Varnashrama College Series -3 Analysis of Morning Walk Srila Prabhupada March 12, 1974 Vrindavan

Insightful and passionate input from HH Dhaneshwar Goswami, Mother Jessica, Balarama Prabhu, Bh. Leo made a lively session, the third in the series for Varnasrama College.

Today’s main topic was Whether, how much, and when to focus on Simple living aspects in our daily lives when it is so cheap and easy to purchase basic goods in stores. Clothes, one of the basic necessities, was an example we took up as Srila Prabhupada made it a point (spinning) during his morning walk.

Please add your comments. Better yet, please join us in the next session - Sunday at 7 a.m. EST. We continue to hear from and understand Srila Prabhupada's concept of Varnasramaa College.

Continuing series of talks by Srila Prabhupada on Varnasrama College.

By the mid-70s, Srila Prabhupada started emphasizing the importance of Varnasrama Colleges.

In a series of morning walks in Vrindavan in March 1974, he explained this college concept in more detail. I take you through these talks, discussing them from various angles and how these concepts could translate into practical reality now and in the future. I draw upon my experience since 2005 attempting to implement this in the US & India.

Background: Srila Prabhupada, Founder & Acharya of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness, started emphasizing establishing the Vedic system of Education for children and young adults. This system focuses on the individual, first identifying which broad occupation (Varna) one would be most satisfied to act in, then tailoring the education from middle school onwards according to each individual.

The basic premises of the Vedic education system are:
Primary education is from ages 5-10.
Primary education is focused on character development, languages, basic knowledge of the world, God, society, basic sciences, etc.
Overall happiness and peacefulness of an individual in a Society primarily depends on natural enthusiasm for one's work.
Future occupation ought to be identified by ages 10-12 by parents & teachers observing the natural tendencies of the child
That occupational training starts from age 12, combining the middle /high school/college education.
Students who require vocational training go through apprentice training more than theoretical classes, preparing them to earn money from ages as low as 13-14.
Students who are to become teachers and managers go through 10-15 years of rigorous theoretical and practical training to prepare them for their work by ages 20-25.
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