Sudras in South Africa Not Qualified For Vedic Meditation

[Guest guest]

PAMHO

AGTSP

 

Please allow me to sketch a brief life story in relation to the above

subject to show the predicament I find myself?

 

In 1860 my grandparents like hundreds of others left India to arrive in

Natal to serve the British as indentured Labourers on its sugar cane

fields.

 

My grandfather from Dad's side was supposed to be brahminical with a

Gotra that apparently signifies -gwala's -iyer or something like that-

origin Kolkata some where.

My grandfather from my Mothers side arrived as business people much

later - hailed from Kunpur some where in North India- not sure of the

Gotra.

 

While they all did good work to sustain their families, under the South

African -apartheid regime no different to 'caste system India' they were

all forced to live according to Christian rule, thoughts, dress etc.

 

Thus two families (Ramdhin) and (Bagawandin) one simple farmers and the

other educated (accountants/business) came together as my parents giving

offspring to myself and my siblings. May I add that my Dad was

susceptible to the energy of maya (alcohol, cigarettes etc) while he may

be considered a Hindu? Socially we struggled for many years until my

education and employment. The key issues were racial and social

injustice in South Africa forced by European rule.

 

The Indians and perhaps many Brahmans were forced into accepting other

religions as a way of life in South Africa. Many years later after

Srila Prabhupada visit and the introduction of ISKCON I am now an

initiated disciple within the society of ISKCON and my parents are also

trying to practice Krsna Consciousness.

 

Both my Children have been born via the Garbhadhan Samskaras method and

we are trying to engage them nicely.

 

I have also been told by my grandfather i.e. before his passing away,

that his father had renounced family life in South Africa and had lived

in a forest along the banks of the Umgeni River -chanting and wearing

Kanta Mala etc as I now do. Co-incidentally my grandfather was very

pleased with my practice.

 

I now leave this picture open for interpretation.

 

Who is Brahman and who is not?

My family and relatives have no idea and or accurate links to India

-heritage-lineage etc.

 

Just a spirit soul

 

Rasaraja das

Cape Town

South Africa

 

 

 

 

Rakesh Manohar

Engen Logistics and Supply Department

Engen Petroleum Limited

PO BOX 35, Cape Town

Tel +27 21 4034387

Cell +27 83 6422063

rakesh.manohar (AT) engenoil (DOT) com

 

 

 

 

 

--------

Engen Petroleum Limited, disclaims liability for any loss, damage

or expense however caused, arising from the sending, receipt, or

use of this e-mail and on any reliance placed upon the information

provided through this service and does not guarantee the

completeness or accuracy of the information. Please visit

http://www.engen.co.za/home/server/common/disclaimer.asp to view

the full disclaimer.

[Guest guest]

Rasaraja prabhu,

Please accept my humble obeisances. All glories to

Srila Prabhupada.

 

You are correct in asking what is brahmin and what is

not. The heritage is not the important thing. It is

the actions. Srila Prabhpada was merciful enough to

bring Lord Caitanya's movement to the rest of the

world to give everyone a chance to become brahmin.

 

I have not been reading the thread on the subject line

about sudras in SA. The simple truth is few, if any

persons, in kali yugi is qualified to chant Vedic

mantras. Life is short, the world is corrupt, and

there is not time for these mantras to work.

 

The only mantra we need to chant is the Mahamantra.

That alone will purify us and lead us to act like

humans, not animals. Following the 4 regs and chanting

over time, accept a bonafide guru in parampara, and

you will be acting like a brahmin. It is indeed that

simple. Always remember Krsna and never forget Him,

not even for a moment. That is the basis of Krsna

Conciousness. Add reading and other services, and a

surrendered approach, and your life will be perfect.

 

 

My own family came to the US about 150 years ago.

Before that I have no idea of who they were except

that they were from Ireland. That is the extent of the

knowledge of my heritage. It makes no difference in

the execution of one's devotional service. In fact, it

can be a detriment if one becomes proud or attached to

it. Just look at the big brahmins in Krsna book who

turned away the cowherd boys when they came in search

of items to serve Krsna. They were turned away by

supposedly brahminical men worshipping Visnu! The

real brahmins were the older gopis who gave without

hesitation for the pleasure of the Lord.

 

 

So the real brahmin is the one who acts to serve

Krsna, not the one trained only to perfect the

chanting of Vedic mantras.

 

Just another spirit soul and

YS,

JayaLalita dd (ACBSP)

 

 

 

 

> Just a spirit soul

>

> Rasaraja das

> Cape Town

> South Africa

>

>

>

 

>

> [>

>

 

 

vanca-kalpatarubhyas ca krpa-sindubhya eva ca

patitanam pavanebhyo vaisnavebhyo namo namaha