Chapter II, Hinduism, The Stations of Life, Summary and Analysis

Going back to the basic tenet of Hinduism, life is conceived to be one of stations or castes. No one really knows how the caste system actually arose in the pattern as it is practiced today. The original system, however, became perverted over time though many religious leaders have sought to remove the untouchable classification from the vernacular. However, today many educated Indians continue to support the ideas of caste though in its basic form. The levels once again are, from highest to lowest: (1) the brahmin, or seer; (2) the kshatriya, or administrator; (3) the vaishya, or producer; and (4) the shudra, or servant. Few today would try to defend the extremes that this caste system developed into. However, the idea that the separation provides a certain security in that a person...