Additional information
by Stephen Knapp (Author)
Casteism in India has gotten a lot of criticism, and rightly so. Many look at it as a means for the upper castes to live a privileged life while keeping all lower castes oppressed without the means for upgrading themselves. Present day casteism is based on the idea that whatever caste your father was, that will also be the caste of the sons and daughters, without any means to change it. But this is not what is actually prescribed in the Vedic or Hindu texts of old. This is what must be understood and corrected. So this book is a short study of what the Vedic texts actually say about what the Vedic social arrangement is really supposed to be and the purpose of it. The real Vedic process of social organization is what is called varna and ashrama. It was meant to help everyone progress throughout life, to live happily in a career that suites the talents, interests, and intellectual level of the person, and to guide them toward attaining higher levels of consciousness, awareness and understanding. That is why any confusion about the difference between today's caste system and the real Vedic varnashrama system must be cleared up. This book goes into detail about, * What is the real varnashrama system of social organization and how it works. * How the present-day caste system got started. * How we can correct this misunderstanding and be rid of the present-day caste system. * Where the Vedic literature explains how the caste by birth system is unjust. * The benefits of following the varnashrama system. * How the Vedic varnashrama system of social arrangement was to help propel everyone to the spiritual domain. * How an analysis of the modes of nature with which we associate can help determine what is our most natural varna or occupational class. * How the varna system is a natural process of selecting one's occupation and career by recognizing a person's natural interests, talents, tendencies, proclivities, and intellectual capacity. This is a process that is used by many schools and colleges today, but was started many years ago in the Vedic tradition. This book will help show the difference between what has become the present caste system, and why it is unnecessary and even harmful to Hinduism and Indian society, and explain the value of the Vedic system of varna and ashrama.
Author Biography
Stephen Knapp has studied the major Vedic texts of India and practiced yoga and the Eastern teachings since 1971. He has traveled throughout India and has a collection of over 18,000 slides and images of the many holy places, temples and festivals he has seen. He has authored over thirty well-received books on Vedic culture and Eastern spirituality. He also regularly gives lectures at various venues both in America and in India. He has also been involved in the management of various temples for over 40 years, and is the president of the Vedic Friends Association. There is much more information about him on his website: www.stephen-knapp.com and http: //stephenknapp.info, and at http: //stephenknapp.wordpress.com.
