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.
this is the nature of the conditioned mind, he stamps on others head and exploit other for his own prestige and sense gratification. Unless we hold the sacred values in our lives and consider every one as part and parcel of God the vision of we will not be able to treat everyone equally.
The caste system is a degraded form of varnasrama system, as stated correctly by Radhanath Swami. Radhanath Swami’s lectures – when I heard them, I realized what is real meaning of religion.
World’s all the problem will be solved if all follow vedic varnashram system.
Vedic Varnashram is a perfect system.
Misinterpretations lead to so much confusion thats the reason we need someone like Radhanath Swami who can guide us.
Such is the responsibility of practioners of a faith or religion. If the practioner becomes selfish, he starts manipulating the principles to benefit himself.
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Vedic varnashram was meant to encourage, empower, and unify everyone- H H RAdhanath Swami
What a wonderful meditation!!!!
Radhanath Swami has been through so many situations and his conviction is so strong someone else might have said Indian culture is not good but Radhanath Swami went deeper and now is sharing his realizations based on scriptures
When people mis-interpret things, it creates a great havoc in the soceity. System of Varnashrama dharma is meant to keep soceity in order with mutual respect for all classes of men, but never meant for over-powering other classes of men. It is very important that we understand the things as it is from the authorised spiritual teachers. Only then we can establish peace in society.
Radhanath swami maharaj has very nicely addressed the issue of caste system in Hindus…
Only the Bhagavad Gita, spoken by God Himself, gives this highest understanding of the divisions in society that exist naturally, while all are equal on the level of the spirit soul.
Radhanath Swami implores men and women to lead a life of truth and dignity, and not be bogged down by superficial, bodily identifications – what a wonderful teaching.
Radhanath Swami very nicely explains the real meaning of the so-called chaste system.
this article breaks the myth that the caste system is encouraged by the ancient hindu scriptures. very well indeed.
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Fantastic article! This article actually rules out all the myths of the caste system that prevailed in india once upon a time.
Very nice article…..example of ‘doctor’s son does not qualify him to become a doctor without training’ is very appropriate to this article & the caste system……by having birth in a higher class does not make one higher in terms of caste & status unless he develops the qualities of that caste……
Before I came to know of the scientific, original version of the caste system from books written by Srila A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupad, I too felt it was an evil of society.
Radhanath Swami very wonderfully explains the wonderful role of vedic varnashram system in having a happy society
Radhanath Swami has correctly pointed out the fact that the present-day caste system based on the birth has been made up by the smartha brahmins out of their selfish motivations. This has singularly been the major cause of the social strife that we witness between the different castes of the Indian society. Also, irrespective of the class/caste to which a person may belong to by birth, no one is to be barred from visiting temples & engaging deity worship. Radhanath Swami has, in this regards, been very successfully educating the people about the ills & defects of the prevailing caste system which is based on birth. In fact he encourages everyone, irrespective of their social status, to engage in deity worship & lead a devotional life in the service of God & thus spiritualise their consciousness & go back to Godhead.
Thank you Radhanath Swami for sharing your experience
Good meditation. Thank you.
Today’s caste syastem based on birth is indeed a perverted reflection of the original Vedic Varnashram, as brought out by Radhanath Swami. We should therefore heed the instructions of bonafide gurus such as Radhanath Swami if we really want to make serious spiritual progress in our lives.
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Such a well written post.. Thnkx for sharing this post!
The most scientific and perfect vedic system of India is lost and only a perverted system is being followed. In current world the so called higher or lower caste it does not matter – everyone is using his position to exploit.
Radhanath Swami following the authentic acharyas of vedic system is teaching how to overcome these negative aspects and really connect to God, experience the highest bliss in life irrespective of your life…
I’m glad someone decided to sooner or later shed light on this. I have reflected on it frequently.
Such facts of what is the real meaning of varna and ashrama should be widely known to the people
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Even in spiritual congregations, this message is so pertinent and useful. Cause many of us are in devotional circles with requirements of varying degrees. Cooperating as a whole body, while individually doing our service well is the essence to keeping the congregation alive and also pleasing Srila Prabhupada and Radhanath Swami.
Vernashram is ment to establish peace in society.Such facts of what is the real meaning of varna and ashrama should be widely known to the people.
Nice blog. I got a lot of effective info. I’ve been following this technology for awhile. It’s intriguing how it keeps changing, yet some of the core factors remain the same.
Maharaj’s explanation of varnashrama is fool-proof and should be appplied for harmonious living.
Although we Indians are supposed to understand our own culture, practice it and explain the misconceptions, we find that His Holiness is doing that imp task so that we can repose our faith in God and God created system. Thank you Radhanath swami – here lies your greatness.
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A strong preacher like Radhanath Swami is needed to clear away all these misconceptions about caste system and its repurcussions on society.
The constant debate about the Vedic influence on ‘caste’ is put to rest with Radhanath Swami’s clear and lucid thoughts on true varnashram. Radhanath Swami moves a step forward and offers a higher perspective by ‘imploring men and women to lead a life of truth and dignity, and not be bogged down by superficial, bodily identifications.’
Radhanath Swami presents the truth.
Unity in diversity
Very true.
Nice article picturing the true gist of Varnasrama System.