Arjuna's Realization

Arjuna had a complete nervous breakdown on the battlefield of Kurukshetra. Even though he was one of the most powerful warriors, famous for his great heroic deeds, on the beginning day of the battle he could not cope with the duty that he was expected to perform. Although he cast aside his bow and arrows and became overwhelmed with grief, he was fortunate to realize that his confusion was due to miserliness. So, he humbly presented himself to Krishna as His fully surrendered disciple, begging Krishna to instruct him. This is a powerful example for us of how to deal with that which is beyond our ability to handle. We simply have to humbly approach Krishna or His representative, the bona fide spiritual master, for enlightened guidance and then faithfully follow the instructions that we are given..

Sankarshan Das Adhikari

Answers According to the Vedic Version:

Question: Caste-ism Among the Devotees?

Thank you very much for guiding me every day in the form of your precious messages. It keeps me in the flow of bhakti.

Prabhupada's future plan was to establish Krishna conscious communities according to varnashram dharma, the system of four social and four spiritual orders, in which people would co-operate with each other to serve Krishna. But in this scenario who would like to become a sudra? And how it will be decided who will become a ksatriya, vaisya or brahmana? As a sudra is vulnerable to exploitation by the upper classes, I am concerned that in the the future there could be caste-ism among the devotees.

Thank you

Your servant,

Ashish

Answer: Krishna Consciousness is Transcendental to Caste-ism.

In the real varnasharm system nobody is exploited. Everyone works together co-operatively for the mutual benefit of all. It is not that someone is forced against their will into an occupation that is not according to their nature. Rather, everyone is encouraged and facilitated to earn their livelihood in that way which is in harmony with their nature.

Within the general society there are always people with different types of tendencies. Some like to work with their brains. These are the brahmanas. Some like to administrate or to protect the innocent people. These are the ksatriyas. Others prefer to do business or agriculture. These are the vaisyas. And others prefer to work under someone else as employees. These are the sudras. Just as there is a natural division of labor within the human body, similarly there is a natural division of labor in the social body.

The present caste system in India is the asuri varnashram system, the demoniac varnashram system, because people are forced into certain designations according to their birth, not according to their natural tendencies. As described by Lord Sri Krishna in the Bhagavad-gita, the genuine varnashram system is based one's tendencies and activities. In that system each person works in that occupation which is in accordance with his nature and offers the fruit of his work to Krishna. In the real varnashram system every member of the society is peaceful, prosperous, and happy.

Sankarshan Das Adhikari