Beyond the Barriers of Birth

Jayadvaita dasa: In modern India, caste seems to be determined by birth. The caste you're born into is the caste you stay in. But can there be changing also? What would you say about that? Could someone in the family of a sūdra, for instance, become a brahmana?

Tamala Krsna Maharaja: These castes are not fixed according to birth. A man can be born in a sūdra caste and be elevated to the highest position of a brahmana. It's according to his ability. If he's qualified, there's no stopping him. It's not something fixed; it's according to the nature of a person and the work he's doing. Suppose your father is a judge on the Supreme Court, does that make you also a Supreme Court justice? No, of course not. You have to be properly qualified. It's not a question of heredity. The caste system simply means a system of division of labor.

Jayadvaita dasa: Suppose we reinstitute the varnasrama divisions, with Krsna conscious teachers, Krsna conscious administrators, and so on. What is the next step?

Tamala Krsna Maharaja: Lord Caitanya has shown the way. He instructs: harer nama harer nama harer nama eva kevalam/ kalau nasty eva nasty eva nasty eva gatir anyatha. The Vedic scriptures explain that history progresses in cycles of ages, and the age we're in now is called Kali-yuga. In the Kali-yuga, the best way to attain the perfection of life is to chant the holy names of the Lord: Hare Krsna, Hare Krsna, Krsna Krsna, Hare Hare / Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare. There is no other way, there is no other way, there is no other way. Lord Caitanya repeats "there is no other way" three times, just to emphasize the point. In previous ages other methods were recommended. Each age has different conditions, both in the people and in the environment, and, accordingly, an appropriate method for achieving the truth is recommended. In this age the sahkirtana-yajna, the chanting of the Hare Krsna mantra, is perfect. All the divisions of society may cooperate to perform it successfully. Sankirtana means chanting God's name congregationally for the well-being of the nation and the well-being of all the citizens. And yajna means sacrifice-everyone must sacrifice. The vaisyas should bring abundant amounts of grains, fruits, vegetables and milk products from the fields. The ksatriyas should pass laws encouraging all the citizens to take part in the sacrifice. And they should see that each person offers his services fully, according to his occupation. The sūdras may assist in every way possible. And the brahmanas should lead everyone in chanting the holy names-Hare Krsna, Hare Krsna, Krsna Krsna, Hare Hare / Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare. The Vedic scriptures confirm this:

"By worship of the Lord, who is the source of all beings and who is all-pervading, man can, in the performance of his own duty, attain perfection." [Bg 18.46]

This, then, is the culmination of Vedic society. Everyone working for a common goal: to please the Supreme Personality of Godhead. This is the perfection of life. If India once again takes up the Vedic way, there will be no limit to her prosperity, no end to the people's joy. And why just India? Let the whole world join the sahkirtana movement of Lord Caitanya and chant Hare Krsna, Hare Krsna, Krsna Krsna, Hare Hare / Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare. Let everyone perfect life's mission and go back home, back to Godhead.