Varnashrama Dharma

03-10-2006, 11:56 AM

Namaste,

The views of Gandhi-ji on this subject are worth reading and
pondering over:

http://tinyurl.com/hckbc

Regards,

Sunder

03-10-2006, 01:43 PM

post number 30510

Respected Sunder-ji :

Thanks for posting this link.

As you all know by now , i hold Gandhiji in very high esteem and
whatever he says is 'veda vakku' ( meaning scriptural injunction) in
the link , sunderji has posted, gandhiji is supporting the
varnashrama dharma .

however in the other artilcles that i read , here are some
highlights from gandhiji's views on the same subject .

"I regard Varnashrama as a healthy division of work based on birth.
The present ideas of caste are a perversion of the original. There is
no question with me of superiority or inferiority. It is purely a
question of duty. I have indeed stated that varna is based on birth.
But I have also said that it is possible for a shudra, for instance,
to become a vaishya. But in order to perform the duty of a vaishya he
does not need the label of a vaishya. He who performs the duty of a
BrahmIn will easily become one in the next incarnation.".

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" Numerous verses from the shastras unmistakably show that mere birth
counts for nothing. A person must show corresponding works and
character to establish his claim by birth. Such verses also enforce
the argument that (i) a person loses varna by failing to exhibit its
peculiar characteristics;

(ii) birth, while it gives a start and enables the parents to
determine the training and occupation of their children, does not
perpetuate the varna of one's birth, if it is not fulfilled by
works.

__________________________________________________ ____________________
-
" -The existing innumerable divisions with the attendant artificial
restrictions and elaborate ceremonial are harmful to the growth of a
religious spirit, as also to the social wellbeing of the Hindus and
therefore also their neighbours. "–

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" Varnashrama of the shastras is today non-existent in practice. The
present caste system is the very antithesis of varna-shrama. The
sooner public opinion abolishes it the better."

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"Caste has nothing to do with religion. It is harmful both to
spiritual and national growth.—"

"Today Brahmans and kshatriyas, vaishyas and shudras are mere labels.
There is utter confusion of varna as I understand it and I wish that
all the Hindus will voluntarily call themselves shudras. That is the
only way to demonstrate the truth of Brahmanism and to revive Varna
Dharma in its true state."

http://www.mkgandhi-sarvodaya.org/sf.../sixteenth.htm

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My honest opinion after reading all these various thoughts of
Gandhiji on 'varnashrama dharma' makes me believe that
the 'varnashrama dharma ' as it was originally practiced was more
like Adam smith's division of labor but over time it has degenerated
into a mechanism for exploitation and abuse -

We have Parasurama who was a brahmin-lover and a hater of Kshatriyas
and then we have E.V. RAMASWAMY (EVERA as he was affectionatley
called) who was a champion of women's rights and the rights of the
non-brahmins - some even labelled him as a brahmin-hater. my point is
this is there no mediunm in between these two extremes? Do you have
to hate one to love another - can there not be a 'love' for all in
the true advaitic spirit of 'oneness'?

love and regards
(