World of Philosophy

Author(s): Christopher Key Chapple, Intaj Malek, Dilip Charan, Sunanda Shastri, Prashant Dave
Publisher: Shanti Prakashan

Page 877

They save the human being from degenerating into animalism and help him/her to prepare his/her personality for the higher pursuits of life. In fact, edifice of life must be based on these principles. These values are the life force of Vaidikadharma. in fact, the Vaidikadharma stands for these immortal ideals and values of life, not for many other things such as superstitions, external marks, caste systems, different kinds of religious rites, rituals and ceremonies, temples for which it is mistaken.
Social structure of vedic calture shows its holistic approach. The society was divided into four classes on the basis of their intrinsic qualities and vocational aptitudes, which is known as the Varna system. The underlying principle of this system is divison of work. This division was to provide work and bread to all, according to their mental, physical capacity and skill. It was aimed at welfare of all the members of society, providing social justice, proper opportunity to earn livelihood and get shelter according to each individual's skill and ability. This system was evolved to keep the social fabric in harmonious condition. This system also wanted the perpetuation of accumulated bulk of knowledge in the from of vedas, Brāhmanas, Aranyakas, Upanişads, Vedāngas, Smộtis, Purāņas, epics and so many other branches of knowledge. Initial flexibility invited all the best of intellectuals to preserve the knowledge through oral system. Thus, the living university of knowledge was created. Due to rigidity of lesser men, it took later on rigid trun, which is most unfortunate. it was also mandatory that one should procreate sons and they should be trained in the exactly same way as the father. One should also train worthy disciples. So the tradition of knowledge continues anbroken and uinterrupted.
The holistic approach of the vedic religion, if properly understood and practiced will certainly make healthy and beneficial changes in the attitude and outlook of an individual towards his/her fellow beings and entire animate and inanimate environment. The individual will start realizing unity with all, oneness with all. This feeling of unity will help reduce or eliminate possible cause of conflict between individual - to individual, individual and animals, individual and nature. Once, an individual realizes that whatever he does,for or against others, he will be doing for or against himself, because, he, together with all those other things are knit together as parts of the same undivided universe. He will loose his aggressive nature against his fellow beings and nature. His/ her vision will be widened. Once, this holistic attitude of the universe is developed in a person, and he/she begins realizing it in his/her mind, thought and action, which will lead to his/her inner transformation of broader prespective with love, sympathy, and feeling of equality towards all.
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