Varnashrama Musings - The Eight Petals - ebooks - ISKCON desire ...
Varnashrama Musings - The Eight Petals - ebooks - ISKCON desire ...
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Volume:01<br />
Aug-Sept09<br />
Highlights<br />
VRTNewsletertoAtainLord’sLotusFet<br />
widelyfromorganicfarming,rooftopgardeningthroughcowprotection,vilageadministrationtoproducingwelresearchedstudieson<br />
Introduction<br />
Varnasrama<strong>Musings</strong><br />
Fromthe<br />
dfdfcvcv<br />
ghfghfg<br />
VilageTechnology<br />
VarnasramaCommunityReport<br />
Whatishappening?<br />
VBT&VMP<br />
VarnasramaResearchTeam:AnIntroduction<br />
VarnasramaResearchteamisalocalizedbodyofdevotesandactivistswhoareengagedinthetaskofspreadingsocialawarenesand<br />
areinstrumentalinestablishingsocietiesfoundedonVedicprinciplesofVarnasramaintheareaundertheguidanceofHH Bhakti<br />
RaghavaSwamiMaharaj.Thiscomprisesconductingdepresearchinaltheareasthatwouldbeofinterestinlife.Thus,focusranges<br />
Vedicwayoflife.Thissuggestsof:<br />
Conductingresearchandmaintaininggoodknowledgedatabase.<br />
Producingliterature(oflineandonline)promotingvedicwayoflivingaspropoundedbySrilaPrabhupada<br />
Oflineliterature:Publicationofbooks,pamphlets,brochures,newsleters,flyers,documentarymovies,etc.<br />
Onlineliterature:Diferentwebsites,slideshows,shortmoviesetc.<br />
Conductingseminars,talkshows,roadshows,simplesankirtansthroughwhichthemesageofVarnasramaanditstenetsof<br />
simplelife,morenaturallife,andspiritualy-centriclifearefocused<br />
ProcuringlandandpresentamodelofVarnasramavilage(simplelifedependentonlandandcowswithGuru&Krishnaatthecenter<br />
totheoutsideworld<br />
Spreadawarenesofartificialityofcitylifethatweareleadinginthecityandpresentingtothemasolutiontoaltheproblemsand<br />
suferings–MakeVrindavanVilages.<br />
EncouragethemtotakeupsimplevilagelifebasedonVarnasramaprinciples<br />
SupportthelocalunitsinimplementingandadaptingtoVarnasramalifestyle<br />
SupportingnewVRTformationsthroughcooperationintermsofresearchfindings,functioning,formation,localizingacordingto<br />
theircontextetc.<br />
VarnasramarootedfirmlyintherichnesofVedicliteratureandthoughtsofacharyasisthenextspritual,economic,political,and<br />
socialrevolutionsettotaketheworldbystorm.Anybodycanbeapartofthatrevolutionarystorybyeitherbecomingamemberofthe<br />
VRTorsupportingitscausethroughdiferentposiblemeans.<br />
MakeVrindavanVilages
SrilaPrabhupada:<strong>The</strong>PropheticVoice<br />
“<strong>The</strong>ywilverysoonbejobless!”<br />
Prabhupada:Sraddha-sabdevisvasasudrdhaniscaya.Thisisbasicplatform,that<br />
“WhatKrsnasays,thatistruth."Krsnabhaktikailesarvakarmakrtahaya:"IfIfolow Krsna,<br />
thenmybusinessiscomplete."Thisisinteligence.Now .Wehavecometotheopenfield.How<br />
itisnice.Andsolongwewerepassingthroughthatcongestedareas-helish,simplyhelish.<br />
Andnow hereisopenspace.How itisnice.<br />
Hari-sauri:Toenterintoacityissoimposingonyourconsciousness.<br />
Prabhupada:Uptothatpoint,simplyrubbish,alpapersthrownhereandthere.Peopleare<br />
livingin .Now seehere,how itisopenandpleasing.Organizethisfarm project.Farm.<br />
(backgroundtalking)<br />
Hari-sauri:He'sjustsayingthatintheWestonerequiresagreatdealofcapital.Tostartafarm,<br />
togettheland,youneedalotofmoneybecauselandisveryexpensive.Andalsowehavetouse<br />
modernfarmingtechniquesbecausewehavesofew mentorunthefarms.<br />
Prabhupada:No,youshow example.Peoplewildoautomaticaly.Whenthepeoplefinditisvery<br />
nice,theywiltake.Prabhupada:Whyhouseholders?Everyone.HareKrsna.(japa)<br />
Ramesvara:InAmericathereisaverybigemphasisongetingpeopletojoinusbymovinginto<br />
ourtemples.<strong>The</strong>templepresidentsareveryeagertogetasmanypeopletomoveinaspossible,<br />
butinthelongrunmostpeoplecannotcomeuptothestandard.<br />
Prabhupada:<strong>The</strong>reforeIam [advocating].Farms.<br />
Ramesvara:SotheyhavetobeencouragedtohavealitlebitofKrsnaconsciousnessintheir<br />
ownhome,maketheirhomeatemple.<br />
Prabhupada:No,letthem gotothefarm,New Vrindaban.<br />
Ramesvara:Manypeople.Mostpeopleintheworld,theyaregrhamedhis,andtheycannotgive<br />
itupsoeasily.<br />
Prabhupada:"No,youremain .Comeherewithyourwife,children.Youremaingrhamedhi."<br />
Jagadisa:New Vrindabanisveryaustere.Ifwebuildlitlebungalowswithmodernconvenience.<br />
Prabhupada:Oh,yes.<br />
MakeVrindavanVilages
MakingoftheNewsleter<br />
-Vrndavanliladd<br />
MakeVrindavanVilages<br />
FromtheEditor<br />
Kunti,borninopulenceasprinces,mariedofinIndia’smostfamousroyalfamilyofPanduasquen,andmotheroffiveilustrioussons-Pandavas-renownedintheworldfortheirinteligence,<br />
beauty,andstrength;andlastbutnottheleastasthe‘bua’(paternalaunt)oftheSupremeLordoftheUniverseinhiscelestialpastime;whatdoweexpect?Materialy,thereisnothingwanting,yetshe<br />
isthrongedbytheworstkindofsuferings.Sheledaveryunenviablelifeofunpunctuatedsuferingsoflosofherveryfirstchild,earlywidowhood,constantovershadowofdeathonhersonsby<br />
noneotherthantheir<br />
noneotherthantheirowncousins,worstkindofhumiliationtoherdaughter-in-law,warbetwenthefamilyitselfwhichclaimedthelifeofcountlespeople,includinghergrandsons.Despite<br />
incesantlyhauntedbyinclemenciesandhavingtheLordinfrontofher,shedoesnotquestionherdestiny.ShejustremembersthediferentwaysinwhichtheLordhadshoweredHismercyuponher.<br />
SherecalshermomentsoftribulationswhenHehadsavedher:<br />
visanmahagnehpurusada-darsanad<br />
asat-sabhayavana-vasa-krchratah<br />
mrdhemrdhe'neka-maharathastrato<br />
drauny-astratascasmahare'bhiraksitah<br />
[MydearKrsna,YourLordshiphasprotectedusfromapoisonedcake,fromagreatfire,fromcannibals,fromtheviciousasembly,fromsuferingsduringourexileintheforest,andfromthebatle<br />
wheregreatgeneralsfought.AndnowYouhavesavedusfromtheweaponofAsvathama.]<br />
SheisinfulrealizationofHistruthandlikeatruedevote,humblysupplicatesherselftoHislotusfet.Insteadofaskingforotherbenedictionsorcomplaining;she,onthecontrary,praysformore<br />
calamitiesconsideringthemassteppingstonestodevotion.<br />
vipadahsantutahsasvat<br />
tatratatrajagad-guro<br />
bhavatodarsanamyatsyad<br />
apunarbh<br />
apunarbhava-darsanam<br />
[IwishthatalthosecalamitieswouldhappenagainandagainsothatwecouldseYouagainandagain,forseingYoumeansthatwewilnolongerserepeatedbirthsanddeaths.]<br />
ItisherunflinchingfaithandloveforHimthatmakesherstandout.SheissoabsorbedinHimthatdespitelivingthroughsuchpains,sheasksformoreasthatwouldkephercompletelydevotedto<br />
Him.Whataprayer!<br />
Ithadbenmo<br />
Ithadbenmorethan7monthssinceIhadlostmyjob-noincometricklinginfromanyotherstream,regularmonthlycommitments,andayoungdaughteralongwithadditionalliabilities.Further,I<br />
haddeclinedtwoverylucrativeofersfromBangalore,fearingthatmaydeprivemeofsmalopportunitiesofservingGuruMaharajandSrilaPrabhupadathatIwasabundantlygetinghere.Afew<br />
devotescriticized,whileafewcondonedmydecision,butinterestinglyboththearticulationswereoutofpureconcern.Whereelsecanwefindthisselflesloveandconcern?<strong>The</strong>backdropof<br />
economic<br />
economicrecesionandloveextendedbydevotesmademefurtherrealizethetruthofVarnasramaandjoyoflivinginacommunitywithKrishnaatthecenter.Itistheonlystructurethatisresistant<br />
tothesekindofvolatility,nothingelse,nothingelse,andnothingelse.<br />
Inthemidst,IrealizedthatifsomehowIamabletostartaNewsleterforVRTandthusabletostringtheVarnasramaefortsmadeacrosthecountryandevenoutside,Iwilbeabletodosome<br />
servicetomyGuruMaharaj,tomanymoreseniorvaishnavasworkinginthearea.<strong>The</strong>‘Making’ofthisNewsleterwasnolesatestforameremortallikeme,especialyagainsttheimpoverished<br />
backdrop,butinterestinglyitwasalsoverywonderful-thebeautyofKrishnaConsciousnesmovement.ApersontotalydevoidofanyqualificationorloveforGodheadwasworkingonthe<br />
Newsletert<br />
Newsletertryingtogiveshapetoanamorphousidea!Finaly,Icameupwithsomethoughtsondiferentcolumnswecouldhave,onwhatwouldpopulatediferentsections,onitspresentationetc.<br />
WithabeatingheartIsenttheproposaltomyGuruMaharajforconsideration.HereadilygaveHisapprovalwithafewsuggestions,lavishasalwaysininvolvingeverybodyinthemovementandthus<br />
letingnobodybedeprivedofSrilaPrabhupada’sblesings.InmyownsmalmannerIwilbeinstrumentalinfulfilingthedreamofourgrandspiritualmaster,SrilaPrabhupada,whosomuchwanted<br />
toestablishVarnasrama,butmercifulyleftitforustoacomplishandthuspleaseKrishna.<br />
catur-varnyammayasrstam<br />
guna-karma-vibhagasah<br />
tasyakartaramapimam<br />
viddhyakartaramavyayam [BG,4:13]<br />
[Acordingtothethremodesofmaterialnatureandtheworkasociatedwiththem,thefourdivisionsofhumansocietyarecreatedbyMe.AndalthoughIamthecreatorofthissystem,youshould<br />
knowthatIamyetthenondoer,beingunchangeable.]<br />
SriChaita<br />
SriChaitanyaMahaprabhuopenedthefloodgatesofdivinelovetoeverybody,SrilaPrabhupadamercifulyextendediteventomlechasleavingthemostimportanttaskofacomplishingthe<br />
VarnasramacentricsocialorderforHisdisciples.Andthosedisciples,continuingthetraditionofcauselesmercymadethemovementmoreandmoreparticipative,creatingaworldwhereeverybody<br />
fromavaishnavatoshudrahadaroletoplayinservingtheLord.<strong>The</strong>rewasnolongeranynedofimposingartificialmodesonanybody.Justbeyour‘original’selfandguarantedspiritualevolution<br />
was<br />
waswaitingforus.Whatmorearewewaitingfor?Justplungeandtastethenectaroflivinginanaturalambience,awayfromthepolutionofmaterialcitylife.<strong>The</strong>duskisdefinedbythemooingof<br />
cows,milkingsound,aromaticbreze,refreshingbathinthestreamorriver,chimingofthebels,fragranceofincensesticks,soundofmelodiouskirtanthatmakesthesunslowlyappearonthe<br />
horizon,theduskisnolongeradryfour-leteredword,butgodhulivelaorthetimewhenthecowsreturnaftergrazingdaylongandthereisacloudofdustastheymarchforward.Beautifullife<br />
awaitsus,butwehavetobreakourselvesfrefromtheconditioningthatjoyisdefinedbymaterialcomforts.HappinesisdefinedonlybyKrishna,becauseHeisthereservoirofhappinesandblis-<br />
“sac-cid-anandavigrahah.”<br />
Itakenocreditforingenuouslycomingupwiththisideaofstartingthenewsleter.HH BhaktiRaghavaSwamiMaharajhadsuggestedofthisonseveralocasions,butwewerenotreadytotakeitup.<br />
Manyefortshadbenmadeinthepastbyseniordevotes,butgotabortedbecauseofonereasonortheother.Notthatthesituationisanybeternow;despiteseingitshistoryandfailedefortsof<br />
stalwartsImadeupmymindtolaunchit-foolsrushinwhereangelsfeartotread!<strong>The</strong>onlyinspirationthatIhadwas-Ihavenothingtolose,onlytogain.Ifitsuceds,itwilhelpsomanymore<br />
people.SrilaPrabhupadaandHis<br />
people.SrilaPrabhupadaandHisrepresentativesaresomercifulthattheywilacept.IwasremindedofthesquirelwhoroledherselfinthedustandthenshookitoftohelpSriRamabuildthe<br />
bridgetoLanka!HercontributionwasnegligiblebutHeaceptedit.<strong>The</strong>presentefortismyhumbleoferingatthelotusfetofHH BhaktiRaghavaSwamimaharaj,althevaishnavas,althe<br />
devotesworkingsilentlyinfulfilingthemision,andofcourseSrilaPrabhupada.NowwhenIsethenewsleterinitsrealform,Iamnotabletobelievemyself,IknowIhavenotdoneit;Hehas<br />
mademedoit:<br />
mukamkarotivachalam<br />
pangumlanghayategirim<br />
yat-kripatamahamvande<br />
shri-gurumdina-taranam<br />
Pleaseforgivethemistakesthathavegoneunnoticed.“IftherebegoodinthatIwrought,/Thyhandcompeledit,Masterthine./WhereIhavefailedtometthythought/Iknow,throughthe,the<br />
blameismine.”Isolicitsuggestionsforimprovementandforenrichmentfromeverybody.<br />
YoursintheserviceofSrilaPrabhupada,<br />
Vrndavanliladevidasi<br />
(DrVrindaBaxi)
VarnasramaResearchTeamtookbirthon<br />
August18,2007withaveryhumblebeginningoffourmembersinSecunderabadat<br />
thebehestofHisHolinesBhaktiRaghavaSwamiwhomweenthusiasticyoungsters<br />
gotintouchwithregardtoCowprotectionandVarnasrama.Fromthenthejourney<br />
wasfiledwithnewfoundedenthusiasmofarevolutionanditcontinuestodosofor<br />
thenewVarnasramaResearchTeams.Nowthereareatleast5VarnasramaResearch<br />
TeamsthatmetregularlyinvariouspartsofIndiaaswelasoutsidewitharound<br />
100membersalto<br />
100membersaltogether.VarnasramaResearchTeam,asverynamesuggests,isateam<br />
ofinspiredmemberswhowishtozealouslygetinvolvedinthemuchneded<br />
Varnasramamovementthroughwaysofresearch,support,andimplementation.This<br />
isveryimportantifwehavetosucedinimplementingVarnasramamisionalover<br />
theworld,thusfulfilSrilaPrabhupada'slastinstructions.<br />
VarnasramaResearchTeamisesentialyayouth<br />
movementwhichshouldovertaketheyoungmembersofBYS(BhaktivedantaYouth<br />
Services)orIYF(<strong>ISKCON</strong> YouthForum)togetinspiredforSimplelivingandHigh<br />
thinkingphilosophytofinalybecomeapartofthefarmcommunity.<br />
<strong>The</strong>basicingredienttostartyourownteamis<br />
faithinthephilosophyofVarnasrama,enthusiasmandcoordinationwithwhatis<br />
happeningintherestoftheteamsthatarealreadyrunning.Thisnewsletertriesto<br />
fulfilthelastthisnedandlitlemore.Iseaverybrightfutureforthisnewsleter<br />
whichwilcatertotheyoungenthusiasts,bringreportsfromdevotesworkingfor<br />
change,involveprofesionalsfromvariousfieldsandpublishresearchesbeingdonein<br />
theareaindiferentpartsoftheworld.<br />
Iwishalthebesttotheeditorialteam,<br />
Iwishalthebesttotheeditorialteam,<br />
primarilythemembersoftheVarnasramaResearchTeam,Secunderabadchapterin<br />
thismostimportantefortwhichSrilaPrabhupadastresedsomuch.<br />
".<strong>The</strong>reforeIamaskingsomuchhereand.,<br />
'Farm,farm,farm,farm.'.Thatisnotmyprogram-Krishna'sprogram:Annad<br />
bhavantibhutani.Producegreneseverywhere,everywhere.Vrndavana.”<br />
-SrilaPrabhuapada,Co<br />
-SrilaPrabhuapada,Conversation,Vrndavana,<br />
May27,1977<br />
From NationalCo-ordinator<br />
From StateCo-ordinator<br />
SrilaPrabhupadasaidthatcitieswil<br />
onedaycrumbledown.Anditdidnottakelongforhissentencetoprove<br />
prophetic.Wecansewithourowneyesthateverythingfromthelownes<br />
ofbasicrequirementstokepbodyandsoultogethertometingthe<br />
spiritualrequirementsofthesoulhavebecomedificult.<br />
Foodthatsustainsourlifebreathhas<br />
slowlybecomesodearthatithasslippedfromthehandsofacommon<br />
man.Inflationispeaking,somuchsothatinasmalcountrylikeZimbabwe<br />
therateofinflationis2000%!Freshairispoluted.Waterisascarcityand<br />
issold.Clearwaterfromflowingstreamorriverisonlyapipedream.<br />
Somehowifonemanagestogetwaterinthecityistherecycledwaterfrom<br />
waste.City’spopulationisburstingatitsseams,leavingnodecentplacefor<br />
acommon<br />
acommonfamilytolive.Onedoesnotliveonland,buthangsintheair,in<br />
thesocaledstoreyedapartments.Moderneducationdespitecustom<br />
designedtogivejobshasfailedinthatitself.Aperson’soldageisnolonger<br />
visionreadingscripturesandtelingstoriestograndchildren,butcursingthe<br />
familyinanoldagehome.Unaware,acitydwelerbeginshisdaywiththe<br />
usageofproductsthatuseanimalproducts,includingcowby-products.<br />
Amidtheairofmaterialpursuit,althefinerspiritualconcernshaveben<br />
buriedinthebackyardandforgoten.Butthematerialacquisitionforwhich<br />
werealysacrificedeverything,wherehasitbroughtus?Nowonder,itdid<br />
nottakemanyyearsforthetruthtocomeout.Americaneconomy<br />
colapsed,makingmanymanymoretofolow-thebaneofsocaledglobal<br />
economy.Manybigcompanieshavefalenapart.Thousandsofpeoplehave<br />
benlaidjobles.Lakhsofworkingclaspeoplehavebendisilusioned<br />
withthecities.Thisisthepricethatwehavepaidfrommovingself<br />
susuficientunitsofvilagetoamoderncity.Wheredowegofromhere?<br />
Farmershavemovedtothecitiesor<br />
worsevilageshavemodernizedthemselvestoturntocities,butdothey<br />
knowwheretheyareheadedto?Fromself-suficiencytodependencyand<br />
starvation!SrilaPrabhupadaandotheracharayastheycouldforesethese<br />
problemsandhaveoferedaveryeasysolutiontothisdangerousdebacle:<br />
Wheneveryoneisworkinginthecity<br />
toproducenutsandbolts,whowilproducefoodgrains?Simplelivingand<br />
highthinkingisthesolutiontoeconomicproblems.<strong>The</strong>reforetheKrishna<br />
consciousnesmovementinengagingdevotesinproducingtheirownfood<br />
andlivingselfsuficientlysothatrascalsmaysehowonecanlivevery<br />
peacefuly,eatthefoodgrainsonehasgrownoneself,drinkmilk,andchant<br />
HareKrishna.<br />
Vaishnavasordevotesareexpectedto<br />
beinteligent-JeijanKrishnaBhajesebadachatur–simplybecausetheyare<br />
inspiredbyKrishna.Wehaveaproblem,wehaveasimplesolution,andwe<br />
alsohavebengiftedwiththeinteligencetoknowthesolution.Whatmore<br />
arewewaitingfor?Whatisitwhichisstoppingusfromtakingto<br />
Varnasrama?Whydelay?Whystayinabuildingwhosebrickshavealready<br />
startedfalingapartandnocenterholds?Letusmoveoutofthedecaying<br />
ststructure,saveourselvesandalsotrytosaveothersbypresentingarole<br />
modeltothem.<br />
Itisinfrontofoureyes…<br />
Whydelay?<br />
HarikirtanDas<br />
Annadbhavantibhutani.<br />
MakeVrindavanVilages<br />
BharatChandraDas
Varnasrama<strong>Musings</strong><br />
JanmastamiandtheVarnasramaMision<br />
LaunchingtheGlobalVarnasramaMissionNewsleteronthedayofJanmastamiisbothvery<br />
auspiciousandmostsignificant.SrilaPrabhupadahasoftenunderlinedtherelevanceof<br />
varnasramaexplaininghow itiscreateddirectlybyLordKrishnaHimself(Gita4.13).IntheSrimad<br />
Bhagavatam,Canto8.24.5wefindthefolowingspecificanddirectreferenceinrelationtothe<br />
appearanceoftheLordandtheestablishmentofvarnasrama:<br />
çré-çukauväca<br />
go-vipra-sura-sädhünäàchandasäm apiceçvaraù<br />
rakñäm icchaàstanürdhattedharmasyärthasyacaivahi<br />
-HH BhaktiRaghavaSwami<br />
Translation:<br />
ÇréÇukadevaGosvämésaid:OKing,forthesakeofprotectingthecows,brähmaëas,demigods,devotes,theVedicliterature,religious<br />
principles,andprinciplestofulfilthepurposeoflife,theSupremePersonalityofGodheadaceptstheformsofincarnations.<br />
Purport:<br />
“<strong>The</strong>SupremePersonalityofGodheadgeneralyappearsinvarioustypesofincarnationstogiveprotectiontothecowsandbrähmaëas.<strong>The</strong><br />
Lordisdescribedasgo-brähmaëa-hitäyaca;inotherwords,Heisalwayseagertobenefitthecowsandbrähmaëas.WhenLordKåñëaappeared,<br />
Hepurposefulybecameacowherdboyandshowedpersonalyhowtogiveprotectiontothecowsandcalves.Similarly,Heshowedrespectto<br />
SudämäVipra,arealbrähmaëa.FromtheLord'spersonalactivities,humansocietyshouldlearnhowtogiveprotectionspecificalytothe<br />
brähmaëasandcows.<strong>The</strong>ntheprotectionofreligiousprinciples,fulfilmentoftheaimoflifeandprotectionofVedicknowledgecanbe<br />
acachieved.Withoutprotectionofcows,brahminicalculturecannotbemaintained;andwithoutbrahminicalculture,theaimoflifecannotbe<br />
fulfiled.<strong>The</strong>Lord,therefore,isdescribedasgo-brähmaëa-hitäyabecauseHisincarnationisonlyfortheprotectionofthecowsandbrähmaëas.<br />
Unfortunately,becauseinKali-yugathereisnoprotectionofthecowsandbrahminicalculture,everythingisinaprecariousposition.Ifhuman<br />
societywantstobeexalted,theleadersofsocietymustfolowtheinstructionsofBhagavad-gétäandgiveprotectiontothecows,thebrähmaëas<br />
andbrahminicalculture.”<br />
ItisforthisreasonthatonmanyoccasionsSrilaPrabhupadaurgedhisfolowersto“MakeVrndavana”soastohelpfulfil<br />
themissionoftheLord.<strong>The</strong>Lord’smissionistwofold.<strong>The</strong>Lord’sprimarymissionistoreviveouroriginaldormantKrishna<br />
consciousnessthroughtheprocessofdevotionalservicethusmakinguseligibletoreturntothespiritualworldtoserveHim<br />
inouroriginalspiritualform.<strong>The</strong>secondarymissionoftheLordistodemonstratetothelivingentitiesinthismaterial<br />
worldthesimpleandsublimeprocessofcow protectionandagricultureasbeingthesimplest,mostpracticalandmost<br />
sublimeoccupationwhichenablessocietytoprogresstowardstheprimarymissionofdevelopingourKrishnaconsciousness.<br />
ThisisalsosupportedandnicelyexplainedbyoneofourforemostAcaryasSrilaBhaktivinodaThakura.“Thoughal<br />
humanshavearighttopracticebhakti,thosewhofolow theregulationsofvarnasramahaveamucheasiertime.”<br />
<strong>The</strong>purposeoftheGlobalVarnasramaMissionNewsleteristoprovidebothinformationandinspirationtodevoteesand<br />
thegeneralpublicalikeregardingtheurgentneedtore-introducethesocialnorm ofvarnasramaestablishedbythe<br />
SupremePersonalityofGodheadHimselfinHisincarnationasbothKrishnaandBalarama5000yearsago.Modernsociety<br />
hasseverelydeviatedfrom thisnorm especialysincethelast200yearsthuscreatingunparaleledhavocinthelivesof<br />
individualsandsocietyingeneralseverelydisruptingthebalanceatallevelsbeitsocial,economic,political,educational,<br />
healthaswelasecological.Mostpeople,includingmanyofourdevotees,areforcedtobeengagedinugrakarmaworkand<br />
toliveinasocietymadeupofvarnasankarawheresimplehumandealingsamongindividualsarealmostimpossible.<strong>The</strong><br />
Krishnaconsciousmovementismeanttohelprestoretheproperorderinsocietythroughtheestablishmentofvarnasrama.<br />
OnthismostauspiciousdayoftheLord’sappearance,wehumblypraytoLordKrishnaforHiscauselessmercyin<br />
understandingmoreclearlythissecondarymission.SrilaPrabhupadahadidentifiedtheestablishmentofvarnasramaas<br />
thenextphaseoftheKrishnaconsciousnessmovement.UnlesswetakethisorderofSrilaPrabhupadatoheart,wewilnot<br />
succeedinpleasinghim andweshouldknow thatouradvancementindevotionalservicewilbechecked.AsSrila<br />
Prabhupadaclearlyexplainshimself,theLordisneverpleasedwhenthetheprinciplesofdharmaarenotupheld,especialy<br />
inthematerofprovidingpropercareandprotectiontothoselivingentitieswhorequirespecialprotection,brahmanas,<br />
children,women,elders,thediseasedandinparticularthecows.<br />
MakeVrindavanVilages
EatingLesMeatCouldWipe20TrilionDolarsoftheCostof<br />
FightingClimateChange<br />
Varnasrama<strong>Musings</strong><br />
London,Feb11(ANI):Iftheworldsmeateaterswouldcutontheirnon-vegetariandiet,itcouldcut20triliondolarsofthecostof<br />
fightingclimatechange,revealsanewresearch.<br />
AcordingtoareportinNewScientist,theresearchersinvolvedsaidthatifpeoplereducetheirintakeofbef,pork,andothermeat<br />
products,itwouldleadtothecreationofahugenewcarbonsink,asvegetationwouldthriveonunusedfarmland.<br />
<strong>The</strong>modeltakesintoacountfarmlandthatisusedtogrowextrafoodtomakeupforthelostmeat,butthatrequireslesarea,sosomewil<br />
beabandoned.<br />
Milionsoftonnesofmethane,apotentgrenhousegas,wouldalsobesavedeveryyearduetoreducedemisionsfromfarms.<br />
<strong>The</strong>seimpactswouldlesenthenedforexpensivecarbon-savingtechnologies,suchascleancoalpowerplants,andsosavehugesums,<br />
acordingtoElkeStehfestoftheNetherlandsEnvironmentalAsesmentAgencyandcoleagues.<br />
Climate-changeexpertshavewarnedofthehighcarboncostofmeatforseveralyears.<br />
Befisparticularlydamaging.Methane,apotentgrenhousegas,isreleasedfromflatulentcowsandbymanureasitdecays.<br />
Furthermore,toproduceakilogramofbef(2.2pounds),farmersalsohavetofedacow15kgofgrainand30kgofforage.Grain<br />
requiresfertilizer,whichisenergyintensivetoproduce.<br />
Stehfesthasnowweighedtheeconomicimpactofbefandothermeatsagainstthecostofstabilizingcarbondioxidelevelsat450partsper<br />
milionalevelthatsomescientistssayisnededtohelppreventdangerousdroughtsandsealevelrises.<br />
Ifeatinghabitsdonotchange,Stehfestestimatesthatemisionswouldhavetobecutbytwo-thirdsby2050,whichislikelytocostaround<br />
40triliondolars.<br />
If,however,theglobalpopulationshiftedtoalow-meatdietdefinedas70gramsofbefand325gramsofchickenandeggsperwek<br />
around15milionsquarekilometersoffarmlandwouldbefredup.<br />
Vegetationgrowingonthislandwouldmopupcarbondioxide.Itcouldalternativelybeusedtogrowbioenergycrops,whichwoulddisplace<br />
fosilfuels.<br />
AcordingtoStehfest,grenhousegasemisionswouldalsofalby10percentduetothedropinlivestocknumbers.<br />
Together,theseimpactswouldhalvethecostsofdealingwithclimatechangeby2050.(ANI)<br />
[Reproducedfromwww.thaindian.com]<br />
MakeVrindavanVilages
Varnasrama<strong>Musings</strong><br />
From OneWondertoAnother:ATraveltoAngkorWat<br />
-RamaLaxmanDas<br />
WithexcitementtohavedarshanofGuruMaharajinaforeignsoil(Cambodia)whereeverybodyelse’sfacewouldbeastranger,Iboardedmytrain<br />
fromSecunderabadRailwayStationtoSrirangam.Ittookawhile,thenextdayafternoonIreachedtheislandofSrirangam,theforemostoftheeight<br />
self-manifestedshrines(swayamvyaktakshetra)ofLordVishnu.MyflighttoCambodiawasscheduledfornextdaymorning,tilthenIsetledin<br />
Srirangam<strong>ISKCON</strong> temple.<strong>The</strong>beautifultownshipissuroundedbyriverCauveryanditstributary,Kolidam.WhileSriRanganathtempleofthe<br />
placehappenstobetheargestfunctioningHindutempleintheworld,AngkorWat(inCambodiawhereIwasheaded)holdsthelargest<br />
non-functioningtempleoftheworld.ThiscoincidencemultipliedmyinterestintakingdarshanofHisLordshipSriRanganathjiandsekHis<br />
blesingsandofSriRamanujaacharyaforthenewjourney.HereRanganathjiisinaslepingposturerecliningoncoiledupAnantasesha,whohas<br />
fivewide-openhoods.Unlikeotherplaces,herethedeitiesfacesouth.NearHislotusfetareseatedHistwoconsorts,SriBhuandSriN ela.In<br />
frontoftheLordRanganathistheutsavamurtiofLordVishnu,caledSriManavalaPerumal.<br />
Itookwonderfulprasadamandrestedtogetupearlythenextdayforcatchingthemorningflight.Ireachedairportontime,butimmigrationoficer<br />
haddoubtswhereIwastravelingandwhatIwouldbedoinginthenextfewdays.Heaskedmeaboutmyqualificationandmypurposeofvisit.I<br />
gavehimabriefintroductionaboutmyvisit.Hecouldunderstandandgavemepermisiontoboardtheflight.IreachedKualalampurbynoon.<strong>The</strong><br />
connectingflightwasonthenextday.Ihadtospendthewholenightattheairport.<strong>The</strong>distanceofeverymomentwaspackingmoreandmore<br />
anxiety.MorningIgotupearlyandwaitedtoboardmyflight.MyjoymultipliedasIcouldhavedarshanofgurumaharajandboardedtheflight<br />
withHisdivineself.Inacoupleofhourswereachedourdestination,the‘KingdomofCambodia’.Aftercompletingtheimmigrationformalities,we<br />
couldmetKishoraprabhuandtwoothernewlocaldevotes.Afterexchanginggretings,Inestledmyselfinthehappyhomeofthetemple.<br />
Ilikedthesimplicityofthenewplace,thenativepeoplelookedverysimpleandnotwithgreatambitionsinlife.On4thofJuly,Isetouttovisitour<br />
land,includingAngkorwhichderivesitsnamefromSanskritlanguageimplying‘holycity’.OnthewayIhadanopportunitytogotoAngkorWat<br />
temple.<strong>The</strong>templewasbuiltbyKhmerkingsbetwen802and1220AD.DedicatedtoLordVishnuthetempleisoneoftheimpresiveVaishnava<br />
monuments.<strong>The</strong>borderingwalsmeasuringnearlyhalfamilefromeachside,itimpresivelydepictstheHinducosmology,withthecentraltowers<br />
rerepresentingMountMeru,thehomeofthegods;theouterwals,themountainsenclosingtheworld;andthemoat,theoceansbeyond.<strong>The</strong>intricate<br />
workandthesuggestivedivinityofthebygonedaysdeservesgreatappreciation.Thismagnificentefectcouldnothavebenposiblewithoutdivine<br />
inspiration.Butsadlyalgotlostduetowarandotherpoliticalproblems.However,nowefortsarebeingmadetoconservethegloriouspastandis<br />
namedasMahaVishnuloka.<strong>The</strong>areaspreadsinimpresivehundredsofacresnearSeamReap(shyamrupa!).<strong>The</strong>rearemanymoretempleslike<br />
AngkorThom,taprohm,bayontemple,preahkhanandmanymore.Meanderingmywaythroughthesetemples,finalyIreachedourland.<strong>The</strong><br />
initialplanwastospendafewdaysthere,butlaterthroughpolicewecametoknowthatforeignerswerenotalowedtostayoutsideSiemReap.A<br />
dampener-againpackedaltheluggageandcameback.OnewekjustfledbyinjustwanderinginSiemReapanddoingmenialservicesforguru<br />
maharaja.Icouldvisitwesternbarymeasuringanincredible8km/2.3kmandwasexcavatedbyhandtoprovidewaterfortheintensivecultivation<br />
oflandsaroundAngkor.Justfortherecord,theseenormousbarayweren’tdugout,butwerehugedykesbuiltaroundtheedges.Inthecenterofthe<br />
basinistheruinofthewesternMebontemple,wherethegiantbronzestatueofVishnu,nowinthenationalmuseuminPhnomPenh,wasfound.To<br />
mysurprise,IfoundagoodnumberoffolowersofBuddhism,explainingthepresenceofsomanypagodas.<br />
IheardfromthelocalsaswelasKishoraprabhuthatthecountryhaslostnotonlyitselders,butalsoitspreciousscriptures.Nowtheydon’teven<br />
havematerialknowledgetoeducateitsyouth.Asaresult,theyouthisprimarilyengagedinsimplejobsofatouristguideorcardriver,orwaiterin<br />
bigrestaurants.<strong>The</strong>placeisinterestinglyanareaoftouristatractionandthushasmanyrestaurants.Asmalsectionthathasland,alsodoes<br />
agriculture,thewaysomeofourstudentswhohavecomeheredo.Onediscoveryaftertheother-nowmysightrestedonsomanycowsgrazing<br />
leisurelyinthepasturearoundthecountryside.<br />
Onthewhole,peopleleadaverysimplelifeandareoffriendlyeasygoingnature,andhaveapronounced<strong>desire</strong>tolearnnewthings.Ipraythatthe<br />
mostmunificentincarnationoftheirlordshipsSriSriGaura-NitaimaybestowtheirmercyonthisVishnuloka.Anempoweredrepresentativeof<br />
SrilaPrabhupadisalreadytryingtospreadtheteachingsofBhagavadGita,chantingofthedeliveringmantraofthisage-HAREKRISHNA<br />
HARE KRISHNA KRISHNA KRISHNAHARE HARE/HARERAMAHARERAMARAMARAMAHAREHARE,amidstdancing,<br />
distributingprasadamonthestreatsofSiemReap,andworkingdiligentlyongroundingvarnasramadharma.<strong>The</strong>footstepsofreturnofglorious<br />
pastcanbeheard.<br />
MakeVrindavanVilages
VilageTechnology<br />
RopeandBucketWaterPuleySystem<br />
ThisdeviceismainlyusedinthecommonvilagewelsinIndia.Abucketorapottiedtoarope<br />
isloweredintothewel.Asthebuckethitsthewater,itdipsandfilsitself.Onceful,itis<br />
puledupwitharope.<strong>The</strong>ropemaybeheldbyhandrunthroughapuley.Forirrigation<br />
purposewhererequirementismore,animaltractioncanalsobeusedincombinationwitha<br />
puley.Onecanalsoatachtwopots/bucketstotheendsoftherope.Forwaterlessthan10m<br />
deep,awindlasswithahoserunningfrom thebotom ofthebuckettoaspoutatthesideofthe<br />
welcanbeused.However,thehygieneofthissystem ispoor,evenifthewelisprotected.<br />
<strong>The</strong>costofthisdeviceisverylessrequiringtwobucketsorpotstodraw water,requiredlength<br />
ofrope(variableaccordingtothedepthofthewel),thepuley,ahoseandclosed<br />
superstructure.<br />
Maintenance.Caremustbetakentopreventtheropeorbucketfrom becomingsoiled.<br />
Preventivemaintenanceconsistsofgreasingthebearingsofthewindlassorpuley.Smal<br />
repairsarelimitedtopatchingholesinthebucketandhose,reconnectingthehingeofthe<br />
bucket,andfixingthewindlassbearings<br />
orhandle.Alsmalrepairscanbedonebylocalpeople,andwithtoolsandmaterials<br />
availableinthecommunityorarea.Majorrepairsandreplacementsmainlyconsistof<br />
replacingthebucket,hose,rope,orpartortheentirewindlass.Wovennylonropesmaylast<br />
fortwoyears,buttwinednylonorsisalropeslastonlyafew months.Agood-qualityhose<br />
maylastforovertwoyears,andmostbucketslastayear(dependingonthematerialand<br />
quality).Whenpeopleusetheirownropeandbucket,noextraorganizationisrequired.For<br />
communitywels,acommunitycommiteeusualyorganizesthemaintenanceandcleaning<br />
ofthewel,maintenanceofthewindlass,etc.Mostrepairscanbepaidwithadhoc<br />
fund-raising.Everytwoweeks,oneneedstogreasetheaxlesorthepuleyorthewindlass;<br />
everyyearthebucketmayneedtobereplaced;similarlytheropeorwirealsoneedtobe<br />
replacedtentativelyeverytwoyears.<br />
Thissystem maynotbeveryrelevantinplaceswherewaterlevelisverylow,otherwiseits<br />
easeandlow maintenancecostmakeitverypopularnotonlyinIndiabutalsoin other<br />
countriesacrosstheworld.<br />
MakeVrindavanVilages
SeminarReport<br />
VARNASRAMASEMINARIN BALI,INDONESIA(August1-2,2009)<br />
-ByHH BhaktiRaghavaSwami<br />
<strong>The</strong>VarnasramaGlobalMisionseminarendedtoday,August2nd,2009,attheGauraHariAsramainBali,Indonesia.Approximately75delegates<br />
fromdiferenttemplesinBaliatendedthetwodayseminarwithspeakerscomingfromdiferentpartsofIndonesiasuchasYogyakartainJavaand<br />
LampunginSumatra.<br />
<strong>The</strong>openingdaywasparticularlyauspiciousbeingthefirstdayofJhulanYatraacordingtotheVaisnavacalendar.Thisyear,August1also<br />
commemoratedtheFestivalofSarasvatiacordingtotheBalinesetraditionwhenaltheeducationalinstitutionsinBaliholdspecialfunctionsin<br />
glorificationofmotherSarasvati,theGoddesofLearning.<br />
Ontheocasionofthisfirstinternationalvarnasramaseminar,thefirstevertobeconductedinIndonesia,theorganizersinauguratedtheGauraHari<br />
VarnasramaColegewhichwilbeaforerunnertotheproposedMarkendayaRishiGurukula.<strong>The</strong>GauraHariVarnasramaColegewilbeheadedby<br />
SrimanBhagirathaprabhuwhograduatedlastyearfromtheSrimadBhagavatamVidyapithaminGovardhanwhereheobtainedhisBhagavatSastri<br />
degre.<br />
Duringthefirstdayoftheseminar,thebookentitledVarnasramaEducation,writenbyH.H.BhaktiRaghavaSwami,wasalsooficialylaunchedin<br />
thelocallanguage,BahasaIndonesia,andoferedtotheTemplePresident,SrimanKisoraKrishnawhowiladdittotheproposedBhaktivedanta<br />
LibraryattheGauraHariVarnasramaColege.<br />
<strong>The</strong>modulespresentedduringthetwodayseminarcoveredthefolowingtopics:(1)OverviewofVarnasramaGlobalMision,theFourWavesof<br />
<strong>ISKCON</strong> andVarnasramaSocialStructurepresentedbyHisHolinesBhaktiRaghavaSwami(Canada),(2)BaliTraditioninRelationtoVarnasrama<br />
byHisGraceMahesvasaprabhu(Bali),(3)NationalEducationinIndonesiabyHisGraceVisvambharaprabhu(Bali),(4)Comparisonof<br />
TraditionalEducationPondokPesantren(Islam)andGurukula(Hindu)byHisGraceSuryaLocanaprabhu<br />
(Yogyakarta),(5)GitaNagariBaruprojectinSumatrabyHisGraceSadbhujaGaurangaprabhu(Lampung),(6)VarnasramaProjectsinIndonesia<br />
byHisGraceKisoraKrishnaprabhu(Bali)and(7)GurukulaTraditionalEducationbyHisGraceBhagirathaprabhu(Bali).<br />
Eachpresentationwasfolowedbyaperiodofquestionandanswerswhereparticipantscouldgetclarificationsonthetopicspresented.<strong>The</strong>response<br />
fromboththespeakersandparticipantswasextremelypositiveandenliveningtoalthosewhotookpart.Boththeorganizersandtheparticipants<br />
expreseda<strong>desire</strong>toholdanannualseminarontheimportanttopicofvarnasramaeducation.<br />
AlthosewhoatendedthetwodayseminarreceivedaCertificateofAtendanceandeachspeakerwasalsopresentedwithabookonvarnasramaas<br />
welasprasadamasasmaltokenofappreciationoftheirparticipation.<br />
AnyonewishingmoreinformationontheseminarmaycontactSrimanBhagirathaprabhuatbhagiratha@varnasrama.org.<br />
IMPORTANTPOINTSOFSEMINAR<br />
1)<strong>ISKCON</strong> FOURWAVES<br />
BothSrilaPrabhupada’sesayonGitaNagari,entitled“ConceptionofGitaNagari”publishedin<br />
BTG,1956andhisletertoDeputyPrimeMinisterDr.Patel,writenearlierin1949,spelout<br />
thefour“movements”or“divisions”whichlateronSrilaPrabhupadaintegratedwithinhis<br />
<strong>ISKCON</strong> society.Itisesentialforeverysingledevoteofoursocietytoclearlyunderstandthese<br />
fourdivisionsandtosethemasacompletewholemeanttocomplimentandsupportoneanother.<br />
<strong>The</strong>sefour“waves”of<strong>ISKCON</strong> areknownas:1.SankirtanMovement(<strong>The</strong>HolyNames&<br />
Books)2.TempleWorshipMovement(InstalingDeities)3.SpiritualInitiationMovement<br />
(Congregations)4.ClaslesSocietyMovement(DaiviVarnasrama).<br />
2)FROM OURVAISNAVAACARYAS<br />
FROM SRILABHAKTIVINODATHAKURA“Butadevotewho<strong>desire</strong>stoproperlypashis<br />
lifestilaceptshisdutiesacordingtovarnasrama,asthosedutiesarefavorabletodevotional<br />
serviceandcountedaspartofdevotionalservice.Altheseactivitiesarenolongercaledkarma.”<br />
[SriBhaktyaloka,SixFaultsthatdestroybhakti]<br />
“Withtheasistanceofvarnasramadharma,apersonshouldcultivatebhakti.Itisalsonecesaryto<br />
folowtherulesofvarnasramainthecultivationofbhakti.”[Chapter3]“Thoughalhumanshave<br />
arighttopracticebhakti,thosewhofolowtheregulationsofvarnasramahaveamucheasiertime.”<br />
[From“SriChaitanyaSiksamrta,Chapter3]<br />
FROM SRILAPRABHUPADA<br />
“<strong>The</strong>claslessocietysooftendemandedbythepeopleingeneralismadeposiblebytheproces<br />
of‘yajna”orsacrificefortheSupremeiSpiritualexistenceofdevotionalactivitiesandclasles<br />
societyaretwoidenticalterms.<strong>The</strong>onewithouttheotherhasnomeaning”.[BTG,Vol.I,Part<br />
IV,<br />
1956,‘Yajna’orSacrificefortheSupreme(ClaslesSociety)]<br />
“Unlesinthehumansocietythevarnasramasystemisintroduced,noschemeorsocialorder,<br />
healthorderoranyorder,politicalorder,wilbesucesful”.[RoomConversation,October18,<br />
1977,Vrndavana]<br />
MakeVrindavanVilages
"Thisvarnasramacolegehastobeestablishedimmediately.<br />
Everywhere,whereverwehavegotourcenter,<br />
avarnasramacolegeshouldbeestablished…"<br />
[HisDivineGraceA.C.BhaktivedantaSwamiSrilaPrabhupada,March12,1974]<br />
VarnasramaCommunityReport<br />
SSKBKHebri.<br />
VarnasramaColege–2009concludedonSunday,March29withagraduationdayceremonyandthepassingoutofstudents<br />
beamingwithconfidenceandchargeduptolivethevarnasramalifestyle.<br />
<strong>The</strong>coursewasentitled“Land,Cows,andKrishna–PartI”.<strong>The</strong>uniquenessofthecourse,asonestudentexplained,wasthatit<br />
keptagoodbalancebetweenthematerialandspiritualrealms:“<strong>The</strong>activitiesofbhakti-yogawerenotcompromised,although<br />
studyingmore“material”topics,aswehadafulmorningprogram andSrimadBhagavatam everyday.”<br />
<strong>The</strong>coursewasoferedatSahyadriSriKrishnaBalaramaKsetranearthetownofHebri,atthefoothilsofthefamedSahyadri<br />
mountainrangewhichisrecognizedasoneofthefew “bio-diversityhotspots”intheworld.<strong>The</strong>asramaislocatedinthedistrict<br />
ofUdupi,amostauspiciousareaknownbytheVaisnavasas“DakshinVrindavan”becauseofpresenceof“UdupiKrishna”Who<br />
performsHisVrndavanlilaofholdingaropeandrodforchurningyogurtandmakingbuter.<br />
HisHolinessBhaktiRaghavaSwami,theresidentsannyasiduringthethreemonthcourse,mentionedthatitwasSrila<br />
Prabhupada’sstandingordersincemorethan30yearsthatvarnasramacolegesbeestablishedinalourcenterstotrainour<br />
devoteesinfolowingtheprinciplesofsimplelivingandhighthinking,basedprimarilyonagricultureandcow protection.<br />
Co-directorsfortheVarnasramaColege,HrdayaCaitanyaprabhuandBharatChandraprabhu,bothsharedtheirrealizationsand<br />
experiencesfolowedbythoseofthegraduatingstudents.<br />
Variousfacultieswerepuledinforthispioneeringthreemonthcoursefrom fieldslike-agriculture,cow protection,traditional<br />
constructions,traditionalvilagetechnologieswaterliftingdevices,potery,makingofropes,traditionalde-huskingofrice,<br />
makingofnaturaltoothpowder,dhoopsticks,sundriedmudblocks,etc.Anarayofauxiliarycourseskeptthestudentsbusy<br />
throughoutthedayandonspecialfestivaldaysstudentstookpartintraditionalfeastsandgo-pujas.Altheseactivitiescombined<br />
gaveafreshmeaningtoKrishnaconsciousness.<br />
MakeVrindavanVilages
London,Feb.12(ANI):Indiasright-wingRashtriyaSwayamsevakSangh(RSS)hasclaimedthatithasdevelopedGauJalorCow<br />
WateratitsresearchcentreinHaridwar,andhopesitwilbemarketedasa”healthy”alternativetoCokeandPepsi.<br />
Hindusworshipcowsfortheirlife-sustainingdairyproducts,butmanyalsoconsumebovineurineandfaecesindrinksandspice<br />
mixesfortheir“health-giving”properties.<br />
InsomeIndianstates,c<br />
InsomeIndianstates,cowdungandurinearesoldinregulardairyshopsalongsidemilkandyogurt,and“ayurvedic”Indianhealth<br />
foodcompaniesmakeporidge,toothpasteandtonicdrinkswhichclaimtocureailmentsrangingfromlivercomplaintstodiabetes<br />
andcancer.<br />
<strong>The</strong>urineisalsobelievedtohavedisinfectantpropertieswhilethedungisusedinmanyIndianvilagehutsasacleanandantiseptic<br />
flooring.<br />
Acordingto<strong>The</strong>Telegraph,theRSS’sCowProtectionDepartmenthasinventedthenewurine-basedsoftdrinkithopeswil<br />
promoteitshealth-givingpropertiestoawidermarket.<br />
“Werefertogauark(cowurine)asgaujal(cowwater)asithasimmensepotentialtocurevariousdiseases.Wehavedevelopedasoft<br />
drinkformulawithgaujalasthebaseandithasbensenttoalaboratoryatLucknowfortesting,”saiddirectorOmPrakash.<br />
Histeamisnowfocusingonpackaging,marketing,andofcoursepreservationtostopitscurativedrinkfromgoingwhifyinthe<br />
summerheat.<br />
“Itwilbearevolutionofsorts.<strong>The</strong>aceptanceofcowurineasapotentmedicineisincreasingdaybydayandonceitcomesasa<br />
colddrink,itsdemandwildefinitelyincrease.ItwilproveandjustifythehighstatureacordedtoacowinIndianculture.”headded.<br />
NewDelhi,<br />
NewDelhi,Feb15(IANS)What’scommonbetwenanewbrandofsoftdrinks,toothpowder,paper,distemperandfurniture<br />
proposedtobelaunchedbyaHinduorganisation?Altheseproductsusecowdungandcowurineasrawmaterial.<br />
<strong>The</strong>RashtriyaSwayamsevakSangh(RSS)isgetingreadytopromoteanumberofproductsusingcowurineandcowdung.<br />
<strong>The</strong>RSSclaimstohavedevelopedafewproductsalreadyandhopestheywilhitthemarketwithinsixmonths.<br />
Oneoftheirproducts-GauJalortheCowWater-isprojectedasahealthyandmedicinalreplacementforthecolascurently<br />
availableinthemarket.<br />
“Wehaverecentlysentittoalaboratoryfortestingandapprovalaftertestingitindigenouslyinourlab,”saidOmPrakash,headof<br />
Haridwar-basedRSSCowProtectionDepartment.<br />
“Itwildefinitelybearevolutionastheaceptanceofcowurineasapotentmedicineisincreasingdaybydayandonceitislaunched,<br />
itsdemandwildefinitelyincrease,”Prakashsaid.<br />
“Ithasbenprovedthatcowurineisefectiveinhelpingcureliverandstomachailments,diabetes,andevencancer,”claimedPrakash.<br />
<strong>The</strong>RSSalsoclaimsthatefectiveandcommercialutilizationofcowurineandcowdungmaywelboosttheruraleconomyand<br />
livingstandardsofthe700milionoddruralpopulationofIndia.<br />
RSSsettoenterFMCGmarket-withcowurineanddungproducts<br />
MakeVrindavanVilages<br />
News<br />
RSScomesupwithcowwateralternativetoCocaColaandPepsi<br />
<strong>The</strong>RSSorganisedaworkshopforitsactivistsThursdayinNewDelhitoimparttrainingonhowcowdungandcowurinecanbe<br />
usedtobringaruraleconomicrevolution.<br />
“Consumergoodslikemosquitorepelents,phenyl,lotions,shampoos,etccouldbemadeusingcowurine,”Prakashtoldtheactivists<br />
duringtheworkshop.<br />
Prakashsaidanumberofproductssuchtoothpowder,paper,distemperandfurniturecanbemadeusingcowdung.<br />
“<strong>The</strong>tilesmadeofcowdungarefireandwaterresistantandcanevenwardofradiation,”Prakashclaimed.<br />
Althemanu<br />
AlthemanufacturingandqualitytestswereconductedbyKanpurbasedKanpurGaushalaSociety(KGS)andsomeoftheproducts<br />
havebengivenanodbycertifiedlaboratories,hesaid.<br />
“Afewproducts,includingtheGauJalarecurentlyundertestinLucknow,”informedP.ToshniwaloftheKGS.<br />
Asfarastheavailabilityofrawmaterial(cowdungandcowurine)isconcerned,Prakashsaidtheyaregetingitinamplequantity.<br />
“AtpresentwearebuyingurineatRs.5perlitreanddungatRs.3perkg.<strong>The</strong>supplyismainlyfromtheruraloutskirtsofKanpur<br />
andoncethecommercialproductionstartswewilincreasetherates,”Prakashsaid.<br />
However,privatecompanieswildothecommercialproductionoftheproducts.“Assoon<br />
aswegetthelaboratoryresultsandcertificateswewilselectthecompaniesthatwilproducethem.Asofnownoselectionshave<br />
benmade,”headded.<br />
Whatishappening?
Yourcarsmaysoonbepoweredbyurine<br />
NewYork,July15(ANI):Coulditbeposibletorunyourcaronurine?Wel,itmaybe,ifOhioUniversityscientistsaretobebelieved.<br />
Andtheirconfidencestemsfromthefactthattheyhavefoundanovelwaytoproducehydrogenenergyfromurine.<br />
AcordingtoDiscoveryNews,thescientistsusedanickel-basedelectrodetomakecheaphydrogenfromurine.<br />
WhentheresearchteamledbyprofesorGerardineBotestucktheelectrodeintoapoolofurine,andappliedanelectricalcurent,hydrogen<br />
gaswasreleased,whichwasusedinfuelcels.<br />
<strong>The</strong>prototypeisaboutthreinchesbythreinches,andiscapableofgenerating500miliwatsofpower.<br />
<strong>The</strong>scientistshopetocreatecommercialversionsofthetechnology.<br />
Boteexpectsthatthefuel-celurine-poweredcarcouldtheoreticalytravel90milespergalon.<br />
“Onecowcanprovideenoughenergytosupplyhotwaterfor19houses.Soldiersinthefieldcouldcarytheirownfuel,”theNewYorkDaily<br />
Newsquotedhimassaying.<br />
<strong>The</strong>researchersfocusedtheirstudyonurea,aurineby-product.<br />
“Ureaisabyproductofalotofcitiesandfarms,butevenifyoutakealthepeopleandaltheanimals,there’snotenoughtoruntheworld,”<br />
saidUniversityofGeorgiaprofesorJohnStickney.<br />
Headdedthatthoughapplicationsusingurinewon’tbeavailabletoconsumersforquitesometime,it’sdefinitelyworthdeveloping.<br />
“Wearegoingtohavetoputtogetheralotofgrenerwaystocolectenergythatdon’tproducegrenhousegasesanddon’trequireustogoto<br />
war,”headded.<br />
HaryanalaunchesRs.220mnprojecttogeneratepowerfromcowdung<br />
Chandigarh,July24(IANS)Thisisonekindofwastethatwillightupalotoflives.<br />
<strong>The</strong>HaryanagovernmenthasinitiatedaRs.220milion(Rs.22crore)projecttogenerate330KVofpowerfromcow-dungin‘gaushalas’<br />
(cow-sheds)acrosthestate.<br />
AnoficialspokesmanofthestategovernmentsaidFridaythatfivecow-shedshavebenidentifiedforthepilotprojecttogeneratepower.<strong>The</strong>seare<br />
inBhiwani,Jind,Hisar,SonipatandRohtakdistricts.<br />
“Privatecompanieshadbengiventheworkofgeneratingpowerfromcowdunginthesegaushalas.Aminimumof330KVpowerwouldbe<br />
generatedinthese,”thespokesmansaid.<br />
“Thisway,besidesgeneratingpower,these‘gaushalas’wouldbeabletobecomeself-suficienttoraiseincomefortheconservationandupkepofthe<br />
cows,”headded.<br />
Ifthepowergenerationissucesfulinthepilotproject,itislikelytobeextendedtoothergaushalas.<br />
<strong>The</strong>reare174registeredgaushalasinthestatewhichacommodateover1.5milioncows.<br />
Crisisinhighereducation:Universitiesareinthenewsmoreforpoliticsthanforresearch,saysHarshV.Pant<br />
<strong>The</strong>GovernmentofIndiaisproposingtosetupadozennew“world-clasuniversities,”inadditionto16newCentraluniversities,inanefortto<br />
expandqualityhighereducationinIndia.<strong>The</strong>blueprinthasbenformulatedbytheUniversityGrantsCommisionandthe<br />
UnionCabinethasapprovedthedecisiontobringanordinanceregardingthisinview<br />
ofthefactthattheCentralUniversitiesBil2008waspendingintheLokSabha.[AsreportedbyTribuneonFebruary1,2009]<br />
Crisisinhighereducation:<br />
Universitiesareinthenewsmoreforpoliticsthanforresearch,saysHarshV.Pant<br />
<strong>The</strong>GovernmentofIndiaisproposingtosetupadozennew“world-clasuniversities,”inadditionto16newCentraluniversities,in<br />
aneforttoexpandqualityhighereducationinIndia.<strong>The</strong>blueprinthasbenformulatedbytheUniversityGrantsCommisionand<br />
the<br />
UnionCabinethasapprovedthedecisiontobringanordinanceregardingthisinview<br />
ofthefactthattheCentralUniversitiesBil2008waspendingintheLokSabha.[AsreportedbyTribuneonFebruary1,2009]<br />
MakeVrindavanVilages
VarnasramaResearchTeamReport<br />
SecunderabadChapter(byGourGopalDas)<br />
<strong>The</strong>firstVRTwasfoundedinSecunderabad,AndhraPradesh,India.IthelditsfirstteammetsonAugust19,2007atNew<br />
Govardhan,MahindraHils,Secunderabad.Itisyettocompletetwoyears.Likeanyotherfledglingitfacesthedificultiesoflaxmi<br />
andhumanresources,yetitistheshercommitmentofmembersandofcoursetheblesingoftheLordandGuruthatitcould<br />
achieveafewsuceseslike:<br />
•Spreadingitsbranchesinalthefourdirectionsofthecountry-Delhi,Bengal,Karnataka,&AndhraPradesh.<br />
•IntroductionoftwoarmsofVBT(forpublications)andVMP(formediaproductions).Boththedivisionshaveshownremarkable<br />
outputwith3booksalreadyontheshelvesandmanymoreinthepipeline;and4moviesandmanymorereadytobereleased<br />
respectively.<br />
•Besidesorganizingseminarsatvariousplaces,VRTintheleadershipofHH BhaktiRaghavaSwamiMaharajsucesfuly<br />
participatedandmadeitspresentationsonVarnasramaatMIHET,Mayapur,Bengal.<br />
•InauguratedVarnasramaShikshalayasatHebri,Gundaipalam,andCalcuta.<br />
•Haselitemembersasteachingfaculty<br />
•OrganizedthegraduationceremonyatHebricenter<br />
•ProcuredlitlelandintheoutskirtstoimplementandpromoteVarnasramaprinciplesandpresentarolemodeltothesociety<br />
<strong>The</strong>SecunderabadVRTmetseverySundayat5amatNewGovardhan,MahindraHils,Secunderabad.<strong>The</strong>moodsetsinwith<br />
Mangalaroti,tulasipuja,andNarsinghapranam.Thisisfolowedbyelectrifyinggroupchantingof16roundsinonegointhe<br />
conducivehilyenviron,grensofNewGovardhan,andchirpingofbirds.At7:30everybodyparticipatesinthedarshanaroti,Guru<br />
puja,SriBrahmaSamhitachanting,andSrimadBhagvatamdiscourse.Toenergizethemselvesdevotesthentakeprasadam.<strong>The</strong><br />
programconcludeswithVRTmetingwhereeverybodyparticipatesgivingtheirupdates,planningfortheupcomingprogramsand<br />
suggestingdiferentavenuesforresearch.<br />
BangaloreChapter(byBhaktaVenkat)<br />
Thischapterisalsoveryactiveandmadefolowingacomplishments:<br />
•PurchasedawaterliftingequipmentforHebriruralcommunity.Thisisgeneralycaledratna(whel)inlocallanguage.<br />
•VisitedoneNGOcaledAnnadanasoilandsedsavers.ProcuredaDVDonGM food,titled“PoisononPlater”.<strong>The</strong>NGO<br />
providesdiferentsedsalongwithaDVD.<strong>The</strong>DVDcontainsthemethodologyforpracticingorganicfarming.<br />
•AtendedtheOrganicfarmersmet,whichoferedanopportunitytonetwork.<br />
•ProcuredbooksonfarmingwithancientAsianknowledgefromAsianAgriHistory,Secunderabad.<br />
•RunningcowproductsstalsinJagannathtemple,Bangaloreeverywekverysucesfuly.<br />
•Distributedapproximately55DVDsof“SaveourCows,SaveourVilages”.<br />
MakeVrindavanVilages
VarnasramaBookTrust(VBT)isthepublicationarmofVarnasramaResearchTeam(VRT).<br />
vbt<br />
Abouttheauthor:HH BhaktiRaghavaSwami<br />
<strong>The</strong>author,HH BhaktiRaghavaSwami,isanactiveproponentandworkerinsupportofVarnasramadharm<br />
HisPh.d(inprogres)alsohappenstobeinthesamesubjectwithafocusoneducation.Hehasbeninstrumentalinlaunchingvarnasrama<br />
coleges,formingdiferentvarnasramaresearchteams,setingupfarmcommunitiesrunontheguidelinesofvarnasramadharmaindiferent<br />
countries,includingIndia.Hisextensiveexperienceandwideresearchinthisareamakeshimanauthorityinthefieldandvaluablesourceof<br />
information.<br />
HH BhaktiRaghavaSwamimakeshisworkricher,lendinguniversalappealbyimbuinghisideaswiththe<br />
profoundknowledgecontainedintheVedicliteraturesandthoughtsexpresedbygreatacharyas.<strong>The</strong>writergivesgoodnotesandreferencesfor<br />
readersinterestedinthesubject.HeencouragesthemtoreadHisDivineGraceA.C.BhaktivedantaSrilaPrabhupada’sbooks,inparticularthe<br />
Bhagavad-gitaandtheSrimad-Bhagavatam,whichdealextensivelywiththesubjectmater.Inparticular,readerswilfindtheesenceof<br />
varnasrama-dharmaprincipleselaboratedbythegreatteacherNäradaMuniintheChapters11to15oftheSrimad-Bhagavatam,SeventhCan<br />
Otherreferenceshavealsobenaddedintheannexesforfurtherreading.Thisapproachislikelytomakealsinceresekersofknowledgeand<br />
realizationinthematerofpersonalandsocialequilibriumanddevelopmenttobenefitfromthetopicpresented<br />
BooksontheShelf:<br />
MakeVrindavanVilages<br />
<strong>The</strong>footstepsofdestructionofthepresentmoderncivilizationcanbefaintlyheard.Meltingglaciers,global<br />
warming,meltdownofseveraleconomies,shootingpricesoffoodgrains,stelarriseinbloodshedandviolence,rampantcoruption… are<br />
symptomaticofitsnearnestous.Wehaveviolatedthelawofnature,andnowitisshowingitsredtoothandclaws.Timeisesence,whatdo<br />
dotosaveus,ourlovedones,andourplanet?SrilaPrabhupadainhisEsayonGita-nagariinreferencetothefourprinciplesfolowedbyoneo<br />
India’smodernleaders,MahatmaGandhi,said:“<strong>The</strong>abovefour-foldGandhimovements,ifdoneinanorganized,scientificwaysupportedby<br />
theauthenticscripturesofalreligiosities,wilbringinthattranquilityofpeacerespiteofalharshnesandbiternesofthepresentworld,wh<br />
wehavelongedfortilnow.”[EsayonGita-nagari,Part1]<strong>The</strong>reisasimplesolutiontothis-folowvarnasramadharma-whattheLordwante<br />
Butwhatisvarnasramadharma?HisHolinesBhaktiRaghavaSwamiMaharaj’s“MakeVrindavanVilages”,asmalbookletservesasageneral<br />
introductiontosomeofthebasicconceptsofvarnasramadharma.<br />
VarnasramaEducation<br />
VarnasramaEducationechoesthespiritofMakeVrindavanaVilages.‘Education’has<br />
benahighlydebatedandcontroversialsubjectamongeducationistsandstudentsalike,especialyinthemoretraditional<br />
orientalcultures.<br />
Maturityandsucesofasocialsetupdependsuponthenatureofitseducational<br />
structure.<strong>The</strong>interactionrelationshipbetweneducationandsocietycontinuesalthroughone’slifeandisthusof<br />
paramountimportancetous.Itthusmakesitcrucialthatweunderstandtheesenceofeducationandthebasictenetsof<br />
anidealsociety(varnasrama).Mentalspeculationandfanaticismisnotdesirableforanyculturedpersonorsocietywhen<br />
wehaveknowledgeavailableinancientVedicsources.H.H BhaktiRaghavaSwamidrawsfromthattreasurehouseof<br />
knowledge.Thisbookgivesacomprehensiveandascientificunderstandingoffundamentalprinciplesandconcepts<br />
whichtouchuponthephilosophy,psychologyandsociologyofeducation.Oneoftheunderlyingprinciplesin<br />
understandingthesethreesentialconceptsliesinacepting,atleasttheoreticaly,whatisreferedtoas‘dharma’,anew<br />
wordformostreaders,theequivalentofwhichonedoesnotfindintheEnglishdictionary-sointerestinglyintriguing!<br />
Whileotherbooksbytheauthoremphasizethesignificanceandeternalrelevanceofvarnasramadharmainevery<br />
society,“ImplementingVarnasrama”,asthenameindicatespresentsgivesaninsightintotheintricaciesoftoitsactualimplementationinthe<br />
presentsetup.Itcapturesthestructureofadministrationandorganizationfromaglobal,nationalleveltogodowntothelevelofavilageanda<br />
familyunit.<br />
Inanyatempttoprovideguidelinesandmethodology,therewilinevitablybeadjustmentstobemadebythose<br />
applyingsuchguidelinesandmethodology.<strong>The</strong>varnasramamisionisstilverymuchinitsearlystage;hencevariousaspectsofthemanagement<br />
structuremayundergochangestoacommodatevariousdevelopmentswhicharemeanttotakeplace,takingintoconsiderationespecialythe<br />
decentralizedaspectofavarnasrama-basedsocietywherestresisgivenonlocalgovernance.<br />
Bookswaitingtoseethedaylight<br />
TraditionalEducation<br />
JointFamilySystem<br />
ImplementingVarnasrama<br />
MakeVrindavanVilages
vmp<br />
VarnasramaMediaProductionsisthemediaproductiondivisionof<br />
VarnasramaResearchTeam(VRT)<br />
DVDsontherack<br />
VarnasramaShikshalaya<br />
<strong>The</strong>conceptoftraditionaleducation,unknowntomostofus,has<br />
almostbenabandonedinthelandofBharatvarshaorIndia.<br />
VarnasramaDharma(thesetupthatpromotesbothsocial<br />
ocupationandculturalemancipation,leadingtospiritual<br />
self-realization)findsitsrootsintheVediceducationalsystem<br />
caledgurukula.Consequently,forVarnasramadharmatobe<br />
reinstated,thetraditionalgurukulasystemmustberevived.Asa<br />
prprefacetoestablishingtheGurukulasystem,Varnasrama<br />
Shikshalayacomesasapre-gurukulainstitution.<br />
DVDsinthemaking<br />
SaveourCows,SaveourVilages<br />
Welbeingofcows,jagatmatri(motheroftheuniverse),pronouncesnot<br />
onlythespiritualhealthofasocietybutalsoitseconomicprosperityand<br />
physicalhealth.Endowedwiththeloveamothershehelpstakethe<br />
peoplefromnesciencetowardslightofknowledge.India’straditional<br />
valuesystemrecognizedtheuniquepositionofcowsandshewasthe<br />
backboneofIndianculturalheritage.Slowlywiththeblindemulationof<br />
othersandgradualerosioninthevaluesystem,wearemarchingtowards<br />
ourcultural,material,ecological,andspiritualsuicide.Doyouknow<br />
thousandsofcowsaregetingslaughteredeverydayinIndia?VRTpreses<br />
thewake-upcalbutonasitatemptstounveiltheunsaidsuferingsof<br />
MakeVrindavanVilages<br />
VarnasramaColege
Youcanwriteto:<br />
#89,9thCros,TrimurtyColony,MahindraHils,Secunderabad,India-500026<br />
E-mail:vrindavanlila.brs@gmail.com<br />
VarnasramaWebsites:<br />
www.sahyadriksetra.org<br />
www.varnasrama.org<br />
www.bhakticambodia.com<br />
www.bysindia.org<br />
www.varnasramabooks.com<br />
MakeVrindavanVilages
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