12-22-2006, 11:03 PM
<!--QuoteBegin-Bodhi+Dec 22 2006, 10:06 AM-->QUOTE(Bodhi @ Dec 22 2006, 10:06 AM)<!--QuoteEBegin-->
That is what I feel.
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Very true, your post puts the things in right perspective, at least I think so.
My teacher from whom learnt some basic stuff of Indian philosophy told me that the logic of having these classes of Brahmana, Kshatriya, Vaishya, Shudra by birth is so that its easier for people to determine what Dharma they have to follow rather than having confusion and following none. And as per our logic our present birth is determined by the karmas of our past births. So if a person is born in a Brahmana household he would have done the karmas required for that and hence he would be suitable for a Brahmana family. But how do we deal with present day contradictions in the same. Lets say somebody is born in a Brahmana family, but which is Brahmana only in name, but as far as its habits are concerned is totally un-Brahmana. Frankly being brought up with an education based on Western rational thinking I find myself struggling to believe this.
I think we will have to go back to the spirit of these distinctions, go back to our own roots. A Shudra who displays qualities of a Brahmana is actually a Brahmana. Problem today is we are looking at this Brahmana-Dalit or upper caste- lower caste definitions in sociological terms which is inherited from West. Actually in todays times the proportion of the real Brahmanas in society would be very less for so few off us really believe in sacrifice and austerity. Thats why I feel we require a few morally great personalites who can have a big say on our spiritual landscape as Gandhi had on the political landscape in the last century.
The real Brahmanas have to come forward and guide the society ahead. They will have to combine spirituality with the modern ethos.
That is what I feel.
[right][snapback]62335[/snapback][/right]
<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Very true, your post puts the things in right perspective, at least I think so.
My teacher from whom learnt some basic stuff of Indian philosophy told me that the logic of having these classes of Brahmana, Kshatriya, Vaishya, Shudra by birth is so that its easier for people to determine what Dharma they have to follow rather than having confusion and following none. And as per our logic our present birth is determined by the karmas of our past births. So if a person is born in a Brahmana household he would have done the karmas required for that and hence he would be suitable for a Brahmana family. But how do we deal with present day contradictions in the same. Lets say somebody is born in a Brahmana family, but which is Brahmana only in name, but as far as its habits are concerned is totally un-Brahmana. Frankly being brought up with an education based on Western rational thinking I find myself struggling to believe this.
I think we will have to go back to the spirit of these distinctions, go back to our own roots. A Shudra who displays qualities of a Brahmana is actually a Brahmana. Problem today is we are looking at this Brahmana-Dalit or upper caste- lower caste definitions in sociological terms which is inherited from West. Actually in todays times the proportion of the real Brahmanas in society would be very less for so few off us really believe in sacrifice and austerity. Thats why I feel we require a few morally great personalites who can have a big say on our spiritual landscape as Gandhi had on the political landscape in the last century.
The real Brahmanas have to come forward and guide the society ahead. They will have to combine spirituality with the modern ethos.