Society / civilization / culture

Imported quote 17662

So Cai... Jagai-Madhai in those days were taken as very, very sinful, although they were born of brahmana family. But by bad association, they became thieves, rogues, gunḍa and drunkards, meat-eaters, woman-hunters. These are all good qualification now, very good qualification. If one is woman-hunter and drunkard and meat-eater, oh, his social position is very nice, up-to-date. Up-to-date. This is modern civilization. But formerly, especially a gentleman-gentleman means born of high caste: brahmana, ksatriya, vaisya-if they would be woman-hunter, drunkards, meat-eaters, immediately they'll be rejected from the position. Immediately. That was Hindu society. No gentleman could... Still now, in some provinces, the high-caste men, brahmana, ksatriyas, they'll never take..., touch these things. This is sinful. So Jagai-Madhai, they were zamindars, very rich men, and brahmana. But because they were addicted to these habits, they were taken as the most sinful. But Caitanya Mahaprabhu and Nityananda Prabhu delivered them: papi-tapi jata chilo, hari-name uddharilo. (More...)

Imported quote 24255

So this is culture. You may do your business. Just like Arjuna: Arjuna was doing his business. He was a fighter, ksatriya, but he did not forget his culture, hearing Gita from the master. That is culture. If you simply do business and do not cultivate your spiritual life, then it is useless waste of time. Srama eva hi kevalam [SB 1.2.8], the sastra says. Svanusthitasya dharmasya samsiddhir hari-tosanam [SB 1.2.13]. Ataḥ pumbhir dvija-srestha varnasrama-vibhagasaḥ. So our Krsna consciousness movement is being spread up that "Do not forget your cultural life." We do not say that you stop your business and become a sannyasi like me and give up everything. We do not say, neither Krsna said that. Krsna never said Arjuna that "You give up your business." "You are ksatriya. You are declining fighting. Oh, it is very abominable. You should not say like that. You must fight." That was Krsna's instruction. So similarly, we Krsna conscious people, we are also advising everyone that "You do not give up your business." (More...)

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