20240926 Śrī Caitanya Śikṣāmṛta 2.1. Division of Secondary Rules

mūkaṁ karoti vācālaṁ paṅguṁ laṅghayate girim
yat-kṛpā tam ahaṁ vande śrī-guruṁ dīna-tāraṇam
paramānanda-mādhavam śrī caitanya īśvaram
Harihi oṁ tat sat

Second Shower — Consideration of secondary rules

First Stream — Division of Secondary Rules

The propensity for social rules is the main dharma of mankind. In all countries and at all times, the activities for this dharma can be seen among mankind. To the extent the social progress and the prosperity of civilization of the human beings in a country, to that extent, in that country the social rules are mature and rooted. It is universally accepted that among all nations, the social progress and civilization of the Ārya caste is greater. Among all the branches of the Āryan race, is there any doubt that the education, intellect and social progress of the Indian Āryan branch has been greater? Just because this Ārya-branch is nowadays weak due to old age and has become subject to other nations, it will not be a defect for their respect in society.

Jayapatākā Swami: Just because a certain foolish inexperienced people protest about the progress and civilization of the Indian Ārya branch, their values will not be diminished. The extent to which social rules have been developed at the hands of the Indian Ārya branch can be seen simply by reading the Vedic scriptures. To be precise, all good-hearted and scientific people will admit that social rules were greatly improved at the hands of ṛṣis.

Rules for varṇa (caste) and the āśrama (occupation)

They have divided the social rules into two parts, viz., the varṇa-vidhi (caste) and the āśrama-vidhi (occupation) according to the scientific judgment.

Note:

yas tvayābhihitaḥ pūrvaṁ
dharmas tvad-bhakti-lakṣaṇaḥ
varṇāśramācāravatāṁ
sarveṣāṁ dvi-padām api

Previously You described the principles of devotional service that are to be practiced by followers of the varṇāśrama system and even ordinary, unregulated human beings.

Jayapatākā Swami: There are two types of status of a person following social rules i.e. nature and position. The nature is from their individual personal nature and position is from their situation in the society. The personal individual nature of a human does not disappear when the person becomes social, rather it is gradually nourished by social relations. Āśrama rules were arranged according to the position of a human being and the rules for the varṇa (caste) were according to the nature of a person. The physical and mental faculties of man are gradually improved through practice and attain a permanent state. In that situation, the instinct which dominates all other instincts is the nature of the human being.

Jayapatākā Swami: [audio started abruptly] So they did that, and they returned to normal living, etc. So in other ages there were specific duties for each of the orders, brāhmaṇas, ksatriyas, vaiśyas and śūdras. But in this Kali-yuga since everybody is a born śūdra, Lord Caitanya came gave the message to chant the holy name and read Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam and Bhagavad-gītā. So, in the 11^th canto purport Śrīla Prabhupāda said that when it comes to being Kṛṣṇa consciousness, be it man, woman, śūdra, whatever, they are all one. So in this age there was no such restriction, everybody can chant the holy name and practice Kṛṣṇa consciousness. So even those who are yavanas and mlecchas can get deliverance from Lord Caitanya. Gaurāṅga!

The nature is of four types

There are four types of nature, i.e., brahma-nature, kṣatra-nature, vaiśya-nature and śūdra-nature. The four natures arise out of the best instincts of human. Inferior instincts gradually become the nature of lower classes. There is no rule other than the relinquishment of the nature of the lower classes.

Note:

aśaucam anṛtaṁ steyaṁ
nāstikyaṁ śuṣka-vigrahaḥ
kāmaḥ krodhaś ca tarṣaś ca
sa bhāvo ’ntyāvasāyinām

Dirtiness, dishonesty, thievery, faithlessness, useless quarrel, lust, anger and hankering constitute the nature of those in the lowest position outside the varṇāśrama system.

Jayapatākā Swami: So, many of these activities like the karatālas, they have these qualities. The smugglers. So these qualities are beyond the varṇāśrama system. We see that in the human society many people have these qualities.

According to association and practice, from the birth till the time of the emergence of strong instincts, the seeds of strong instincts sprout and grow into a tree and are nourished. The authors of scriptures have written that the origin of nature is according to previous actions. In the family in which one is born, the family nature will become its associated quality from childhood, later on, it will have some improvement or deterioration due to study and other associations; this is natural.

Jayapatākā Swami: We know that even if one is born in a good family but by association they may deteriorate. Those who are born in a bad family, if they get good association they may improve. If someone is born in a medium family, and they may go up or down depending on what association they have. Because you are associated with Pañca-tattva.

Can we see the devotees?

Kṛṣṇe matir astu!

Kṛṣṇe matir ruhu!

Just think how wonderful it would be to have Kṛṣṇa conscious social rules. If the whole society was actually, Kṛṣṇa conscious. So in the Brahma-vaivarta Purāṇa it is mentioned that there would be a ten-thousand-year golden age. Śrīla Prabhupāda has begun the golden age. We want you all to spread the message of Lord Caitanya. Some of the Caribbean countries, they have gangs. The gangs are armed with arms and weapons and still people are distributing books. Even in grocery shops they have armed guards. Recently we saw that El Salvador was one of the most dangerous countries and they president, declared war against the gangs and they arrested 2% of the nation’s population. And so, now it is one of the safest countries! So, Lord Caitanya, His method of chanting and being Kṛṣṇa conscious are the special facility we have now. And if we can be very Kṛṣṇa conscious, that is the best alternative. So I want all of you to help spread Lord Caitanya’s consciousness. Haribol!

If they sponsor books for South America, then they can print in India. So we can give the money to the book publishers, and we can distribute the books in South America. But also if you want give the books in India, we have His Holiness Bhakti Vijaya Bhāgavata Swami, he will tell you how!