4 ms·

Not true. The varna system advocated by the vedas the holy books of Hinduism is all about the division of laborers(not labor). Its the foundation for the caste

Not true. The varna system advocated by the vedas the holy books of Hinduism is all about the division of laborers(not labor). Its the foundation for the caste system, where privilege is based on birth and even education is restricted to kings only be allowed to the priestly caste. Only after the invasion of British this has changed. The kings were okay with this because they don't have competition for their place. This hierarchy of social ladder worked because of the privilege one gets by birth over those under the hierarchy.

triyambakam 6y ago
Well firstly, the varna system doesn't change the Hindu perspective that one chooses one's birth. If you believe the mis-information about the varna system (which I explain below), then it just means that you believe you chose to be born into the cast that you are. That still lines up with the core tenets of Hinduism, that one chooses one's birth based on the ripe karmas. However, what you have shared about the varna system is false. The original caste system - the varna dharma - simply means that at different stages of life and different people more naturally express ways of serving society - some are workers, some are business people, some are warriors, some are priests. The Vedas do not declare that this is fixed through one's whole life or even determined by one's lineage. A brahmin (priest caste) does not need to be born from brahmin parents, but people have distorted the varna dharma to mean that brahmins must be from a brahmin family, and that brahmins should be above others in status. All the casts are equal, but they are not the same. The British further abused the caste system and perpetuated this false understanding of it for their own benefit. They encouraged the castes to remain fixed through one's life and be base on lineage. This is not the original way. The Vedas actually tell us that castes are fluid through one's life and not based on which family one was born into.
- john4532452 6y ago
  Your statements in the first paragraph are contradictory. > Well firstly, the varna system doesn't change the Hindu perspective that one chooses one's birth. > That still lines up with the core tenets of Hinduism, that one chooses one's birth based on the ripe karmas. Vedas says one is born according to his past life karma. > The original caste system - the varna dharma - simply means that at different stages of life and different people more naturally express ways of serving society - some are workers, some are business people, some are warriors, some are priests. If people were allowed to change caste most people would have changed to priestly caste as it is the most easy life one can have. > A brahmin (priest caste) does not need to be born from brahmin parents No father would want his child to convert to lower caste. > The British further abused the caste system and perpetuated this false understanding of it for their own benefit. I am not saying Britishers came as saviors, but they are the ones who setup schools to everyone, obviously for their own profit ,but still mass education happened only after their conquest. > This is not the original way. The Vedas actually tell us that castes are fluid through one's life and not based on which family one was born into. Assuming this is true, who has the authority to decide who should belong to which caste. Obviously the people in the highest caste will decide and they will try to main the power. Its simple as that.
  - triyambakam 6y ago
    > Your statements in the first paragraph are contradictory. > Vedas says one is born according to his past life karma. It seems like there are some gaps in your understanding of Hindu and Vedic thought. Yes, you are born according to your past life karma, but the soul (in a body or in the other loka) always have free will – so you chose your karma – you chose to do actions that created future karmas to be resolved. By extension, you chose your birth. This is the full understanding. > If people were allowed to change caste most people would have changed to priestly caste as it is the most easy life one can have. You are misconstruing the abuse, misapplication and misunderstanding of the varna dharma with how the Vedas define it. 1. In the original varna dharma, there isn’t an “easier life” for one caste or another. Everyone does there dharma and that takes work. According to the Vedas one caste is not superior to another, they are equal but different. 2. Your natural abilities are the way that you choose your caste. One person has no interest or ability for the spiritual life, but they are good at business. Your natural abilities are chosen based on past karma, which you also chose. > No father would want his child to convert to lower caste. Of course that is so when in the abused and misapplied varna dharma. This would not be a problem if the varna dharma were applied as it is in the Vedas. A person of the priest caste would offer equal respect to the worker caste, for example. > but still mass education happened only after their conquest. Which has been very problematic. Education for all is good, but they have enforced Christian education and many other negative things. I am not arguing that before the British things were perfect – the argument here is how the Vedas defined the varna dharma system vs how it has been misapplied, both before and after the British. Please understand this – you originally stated misinformation about what the Vedas say. > Assuming this is true, who has the authority to decide who should belong to which caste. Obviously the people in the highest caste will decide and they will try to main the power. Its simple as that. Continuation of the misapplication of the varna dharma, against the teachings of the Vedas. The authority should be by one’s own volition and the community. If the varna dharma is actually applied as it is outlined in the Vedas there is equality and justice for all. But it has been abused and used to keep certain people in power. That is not the way it is outlined in the Vedas. This inequality is wrong and against Vedic teachings.
    - john4532452 6y ago

triyambakam 6y ago

Well firstly, the varna system doesn't change the Hindu perspective that one chooses one's birth. If you believe the mis-information about the varna system (which I explain below), then it just means that you believe you chose to be born into the cast that you are. That still lines up with the core tenets of Hinduism, that one chooses one's birth based on the ripe karmas. However, what you have shared about the varna system is false. The original caste system - the varna dharma - simply means that at different stages of life and different people more naturally express ways of serving society - some are workers, some are business people, some are warriors, some are priests. The Vedas do not declare that this is fixed through one's whole life or even determined by one's lineage. A brahmin (priest caste) does not need to be born from brahmin parents, but people have distorted the varna dharma to mean that brahmins must be from a brahmin family, and that brahmins should be above others in status. All the casts are equal, but they are not the same. The British further abused the caste system and perpetuated this false understanding of it for their own benefit. They encouraged the castes to remain fixed through one's life and be base on lineage. This is not the original way. The Vedas actually tell us that castes are fluid through one's life and not based on which family one was born into.

john4532452 6y ago
Your statements in the first paragraph are contradictory. > Well firstly, the varna system doesn't change the Hindu perspective that one chooses one's birth. > That still lines up with the core tenets of Hinduism, that one chooses one's birth based on the ripe karmas. Vedas says one is born according to his past life karma. > The original caste system - the varna dharma - simply means that at different stages of life and different people more naturally express ways of serving society - some are workers, some are business people, some are warriors, some are priests. If people were allowed to change caste most people would have changed to priestly caste as it is the most easy life one can have. > A brahmin (priest caste) does not need to be born from brahmin parents No father would want his child to convert to lower caste. > The British further abused the caste system and perpetuated this false understanding of it for their own benefit. I am not saying Britishers came as saviors, but they are the ones who setup schools to everyone, obviously for their own profit ,but still mass education happened only after their conquest. > This is not the original way. The Vedas actually tell us that castes are fluid through one's life and not based on which family one was born into. Assuming this is true, who has the authority to decide who should belong to which caste. Obviously the people in the highest caste will decide and they will try to main the power. Its simple as that.
- triyambakam 6y ago
  > Your statements in the first paragraph are contradictory. > Vedas says one is born according to his past life karma. It seems like there are some gaps in your understanding of Hindu and Vedic thought. Yes, you are born according to your past life karma, but the soul (in a body or in the other loka) always have free will – so you chose your karma – you chose to do actions that created future karmas to be resolved. By extension, you chose your birth. This is the full understanding. > If people were allowed to change caste most people would have changed to priestly caste as it is the most easy life one can have. You are misconstruing the abuse, misapplication and misunderstanding of the varna dharma with how the Vedas define it. 1. In the original varna dharma, there isn’t an “easier life” for one caste or another. Everyone does there dharma and that takes work. According to the Vedas one caste is not superior to another, they are equal but different. 2. Your natural abilities are the way that you choose your caste. One person has no interest or ability for the spiritual life, but they are good at business. Your natural abilities are chosen based on past karma, which you also chose. > No father would want his child to convert to lower caste. Of course that is so when in the abused and misapplied varna dharma. This would not be a problem if the varna dharma were applied as it is in the Vedas. A person of the priest caste would offer equal respect to the worker caste, for example. > but still mass education happened only after their conquest. Which has been very problematic. Education for all is good, but they have enforced Christian education and many other negative things. I am not arguing that before the British things were perfect – the argument here is how the Vedas defined the varna dharma system vs how it has been misapplied, both before and after the British. Please understand this – you originally stated misinformation about what the Vedas say. > Assuming this is true, who has the authority to decide who should belong to which caste. Obviously the people in the highest caste will decide and they will try to main the power. Its simple as that. Continuation of the misapplication of the varna dharma, against the teachings of the Vedas. The authority should be by one’s own volition and the community. If the varna dharma is actually applied as it is outlined in the Vedas there is equality and justice for all. But it has been abused and used to keep certain people in power. That is not the way it is outlined in the Vedas. This inequality is wrong and against Vedic teachings.
  - john4532452 6y ago