.

Is considered like a kind of Brahman.

So a physician is considered as a kind of a Brahmin.

Said he would back and he wouldn't take money from anyone.

And he wouldn't take money from anyone.

As a donation.

As a donation.

But he would charge the reasonable charge position work, maintain his salary.

So he would charge a reasonable charge according to them and maintain his family. According to the work maintain his family. He.

As a physician he was high as hurt and he cured his patients.

As a physician he was very expert and he cured his patients. One time Lord Chaitanya went and said he had a bad stomach.

Rayota.

So Muradi Gupta gave him some water.

Water from his pot.

Just the water from his pot was able to cure Lord Chaitanya.

We wish we had doctors like that.

We wish we had doctors like that. They would give a glass of water and they cure something. What do you think? He's there. He's hiding behind.

So depending on us on the Brahma Shah studies he thought he's allowed to follow certain rules.

So depending on the Brahmacharya studies he is allowed to follow certain rules. Go up.

I saw someone as a student would follow the Brahmachari rules.

So someone who is a student he follows the Brahmachari rules. When he completes his studies he gives the Dakshin to the Guru and then take the Guru's blessings and he enters the Kriya Starsharma Grishta Dharma of the four castes. All the castes are qualified for Grahastha Ashrama. Brahmanas take Grahastha Ashrama after Brahmacharya, Kshatriyas study all appropriate scriptures and adopt Gravastha Ashrama. After returning from Gokula, the Gurkula, the Vaishyas become Grihastha while studying the Vedas related to animal protection and maintenance, trade and agriculture. Shudra can become Grihasta simply by attaining proper age. When the time for study begins. The qualification of a person's nature of caste is to be dedicated at first by father, family, priest, society of Aryans, landlord or Zamindar Bhu Swami. According to the nature of the boy that will be noticed, he should be engaged in those kinds. Excuse me, those kind of education. Those who are not at all interested in studies but show interest and skill in their service in their service work. Considering that it is ineffective to engage them in studies, they should be allowed to gain skill in their service work of Shudra nature. If one become a Gravastha, they need to earn money first. Different Varanas are instructed in different ways to earn money. Worshipping the Lord, all the demigods, Yajana to teach others how to execute this worship. Become very learned scholars, become qualified teachers, distribute wealth in charity. Pratikaha qualify themselves as bona fide persons to receive alms from others. These six at the karmas of Brahmanas. Among these six earn money through Yajana and Pratikraha and spend money in family situation by Yajana, Adhyayana and Dana.

This was the traditional way the Aryans would hide us.

So this is the traditional way in which the Aryans would divide the society. And.

So in the modern world.

This.

The education is more more general.

In the modern world the education is more general.

I mean all these things.

So they have all these things in the schools.

Word work, tithing, kind of sutra activities.

I could allot for woodwork, typing, all the Shudra actions.

Also the activities, Science arts, all these studies.

Also the science arts, all these different studies.

The education was based on the varna of the person.

Here we can see that in the society the education is based on the varna of a person. The Kshatriya cross would maintain family by earning through collecting taxes and weapon business. The Vaishyas would earn their living by animal protection, trade and agriculture. The Shudra earn their living through the service of the three castes. Brahmana.

Animal protection that is not practiced so much in the West.

Animal protection that is not practiced so much in the west.

Cows welcome to call. Otherwise they send them to the slaughterhouse.

So if the cows they don't give milk then eventually they'll send them to the slaughterhouse. So animal protection is practically unheard of.

In recent times. The protection of house is. That's the standard. Just like organic food, they have the protected how the hems are not so just like recently.

Just like organic food they have this protected Ahimsa animals milk.

So some people don't slaughter a cow and the milk is considered ahimsa.

Some people, they don't slaughter the cows and their milk is considered ahimsa. Brahmanas, Kshatriyas and Vaishyas can resort to trade during times of calamity. But three cows should not do the occupation of Shudra unless there is an emergency. The Grahasta should produce children by accepting a wife and following the rules. They should express gratitude to the forefathers by offering oblations. Pindarana worship of gods by sacrifices and receive guests Atiti seva by food and worship all living entities Archan by true behavior. Parivrajakas and Brahmacharis are nurtured and maintained only with the help of the Grihasta. Therefore, the Grastha Ashrama is superior to all ashramas. We are all dependent on the Grastha Ashrama.

Generally donated Brahmachari.

Maybe I can get a 10 rupee donation from a Brahmachari. Grihastha give 500 or more.

Dependent on the Grihastras.

We are all dependent on the Grihastras. Okay. Vanaprastha activities. Vanaprastha is the third ashrama. If he reaches old age, he should give his wife to his son's care. Or if there is no possibility of having children, take her with him while leaving the home to the forest and thus perform Vanaprastha activity wherein should minimize the needs of in all respects. Lying on the ground wearing clothes made of tree branches. Give up shaving. Adopting the activity of Muni vritti. Bathing three times during Sandhya. Serving the guest as much as one can. Eating fruits and roots. Worshipping the supreme personality of Godhead.

Eating fruits and roots has like our Bhishma Panchak Eating.

Eating fruits and roots. That's like our Bhishma Panchak. Okay, we just practice for five days. Okay.

I eat roots and I do fruits, roots and Havishana. Because of my kidney problem.

Because of my health issues and my diabetes. Diabetes. Okay. Eating fruits, roots, Worshipping the supreme personality of Godhead in secluded forests are all The Vanaprishta activities. All the castes are qualified for Vanaprastha.

Not much horrors, so there are not much forests left. Holy places with.

Vanaprasthas visit holy places as husband and wife and.

Devotional service.

And do devotional service.

To their sons.

They give out the occupation to the sons. Sannyasa activity Sanyasa Ashrama is the fourth Ashrama. One who desires to conquer the mind must leave the company of his family and live in a solitary place free from contaminated association. To maintain the body and soul together, he should beg as much as he needs for the bare necessities of life. A Sannyasi is called as Bhikshuka beggar or Parivrajaka wanderer. When the people of the first three Ashrama are completely detached. Detached without possessiveness in the world torrent of all hardships, knowledgeable, devoid of desire for associating with worldly minded people. Absorbed in Brahman, free from dualities, equanimous towards all living kind, non envious and dovetailed in Yoga. Dovetailed in Yoga. When he becomes qualified to take Sanyas Ashrama. Excuse me. Sanyasis always think of goat. They do not stay more than one night in any village. They do not stay more than five nights in any city. They spend four months according to the prescribed rule of Chatur Masha. Only in appropriate places. In the initial stages they take meals in Brahmana's house. None other than the Brahmanas can accept this Ashra.

So in the Vedas it states that high things are prohibited.

So in the Vedas it states five things that have that are prohibited.

So one of those things is.

One of those things is Sanyas Ashrama.

You see that this Sanyasi he living by begging.

So we see that the Sannyasi he is living by begging. He can stay in the village one day. He can stay in a city five nights.

And the performance of the rainy season is holy place.

And during the four months of the rainy season he should spend in some holy places. All these things are difficult to follow.

Sanyasis and k.

So Sanyasis in Kaluga. What was the last part? Guru match in Lord Gauranga's succession.

Stands on holy ways.

On Azran they stay in some holy place, some Ashram.

When our Lord Chaitanya was traveling, he keeps moving from place to place.

When Lord Chaitanya was traveling, he kept moving place to place.

He stopped for the four months he was in.

During the four months of the rainy season he stopped at Srirangam.

Actually the Sannyas.

So actually the sannyas of the previous age is not followed. There is no ashrama for the weak. Individuals devoid of physical and mental capacity are not eligible for any ashrama. They will spend their days by the mercy of the residents of the Ashrama. It is the responsibility of the residents of the Ashrama to help them as much as possible.

Consider otherwise skilled, otherwise killed, handicapped or handicapped.

What was that? Gurmaj? The other.

Help them as much.

Okay. Those in the Gasta Ashram help them as much as possible. Woman suitable only for Gravastha Ashrama Other than Gravestha Ashrama and specific places of Vanaprasthta, no other ashrama is acceptable for women. If a certain woman is of extraordinary strength and strength gaining knowledge, Dharma and ability had attained success. Would attain success by taking Brahmacharya or Sanyas Ashrama. It is not a rule for women generally with soft faith, soft body and soft intelligence. Says there could be Brahmacharya or Sannyasa Ashrama for the women's.

You know that Baba in the West. In the west, when they were 18, then they could. Their parents would say find a husband. So he would have Brahma Sharini Ashram.

So in the west, when. So in the west, when they reach 18, the parents would tell them, go out and find out your husband. So Prabhupada had this Brahmacharini Ashram.

Brahmacharini Ashram. But he didn't allow girls to take Zanyas.

But he didn't allow the girls to take sannyas. Women with soft face, soft body, soft intelligence.

Actually, now pictures Ladies in the Marines.

Ladies in the what?

And the Marines.

Oh, and the Marines. Okay, now we got pictures of ladies in the Marines swimming. Various.

Occupations which are usually done by men.

And various occupations which are usually done by men. So even Narendra Modi he said, we have women in the army. So this might be written in almost in the 1800s. So it's Topsy turning. Couldn't hear me? Grastha Ashrama is suitable. In general, by discussion, it is seen that Gravastha Ashrama is the only Ashrama. Three more ashramas are situated taking shelter of the Grastha Ashrama. Humankind is generally Grahasta. By gaining special qualification, some have obtained Brahmacharya, Vanaprastha and Sannyasa Ashrama. Their number is very few. However, due to special qualification for activities of some of those ashrama in the differences between all the ashramas are not seen. Then true status of social knowledge is not fulfilled.

So in Human society most people are Grihastas.

So in the human society most people are Grihastas.

Some are observing Brahmacharya.

Some are observing Brahmacharya, Vanaprestha or Sannyas.

What? Maharjiya Thakur says their number is very few.

Mahshila Bhakti Vinod Thakur says the number is very few.

So it's not like in the west start off with Rama Jarus Rama.

So in the west we start off with the Brahmacharini Ashram.

Time.

So but after some time we see only some Brahmacharis and Brahmacharinis are left. But most of them will get married. Got married. So like this the Grahastas would easily maintain few Brahmacharis, Manapastha and Grahastas dharma. In the 20 Dharma Shastra, the Smriti Shastras such as Puranas, the rules of Gravistha Ashrama are all specifically stated. Manus Rishis Prajapatis have written down in their scriptures the daily, fourth, nightly, monthly, semi annual and annual rules of what and which time Agahasta should do what and Vat should be abundant. All those rules are many and are subject to change depending on the country. That's why nothing else is was written about this other than the brief true principle. Since the main Ashram is Grahast Ashram.

Detailed rules given in the different shastras.

The details of rules are given in the different shastras. So even for the Vaishnava Grahastas we have the book by Gopal Bhatta Goswami Satriya Sara Di Pika. So in that book different Samskaras are given like marriage, Garbadana, Samskara.

No, I don't see it in the scripture. People come up to me with the birthday cake. At least birthday cake.

Now I don't see any scriptures. People come up to me with the birthday cake and say please cut the birthday cake.

That's the modern Samsara.

That's a modern Samskara.

Cut my cake.

Cut my cake.

Can't eat it, but don't eat it.

I can't eat it.

Sugar control.

So I cut the cakes but I can't eat. I keep the sugar under control.

I think today is a birthday day.

So I think today is a birthday day for some devotees. Wish you a happy birthday. Does she have a cake for me to cut?

Huh?

Pretty much.

I think yeah.

Just now he cut a cake. I think so. He did cut a cake just now before coming for the class.

Oh that's why that Mataji cake.

Only a few mon is right one way of gate which only a few Matajis.

Make me a cake with my diet. Others they just want me to cut their cakes. Okay. Okay.

Good.

Maharaj, here we have the sugar.

So we have this sugar replacer with Prasana Goranga. Please bless all of them. Krishnir Matirastu Special blessings. Devotees from Russia. Devotees from Russia and Uzbekistan. So they are here for the. Most of them are here for the first time. So they want your blessings. Tomorrow they are leaving for Puri. So please bless them so they can have a wonderful experience. Here in Sridharmapur as well as in.

Shirampuri, there are many holy places which were visited by Lord Chaitanya.

There are many holy places which were visited by Lord Caitanya.

Temple. As of yet, western devotees are not allowed. Not Indian.

So the Jagannath Puri temple in Puri, the western devoted non Indians are not allowed. So we are trying to change that. Like temples, like Lord Chaitanya's residence. Go. Gambira.

Yeah.

Oh. Different ashrams of Sarobama Bhattacharya. Different ashrams like ashram of Sarobama Bhattacharya. Gaudiya mats. Iskcon temple. Be careful when you swim in the.

Ocean, sometimes there's undercurrents that take you out.

So there are. Sometimes there are undercurrents that take you.

Down and are out. You don't know swimming.

If you don't know swimming, you have to be very careful.

Also have very close to the ocean.

Bhakti attacker also had his ashram very close to the ocean.

And is that.

The bhakti Kuti was left under the government of West Bengal. We rented that and we rent it back. ISKCON ISKCON.

6,000 rupees.

Only 6,000 rupees or something.

Very cheap.

It's very cheap. We have DTs there. We have bhakti.

So we have a panda who brings us.

So we have panda who brings us the prasadam and other things from Lord Chagannath. And his name is Raghunath.

Everybody has kitchri, things like that.

So everybody gets kishri and things like that. If you say you want kuti boge.

That means the kings. The kings.

That means the king's prasad.

Lots of vegetables.

Lots of vegetables.

I eat sumptuous there.

So I go there. I eat sumptuously some of the prashad.

One or two temple or paths within the temple. All the other parts from the ancestors.

So except One or two temples. The other parts they have public. Public access.

Like the Inder Dimna ponds.

Some other pawns.

There's a lot to see in Jagannathpuri.

See you have got a lot to see in Jagannath Puri. Next to the Gundicha there is also a Narsinga temple. You can't go into the Gundicha or the main temple.

Prabhupada asked me to try to get the. While the Lord is enter the temple.

So Prabhupada told me to get the foreign devotees to enter the temple.

And so I went. They told me to speak to the Rakashami said nothing we can do. See the.

He spoke to whom?

Gurumaj First Ramakrishna mission.

So I spoke to the Ramakrishna mission and they told me that we can't do anything. Go and speak to the Shankaracharya.

He said you go to the temple.

You can go to the temple.

He said drink one kilo of boiling ghee.

And he said, drink one kilo of boiling ghee and then you can go in.

Yeah, I'll die.

I said I'll die.

Boiling ghee.

Boiling ghee.

Yeah, you take birth as a Hindu.

But he said yeah, you'll take birth as a Hindu then you can go in.

That's the kind of mentality.

So that's the kind of mentality they have.

So anyway we're trying to.

So anyway we are trying different methods.

I don't want to guilt. Why don't you eat anybody?

I don't want to give boiling ghee to anybody. We take a little ghee on the chapatis, few drops of ghee on the rice. But we are. We are not going to drink boiling ghee anyway. So that Chaitanya stayed 24 years here.

18 years there.

18 years there. And he traveled around India for six years. While you are here, see Lord Chaitanya's places. While you go to Jagannath Puri you can see Lord Chaitanya's pastime places. Some devotees who are dark skinned from Africa they got into the temple.

But some got hot and they got beaten up.

So some they got caught and they got beaten up.

We're trying to avoid avoiding things.

So we are trying to avoid these things.

Lord Chaitanya predicted that his message will be spread throughout the world. So it's only natural that devotees will come from all over the world.

So Lord Chaitanya predicted that it would spread all around the world. So it's natural for devotees to come from all around the world.

It was offensive to Lord Jinah.

From.

Around the world to see Lord Jagannath.

So Prabhupada said it's offensive not to let devotees from all around the world to see Lord Jagannath. Hare Krishna.

Dear fortunate devotees, welcome to Gurmaja's virtual book table and today from Kashadesh we have the students from Gauranga Institute for Vedic Awakening Giva 1 Bhagavad Gita and 10 small books. A perfect one is to 10 ratio exactly as Guru Maharaj needs it. Thank you for being a role Model and Gita Pal 3 Gitas and 9 small books Srira Prabha Transcendental Book Dish Bushan Ki Jai also these devotees get a special Nasima Pujan viewers from Naveen Sridhar Mayapuru all of you devotees also bless them calling out loudly after me.

Nitai Gauranga.

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