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2                                        Mothers and Masters

          the social vision that he gave us, so that we can methodically
          work to ef fect it within the overall society. As with all other
          endeavors  undertaken  for  the  sake  of  Kṛṣṇa,  our  approach
          toward reforming society must begin with our ācāryas’ vision,
          as they have explained it from the śāstras (authorized revealed
          scriptures). This means that our social vision is primarily
          realized from the verses of the Bhagavad-gītā As It Is, Śrīmad-
          Bhāgavatam, Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta,  and especially the
          commentaries on them written by  ISKCON’s founder-ācārya,
          Śrīla Prabhupāda. Our social vision should be based on Śrīla
          Prabhupāda’s books, because he ascribed the highest authority
          to them.*

          In the following quotation, based on the text of  Śrīmad-
          Bhāgavatam,  Śrīla Prabhupāda explained the importance of

          varṇāśrama-dharma:
            The ef fect of adhering to the institution of  varṇāśrama  is
            gradual elevation to the spiritual platform and liberation from
            material bondage. By following the principles of varṇāśrama-
            dharma, one gets the opportunity to associate with devotees.
            Such association gradually awakens one’s dormant propensity
            to serve the Supreme Personality of Godhead and frees one
            from all the basic principles of sinful life. One then gets the
            opportunity to of fer unalloyed devotional service to the
            Supreme Lord, Vāsudeva. 1
          Or, as Śrīla Bhaktivinoda Ṭhākura put it:

            The main reason for the cultivation of  varṇāśrama-dharma
            is to maintain the body, develop the mind, perform good
            works for society, and learn spiritual topics, all with the goal
            of developing pure devotional service. Who can deny the

          * Lecture: Vaiṣṇava Ācāryas’ Social Initiatives <www.bvks.com/165>
          1. SB 5.19, summary.
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