The Winslow mail., 1915-06-26
THE HIDDEN SIDE OF CASTE
Founded on the Belief of Reincarna-
tion-Four Glasses Recognized.

The hidden side of the oriental caste
system, as originally conceived, re-
Veals colossal scheme for the or
der1ng of society in such manner that
the normal operation of the national
functions should contribute to the cul-
ture OF the individual souls which con-
stltuted the population. Duty and re-
sponslbility were regulated in precise
correspondence to education and priv
llege, strict accountability was impos,
ed upon all.
There are divisions and subdivisions
in the order of caste and national var
latlons varying with national idios.
yncrasies, but the scheme as a whole
corresponds with the four grand nat
ural divisions of society inevitable the
world over; first the producing class
who are engaged in supplying food,
clothing and shelter and the other
physical necessities Of men; second.
the distributing class; third, the
guardians of the nations, the army,
police, judges rulers and kings under
whose protection the producers and
distributors labor in peace; fourth
the teachers of the nation, the scien-
lists, philosophers, priests who guide
and develop the higher natures of the
citizens.
Should soul, according to ancient
caste system, by reason of it's mex
perience and youth, enter the lowest
caste in society, the Shudra in the
Indian tongue, the producers, the ser
vers His first lesson would naturally
be those of a child, of obedience, of
service, of subOrdinatiOn and of train
ing. Little responsibility was given
him and little in return was expected
Hardly any restriction was placed on
his food; there was no restriction Oh
travel.
When the soul during a period of
many incarnations in the lowest, the
Shudra caste, had learned the lessons
OF the infant school it passed on 10
the next grade, the next caste in it's
birth, and was born in the Merchant
OF Vaissya caste. Here both duties
and restrictions were heavier. For
the Merchant was twice-born man
in the ancient phrase, and was there
fore given the responsibility of wealth
and its expenditure. He wore the
threefold thread as sign of belonging
to a tWice-born caste and was expect
ed to hear and study the Vedas of sac
red books. 1t was his to accumulate
wealth, not for his own gratifcation
but for the support of the nation. He
was the steward in the national house
hold. 1t was his to maintain the TEN
pies, feed the starving, build rest
houses for the traveller and hospitals
for the sick.
After many incarnatiOns as a mer-
chant man the soul came back to earth
to learn the lessons Of ruling governing
and guarding. The Kshytrya OF India
and the Samurrai of Bushi of Japan
were the guardians of the national
peace, presenting the ideal or the di-
vine kingship, the divine ruler.
The perfect Samurai or warrior of
Japan, according to a renowned citi-
zen of the island empire, regarded
his person as the most precious legacy
left by his fathers, wherein dwelt in
it's most holy Of holies a divine pres
ence to be dedicated to the service of
God, parent or master. His body was
an instrument to be used for an END
higher than it's tenants interest.
Into the fourth, the highest caste
came the souls who by many earth
lives had passed through the three
lower grades in the school of expert
ence and having well learned their
lessons were fitted to take upon them
selves the momentous responsibilities
of guide and teacher to the nation
These were the Brahmans 1t was
theirs TO teach in order that there
might always be a succession of wise
helpers who should direct the evolu-
tion and progress of the people. They
must not teach for money, nof for any
personal gain they were to gain moth
ing for themselves and everything
for the people. Their life was hedged
about with restrictions in food and
daily conduct, cut away from all the
enjoyments of the earth which they
were expected by this time to have
outgrown and surmOunted in the high
er enjoyments Of learning, philosophy,
religion. They were hidden to have
no earthly wealth; since wealth be-
longed to the merchant man. they
were hidden to have no right to strug-
gle for liberty, since that was the priv
ilege of the warrior; they were hidden
not to eat and drink and travel about
as they liked since those were the
prerogatives of the child souls born
in the lowest caste. Theirs was the
severe life of rself-denial.
The divisions were founded entirely
upon the souls stage of growth, and
upon this basis they were maintain
ed. In the old days, if a mans life
proved that he had mastered the les
sons to be learned in his own caste
and was showing forth the quail
ties of the higher caste he could pass
from his own caste the next.-Pitts-
burg Dispatch.