Lecture#5: Varna-Ashram Dharma According to Hindu scriptures, Varnashrama-dharma is not a man-made system but refers to natural classifications that appear to various degrees in all human societies even today. Varna means “to describe” or classify like color, form, quality, based on similar attributes. Eg classification of animal or plant kingdom. Eg.2 developed or underdeveloped countries. Individuals have different innate tendencies (karma-action & guna-quality) for work and exhibit a variety of personal qualities. Every individual has various ratios of rajas, tamasic, and sattvic tendencies. Hinduism teaches that individual’s best realize their potential by taking into account such natural innate tendencies and perform a role in society. Coffee and its ingredients are equally important for TASTY COFFEE same is true for 4 castes. Society is divided into four main groups based on innate tendencies and profession in the society (with a fifth, "the untouchables," outside of the caste system). Varna Role Body=Society Today Role Brahmin-Seers. Intellectuals, Mouth, head Philosophers, scientist, spiritual leaders teachers, religious Laid foundation of progress leaders of humanity “think tank” Kshatriya: Warriors. formerly nobles, Arms and chest Soldiers, politicians, rajahs, warriors administrators-ceo etc Protectors & Administrators’ of society Implement Ideals of intellectuals. Vaishya: Traders producers, the Abdoman and Merchants, doctors, craftsmen, thighs businessmen skillful producers or traders artisans, of material things farmers Shudra: unskilled laborers. menial workers Legs, feet Supporting, or hard transporter Followers or the laborers. maintenance people. Dalits untouchables Outside of caste unskilled cleaning Reita Agarwal Page 1 Each varna and ashram has its own specified dharma. What may be desirable for one section of society may be degrading for another. For example, absolute non-violence, which includes refraining from animal sacrifice, is essential for the priestly class but considered wholly unworthy of a kshatriya (warrior). Underlying all these apparent differences is the common goal of advancing in spiritual life based on sanatana-dharma. Without the spiritual equality and sense of service inherent in sanatana- dharma, varnashrama-dharma tends to degrade into the rigid and exploitative caste system. Every society or organization has people who give suggestions, others who put plans into action, others who do fund raising and still others who do whatever practical labor needs to be done. So a person maybe predominately a thinker, leader, business person or worker, to run a project or organization. Problems arise only when we assume a mistaken sense of superiority and inferiority. Then revolt occurs to balance it. The social body and its components are likened to the human form Brahma. Society is compared to a body with the brahmanas as the head, kshatriyas as the arms, vaishyas as the belly (or thighs) and the shudras as the legs Social functions are determined according to this analogy. For example, the brahmanas are the eyes and mouth of society. They provide a spiritual vision for society and teach people accordingly. Just as the arms are raised to defend the body, the kshatriya's main duty is to protect society. The vaishya's main duty is material nourishment, and the shudra supports all other sections of society. Reita Agarwal Page 2 Reita Agarwal Page 3 Disaster Has Occurred. What type of people do you need to normalize the situation? Think in terms of “caste/profession” and “type of action/work” that needs to be done. Reita Agarwal Page 4 .