Equality

[Equinox]

Vannakkam

The closest thing to what Equinox is asking would be a society in which everyone is a brahmin, or in which everyone is a shudra. It is hard to see how such a society could even begin to exist, much less function.

In the beginning of Satya Yuga, wasn't everybody instilled with the best qualities? The Brahmana Varna was in power then, irrespective of caste. Everybody knew their respective duties and function in society.

And in Kali Yuga, isn't everyone predicted to be independent of each other and have enormous flexibility, thus degenerating into a bunch of hooligans who commit the worst crimes, eventually creating a chaotic world? The Sudra Varna is said to be ruling now.

That was generally what I meant from the beginning.


Aum Namah Shivaya

[philosoraptor]

Vannakkam



In the beginning of Satya Yuga, wasn't everybody instilled with the best qualities? The Brahmana Varna was in power then, irrespective of caste. Everybody knew their respective duties and function in society.

And in Kali Yuga, isn't everyone predicted to be independent of each other and have enormous flexibility, thus degenerating into a bunch of hooligans who commit the worst crimes, eventually creating a chaotic world? The Sudra Varna is said to be ruling now.

That was generally what I meant from the beginning.


Aum Namah Shivaya

According to the Bhagavata Purana, all were known as belonging to the hamsa-varna in the satya yuga. It's not clear how society functioned, but given that this was before the advent of cities, chances are there was very little need for differentiation of labor at that time.

By the Kali Yuga, there are still brahmins, as evidenced by the shloka predicting the appearance of Kalki, who will appear as the son of a brahmin.

[ShriBala]

The closest thing to what Equinox is asking would be a society in which everyone is a brahmin, or in which everyone is a shudra. It is hard to see how such a society could even begin to exist, much less function.

Namaskar.
Btw, I read a post on kamakotimandali.org where an author writes that in the kalyuga, technically there are NO brahmins. By birth, yes. Not in the strict sense of the qualification of what constitutes a brahmin. Everyone is a vaishya. He says that brahmins are supposed to do yagna, homa, pooja and everything for the benefit of others w/o the thought of compensation arising in their minds. And that obviously isn't happening these days.

Thoughts?

[Equinox]

Everyone is a vaishya.

Thoughts?

Huh?

I thought Vaishya was like in the last yuga, Dwapara Yuga? This yuga is supposed to be Sudra.

[ShivaFan]

Namaste

In the Kali Yuga, everyone thinks they are something more than they actually are.

But even in this age, there have been many Saints. It is all about what you live while in this body. Don't be a slave.

Om Namah Sivaya

[Kumar_Das]

But Hinduism acknowledges inequality, explains it (as being based on different karmas), and harnesses it (by recognizing different varnas as integral to society). The closest thing to what Equinox is asking would be a society in which everyone is a brahmin, or in which everyone is a shudra. It is hard to see how such a society could even begin to exist, much less function.

I think the only way to bypass this is for each member to take up all the jobs that are classically associated with different varnas. But it won't be able to grow in any one specific class because then the members' energy would be spent in ensuring fair allocation of various jobs. And besides when I think abt it, to be Brahmin means to cultivate certain activities, to be more intensely Brahmin would be to direct all efforts into Sattvic activities. You only have 24 hours a day! And no matter how long a time you get per day, its always better to schedule your day to do THOSE activites, bcos it is quite the nature of those activities that you dedicate yourself to them as religiously(note the word) as you can!

[Kumar_Das]

I think the only way to bypass this is for each member to take up all the jobs that are classically associated with different varnas. But it won't be able to grow in any one specific class because then the members' energy would be spent in ensuring fair allocation of various jobs. And besides when I think abt it, to be Brahmin means to cultivate certain activities, to be more intensely Brahmin would be to direct all efforts into Sattvic activities. You only have 24 hours a day! And no matter how long a time you get per day, its always better to schedule your day to do THOSE activites, bcos it is quite the nature of those activities that you dedicate yourself to them as religiously(note the word) as you can!

Anyways this reminds of one story from the Puranas, where Narada Muni wanted to find out who is the biggest devotee of Shri Narayana and the Lord showed him a labourer who constantly remembered Him by chanting His name while doing everything he did.

[philosoraptor]

Namaskar.
Btw, I read a post on kamakotimandali.org where an author writes that in the kalyuga, technically there are NO brahmins. By birth, yes. Not in the strict sense of the qualification of what constitutes a brahmin. Everyone is a vaishya. He says that brahmins are supposed to do yagna, homa, pooja and everything for the benefit of others w/o the thought of compensation arising in their minds. And that obviously isn't happening these days.

Thoughts?

Just one: where is the shAstric prAmaNa for this statement?

[ShivaFan]

Namaste

Socialism, affirmative action and quota systems fail and create discrimination because they are race based, social class based (and thus largely birth based) quota systems, and not based on performance, intelligence and qualities (gunas) of the individual. They are group think and class warfare based rather than seeing the individual.

Thus they fail in their objectives, and end up bringing about conflict and less equality.

In that measure, they share a lot in common with misuse and human based misappropriation of varnas by those who are birth based caste propagandists who turn four varnas into 6000 jatis. The affirmative action and socialist quota systems will soon create 6000 special birth-race-class quotas and reservations as well.

Both agendas spend an endlees amount of time talking and focusing on their agendas instead of improving themselves.

Om Namah Sivaya