The
Noblest Occupation
From: Jaya Jagannatha (das) PDA (Dallas,
TX - USA) Jaya.Jagannatha.PDA@bbt.se
Sent: 24 March 1999 23:11
Subject: The Transcendental Cows,
[Text 2184645 from COM]
Krsna had one cow he named Mrdanga-Mukhi...Balarama
das writes back.
I offer this transcendental description of cows from
Krsna's pastimes to make up for the less transcendental stuff I come up
with...
In the Srimad Bhagavatam 10.35.21. Purport by Srila Prabhupada..
Srila Jiva Gosvami explains that in the afternoon Sri Krsna dressed Himself
in new clothing and then went out to call the cows home. Srila Visvanatha
Cakravarti gives the following information about the transcendental cows of
Vrindavana: For each of the four colors of cows - white, red, black and
yellow - there are twenty five subdivisions, making a total of one hundred
colors. And such qualities as being colored like sandalwood-pulp tilaka
(speckled) or having a head shaped like a mrdanga drum created eight further
groups. To count these 108 groups of cows, distinguished by color and form,
Krsna is using a string of 108 jewel-beads... (gems)
....."Those in the group with tilak marks on their foreheads are called
Citrita, Citra-tilaka, Dirgha-tilaka and Tiryak-tilaka, and there are groups
known as Mrdanga-mukhi (having a head shaped like a mrdanga drum),
Simha-mukhi (lion head) and so on.
"Thus being called by name, the cows are coming forward, and Krsna, thinking
that when it is time to bring them back from the forest none should be
forgotten, is counting them on His jewel-beads."
In S.B.10.19.7..it says..
The Supreme Personality of Godhead called out to the animals in a voice that
resounded like a rumbling cloud. Hearing the sound of their own names, the
cows were overjoyed and called out to the Lord in reply.
I am sending this to illustrate how Krsna protects his cows (go-dhanams-herds
of cows) by always counting and calling out their names.
It describes Krsnas evening pastime so nicely and is a purely Krsna
conscious way of looking at our mothers.
ys jjd
From: Trayimaya (das) HKS (Aarhus - DK)
Trayimaya.HKS@bbt.se
Sent: 07 April 1999 06:53
Subject: The noblest occupation
[Text 2214711 from COM]
"Prabhupada said that farming was the noblest occupation for householders."
A(n unauthorized) quote from TKG`s diary. P.169.
Your servant Trayimaya dasa
PS. By the way, there is a conference called "GBC Varnasrama", can anyone
tell what´s going on there?
From: Hare Krsna dasi (Brunswick, Maine - USA)
Hare.Krsna.dasi@bbt.se
Sent: 09 April 1999 19:43
Subject: Re: The noblest occupation & the most important business
[Text 2221832 from COM]
"Prabhupada said that farming was the noblest
occupation for householders."
A(n unauthorized) quote from TKG`s diary. P.169.
Your servant Trayimaya dasa
PS. By the way, there is a conference called "GBC Varnasrama", can anyone
tell what´s going on there?
Srila Prabhupada frequently quoted the saying that agriculture is the
noblest occupation. Also, he stated that cow protection is the most
important business of human society.
I hope you will relish a few of His Divine Grace's statements on these
topics.
your servant,
Hare Krsna dasi
*****************************************
Light of the Bhagavat:
With good rains, the farmer's business in agriculture flourishes.
**Agriculture is the noblest profession.** It makes society happy, wealthy,
healthy, honest, and spiritually advanced for a better life after death. The
vaisya community, or the mercantile class of men, take to this profession.
In Bhagavad-gita the vaisyas are described as the natural agriculturalists,
the protectors of cows, and the general traders.
When Lord Sri Krsna incarnated Himself at Vrndavana, He took pleasure in
becoming a beloved son of such a vaisya family. Nanda Maharaja was a big
protector of cows, and Lord Sri Krsna, as the most beloved son of Nanda
Maharaja, used to tend His father's animals in the neighboring forest. By
His personal example Lord Krsna wanted to teach us the value of protecting
cows. Nanda Maharaja is said to have possessed nine hundred thousand cows,
and at the time of Lord Sri Krsna (about five thousand years ago) the tract
of land known as Vrndavana was flooded with milk and butter. ***Therefore
God's gifted professions for mankind are agriculture and cow protection.***
Room Conversation Columbus, May 11, 1969 690511RC.COL
Allen Ginsberg: So we're also going through a coovy(?) asrama for poets. A
little farm for poets.
Prabhupada: Yes. Farming, agriculture, that is nice. **There is a proverb:
agriculture is the noblest profession.** Is it not said? **Agriculture is
noblest, and Krsna was farmer,** His father.
Allen Ginsberg: The cow.
Prabhupada: Cow, yes. And in Vedic literature you'll find, a man is...
Richness of a man is estimated by the possession of grains and cows.
Dhanyena dhanavan. If he has got sufficient quantity grain, then he's to
be... Formerly, even still in India, when a daughter is offered to a family,
they will go and see how many morais(?) there are. Grain stock. If he sees
that he has five, six, big, big grain stock, then he can... "Oh, this is
nice house." You see? "They can feed." So in India still, the arrangement is
that every family has got at least two years grain in stock. You see?
Visit New Vrindaban, June 22, 1976 760622VI.NV
Prabhupada: **Agriculture is the noblest profession.** Give him some land,
he cuts the wood, makes cottages. The land is clear, now till it, keep cows
and grow foodgrains.
Pusta Krsna: Doesn't put any local men out of work.
Prabhupada: Simple thing. And then live comfortably, eat comfortably, chant
Hare Krsna. Comfortably does not mean satisfaction of the senses.
Comfortably means we require primary necessities, to eat something, to sleep
somewhere or have some sex--this is also bodily need--and to defend, that's
all. These are the primary necessities. That can be arranged anywhere. God
has given all facilities. Grow your own food, eat, and live anywhere. Just
this place was rough like that, now it is handled nicely, it is very
attractive. (Bengali) Any damn place, you cleanse it, it becomes home. And
any nasty man, you decorate him, he becomes a bridegroom. (laughs)
FARMS IN THE MODE OF GOODNESS
Morning Walk Teheran, August 12, 1976 760812MW.TEH
Prabhupada: That does not make you, what is called, unfit. You can do
something like that.
Harikesa: I mean I was born in a city, raised in a city, and feel very good
when I'm in a city, but when I'm on a farm, I'm very disturbed.
Prabhupada: Rajasika, you have got rajasika. So that means your mode of
nature is rajasika. There are three kinds of--sattvika, rajasika, tamasika.
Harikesa: But what are we going to do with all these kind of people?
Prabhupada: That is already there, three kinds of propensities. Sattvika,
rajasika, tamasika. So you belong to the rajasika, that's all. So it can be
conquered by sattvika.
Srimad-Bhagavatam Canto 9: Chapter Four, Text 33-35 :TRANSLATION
TRANSLATION
Thereafter, Maharaja Ambarisa satisfied all the guests who arrived at his
house, especially the brahmanas. He gave in charity sixty crores of cows
whose horns were covered with gold plate and whose hooves were covered with
silver plate. All the cows were well decorated with garments and had full
milk bags. They were mild-natured, young and beautiful and were accompanied
by their calves.
COW PROTECTION IS THE MOST IMPORTANT BUSINESS OF THE HUMAN SOCIETY
Prabhupada's Lectures General - 1968 681204LE.LA
There are many other animals. Why particularly cow? Because cow protection
is the most important business of the human society. In offering obeisances
to Krsna, it is said, namo brahmanya devaya go brahmana hitaya ca. "I offer
my respectful obeisances unto the Supreme Person Who is the protector of the
brahmanas and the cows." Go brahmana hitaya ca jagat hitaya. The first
qualification is that He protects the brahmanas and the cows. Next, He
protects the whole world. Jagat hitaya krsna. And He is Krsna, govindaya,
this Govinda. So the example is set by the Supreme Personality of Godhead
that human
civilization will advance only on the basis of brahminical culture and cow
protection.
As soon as there is falldown from brahminical culture, and as soon as there
is discrepancy in the protection of cows, there will be no more peace in the
world. Therefore He specifically said, go brahmana hitaya ca. This Krsna
consciousness movement is for the protection of brahminical culture and
cows.
From: SFCP Gopala (Paramesvari dd & Maha-ratha das -
YU) SFCP.Gopala@bbt.se
Sent: 11 April 1999 09:02
Subject: Re: The noblest occupation & the most important business
[Text 2224188 from COM]
I hope you will relish a few of His Divine
Grace's statements on these topics.
your servant,
Hare Krsna dasi
As soon as there is falldown from brahminical culture, and as soon as
there is discrepancy in the protection of cows, there will be no more
peace in the world. Therefore He specifically said, go brahmana hitaya ca.
This Krsna consciousness movement is for the protection of brahminical
culture and cows.
Until now it was a mere quote from some of
Prabhupada's books for me in which I believed, but now I can see and realize
how it is a great truth - there will be no more peace in the world - this is
the only way, protection of brahminical culture and cows. Good point for me
in this situation to think about. Thanks Mother.
Your servant from war region,
Maha-ratha das
From: Hare Krsna dasi (Brunswick, Maine - USA)
Hare.Krsna.dasi@bbt.se
Sent: 12 April 1999 15:07
Subject: Re: The noblest occupation & the most important business
[Text 2227931 from COM]
Until now it was a mere quote from some of
Prabhupada's books for me in which I believed, but now I can see and
realize how it is a great truth - there will be no more peace in the world
- this is the only way, protection of brahminical culture and cows. Good
point for me in this situation to think about. Thanks Mother.
Your servant from war region,
Maha-ratha das
My dear son,
Thanks for your realizations. I just pray that we in the US can have the
same level of realization as you are showing when it finally comes to be our
turn to get our reaction for being the biggest cow slaughterers in the
world. Unless we suddenly establish varnasrama, that day is certainly coming
to us, too.
Best first step, here or there -- just keep chanting Hare Krsna and trying
to carry out Prabhupada's plan the best we can.
your servant from the so-called "peace" region,
Hare Krsna dasi
From: Noelene Hawkins
niscala99@hotmail.com
Sent: 21 May 1999 06:09
[Text 2334595 from COM]
And, according to Prabhupada's vision for training the
varnas, they must be based on self sufficiency. In the varnasrama walks in
March 1974, when Srila Prabhupada is asked how a vaisya should be trained,
he makes it clear that the vaisya would learn cow protection and how to plow
-- in other words how to live off the land.
Again, in 1977, Abhirama prabhu reports that when Prabhupada said he wanted
to go to America to start Varnasrama, devotees asked him how he would do
that, and Prabhupada replied, "I will go to Gita-nagari, I will sit down,
and I will teach
you how to live off the land."
Very interesting quote. Is that quote included in the conversations books?
Or where else might it be found?
So, it appears that Srila Prabhupada's vision of how to teach varnasrama was
integrally tied to teaching self-sufficiency. His version of
self-sufficiency might be a little more broad than some people's because he
also wanted the ksatriyas to be trained in how to take care of the
self-sufficient village, and he wanted the brahmanas to be able to provide
the spiritual "nutrition" in
the form of scriptural guidance, sacrifice (especially chanting the Holy
Names), and leading the population in spiritual festivals.
But, Srila Prabhupada's vision of a varnasrama village was very much focused
on self-sufficiency. As he told devotees in Mauritius, "The first necessity
is to be self-sufficient. That is God's arrangement."
So, let us say that our goal is to build a varnasrama village that would
fulfill Srila Prabhupada's vision.
Sounds great! Just wish I was in America...
The first step in building such a village is proper training. In the
varnasrama walks and other times, Srila Prabhupada spoke about creating a "varnasrama
college" to provide this training.
In that "varnasrama walk" you were mentioning, Srila Prabhupada describes
the brahmanas duty is to train the other classes, not just theoretically but
practically. To train vaisyas how to plow, for instance, they would have to
learn it themselves. Then after learning and teaching that most basic of all
skills, learn and teach how to plant, harvest and process the produce of the
field. (includes cloth) The brahmanas duty is to be always learning
something, and not hoarding that knowledge, immediately, teaching it. Their
teaching to the ksatriyas, should be modeled after Srila Prabhupada's
dealings with his managers, and the descriptions of how Vedic ksatriyas
treated their citizens. Ksatriyas should be taught to 1. take advice from,
act on it, and give respect to the brahmanas, and 2.treat those under their
protection as they would their own family members. That is, with the utmost
of personal care and concern. That is good ksatriya, not one who simply
tries to increase the treasury, or maximize profit. Everything depends on
the good training and ideal character of the brahmana, he's the head of the
social body, and he directs the other classes. He has the power to depose a
ksatriya who is maximizing profit, at the expense of those under him, or who
is in anyway showing neglect of cow protection and brahminical culture, or
deviating in anyway from Srila Prabhupada's directions. The brahmana should
not be dependent on wage, but be supported with all necessities by those
whom he teaches. Generously.
So, our discussion at Kandavaprastha will be to focus in on that specific
desire of Srila Prabhupada's and pray for guidance to figure out the kinds
of courses that he would like to see offered for each of the different
varnas. What will be the "collection of courses" or "curriculum" for each
different varna?
How can we get this happening in other places? What was your procedure for
interesting devotees? Could you publicize the curriculum, and a
how-to-do-it-yourself agenda so this can be duplicated elsewhere?
If that is our focus -- who should come? Is this only for teachers?
No, this is definitely not just for teachers. The teachers, especially the
ones from the Florida gurukula, are desiring to learn from others who have a
little expertise in different areas of self-sufficiency -- so they can
devise the most appropriate subject matter to have for courses.
They say, "It takes a village to raise a child." So, in this instance, the
teachers are saying "It takes a whole ISKCON community to devise a good
curriculum to give a devotee varnasrama training."
Sorry, I was just throwing in a few ideas...
But you have my best wishes for a successful outcome. I'm sure
