Varnashrama Dharma

[Guest guest]

Namaste,

 

The views of Gandhi-ji on this subject are worth reading and

pondering over:

 

http://tinyurl.com/hckbc

 

 

Regards,

 

Sunder

[Guest guest]

post number 30510

 

Respected Sunder-ji :

 

Thanks for posting this link.

 

As you all know by now , i hold Gandhiji in very high esteem and

whatever he says is 'veda vakku' ( meaning scriptural injunction) in

the link , sunderji has posted, gandhiji is supporting the

varnashrama dharma .

 

however in the other artilcles that i read , here are some

highlights from gandhiji's views on the same subject .

 

"I regard Varnashrama as a healthy division of work based on birth.

The present ideas of caste are a perversion of the original. There is

no question with me of superiority or inferiority. It is purely a

question of duty. I have indeed stated that varna is based on birth.

But I have also said that it is possible for a shudra, for instance,

to become a vaishya. But in order to perform the duty of a vaishya he

does not need the label of a vaishya. He who performs the duty of a

BrahmIn will easily become one in the next incarnation.".

 

 

----

" Numerous verses from the shastras unmistakably show that mere birth

counts for nothing. A person must show corresponding works and

character to establish his claim by birth. Such verses also enforce

the argument that (i) a person loses varna by failing to exhibit its

peculiar characteristics;

 

(ii) birth, while it gives a start and enables the parents to

determine the training and occupation of their children, does not

perpetuate the varna of one's birth, if it is not fulfilled by

works.

 

____________________

-

" -The existing innumerable divisions with the attendant artificial

restrictions and elaborate ceremonial are harmful to the growth of a

religious spirit, as also to the social wellbeing of the Hindus and

therefore also their neighbours. "–

 

----

----------

 

" Varnashrama of the shastras is today non-existent in practice. The

present caste system is the very antithesis of varna-shrama. The

sooner public opinion abolishes it the better."

 

 

----

"Caste has nothing to do with religion. It is harmful both to

spiritual and national growth.—"

 

 

"Today Brahmans and kshatriyas, vaishyas and shudras are mere labels.

There is utter confusion of varna as I understand it and I wish that

all the Hindus will voluntarily call themselves shudras. That is the

only way to demonstrate the truth of Brahmanism and to revive Varna

Dharma in its true state."

 

http://www.mkgandhi-sarvodaya.org/sfgandhi/sixteenth.htm

 

**********************************************************************

 

My honest opinion after reading all these various thoughts of

Gandhiji on 'varnashrama dharma' makes me believe that

the 'varnashrama dharma ' as it was originally practiced was more

like Adam smith's division of labor but over time it has degenerated

into a mechanism for exploitation and abuse -

 

We have Parasurama who was a brahmin-lover and a hater of Kshatriyas

and then we have E.V. RAMASWAMY (EVERA as he was affectionatley

called) who was a champion of women's rights and the rights of the

non-brahmins - some even labelled him as a brahmin-hater. my point is

this is there no mediunm in between these two extremes? Do you have

to hate one to love another - can there not be a 'love' for all in

the true advaitic spirit of 'oneness'?

 

love and regards

(