Do not be proud of your caste, you ignorant fool! So much sin and corruption
comes from this pride....The five elements join together, to make up the
form of the human body. Who can say which is less (inferior or bad), and
which is more (superior or good)? Says Nanak, this soul is bound by its
actions. Without meeting the True Guru, it is not liberated (sggs 1128).
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In Gurmat — Divine Teaching or Wisdom of the Gurbani, Sri Guru Granth Sahib — there is no place for the caste system (Jaat-Paat). Baabaa Nanak introduced the concept of a society with no caste distinction. This concept was followed through by all Sikh Masters. Yet, the madness of belief in castes has a very strong hold in Sikhs! In one hand the propagators of the Dharma mouth platitudes about a casteless society preached by the Sikh Masters, but on the other hand, they practice it madly. What a paradox and hypocrisy! comes from this pride....The five elements join together, to make up the
form of the human body. Who can say which is less (inferior or bad), and
which is more (superior or good)? Says Nanak, this soul is bound by its
actions. Without meeting the True Guru, it is not liberated (sggs 1128).
<><><><>
Per Gurmat (the wisdom of the Shabad-Guru), any one who believes in Jaat-Paat cannot be a true Sikh; for the castes only relate to the body; not to the Self (Soul, Spirit or Truth). In other words, the caste-conscious person is a material being (Manmukh) who has confounded the Self for the physical body. Consequently, he identifies himself and others as Jatt Sikh, Saini Sikh, Bhaapaa Sikh, Rorra Sikh, Tarkhaan or Raamgarheeaa Sikh, Mazhabee Sikh, Khatree Sikh, Lavaanaa Sikh, Kookaa Sikh, Naadhaaree Sikh, Nihang Sikh, Nirmalay Sikh, Brahmin Sikh, list goes on and on. Now, there seems to be a new class of Sikhs called Caucasian Sikhs (Gore or white Sikhs)! The result of this foolishness is as follows:
- Most Sikh marriages are organized along the caste lines. Within Sikhs, if a boy or a girl from one caste marries someone from a different caste without mutual consent of their parents, it sometimes turns into a ****** tragedy. Thus, Jatt Sikh, Saini Sikh, Bhaapaa Sikh, Rorha Sikh, Tarkhaan or Raamgarheeaa Sikh, Mazhabee Sikh, Khatree Sikh, Lavaanaa Sikh, this Sikh or that Sikh, rarely intermarry.
- Many Gurdwaaraas are built along the caste lines. In many Sikh villages in Punjab, Mazhabees or Dalits have their own Gurdwaaraas and even separate cremation grounds. Also, even in foreign countries, many places people have separate Gurdwaaraas based on caste system and discrimination.
- Many Gurdwaaraa committees are elected along the caste lines.
- Many Gurdwaaraa committee members are nominated along the caste lines.
- If a group of Sikhs identifying with one caste looses control of management of a particular Gurdwaaraa to Sikhs identifying with another caste, they split and open up another Gurdwaaraa.
- Many Gurdwaraas, thus, are built based on ill feelings created by the madness of belief in Jaat-Paat rather than a genuine spiritual cause.
- Many times people make donations to particular Gurdwaraas strictly along the caste lines; rather than a just cause.
- Many professional Bhaais and Granthees are hired or selected along the caste lines.
- Many professional Kirtan singers are invited along the caste lines.
- Many social contacts are based on the caste lines.
- Political elections are contested along the caste lines (in addition to party lines).
- Origin Of The Pride Of Caste
- Does God, Soul, Or The Self Has A Caste?
- Does Caste Help After Death?
- Manmukh (materialist) And Jaat-Paat
- Gurmukh (spiritual being) And Jaat-Paat
- Low And High Caste: What Does It Mean?
- The True Caste
- Cure From The Disease of Jaat-Paat
But, what is ignorance? Material or body-consciousness, which gives rise to false ego (Haume), is the ignorance so much talked about in the scriptures. Opposite of the body-consciousness is the spiritual Consciousness. Therefore, according to the Gurbani, spiritual ignorance or mental blindness is the root cause of this madness called Jaat-Paat or false pride of caste.
- Agian andher mahaa panth bikhraa ahankaar bhaar lad leejai: The path of spiritual ignorance is utterly dark and treacherous; the mortal is loaded down with the crushing load of egotism (sggs 1326)
- Antar agian dukh bharam hai vich pardaa door payeeaass: There is ignorance and pain of doubt within, like a separating screen between the man and God (sggs 40).
- Hayumai meraa jaat hai ati krodh apmaan: Ego, self-centeredness, excessive anger and pride are the caste of men (sggs 429).
- Hayumai meraa jaat hai hayumai karam kamaae: This is the nature of ego, that people perform their actions in pride (sggs 466).
- Aachaar biyuhaar biaapat ih jaat: It (Maya) impinges upon us through our charactor, occupation, and caste (sggs 182).
- Aatam mahi Ram ram mahi aatam: The Lord is in the Soul, and the Soul is in the Lord (1153).
- Mann toon joti saroop hai apnaa mool pashaan: O my mind, you are That — the true image of the Divine Light — know your Reality (sggs 441).
- Jaat ajaat ajonee sambhayu na tis bhayu na bharmaa: The caste of God is castelessness; He is unborn, self-illumined, without desire and doubt (sggs 597).
- Gurmukh jaat pat sach soi: God is the caste and honor of the Gurmukh (sggs 560).
- Ekam ekankaar niraalaa. Amar ajonee jaati na jaalaa: The Unique Lord is Peerless, Immortal, unborn, and without caste and involvement (sggs 838).
- Naari purukh nahee jaat na janamaa naa ko dukh sukh paaidaa: (Before the rise of material consciousness) neither there was female, nor male, nor caste, nor birth nor did any one suffer pain or pleasure (sggs 1035).
- Varan jaat chihan nahee koee sabh hukme sarist upaaidaa: God has no color, caste and mark; by His Will, He creates the whole world (sggs 1075).
- Jaanahu joti na pooshahu jaatee aagai jaat na he: Recognize God’s Light within all, and do not inquire or consider caste, as there is no caste in the world hereafter (sggs 349).
According to Indic scriptures, death means destruction of the material body, not the Spirit Soul. Upon death of the body, the bundle of memories or energy move on to the next field of experiences. And that new experience very much depends upon one's state of being at the time of death. The state of mentality at the time of death is determined by what we practice throughout our life!
- Jit laago man baasnaa ant saayee pragtaanee: That Vaasnaa or desire, to which the mind is attached, at the last moment, becomes manifest (sggs 242).
- Jaatee dai kiaa hath sach parkheeai. Mahuraa hovai hath mareeai chakheeai: What merits is in the caste? (At God's Door) True (Name) is assayed. Pride in one’s caste is like poison—if one eats it he dies (sggs 142).
- Dehee jaat na aagai jaae. Jitahi lekhaa mangeeai tithai chhuttai sach kamaae: Man's body and caste will not go with him to the world hereafter. Where one is called to answer for his account, there, he will be emancipated only by the practice of Truth (sggs 112).
- Aggai jaat na jor hai aggai jeeoo nave: In the next world, caste and power do not count; the mortal has to deal with new beings there (sggs 469).
According to the Gurbani, one who believes in Jaat-Paat is a Manmukh (egotistic or material being). He is Spiritually blind; hence, without Intuitive Wisdom. His life is perplexed due to ignorance of his True Nature, which is Pure Consciousness. In such a perplexed state of mind, a materialist thinks that this world is solid or permanent. However, the inside reality is to the contrary. The only thing that is permanent is the Spirit (Infinite Consciousness) that pervades within evrybody and everything.
People in material perplexities are called in the Gurbani by different names. Such names include Manmukh, Saakat (faithless cynics), Kusang (bad company), Aatam Ghaatee (self-murderer), Chor (thief), Mayadhaaree (Maya-stricken), Bimukhan (nonbeliever), Jhooth or Koorh (false or fake), nondevotee, demon, beast, idiot, fool, animal, material-being, spiritually ignorant, etc.
Thus, a Manmukh is a stubborn fanatic. Consequently, he suffers from the ailment of duality (Doojaa Bhaav), resulting in his separation from his Source, which resides in the cave of his heart. He has no Intuitive Understanding of the Shabad (Naam, Bani, Hukam or God's Will), the purpose of life, his relationship with God, and the Way of life. Due to such egotistic life, he suffers repeatedly.
- Aggai naayu jaat na jaaisee Manmukh dukh khaataa: The body and caste will not go hereafter, and the Manmukh suffers (sggs 514).
- Nanak Gurmukh gian praapat hovai timar agian andher chukaayaa: O Nanak, the Gurmukh attains spiritual wisdom, and the pitch-black darkness of ignorance is dispelled (sggs 512).
- Gurmukh jaat pat Name vadiaaee: God's Name is the caste, honor, and glory of the True Sikh or Gurmukh (sggs 230).
- Hari Bhagta kee jaat pat hai Ram: The caste and honor of the Lord's devotees is His Naam (sggs 768).
- Hamree jaat pat sach naayu: The Name is my caste and honor (sggs 353).
- Sant janaa kee jaat Hari Suaamee tum Thaaku ham saangee: God is the caste of the saintly person. You are the Lord; I am just Your puppet (sggs 667).
- Naam jaat Naam meree pat hai Naam merai parvaarai: The Name is my caste, the Name is my honor, and the Name is my family (sggs 713).
- Nanak Gurmukh gian praapat hovai timar agian andher chukaayaa: O Nanak, the Gurmukh attains spiritual wisdom, and the pitch-black darkness of ignorance is dispelled (sggs 512).
- Laale apnee jaat gavaaee: The Lord's slave lays aside his caste (sggs 363).
- Bin boojhe pasu bhaye betaale: Binu boojhai pasu bhaye betaale: Without Divine understanding, people become beasts and demons (sggs 224).
- Kartoot pasoo kee manas jaat: Men belong to the human species, but they act like animals (sggs 267).
- Manmukh tatt na jaananee pasoo maahi samaanaa: The Manmukh (material being) is a beast; he does not know the essence of Reality that is contained within himself (sggs 1009).
- Mool na boojhahi aapanaa se pasooaa se dhor jeeo: Those who do not understand their own Roots (Source); they are beasts. They are just animals! (sggs 751).
- Andhula neech jaat pardesee khin aavai til jaavai: The spiritually blind, low caste or class wandering soul, comes for a moment, and departs in an instant (sggs 731).
- Bin naavai sabh neech jaat hai bista ka keeraa hoi: Without the Name, every one is of low caste, like the worm of ordure (sggs 426).
- Metee jaat hooye darbaar: Effacing my caste, I have become the Lord's courtier (sggs 875).
The preceding discussion reflects as to what constitutes a low class and a high class being. With the help of this understanding, we can try to know the real nature of a "true caste" or true class. It is not the family caste, social status, or the ancestary that gives a person the status of Supreme Dignity. It is the Unconditioned Consciousness — Shabad-Surti or God Consciousness — that determines the true status of a person. Simply put: A person immersed in Divine Name (Pure Consciousness) is of High Class; to the contrary, a person immersed in material consciousness is of low class.
- Jaat ajaat Naam jin dhiaaiaa tin param padaarath paayaa: Of high caste, or low one, whosoever meditate on the Naam, he obtains the Supreme Substance (sggs 574).
- Karam dharam tere Naam kee jaat: Good actions, religion, and high caste are contained in God's Name (sggs 154).
- Bastaa tootee jhumpree cheer sabh chhinna. Jaat na pat na aadro......: He dwells in a broken-down shack, in tattered clothes, with no social status, no honor and no respect; he wanders in the wilderness, with no friend or lover, without wealth, beauty, relatives or relations. Even so, he is the king of the whole world, if his mind is imbued with the Divine Name. With the dust of his feet, men are redeemed, because God is very pleased with him (sggs 707).
In spite of the fact that no true scripture or spiritual teacher supports the caste system, there is a rigid caste system among the Sikhs, Hindus, Buddhists, Jain, and so on. For instance, in their villages, Shudras or Dalits are not even allowed to draw water from wells used by so-called upper castes, or enter the temples managed by the upper caste. What a shameful hypocrisy!
What went wrong? The weakness of our religions is that their propagators do not practice what they preach. As a result, what has remained of the great teachings of the Masters and the scriptures is the unmeaning rituals, lip worship, showoff spirituality, religious robes, dogmas, and so on. People indulge in so-called religious activities but hardly ever bother to better themselves, mend their ways, change their mentality or know "Who I am?". Consequently, the man is unable to embrace all mankind as one so preached in the scriptures.
Due to this stupidity of the propagators of religions, many people become converts, particularly those deprived, discriminated against and destitute tribal and lower castes. It's equally shameful for other religions to manipulate and exploit such people by converting them into their respective religion for ulterior purposes. Is this the solution? No. Because, by converting others, all they are doing is magnifying the problem by creating more divisions, differences, discrimination, fanaticism, and hatred in the world. At the present, all organized religions are inflicted with error. In the words of a great one, "But religion is not always purely known — and even less often purely practiced — which gives rise to differences."
The sage Tulsidaas says: "At the touch of the philosopher's stone, metals become gold. Likewise all castes, even the butcher and the untouchable, become pure by repeating the Divine Name. Without the Name the people of the four castes are but butchers."
Hence, to classify or identify a person with certain caste based on his heredity or family of birth is shear ignorance. The quality of the Jeeva (individual being) depends on one's attributes and actions. In other words, one's quality is determined by how he responds to the three modes of the material nature, not by heredity, race, caste, color, or some other nonsense notions.
As indicated in the Gurbani, all are equal in respect to the Spiritual Teachings. Therefore, the one who, as a Spiritual being (Gurmukh), chants and meditates on the Divine Name attains liberation while living in the body and obtains the Supreme Status. Other mundane qualifications do not matter a bit.
- Agge paalaa kee kare sooraj kehee raat...: What can the cold do to the fire? How can the night affect the sun? What can the darkness do to the moon? What can caste do to air and water? What are personal possessions to the earth, from which all things are produced? O Nanak, he alone is known as honorable, whose honor the Lord preserves (sggs 150).
- Oshee mat meree jaat julaaha. Hari kaa naam lahio mai laahaa: Says Kabir Sahib: mean is my understanding and I am a weaver by caste. I have reaped the profit of the God's Name (sggs 524).
- Neech jaat Hari japtiaa uttam padvee paae. Pooshahu bidar daasee soote Kishan utriaa ghar jis jaaye: Contemplating God, men of low caste attained a High Status. Ask Bidura, the son of the slave-girl, with whom Krishna chose to abide (sggs 733).
- Re chit chet chet achet. Kaahe na Baalmeekahi dekh: Be conscious, be conscious, be conscious, O my unconscious mind. Why do you not look at Baalmeek? (sggs 1124).
- Ek noor te sabhu jagu upjiaa kaun bhale ko mande: From this One Light, the entire universe welled up. So who is good, and who is bad? (sggs 1349).
- Saahib maeraa eaeko hai: My Lord is One; He is the One and Only (sggs 350).
- Ek pashaanai haumai maari: Recognize One Truth by erdaicating egoism — the error (sggs 1277).
- Jo deesai so taeraa roop: Whatever is seen, O God, is Your form (sggs724).
- Ek anek biaapak poorak jatt dekho tatt soee... Sabh Gobind hai sabh Gobind hai Gobind bin nahee koyee...Ghat ghat antari sarab niranti keval ek muraaree: In the one and in the many, God is pervading and permeating; wherever I look, there He is....God is everything, God is everything; without God, there is nothing at all...In each and every heart, and deep within the very nucleus of all, is the One God (sggs 485).
Therefore, one cannot know the Truth if his actions are egotistical. In other words, it is impossible to know the Truth by constantly feeding the fire ego (Haume). Therefore, the Gurbani teaches us that, in order to know the Truth, one has to starve the false ego. Unfortunately, instead of starving it, most of us continually feed it!
The deluded mind creates divisions. Consequently, the ignorant mind is the greatest enemy of an egotistical person. To the contrary, the same mind is the best friend of a person who has eradicated his false ego from within. Accordingly, to realize the Self, the deluded mind needs to be dissolved. As long as there is this contending mind, one will be controlled by the ego. How can one free himself from all these road blocks in the Way to realize Truth? One thing is for sure: The outer looks, mere focus on mundane culture and history, empty rituals, and all superficial and shallow practices compared to the Real Essence will not do the trick! If anything, such egotistical practices will sink one more and more and more into "darkness".
The Gurbani provides us with the sure cure and remedy. It teaches us as to how one can turn the "inverse lotus" upwards, and awaken the inner Light and see the All-pure in all. As time and again indicated in the Gurbani, the key is in becoming Spiritual Being — immersing in God Consciousness or Shabad-Surti.
- Shabad mare taa jaat jaae: One rids the pride of caste by becoming Shabad-conscious (sggs 429).
- Hari Hari karat jaat kul hari: Uttering God's Name, (one's false pride of) caste and lineage are effaced (sggs 874).
- Naa mai jaat na pat hai naa mai thehu na thaau. Shabad bhed bhram kattiaa Gur Naam deeaa samjhaae: I have no caste or honor; I have no place or home. Pierced through by the Shabad, my doubts have been cut away. The Guru (God) has inspired me to understand the Naam (sggs 994).
- Achaar biuhaar jaat Hari guneeaa: The Lord's praise is my culture, occupation, and caste (sggs 715).
- Maanas ki jaat sabhai ekai pahichaanvo: Recognize the entire mankind as one family (Paatshaahee 10).
source:Madness Of Belief In CASTE: JAAT - PAAT
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