[world-vedic] The Vedic Case on Castes

[Guest guest]

Dear Bonnie,

Thank you for your points. On the first point about arranged

heirarchies....this only applies to responsibilities and duties and not

property, rights or previleges. Also I am speaking in regards to an

authentic Vedic culture not the remnants of Vedic culture.

 

Actually, the higher the caste the less material previleges enjoyed. For

example brahmins were not allowed anything except the neccessities of

life...in comfort of course. A clay cup rather than a gold one, cotton

rather than silk etc. They were never allowed to earn money or to be payed

for their services. That is why charity to the brahmins was so important.

 

The Kshatriyas/kings/queens etc lived in great luxury but this was done to

compensate them for their tremendous burden of responsibility. The last

thing a King should have to worry about is his personal comfort and needs.

Vedic culture provided for a system that took care of these needs. From a

state of personal comfort and contentment thay could properly focus their

energy on the needs of the citizens as a whole...but also on a personal

level.

 

In a true Vedic society every entity...literally every entity in the kingdom

had equal rights to comfort, security and the chance to evolve both

spiritiually and materially. So the royal luxuries actually paled beside the

immense burden of responsibilty carried by the Royal classes. There are many

cases in the vedic histories of great kings being humbled by the common

citizen with a complaint. Even the untimely natural death of a child was

considered the fault of the ruling classes.

 

Ironically, it was the 'lower' castes that enjoyed the most freedom to enjoy

themselves without restraint. The merchant class was allowed to accumalte

wealth and live a life of luxury, without having to worry about anyone

beyond their own personal reality. It is this very same merchant class that

is now running the world. With no ability to think of the needs of society

as a whole, the average merchant is not expected to go beyond his shilling

and pence mentality and therefore this class was never allowed to be in

government. It is a formula for disaster...our modern era makes this quite

obvious.

 

In a Vedic society the Sudras, or laborer/artisan class actually enjoyed the

most liberty to pursue their hearts desires. Unfettered by the burdens of

leadership and overall social responsibility, the Sudras performed many

important functions in society. In Vedic society, everything from

prostitution to gambling and meat eating was allowed, but discouraged. The

Sudras often engaged in these activities because it is their nature but they

are integral part of society because they were the labor force that helped

the other castes perform their duties properly. They also relieved the

stress of life, for society at large, through their beuatiful art, music and

dance.

 

The untouchables also enjoyed full protection and rights as any other

citizen and no Vedic leader or culture ever ostracized them. In fact, Lord

Rama's best friend was a member of this caste. They went to school

toghether as equals and were lifelong friends and Lord Rama treated him with

full respect as His equal.

Also one of the greatest saints of the Ramayana was the humble Tribal woman,

Sabari Devi. She used to taste all the berries and fruits she planned to

offer Rama in order to verify their sweetness. Only those that tasted good

to her, would she offer. Lord Rama ate them all even though they had all

been bitten into by Sabari devi. According to the rigid rules of the Vedic

culture this was extremely improper...but Lord Rama was showing that more

important than rules and class, is sincere devotion and love. Again and

again the Vedic scriptures reinforce this concept.... that in general, rules

and heirarchy are there but these are established and maintained according

to the carachter and quality of the individual and never based on blood,

race or social position.

 

Vidura, born of a maid=(Sudra) was the Prime Minister of the great Kuru

Empire, and actually is considered more honorable than many great Brahmins

and Gurus of his time. When Lord Krishna visited Hastinapur(Kuru capital) He

rejected the invitation of Prince Duryodana with all his royal pomp and

splendour and chose the simple and humble fare of Vidura and his wife. To

make the point even more obvious, Lord Krishna ate the banana peal that was

mistakenly offered to Him to show that it is the quality of the individual

and the offering and not the quantity or material status that is important.

 

All these stories are from an ancient time and another cosmic era(yuga) when

Vedic culture was firmly established. However they are still applicable to

our modern era. yet in order to make it crystal clear and easy to apply in

our times, Krishna appearred as Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, 500 yrs ago.

 

I will get the book and give you more details later... but one of His most

important teachings is:(not an exact quote) "I am neither a Brahmin nor a

Sanyas(monk), neither a Vaishya(merchant) nor a Shudra. I am neither a Hindu

nor a Muslim....I am simply the Eternal Servant of the Servant of Sri

Krishna (God in His all-attractive loving feature:)"

 

Though He was born in an extremely High caste family and was recognized as

the Champion of Learning and scholarship,(opened His own school when still a

child,) he rejected all of this simply to say that He was nothing but an

unworhty servant of God's servant.

 

One of His most famous precepts is," One should think themself lower than

the straw in the street, be more tolerant than a tree, be devoid of all

sense of false prestige...in such a state of mind one can chant the holy

Names of God constantly." By chanting one can personally associate with God

because God is His Name, so Lord Chaitanya gave us the formula to do this.

 

Also He revealed that God's ultimate manifestation is actually the Divine

Couple, rather than just a Male figure. In fact some of the greatest saints

consider themselves devotees of Radha rather than Krsna....but that is whole

another topic.

 

Another important point to remember is that the scriptures alone can never

answer all our questions. That is why Avatars and Saints appear again and

again to show us, by example, the true application of the scriptures.

 

To acsertain a truth we are given 3 guides; Guru, Sadhu(Saints) and Shastra

(Scripture). When all 3 of these guides agree on a point, we can be

confident that it is a valid truth. Even in our times, we can access these

three guides and truth is alive and well.

 

Sincerely, vrin parker

 

 

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