1. Brahmana

2. śamo damas tapaḥ śaucaḿ kṣāntir ārjavam eva ca jñānaḿ vijñānam āstikyaḿ brahma-karma svabhāva-jam BG -18.42 Peacefulness, self-control, austerity, purity, tolerance, honesty, knowledge, wisdom and religiousness—these are the natural qualities by which the brähmaëas work. Brahmana Qualities

3. These qualities can only be cultivated when one practices occupations that requires these qualities.

4. Modern day occupations basically promote rajas and tamas Factory Software

5. Hence a Brahmana should take up such occupations that promotes Sattva Guna. This will not only help the individual in his spiritual life but also fulfill the needs of the society

6. Our Current Position

7. In ISKCON, the “Temple devotees” engage in spiritual occupation of preaching, Deity Worship which requires both Realization and Sattva Guna

8. Grihasta Devotees generally work in tamasic offices and have to engage mind and senses in cheating and making profits at others cost.

9. Rare Cases of spiritual work environment Bhaktivedanta Hospital

10. The Rajasic/Tamasik work environment has a very negative impact on spiritual life

11. Devotees suffer from Diabetes, Depression, financial anxiety, frustration and it spoils their spiritual life

12. Bottom line is to a large extent we do not have a good mechanism to guide the Grihasta devotees in Proper Occupations favorable to Krishna Consciousness

13. Lack of harmony between material occupation and spiritual thoughts leads to social confusion and lack of social structure Negative effects already seen  Children of devotees go to Karmi School to get Asuric education.  Very few second generation Brahmanas among devotee children  lack of devotee community

14. Shivaram Maharaj explains very nicely in a lecture “ISKCON are still an organization, not a society where devotees live together as community”

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

16. This will ensure…….

17. Brahminical Occupation so that Grihastas are in Sattva Guna

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

19. The rise of Gurukula (Brhamanas are teachers )

20. ISKCON Communities (Brhamana agraharas)

21. The following Brahminical occupations can be promoted

22. Priest Astrologer Yoga teacher Ayurveda doctor Vaastu consultant Traditional music teachers

23. Devotees with Brahmana nature can learn these vidya and slowly implement them in a Krishna consciousness way.

24. As of now the focus have been on Deity worship and Spiritual preaching in Brahmana vidya Rest remain relatively unknown

25. These occupations would give the devotees a better way to support himself and his family rather than having to taking up some ugrakarma occupation.

26. However these occupations require lot of research and institutional support which ISKCON can and should promote for the welfare of its society

27. Importance of Brahminical occupations

28. Social strata begins with Brahminical occupations

29. We do not have enough devotees engaged in spiritual occupations, rather working in factories or software

30. Proper Brahmanas are needed to develop other varnas

31. Thorough knowledge of sastras is required for leading a saatvic and successful spiritual life

32. Help devotee not only get a chance to develop the saatvic nature but also more time for Spiritual sadhana.

33. Spiritual life is practiced in a spiritual platform and on a material platform one should maintain saatvic lifestyle to have a successful spiritual life

34. The Brahmanas are responsible for training and education for Brahmanas and other varnas

35. Brahmaninical occupations like Yoga, Ayurveda, astrology, priesthood are a must in society

36. These practices can ensure devotees follow a saatvic lifestyle according to sastras

37. The following practices are required for 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 sattva Guna

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

41. Bhaktivoda Thakura talks about 3 aspects Service Sadhana Health

42. Good health can lead to good consistent 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. We in ISKCON need to develop these teachers * Not initially through videos 

46. One should follow scriptures while learning vedic vidya as we have lot of 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 your maintenance. Hence one should avoid industrially manufactured food as much as possible. 80% of todays food comes from Petroleum and then adulterated as well.

50. This awareness should be spread among devotees We need to train brahmanas experts in this knowledge

51. A prescribed food should be “Susnigdha Madhuraha” Freshly cooked and slightly sweet

52. For that one needs to have proper ashrama (previously rishi ashramas) and grow own food.

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

54. This can lead to bad health and bad sadhana

55. One needs to be very conscious about Ahara and practice Yoga with proper nidra for a succcessful saatvic life

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

57. One should also follow dinacharya and rtucharya

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

59. Daiva varnasrama ministry is planning to promote these vidyas and Occuaptions

60. We need interested people and an opportunity to do research

61. For more info on the PPT Contact bhakti.raghava.swami@pamho.net gaurnatraj@gmail.com 99860-69584 bhakti.raghava.swami@pamho.net gaurnatraj@gmail.com

62. Hare Krishna