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Behind the caste system was originally a great idea that became distorted. The Hindu social
system (varnashrama dharma), which degenerated into caste, gave
people who developed their minds, the learned, preeminence in
society over the warrior and merchant classes. Unfortunately people
became judged by their family of birth rather than by the real
qualities of their character, which turned this great idea into a
misleading appearance.
Sanatana Dharma is an
eternal way of spiritual knowledge that may be associated with any
number of social systems. Yet it does state the society should found
itself on spiritual values or it cannot really serve the soul of
man. Hinduism teaches that there is an organic structure to society,
that certain types of people exist to fulfill the different
functions of the social being, like his arms, feet or brain. Through
this organic structure it regards all humanity, in fact all the
universe as one great Being. Each one of us is not only part of that
great being, each one of us is that great Being in its totality.
This is the real meaning of our social interconnectedness.
In the modern world it is
the merchant (commercial) class that rules the world, including
dictating religion. The warrior class (those with the most guns or
best weapons) also has much power. Spiritual people, the true
Brahmins, generally have neither money, nor power, nor respect. In
this regard we should not think that our modern social order is
humanitarian but should look back to an ordering of society that
reflects what is of highest value in each of us, which is not our
property but our awareness.
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