Whatever may be the theoretical position on Varna for these sects, they are still offering a karma based religious doctrine which is at the foundation of the ill-treatment Dalits continue to receive at the hands of Hindus. Also, from a practical stand point, I suppose BRA's view was that only a clear break with the religion that humiliated them as a matter of daily routine, is a necessary prerequisite for rebuilding self-confidence and self-worth.
The broken people must first be restored. Part of that is for them to derive some pride from their identity. I see nothing wrong with it. All the caste Hindus must first relinquish their caste identity before asking Dalits to do so as well. Long last they get some meager restorations, for which they get derided. Now everybody is ready to give them advice. They should be the last to be asked to shed their identity.
There was no "regular" Buddism in India. He had some contact with the Theravada Buddists of Sri Lanka. He was in fact formally converted by a Buddha monk. So, in that sense, he did not start anything new I suppose.
I also don't think BRA accepted everything of Mahayana and Theravada. They believed in karma and some form of reincarnation. These were anathema for BRA. He probably wanted to reconnect with what he believed to be the Gauthama Budda's tenets.
I do not think he was creating any hatred. Hatred was already there, from Hindus towards the Dalits. He was only reacting to the hatred.
Sir, my hope was healthy hinduism, the kind followed by non-shankara ekadandis; where caste does not depend on the occupation of the father, but on a man's own inherent abilties and inclinations.
Am not saying hinduism or caste system must cease to exist, or that people must give up caste identities. Rather, am only speaking of the fluid varna system as it was practiced in the vedic times. With the offending portions of smrithis thrown to the dustbin.
Dear HH, it is not just "some", the entirety of Hindu identity is caste based. Even Arya Samaj, which is supposed to be reformed Hinduism praises the Varna system and conducts vedic
havans. The Hindu society poured its hatred upon a group of people for centuries, and now they are pushing back.
Heard the lady in the hyperlink speaking, but i think she did not speak of varna.
As far as i know the arya samaj also speaks of the fluid varna system. Am told they conduct and teach havans to anyone who seeks to learn. They are not following the rigid jati system.
Its really hard to say if everyone poured their hatered on 'dalits' for centuries. There were offending cases in the past and the offensive attitude continues to exist in some places to this date.
But considering the way people are mixed up, esp taking all those genetic studies into consideration, its hard to say if the system was rigidly followed in reality (despite what the shastras say).
No, they are not. Hindu practices are practices of Hindus only. BRA has explained his reasons for rejecting Hinduism in
The Annihilation of Caste.
Will go thru the hyperlink sir.
Dunno if possibly BRA's views might have come from the dharmashastra version of hinduism.
But considering how hinduism has evolved over time -- with the deification of nature elements, development of anthropomorphism, conversion and inclusion of zoomorphism into polytheistic thought, development of rituals from a primitive state to a developed state over time, etc -- its not possible to say that the adivasis are not part of hinduism.
Some sections of the population became part of the 'religion-evolution' (and growth of thought), while some stayed primitive, but that does not exclude the tribes from being hindus of the primitive kind; nor does it warrant the stand of keeping them precluded from mainstream or vedic hinduism, if they wish to seek such an inclusion.
We cannot deny hinduism's evolution from the primitive tribal stage, as practices that evolved over ages. Request you to please read Kosambi's work in that connection - he gave an account of tribal practices which are primitive vedic practices.
For that matter, even dharmashastras are primitive. The smrithis of Manu and Vishnu allow the dwijas to consume iguana, porcupine, etc, there are premitted for consumption after being offered to god - but tribals apart, who else does so these days. This is just one simple, and perhaps a one-off example. But please do read about kosambi's works and various tribal practices..
I wish nobody follows any religion at all and all of us are one big happy family. But, in the meantime, we need to find a way to breakdown the walls of division as much as possible. Religion is no help in this regard.
Cheers!
Sir, me too do not have much faith in 'religion'. Often religion has been used as a tool to divide than unite.
If all can live without a religion, that wud be great. But hinduism as a whole does not need to be villified. There are offending portions that need to be addressed, and the mentality of people needs to change, but apart from that, sanatana hopefully is a good dharma really....
, I wish if only our MD reads this, so much of hard work for a little salary.........
