EK 3: Toward a Peaceful Society
3
Toward a Peaceful Society
Toward a Peaceful Society
sri bhagavan uvaca
idam sariram kaunteya
ksetram ity abhidhiyate
etad yo vetti tam prahuḥ
ksetrajna iti tad-vidaḥ
idam sariram kaunteya
ksetram ity abhidhiyate
etad yo vetti tam prahuḥ
ksetrajna iti tad-vidaḥ
"The Supreme Lord said: This body, O son of Kunti, is called the field, and one who knows this body is called the knower of the field." (Bg. 13.2)
Show noteThe Supreme Personality of Godhead, Krsna, is instructing Arjuna about the knowledge of ksetra and ksetrajna. Ksetra refers to the field, which is the body, and ksetrajna refers to the knower of the field, who is the individual soul. If land is to be cultivated, there must be some cultivator, and if this body, which is likened unto a field, is to be cultivated, there must be a proprietor who can cultivate it.
Show noteNow we have these material bodies, and it is our duty to cultivate them properly. That cultivation is called akarma, or work. A person may come to our place with a hoe to cultivate land, or he may come to simply drink coffee or tea. We have been given this particular type of body to cultivate and to attain required sense objects according to our desires. This body is a gift from God. God is very kind, and if someone wants something from Him, He allows it. "All right," He says. "Take this." His relationship to us is just like the relationship of a father to a son. The son may insist upon getting something from the father, and the father may try to convince him that what he wants is not for his good, saying, "My dear son, don't touch this. This is not good for you." But when the boy insists upon it, the father will allow him to have it. The affectionate father gives the son just what he wants. Similarly, the Supreme Father gives His sons and daughters just what they want. It is stated in Bhagavad-gita that all beings, in all species of life, are his children.
sarva-yonisu kaunteya
mūrtayaḥ sambhavanti yaḥ
tasam brahma mahad yonir
aham bija-pradaḥ pita
mūrtayaḥ sambhavanti yaḥ
tasam brahma mahad yonir
aham bija-pradaḥ pita
Exactly in the same way that we are born, the father gives the seed within the womb of the mother and mother develops the body.
So we living entities, we are coming from God in this material world, and the mother, material world, prakrti, jara prakrti, the dull material world, is giving us this body. And there are 8,400,000 species of body. Jalaja nava-laksani: in the water there are 900,000 species of life. Jalaja nava-laksani sthavara laksa-vimsati [Padma Purana].
And there are 2,000,000 species of life, plants and trees. They're all living entities. And don't think that they have no soul. It is a wrong theory that only human being has got soul and not other living entities. No. Everyone has got soul…
So there are 2,000,000 species of forms, plants and trees: jalaja nava-laksani sthavara laksa-vimsati krmayo rudra-sahkhyakaḥ. Insects. From plant life the development is insect and reptiles. There are eleven lakhs, eleven hundred thousand species of life of insects, sthavara laksa-vimsati krmayo rudra-sahkhyakaḥ. Rudra-sahkhyakaḥ means eleven hundred thousands, and dasa-laksani, birds, ten lakhs. [Padma Purana]
One million species of birds, and 3,000,000 species of beast and 400,000 species of human being. These are the definition of different species of life. And Krsna says that "They are all My parts and parcel." Not that only human being are parts and parcels of God, not the animal. Therefore this Krsna consciousness movement is especially meant for understanding the position of the soul and his relationship with God. Sambandha. Sambandha means relationship. In this material world, the mother, prakrti, which is material nature, supplies us with the body, and the Supreme Father impregnates this matter with living souls. There is an erroneous theory current that only human beings have souls and that other living entities do not, but we understand from Vedic authority that there are over 8,000,000 species of bodies, including plants and trees, and that they all have souls, otherwise they would not be able to develop and grow. In this verse Sri Krsna claims that all living entities, regardless of the forms they take in this material world, are his sons, and that they are related to Him as a son is related to his father.
So we living entities, we are coming from God in this material world, and the mother, material world, prakrti, jara prakrti, the dull material world, is giving us this body. And there are 8,400,000 species of body. Jalaja nava-laksani: in the water there are 900,000 species of life. Jalaja nava-laksani sthavara laksa-vimsati [Padma Purana].
And there are 2,000,000 species of life, plants and trees. They're all living entities. And don't think that they have no soul. It is a wrong theory that only human being has got soul and not other living entities. No. Everyone has got soul…
So there are 2,000,000 species of forms, plants and trees: jalaja nava-laksani sthavara laksa-vimsati krmayo rudra-sahkhyakaḥ. Insects. From plant life the development is insect and reptiles. There are eleven lakhs, eleven hundred thousand species of life of insects, sthavara laksa-vimsati krmayo rudra-sahkhyakaḥ. Rudra-sahkhyakaḥ means eleven hundred thousands, and dasa-laksani, birds, ten lakhs. [Padma Purana]
One million species of birds, and 3,000,000 species of beast and 400,000 species of human being. These are the definition of different species of life. And Krsna says that "They are all My parts and parcel." Not that only human being are parts and parcels of God, not the animal. Therefore this Krsna consciousness movement is especially meant for understanding the position of the soul and his relationship with God. Sambandha. Sambandha means relationship. In this material world, the mother, prakrti, which is material nature, supplies us with the body, and the Supreme Father impregnates this matter with living souls. There is an erroneous theory current that only human beings have souls and that other living entities do not, but we understand from Vedic authority that there are over 8,000,000 species of bodies, including plants and trees, and that they all have souls, otherwise they would not be able to develop and grow. In this verse Sri Krsna claims that all living entities, regardless of the forms they take in this material world, are his sons, and that they are related to Him as a son is related to his father.
This Krsna consciousness is especially meant for understanding the position of the soul and its relationship with God.
ksetrajnam capi mam viddhi
sarva-ksetresu bharata
ksetra-ksetrajnayor jnanam
yat taj jnanam matam mama
sarva-ksetresu bharata
ksetra-ksetrajnayor jnanam
yat taj jnanam matam mama
This human form of life, that is explained here,
idam sariram kaunteya
ksetram ity abhidhiyate
[Bg. 13.2]
We are not this body, but we are placed in this body. Exactly the same as I already explained: that the father gives the seed within the womb of the mother, yatha bijam yatha yoni [Bhag. 6.1.54]. Bijam means the semina of the father, and yoni is the mother. So in this way, we are put into this material world and then we develop different types of body according to our desire. This is the understanding of ksetra and ksetra-jna. "O scion of Bharata, you should understand that I am also the knower in all bodies, and to understand this body and its owner is called knowledge. That is My opinion." (Bg. 13.3)
idam sariram kaunteya
ksetram ity abhidhiyate
[Bg. 13.2]
We are not this body, but we are placed in this body. Exactly the same as I already explained: that the father gives the seed within the womb of the mother, yatha bijam yatha yoni [Bhag. 6.1.54]. Bijam means the semina of the father, and yoni is the mother. So in this way, we are put into this material world and then we develop different types of body according to our desire. This is the understanding of ksetra and ksetra-jna. "O scion of Bharata, you should understand that I am also the knower in all bodies, and to understand this body and its owner is called knowledge. That is My opinion." (Bg. 13.3)
Ksetra-jna means one who understands his body. Just like if you meditate upon your body-you study your finger, whether I am this finger-you come to the conclusion that "I am not this finger; it is my finger." Similarly, if you study your hands, legs and all parts of the body, you will come to the conclusion that you are not this body but the body is belonging to you. It is your body
So the modern civilization do not know "What I am." They are working under the impression that I am body. If I ask you, "What you are, gentleman?" he'll say, "I am Hindu," "I am Muslim," "I am Sikh," "I am Christian," like that. But these are the identification of the body. But I am not this body. Ksetra, ksetra-jna: body is the field of my activities, different bodies. If we meditate upon this body and study whether or not we are actually the body, we will come to the conclusion that we are ksetrajna, the knower of the body but not the body. If we study our finger and consider whether or not we are the finger, we will come to the conclusion that we are not the finger or any other part of the body, but that the finger, the arms, the legs, the head, etc. are our fingers, arms, legs, etc. In this way we can come to the conclusion that we are not these bodies but that the bodies belong to us. Therefore we say, "This is my body." Unfortunately people in this modern civilization never stop to inquire what they are or who they are. They are simply laboring hard, working hard all day in an office or factory, under the impression that, "I am this body." And if we ask people who they are, they reply, "I am Hindu, I am Moslem, I am Swedish, I am American, I am Christian, etc." These are various identifications or designations of the body, but the fact is that we are not these bodies. The body is simply the field of our activities. We are no more the body than the cultivator of a field is the field.
So the modern civilization do not know "What I am." They are working under the impression that I am body. If I ask you, "What you are, gentleman?" he'll say, "I am Hindu," "I am Muslim," "I am Sikh," "I am Christian," like that. But these are the identification of the body. But I am not this body. Ksetra, ksetra-jna: body is the field of my activities, different bodies. If we meditate upon this body and study whether or not we are actually the body, we will come to the conclusion that we are ksetrajna, the knower of the body but not the body. If we study our finger and consider whether or not we are the finger, we will come to the conclusion that we are not the finger or any other part of the body, but that the finger, the arms, the legs, the head, etc. are our fingers, arms, legs, etc. In this way we can come to the conclusion that we are not these bodies but that the bodies belong to us. Therefore we say, "This is my body." Unfortunately people in this modern civilization never stop to inquire what they are or who they are. They are simply laboring hard, working hard all day in an office or factory, under the impression that, "I am this body." And if we ask people who they are, they reply, "I am Hindu, I am Moslem, I am Swedish, I am American, I am Christian, etc." These are various identifications or designations of the body, but the fact is that we are not these bodies. The body is simply the field of our activities. We are no more the body than the cultivator of a field is the field.
Just like dog is engaged in one kind of activity, and the cat is engaged in one kind of activity, or the human being is engaged in another kind of activity, so these differences of activities are due to the difference of body, ksetra. But when you come to the platform of soul, when you understand that "I am not this body," then the activity is different. That activity is called spiritual activity. The material activity and spiritual activity.
So material activity and spiritual activity. So long we are under the concept of bodily life, our activities are material. But as soon as you understand that "I do not belong to the body. I am not this body, but I am spirit soul, aham brahmasmi…" The exact Vedic language in this connection is called aham brahmasmi: "I am spirit soul." This knowledge is perfect. So long we are under the concept of body, that "I am this body," that is ignorance. There are different kinds of bodies and different activities in accordance to the different types of bodies. A dog enjoys one kind of activity, a cat enjoys another, and a human enjoys another. There are differences of activity due to differences of body. When we come to the platform of truth, however, and understand that we are not these bodies, then our activities change from material activities to spiritual activities. As long as we are operating under the bodily conception of life, our activities are material, but as soon as we understand, "I do not belong to this body, aham brahmasmi, I am spirit soul," our activities will be in accordance to that realization, that is to say that they will cease to be motivated from the material or bodily platform. Knowledge of our proper identity as separate from the body is real knowledge, but this knowledge is denied as long as we cling to bodily identification.
So material activity and spiritual activity. So long we are under the concept of bodily life, our activities are material. But as soon as you understand that "I do not belong to the body. I am not this body, but I am spirit soul, aham brahmasmi…" The exact Vedic language in this connection is called aham brahmasmi: "I am spirit soul." This knowledge is perfect. So long we are under the concept of body, that "I am this body," that is ignorance. There are different kinds of bodies and different activities in accordance to the different types of bodies. A dog enjoys one kind of activity, a cat enjoys another, and a human enjoys another. There are differences of activity due to differences of body. When we come to the platform of truth, however, and understand that we are not these bodies, then our activities change from material activities to spiritual activities. As long as we are operating under the bodily conception of life, our activities are material, but as soon as we understand, "I do not belong to this body, aham brahmasmi, I am spirit soul," our activities will be in accordance to that realization, that is to say that they will cease to be motivated from the material or bodily platform. Knowledge of our proper identity as separate from the body is real knowledge, but this knowledge is denied as long as we cling to bodily identification.
In the sastra it is said,
yasyatma-buddhiḥ kunape tri-dhatuke
sva-dhiḥ kalatradisu bhauma ijya-dhiḥ
yat-tirtha-buddhiḥ salile na karhicij
janesv sa abhijnesu sa eva go-kharaḥ
[Bhag. 10.84.13]
So long we are in this bodily concept of life, then as long as we are feeling like that, all our activities are our defeat. Parabhava. Parabhavas tavad abodha-jato [Bhag. 5.5.5]. Abodha-jataḥ. The animals or the human beings-everyone, just like this child-abodha-jataḥ: born ignorant. Similarly, human being, if he remains under the bodily concept of life, then he is ignorant. That is called sūdra. Janmana jayate sūdraḥ [Smrti Vakya]: the Vedic culture says that everyone born is a sūdra. Therefore he has to be given knowledge, exactly like we send our children to schools, colleges. Why? To get knowledge.
Similarly, if we remain satisfied simply with the birth by our father or mother, that is sūdra condition. One has to be raised to the brahminical condition. Janmana…, there is a process. The process is janmana jayate sūdraḥ. Everyone is born sūdra by birth. It is not that by birth one becomes brahmana; otherwise the sastra would not have stated like this, that janmana jayate sūdraḥ, "By birth everyone is sūdra." Samskarad dhi bhaved dvijaḥ: but when he has executed the purificatory process, sanctifying process… In the scriptures it is said that as long as we are in this bodily conception of life, all our activities will be defeated. A child is born into ignorance, and if as he grows older he remains under the bodily conception of life, he lives in darkness. His position is that of a sūdra. In the Vedic literatures we find that in this age everyone is born a sūdra; therefore everyone requires to be educated as to his real identity. If, however, we remain satisfied with our birth by our father and mother, we will remain in our condition as sūdra. We have to rise to the brahminical platform by following the purificatory processes.
yasyatma-buddhiḥ kunape tri-dhatuke
sva-dhiḥ kalatradisu bhauma ijya-dhiḥ
yat-tirtha-buddhiḥ salile na karhicij
janesv sa abhijnesu sa eva go-kharaḥ
[Bhag. 10.84.13]
So long we are in this bodily concept of life, then as long as we are feeling like that, all our activities are our defeat. Parabhava. Parabhavas tavad abodha-jato [Bhag. 5.5.5]. Abodha-jataḥ. The animals or the human beings-everyone, just like this child-abodha-jataḥ: born ignorant. Similarly, human being, if he remains under the bodily concept of life, then he is ignorant. That is called sūdra. Janmana jayate sūdraḥ [Smrti Vakya]: the Vedic culture says that everyone born is a sūdra. Therefore he has to be given knowledge, exactly like we send our children to schools, colleges. Why? To get knowledge.
Similarly, if we remain satisfied simply with the birth by our father or mother, that is sūdra condition. One has to be raised to the brahminical condition. Janmana…, there is a process. The process is janmana jayate sūdraḥ. Everyone is born sūdra by birth. It is not that by birth one becomes brahmana; otherwise the sastra would not have stated like this, that janmana jayate sūdraḥ, "By birth everyone is sūdra." Samskarad dhi bhaved dvijaḥ: but when he has executed the purificatory process, sanctifying process… In the scriptures it is said that as long as we are in this bodily conception of life, all our activities will be defeated. A child is born into ignorance, and if as he grows older he remains under the bodily conception of life, he lives in darkness. His position is that of a sūdra. In the Vedic literatures we find that in this age everyone is born a sūdra; therefore everyone requires to be educated as to his real identity. If, however, we remain satisfied with our birth by our father and mother, we will remain in our condition as sūdra. We have to rise to the brahminical platform by following the purificatory processes.
There are ten kinds of sanctifying process. Even when the father is going to give birth to the child, he has to undergo a ritualistic ceremony, which is called garbhadhana-samskara, seed-giving ceremony. That is the Vedic function, garbhadhana. But in the Kali-yuga all these samskaras are not followed strictly. Otherwise, according to sastra, if these garbhadhana-samskara is not done… Garbhadhana-samskara is especially recommended for the brahmanas, the ksatriyas and the vaisyas-especially the brahmanas.
So now in this age no samskara is adopted; therefore he remains a sūdra, janmana jayate sūdraḥ, because the purificatory processes are not practised. Therefore, janmana jayate sūdraḥ. And in this age, Kali-yuga, the processes are not observed; therefore sastra says, kalau sūdra-sambhava. In this age, Kali-yuga, it is everyone is sūdra: kalau sūdra-sambhava.
So this process of Krsna consciousness movement is making everyone a brahmana from the sūdra stage. This is a purificatory process. Just like you see these European and American boys, they are undergoing purificatory process. Purificatory process means to avoid sinful activities. That is purificatory. If you don't act sinfully, then you are pure.
So the basic principles of sinful life are four: striya sūna pana dyūta yatra papas catur-vidha [Bhag. 1.17.38]. Catur-vidha means four kinds of sinful activities are… Striya means to have illicit sex life. According to Vedic principles, sex life cannot be performed without a married life that is sanctioned by religion. Therefore in human society there is system of marriage.
Not that you keep a woman, you keep a man, like cats and dogs; no human society. May be Hindu, Muslim, Christian, Sikh-it doesn't matter-any civilized form of society has got this system of marriage, because without marriage sex life is irreligious. Therefore this is one of the sinful activities: to have illicit sex life.
And sūna, sūna means killing of animals. Killing of animals… Even in Christian religion it is forbidden: "Thou shall not kill." Out of the Ten Commandments the first commandment is, "Thou shall not kill." In the Buddha religion there is also the same thing: ahimsa paramo dharmaḥ. So in other religions, Hindu religion, they are…, there are sometimes killing of animals in sacrifices. But that is not for eating purpose. The test of Vedic mantra was, I mean to say, verified how the mantras are being chanted. So sometimes the animals were put into the fire, and the animal would come out again with new life. That was the test of Vedic mantras.
In this age, Kali-yuga, there is no such qualified brahmana to perform the sacrifices; therefore all kinds of animal sacrifices are forbidden.
asvamedham gavalambham
sannyasam pala-paitrkam
devarena sutotpattim
kalau panca vivarjayet
[Brahma-vaivarta Purana]
So sūna, sūna means unnecessary animal-killing. Unnecessary. Human society should be sober and continent. If I can…, I require to eat something, if I have got sufficient grains, fruits, milk, flour, vegetables, why should I kill unnecessarily a poor animal? So this is sinful.
Striya sūna pana. Pana means intoxication. Therefore those… Of course, in this country, it is not very much so, but in India pan, betel, betel nut, and pan eating. The pana means drinking; pana means intoxication. So even drinking tea, chewing pan is also intoxication, what to speak of drinking wine and other things. Striya sūna pana dyūta. And dyūta means gambling. So if we want to be purified, then we must give up these four principles of sinful activities.
So these boys are being trained up for their purification, and although from their birth they are habituated to all these habits, they have given up. They have no other bad habits. Nothing. They don't take even tea, and smoke. This is purificatory process. Janmana jayate sūdraḥ samskarad bhaved dvijaḥ. As mentioned before, there are four basic characteristics of an impure life-illicit sex, intoxication, meat-eating and gambling. According to the Vedic principles, sex should not be indulged in outside of marriage. In human society there is therefore a system of marriage which distinguishes us from the cats and dogs. Whether we are Hindu, Moslem, or Christian, we acknowledge the system of marriage. The purpose of this system is to avoid illicit sex. According to the Vedic system, intoxication is also discouraged; nor is meat-eating advocated, for human beings should be nonviolent. We have been given sufficient grains, fruits, milk, and vegetables, and there is no necessity to kill poor animals. Some people argue that if we do not eat meat we will be undernourished, but we can see that the students of this Krsna consciousness movement have given up meat and are very healthy, whereas people who are eating meat are still, despite their meat-eating, subject to so many diseases and unhealthy conditions. Gambling is also discouraged because it simply agitates the mind.
So now in this age no samskara is adopted; therefore he remains a sūdra, janmana jayate sūdraḥ, because the purificatory processes are not practised. Therefore, janmana jayate sūdraḥ. And in this age, Kali-yuga, the processes are not observed; therefore sastra says, kalau sūdra-sambhava. In this age, Kali-yuga, it is everyone is sūdra: kalau sūdra-sambhava.
So this process of Krsna consciousness movement is making everyone a brahmana from the sūdra stage. This is a purificatory process. Just like you see these European and American boys, they are undergoing purificatory process. Purificatory process means to avoid sinful activities. That is purificatory. If you don't act sinfully, then you are pure.
So the basic principles of sinful life are four: striya sūna pana dyūta yatra papas catur-vidha [Bhag. 1.17.38]. Catur-vidha means four kinds of sinful activities are… Striya means to have illicit sex life. According to Vedic principles, sex life cannot be performed without a married life that is sanctioned by religion. Therefore in human society there is system of marriage.
Not that you keep a woman, you keep a man, like cats and dogs; no human society. May be Hindu, Muslim, Christian, Sikh-it doesn't matter-any civilized form of society has got this system of marriage, because without marriage sex life is irreligious. Therefore this is one of the sinful activities: to have illicit sex life.
And sūna, sūna means killing of animals. Killing of animals… Even in Christian religion it is forbidden: "Thou shall not kill." Out of the Ten Commandments the first commandment is, "Thou shall not kill." In the Buddha religion there is also the same thing: ahimsa paramo dharmaḥ. So in other religions, Hindu religion, they are…, there are sometimes killing of animals in sacrifices. But that is not for eating purpose. The test of Vedic mantra was, I mean to say, verified how the mantras are being chanted. So sometimes the animals were put into the fire, and the animal would come out again with new life. That was the test of Vedic mantras.
In this age, Kali-yuga, there is no such qualified brahmana to perform the sacrifices; therefore all kinds of animal sacrifices are forbidden.
asvamedham gavalambham
sannyasam pala-paitrkam
devarena sutotpattim
kalau panca vivarjayet
[Brahma-vaivarta Purana]
So sūna, sūna means unnecessary animal-killing. Unnecessary. Human society should be sober and continent. If I can…, I require to eat something, if I have got sufficient grains, fruits, milk, flour, vegetables, why should I kill unnecessarily a poor animal? So this is sinful.
Striya sūna pana. Pana means intoxication. Therefore those… Of course, in this country, it is not very much so, but in India pan, betel, betel nut, and pan eating. The pana means drinking; pana means intoxication. So even drinking tea, chewing pan is also intoxication, what to speak of drinking wine and other things. Striya sūna pana dyūta. And dyūta means gambling. So if we want to be purified, then we must give up these four principles of sinful activities.
So these boys are being trained up for their purification, and although from their birth they are habituated to all these habits, they have given up. They have no other bad habits. Nothing. They don't take even tea, and smoke. This is purificatory process. Janmana jayate sūdraḥ samskarad bhaved dvijaḥ. As mentioned before, there are four basic characteristics of an impure life-illicit sex, intoxication, meat-eating and gambling. According to the Vedic principles, sex should not be indulged in outside of marriage. In human society there is therefore a system of marriage which distinguishes us from the cats and dogs. Whether we are Hindu, Moslem, or Christian, we acknowledge the system of marriage. The purpose of this system is to avoid illicit sex. According to the Vedic system, intoxication is also discouraged; nor is meat-eating advocated, for human beings should be nonviolent. We have been given sufficient grains, fruits, milk, and vegetables, and there is no necessity to kill poor animals. Some people argue that if we do not eat meat we will be undernourished, but we can see that the students of this Krsna consciousness movement have given up meat and are very healthy, whereas people who are eating meat are still, despite their meat-eating, subject to so many diseases and unhealthy conditions. Gambling is also discouraged because it simply agitates the mind.
By this purificatory process one becomes brahmana.
So this path is open for everyone-to become brahmana or to become purified. Brahmana means truthful and purified: satya, sauca, sama, dama, titiksa, arjavam jnanam vijnanam astikyam, brahma-karma svabhava-jam [Bg. 18.42]. Truthfulness, purity-satyam, saucam; sama-controlling the mind; dama-controlling the senses. Sama, dama; titiksa-tolerance; arjavam-simplicity; jnanam-learning; vijnanam-practical application of learning in life; astikyam-full faith in God. Brahma-karma svabhava-jam. These are the symptoms when one becomes a brahmana.
So at the present moment, there is necessity of creating some brahmana-creating some brahmana. Because as I have already told that in this age almost everyone is a sūdra because the purificatory processes are not adopted. Everyone's busy only for maintaining this body, ahara-nidra-bhaya-maithuna ca. Ahara-nidra-bhaya-maithuna: eating, sleeping, fearing and defending. But this is the business of the animals and the sūdras. This then is the purificatory process by which one can become a brahmana. This path is open to everyone. A brahmana is one who is truthful and pure, tolerant and simple, full of knowledge and faith in God. He can control his mind and his senses also. At the present moment there is a great necessity for brahmanas, because almost everyone is a sūdra, for almost everyone is wholly engaged in maintaining the body, eating, sleeping, mating and defending-all symptoms of animals and sūdras.
So this path is open for everyone-to become brahmana or to become purified. Brahmana means truthful and purified: satya, sauca, sama, dama, titiksa, arjavam jnanam vijnanam astikyam, brahma-karma svabhava-jam [Bg. 18.42]. Truthfulness, purity-satyam, saucam; sama-controlling the mind; dama-controlling the senses. Sama, dama; titiksa-tolerance; arjavam-simplicity; jnanam-learning; vijnanam-practical application of learning in life; astikyam-full faith in God. Brahma-karma svabhava-jam. These are the symptoms when one becomes a brahmana.
So at the present moment, there is necessity of creating some brahmana-creating some brahmana. Because as I have already told that in this age almost everyone is a sūdra because the purificatory processes are not adopted. Everyone's busy only for maintaining this body, ahara-nidra-bhaya-maithuna ca. Ahara-nidra-bhaya-maithuna: eating, sleeping, fearing and defending. But this is the business of the animals and the sūdras. This then is the purificatory process by which one can become a brahmana. This path is open to everyone. A brahmana is one who is truthful and pure, tolerant and simple, full of knowledge and faith in God. He can control his mind and his senses also. At the present moment there is a great necessity for brahmanas, because almost everyone is a sūdra, for almost everyone is wholly engaged in maintaining the body, eating, sleeping, mating and defending-all symptoms of animals and sūdras.
Society cannot be peaceful unless there are four divisions of human beings functioning in harmony with one another. These four divisions are comprised of brahmanas, ksatriyas, vaisyas and sūdras. These are discussed by Krsna in Bhagavad-gita in this way:
catur-varnyam maya srstam
guna-karma-vibhagasaḥ
tasya kartaram api mam
viddhy akartaram avyayam
guna-karma-vibhagasaḥ
tasya kartaram api mam
viddhy akartaram avyayam
But the society cannot be peaceful unless there are four principles, four divisions of human being: brahmana, ksatriya, vaisya and sūdra. Just like your body is complete when there is head, when there are arms, when there is abdomen and when there are legs. If you keep simply the head and no trunk, hands or legs, that is useless.
Similarly, if there are simply brahmanas, then the human society is incomplete. If there are simply ksatriyas, or the arms, that is also incomplete. If there is only abdomen, or the vaisya-vaisyas are concerned only filling of the belly-so that is also incomplete. And if you simply have legs, that is also. The four things must be there to make a complete body.
Therefore Krsna says in the Bhagavad-gita,
catur-varnyam maya srstam
guna-karma-vibhagasaḥ
[Bg. 4.13]
"Under the division of quality and work." These four divisions of human society is there. "According to the three modes of material nature and the work ascribed to them, the four divisions of human society were created by Me. And, although I am the creator of this system, you should know that I am yet the non-doer, being unchangeable." (Bg. 4.13)
Similarly, if there are simply brahmanas, then the human society is incomplete. If there are simply ksatriyas, or the arms, that is also incomplete. If there is only abdomen, or the vaisya-vaisyas are concerned only filling of the belly-so that is also incomplete. And if you simply have legs, that is also. The four things must be there to make a complete body.
Therefore Krsna says in the Bhagavad-gita,
catur-varnyam maya srstam
guna-karma-vibhagasaḥ
[Bg. 4.13]
"Under the division of quality and work." These four divisions of human society is there. "According to the three modes of material nature and the work ascribed to them, the four divisions of human society were created by Me. And, although I am the creator of this system, you should know that I am yet the non-doer, being unchangeable." (Bg. 4.13)
These four divisions of men in human society are natural, not artificial, because in the material world everything is operating under the influence of the three modes of material nature-goodness, passion and ignorance. As long as we are in the material world, it is not possible to classify everyone in the same category because each and every person is working under the influence of the modes of material nature. However, when we transcend the material plane, there is oneness. At that time, all the divisions fall apart. The question is therefore how to transcend the modes of material nature, and that transcendence is the very process of Krsna consciousness. As soon as we become situated in Krsna consciousness, we become transcendental to the modes of material nature.
mam ca yo 'vyabhicarena
bhakti-yogena sevate
sa gunan samatityaitan
brahma-bhūyaya kalpate
bhakti-yogena sevate
sa gunan samatityaitan
brahma-bhūyaya kalpate
Show noteThus one who is engaged in Krsna conscious activity is at once elevated to the transcendental position. By nature we are not matter but Brahman (aham brahmasmi). The philosophy of Sahkaracarya is mainly based on the principle that we should not think that we are products of this material nature. It is by some unfortunate accident that we are in contact with material nature. Actually our nature is that of spirit, Brahman, and that nature has to be invoked. This material life is a diseased condition; when we are situated in Brahman, we are in our healthy condition. That healthy Brahman condition is immediately attained as soon as we engage ourselves one hundred percent in Krsna consciousness.
Show noteWhen we transcend material nature through the rendering of service unto Krsna, what is our status? Do we become zero? Some philosophies maintain that after liberation from material life, after the nirvana of this material body, we become zero, void. That is a dangerous theory. By nature the living entity is not attracted to zero. We may be diseased and suffering from so many elements, but if our doctor comes and says, "Let me finish your ailments by killing you," we will immediately say, "No, no! Better let me suffer from the disease." We do not want to be killed just to end our miseries. Thus the theory that after material life there is void is not at all attractive. Nor is it a fact. We are sac-cid-ananda-vigraha, eternal, blissful and full of knowledge, and part and parcel of the Supreme. The Supreme Lord is sac-cid-ananda-vigraha, and we are qualitatively one with Him. Although very small, a drop of seawater is as salty as the sea, and although we are but spiritual atoms, we have the same properties as the supreme spirit whole. There is no question of being void, for as living entities our spiritual properties are all there in infinite variegatedness.
Show noteIf, however, out of the frustration of material existence we commit suicide, we do not end our miseries. We simply create other miseries. If one attempts suicide but does not succeed, or is somehow revived, he is subject to being punished under state law. Similarly, the laws of nature treat suicides as criminal acts. We are to end this material life only after finding out the true blissful life of eternity. We should not simply be trying to end the miseries of this life simply out of frustration, but we should engage ourselves in activities that will raise us to spiritual life.
Show noteThe four divisions of human society were created by Sri Krsna in order to facilitate this process of elevation. Just as a student is elevated from a lower class to a post-graduate class, the divisions of labor (catur-varnyam) are created to elevate us from the lowest stages of consciousness to the highest stage of Krsna consciousness. This process is a process of cooperation. In the human body, the most important part is the head, then the arms, the belly and the legs. Although the head is considered to be the most important part, there is no question of neglecting the legs or any other part. Similarly, in the divisions of human society, no one division is important to the exclusion of the others. Of these divisions, the brahmanas are considered to be the intellectual class, the class of teachers; the ksatriyas are the administrative and military class; the vaisyas are the mercantile and agricultural class; and the sūdras are the common laborer class. In a properly run society, all of these classes are required. If they cooperate in their progress toward Krsna consciousness, there is no strife amongst them.
Show noteIn the present social status, we find that we are existing in these four divisions, but there is no cooperation. Everyone is dissatisfied. Today there is great strife between the capitalist class and laborer class because between them there is no compromise. There is only friction. All this strife amongst the classes is due to lack of Krsna consciousness. Indeed, there is not even a possibility of cooperation unless there is Krsna consciousness. Krsna consciousness is absolutely essential for harmonizing all facets of human society. Regardless of what class we belong to, if we cooperate in Krsna consciousness, there will be peace in the world.
Thus Krsna consciousness is the utmost necessity for all divisions of society. Every chapter and every conclusion of Bhagavad-gita aim toward Krsna consciousness. Sri Krsna, who is speaking Bhagavad-gita, is always stressing devotion to His personal Self.
manmana bhava madbhakto
mad-yaji mam namaskuru
mam evaisyasi satyam te
pratijane priyo 'si me
mad-yaji mam namaskuru
mam evaisyasi satyam te
pratijane priyo 'si me
Show noteThroughout Bhagavad-gita we find this word mam stressed. Mam means "unto Me," meaning unto Krsna. But there are many miscreants who are interpreting this mam to mean "everyone." When I say, "Bring me a glass of water," does it mean that I want you to bring everyone a glass of water? The individuality is there, but by jugglery of words they interpret "me" or "I" to mean "everyone." Consequently when Krsna says "I," the miscreants identify this "I" with themselves. This is a gross misinterpretation. Although Bhagavad-gita is very popular in the world, due to this misinterpretation by mundane scholars, it has not been properly understood.
Show noteBhagavad-gita clearly explains that this catur-varnyam system was established by Krsna, but He is outside of this system. When Krsna comes as an incarnation, He does not come as a member of any social order, not as a brahmana or anything else. When Krsna came, He came as the son of Devaki and Vasudeva. Vasudeva belonged to the royal family and was therefore a ksatriya. As such, Krsna played the part of a ksatriya, but this does not mean that Krsna belonged to the ksatriya class. There are many incarnations of Krsna in many forms of life. In one incarnation He appeared as a fish, as a member of the community of fishes, but this does not mean that He is a fish. If we think upon seeing a fish that it belongs to Krsna's family, we are mistaken. Of course, from another point of view, everything is Krsna, but Krsna is aloof from everything. This is the transcendental nature of Krsna, and if we understand it, we will be liberated from birth and death.
Show noteAlthough Krsna has established the four divisions of human society, He is not in anyone of them (tasya kartaram api mam viddhy akartaram avyayam). As soon as we understand that although Krsna was born into a ksatriya family, He is not a ksatriya, we actually become liberated. If we think that because Krsna acts in a particular way-as on the battlefield He gave instructions to Arjuna to fight-He is bound by the reactions of His activities, we are mistaken. "Works do not defile Me," Sri Krsna says (na mam karmani limpanti). In conclusion, we must accept the fact that when Krsna comes as one of us, He is not in actuality "one of us." He is transcendental. This fact we must learn by submissive inquiry from authoritative sources, such as Bhagavad-gita or a spiritual master who is fully realized in Krsna consciousness.
Show noteToday all facets of human society are thinking that their self-interest is in maintaining this body. Consequently today's society is simply a society of cats, dogs and hogs. From Vedic literatures we can understand that we don't have to work hard all day simply to maintain this body. We are working very hard because we are trying to control material nature for the purposes of sense gratification. One who can come to understand that Krsna is the root of everything, the origin of everything, can understand the meaning of isvaraḥ paramaḥ krsnaḥ-Krsna is the supreme controller. In the universe there are many isvaras, or controllers, but Krsna is the supreme among all of them. Krsna consciousness gives us this knowledge. Without it, we will remain ignorant of our real self-interest.
Show noteModern society is in dire need of intellectual persons or brahmanas who can broadcast real spiritual knowledge all over the world. That is an absolute necessity for a society which is working hard simply to exploit nature. If people try to understand this Krsna consciousness movement scientifically and philosophically, with their best knowledge and judgement, and try to cooperate, there will be peace all over the world. In essence, the method is very simple. We need only chant Hare Krsna, Hare Krsna, Krsna Krsna, Hare Hare/ Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare and follow the regulative principles mentioned before. By following the regulative principles, we will be avoiding the four pillars of sinful life, and by chanting the Hare Krsna mantra, we will be associating with God constantly; thus there will be peace among all classes of men.
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