03/27/98 - 1716

Varnasrama College

USA (VNN) - by Janesvara dasa

I noted with interest a reply from Umapati dasa to a letter from Pracetana Devi Dasi on the Chakra web page which posed some very interesting questions and ironies to Umapati and the GBC if looked at from another perspective.

Pracetana Dasi's letter to Umapati was in regards to the guru tattva issues and the debates between the "ritvik" camp and the ISKCON/GBC "assigned guru or pedophile-guru lineage camp" or whatever the various factions call each other these days. I will leave those debates in more able hands and minds than my own. I still maintain that to treat those problems is to treat the symptoms and not the disease - the failure to implement varnasrama-dharma.

If Umapati's response to Pracetana Devi's letter is looked at from a different perspective we get the impression that he , and perhaps others with him, have very little, if any, conception of one of our movements most important fundamental needs - varnasrama-dharma.

Umapati says:
"Certainly, mistakes have been made, but it is not the fault of the system. To criticize the guru parampara for our troubles is a bigger mistake than anything the GBC may be doing. Can the critics of the system face up to that? Can they face up to the fact that they are mistaken in thinking that they can solve the problems in ISKCON by replacing the system that Lord Krsna has given us with a system of their own invention?"

In this last sentence direct the question to Umapati and certain members of the GBC and substitute the concept of daiva varnasrama-dharma as the subject.

I would therefore ask Umapati and his supporters: Can they (Umapati and certain members of the GBC) face up to the fact that they are mistaken in thinking that they can solve the problems in ISKCON by replacing the system that Lord Krsna has given us (varnasrama-dharma) with a system of their own invention?

Of course, Srila Prabhupada already knew their answer:

"Harikesa: How in the beginning... Let's say you have a king...
Prabhupada: Beginning Krsna.
Harikesa: No, no. Let's say you have a king, and he is deciding this person is worthy of...
Prabhupada: No, no. Beginning Krsna. Why don't you read Bhagavad- Gita? You don't know?
Harikesa: No, no. Yes.
Prabhupada: What is the social arrangement? What is that?
Harikesa: That Krsna created the four orders.
Prabhupada: Yes. So you make that four orders, and then society will be in order. But you are not taking Krsna's advice. You are manufacturing your hellish ideas." Johannesburg Oct. 16, 1975

Umapati continues: "We should all ask, "What am I myself doing to fulfill this order of Srila Prabhupada?"

This "order" of Srila Prabhupada was given 24 years and 15 days ago: "The varnasrama college has to be established immediately. Everywhere, wherever we have got our centers, a varnasrama college should be established to train all divisions." Vrindavana, India, March 12, 1974

How many centers are there worldwide? How many varnasrama colleges are there?

And further:
"Srila Prabhupada - So everywhere in each center this system should be introduced, and there must be practical application of varnasrama. At the same time this program of devotional service." (CWSP) Vol. 7 pg. 301 (1974):

And further:
"It is sometimes said that Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu did not approve of the acceptance the sannyasa order in this Kali-yuga... Nevertheless we see that Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu Himself accepted sannyasa and approved of the sannyasa of His elder brother, Visvarupa... But the acceptance of sannysa is one of the items of the varnasrama-dharma. How then can it be rejected? CC Adi 15.14

And further:
"Since I am in the renounced order, My duty is to make no distinctions but instead be equiposed. My knowledge must be equally disposed toward sandalwood pulp and dirty mud. For this reason I cannot reject you. If I hated you I would deviate from My occupational duty." Lord Sri Caitanya CC Antya 4.180

Umapati continues: "It is a lot easier to point the finger at the system that Lord Krsna has given us and at the example that Srila Prabhupada has set than to turn around and look at ourselves and ask, "Am I really doing all I can to make ISKCON better?"

Umapati should take his own advice when he thinks about the system that Lord Krsna gave us (varnasrama-dharma) and Srila Prabhupada's example (see above quotes again).

Krsne matir astu.
Your fallen servant,
Janesvara dasa