11-26-2004, 07:13 PM
<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin-->In a society where there is a dedicated priesthood, and the priesthood does not allow a section of the society to enter the temples, does not perform samskaras in their homes, does not allow the rest of the society to become priests or monks, does not allow the rest of society to learn the scriptures, then that priesthood has failed the society. It is not serving them. Priests are there only to serve god and society, and if that does not happen, their usefulness has lapsed. On top of that, if the priesthood insults the society by saying 'you are lower' and avoids mixing with the people for fear of pollution, that would be just about the worse thing.
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There is a difference btw Priesthood and Sainthood, Everybody should have access to Temples, does not necessarily mean everybody should have access to GOD. Ashram & Mutts since ancient times have always been isolated from public. Real Saints don't seek anything material, their existence at a place itself is beneficent to that region. A land that boast of many such sages left themselves to their way of life will be prosperous. Real Saints are spiritual beings who shower their dwellings with Material prosperity. Now can anybody become a Real Saint, the answer is No. Becoz it all depends upon ones Karma and Origin. I am not saying all Saints are from Brahmins, in fact one of the Adi Shankara disciples who was later called Padma Pada was a backward class person, only Saints can see who is karmically clean and has a potential for Sainthood.
I believe Brahmins are being taken for granted simply because they are docile people, generally keep to themselves. Of course a few Brahmins who found wealth may have been arrogant, or several Orthodox Brahmins discriminatory (they are discriminatory to one and all even within their families born out religious orthodoxy). Even priestly duties need a lot of hard work, and discipline. One has get up at 4 AM, take cold water shower, practice austerities, observe silence, eat frugally, eat only vegetables & fruits cooked at home, sleep less, any many more relating to worship of Gods. Now you got all these Backward classes people who eat Meat, drink illicit liquor, don't shower etc. Now blaming Brahmins for this is no excuse. I would believe Brahmins perhaps tried reforming without much success and left these people alone. You see a lot of different sects of people from Tribals, to dalits still in existence in India. If it were some other place only thing that would remain about them would be in a museum.
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There is a difference btw Priesthood and Sainthood, Everybody should have access to Temples, does not necessarily mean everybody should have access to GOD. Ashram & Mutts since ancient times have always been isolated from public. Real Saints don't seek anything material, their existence at a place itself is beneficent to that region. A land that boast of many such sages left themselves to their way of life will be prosperous. Real Saints are spiritual beings who shower their dwellings with Material prosperity. Now can anybody become a Real Saint, the answer is No. Becoz it all depends upon ones Karma and Origin. I am not saying all Saints are from Brahmins, in fact one of the Adi Shankara disciples who was later called Padma Pada was a backward class person, only Saints can see who is karmically clean and has a potential for Sainthood.
I believe Brahmins are being taken for granted simply because they are docile people, generally keep to themselves. Of course a few Brahmins who found wealth may have been arrogant, or several Orthodox Brahmins discriminatory (they are discriminatory to one and all even within their families born out religious orthodoxy). Even priestly duties need a lot of hard work, and discipline. One has get up at 4 AM, take cold water shower, practice austerities, observe silence, eat frugally, eat only vegetables & fruits cooked at home, sleep less, any many more relating to worship of Gods. Now you got all these Backward classes people who eat Meat, drink illicit liquor, don't shower etc. Now blaming Brahmins for this is no excuse. I would believe Brahmins perhaps tried reforming without much success and left these people alone. You see a lot of different sects of people from Tribals, to dalits still in existence in India. If it were some other place only thing that would remain about them would be in a museum.