By Swami Chidananda
No doubt the ancient scriptures of India mention castes at a lot of places. The society too had (and has) these divisions. A study of Upanishads, however, makes the point clear that a man of high caste – called Brāhmana – really is someone who is of noble character. Birth, social background and other factors then recede to the background.
Free of defects like selfish desire and attachment,
Devoid of (impurities like) jealousy, greed and delusion,
A person of such nature is a Brāhmana!
kāma-rāga-ādi-dosha-rahitah
mātsarya-trishnā-moha-ādi-rahitah
sa eva brāhmanah iti
Vajra-soochi Upanishad, mantra 9