[Advaita-l] Caste system

[Nithin Sridhar]

Very succinctly explained in the document. Thank you for sharing. Has Swami
Paramarthanandaji written the same in any of his books, which can be quoted
in articles/papers?

Regards,
Nithin

On Fri, Nov 25, 2016 at 4:30 PM, kuntimaddi sadananda via Advaita-l <
advaita-l at lists.advaita-vedanta.org> wrote:

> PraNams - Swami Paramarthanandaji has provided an analysis of the caste
> system in his talks - Here is the URL reference.
> Hari Om!Sadananda
>
>
> http://practicalphilosophy.in/wp-content/uploads/2009/09/
> Introduction-to-Vedanta-Swami-Paramarthananda.pdf
>
>       From: Vineet Menon via Advaita-l <advaita-l at lists.advaita-
> vedanta.org>
>  To: A discussion group for Advaita Vedanta <advaita-l at lists.advaita-
> vedanta.org>
>  Sent: Friday, November 25, 2016 4:09 PM
>  Subject: Re: [Advaita-l] Caste system
>
> NamaskAra,
>
> Please understand that caste, jati and varna are three different concepts.
>
> The first one is a European word from Portuguese and is an amalgamation of
> European race science and the other two (jati and varna). Varna is not
> hereditary (at least I don't know of any verse in sruti which says so) and
> Jati is hereditary exclusively to establish kinship and marital issues.
>
> > 1) How do i go about identifying my varna?
>
> As Krishna says in Gita (4.13). Sankara's commentary says,
>
>
> > 'By the gunas are meant sattva, rajas and tamas. As to that, the control
> > of the mind and body, austerity, etc. are the duties of the Brahmanas,
> who
> > are sattvika, i.e. have a predominance of the quality of sattva (purity,
> > goodness, etc.). Courage, valour, etc. are the duties of the Ksatriyas,
> in
> > whom sattva becomes secondary and rajas (passion, attachment, etc.)
> > preponderates. Agriculture etc. are the duties of the Vaisya, in whom
> tamas
> > (indolence, ignorance, etc.) is secondary and rajas is predominant.
> Service
> > is the only duty of the Sudra, in whom rajas is secondary and tamas
> > predominates (see chapters 14, 16,17 and 18). In this way, the four
> castes
> > have been created by Me through a classification of the gunas and duties'
>
>
> > 2) Does my varna change with time as it is a function of Sattva,  Rajas
> and Tamas.
>
> I find no mention of gunas changing with time. Gunas are not acquired
> characteristic.
>
>  > 3) How does knowing my varna help,  given the type of job opportunities
> and extracurricular options that prevail in the society today?
>
> See the Sankara commentary. Today's world is not the world of yesteryears.
> There are many professions in ancient society which has been rendered
> obsolete in present and similarly, there are professions in the present
> which was absent in the past. But roughly, teachers/scientists/doctors etc
> can be considered Brahmana, Politicians/Armed forces can be considered
> Kshtriya, Traders/CEOs/Entrepreneurs can be classified as Vaisya while
> Engineers/Artists/Writers can be considered Sudra.
>
> Also, please note that sruti has no mention of any hierarchy among the
> Varnas.
>
> On 25 November 2016 at 09:12, Lakshman Velayutham via Advaita-l <
> advaita-l at lists.advaita-vedanta.org> wrote:
>
> > If I may add more questions...
> >
> > 1) How do i go about identifying my varna?
> > 2) Does my varna change with time as it is a function of Sattva,  Rajas
> and
> > Tamas.
> > 3) How does knowing my varna help,  given the type of job opportunities
> and
> > extracurricular options that prevail in the society today?
> >
> > Regards
> > Lakshman Velayutham
> >
> > On Nov 25, 2016 7:00 AM, "Nithin Sridhar via Advaita-l" <
> > advaita-l at lists.advaita-vedanta.org> wrote:
> >
> > > Dinesh ji,
> > >
> > > This article which I wrote sometime ago may be of use to you-
> > > http://indiafacts.org/varna-provide-religious-basis-
> > present-caste-system/
> > >
> > > Also read these articles-
> > >
> > > 1.
> > > http://indiafacts.org/why-is-the-world-so-obsessed-with-
> > > indias-caste-system/
> > >
> > > 2. http://indiafacts.org/varna-not-caste/
> > >
> > > Regards,
> > > Nithin
> > >
> > > On Fri, Nov 25, 2016 at 2:28 AM, Dinesh Patel MD via Advaita-l <
> > > advaita-l at lists.advaita-vedanta.org> wrote:
> > >
> > > > My educationists
> > > > A few of my American friends are asking about caste system as
> mentioned
> > > in
> > > > Gita
> > > > Why lord Krishna did this or did he at all
> > > > Why are they treated as they are
> > > > Some western journalist in ny times a few weeks back wrote what
> looked
> > to
> > > > be a bias uninformed view point but no one has responded back
> > > > Dalits are badly treated by Govt - and society
> > > > I am proposing the topic
> > > >  Genesis of caste system
> > > > in India -- a Sanatan Dharma civilization
> > > >  Why
> > > > Pros and cons
> > > > Compare such caste systems if any in other religions
> > > > May be I am side tracking
> > > > If so disregard
> > > > IAM of course enjoying the information
> > > > Dinesh
> > > >
> > > > Sent from my iPhone
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> > >
> > >
> > > --
> > > Nithin S
> > > _______________________________________________
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-- 
Nithin S