Is there any truth to the Caste System?

[Lews Therin]

So, as the title poses, is there any truth to it?

My standard response would be that no, but there is a quote by Ken Wilber that i love that says "no one is smart enough to be wrong 100% of the time", so it seems that this system probably has at least some truth in it.

Now, the next question would be, what is that truth?

It could be something related to developmental psychology, and Spiral Dynamics, as in, they saw people in different stages and assumed those stages were hereditary traits since the child of a butcher had a higher likellyhood of being a butcher than a warrior's son.

But is there anything beyond that? are there people who are born to be spiritual teachers while other will focus on making or trading things? If so, are these things set in stone? could someone rise or fall from a specific course?

Anyways, just spitballing, would like to hear everyone else's opinion on this.

[YogiRoamer]

Yes, a soul is born into a given caste in correspondence to their karma.

[Ajay0]

On 4/15/2024 at 11:55 PM, Lews Therin said:

So, as the title poses, is there any truth to it?

My standard response would be that no, but there is a quote by Ken Wilber that i love that says "no one is smart enough to be wrong 100% of the time", so it seems that this system probably has at least some truth in it.

Now, the next question would be, what is that truth?

It could be something related to developmental psychology, and Spiral Dynamics, as in, they saw people in different stages and assumed those stages were hereditary traits since the child of a butcher had a higher likellyhood of being a butcher than a warrior's son.

But is there anything beyond that? are there people who are born to be spiritual teachers while other will focus on making or trading things? If so, are these things set in stone? could someone rise or fall from a specific course?

Anyways, just spitballing, would like to hear everyone else's opinion on this.

 

 The Vedas have stated the equality and fraternity of all human beings. The large percentage of the vedic sages belonged to the lower economic groups.

The caste system came up later on as a social feudal system in order to preserve, consolidate and develop knowledge systems of each profession. Universities were not wide-spread in ancient times, and it was easier for the father to teach his sons and nephews the technical details of his profession.

This enabled a certain specialisation of culture and disciplines. For example, mathematics as in the numeral system, zero and basic mathematics used around the world commonly were developed in India. 

I am not an advocate of the caste system as it is obviously obsolete in today's world, but it had its relevance in ancient times as a practical system. In todays world however, you can choose any profession, and the best universities in the world teaching that course by virtue of enhanced transportation and logistics. 

The caste system continues at present by mere tradition alone as an extended family and social security system, much like tribal affiliations.

Yes, the castes of Brahmana (saint-intellectual), Kshatriya ( warrior-administrator), Vaishya (businessman) and Shudra ( manual work and services) are there in every society. But it is not necessarily of a biological order.

Newton was the son of a farmer while Gauss was the son of a bricklayer. 

 

[Razard86]

On 4/15/2024 at 2:25 PM, Lews Therin said:

So, as the title poses, is there any truth to it?

My standard response would be that no, but there is a quote by Ken Wilber that i love that says "no one is smart enough to be wrong 100% of the time", so it seems that this system probably has at least some truth in it.

Now, the next question would be, what is that truth?

It could be something related to developmental psychology, and Spiral Dynamics, as in, they saw people in different stages and assumed those stages were hereditary traits since the child of a butcher had a higher likellyhood of being a butcher than a warrior's son.

But is there anything beyond that? are there people who are born to be spiritual teachers while other will focus on making or trading things? If so, are these things set in stone? could someone rise or fall from a specific course?

Anyways, just spitballing, would like to hear everyone else's opinion on this.

I love that Ken Wilber quote.