VARNASRAMA

SHIKSHALAYA

Author : Sriman Hari Kirtan Das

E-mail : hkd75@yahoo.com

Date Produced : February 10, 2010

Editor : Srimati Vrindavan Lila d.d.

Serial No : 15 of 54

VARNASRAMA EDUCATION

Definition:Varnasrama education is the combined social and educational system based

on the teachings of the Vedic literatures which lead individuals and society at largetowards the perfection of life, i.e. individual and social emancipation. It takes intoaccount the living entity as a whole, fulfilling his physical, emotional, intellectual,

and social needs, along with his spiritual needs.

[HH RP Bhakti Raghava Swami]

Shastric Quotes on Educationśrī-nārada uvāca

brahmacārī guru-kule

vasan dānto guror hitam

ācaran dāsavan nīco

gurau sudrdha-sauhrdah (cf. SB 7.12.1)

TRANSLATION:

Nārada Muni said: A student should practice completely

controlling his senses. He should be submissive and should

have an attitude of firm friendship for the spiritual master. With

a great vow, the brahmacārī should live at the guru-kula, onlyfor the benefit of the guru.

sve sve karmany abhiratah

samsiddhim labhate narah

sva-karma-niratah siddhim

yathā vindati tac chrnu

- (cf. Bhagavad-gita, 18.45)

TRANSLATION:By following his qualities of work, every man

can become perfect. Now please hear fromMe how this can be done.

śreyān sva-dharmo vigunah

para-dharmāt sv-anusthitāt

svabhāva-niyatam karma

kurvan nāpnoti kilbisam

- (cf. Bhagavad-gita, 18:47)TRANSLATION:It is better to engage in one's own occupation,even though one may perform it imperfectly, thanto accept another's occupation and perform itperfectly. Duties prescribed according to one'snature are never affected by sinful reactions.

Compulsory Education

So far as Gurukula is concerned, literary education is forthe Brahminical class, not for all. Others should learn byseeing, like the ksatriyas, vaisyas, and sudras. Just likedriving a bullock cart; it doesn't require education.Modern so-called education is simply a waste of timeproducing hippies. Shameless! Why compulsoryeducation? To make hippies—compulsory education todegrade. So it is very fortunate that there is nocompulsory education required by the state ofMississippi. [Letter to Nityananda, Mayapur, 16 March, 1977]

Co-Education

Therefore Vedic civilization is, from the very

beginning, to train the boys to become

brahmacäré, celibacy. Not that modern days,

the schools, boys and girls, ten years,

twelve years, they're enjoying. The brain is

spoiled. They cannot understand higher

things. The brain tissues are lost. So without

becoming brahmacäré, nobody can

understand spiritual life. [Radhastami, August

29, 1971, London]

Commercializing Education

We never say that. But these so-called

teachers who first of all bargain for a

salary—"What salary will you give me?"—

that is a dog's concern. That is not a

brähmaëa's concern. A brähmaëa will never

ask about a salary. A brähmaëa is eager to

see that people are educated. "Take free

education and be educated; be a human

being"—this is a brähmaëa's concern: You

see? I came here not to ask for any money

but to give instruction. [Journey of Self-Discovery,

6.5 Slaughterhouse Civilization]

Competitive Psyche

Giving rise to envy, pride,frustration and ultimatelybad character.

That is the general education. Itdoesn't require that you have tolearn some book immediately.No. First of all build yourcharacter. Otherwise what is theuse of taking degrees if youhave no character?

Missing the Spiritual Dimension

“The modern educational systemhas no department for teachingabout consciousness or the spiritsoul, although this knowledge isthe most important.“

- Srila Prabhupada

The Real Story

Turning into an Ass

Don't spoil your children. The modern educationalsystem without any knowledge of Bhagavan, I maytell you frankly, not only in India, everywhere, they

are practically slaughterhouse.

-Srila Prabhupada (Lecture, Delhi pandal, Nov’71)

Modern Schools = Slaughterhouses

- Srila Prabhupada

Prahlada Mahäräja recommends, kaumara

äcaret präjïo dharmän bhägavatän iha [SB

7.6.1]. This is very, very important message.

We should be careful to educate our sons,

our boys, with bhägavata-dharma from the

very beginning of life. That was the Vedic

system.

Traditional System of Education

Formal - Gurukulas

Non-formal - Village technologies

Informal- Homeschooling

Why are parents

not interested in traditional education?

Dangers of Modern Schools

* Misconceptions about education* Material sense gratification as the goal of life* Wrong propaganda of compulsory education

* Not knowing self-realization as the goal of life * No information about the traditional education * Urbanization: Thinking village life as backward

Sudras or less than sudras leading the society.

Brahminical culture on the verge of extinction.

General masses neglecting Mother Cow and Father Bull.

Declined consumption of milk and milk products of the cow.

ISKCON Gurukula

Mainly Focused on Brahminical Training

What more needs to be done?

* Training of varnasbased on screening results

* Developing training programs considering other varnas’requirements

• The traditional gurukula system of schooling has to be introduced or revived every where

• Parents need to be convinced • Many unanswered questions

Meanwhile, are the children supposedto become the victims of moderneducation system (slaughter houses)?

How can this shift from moderneducation system to traditional or Vedicsystem be accomplished?

Contd-

An attempt to bring about this shift…

Varnasrama Shikshalayas

Conceived by

HH RP BHAKTI RAGHAVA SWAMI

Concept of Varnasrama Shikshalaya

It is a pre-gurukula system which is meantonly for boys (5-12 years). It exposes them tothe activities of four varnas (i.e. Vedicknowledge, planning & administration,agriculture & cow protection, and villagetechnologies). The teacher maps the gunas ornatural inclinations of the students towardsdifferent activities and accordingly impartsrelevant type of education and/ or training.

• It is for boys aged between 5-12 years(flexible in terms of age).

• It is a runner-up for Gurukula.

• Students are screened based on attitudeand aptitude-based learning, which leadsto aptitude-based occupation.

• It is established in an agrarian setting.

Proposed Syllabus for Varnasarama Shikshalaya

Vedic Educationi. Srila Prabhupada’s books /

writings

ii. Itihasas (Puranas)

iii. Nitishastras

iv. Languages

v. Vedic Mathematics & Sciences etc.

• Planning & Administrationi. Leadership development workshops

ii. Group discussions

iii. Vedic sports

iv. Martial arts

v. Skills and knowledge related to Protection/Administration/Welfare

• Agriculture & Cow Protection

i. Advantages of Vedic and traditional methods of agriculture, along with practical activities

ii. Importance of cows , along with practical activities

iii. Rudiments of Vedic Economy

• Village Technologiesi. Pottery

ii. Weaving

iii. Water lifting techniques

iv. Oil ghani etc..

What’s after Shikshalaya Training?

• Options

i. Gurukulas for brahminically inclined individuals and Varnasrama College for meeting other three varnas’ needs

ii. Varnasrama College training in four varnas

iii. Vidyalayas, Mahavidyalayas…

Screening or Guna-Mapping

• Astrology

• Family lineage

• Psychological testing

• Observation

A few considerations mentioned by Srila Prabhupada.

Advantages of Shikshalayas

• Students adapt easily to theGurukula environment as it is a fore-runner for the same.

• Students get introduced to somespiritual and agrarian setting awayfrom the current contaminatedsurroundings at a very tender age.

Varnasrama Education contd..

• In Varnasrama Vidyalaya BhaktiShastri Course will be imparted tothe students.

• In Varnasrama Vidyapeeth BhaktiVaibhava, Bhaktivedanta and BhaktiSarvabhauma will be imparted tothe students.

Attempts made in IndiaVarnasarama Shikshalayas

“Varnasarama Shikshalayas” have been introduced in:

Andhra Pradesh

1. Gundaipalem (an adopted village by the ISKCON Daiva Varnasrama Ministry) [IDVM-India], Praksham District

2. Pollasa village near Jagityal town, Karimnagar District3. Eirajapally village, Nizamabad District4. Wadlakonda village, in Warangal District

West Bengal

1. Gajankol village in Howrah District

Thank you

Hare Krishna !

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

• Name Sriman Hari Kirtan das

• Age and Gender 42, Male

• Country/State of Origin India, Andhra Pradesh

• Educational Degree and Year B. Tech (Civil), 1995

• Educational Institution Vasavi College of Engineering

• Professional Work/Experience Soil Mechanics Related Projects

• Affiliation with ISKCON 1998

• Present Service in ISKCONIDVM-India, Director for Village Development

Hari Kirtan das