Making Sense of the Caste System

Any system for that matter goes obsolete with the advancement of science and technology. For example household equipment do the washing, cooking, cleaning, etc. so how can one reject say food prepared by a Dalit who uses all these equipments ?

Here's something to think about :-

A group of scientists placed 5 monkeys in a cage and in the middle, a ladder with bananas on the top.

Every time a monkey went up the ladder, the scientists soaked the rest of the monkeys with cold water.
Reference:: Sikh Philosophy Network http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/hinduism/25986-making-sense-of-the-caste-system.html

After a while, every time a monkey went up the ladder, the others beat up the one on the ladder.

After some time, no monkey dare to go up the ladder regardless of the temptation.

Scientists then decided to substitute one of the monkeys. The 1st thing this new monkey did was to go up the ladder. Immediately the other monkeys beat him up.
After several beatings, the new member learned not to climb the ladder even though never knew why.

A 2nd monkey was substituted and the same occurred. The 1st monkey participated on the beating for the 2nd monkey. A 3rd monkey was changed and the same was repeated (beating). The 4th was substituted and the beating was repeated and finally the 5th monkey was replaced.

What was left was a group of 5 monkeys that even though never received a cold shower, continued to beat up any monkey who attempted to climb the ladder.
If it was possible to ask the monkeys why they would beat up all those who attempted to go up the ladder…..

I bet you the answer would be….

“I don’t know – that’s how things are done around here”

Does it sounds familiar?


Part Two:
Man-Made Monkey
Reference:: Sikh Philosophy Network http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/showthread.php?t=25986
BBC News | SOUTH ASIA | Mysterious 'man-monkey' strikes Delhi
Man and Monkey Detained at La Guardia - City Room - Metro - New York Times Blog

 
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NamJap ji

In a weird way this story makes sense of the caste system. It is all about keeping people where they are.

Caste/class System is very well described in the "Brave New Word" by Aldous Huxley. The interesting part of the book is that he named the drug SOMA to make the Epislons- the fifth letter of the Greek alaphabet-The untouchables - also the fifth caste in Hinduism- to feel better about themselves. He visited India in 1925 and wrote the above book in four months in 1931
Reference:: Sikh Philosophy Network http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/showthread.php?t=25986

The ironic part of using the name Soma is that it is also used in Gurbani "Som Rus" as Gurmat Amrit.
Reference:: Sikh Philosophy Network http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/showthread.php?t=25986

More about Huxley:
Aldous Huxley - Biography - The Author And His Times

Tejwant Singh

Soma

Soma, in Hinduism, is a Vedic god, plant offering, and beverage. In the Vedic texts the sacred, deified substance Soma is paired with Agni fire, the devouring principle. Both were major divinities of Hinduism before the later emergence of Vishnu, Shiva, Shakyi, and Krishna. In the Rig Veda more hymns, some one hundred twenty, are addressed to Soma in his various forms than any other figure. Soma is that which is offered, is food, the food of the universe, the drink that leads to immortality, a beverage, the beverage of the gods, the divine nectar, is semen, the essence of life, is the Moon. In the Rig Veda the doughty warrior-god Indra quaffs hug quantities of Soma both for his uproarious pleasure and for the strength it gives him in slaughtering his enemies. 
visit www.themystica.com
Reference:: Sikh Philosophy Network http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/showthread.php?t=25986
Reference:: Sikh Philosophy Network http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/showthread.php?t=25986

If one reads one explanation of Soma and Shiva's attraction to it, there will be 4 others that contradict that story. One can read Shiva's addiction to Soma on either the material or spiritual level. Soma can be the moon, or a moon deity, raised up as an earlier deity by Shiva, an attraction to the inner bliss of contemplation on the forces of his creative energy, his creation of the universe through Shakti, Shakti's energy. Indra and Shiva shared this attraction to soma, and Shiva may or may not have been Rudra, may or may not have been Indra, may or may not have been uniquely Shiva. And the meaning of Soma, spiritual or material beverage, of Shiva (Indra, Rudra) depends on which tradition with Hinduism, which era of evolution of the sanatan paths, which region of India, and which version of the historic Aryan invasion (or lack of an Aryan invasion) any one individual may have reference to. So it is very complicated.

I guess Punjabi speaking Sikhs are at a loss when they encounter castless white sikhs.
Reference:: Sikh Philosophy Network http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/showthread.php?t=25986
There could be many reactions from Indian sikhs about American Sikhs, African Sikhs. They would forget to 'bark' at them.

Your views ?

NamJap ji

A good question and in fact the some of the same queries being discussed (though limping forward slowly in pain) in the thread Dilemma for Westerners: A Second Look.

The reaction is not always to bark. There are many Indian Sikhs who are not only positive toward, but involved in, Sikhnet which is a worldwide organization today and began as a 3HO email listserv. Some Indian Sikhs praise "white" Sikhs for that effort.

The problems with caste arise when cultures collide. Between "white" Sikhs and Indian Sikhs -- but let's not forget how many Indian Sikhs are also very negative and critical of "caste" in their own Sikh communities. In India, via Internet communication, or anywhere in the world.

Namjap ji,

I have many Sikh friends who are white, from Latin America, Europe and also Blacks.

I also have had many lively interactions with White Sikhs when I see their bigotry towards Punjabi Sikhs or Sikhs of Indian origin in general.

Sharing your reaction. Funny though it may sound, I don't come into contact with many "white" Sikhs on a regular basis. Only if I happen to attend a 3HO event (e.g., a Snatam Kaur concert). So to know more---how do they show their bigotry toward Punjabi Sikhs? I don't like the sound of it.

Also Who Are White Sikhs? Does it mean 3HO because they wear white? or Does it mean anyone who is of European heritage in some way who are Sikhs? Very confusing and it is too late to "abolish" that phrase.