give protection specifically to the brahmanas and cows.

Then the protection of religious principles, fulfillment of the aim of life and protection of Vedic knowledge can be achieved. Without protection of cows, brahminical culture cannot be maintained; and without brahminical culture, the aim of life cannot be fulfilled. The Lord, therefore, is described as go-brahmana-hitaya because His incarnation is only for the protection of the cows and brahmanas. (Srimad-Bhagavatam 8.24.6) Srila Prabhupada was most eager to recreate the village atmosphere of Vrindavana everywhere and at times he spoke strongly in this regard: Now they are coming to crimes and hippies and so many things, problems, diplomacy, CIA and what other? So many unnecessary waste of energy, time, and money. Vicious condition. Better give up city. Make Vrindavana, like this. City life is abominable. If you don't live in the city, you don't require petrol, motor car. It is no use. (Room Conversation, New Orleans, August 1, 1975) The principles of sanatana dharma are based on four pillars: 1. tapah (discipline/ austerity), 2. daya (compassion/mercy), 3. saucam (cleanliness/purify) and 4. satya (truthfulness/honesty). The four sinful activities which destroy these four basic qualities of human life are: 1. illicit sex life, 2. meat eating, 3. intoxication and 4. gambling. By avoiding these four sinful activities, one

will be able to rise to the platform of goodness and easily progress in spiritual life. The system of divine varnasrama (daivi-varnasrama), centered on devotional service to Lord Krishna, is meant to help one rise to the platform of goodness and beyond. In our present Age of Kali, the easiest process recommended by Lord Caitanya is the Hari Nam Sankirtan Movement. Simply by chanting the Hare Krishna Maha-Mantra, Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare, Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare, in association with the devotees of the Lord, all auspiciousness will follow. Daivi varnasrama can thus best be introduced when one takes up the process of training and education under the direction of a bona-fide preceptor or spiritual master who understands how to gradually introduce the ideal social system of varna and asrama.

VARNASRAMA SOCIETY THE IDEAL SOCIAL ORDER

Sanatana-dharma is translated as the eternal activity of the spirit soul, or the eternal religion of all living entities. That eternal occupation is to render devotional service unto the Supreme Lord. Sanatana-dharma is also known as Bhagavata-dharma, daivadharma, and, at times, as varnasramadharma. In as much as the eternal position of the living entity in the spiritual world is to render service to the Lord, the most natural position of the living entity in the material world is to follow the system of varnasrama-dharma. The varnasrama society is thus the ideal social order for all individuals and for all times, which leads to the highest perfection of life, that of pleasing the Supreme Lord. ata pumbhir dvija-reh varrama-vibhgaa svanuhitasya dharmasya sasiddhir hari-toaam TRANSLATION
O best among the twice-born, it is therefore concluded that the highest perfection one can

Bhakti Raghava Swami Sponsored by

July, 2007

Global Varnasrama Educational, Social Cultural Organization (GLOVESCO) For more information, please visit the websites: www.glovesco.org and www.varnasrama.org

achieve by discharging the duties prescribed for one's own occupation according to caste divisions and orders of life is to please the Personality of Godhead. Srimad-Bhagavatam 1.2.13

Just like the physical body is divided into four main parts such as the head, the arms, the belly and the legs, similarly the social body of any community is also arranged into four main social divisions (varnas), namely: 1. the intellectual class (brahmanas or head), 2. the administrative class (ksatriyas or arms), 3. the productive class (vaisyas or belly) and 4. the laborer class (sudra or legs). When all the parts of the body work in harmony for the satisfaction of the whole physical body, all of them remain healthy and happy. Similarly, when all the parts of the social body work in harmony for the satisfaction of God, everyone in society, including the animals, remain healthy and satisfied. The system of varnasrama becomes ideal and complete when one adds the four spiritual divisions (asramas) of 1. student life (brahmacari), 2. married life (grhastha), 3. retired life (vanaprastha) and 4. renounced life (sannyasa).

The varnasrama society is the most ideal and natural social system because it has been created by God Himself. In the Bhagavad-gita, Lord Krishna instructs Arjuna: catur varnyam maya srstam guna karma vibhagasah (Bhagavad-gita, 4.42). This system is based not on ones birth but on ones natural qualities (guna) and ones natural occupational abilities (karma). By training and education, as well as by the purifying process of devotional service (bhakti yoga), one can become elevated to the highest perfectional stage of life. The motto in a varnasrama society is Simple Living and High Thinking. One learns to live simply, meeting the basic necessities of human life (simple living), for the primary purpose of advancing in spiritual life (high thinking). Srila Prabhupada has given the following guidelines to facilitate such a style of living: PRODUCE ONLY WHAT YOU NEED USE ONLY WHAT YOU CAN PRODUCE. The basic ingredients for such a natural life style are three: 1. cow protection, 2. brahminical culture and 3. God consciousness. As stated by Srila

Prabhupada, every state and every home

must endeavor to advance the cause of brahminical culture for self-purification, God consciousness for self-realization and cow protection for getting sufficient milk and the best food to continue a perfect civilization. Cow protection means feeding the brahminical culture, which leads towards God consciousness, and thus perfection of human civilization is achieved. (Srimad-

Bhagavatam 1.19.4). The ideal setting for introducing this natural life-style is in the rural areas, the villages. The Vedas consider the family unit as the sacred and necessary institution for the up-keep of a balanced and healthy society. Similarly, the system of four varnas and four asramas, based on local organization, local economics and local governance, should likewise be seen as the sacred and necessary institution for the up-keep of a peaceful and prosperous nation.
The activities of Lord Krishna Himself teach us these basic principles of Simple Living and High Thinking. Indeed when Lord Krishna appeared, He purposefully became a cowherd boy and showed personally how to give protection to the cows and calves. Similarly, He showed respect to Sudama Vipra, a real brahmana. From the Lord's personal activities, human society should learn how to