Toward a Peaceful Society 39

The four divisions of human society were created
by Sri Krsna in order to facilitate this process of
clevation. Just as a student is elevated from a lower
class to a post-graduate class, the divisions of labor
(catur-varnyam) are created to elevate us from the
lowest stages of consciousness to the highest stage of
Krsna consciousness. This process is a process of
cooperation. In the human body, the most impor-
(ant part is the head, then the arms, the belly and the
legs. Although the head is considered to be the most
important part, there is no question of neglecting
the legs or any other part. Similarly, in the divisions
of human society, no one division is important to
the exclusion of the others. Of these divisions, the
brahmanas are considered to be the intellectual class,
the class of teachers; the ksatriyas are the adminis-
\rative and military class; the vaisyas are the mercan-
lile and agricultural class; and the sudras are the
common laborer class. In a properly run society, all
of these classes are required. If they cooperate in
their progress toward Krsna consciousness, there is
no strife amongst them.

In the present social status, we find that we are
existing in these four divisions, but there is no
cooperation. Everyone is dissatisfied. Today there is
yreat strife between the capitalist class and laborer
class because between them there is no compromise.
There is only friction. All this strife amongst the
classes is due to lack of Krsna consciousness. Indeed,
there is not even a possibility of cooperation unless
there is Krsna consciousness. Krsna consciousness is
absolutely essential for harmonizing all facets of
