Baba
How to overcome racism / casteism
Namaskar,
In India, many people have the ingrained belief that society is divided into high caste and low caste people. Likewise, in many western countries, race or skin colour determines the basis of social hierarchy. In order to overcome this chasm in society and its enormous negative effects, the government now provides special benefits to the so-called lower castes or oppressed races as applicable. Moreover, many movements began in which special benefits and reservations were demanded. It is interesting that today, in some areas, people fight to be recognized as belonging to the lower castes so that they can obtain the privileges available to them. Unfortunately, these special programs have not been effective in removing the chasm in society.
https://anandamargauniversal.blogspot.com/
Problems with caste / race
It is ironic that, on the one hand, people ask to be included in the lower castes to avail the benefits of reservation while, on the other, they also do not like discrimination.
In the past, people from varying backgrounds were mostly geographically isolated but, today, progress in transportation has made it possible to bring people together from various backgrounds so that now they are forced to live together. Thus, the need for the teachings of neohumanism is greater than ever so that people can cope with this change in their environment and live together with love and harmony.
Solutions
If there is a problem in any machine then there are two possible approaches, namely, (1) preventive maintenance and (2) breakdown maintenance. Preventive maintenance is always preferred as the loss due to the breakdown can be avoided. In the case of the breakdown of society caused by caste and race, various preventive measures can be taken such as:
1. Stoppin documentation of caste / race,
2. Encouraging marriages across the boundaries of caste / race, and
3. Using government supported social incentive schemes to promote the abolition of caste / race based differences.
https://anandamargauniversal.blogspot.com/
Stop documenting caste / race
There should not be any documentation of one’s caste or race. If one’s caste/race are mentioned in a document there will be a high likelihood of different treatment by biased people. In India, to overcome the biases in exam paper evaluation a double blind strategy is used. Instead of the student’s name, a unique ID is provided in the paper. The examiner gets to see only the ID and not the name of the student. Thus, the examiner can evaluate the paper without any biases. In the absence of that ID, the examiner may show bias towards the castes with which he has an allegiance, whilst against the ones he feels to be inferior. Hence, there should be a complete removal of caste/race based records from all databases. This is one of the practical ways that is prescribed in Prout.
Marriages across boundaries of caste / race
The caste system is perpetuated through same-caste marriages. Likewise, racial identity can only be maintained if interracial marriages are not accepted. Baba has given the system of revolutionary marriages. If there are marriages across castes. in a few generations the caste identity will be lost. Likewise, interracial marriages will see the difference in skin colours fade.
To make the case for the abolition of caste / race, the government should incentivise revolutionary marriages and introduce other measures which will help to overcome the problem of caste / race discrimination.
https://anandamargauniversal.blogspot.com/
Self-interest clouds the mind
The US constitution, in theory, does not give credence to race. People belonging to so-called higher races do not want affirmative action on the basis of race—not because they have neohumanist feelings, but because they do not want to give privileges to the so-called inferior race people. Whereas the so-called inferior race people want to have affirmative action as they want to take advantage of those privileges. Sadly, it is a fact that social ills are caused by race documentation.
Similar reasoning applies to the caste system in India. People know the ills of the caste system and yet, due to self interest, want to maintain the defective system. Such a clouded mentality regarding caste and race is preventing people from taking the major step towards a society which is free from caste/race discrimination.
https://anandamargauniversal.blogspot.com/
Economic basis of privileges
Privileges should be provided to economically backward persons. Other criteria used for special provisions, based on race and caste, will only increase the bias and should be abnegated as they promote division in the society. Many examples can be found in daily newspapers in which a well-to-do intellectual but so-called black person is discriminated against and a low-caste university professor is not promoted according to his/her merit in India. Such incidents occur because even if a so-called inferior race person or so-called low-caste person becomes well-educated through the reservations program, they are still discriminated against in society because their caste or race is known.
Why discard caste or race
Ananda Marga philosophy guides, "Casteism is a burden on the Hindu society. All year round they preach casteism but on the polling days they decry it. This is wholly undesirable. It is better to avoid all titles. Titles signify the caste. If casteism is to be wiped out, it is incumbent to discard the titles. It is commendable if everyone adopts uniformity on title – Deva *. Persons using a particular word more often will influence their minds with the meaning of that word. People are reluctant to use the word dása because this word signifies slavery. Whenever the so-called low caste people catch an opportunity, they declare themselves as belonging to the so-called elevated caste, etc. It is an ideal to become deva and for this reason Deva title should be adopted." (1)
Ananda Marga philosophy teaches us, "Titles of the present society have undergone considerable changes during the past fifty years, the cause being that everyone aspires to pertain to an elevated caste. The so-called Shúdras also use the sacred thread. This is only an effort towards the concealment of one’s identity. By this means, they conceal only their disregarded status. This is to be regretted. It is consequent on social debility that they harbour the desire for changes in their situations. It is out and out purposeless to convene All-India Conferences or particular castes. All of them desire to assert and establish their rights. This is simply misuses of energy and money." (2)
Ananda Marga philosophy states, "The consent of those embraced must be sought for before renaming them in Saḿskrta. Language has got nothing to do with religion and as such, there is no reason for anybody depreciating the use of Saḿskrta. In this connection it may be added that the great emperor Aurangzeb used the term sudhárasa (juice of nectar) for mango (original Saḿskrta term for mango is ámra) and saddharma for Islam." (3)
So many areas of the globe are affected by caste, race, and communal feeling. Here, above, Baba gives the perfect antidote and solution to such narrow-minded and harmful thinking.
https://anandamargauniversal.blogspot.com/
Conclusion
Caste / race is a fictitious concept and is used by the self-serving groups in society to fragment and derive benefits from it. Such systems have polarized society into the exploited and the exploiters. The exploited run movements to fight against injustice and they demand special rights and privileges based on their caste/race. Such rights and special privileges further degrade the situation as it makes the social divide wider and broader.
One of the solutions is totally doing away with the caste system which can be accomplished by:
(a) putting a halt to the documentation of caste / race;
(b) encouraging marriages across the dogmatic boundaries of caste and race marriages;
(c) providing special assistance to economically disadvantaged people, regardless of caste or race, in order to uplift their lives.
At His Lotus Feet,
Bhakti Deva
* Note: The title Deva should be suffixed to males and the suffix Devii should be suffixed to females.
References
1. Tattvika Diipika, 5th part, Ánanda Púrńimá 1957
2. Tattvika Diipika, 5th part, Ánanda Púrńimá 1957
3. Tattvika Diipika, 5th part, Ánanda Púrńimá 1957
== Section 2: Prabhat Samgiita ==
Unique realizations
“Ákásha d́ákiyá jáy, niilimár końe końe…” (Prabhat Samgiita #3087)
Purport:
The sky goes on calling from all four of its deep blue corners, from the farthest reaches of its great expanse. The air showers honey in each and every moment of my meditation. There is a deep sweetness in the gentle breeze that buoys my sadhana.
The beauty that I see in the light of the dawn I do not find in twilight’s scarlet grander. The start of the day brings unparalleled wonder and hope. Each and every moment, newer and newer uncanny feelings and unique realizations arise in every mind of the world.
Is the view of nature that I see in the dry, scorching summer ever seen present in the white, pre-winter clouds? Every season carries its own specialty. The tree that loses its beauty in the winter’s bitter chill undergoes renewal and regains its glory and charm with the arrival of spring. Each season generates a sense of awe and amazement as they cycle round and round, year after year…
“Ákásha d́ákiyá jáy, niilimár końe końe…” (Prabhat Samgiita #3087)
Purport:
The sky goes on calling from all four of its deep blue corners, from the farthest reaches of its great expanse. The air showers honey in each and every moment of my meditation. There is a deep sweetness in the gentle breeze that buoys my sadhana.
The beauty that I see in the light of the dawn I do not find in twilight’s scarlet grander. The start of the day brings unparalleled wonder and hope. Each and every moment, newer and newer uncanny feelings and unique realizations arise in every mind of the world.
Is the view of nature that I see in the dry, scorching summer ever seen present in the white, pre-winter clouds? Every season carries its own specialty. The tree that loses its beauty in the winter’s bitter chill undergoes renewal and regains its glory and charm with the arrival of spring. Each season generates a sense of awe and amazement as they cycle round and round, year after year…
== Section 3: Links ==
Other topics of interest
