Welcome To Kavaca The recent course of human history has witnessed an unprecedented explosion of technological advancement. Within only several hundred years of the dawn of the industrial revolution the entire human civilization has undergone a nearly complete transfiguration. Plenty beyond comprehension has manifested almost as if by magic and the people of the World have been exposed to the possibility of attaining a near material perfection. However, at the same time and in the same places, vast segments of the Earths population have plummeted into regions of abject misery never before experienced nor even dreamed of. So expansive and deeply rooted has the encroachment of technology become that its actions threaten the integrity of the natural environment which supports human civilization. Verily it threatens also to destroy the fiber of human culture. By far the most critical challenge confronting the people of the World is to recognize the deletorious effects of over-indulgence in the apparent benfits of this technology, and to seriously seek out appropriate alternatives. This challenge must over-ride all other considerations of individually or collectively agreed upon importance. Without the acknowledgement of this clear and present danger to humaniy, without decisive, sustained action to establish an alternative, the Worlds people cannot expect a reversal of the rapidly deteriorating state of the Planet and the wellbeing of its inhabitants. KAVACA: The Krishna Varnasrama Cultural Association, has been conceived and established to provide an alternatve form of civilization for those people of the World who are searching for positive alternatives to the prevailing global conditions. With the unrestricted proliferation of machine technology since the beginning of the industrial revolution have come a host of unexpected and unwanted Cultural Disorders. These disorders, in the categories of Personality, Social and Environmental disturbances serve to diminish our individual and collective experiences of happiness and peace. In effect, they submerge every one of us in aconstant struggle for existence of combatting the opposing elements of technological society and of the harsh material nature simply to ek out a meager portion of contentment for our inner self-satisfaction. Everywhere one turns there is contention, exploitation, fear, frustration and mounting unhappiness. The dream of peace on Earth and good-will toward others has become a dim reflection of an almost forgotten ideal as the World careens headlong into an unknown future, sustained by diminishing resources, an over-taxed environment, crumbling infrastructure and a disillusioned population. The two primary objectives of KAVACA are, (1) to present an alternative form of civilization to the World which is based upon the Vaisnava philosophy of Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, and, (2) to offer Consultantcy Services to Vaisnava Missions and other entities in the matter of establishing Vaisnava Cultural Development Systems within such organizations. The source of inspiration and primary guidance for this undertaking is His Divine Grace Srila A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada. He is renowned throughout the Gaudiya Vaisnava World and in many circles of modern society for his two monumental accomplishments as the Founder Acarya of ISKCON, The International Society For Krishna Consciousness and the author of over eighty volumes of books. Practically single handedly he began to fulfill the prediction that Krishna consciousness would be spread all around the globe in this age. His third, and perhaps greatest accomplishment, which has yet to be recognized, understood and realized, is to present the vision of establishing the Vaisnava Religion in the form of a World Wide Civilization capable of accomodating the entire population of the planet. His many elucidations of the varnasrama-dharma social system of ancient India reveal a grand scheme to synthesize the quintessence of that system with the teachings of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu in order to proliferate a new form of civilization the the coming 10 millenia. The prevailing technologically based cultures are thoroughly infiltrated with numerous principles and practices which are diametrically opposed to the cultivation of higher levels of spiritual awareness and experience. Individuals born into these cultures are indoctrinated from pre-birth in the beliefs, values, attitudes, behaviours and outcomes of an exclusively materialistic and exploitive World View. These mundane societies view the conception and practice of all religions to be a sub-set of human culture which is meant to augment the primary objective of material sense gratification. There is scant knowledge of the Transcendental World beyond the limited purview of the material creation, nor is there active propaganda to limit the expansion of material aggrandisement or establish proceedures for elevating the people to a higher awareness of their divine spiritual nature. At the risk of seriously debilitating the environment which supports them, these mundane societies extoll the exploitation of nature, and one another, for limited and temporary benefits. Having enjoyed these to their full limit, the long term reactions upon nature and the people in general are left as a legacy of burden to their yet unborn descendants. For these and many more reasons there is a dire necessity for the proliferation of a new form of civilization which is based upon spiritual principles beneficial to the people of the World as well as to the environment which supports them. Such a civilization is also of great necessity for the World Wide society of Vaisnavas who are endeavouring to practice the Vaisnava Religion and at the same time introduce it to the people of the World. The purity of any organization is greatly impacted by the sources of its subsistence. Through adhesion and osmosis, the qualities and activities of the host society are subtly transfered to the dependant society. So long as the Vaisnava philosophy is represented as a religious sub-set of the prevailing materialistic society there shall continue the subtle infusion of materialistic principles and practices into the heart of Vaisnava society. This subtle but very powerful infusion of diametrically opposed principles has the effect of corruting the purity of the religion and inhibiting its effective transmission to the surrounding cultures. In order to effectively eliminate the influences of the surrounding materialilstic society it is essential that the Vaisnava Religion be established as a seperate and independant civilization. This will then permit the people of the World who are seeking a spiritual alternative to enter fully into a social system which has been purged of those qualilties from which they seek to escape. This is the correct purport of the commonly stated but generally misunderstood addage among the followers of His Divine Grace Srila A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada that he built a house in which the entire world can live. This is a house not only for his disciples and grand disciples but a house in which all Vaisnavas can enter as welcome guests and full-time residents. A house in which every human being can enter and become purified by the chanting of the Holy Name and the association of the gentle Vaisnavas who have no personal motivation. A house in which every resident has equal access to the resources and wealth of the Father, a house where there is genuine love, trust and an all-pervading sense of divine security. KAVACA exists to establish "Krishna Varnasrama Transcendental Civilization" as a practical and effective alternative to the prevailing decadent civilization of machine technology. The Perils Of Encapsulated Consciousness.(Coming soon!) Two Challenges To The People Of The World. (Coming soon!) Three Challenges To The Vaisnava People Of The World (Coming soon!) Mission Statement (1) To propagate the Mission of Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu through the performance of Hari Nama Sankirtana, distribution of Transcendental Knowledge, Sanctified Foods, Vaisnava Lifestyle and Cultural Paraphernalia. (2) To establish Krishna Varnasrama Transcendental Civilization through the development of a Global Federation of Sovereign Regional Vaisnava Commonwealths. Each Commonwealth to be composed of extended family units (Kulam), expressed in the form of rural villages (Nagara), surrounded by urban and suburban Cultural Centers. (3) To derive cultural subsistence exclusively by performance of purified devotional service to Lord Sri Krishna with direct production from the land effected through appropriate dependence upon the cows. (4) To instruct and guide the masses of people in the principles and practices of Daivi-varnasrama dharma for the purpose of organizing society for the peaceful and orderly affiliation to Krishna Varnasrama Transcendental Civilization. (5) To bring all people of the World closer together in an understanding and practice of Bhakti-yoga, devotional service unto Lord Sri Krishna, the Supreme Personality Of Godhead and the Reservoir Of All Pleasure.
kavaca@hotmail.com
179 Grand Street
New York, NY 10013
United States
(Under construction-check occasionally for new additions)(* denotes open location)
1. *Welcome To Kavaca
2. The Perils Of Encapsulated Consciousness
3. Two Challenges To The People Of The World
4. Three Challenges To The Gaudiya Vaisnava People
5. *Mission Statement
6. Dedication
7. Acknowledgements And Invitation To Participate
8. The Ultimate Purpose Of Human Life And Direction Of Civilization
9. Constitution And Interim Project Administration
10. Catur-varnasrama Sangha
11. Krishna Varnasrama Vidyanama: Introduction
12. Doctrine Of Separation And Independence (Spiritual Sovereignty)
13. Bhaktivedanta Vaisnava Kulam: Extended Family Micro-community
14. The Constitution Of The Krishna Varnasrama Cultural Association
15. Sri Sri Gaura Nitai Mandir: Urban Cultural Center
16. Sri Vijnanavana Ashrama: Rural Cultural Center
17. Bhaktivedanta Vaisnava Press
18. Govinda's Food Relief
19. Bhaktivedanta Vaisnava Mission
20. Global Vaisnava Consultantcy
21. Krishna Varnasrama Cultural Exhibition
22. Dadati Pratigrihnati: Reciprocation Of Gifts In Appreciation Of Devotional Service
23. Avenues Of Affiliation
24. Daivi-varnasrama Supporting Membership
25. Krishna-varnasrama Citizenship
26. The Daily Bulletin
27. The Community News (Monthly Newsletter)