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YOUR QUESTIONS ANSWERED: F.A.Q. 26
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Caste and Prejudice QUESTION: Does Yoga believe in the Indian Caste
System? ANSWER: The Caste System is one of the most
misunderstood elements of Indian culture. To correctly understand what the
Caste System is we need to understand the true meaning of the word
"caste". First of all, caste or social class is not a matter of
religious belief but a fact. The scientific study of human society shows that
any group of people the members of which engage in different occupations or
fulfil different functions within that group, is capable of being analysed
into subgroups or classes according to position or function. The Origin of Class In primitive societies, where people lead a very basic form of
life, every individual can easily acquire all the necessary skills that he
may need in his day-to-day existence. In such a society, individuals cannot
be distinguished from the others or classified by their occupation, generally
speaking. However, all societies contain individuals such as Spiritual
mediums, healers, etc., who on account of their special skills set themselves
apart from the general population. In societies that are more technologically
advanced, the professional specialisation of individuals and their resultant
classification into social groups or classes becomes a salient feature that
cannot be avoided or denied. Indeed, the division of society according to professional
occupation is an universal phenomenon that may be observed in most cultures,
both ancient and modern. In Europe, for example, society has been
traditionally classified into the upper, middle and working classes, the
upper class being the class that rules the country (aristocracy), the middle
class being professional and business workers, and the working or producing
class proper being those that are employed for wages such as industrial and
agricultural workers and servants. Even in Communist dictatorships such as What becomes evident is that in every society, various
sections of the population are engaged in specific activities that are
necessary for the survival and prosperity of the entire community. Any
attempt to abolish such classes can only create a worse situation than
before. This applies to The main difference between The main classification of society in (1) The duty of the Priestly Class (Brahmana) was to preserve
the cultural and religious heritage and ensure the moral and Spiritual
well-being of the nation. (2) The Warrior Class (Kshatrya) was responsible
for the protection of the country. (3) Farmers (Vaishya) were engaged in
agriculture and cattle-rearing. Being the main producers as well as owners of
cattle (which had the function of currency), they also engaged in trade. (4)
The Shudras were people who did not own land and were therefore unable to
support themselves. As a result, they had to find employment in the service
of the other three classes. What becomes apparent is that the above division of society
was established on the basis of occupational classes that had emerged quite
naturally as a result of man's interaction with his environment and fellow
humans. To properly understand this fact we only need to imagine what would
happen if all human beings on Earth were politicians, lawyers or journalists. A little reflection will show that it is neither possible nor
desirable for all of Mankind to engage in the same occupation. This is why,
even in the animal kingdom, creatures living in complex societies such as
ants and bees, are organised into certain classes according to their specific
function. The Quest for the Ideal Social Order It is important to understand that there is a difference
between Social Class or Class System and discrimination against individuals
or groups on the grounds of Social Class. Is it universally accepted that
such discrimination is morally and Spiritually wrong. Class in itself, on the other hand, is an inherent factor to
human society. Whether we like it or not, the division of society into
functional classes is an unavoidable fact of life. The only point that
remains to be established is what is the best classification of society
so that its functioning is optimised and discrimination and other
malfunctioning minimised. The traditional Indian system of Chatur Varna is,
no doubt, one of the best. However, it has not always been implemented in the
best possible way. For example, the Warrior Class (Kshatrya) was meant to protect
the nation as well as function as rulers, which is why it was also called
Rajanya (Ruling Class). In practice, however, society was often ruled
indirectly by the Priestly Class (Brahmana). Moreover, while other Classes
were prohibited from taking up other occupations, the Brahmanas reserved the
right to engage in activities outside their normal priestly functions. In addition to this, the wealth accumulated by landowners and
merchants (Vaishya) enabled them to command a degree of influence far beyond
their conventional position. Over the centuries, the balance of power became
dangerously upset. The Brahmanas, Kshatryas and Vaishyas began to compete
with each other for power, neglecting in the process their original duties.
As a result, the Brahmanas failed to preserve the cultural and Spiritual
heritage of the people. The Kshatryas failed to adequately protect the nation
against invasions by foreign powers. The Vaishyas failed to invest their
wealth in projects for the upholding of the traditional moral and social
values, and chose to side up with the new rulers. Abandoned and neglected by
the upper classes, the Shudras often joined the invading enemies against their
former rulers, in a desperate attempt to escape discrimination and
oppression. Interestingly, conversion to other faiths such as Islam failed
to improve the situation of the masses. On the contrary, converted areas like
Even so, the fact remains that almost half of the For this reason, some Ancient Scriptures (Puranas) maintain
that in the current World Age (Kali Yuga, the Age of Darkness), Kshatryas
(Warriors) and Vaishyas (Farmers) no longer exist. Indeed, by the 17th
century, the general opinion was that only two Classes remained in existence,
the Brahmanas and the Shudras, that is, landed clergy and landless servants. Nor must we believe that such developments are in any way
unique to In all these cases, one section of the population acquires
power at the expense of others. For example, in the West, the rise of the
Merchant Class has generated considerable wealth for many. The Farming Class
however, has suffered. So has the Priestly Class. Greater wealth has
contributed to growing materialism and declining Spirituality. People's main
concern in life is to earn more money and buy more goods. Although they have
more possessions than ever before, true happiness remains as elusive as ever.
In the Middle Ages, serfs were slaves to the landowners. Today, consumers are
slaves to their own greed and to the Merchant Class who is exploiting their
Spiritual ignorance and weakness. What becomes evident is that the issue is not social classes
as such - which we have shown to be both natural and necessary - but the
proper maintenance of the balance of power between the classes. The Yogic View We have demonstrated that the Indian Four-Class System,
(Chatur Varna) though perfectly valid in ideal situations, has largely failed
to fulfil its designated function. This does not mean to say that it is
fundamentally flawed. It is merely in need of adjustement. The tenth Book ( The fact is that the fourfold division belongs to the Brahmanic
tradition of "Four-Headed" God Brahma, whereas Yoga follows the
tradition of "Five-Headed" Lord Shiva. In the Yoga Tradition, the Supreme Lord is said to have Five
Faces that illumine the World. Four of these are directed to the four
cardinal points, east, south, west and north, while the fifth faces upwards
to the Sky. The Puranas also tell us that Brahma originally had five heads
one of which was cut off by Lord Shiva Who holds the skull as a symbol of
power over all other Gods. This suggests two things: (1) that a conflict between the two
traditions occurred at some point in history and (2) that the original
stratification of society was five-layered, with Yogis (not Brahmanas) at the
top. This is supported by the internal evidence of the Yoga Tradition (Yoga
Dharma) itself where the Supreme Lord is called Maha Yogi (Supreme Yogi)
and not Maha Brahmana (Supreme Priest). Indeed, Enlightened Yogis being highly advanced Souls must be
admitted to be above the Four Castes that constitute the majority of Mankind.
Although they are often regarded as belonging to the Priestly Caste, Yogis do
not always fulfil the function of Priests. In consequence, they constitute a
class of their own. As for Merchants, they may perfectly well engage in trade
without belonging to any of the other classes. The fact is that many
merchants do not own land or engage in farming. A man who sells microchips or
deals in shares cannot be called “Farmer”. He is not a “Servant” as he is
self-employed. Nor is he a “Warrior” or a “Priest”. He clearly is something
else. It is beyond dispute therefore that Merchants, too, constitute a class
of their own. These undeniable facts make it necessary for two Classes, Yogis
and Merchants, to be added to the Brahmanical four-class system. This
will result in a total of six classes. However, if we include or subsume one
of these in the other five, we arrive at the desired result of Five Classes. Thus Yogis would represent the Head of the Creator, as
they possess the highest knowledge; Priests represent God's Mouth or Voice,
as their main function is to conduct prayers; Warriors are God's Arms, as
they protect the nation; Merchants are the Legs since trade means movement of
goods and people as well as material progress; Farmers are the Feet as
farming produces the goods upon which society stands. The great reverence with which Yogis
are regarded by all social classes even today, suggests that this was the
original and correct division. Indeed, like the central post or pillar
supporting the roof of a traditional house, Yogis represent the central
portion of society which provides the community with Spiritual Guidance while
at the same time maintaining a direct link to the Divine for the benefit of
all. What about the Servant Class (Shudra)? As explained above, a Merchant's occupation differs from that
of other classes. He must, therefore, be regarded as a class of its own. By contrast, Servants are, by definition, people who have no
occupation of their own but engage in such work as properly belongs to their
employers' class. If a person is employed in guarding property or persons,
for example, then he does the work of a Warrior and must be classified as
such. Likewise, if he assists a Priest, Merchant, Farmer or Yogi. Also, if a low-born person (Servant) were to become wealthy
through hard work or good fortune and engage in agricultural or mercantile
work for himself, we couldn't reasonably insist on calling him a Servant. In consequence, the notion of a Servant Class is not only
unreasonable but may actually prevent the social and economic progress of a
large section of society, which can only lead to division, fragmentation and
disintegration of the nation. Moreover, the creation of a separate Servant
Class would cause people to forget the fact that ultimately all creatures are
the servants of God and that our true purpose on Earth is to establish Unity
and Harmony in obedience to Divine Will. Such a class is therefore contrary
to the very principles of social cohesion and harmony which the Caste System
is supposed to uphold, and must be rejected unconditionally. Outcastes, Untouchables et al. As an inclusive faith, Yoga naturally rejects all
discrimination on the grounds of social class. For the same reason, it
rejects the notion of "Untouchables" or "Outcastes". The
only exception to this is made in the case of lawfully excommunicated,
exiled, or imprisoned criminals (such as terrorists) who are incapable of
reformation. Such elements cannot be regarded as part of human society, being
declared enemies of the human race. If it is objected that politicians and lawyers, for example,
also form classes of their own as they are neither Yogis, Priests, Warriors,
etc., the answer is that these professions belong to the class of those who
employ them, according to the general principle that a man belongs to the
class the work of which he does. More importantly, professions like politicians and lawyers do
nor fulfil any vital function in society. They lead a parasitic existence and
are ultimately unnecessary and even harmful to society. By contrast, the
above mentioned Five Classes are the very foundation upon which a healthy and
prosperous community is built. Conclusion In a World where the greater part of Mankind subsists on
agriculture, Farming is needed to produce food and feed the
population. Trading is necessary for the exchange of goods. Armed
Forces are needed to maintain inner order, prevent crime and defend the
nation against external attack. Guidance in religious matters is
necessary for social and moral order. Spiritual Guidance such as Yogic
teachings are necessary for the psychological and Spiritual well-being of
all. This corresponds to the Five Social Classes we enumerated
earlier: Farmers, Merchants, Warriors, Priests
and Yogis. All other specialised professions involving construction work,
medical treatment, legal assistance, etc., are needed only occasionally and
sometimes not at all, whereas the above mentioned five are permanent
constituents of all human society. Together they represent the five fingers
of the Hand of God whereby Divine Order is established on Earth for the
benefit of all. As long as these Five Classes (Pancha Varna) and their mutual
co-operation and harmony are preserved, Mankind will prosper and all will be
well. By contrast, if a nation were relying too much on trade, for example,
she will tend to exploit others in order to obtain tradeable goods. If a
nation were relying too much on offering services instead of producing goods,
she will become dependent on others' buying the services, and so on. A society structured on Yogic principles will no longer need
political debate, making the entire, unproductive political class
dispensable; due to lack of internal conflict and crime, it will render the
police forces and the legal profession unnecessary; the health-conscious
lifestyle of its citizens will reduce the need of medical care to a minimum.
These are just a few examples of the extraordinary potential a Yoga-based
society has for creating an ideal World. It is not for nothing that the
father of Western Psychology, Professor Carl G. Jung, famously declared that
"Yoga offers undreamed-of possibilities". Yogis, therefore, must be admitted to constitute the highest social
class which is needed to bring coherence, unity and harmony to any community
as well as to establish and uphold a conscious link between human society and
a Higher Truth. The proof for this is provided by countries where Yoga is
either unknown or suppressed on political or religious grounds. In such
countries, materialism, atheism, alcoholism, drug-abuse, mental imbalance and
crime as well as political and religious extremism and terrorism become more
and more prominent and various measures are constantly introduced to redress
the resultant general disorder - usually with dubious results. |