Brahmana

śamo damas tapah śaucamksāntir ārjavam eva ca

jñānam vijñānam āstikyambrahma-karma svabhāva-jam

BG -18.42 Peacefulness, self-control, austerity,

purity, tolerance, honesty, knowledge, wisdom and religiousness—these are the natural qualities by which the brähmaëas

work.

Brahmana Qualities

These qualities can only be cultivated when one practices occupations that requires these qualities.

Modern day occupations basically promote rajas and

tamas

Factory

Software

Hence a Brahmana should take up such occupations that promotes Sattva Guna. This will not only help the individual in his spiritual life but also fulfill the needs of the society

Our Current Position

In ISKCON, the “Temple devotees” engage in spiritual occupation of preaching, Deity Worship which requires both Realization and Sattva Guna

Grihasta Devotees generally work in tamasic offices and have to engage mind and

senses in cheating and making profits at others cost.

Rare Cases of spiritual work environment

Bhaktivedanta Hospital

The Rajasic/Tamasik work environment has a very

negative impact on spiritual life

Devotees suffer from Diabetes, Depression,

financial anxiety, frustration and it spoils

their spiritual life

Bottom line is to a large extent we do not have a

good mechanism to guide the Grihasta devotees in

Proper Occupations favorable to Krishna

Consciousness

Lack of harmony between material occupation and spiritual thoughts

leads to social confusion and lack of social structure

Negative effects already seen

Children of devotees go to Karmi School to get Asuric education.

Very few second generation Brahmanas among devotee children

lack of devotee community

There is a great need to train up and develop Brahminical

occupations for the welfare of our own society

This will ensure…….

Brahminical Occupation so that Grihastas are in Sattva Guna

Proper standards and devotee relationships in ISKCON society as

devotees avoid ugra karma jobs.

The rise of Gurukula (Brhamanas are teachers )

ISKCON Communities (Brhamana agraharas)

The following Brahminical occupations can be

promoted

Priest Astrologer

Yoga teacher Ayurveda doctor

Vaastu consultant Traditional music

teachers

Devotees with Brahmana nature can learn these

vidya and slowly implement them in a

Krishna consciousness way.

As of now the focus have been on

Deity worship and Spiritual preaching in

Brahmana vidya

Rest remain relatively unknown

These occupations would give the devotees a better

way to support himself and his

family rather than having to taking up some

ugrakarma occupation.

However these occupations require lot of research and institutional

support

which ISKCON can and should promote for the welfare of its society

Importance of Brahminical occupations

Social strata begins with Brahminical occupations

We do not have enough devotees engaged in

spiritual occupations , rather working in

factories or software

Proper Brahmanas are needed to develop other

varnas

Help devotee not only get a chance to develop the

saatvic nature but also more time for

Spiritual sadhana.

The Brahmanas are responsible for training

and education for Brahmanas and other

varnas

Brahmaninical occupations like Yoga, Ayurveda, astrology,

priesthood are a must in society

The following practices are required for all varnas

for good spiritual development

1. Yoga 2. Knowledge of Ahara (part of ayurveda)3. Basic knowledge of astrology (Vedic calendar)

Yoga practices strengthen ones body and mind and

help maintain sattva Guna

Yoga is a good popular method of preaching as

well

Bhaktivoda Thakura talks about 3 aspects

Service Sadhana Health

Good health can lead to good consistent Sadhana

and then eventually to good service

Good health comes by proper

Yoga Ahara Nidra

These should be learnt through authentic

teachers . We in ISKCON need to develop these

teachers

* Not initially through videos

One should follow scriptures while learning vedic vidya as we have lot

of quacks and misconceptions around

One should understand Yoga from

Srimad-Bhagavatam Bhagavad-Gita

Patanjali Yoga sutras

Regarding Prasada one should have basic knowledge of tridosa from ayurveda

Diet is 50% of your maintenance . Hence one should avoid industrially

manufactured food as much as possible.

80% of todays food comes from Petroleum and then

adulterated as well.

This awareness should be spread among devotees

We need to train brahmanas experts in this

knowledge

A prescribed food should be “Susnigdha Madhuraha”

Freshly cooked and slightly sweet

One needs to be very conscious about Ahara and practice Yoga with proper nidra

for a succcessful saatvic life

With proper basic knowledge of astrology one should follow Ekadasi

and follow moon cycles in eating

One should also follow dinacharya and rtucharya

This can only come about when we have proper understanding of

brahminical vidya and experts in that field

Daiva varnasrama ministry is planning to

promote these vidyas and Occuaptions

We need interested people and an opportunity to do

research

For more info on the PPT Contact

bhakti.raghava.swami@pamho.net

gaurnatraj@gmail.com

99860-69584

Hare Krishna