Being an engineer, I often retreat in graph and boxes to simplify situations (can't help it ! it might be the first step to insanity. Who would be surprised?). So the following graph, represents the understanding I have of the Hindu castes system. Take it lightly, I did not mean to offence anybody.
Few key words :
- The Vedic Ashram System : 4 principals stages of life
- Four stages, four principal spiritual shelters
- Caste system
- Marga : a path toward, a way or reaching Moksha (Liberation)
- Sadhu
- Karma : I simplified it by: "conduct or action of a being in life" / "accumulated sums of one's good or bad deeds"
- Dharma : I simplified it by : "appropriate behavior for one's station in life".
Wondering what is in the little "option" boxes deciding what happen of you at the end of your life ?
Here is what's in it :
Written in another way :
> At the end of your life we judge you by your Kharma and your Dharma (good or bad).
> If your are not a woman and you had a good Kharma and a good Dharma, you accumulate bonus "luck" points.
> The choice is done randomly, but if you have a lot of "luck" points you have more chances of tipping the balance in your favor.
> If you are lucky to be "chosen" and you are not a woman, you go up to a higher caste. Meaning you are reincarnated for another life cycle, a better life in a higher caste; going up the holyness ladder.
> If you are not lucky, you are reincarnated into the same caste for another life cycle.
> If you were bad, meaning if your actions, your karma, was not good; your are reincarnated into an animal, at the very bottom of the system.
> Here's the trick... If you are a woman, your best hope is to be reincarnated, in the same caste, being a male... duh !! Where do I get this, well... it is based on discussions we had with local people back then, back there. I looked for a written reference and I got this : "Although females can accumulate good karma, they have a harder time achieving enlightenment due to their social standing and their commitment to their family value". But really, two facts of common sense : 1- Have you ever seen a woman sadhu ?? 2- What do you expect, considering how woman are considered in other religions... that it would be different here!!.
I must mention that I was very impress by the Hindu religion, the oldest religion in the world. Its complexity, variety and its awesome history deserve a lot of respect even though in today's world, some aspects of it seems quite archaic. This religion for someone who loves to learn new things everyday is an ever full well.
Please leave a comment ;-)
Started December 18th, 2002.
Another meaning of Not women (!women) is that not having or less having sex or sex like activities (vasna in hindi)in your whole life. This will make your formula more correct.
ReplyDeleteInteresting ;-) Thanks.
DeleteMy intent was to express that liberation was NOT accessible to women. You have more "luck" of changing for a higher cast if you conduct a good life no mater what happens. Of course, if you are a women, you luck will be to reincarnate into the same cast, as a men.
I was not aware of a "sex activities" input into this.
I've learn something. Thanks again !