09-04-2006, 09:20 PM
One can uphold Shâstrika integrity and still appoint any person as a BrâhmaNa. Anyone displaying Brahmanya, and to trying to understand Brahman and teach and stimulate Brahman in each person (including in himself), is worthy to be called a BrâhmaNa.
These and other characteristics are needed for any initiated, These are wanting in many (non-performing) BrâhmaNas too. Quality, proper expression and integrity are more important than birth. A person calling himself a carpenter's son is not accepted professionally as a carpenter as long as he has two left hands so-to-say or not interested in that profession. A pupil of that carpenter displaying his talents is rather a carpenter.
Of course a son of a carpenter has the advantage of examples and practice at home, which puts him some steps ahead of new aspirants.
Thus, there are certain conditions attached to a function, which counts for anyone with the same criterion and judgement.
These and other characteristics are needed for any initiated, These are wanting in many (non-performing) BrâhmaNas too. Quality, proper expression and integrity are more important than birth. A person calling himself a carpenter's son is not accepted professionally as a carpenter as long as he has two left hands so-to-say or not interested in that profession. A pupil of that carpenter displaying his talents is rather a carpenter.
Of course a son of a carpenter has the advantage of examples and practice at home, which puts him some steps ahead of new aspirants.
Thus, there are certain conditions attached to a function, which counts for anyone with the same criterion and judgement.