Author : Sriman Gaur Nataraj das E-Mail : gaurnatraj@gmail.com Date Produced : January, 2015 Edited : Sriman Subhananda Hari das Serial No. : 22 of 54

2. BRAHMANABRAHMANA
Author : Sriman Gaur Nataraj das
E-Mail : gaurnatraj@gmail.com
Date Produced : January, 2015
Edited : Sriman Subhananda Hari das
Serial No. : 22 of 54

3. BrahmanaBrahmana

4. brahma-karma svabhāva-jam
Brahmana QualitiesBrahmana Qualities
Bhagvad Gita 18.42

5. These qualities can only be gained
when one practices occupations
which need these qualities.

6. Modern day occupations
basically promote rajas and tamas.
FactorySoftware

7. Hence one should take up
occupations which promote sattva
guna which will help one as well as
society in spiritual life.

8. In ISKCON “Temple devotees”
engage in spiritual occupation of
preaching which requires realization
and sattva guna.

9. Grihastas often work in tamasic
offices and have to engage their mind
and senses in cheating and making
profits at the cost of others.
Not ideal.

10. A rare case of
spiritual environment.
Bhaktivedanta Hospital

11. This rajasic work environment
has a negative impact on our
spiritual life.

12. Devotees suffer from diabetes,
depression, financial anxiety,
frustration and it spoils their
spiritual life.

13. Bottom line is we don’t have a
mechanism to guide grihastas
in proper natural occupations.

14. Negative effects
* Children in karmi schools (Asuric Education)
* No brahmanas created among devotee children
* No brahmana or devotee community
We have a mismatch in material occupation and
spiritual thought leading to social confusion and no
social structure in ISKCON.

15. Shivaram Maharaja explains very
nicely in a lecture:
“ISKCON is still an organization,
not a society where devotees live
together as a community”.

16. There is a great need to train up and
develop brahminical occupations for
the welfare of our own society.

17. This will ensure…….

18. Brahminical occupation so that our
grihastas live and work in sattva guna.

19. Proper standards and devotee relationships
in ISKCON society as devotees avoid
contaminating ugra karma jobs.

20. The rise of gurukulas
where brahmanas are teachers.

21. ISKCON Communities
(Brahmana agraharas)

22. For brahminical occupations
one can take up occupations
like…

23. Priest
Astrologer
Yoga Teacher
Ayurveda Doctor
Vastu Consultant
Traditional Music Teacher

24. Devotees should learn these
vidyas & slowly implement in
a Krishna consciousness way.

25. As of now we have mastered
deity worship and
spiritual preaching in
brahmana vidya.
Rest are relatively unknown .

26. These natural occupations
should be taken up by
devotees to make a living
rather than accepting nasty
ugrakarma.

27. These occupations require
research and institutional
support which ISKCON can
and should promote.

28. Importance of
brahminical occupations .

29. Social strata begins with
brahminical occupations
(First is varna)

30. We do not have enough
devotees engaged in
traditional occupations,
rather they are working in
factories or as software
engineers.

31. Proper brahmanas are needed
to develop other varnas.

32. Thorough knowledge of
sastras is required for leading
a sattvic and successful
spiritual life.

33. Spiritual life is practiced on
both spiritual platform and on
material platform. One should
maintain a sattvic lifestyle to
have a successful spiritual life.

34. Brahmanas are responsible
for training and educating the
brahmana varna and other
varnas as well.

35. Brahmanical occupations like
Yoga, Ayurveda, Astrology &
Priesthood are a must in a
varnasrama society.

36. These practices will ensure
devotees follow a sattvic
lifestyle according to guru,
sadhu and sastra.

37. The following practices are
required in all varnas for
good spiritual development.

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

39. Yoga practices strengthen
ones body and mind and help
maintain one in sattva guna.

40. Yoga is a good popular
method of preaching as well.

41. Bhaktivinoda Thakur
talks about 3 aspects :
Service Sadhana Health

42. Good health can lead to good
sadhana and then eventually
to good service.

43. Consistency in sadhana can
be maintained only by good
health and Yoga.

44. Good health comes by proper
Yoga
Ahara
Nidra

45. These should be learnt
through authentic teachers.
In our ISKCON society we
need to train up such teachers.
* Not initially through videos!


46. One should follow scriptures
while learning Vedic Vidyas as
we have many quacks and
misconceptions around.

47. One should understand Yoga
from:
Srimad-Bhagavatam
Bhagavad-Gita
Patanjali Yoga Sutras

48. Regarding Prasada one should have
basic knowledge of
tridosa from Ayurveda.

49. Diet is 50% of our
maintenance. Hence we
should avoid commercially
manufactured food as much as
possible.
80% of today’s food comes
from PETROLIUM and that is
adulterated as well.

50. This awareness should be
spread among our devotees
and congregational members.

51. We need to train brahmanas
expert in this knowledge!

52. A Yogic food should have
“Susnigdha Madhuraha”
food, i.e
* freshly cooked
* slightly sweet

53. For that one needs to have
proper asramas
(previously rishi asramas)
and grow one’s own food.

54. Salty, sour and oily foods with
too many vegetables render
food only for taste
with no nutrition.

55. This can lead to bad health
and bad sadhana.

56. Hence one needs to be very conscious about
ahara and practice Yoga and proper nidra for a
successful sattvic life.

57. With proper basic knowledge of astrology
one should follow Ekadasi and
honor moon cycles in eating.

58. One should also follow
dinacharya and rtucharya.

59. This can only come about when we have
proper understanding of brahminical
vidya and have experts in that field.

60. Daiva Varnasrama Ministry is
planning to promote these
Vidyas and Occupations.

61. We need interested people to
take these up. This is also an
opportunity to do research.

62. Sriman Gaura Nataraj das

63. ABOUT THE AUTHOR
• Name Sriman Gaura Nataraj das
• Age and Gender 37, Male
• Country/Province of Origin India, Karnataka
• Educational Degree and Year M.Sc in Yoga, 2006
• Educational Institution Mangalore University
• Professional Work/Experience Teacher in ISKCON
• Affiliation with ISKCON Since 2001
• Present Service in ISKCON Preacher/ISKCON New Vrindavan