Varna and Ashrama....

Verse 1.9.26 (Hareesha Mji and Sundari Mji):
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* Self-realization is distinguished from the life of the lower animals engaged in eating, sleeping, fearing and mating. Bhīṣmadeva advised for all human beings nine qualifications: (1) not to become angry, (2) not to lie, (3) to equally distribute wealth, (4) to forgive, (5) to beget children only by one's legitimate wife, (6) to be pure in mind and hygienic in body, (7) not to be inimical toward anyone, (8) to be simple, and (9) to support servants or subordinates. One cannot be called a civilized person without acquiring the above-mentioned preliminary qualities.
* Here Bhishmadeva is giving explanation of the varanashrama system and its 4 divisions.
* It is actually based on guna and karma and not on the birth. Today it is deteriorated, because of its misuse.
* Even if a person is born in the family of a chandala, but if he is a great devotee of the Lord, then he is fit to become the SM.
* One's life is perfect only if one performs his duty in such a way so as to please Lord Krishna. Otherwise, then his life is a waste. what really matters is that at the time of death, all wealth etc does not matter, only how much we love God and what is our propensity to love God, that only matters.
* Krishna says...antakale ca maam eva smaram muktva kalevaram.
* Human life is just meant for one purpose, to raise ourself towards the love of Godhead, through following the process of chanting, hearing etc.
* Pastime from SB: Svayam bhuva Manu
- if one is a devotee of the Lord, it doesn't matter where we are, the only thing is we have do everything as a service to the Lord, we may be in any aashram, but we need to do everything as a service to the Lord, then it is the same as being a renunciate.
- real renunciation is accepting whatever is favorable to KC and rejecting things that are unfavorable.