LilamadhuriGopi at 12:21, 4 February 2022

2022-02-04T12:21:33Z

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			[[Category:Journey of Self-Discovery]]
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	~~===7. Perspectives on Science and Philosophy===~~		=== 7. Perspectives on Science and Philosophy ===
	~~====Plato: Goodness and Government====~~		==== Plato: Goodness and Government ====
	<p>''In 1972 and 1973, Śrīla Prabhupāda held a series of philosophical discussions with his personal secretary, Śyāmasundara, while traveling around the world. These sessions were recorded and published to provide an understanding of Western philosophy, psychology, and science from the viewpoint of the timeless teachings of India's Vedic literature. In the following conversation, the striking similarities between Plato's ideal state and that outlined in the Bhagavad-gīta prompt one to ask, "Could Plato have gotten his ideas from India's ancient Vedas?"''</p>
	<p>'''Śyāmasundara''': Plato believed society can enjoy prosperity and harmony only if it places people in working categories or classes according to their natural abilities. He thought people should find out their natural abilities and use those abilities to their fullest capacity - as administrators, as military men, or as craftsmen. Most important, the head of state should not be an average or mediocre man. Instead, society should be led by a very wise and good man - a "philosopher king" - or a group of very wise and good men.</p>		<div class="text">
	<p>'''Śrīla Prabhupāda''': This idea appears to be taken from the Bhagavad-gītā, where Kṛṣṇa says that the ideal society has four divisions: brāhmaṇas (intellectuals), kṣatriyas (warriors and administrators), vaiśyas (merchants and farmers), and śūdras (laborers). These divisions come about by the influence of the modes of nature. Everyone,		''In 1972 and 1973, Śrīla Prabhupāda held a series of philosophical discussions with his personal secretary, Śyāmasundara, while traveling around the world. These sessions were recorded and published to provide an understanding of Western philosophy, psychology, and science from the viewpoint of the timeless teachings of India's Vedic literature. In the following conversation, the striking similarities between Plato's ideal state and that outlined in the Bhagavad-gīta prompt one to ask, "Could Plato have gotten his ideas from India's ancient Vedas?"''

			'''Śyāmasundara''': Plato believed society can enjoy prosperity and harmony only if it places people in working categories or classes according to their natural abilities. He thought people should find out their natural abilities and use those abilities to their fullest capacity - as administrators, as military men, or as craftsmen. Most important, the head of state should not be an average or mediocre man. Instead, society should be led by a very wise and good man - a "philosopher king" - or a group of very wise and good men.

			'''Śrīla Prabhupāda''': This idea appears to be taken from the [[Bhagavad-gita As It Is (1972)\|''Bhagavad-gītā'']], where Kṛṣṇa says that the ideal society has four divisions: ''brāhmaṇas'' (intellectuals), ''kṣatriyas'' (warriors and administrators), ''vaiśyas'' (merchants and farmers), and ''śūdras'' (laborers). These divisions come about by the influence of the modes of nature. Everyone, both in human society and in animal society, is influenced by the modes of material nature (''sattva-guṇa'', ''rajo-guṇa'', and ''tamo-guṇa'', or goodness, passion, and ignorance). By scientifically classifying men according to these qualities, society can become perfect. But if we place a man in the mode of ignorance in a philosopher's post, or put a philosopher to work as an ordinary laborer, havoc will result.

			In the [[Bhagavad-gita As It Is (1972)\|''Bhagavad-gītā'']] Kṛṣṇa says that the ''brāhmaṇas'' - the most intelligent men, who are interested in transcendental knowledge and philosophy - should be given the topmost posts, and under their instructions the ''kṣatriyas'' (administrators) should work. The administrators should see that there is law and order and that everyone is doing his duty. The next section is the productive class, the ''vaiśyas'', who engage in agriculture and cow protection. And finally there are the ''śūdras'', common laborers who help the other sections. This is Vedic civilization - people living simply, on agriculture and cow protection. If you have enough milk, grains, fruits, and vegetables, you can live very nicely.

			The [[Srimad-Bhagavatam\|''Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam'']] compares the four divisions of society to the different


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LilamadhuriGopi at 12:21, 4 February 2022

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