The Post-Modern Caste System. A modern Tschandala.

[Joker]

Classism- a social stratified society of inequality based upon on identity, value, worth, potential, title and popularity regulated by segragation,violence or prejudice.

Now what can I think of in history that mirror reflects this post-modern reality? ( The Indian caste system of India.)

Aristrocrats- Brahmin

Middle Class- Vaishya

Lower Class- Shudra or Tschandala.( Untouchables.)

Could it be that Western civilization isn’t much different from all other nations and is very much un-enlightened afterall?

[b]Shudra (IAST: Śūdra) is the fourth Varna in the traditional four-section division in historic Hindu society. Their assigned and expected role in post-Vedic India was that of labourers.

The etymology of the word can be traced back to the vedic age. Shudra comes from the word “shuchAt dravanam” a person who is in suffering/mourning/pain, who needs mental or physical cleansing. Shudra was a common Sanskrit word, any person regardless of his/her varna to could be addressed as shudra. An implied version of this common form has become traditionally associated with the varna system. It is also mentioned in the purusha-sukta of Rig veda where shudras are said to have emanated from the feet of the lord (padbhyAm shUdrO ajaayata). A very symbolic statement indeed. It denotes that the three other varnas which made up the parts of purusha (the lord) were supported by the shUdras as the feet form the supporting system of the entire body. This can be understood clearly from the fact that the shudras were basically farmers, potters, cobblers etc (anything the other three varnas would not do viz, teaching, fighting and trade) and hence they formed a support system for the entire society. Unfortunately, direct misinterpretations of these vedic hymns have caused a lot of unrest and confusion in the modern Hindu society.[/b]

[b]The Hindu varna (class) system, a Vaishya (Sanskrit वैश्य vaiśya) is a member of the third of the four classes of traditional Indian society. It comprises merchants, artisans, and cultivators. A person born into a Brahmin/Kshatriya/Vaishya family becomes 2vice-born (dvija) when he undergoes upanayanam, initiation into Vedic education or education helping him master those parts of the four Vedas concerning his occupation. They are the third in the caste system and are the merchants and traders.

VAISHYA are those whose mind is engaged by the VISHAYA. VISHAYA means, subject or specialization or professional knowledge. Physics, Chemistry, Technology, Law, Economics, Politics, Management are example of the Vishaya. Another term for VISHAYA is ARTH or meaning, or knowledge behind every object, ego or positions of power. Vishaya contains VISH or poison because mind under influence of a subjects get anxiety, and insatiable demand of changes and controls. It is said that consumers of VISHAYA are intoxicating; and specialists for example, try always to wield more power and control in their hand. They are unfaithful or without a discretion because knowledge of subjects/specialization gives them a power and flexibility to evolve and experiment with every new object, subjects and in relationships.

Over a period, these ‘professional’ or practicing specialists or experts came to organize themselves as a community. Their system of work is called VYAVSAYA or acts of business by mutual free will, and not by force. VAISHYA is most popular form of a market society.

The color associated with this Varna is yellow, symbolizing Rajas/Tamas, meaning quality in general. Some traditional north Indian surnames for Vaishyas are Gupta, Bhuti, Agarwal, Garg.

According to the Manu-smriti, the Vaishyas arose from the belly of Brahma.[/b]

[b]Brahmin, in Hinduism, traditionally refers to the priestly caste or a member of this caste in the Hindu caste system. The Sanskrit word Brāhmaṇa denotes the scholar/teacher, priest, caste, class (varṇa), or tribe, that has been traditionally enjoined to live a life of learning, teaching and non-possessiveness .[1][2][3] The Sanskrit terms Brahman and Brāhman (“belonging to Brahman”) are also used.[4] The English word brahmin is an anglicised form of Sanskrit word brāhmana, however they are not necessarily the same things. Whilst brahma loosely translated means knowledge and one with such knowledge a brahmin, historically and in the vedic sense the acquisition of this knowledge was not confined to one belonging to the brahmin caste. Anyone could acquire brahman. Perhaps over time the group in society entrusted to acquire and preserve this brahma calcified into a caste grouping not unlike other ancient societies which also developed a priestly class for the same reasons.

Brahmins are also called Vipra “inspired”,[5] or Dvija “twice-born”.[6]

In 1931 (the last Indian census to record caste), Brahmins accounted for 4.32% of the total population. Brahmins even in Uttar Pradesh, where they were most numerous, constituted just 9% of the recorded population. In Tamil Nadu they formed less than 3% and in Andhra Pradesh, less than 2%.[7] In Kerala, Nambudiri Brahmins make up 0.7% of the population.[/b]

[Xunzian]

Brahmin and untouchables are actually at opposite ends of the scale. The Untouchables are the lowest class, the last reminant of India’s native ethnic group. The mostly work as corpse-handlers, but since the '60’s have theoretically gained equal rights. In the case of a few (a PM was an Untouchable for a time) that is true, but all they’ve done is replace the birth-caste system with a financial caste-system – and given how one’s income is tied to one’s parent’s income, I’m not sure the two are substantially different. . .

[NoItAll]

Could it be that Western civilization isn’t much different from all other nations and is very much un-enlightened afterall?

Exactly.

Since the basis of true enlightenment is a first hand realization of subjective reality ( all is one spirit/energy) and the illusionary aspect of objective reality (there are no ‘things’ or 'others),
AND
since civilizations are a function of a firm belief in objective reality (there are ‘things’ and ‘others’)
THEN
it is impossible for civilizations be 'enlightened".

There have only been a few individuals that have experienced it enough to live differently (and these are called 'buddhas, etc.) and after that experience there’s no need for creating a civilization.

[NoItAll]

PS:
That’s also why many of these so-called ‘primitive’ tribes were more enlightened.
They had a psychedelic initiation into adulthood which gave the inductee a first hand experience of subjective reality.
After that startling experience, when the individual goes back to the objective reality perspective that memory is burned in their subconscious to remind them what’s what.

That’s what happened to me.

In many tribes on the Amazon the ‘chief’ is the best pharmacist.
The tribe gets ‘high’ every night, talks to God (their collective self) who tells them where to hunt/plant tomorrow.*

* Source: ‘True Hallucinations’ - Terrance McKenna