The Caste System: A commentary
One of the key principals that Hinduism has revolved
around, since the times of Manu, was the existence of
a caste system. Through the years it has changed, becoming
corrupt, and stagnant. Its interpretation has changed
with each dynasty of scholars. At the risk of turning
into another pundit, I offer my own humble interpretation
of the caste system.
As with so many other religious ideas, the caste system
has been misinterpreted. Manu was not only a lawmaker;
he was also a philosopher. And the caste system was one
of his more noble ideas.
Let us now analyse the caste system. There are four castes
(surprise surprise), namely Shudra's, Vaishya's Brahmin's
and Kyshatriya's. The current, and accepted interpretation
is that each caste stood for the man's profession. A trader
was a vaishya; a warrior was a Kyshatria, and so on.
The caste system is an idea. Each caste signifies a stage
in life each and ever man and woman passes through, in
sequence. Every person is born a Shudra. A Shudra is a
menial worker, because he has no other desires than his
immediate food, clothing, shelter, and minor luxuries.
As babies, and children, all we care about is our immediate
needs. We are self-centred, and care only for minor material
comforts.
As we grow, and each individual grows at his own speed,
we start to care about amassing great material wealth.
Whether it is a child's fancy to save up for that special
gift, or the desire of money of an adult, the objective
is to amass material wealth and to gain security.
Once, and only once, one has realised that he has amassed
all the needs, one evolve to the next stage of life. That
of a Kyshatria. Kyshatriya's are warriors, and warriors
need power. Once one has amassed material success, the
next great desire is that to be powerful, famous, and
influential. Whether that
Power is satisfied through becoming a world leader, or
the king of one's house, it is what every person desires
at that stage.
As one evolves, power ceases to be important. One no
longer wishes to be the king, or the big boss. This stage
comes with the realisation that power is no longer necessary
to complete oneself. One transcends to the final stage,
that of a Brahmin.
A Brahmin is spiritual, educated, and derives pleasure
from neither wealth, nor power, but knowledge. Once one
evolves to this stage, a desire to find their true nature
grabs hold of them. Each society has its equivalent. To
Hindu's, it is sanyas. To Buddhists, it is Nirvana, and
for the Semitic religions, it is to repent, and search
for god's grace. This is the highest stage in life, for
one is truly at peace with oneself.
If the theory of reincarnation holds true, one may live
through many lives. And the path to becoming a Brahmin
may take one, two, to a thousand lives for each individual.
If it does not, then most of us are destined to remain
Shudra's, Vaishya's or Kyshatriya's for our entire lives.
Thus, the caste system is not ordained by birth, or by
career, but by how evolved and individual is. And each
individual must pass through each stage, in succession.
Manu knew what he was talking about, and we have lost
the essence of his teaching.
Bhavya Khanna
