BVPS 1997-12-02 Varnashrama Seminar-06 Grihasta - MayapurI will give a little bit of a synopsis, some aspects of what we discussed before.
First point we have to understand where culture comes from that is very important- then it makes it more easy to accept and understand the vaishnava culture. Basically speaking there is only the culture of the spiritual realm, everything in the material world is a reflection or perversion of that culture. That means things that are in reln with scripture they are those aspects of behavior that brings are closer to that spiritual culture. Those things that go against the scripture, that is activities that take us farther away from Krishna's culture. Krishna says in BG that everyone follows His path there is only one path-you can go towards Krsna or away from Krsna.There is not many paths- no other option.
If we can understand the activities of the vedic culture specifically the gaudiya vaishnava culture then we can go all the way to Krishna- but if we don't understand and we are following to some degree- then to whatever degree we are following then we can get to different destinations between here and Krsna. If we maintain too much material desire then we will have to spend time in heavenly planets. IF we have a desire for control, for knowledge or great attachment for renunciation then we will find ourselves on the mahar jana tapa satya lokas planets. We can become Lord Brahma. But if we don't want to waste time in that millions or trillions of years as Lord Brahma then we must be careful to understand our own culture and devotional practice.
How to understand how our posn within the speifc ashramas connects with our progress BTG. This means we have faith in the instructions of the acaryas- they know the culture of the spiritual realm and out tof that culture they know what is useful for us to follow- they have picked some and left some. We must have faith that what they have picked for us will actually helps us go BTG.
This means that in the spiritual realm the qualification is love for krsna- that gives us our spiritual form. In the material world- depending on our condn nature that gives us our form. The cond nature has nothing to do with our spiritual nature. But since we are condn we have to deal with that nature- without being attached to that nature. We maybe hungry - we have to deal with it while doing service. But we are not attached to eating, we will eat in connection with Krsna - take Krsna prasads- the taste we get out of eating is not the material senses but it is the taste of Krsna prasad that what Krsna has tasted. If we understand this then we can understand what Varnashrama gives us easily. We will perform the proper activity for the proper situation we will not be bewildered. Following of the rules and regulations we are doing that bec we do not have love for Krsna- by following the rules here that will awaken our natural love for Krsna- Rules and reg have been given acc to our condn nature.
Difference between the intelligence of men and women
We also discussed - psychology of how the intelligence works between men and women works there is a slight difference.In intelligence we have knowledge and the power of discrimination - the latter is most important in intelligence. Two sides of the brain- one side deals with emotions, the other deals with the analytical aspects. Men work with one side and the other - never both they may switch back and forth but its always on one side or the other. Women both sides constantly work there may be more emphasis for one side or the other- this gives strengths and weaknesses to both parties.
For the men their strength is if they look at something especially philosophical -they can look at it purely analytically without emotion -and say this is right this is wrong- reject the wrong. their weakness is if they are emotional they don't actually analyze the situation. they just see what is the emotion and they move in the realm of the mind and go that way. Therefore they will do so many things- take an ism, take an issue and completely take it up without thinking what gain or loss may come or they become interested in sense gratification and absorb themselves without thinking of the consequences.
Whereas women, we see their strength is in the mood of a mother, means in the mood of mother- then the emotions are running at the same time one can analyze what is the best situation for dealing and helping others. In the realm of emotions they can see what is the proper thing to do. Like we can see in the realm of the house they can decide the furniture is like this , the colors are like this put this here , there, etc - that is their expertise.
Or we can see the child is crying-bec of the emotions the natural affection is there at the same time they
can analyse oh the child is hungry, tired, something is bothering them. Men cannot do that. Because of their emotions they feel they should do something for the child, but in that emotional state they cannot analyze what is wrong. If they try to analyze it then they would think- "what would I do with this anyway- its crying, its wet- like that" that is the strength of women . The weakness is then when trying to purely analyze a philosophical subject or a practical situation one gets caught between understanding the situation this is correct, this is the philosophy this is correct- but also the emotion "Oh but what about this, someone may say that, this one may feel this". then we discussed the proper training about the boy and girl.
Boy is trained in Brahmacarya and in how to care for others, to be sensitive to other's feelings and need. The girl is trained in chastity and to be satisfied in whatever the father, the husband or the son provides. With the combination of two such persons we see there is a natural match. The husband will be thinking what does the wife require and the wife will be satisfied with whatever he can provide.Then they can live very peacefully together.
If we don't have this training boy will not be sensitive and the wife will be wanting more than the boy can provide. The problem comes is that both will think the problem is the other one. those who are not first class but second class in their traning they think the partner is the problem instead of thinking "Maybe I am not acting properly"
Therefore Vedic Culture stresses so much on the protection of women and the protection of the Brahmacaris.11:55
