[Advaita-l] shudra

[Uma and Ramakrishna]

--- On Mon, 8/17/09, Sunil Bhattacharjya wrote

Dear Michaelji,

Everybody is Shudra at birth. Bhagavad Gita (18.41) says that the activities
of the Brahmanas, Kshatriyas, Vaishyas and Shudras are differentiated in
harmony with their  aptitude and nature. --------

Regards,

Sunil K. Bhattacharjya
---------------------------

Everyone is a shUdra by birth is not to be read literally. The intended 
Meaning is that the responsibilities and obligations of a brAhmaNa before
the upanayana samskAra (initiation to the study of scriptures) and that of a
ShUdra are not different. What really differentiates between a brAhmaNa and
shUdra in the pre-initiation period is that a brAhmaNa is qualified to
receive upanayana, where as the shUdra is not; the growth and evolution
Of the individual jIva in the previous life/lives is what determines this
qualification and accordingly he is born to a brAhmaNa or shUdra (or for
that matter a kshatriya or vaishya) parents.

Regards,
K. Ramakrishna.