Question: Why do brhamacharis at ISKCON get into grhastha ashrama? After knowing the philosophy so well and also convinced that the samsara sagara is so deep and full of suffering. It does not make any sense in getting in the grhastha ashrama
Answer by Romapada Swami: You have asked a question about the grhastha ashram, namely why it might be taken up by one who has practiced a life of a brahmacari for some time, has understood the perils of becoming involved in samsara, and yet makes the change from brahmacari ashram to grhastha ashram. You will find a very practical answer in the Gajendra Moksa lila section of Srimad Bhagavatam. There Srila Prabhupada clearly explains that the reason the king of elephants was being defeated by the crocodile is because the crocodile was in its natural element, namely the water, whereas the elephant was in an unnatural element. As a result the crocodile was becoming stronger, and the elephant was becoming weaker. Bearing this comparison in mind, Srila Prabhupada explains in his purport to this lila that the person in the grhastha ashram may find himself in a more natural element for making spiritual progress than he would if he tried to maintain himself artificially in the brahmacari ashram. There is an underlying assumption in your question, i.e. you seem to indicate that grhastha ashram compels one to remain in samsara sagara. This is not necessarily so. To the contrary, we find that many stalwart acharyas were grhasthas, while many were also brahmacari and sannyasi. The same can be said for those who are mahajans, identified by Prahlad Maharaj in the Seventh Canto of Srimad Bhagavatam. Some of them are brahmacaris like Narada, and some of them are grhasthas. Attaining perfection is not dependent upon what particular ashram one finds oneself in. Rather, perfection comes from full dedication in devotion to the Supreme Personality of Godhead. If one properly accepts the responsibilities of grhastha ashram, one can make one’s life perfect and go back home back to Godhead, every bit as much as one who does the same in the position of brahmacari. One who lives one’s life properly in the grhastha ashram will likely find himself to be a good candidate for sannyasa life, later on!
