DO WE HAVE THE CONVICTION TO BE TRUE TO PRABHUPADA'S

INSTRUCTION?

This is a critical moment in the evolution of ISKCON. Due to the pressure of misunderstanding by the outside world and the desire of our own constituents to be congratulated for any efforts they make in what they believe to be varnasrama, the temptation may be strong to deviate from Prabhupada's version especially when it calls for dividing devotees into groups of brahmanas, ksatriyas, vaisyas and sudras and providing them with devotionally oriented occupational training. That is a very tall order.

We may prefer instead to stick with our system of dividing people only by asrama while maintaining that we are transcendental to designations of varna. But if we do that, we will defeat the whole purpose of varnasrama which is to take as many people as possible to the top levels of Krsna consciousness. Rather, our asramavarna approach to social development will only serve to divide and confuse us, because it automatically processes everyone as brahmana, whereas Krsna has given only few people in society the nature to act as brahmana.

If we back down from our commitment to provide varna guidance and varna training, the ultimate effect is that we will be perceived as a "holierthanthou" exclusivist religious institution. We won't be able to spread Krsna consciousness in an effective or lasting way.

"He built a house the whole world can live in" some say of Prabhupada. In some sense perhaps that is true, but for a great many devotees, it's simply an ironic slogan. They want to be devotees, but because they don't live in a temple, because they are not brahmanas, they feel there is really no place for them or their children in ISKCON and certainly no place for 90 percent of the nondevotees they meet.

The great irony of our use of that slogan struck me in a recent visit to one city temple in North America. The temple is set in a slum section of the city. Most of the neighborhood residents have no connection with the temple other than to gamble at Bingo in the hall the temple rents out to raise funds to cover expenses. And yet the neighborhood is teaming with people.

In the morning the temple president a very sincere devotee, please don't misunderstand leads a prayer after mangala arotik: "My Dear Lord Krsna, if you so desire, please send us a sankirtana devotee."

Here they are, right in the middle of a neighborhood teeming with people, and they have a sign hanging overhead saying "He built a house the whole world can live in." And yet, they are desperately praying to get one devotee who can move in. Why not just walk out their door and get someone? It's impossible. They have no engagement for any but the highest type of human being. So, in fact, it's not really a "house the whole world can live in." It's a "house only the topmost gentlemen can live in."

That's just not Prabhupada's vision. But, in an urban temple, what can be done? On the other hand, in a rural community, there are so many attractive ways that anyone could be engaged in devotional service. If there were a solid program of varna training in a rural community, so many people could be engaged and become

purified.

Sometimes I can't help but wonder where that slogan came from, "He built a house the whole world could live in." The astrologer predicted Prabhupada would build a house the whole world could live in. Now he's dead, so the house must be built. That's the logic. The only problem with that logic is that Prabhupada is not dead. He's still here. And he still trying to help us progress in devotional service by building that house with him. The house is varnasrama, and Prabhupada will be incredibly pleased if we actually build it. Shall we do it? I think we should.

your servant,

Hare Krsna dasi