From: Follow the Master

[Guest guest]

Question:

Some believe that there is the intermixture of races and castes in the

Ashram? Does this not become a cause for the downfall of the Sanatana Dharma?

Answer: The doubt is a wrong conception. One´s caste depends not on one´s

birth but on one´s worth. One who is hungry after true knowledge is a Brahmin.

One who protects the society is a Kshatriya. One who is engaged in commerce

is a Vaisya.

And one who serves the society with one´s physical labour is a Shudra.

This is nothing but a division of labour in society.

No superiority and inferiority complex is allowed. To go deep into the

question reveals that all these caste duties are in our own body. The head - the

Brain is Knowledge , the foot serves,

but both are equally important. Swamiji always lays great stress on the

devotee´s merit or worthy performance, and not on this birth, which again is a

result of his past karma.

(page 73)

 

Question: Is there some distinction in people because they are born into

different castes?

Answer: There is no differentiation and distinction of caste by birth. Sage

Vasistha married a down caste bride, so say the holy scriptures. People are

high or low by the deeds they do -

their Karma and not their birth.

(page 74)

 

Jai Guru Datta