Casteism in India
Is It the Scourge of Hinduism or the Perversion of a Legitimate Vedic System Known as Varnashrama
by Stephen Knapp
Casteism in India has gotten a lot of criticism, and rightly so. Many look at it as a means for the upper castes to live a privileged life while keeping all lower castes oppressed without the means for upgrading themselves. Present day casteism is based on the idea that whatever caste your father was, that will also be the caste of the sons and daughters, without any means to change it. But this is not what is actually prescribed in the Vedic or Hindu texts of old. This is what must be understood and corrected.
So this book is a short study of what the Vedic texts actually say about what the Vedic social arrangement is really supposed to be and the purpose of it.
The real Vedic process of social organization is what is called varna and ashrama. It was meant to help everyone progress throughout life, to live happily in a career that suites the talents, interests, and intellectual level of the person, and to guide them toward attaining higher levels of consciousness, awareness and understanding. That is why any confusion about the difference between today’s caste system and the real Vedic varnashrama system must be cleared up.
This book goes into detail about,
* What is the real varnashrama system of social organization and how it works.
* How the present-day caste system got started.
* How we can correct this misunderstanding and be rid of the present-day caste system.
* Where the Vedic literature explains how the caste by birth system is unjust.
* The benefits of following the varnashrama system.
* How the Vedic varnashrama system of social arrangement was to help propel everyone to the spiritual domain.
* How an analysis of the modes of nature with which we associate can help determine what is our most natural varna or occupational class.
* How the varna system is a natural process of selecting one’s occupation and career by recognizing a person’s natural interests, talents, tendencies, proclivities, and intellectual capacity.
This is a process that is used by many schools and colleges today, but was started many years ago in the Vedic tradition.
This book will help show the difference between what has become the present caste system, and why it is unnecessary and even harmful to Hinduism and Indian society, and explain the value of the Vedic system of varna and ashrama.
CONTENTS
CHAPTER ONE:
THE PURPOSE OF THE VEDIC SYSTEM OF VARNASHRAMA
What Casteism is Today * What is the Original Vedic System Called Varnashrama *
The Four Varnas are Here to Stay * The Earliest Reference to the Varnas * How
the Present Casteism Developed * The Dangers of Casteism as we Find it Today *
What We can do to Eliminate the Modern Caste System
CHAPTER TWO:
VEDIC LITERATURE SAYS CASTE BY BIRTH IS UNJUST
How do we Recognize One’s Varna * We are All Quite Alike * It is Only Our
Actions and Qualifications That Differentiate Us * A Caste System Based on Birth
is Unjust * The Damage of Unqualified Brahmanas * So Who is a Real Brahmana? * A
Brahmana can Easily Fall Down, While a Shudra can Easily Move Forward * When a
Brahmana Becomes Lower Than a Shudra * How Everyone Can Advance *
Classifications Based on the Body are Completely False * One Misses the Goal of
Life When Preoccupied by Caste * The Difference of Proper Consciousness and
Intent, or Merely Going Through the Motions * Expected Characteristics and
Actions of Each Person of the Four Varnas * In Conclusion
CHAPTER THREE:
DETERMINING OUR VARNA BY THE MODES OF NATURE (GUNAS) IN WHICH WE ARE SITUATED
What are the Modes of Nature * How the Modes of Nature Work * Action and
Consciousness in Various Modes * Action and Work * Residence * Faith *
Understanding * Knowledge * Sacrifices * Austerities * Charity * Foods *
Happiness * Where the Modes Take Us * Becoming Free From the Modes
APPENDIX:
GOTRAS: A SIMPLE EXPLANATION
GLOSSARY
REFERENCES
INDEX
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
ORDERING INFORMATION
This book is 100 pages, Paperback at $5.95, 5 1/2" x 8 1/2", ISBN-10: 1530963842, ISBN-13: 978-1530963843.
AVAILABLE AS A PAPERBACK through Amazon.com at: http://www.amazon.com/Casteism-India-Perversion-Legitimate-Varnashrama/dp/1530963842/ref=sr_1_1_twi_pap_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1461118672&sr=8-1&keywords=casteism+in+INdia
AVAILABLE AS A KINDLE EBOOK for $2.99 at: http://www.amazon.com/Casteism-India-Perversion-Legitimate-Varnashrama-ebook/dp/B01DX284Y0/ref=tmm_kin_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1461118672&sr=8-1
AVAILABLE AS PAPERBACK AND KINDLE EBOOK in the local currencies through the following Amazon outlets: USUKDEFRESITNLJPBRCAMXAUIN
Available through other outlets as well.
[From www.stephen-knapp.com]