YOUR QUESTIONS ANSWERED: F.A.Q. 26

Caste and Prejudice QUESTION: Does Yoga believe in the Indian Caste System? ANSWER: The Caste System is one of the most misunderstood elements of Indian culture. To correctly understand what the Caste System is we need to understand the true meaning of the word "caste". First of all, caste or social class is not a matter of religious belief but a fact. The scientific study of human society shows that any group of people the members of which engage in different occupations or fulfil different functions within that group, is capable of being analysed into subgroups or classes according to position or function.   The Origin of Class In primitive societies, where people lead a very basic form of life, every individual can easily acquire all the necessary skills that he may need in his day-to-day existence. In such a society, individuals cannot be distinguished from the others or classified by their occupation. In societies that are more technologically advanced, however, the professional specialisation of individuals and their resultant classification into social groups or classes cannot be avoided. Indeed, the division of society according to professional occupation is an universal phenomenon that may be observed in most cultures, both ancient and modern. In Europe, for example, society has been traditionally classified into the upper, middle and working classes, the upper class being the class that rules the country (aristocracy), the middle class being professional and business workers, and the working or producing class proper being those that are employed for wages such as industrial and agricultural workers and servants. Even in Communist dictatorships such as Russia and China, all attempts to abolish social classes ended in complete failure. The systematic murder of millions of upper- and middle-class people by the Communist authorities only led to their being replaced by a new ruling class, namely, the very people who had sought to abolish the class system! To take another example, in the 18th century French Revolution, the commoners abolished the Monarchy only to replace it with a military dictatorship under the rule of Napoleon - who promptly declared himself Emperor and proceeded to create his own court and nobility. What becomes evident is that in every society, various sections of the population are engaged in specific activities that are necessary for the survival and prosperity of the entire community. Any attempt to abolish such classes can only create a worse situation than before. This applies to India as much as to any other human society on Earth. The main difference between India and the rest of the World is this that, while it is fashionable among many nations to pretend that no social classes exist, Indian people prefer to be honest about it and accept it as a fact of life. The main classification of society in India has been into four social groups called "Chatur Varna": Priests, Warriors, Farmers and Servants. (1) The duty of the Priestly Class (Brahmana) was to preserve the cultural and religious heritage and ensure the moral and Spiritual well-being of the nation. (2) The Warrior Class (Kshatrya) was responsible for the protection of the country. (3) Farmers (Vaishya) were engaged in agriculture and cattle-rearing. Being the main producers as well as owners of cattle (which had the function of currency), they also engaged in trade. (4) The Shudras were people who did not own land and were therefore unable to support themselves. As a result, they had to find employment in the service of the other three classes. What becomes apparent is that the above division of society was established on the basis of occupational classes that had emerged quite naturally as a result of man's interaction with his environment and fellow humans. To properly understand this fact we only need to imagine what would happen if all human beings on Earth were politicians or lawyers. A little reflection will show that it is neither possible nor desirable for all of Mankind to engage in the same occupation. This is why, even in the animal kingdom, creatures living in complex societies such as ants and bees, are organised into certain classes according to their specific function.   The Quest for the Ideal Social Order It is important to understand that there is a difference between Social Class or Class System and discrimination against individuals or groups on the grounds of Social Class. Is it universally accepted that such discrimination is morally and Spiritually wrong. Class in itself, on the other hand, is an inherent factor to human society. Whether we like it or not, the division of society into functional classes is an unavoidable fact of life. The only point that remains to be established is what is the best classification of society so that its functioning is optimised and discrimination and other malfunctioning minimised. The traditional Indian system of Chatur Varna is, no doubt, one of the best. However, it has not always been implemented in the best possible way. For example, the Warrior Class (Kshatrya) was ment to protect the nation as well as function as rulers, which is why it was also called Rajanya (Ruling Class). In practice, however, society was often ruled indirectly by the Priestly Class (Brahmana). Moreover, while other Classes were prohibited from taking up other occupations, the Brahmanas reserved the right to engage in activities outside their normal priestly functions. In addition to this, the wealth accumulated by landowners and merchants (Vaishya) enabled them to command a degree of influence far beyond their conventional position. Over the centuries, the balance of power became dangerously upset. The Brahmanas, Kshatryas and Vaishyas began to compete with each other for power, neglecting in the process their original duties. As a result, the Brahmanas failed to preserve the cultural and Spiritual heritage of the people. The Kshatryas failed to adequately protect the nation against invasions by foreign powers. The Vaishyas failed to invest their wealth in projects for the upholding of the traditional moral and social values, and chose to side up with the new rulers. Abandoned and neglected by the upper classes, the Shudras often joined the invading enemies against their former rulers, in a desperate attempt to escape discrimination and oppression. Interestingly, conversion to other faiths such as Islam failed to improve the situation of the masses. On the contrary, converted areas like Pakistan and Bangladesh are far behind Hindu India in their cultural and economic development. Even so, the fact remains that almost half of the territory of Ancient India is currently under foreign occupation while the remaining half is in imminent danger of disintegration. In normal circumstances, no power in the World could reduce a nation of the size and greatness of India to her present state. The reason why this deplorable situation came about against all expectations, is that the Caste System was illegally used as a tool for creating division in a blatant breach of its original purpose of creating unity and harmony in society. For this reason, some Ancient Scriptures (Puranas) maintain that in the current World Age (Kali Yuga, the Age of Darkness), Kshatryas and Vaishyas no longer exist. Indeed, by the 17th century, the general opinion was that only two Classes remained in existence, the Brahmanas and the Shudras, that is, landed clergy and landless servants. Nor must we believe that such developments are in any way unique to India. All nations on Earth have undergone periods of social unrest in which power was taken over by one class to the detriment of other classes. For example, in Ancient Rome, power was largely held by the Military (Warrior Class). Medieval Europe was under the rule of the Priestly Class - as are many Islamic countries today. Modern America and Britain are ruled by the Merchant Class. In all these cases, one section of the population acquires power at the expense of others. For example, in the West, the rise of the Merchant Class has generated considerable wealth for many. The Farming Class however, has suffered. So has the Priestly Class. Greater wealth has contributed to growing materialism and declining Spirituality. People's main concern in life is to earn more money and buy more goods. Although they have more possessions than ever before, true happiness remains as elusive as ever. In the Middle Ages, serfs were slaves to the landowners. Today, consumers are slaves to their own greed and to the Merchant Class who is exploiting their Spiritual ignorance and weakness. What becomes evident is that the issue is not social classes as such - which we have shown to be both natural and necessary - but the proper maintenance of the balance of power between the classes.   The Yogic View We have demonstrated that the Indian Four-Class System, (Chatur Varna) though perfectly valid in ideal situations, has largely failed to fulfil its designated function. This does not mean to say that it is fundamentally flawed. It is merely in need of adjustement. The tenth Book (19:12) of the Rig Veda mentions four castes issuing from the Creator as Priests, Warriors, Farmers and Servants. However, there is no intrinsic necessity for any society to be classified into four groups. Indeed, Indian society itself has long recognised that the four-class system was inadequate and created a Fifth Class (Panchama), comprising those that are excluded from the other four. The fact is that the fourfold division belongs to the Brahmanic tradition of "Four-Headed" God Brahma, whereas Yoga follows the tradition of "Five-Headed" Lord Shiva. In the Yoga Tradition, the Supreme Lord is said to have Five Faces that illumine the World. Four of these are directed to the four cardinal points, east, south, west and north, while the fifth faces upwards to the Sky. The Puranas also tell us that Brahma originally had five heads one of which was cut off by Lord Shiva Who holds the skull as a symbol of power over all other Gods. This suggests two things: (1) that a conflict between the two traditions occurred at some point in history and (2) that the original stratification of society was five-layered, with Yogis (not Brahmanas) at the top. This is supported by the internal evidence of the Yoga Tradition (Yoga Dharma) itself where the Supreme Lord is called Maha Yogi (Supreme Yogi) and not Maha Brahmana (Supreme Priest). Thus Yogis would represent the Head of the Creator, as they possess the highest knowledge; Priests represent God's Mouth or Voice, as their main function is to conduct prayers; Warriors are God's Arms, as they protect the nation; Merchants are the Legs since trade means movement of goods and people as well as material progress; Farmers are the Feet as farming produces the goods upon which society stands. The great reverence with which Yogis are regarded by all social classes even today, suggests that this was the original and correct division. Indeed, Enlightened Yogis being highly advanced Souls are correctly held to be above the Four Castes that constitute the majority of Mankind. As for Merchants they may perfectly well engage in trade without belonging to any of the other classes. They therefore clearly constitute a class of their own. These facts make it necessary for two Classes, Yogis and Merchants, to be added to the Brahmanical four-class system, resulting in a total of six classes. If we now include one of these in the other five, we arrive at the desired result of Five Classes.   What about the Servant Class (Shudra)? As explained above, a Merchant's occupation differs from that of other classes. He must, therefore, be regarded as a class of its own. By contrast, Servants are, by definition, people who have no occupation of their own but engage in such work as properly belongs to their employers' class. If a person is employed in guarding property or persons, for example, then he does the work of a Warrior and must be classified as such. Likewise, if he assists a Priest, Merchant or Farmer. Also, if a low-born person (Servant) were to become wealthy through hard work and engage in agricultural or mercantile work for himself, we couldn't reasonably insist on calling him a Servant. In consequence, the notion of a Servant Class is not only unreasonable but may actually prevent the social and economic progress of a large section of society, which can only lead to division, fragmentation and disintegration of the nation. Moreover, the creation of a separate Servant Class would cause people to forget the fact that ultimately all creatures are the servants of God and that our true purpose on Earth is to establish Unity and Harmony in obedience to Divine Will. Such a class is therefore contrary to the very principles of social cohesion and harmony which the Caste System is supposed to uphold, and must be rejected unconditionally. As an inclusive faith, Yoga naturally rejects all discrimination on the grounds of social class. For the same reason, it rejects the notion of "Untouchables" or "Outcastes". The only exception to this is made in the case of lawfully excommunicated, exiled, or imprisoned criminals (such as terrorists) who are incapable of reformation. Such elements cannot be regarded as part of human society, being declared enemies of the people.   Conclusion In a World where the greater part of Mankind subsists on agriculture, Farming is needed to produce food and feed the population. Trading is necessary for the exchange of goods. Armed Forces are needed to maintain inner order, prevent crime and defend the nation against external attack. Guidance in religious matters is necessary for social and moral order. Spiritual Guidance such as Yogic teachings are necessary for the psychological and Spiritual well-being of all. This corresponds to the Five Social Classes we enumerated earlier: Farmers, Merchants, Warriors, Priests and Yogis. All other specialised professions involving construction work, medical treatment, legal assistance, etc., are needed only occasionally and sometimes not at all, whereas the above mentioned five are permanent constituents of all human society. Together they represent the five fingers of the Hand of God whereby Divine Order is established on Earth for the benefit of all. As long as these Five Classes (Pancha Varna) and their mutual co-operation and harmony are preserved, Mankind will prosper and all will be well. By contrast, if a nation were relying too much on trade, for example, she will tend to exploit others in order to obtain tradeable goods. If a nation were relying too much on offering services instead of producing goods, she will become dependent on others' buying the services, and so on. A society structered on Yogic principles will no longer need political debate, making the entire political class dispensable; due to lack of internal conflict and crime, it will render the police forces and the legal profession unnecessary; the health-conscious lifestyle of its citizens will reduce the need of medical care to a minimum. These are just a few examples of the extraordinary potential a Yoga-based society has for creating an ideal World. It is not for nothing that the father of Western Psychology, Professor Carl G. Jung, famously declared that "Yoga offers undreamed-of possibilities". Yogis, therefore, must be admitted to constitute the highest social class which is needed to bring coherence, unity and harmony to any community as well as to establish and uphold a conscious link between human society and a Higher Truth. The proof for this is provided by countries where Yoga is either unknown or suppressed on political or religious grounds. In such countries, materialism, atheism, alcoholism, drug-abuse, mental imbalance and crime as well as political and religious extremism and terrorism become more and more prominent and various measures are constantly introduced to redress the resultant general disorder - usually with dubious results.   <<  Yoga Council Home   ||    Questions & Answers >>