While Richard was travelling on a train winding through the Indian plains, he witnessed a teenager being slandered and beaten by his employer on the platform. The teenager neither raised a finger nor said a word and was quickly dragged away. Richard enquired about this ugly incident from a nearby college student who replied that because the boy was born in a lower caste, he’s like a slave and will work slave labour for life. Richard learnt that the government was fighting against these injustices and most educated, cultured, or socially minded people were battling against it as well. But it was still quite deeply ingrained in the minds of many.
Richard came to know that this caste system was actually a gross perversion of an ancient scriptural teaching, the vedic varnashram, which teaches that, just as the human body has a head, arms, belly, and legs, and each limb is meant to perform its function for the benefit of the whole body, in the social body, one is taught to accept responsibilities for the social and spiritual benefit of oneself as well as everyone in society according to one’s natural inclinations and skills. The Vedic varnashram was meant to encourage, empower, and unify everyone. However this concoction of caste by birth and exploitation of the lower castes has corrupted a beautiful system.
Although Richard reflected on the sad parallel to this in the suppression of racial and religious minorities in America and Europe, he was also heartened to know that nothing in the true Hindu philosophy supported suppression of human beings on the basis of one’s race, caste, sex, or birth, and that among saintly people he had not witnessed any of this kind of prejudice.
One of the first lessons I learnt in my spiritual life is that although there is division of people in the society based on occupation, all are equal and deserve the same respect and love. A balanced and healthy body has the brain, arms, belly and legs working in good condition. Similarly the symptom of a healthy social body is the peaceful coexistence of teachers and intelligentsia, the administrators, the business class and the laborers. The brahmanas in Vedic society refers to the ‘brain’ of society, i.e. they provide the intellectual capital and spiritual and moral direction. The Kshatriyas, or the administrators are compared to the arms and they have a crucial role to protect the citizens. The Vaishyas, or business class are compared to the belly, and the worker class or shudras are the legs which support the other three orders. This division is natural in any society as different people adopt different occupations based on interest and inclinations. To say the arms are needed but the legs are unimportant for the body is foolish. Likewise to condemn a certain occupational class within the same society is disastrous. Needless to say all the orders have to work with dignity of labor, mutual respect and in harmony with each other.
Considering the malady of discrimination based on birth, Radhanath Swami quotes from the Bhagavad Gita, the most authorized book for the Hindus, that a person’s position in the society is based on his character and not on birth. Thus a person, although born in an apparently higher caste, has to qualify himself. Similarly if a person born into a ‘lower’ caste displays qualities of a person of the ‘higher’ order, he shouldn’t be discouraged. We cannot assume that a child of doctor parents automatically qualifies himself/herself to be a doctor on the basis of birth in one such family. Similarly no one can claim to be a higher class simply because his parents and predecessors are qualified.
To illustrate this point, Radhanath Swami narrates a story from the Chandogya Upanishad, a holy scripture of the Hindus. Satyakama, a young five year old boy approached a spiritual master for enlightenment. The guru enquired about his father and the boy said he was unaware of his father’s identity. He was then told to go and ask his mother. He soon returned and candidly confessed that his mother had known many men, and is herself unsure about his father’s identity. The spiritual master, being pleased with this honesty, declared to the boy, “You are a real brahmana”.
Radhanath Swami implores men and women to lead a life of truth and dignity, and not be bogged down by superficial, bodily identifications.
“Go to India” a sweet but commanding voice; spoke up in the heart of young Richard (later Radhanath Swami) who was immersed in meditation, his search for meaning in life has brought him to the Isle of Crete. Today he was ordered to go to India. Born and raised in the middle class suburbs of Chicago, Radhanath swami grew up in the 1950’s and 60’s era when popular musicians protested war, prejudice and social injustice. Radhanath swami would listen to these songs again and again, but their lyrics referring to God stirred his soul. Peter, Paul and Mary- the folk trio from Greenswich village sang in their debut album
“Early in the morning, about the break of day
I ask the Lord, to help me find my way”
This simple prayer was to guide Radhanath swami in the coming years of his life........
‘The Journey Home - Autobiography of an American Swami’ Book is an engaging, humorous and heart-warming account of a young nineteen year old’s quest for spiritual enlightenment. The reader follows Richard Slavin (Now Radhanath Swami) from the suburbs of Chicago to the caves of Himalayas as he goes through a variety of exciting adventures; some near-death encounters and many spiritual experiences. Regular reading of this all-time classic has helped me draw spiritual lessons and seek constant inspiration in my own spiritual journey.
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varnashram system meant to unify people and not to divide is an exceellnet quote
Because of the influence of kali yuga, everything becomes worse.
So, Radhanathy Swami helping us to go for the real varnasrama dharma for the up lift of human race. It is very nice article. All glories to Radhanath Swami.
Than kyou Maharajah for explaining it so nicely. “a person’s position in the society is based on his character and not on birth”.
but specially in India somehow people relate it to birth and claim them-self as Brahman.
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Great article – Thank you Maharaj for explaining it so nicely.
the explanation given by Radhanath Swami helps clear many of our misconceptions.
Nice post and this fill someone in on helped me alot in my college assignement. Thank you on your information.
All Glories To.H.H.Radhanath Swami Maharaj
What a wonderful insight into how should we identify people basis their character and not on their bodily or social stature.
Hare Krishna
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Radhanath Swami has truely described the perverted caste system which many people from so called higher classes take that this caste system is based on the birth and not by qualities/modes and under such garb, they exploit others.
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H.H Radhanath Swami Maharaj has nicely explained about varnashrama system and how it got perverted in to caste system.
People who draw discrimination on the basis of birth ,should learn from this.
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When I had first come to know about caste system, it sounded quite obnoxious to me. But when I read that actual caste system is NOT based on birth, and that its based on qualities of a person, immediately it struck me as a scientific system of social organization.
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Radhanath Swami has nicely explained who the real Brahman is. We honour or dishonour a person based on his birth. However this story clearly tell us that this is wrong.
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Radhananath Swami tells us the real meaning and purpose of the Varnashram system and how people have misused it. Something to ponder upon.
Maharaj has an amazing sense of taking a learning from every incident he comes across.
Hari bol, Dandavat Maharaj
varnashram system meant to unify people and not to divide is an exceellnet quote
As Radhanath Swami points out, qualities of a person, and not his/her birth, determine his/her the varna (caste). Any other interpretation of the caste system is flawed. To understand a concept created by GOD Himself, let us refer to what He says about it.
We should also strive for and not descriminate people based on caste or religion while preaching Krishna consciousness to them.
very nice article
Radhanath Swami very precisely describes the perverted caste system in modern times “The Vedic varnashram was meant to encourage, empower, and unify everyone. However this concoction of caste by birth and exploitation of the lower castes has corrupted a beautiful system.”
Thank you very much Radhanath Swami Maharaj !
Hare Krishna !
Thank you for elaborating about the vedic caste system.