"Srimad-Bhagavatam" is facilitating us to understand the Absolute Truth, although it is impossible to understand It. The only way to understand the Absolute Truth is love, it transcends the limitations of human intelligence.
The third topic of "Srimad-Bhagavatam" is sthanam, and the main canto where it is revealed is the Fifth canto. There are two crucial topics of the Fifth canto: the moral law within our heart and the structure of the universe. Srila Prabhupada said that we can change the course of human civilization if we establish these two topics very firmly and scientifically.
The Fifth canto talks about false and proper renunciation, and the consequences of both. There are strict laws of material nature, and they are an extension of the Lord’s nature, if we live according to these laws, we will live comfortably in this life. But as soon as we deviate we will feel pain, and we inflict pain to the other people. Sthanam means boundaries, and Lord Himself maintains them, therefore we have to respect these boundaries. We have to understand our own boundaries very clearly, and act within these boundaries. If somebody is a devotee, even if he commits a mistake on this path, there is actually no loss if he tries to understand the lesson behind it, and not to commit the same mistake again.
Those who reject Vedas, they are nastikas, no matter how pure life they live externally. It is very degrading for the soul because it creates a huge pride.
We need some driving force to elevate us, only in this way rules and regulations of varnasrama will be useful, otherwise we will only create pious credits which do not develop us spiritually. Varnasrama is designed in a very specific way so that human beings would follow their nature but at the same time have the facility to associate with those who are higher than them.
Offenses have a very lasting effect, the samskara which an offense leaves in our consciousness is not easy to eradicate.
Varnasrama is the system, which helps us to overcome lust by following rules and regulations. Varnasrama is also a society devoid of envy, where everyone tries to elevate by serving the Lord. We can only build the proper social structure, which will be elevating for the soul if there is no envy in the interaction between the people, otherwise there will be exploitation. Varnasrama is the protective covering for the internal development, if the protective covering is not there, the internal development also will be very difficult. The basic principals of varnasrama are: non-violence, honesty, purity, truthfulness, austerity. The main teaching of Puranas and Itihasas are these cardinal moral values, and they have to be established very firmly in our heart. This is the firm foundation from which we can start building our life.
We live in a very important place in this universe, where we can have evolution, or devolution. If we perform karma according to our dharma we will be elevated. Everyone in this universe is worshiping the Supreme Lord in their own way, according to the level of their consciousness. We can also do it, by following the great acaryas.
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