[Advaita-l] [advaitin] Varna-system and Hinduism - as seen by missionaries

[Kaushik Chevendra]

Namaste sir.


Dear friends,
>
> This is just to remind you that Lord Krishna had told about the Varna
> system, most appropriately in the Bhagavad Gita,  as follows:
>
> ब्राह्मणक्षत्रियविशां शूद्राणां च परन्तप |
> कर्माणि प्रविभक्तानि स्वभावप्रभवैर्गुणै: || 18:41||
>
> *BG 18.41*: The duties of the Brahmins, Kshatriyas, Vaishyas, and
> Shudras—are according to their qualities (and has nothing to do with
> birth).
>

This interpretation is wrong. The caste has to do both with karma and
janma. They aren't independently capable of deciding caste. This view is
against the vedas, dharmashastras and shankaracharya.


> Jai Shri Krishna
>
> My 2 cents
> Sunil K B
>
>
> On Sun, Apr 23, 2023 at 9:56 PM putran M <putranm4 at gmail.com> wrote:
>
> > Namaskaram,
> >
> >
> > Varna dharma is an integral part of traditional Hinduism and advaita
> > sampradaya. Therefore this remarkable article is relevant to us.
> >
> >
> > https://pragyata.com/christian-missionaries-on-caste/
> >
> >
> > It lets us see through the words of 19th and early 20th century
> > missionaries how “caste” was “a singular insurmountable hurdle between
> the
> > heathendom and its Christianisation.”
> >
> >
> > “Caste gives form and life and strength to the Hindu religion. Hinduism
> > would soon be shivered to atoms if it were not for caste. This is Satan’s
> > masterpiece.” - Rev. Myron Winslow
> >
> >
> > The kanchi paramacharya or mahaperiva also opined similarly of the varna
> > dharma, albeit in a positive light:
> >
> >
> > “If some faiths in India itself and outside have declined and if our
> > religion alone has survived for ten thousand years, does it not mean that
> > it has something that is lacking in others? This something is the varna
> > system. Our present-day reformers argue that the varna division is
> > responsible for the disintegration of our society. The fact is it is
> > precisely this division, varna dharma, that has sustained it and kept it
> > intact. It follows that this dharma has features that are superior in
> > character to concepts like equality, features that are vital to the very
> > well-being of people. Our society is divided on the basis of it, but it
> > must be noted that this division has helped our religion to preserve
> itself
> > successfully against all onslaughts.”
> > https://kamakoti.org/hindudharma/part3/chap2.htm
> >
> >
> > My thought/opinion:
> >
> >
> > I would say differently from Mr. Winslow, that Satan’s masterpiece is the
> > abrahamic who has managed to get the Hindu to imitate him, to think of
> > himself and his traditions like the abrahamic wanted him to think, and to
> > actively destroy the foundations of what held him to his Dharma. “We’ve
> > been played” is a feeling I got when reading the article. Unlike the
> Hindus
> > described in the article however, today’s Hindus need hardly care when
> they
> > throw their “caste” and custom to the dustbin - for both family and
> society
> > look past such acts, condone or even approve them for it. Hindu parents
> > plan ahead to minimize the ‘stigma’ of traditional svadharma in their
> > toddler’s growth and existence, either because they themselves think it
> > wrong or because they think it hinders blending and succeeding in the
> > modern world.
> >
> >
> > The missionary’s objectives have largely become accomplished that we have
> > turned into a tribe of trishankus, with our heads hanging upside down.
> Some
> > in this state I am sure will become easy plucking for the missionary as
> he
> > hoped for; but it is unclear what the long term trajectory for the Hindu
> > civilization will be. Perhaps with greater knowledge and awareness, there
> > will also be a shift back to traditional (orthodox) religion of which
> > birth-based varna dharma is an integral part.
> >
> >
> > Hindus should read the article and introspect.
> >
> >
> > thollmelukaalkizhu
> >
> > --
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> >
> https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/advaitin/CAKqm3-pY-bKsd_UjraBhsBwRUU3tWWwcJx0S512NqAKNX1CMWA%40mail.gmail.com
> > <
> https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/advaitin/CAKqm3-pY-bKsd_UjraBhsBwRUU3tWWwcJx0S512NqAKNX1CMWA%40mail.gmail.com?utm_medium=email&utm_source=footer
> >
> > .
> >
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