[fusion_builder_container hundred_percent=”yes” overflow=”visible” margin_top=”20px” margin_bottom=”” background_color=”rgba(255,255,255,0)”][fusion_builder_row][fusion_builder_column type=”1_1″ background_position=”left top” background_color=”” border_size=”” border_color=”” border_style=”solid” spacing=”yes” background_image=”” background_repeat=”no-repeat” padding=”” margin_top=”0px” margin_bottom=”0px” class=”” id=”” animation_type=”” animation_speed=”0.3″ animation_direction=”left” hide_on_mobile=”no” center_content=”no” min_height=”none”][fusion_separator style_type=”none” sep_color=”” border_size=”” icon=”” icon_circle=”” icon_circle_color=”” width=”” alignment=”” class=”” id=””][/fusion_builder_column][/fusion_builder_row][/fusion_builder_container][fusion_builder_container hundred_percent=”yes” overflow=”visible”][fusion_builder_row][fusion_builder_column type=”3_5″ last=”no” spacing=”yes” center_content=”no” hide_on_mobile=”no” background_color=”” background_image=”” background_repeat=”no-repeat” background_position=”left top” border_size=”0px” border_color=”” border_style=”” padding=”” margin_top=”” margin_bottom=”” animation_type=”” animation_direction=”” animation_speed=”0.1″ class=”” id=””][fusion_text]3rd day of Scandinavian Bhakti Sangam Festival of Generosity ended with wonderful presentations and discussions on Varnasrama Dharma.
The main topic discussed in 3rd day’s seminar covered education as presented in two Power Points, one being “Varnasrama Curriculum” and the other being “Varnasrama Education”.
The Varnasrama Curriculum is based on the “Char Vidyas” mentioned in the Kautilya Arthashastra of Canakya Pandit and analyses four traditional sciences pertaining to the dvijas or the twice born.
- The first is called the Science of Philosophy or Metaphysics (for all the dvijas)
- The second is called the Science of the Vedas (for the brahmanas)
- The third is called the Science of Politics (for the ksatriyas)
- The fourth is called the science of Economics (for the vaisyas).
Then within each of these are sub-branches of knowledge.
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The Goshala at Almvik Village provides ample space for the cows/bulls that spend most of their summer days grazing in the more than 20 hectares of open fields.
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Visiting Korsnas Gard, headquarters for the Bhaktivedanta Book Trust (BBT) headed by HG Brahma Muhurta Das and his local team of devotees, some serving 30 years
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Main BBT temple building at Korsnas Gard with Hanumanji flag rising on the horizon. BBT has printed some 100 titles over the past year in various languages.
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HH Smitha Krishna Maharaja on left in saffron color with HH Bhakti Raghava Swami on right. To the right of Smitha Krishna Maharaja is HG Adikarta Das from USA.
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Local sawmill at Almvik Village where devotees use some of the trees from their 100+ hectares of forest land. Many local structures come from local wood.
[/fusion_text][/fusion_builder_column][fusion_builder_column type=”3_5″ last=”yes” spacing=”yes” center_content=”no” hide_on_mobile=”no” background_color=”” background_image=”” background_repeat=”no-repeat” background_position=”left top” border_size=”0px” border_color=”” border_style=”” padding=”” margin_top=”” margin_bottom=”” animation_type=”” animation_direction=”” animation_speed=”0.1″ class=”” id=””][fusion_text]The Varnasrama Education presentation focused mainly on the five pillars or principles that make up traditional education, namely
- Definition
- Disposition
- Delivery
- Design
- Direction.
Vedic culture defines knowledge as that which takes into consideration both the material and spiritual dimensions of life. As for disposition, both the teachers and the students must prove themselves to be ideal and qualified as described in the Bhagavad-gita (4.34* and 18.42*). Delivery of education can best be done in a more natural rural setting and within a boarding school atmosphere. This traditional education should also be free education. The design of curriculum should be based on knowledge from sastras as found in our Vedic texts and the direction or purpose of education should be to bring individuals towards self-realization.[/fusion_text][/fusion_builder_column][/fusion_builder_row][/fusion_builder_container][fusion_builder_container background_color=”” background_image=”” background_parallax=”none” enable_mobile=”no” parallax_speed=”0.3″ background_repeat=”no-repeat” background_position=”left top” video_url=”” video_aspect_ratio=”16:9″ video_webm=”” video_mp4=”” video_ogv=”” video_preview_image=”” overlay_color=”” overlay_opacity=”0.5″ video_mute=”yes” video_loop=”yes” fade=”no” border_size=”0px” border_color=”” border_style=”” padding_top=”20″ padding_bottom=”20″ padding_left=”0″ padding_right=”0″ hundred_percent=”no” equal_height_columns=”no” hide_on_mobile=”no” menu_anchor=”” class=”” id=””][fusion_builder_row][fusion_builder_column type=”1_1″ background_position=”left top” background_color=”” border_size=”” border_color=”” border_style=”solid” spacing=”yes” background_image=”” background_repeat=”no-repeat” padding=”” margin_top=”0px” margin_bottom=”0px” class=”” id=”” animation_type=”” animation_speed=”0.3″ animation_direction=”left” hide_on_mobile=”no” center_content=”no” min_height=”none”][fusion_text]One of the questions asked at the end of the seminar was in reference to how one can identify one’s varna. Srila Prabhupada explains four ways to know one’s varna, something that traditionally local brahmanas will do: 1) astrological chart, 2) family lineage, 3) psychological test and 4) observation of the candidate.
Om Sri Surabhyai Namah !
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*Bg 4.34
tad viddhi praṇipātena
paripraśnena sevayā
upadekṣyanti te jñānaṁ
jñāninas tattva-darśinaḥ
Just try to learn the truth by approaching a spiritual master. Inquire from him submissively and render service unto him. The self-realized souls can impart knowledge unto you because they have seen the truth.
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*Bg 18.42
śamo damas tapaḥ śaucaṁ
kṣāntir ārjavam eva ca
jñānaṁ vijñānam āstikyaṁ
brahma-karma svabhāva-jam
Peacefulness, self-control, austerity, purity, tolerance, honesty, knowledge, wisdom and religiousness – these are the natural qualities by which the brāhmaṇas work.
[/fusion_text][/fusion_builder_column][fusion_builder_column type=”1_1″ background_position=”left top” background_color=”” border_size=”” border_color=”” border_style=”solid” spacing=”yes” background_image=”” background_repeat=”no-repeat” padding=”” margin_top=”0px” margin_bottom=”0px” class=”” id=”” animation_type=”” animation_speed=”0.3″ animation_direction=”left” hide_on_mobile=”no” center_content=”no” min_height=”none”][fusion_text]Reported by: His Holiness RP Bhakti Raghava Swami, from Almvik Village, Sweden.[/fusion_text][/fusion_builder_column][/fusion_builder_row][/fusion_builder_container]