Dear Bhagavatars The classification according to birth is what is irrelevent. If one wishes to use this classification in a limited spiritual sense then it can be useful as a teaching tool. In the modern western world at least children are brought up to believe that all humankind are equal, equal rights for all, democracy etc - are we going to teach them to discriminate against aothers based on their birth? A lot of right wing Americans would consider that all members of the "dark" races are inferior - do you "brahmins" living in their society accept that judgement unreservedly? - You should, because you are living in THEIR society! (That's if you accept varna-ashrama dharma) Caste duties as per Manu and the others are what are irrelevent because there are only a tiny minority of individuals that are practicing their caste occupations as per Dharma Sastra. How many of the internet active members of this forum are following their caste obligations? The simplified categorisation of caste duties was based upon a pre-industrial agrarian society - this no longer exists in the lives of most of us, therefore the formulations of the sages on these issues is no longer relevent. The only teaching which is still relevent is off course the loka-dharma as taught in the dharma sastras which is applicable to all times and places. Adiyen Srirama
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