My R.E teacher was talking about the bhagavad gita today in class and was saying how it was better to do your own caste badly than to do anothers well… so what does the bhagavad gita say about caste and dharma?
(Source: Yahoo Answers)
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Bhagavad Gita… the most sacred scripture of Hinduism on Mother Earth does not differentiate between human beings. It simply states… those indulging in religious rituals were Brahmins, those working for the protection of our boundaries… Kshatriya, those involved in business and trading… Vaishya and the balance Shudra taking care of menial jobs!
Bhagavad Gita does not create a disparity between any of the stated forms of Labor! All are to be equally respected. As per Bhagavad Gita it is not the origination that counts… but the conduct that is important! Every human being must be judged by ones conduct and not the family background… the roots one is born into!
One may be born a Brahmin yet, indulging in trading! One may be born a Vaishya… yet serving the country on the front! In the house of God… there never existed a disparity. All were equal. Bhagavad Gita… all the 700 shlokas (verses) contained therein contains truth and only truth! Bhagavad Gita is the embodiment of truthfulness.
As per the Sacred Bhagavad Gita of Hinduism… dharma is the foremost of all! Dharma is inherently built into every living being since birth. About 3600 years before now… when even Lord Krishna had not yet born… and no religion of any kind existed… how did mankind conduct itself! It was through the process of Dharma and dharma alone mankind existed fairly well.
Dharma… “Your right to do what is just and right and not what was destined” always guides one on the right path. All religions emanated from the teachings of an enlightened one. Buddhism derived its roots from the teachings of Gautama Buddha. Christianity came into fore with the teachings of Jesus Christ!
Dharma has always withstood the test of time. In every circumstance of life Dharma never fails us. The sweet small inner voice of our soul atman that seems to come from within our heart… is the voice of Dharma that always guides us on the right path. Devoid of Dharma… mankind nay living form simply could not exist in the Cosmos.
Religion or no religion… dharma and spirituality always exists inherently! Dominated by the wanton desires and greed for materialistic riches when human beings sometimes go astray… sway from the path of truthfulness… it is Dharma and dharma alone… that prompts from within to take corrective measures!
What is truthfulness after all! Following the path of Dharma is what truthfulness is all about! Dharma (righteousness) always wins the end. We are presently passing through the Kali Yuga phase of life… the Dark Age… the metal age! In the fight between Dharma (righteousness) and adharma (lawlessness), David shall always win the end. More on Bhagavad Gita- http://www.godrealized.com/bhagvadgita.h...
Namaste(Hello),
In the Bhagavad Gita, Sri Krishna only states about the Dharma and never about any caste. He tells that the mankind is divided into four Varna(group) based upon his/her Karma. The four Varnas are
1: Kshatriyas (warriors)
2:Shudras (labourers)
3: Vaishyas (merchants)
4: Brahmanas (teachers/priests)
the relation here between Dharma, Karma and Varna is :
“due to a person’s previous Karma, he/she will enter the respective Varna in which they will have to follow their Dharma”.
one can clearly see that the collection of all the varnas is the totality of all the possible activities(legal) of humans while leading their lives.
a real world example is that every country in this world follows this rule where in every country has an army(Kshatriya) to protect its people, every country has a separate set of people for teaching (Brahmanas), a separate set of people for running businesses and merchandise (Vaishya) and a separate set of people for the working class/minimum wage workers(Shudras). Finally, since the people are placed in the respective Varnas based on the Karma, they will have those qualities built into their body and mindset which suites their type of work. upon this, if we try to make a teacher to do business or any anything else, they might not fit in as the best people for that work. that is the reason for your teacher to state the above said statement.
hope this helps,
mukunda
according to this belief system…your teacher is correct. if believed that caste is the natural flow (or dharma) then one is protected within their own dharma.
below are views on those two areas you’ve inquired about:
on Dharma:
The Gita refers to dharma, which is the right ordering that supports the cosmos. Dharma is equivalent to natural law and conscience.
on caste:
Dharma is the right ordering that supports the cosmos. It is equivalent to natural law, social order, the sense of duty that attaches to each caste or narna, and the right ordering of the human heart.
furthermore:
“Dharma, when it is protected, protects.”
my take:
the caste one is born into is determined by karma. one’s dharma is the act of fulfilling one’s station or path in life…because this is not determined by merit, but by birth. therefore one must follow their own dharma. everyone’s life is a service and has a purpose regardless of station.
the gita is very clear that you are not born into caste. caste is justly determined by action in this life.
A few points woth emphasizing:
[1] The varnas were ‘horizontal’ i.e. equal and not ‘vertical’ one higher than the other, as later thrust upon the society by some. Our head, arms, gastrointestinal system and legs are all equally importany parts of the same body and though the head carries out the more important functions.
[2] They were created ‘Guna-Karma-Vibhagashah’ (Gita) and not by birth. Brahmin’s son becoming ‘Kshatriya’ in practice and similar variations abound in the Vedas and Puranas.
[3] Krishna is the best example of ‘as per karma’ : Though born of ‘kshatriya’ he was brought up by a ‘vaishnava’ and cleaned the dishes in the yagna and was ever the brahmin as ‘Jagadguru’.
[4] Again Krishna says number of types ‘samam sarvabhuteshu’ and if the guru is to emulated. the earlier men follow him and realise the “Brahma’ in each creature the earlier we will be following his precepts.
In the Glory of ‘Jagadguru’ Krishna
It is nice to see very detailed explanations by many authors as given above.
Unfortunately, in the long period of time since the Bhagavadgeeta was explained in the Mahabharat time and now, the human beings who have been following the scripture in their own (mis)understanding rather created a different social structure and therefore a commoner who is not very knowledgeable about Bhagavadgeeta understood it from the way he actual saw it being practiced by the different “varnas”.
Thus, it is extremenly important that our own day-to day behaviour demonstrates that all the “varnas” are equal in the society in the same way as the different parts of the body are part of one homogenous system
There is ever greater need to spread this message of “true religion” so as to eliminate the clashes taking place between the different groups of people which are basically for political and economic reasons, and are creating misunderstanding and lack of respect in common people about the religion and its role in present society.
The biggest confusion that can occur is the concept of being born into a caste by birth.Unfortunately,this is a view that was popularised by the so called elite caste for their own narrow advantages.I guess,they would not have thought of the onslaught of other religions and how this issue will be taken up and used for religious conversions.
I would like to quote mukunda ,” He tells that the mankind is divided into four Varna(group) based upon his/her Karma”.So does this mean the acste is such a rigid concept.Let us consider some examples.
Maharishi vysya was born to a fisherwoman,Vishwamitra was born a kshatriya,Vasishta was born to a woman of ill repute.When such things occurred ,you can safely say that it is what they chose to pursue that defined their caste rather than what household or caste they were born into.
Do all of us a favour by spreading the word,It is high time we eradicated this caste plague.
dear sowmya,
every boby explained about caste system but not the doubt of sowmya. in that verse lord says, shreyaan swadharmo vigunaha. paradharmaatsvanushthitaat, SWADHARME NIDHANAM SHREYAHA.paradharmo bhayavahaha. that verse is even true for today. he means that the dharma with which you are making your living is swadharma.it is better to die doing that dharmathan performing a dharma in which you are not proficient tough you can do it in a better way.
Hi, just here to leave a comment for you, becouse I just doing research to my mid-school about this what you’re writing. Keep up good work mate! Kind Regards, Nasze Mazury to cud natury.
Bhagavad Gita is the Great Science. Some People misunderstood Bhagavad Gita and blame regarding reference to Castes..But this is not true. Check the truth below:
As per Bhagavad Gita chapter 4 sloka 13: (4.13) – Caste is based on Occupation(work) and Qualities but not based on Birth. If oneself is in Vaisyas or Sudra caste then he can enhance his qualities and Occupation and then become Ksatriya or Brahmana. check below:
Check the Qualities and Occupation(work) to fit in a particular caste:
Bhagavad Gita 18.42: Peacefulness, self-control, austerity, purity, tolerance, honesty, wisdom, knowledge, and religiousness–these are the qualities by which the brahmanas work.
Bhagavad Gita 18.43: Heroism, power, determination, resourcefulness, courage in battle, generosity, and leadership are the qualities of work for the ksatriyas.
Bhagavad Gita 18.43: Farming, cow protection and business are the qualities of work for the vaisyas, and for the sudras there is labor and service to others.
If anyone wants to be Ksatriya or Brahmana then he can Giveup the qualities of Sudra and Vaisya and get the qualities of Ksatriya or Brahmana and become Ksatriya or Brahmana. This mentioned in the Bhagavad Gita itself (4.13 and chapter 18). But Every Humanbeing and every Caste has to be given Respect.
Once Again: Caste is not based on Birth its based on Occupation and Qualities. One should not think oneself as permanent Sudra or Vaisya caste. Always try to reach the top Qualities and work and be on the top. Everyone is the Individual Soul and everyone is Spiritual.
(A person working as Politician or Leader cannot claim himself as Farmer if the politician is born in the Farmers(vaisya) Family or if his Father is Farmer, as Famer is Vaisya and Good Politician or Good Leader is Ksatriya)
Any one can take the Help of Supreme Lord Krishna and get the top Qualities and good Occupation and then become Ksatriya or Brahmana. Bhagavd Gita is the Great Science to understand the Soul, Mind, intellect, Body, Universe, controller and Eternal Truth.