Varrama College Course in 2009, South India

Land, Cows, and Ka - Part 1: Applied Varrama Practices

rla Prabhupdas basic idea to gradually reintroduce varrama-dharma was summarized in the famous statement he made when asked by his disciples how he would do it: I will go to Gt-nagar, I will sit down, and I will teach you to live off the land. In other words, he would teach us to stop running around, to reduce the passion, to settle down, and to grow food. This is what rla Prabhupda envisioned as the first step to begin varrama-dharmato give sattva-gua a chance. To reestablish the varrama social system, even just locally in a few villages, is a huge task that will necessitate years of research and dedicated work. Naturally, facing such a gargantuan enterprise the devotees will be perplexed as to where to begin. rla Prabhupda gave us the hint to first stabilize our life on the land and begin agriculture (which is inseparable from cow protection). At first consideration this may appear to be confined to vaiya-dharma, but upon deeper reflection one will understand that land and cows is a foundation upon which the subtler aspects of Vedic society, culture, and religion take shelter, and therefore are important to all ryans. The combination of ki (agriculture) and go-rakya (cow protection) especially pertains to vaiyas, but also to brhmaas, because they will have to preach it and teach itto the katriyas, because they will have to govern it and protect it, and even to dras, because they will inevitably take part in it. We are not implying that the above is the complete picture of a varrama college, but simply a logical first step (and a very needed one in this day and age) that we are prepared to offer in the short term. Many important aspects of varrama college, such as education of brhmaas, which will require more delicate application, will be easier to set up when ki and go-rakya are in place. Once we are living on the land, the natural division of vara and rama will more smoothly materialize, because that is its natural habitat. The vast majority of our devotees in ISKCON did not grow up living this ideal and were not taught by previous generations; therefore this adjusting education is indeed needed: The varrama college has to be established immediately. Everywhere, wherever we have got our center, a varrama college should be established to train four divisions: one class, brhmaa; one class, katriya; one class, vaiya; and one class, dra. But everyone will be elevated to the spiritual platform by the spiritual activities which we have prescribed. There is no inconvenience, even for the dras. [Morning Walk: Vndvana, 12 March 1974]

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The point is that to establish varrama properly, varrama colleges are mandatory and, as per rla Prabhupdas order, should be implemented immediately. The fact that we ignored this instruction to set up varrama colleges is one of the main reasons, if not the main reason, why our various attempts at varrama and village organization were not successful. Our devotees widely lack training.

By the psychology of fear of the unknown, modern devotees will naturally be apprehensive about relocating to a village (especially one in the pioneer stage) if they do not have the skills, grasp the basics, and see the enormous social, economic, and spiritual opportunities that await them in doing so. Thus, in a humble attempt to help, we are proposing this course, which will at least cover the basics and inspire some devotees to take the first step.

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Land, Cows, and Ka - Part 1: Applied Varrama Practices (English medium)

Dates: The course will run from 1 January 2009 to 15 April 2009 Prime facilitators:
His Holiness Bhakti Rghava Swami, M. Ed. His Grace tma Tattva Dsa ACBSP, Paita His Grace Pra Ntha Dsa, Ph. D., Yoga Therapy His Grace Bhrata Candra Dsa, M.H.A. And your servant Hdaya Caitanya Dsa study of rla Prabhupdas instructions for varrama development and a study of dharma-stra, we will especially also present an overview of village technologies and the basics of ki (agriculture), go-rakya (cow protection), bullock-cart use, and traditional home construction, both in theory and practice. These will constitute the core curriculum. Additionally yurveda, or Vedic medicine (in this context: especially that related to self-healing, the promotion of immunity in a community, and the cultivation of medicinal plants), aga-yoga (sana, pryma, etc., also in the context of self-healing and immunity), vstu-vidy (Vedic architecture and town planning), vka-yurveda (yurveda for trees, plants, and crops), pottery, basket fabrication, cloth manufacture, and bamboo crafts will be taught as complementary subjects. Padaytr with bullock carts and harinma-sakrtana in neighboring villages will add the devotional perspective to the experience.

Curriculum in broad lines: Along with a

teachers, visiting senior devotees, and a few guest scholars will conduct the courses.

Teachers: A combination of resident devotee

Fees: The course, accommodations and

prasdam are free. The College follows the traditional daki system, wherein the student reciprocates financially according to his means and offers menial service. No serious student will be refused education based on financial considerations, and no one deemed not serious enough will be able to purchase his enrollment. Students are expected to provide their own transportation, although exceptions can be accomodated on an individual basis.

Multimedia support: Since some key individuals

who can bring important contribution to this course might not be able to be physically present, some presentation of their teachings, through video and audio, will be a part of the curriculum. Some relevant documentaries will also be presented.

Sahydri r Ka-Balarma Ketra (SSKBK), the headquarters of GLOVESCO, located in a rural setting four kilometers from Hebri town, which is about thirty kilometers from Udupi, Karnataka, India. For specific studies and demonstrations, a few short visits to other campuses will also be conducted.

Location: The education will take place at

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Schedule: The schedule will be conducive to devotional activities on a farm. The usual

ISKCON schedule of going to bed at 21:00-22:00, if not 23:30, and getting up at 4:00 might fit the need of a city preacher but is not congenial to village life. Here the students will take rest at 19:30, or at the latest 20:00, and rise between 1:30 and 2:30, getting six to seven hours of sound sleep. Hours of sleep before midnight have double the potency for rest and recuparation than those after midnight; this will increase attention in class. With this early rise, japa can be completed before magala-rati. From sunrise till around 11:00 is the ideal time for physical labor on the land, after which the sunshine becomes too harsh. This is especially so for people who are not accustomed to such work. The entire morning program, including the rmad-Bhgavatam class (Seventh Canto, chapters 1115), will be in one block, from 4:30 to 6:20. Students will take a simple breakfeast at 6:30, and then engage in practical training and service from 7:00 to 11:00. Neither sdhana nor seva will be neglected. Lunch will be served at 11:00, after which will be a recess. Formal education will be conducted from 14:00 to 17:30, followed by dinner. (Due to physical exertion, grain intake is needed thrice). Evening activities will consist of sdhu-saga and krtana, after which devotees will very willingly retire for a well-deserved early rest. Twice weekly students will not attend formal education so that they may have some respite. The formal education will occur five days per week: three days on, one day off, two on, one off. The practical training or seva will take place six days per week, and to ensure continuity of essential functions, off days will vary between the students. On special occasions, seva on the land will be replaced by preaching activities.

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wife. rla Prabhupda clearly stated that the varrama college is for men only; women are meant to be trained at home by the women of the family, or under the care of other prominent women in the village. Yet, because many women were not trained in this way, some education is needed to palliate. So a course will simultaneously be offered to the wives of students. The education for women will be less formal than that for the men and will be conducted mainly by women. There will be a greater degree of seva with other matajis, and hands-on training. Some of the arts and crafts that will be taught are: milking cows; making yogurt, buttermilk, and ghee; churning; grinding with various mortars; husking rice; cleaning with cow dung slurry; making rangoli; perfuming the house; traditional sattvic cooking with cow dung on tripods according to tridos and seasons; cooking for the ill and the convalescent; yurveda and maternity (the course of action before, during, and following pregnancy, along with care of babies); yurvedic home remedies; horticulture of medicinal plants, spices and vegetables; floriculture; sana, pryma, and prenatal yoga; making baskets, bamboo utensils, and clay pots; the use of the carak, handloom, and natural dyes; sewing; traditional festive decoration from flowers and leaves; and the care of rmat Tulas-dev. They will also undergo a basic formal study of the saskras.

Wife: Some students are married and will naturally come with their

the katriya or administrative class distributes land to the vaiyas, or productive class, according to qualification and capacity. Students who duly complete the course in good standing will naturally be prime candidates for land distribution within Vaiava villages where the leaders understand and value this eternal principle, and where there is need to populate the acreage. This system solves both the problem of village population and the problem of finding a healthy Vedic position for our ghasthas. Within the society of ISKCON devotees, almost all rural projects experience difficulties for populating and for growing food. Thus the Varrama College will develop relationships with all projects wanting to keep an orthodox approach in accordance with rla Prabhupdas instructions especially in India, but also abroadto contribute to their growth by providing qualified devotees and leaders.

Eligibility for land distribution: The standard in varrama-dharma is that, on behalf of the Deity,

Eligibility for sponsored research: Students who demonstrate serious affinity and desire to help the varrama mission will have access to sponsorship for enabling them to dedicate full-time to the mission. They will be encouraged to join the development of the Varrama College and the Varrama Research Team (VRT). The Varrama Support Fund (VSF) will sponsor researches on various aspect of Vedic culture and varramadharma.

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males at least fourteen years old. Applicants must: vow to attend the full course and reside on campus, be humble, be prepared to live apart from modern commodities (simple living), be ready to work the land, and have a sense of self-sacrifice for the mission of rla Prabhupda (high thinking). Applicants must provide at least one letter of reference from a senior devotee of ISKCON and have a good record of service in ISKCON or in an ISKCON-friendly project. They must submit an application text no later than 13 November 2008 (end of Krtikamasa). Applicants are advised not to wait till the last minute. There will be a limited number of students accepted, and each case will be examined on an individual basis. via e-mail, following the specifications given herein below. Microsoft Word format (.doc) is preferred. If applicable, please first give your devotional name, spiritual master, yatra of affiliation, and year of initiation. Please also state your rama. Then please provide your legal name, age, gender, profession, education, citizenship, full address of residence, phone number, and e-mail address. Please include any other information that you would judge pertinent (for example, a medical condition). If you are married and are planning to come with your wife, please include her biodata as well, in the same fashion. Then please kindly describe your history of service in ISKCON, and name at least one ISKCON authority (guru, temple president, known senior devotee, etc.) who is referring you for this course. Conclude by writing a short essay describing your experience, involvement, understanding, vision and plans regarding daiva-varrama and the fulfillment of rla Prabhupdas desire for village organization. Your text submission should be a minimum of two pages and maximum ten pages. It should be sent as an attachment to an e-mail. To this same email, please also duly attach (as a separate .doc file) your letter of reference, including the contact information of the devotee who is referring you. Please entitle your document with your name and the word application (example: Krishna Dasa Application), and please use this very same title in the subject field of your email message. That will make it easier for us to file your application. All applications must be submitted by the end of Krtika-masa, 13 November 2008. We will do our best to reply promptly, to let you know as soon as possible of your admission so that you may plan accordingly. Send the application to the address given below. Should you need any clarification, please feel welcome to write to us at the same address.

Criteria for application: The course will be available for

Process of application: Applicants must send a text

brs16108@gmail.com
Your servant, Hdaya Caitanya Dsa (BRS)

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