Question about Varna

[Olivia Cattedra]

Dear list members


Having in mind those principles which support the dinamic of dharma, (S.
Radhakrishna, spurces of dharma ,  on Hindu Dharma, in Religion and society,
London 1955) I would suggest that these dialogue between Yudhishthira and
the rakshasa could de interpreted in the following sense:
 since these days are so deeply obscure and confuse in our world, just the
possibility (or at least, the possibility)  of having in mind and act
according to universal laws and to hold to inner forces of the spirit, the
remembrance of the sacredness of life,  to consider the unity, the love, the
ahimsa principle, the unity of all beings , the beauty of this creation, and
from that, to remain faithful to the own svadharma, that can be understood
as a brahmanic character
sincerely,



----- Original Message -----
From: Srikrishna Ghadiyaram <srikrishna_ghadiyaram at YAHOO.COM>
To: <ADVAITA-L at LISTS.ADVAITA-VEDANTA.ORG>
Sent: Wednesday, March 06, 2002 1:31 AM
Subject: Re: Question about Varna


> Hari Om !!
>
> --- nanda chandran <vpcnk at HOTMAIL.COM> wrote:
> > >rajan kulena vrttena svadhyayena shrutena va
> > >
> > >brahmanyam kenabhavati prabruhyetatsu nishcitam
> > >
> > >
> > >King, how does one become a Brahmin: by birth?
> > >
> > >character? study of the Vedas? education? Tell me
> > >precisely.
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >shrnu yaksha kulam tata nasvadhyayo nacashrutam
> > >
> > >karanam hi dvijatve ca vrttameva na samshayha
> > >
> > >Listen, Yaksha, it is neither birth nor education,
> > nor
> > >even the study
> > >
> > >of the Vedas. Without doubt, it is character alone
> > >that marks a Brahmin.
> > >
> > >Yudhishthira's answer is crisp, clear and
> > unambiguous
> > >when he replies, 'Na samshayaha ... there is no
> > doubt
> > >about it: it is not birth, it is not education, it
> > is
> > >not the study of the Vedas but it is vritta
> > >(character) alone that determines a Brahmin."
> >
> > It is to be noted that attitudes and ideas were
> > different in the days of
> > Yudishtra than they are today. In those days it was
> > pretty much clear that a
> > brahmana is one who is born so. So Yudishtra's
> > statement might only mean
> > that though one can be born as a brahmana, be
> > educated in the scriptures
> > etc, still it is only due to one's character/conduct
> > that one proves oneself
> > as a true brahmana - character is what cements the
> > caste status.
> >
> >
>
> So, how do you interpret it in these days ?
>
> Om Namo Narayanaya !!
>
> Srikrishna
>
> __________________________________________________
> Do You Yahoo!?
> Try FREE Yahoo! Mail - the world's greatest free email!
> http://mail.yahoo.com/
>
>