Sri Vamanan Ji,
Shri Raghy...A few Europeons come to meet me...When they talk to me they ask my caste. I do what you do..shall I say that I do a Raghy! They just smile knowingly...that I am trying to hide the fact that I am a Brahmin.
Some whites i know ask for caste, and then explain back to me how heinous the caste system happens to be - and i later realise that they are missionaries.
Your past cannot be wished away...But of course every day we are transcending it in our lives.
My grandmother lived in a Thanjavur town with her family..When her husband suddenly died she had to sell all the property and settle in a nearby village with her five daughters...She married every one of her girls before she died..Her first daughter became a widow and lived all her life in the village...Do you think that would have been possible without the friendship and protection of those nearby. I remember Gopalsami who later became a trade union leader in a company at Madurai...I remember Krishnamurthy who joined the army and died somewhere in Chandigarh...Dhanapal, who used to sleep outside my grandma's house every night was a farmer all his life and died in the village..These boys were all treated as friendly humans by my mother and grandma...though there were no egalitarian trumpets around at that time...
Your grandmother and mother were obviously good folk. Which is why all people of one caste cannot be blamed for anything.
However, just because there are good folk, we cannot wish away crimes that were and are reported by 'dalits' perpetuated by the bad apples.
Let me cite some instances in Vallalar's life...An Iyengar Tahsildar was asked by Vallalar to buy him some headgear cloth (for a Muslim saint who was a friend of his). He did it in all humility. Vallalar wrote to him saying that he would pay for it. The Tahsildar said that it is my duty to obey command of my superiors, not to seek compensation for expenditure...If you read the letter of the Tahsildar you will see that a Brahmin official completely surrenders at the feet of Vallalar...making himself subservient to his spiritual authority...You must remember that in those days, Vallalar was just called Ramalinga Paradesi..an Aandi without a roof over his head at that time.
Once Sabapathy Gurukkul (who was the first priest at the Gnana Sabhai) was found reading a great book of Gnaana called Ozhivil Odukkam. Vallalar came to him and asked him what he was reading. He mentioned the above book. Vallalar asked him to throw it into the bin...because the Gurukkal was not an adhikaari to study the book.
All these stories are fine sir. But they do not negate the fact that even today there are people who wish to segregate and discriminate based on caste.
From all this is it not clear...that gnaana cannot be recognised by caste alone....
How can a little spark, or even a speck of dust compare itself to the sun of Gnaana...
These worldly titles, names, posts, castes, religions...which we use...are finally...just mental constructs....useful in a limited way....like a knife that can be used for good or bad....Yet...I...as..an ordinary man dont have anything else...I am doing japa...I am praying with tears in my eyes....but again am brought down to earth by my fellowmen...How much do I earn? Is it enough? Is this house your own? Is it rented? How many cars do you have? Are they old or new models? These are the eyes with which the world looks at you..And in this world, both caste and the war against it have become just games...
Vallalar would call them Pillaivilaiyaattu....!
This is the game in which politicians, proselytisers and so-called reformers are indulging in. I am wonderstruck why people come and advice me to give up my caste. What if I became an infosys iyer and ask you to change your religion...would you do so?
Lets not keep blaming politicians, proselytisers, reformers, and so on.
Nobody is asking you to give up your religion or caste (which to me is nothing more than culture).
The question asked is only this "why not permit so-called dalits also to learn vedas and work as priests".
I gave up the feeling of divisiveness based on caste long ago...(perhaps before I was born!). I shed tears at the cobblers and rickshawmen in Chennai who suffer in many ways. I once presented a scheme for nagaswaram players in temples..The official, who was one of them, said the chaps don't deserve anything. You will understand that the Nagaswaram players, who were once the great champions of classical music are no more at that height, musically.
Nice to note you gave up the feeling of divisiveness. Then, i hope, that would make you have an all-inclusive heart.
Just as I was born in Calcutta, I happen to to born a Brahmin....Are you prepared to look at me as not being a Brahmin ! Will you never think for a moment that I am a Brahmin if you had the info? They why are you trying to obliterate it? This is another vicious form of casteism pervading our society.
Yes, i am prepared to look at you as a human and not a brahmin. Infact only some brahmins wish to considered brahmins. Nobody else seems interested in considering them a brahmin. And also, am sorry i do not accept birth or learning as things that wud make someone a brahmin (and this last sentence is purely my personal pov).
Once an IAS officer of a certain caste (not Brahmin) met a Brahmin journalist. Both had a good discussion. Finally the IAS officer said, 'Parava Illai Saar. Neenga Brahmanaraa Irundhaalum Romba Nallavara Irukkeenga!'
Then the Journalist said -- ''Paravayillai Saar...Naan Kooda Ennamo Ninaichaen..Neenga ..........raa Irundhaalum Romba Nallavaraa Irukkeenga?
Then the IAS officer asked, ''Appadeenna Engaa Jaathikkaaaranga Enna Kettavangala?''
Why did it not occur to this officer, that the Brahmin also does not want his caste to be denigrated? Who gave him the right to deride Brahmins? What effrontery? Did you notice that I have not mentioned the caste of the official, because I don't want to defile my tongue by mentioning it in wrong light? Will you please do me the courtesy of treating me also like that? It is this attitude that I decry...............Nothing else....
Do I become caste-ist if I give the information that I was born a Brahmin?
The general attitude of the indian public (those who are caste-aware, that is) is that brahmins created the "spiritual" cause for segregation.
Unless such segregation ends, such ideaology (and comments) will exist, for no fault of present-day brahmins.
I don't wear the poonal, except when doing the karmas. I dont want even the courier boy to think I am separating myself from him by wearing some mark of difference.
Would you advice me to give up tharpana, shraddha...etc? One of my cousins who joined some Swamiji, gave up all rituals...that was his wish. I went to bid him goodbye...and found him packed up for being sent without any ceremonies..I didnt say a word to anybody..But if I prefer the karmas being done, can you quarrel with me?
Nobody asked you to give up your prayers.
Just because some so-called dalits also want access to the hindu way of life, does not mean you need to give up yours.
At the same time, i do not think present-day brahmins have any right to prevent so-called 'dalits' from learning vedas or becoming priests.
I think many people are masquerading on behalf of malefic forces just to do Hinduism in....We should not give in to them.
At the same time, the true values of spirituality must be taught to everyone of the Hindus (and to others who come voluntarily)...Vedathri Maharishi did it beautifully...what a beatific presence he had..how kind and compassionate he was! When I meditate on him, I see him....The Brahmakumaris are doing it effectively...I have not heard either of them talking on this matter...Neither do I talk about it anywhere....why is anybody interested in flogging this horse?
A gracious yogi I know teaches dhyana and guides people who come to him...He told me this...I teach everybody...those who progress in the path are totally free of such thoughts...
Methinks, if not for non-shankara matts who disseminated knowledge to all (irrespective of gender, caste or any such humbug), hinduism (the 'mass appeal' i mean) wud not have survived this long.
Just because some people (so-called 'dalits') want to be a part of mainstream hindusim, there is no reason to think that "malefic forces want to do hinduism in". Vedas are not the property of brahmins or anyone.
I am not a champion of the old order...the world changes so fast...and now is possibly on the brink of destruction -- no I don't believe in 2012 but am worried by the devastations on nature. So forget caste ....both its existence and non-existence and concentrate on progressing spirituallly...Don't did up past graves...Leave well alone......and live in amity....(Really sorrow for length of post...aduthu murai, surunga chollalai Kadaippidippaen...
Thanks for all the good feeling...
You do seem to accept that the world will change anyways -- yes sir, it will, irrespective of how we wish to see it.
Regards.
