The one who is born in the Brahmin caste is not a Brahmin, but Brahmin is the one who has realized the ultimate truth or Brahman. In spirituality, Brahmin is not a caste or sect.
In the Vedic era, a Brahmin was a person who had acquired Self- knowledge or Brahma Gnana Atma Gnana. This was an extremely difficult path of the discipline of body, mind, and intellect, and people irrespective of their birth or class, who were dedicated to such an austere life, were recognized as Brahmins.
A great example of this tradition (that a person becoming a Brahmin, rather than born as one) is the case of Vishwamitra, a warrior (Kshatriya), who became a Brahmin after attaining Atma Jnana or Self-Knowledge.
A smritis or code of conduct composed by sage Atri defines brahminhood very clearly:
"By birth, every man is a Shudra (an ignorant person). Through various types of disciplines (samskaras), he becomes a dwija (twice-born). Through the studies of scriptures, he becomes a vipra (or a scholar). Through the realization of supreme spirit (Brahma Gnana), he becomes a Brahmin.”
The belief that people born in the Brahmin caste, automatically become Brahmins, is a much later concept in very ancient India. Thus, Brahmin means not a caste but one who has attained Atma Jnana or Brahma Jnana.
Bhagavata clearly says in 7.11.35 that: ~ “Just because one is born to a Brahmin doesn’t automatically make him a Brahmin. But he has more chances of becoming a Brahmin by acquiring Self- knowledge or Brahma Gnana or Atma Gnana. Self-knowledge or Brahma Gnana or Atma Gnana is the only qualification of Brahmin to become a Brahmin. If a person born to a non-Brahmin who acquires Self- knowledge or Brahma Gnana or Atma Gnana possesses he/she should be immediately accepted as a Brahmin.”
Anyone can become Brahmin by realizing the ultimate truth of Brahman. A Gnani is a Brahmin because he has realized the ultimate truth or Brahman. The one who knows Brahman knows his body and his experience of the world are merely an illusion and also he knows his body and his experience of the world are also as Atman (consciousness), which is Brahman.
Thus, the priestcraft which is crafted on the body-based theories will lead one to hallucinated moksha. But real moksha or freedom is possible only through Self-knowledge or Brahma Gnana or Atma Gnana.
If you are seeking truth then you should follow the Atmic path not the path of the Advaitic orthodoxy. Drop all the accumulated orthodox baggage. The orthodoxy is meant for the ignorant populace. Perfect understanding of ‘what is what’ leads to Self-awareness.
Sage Sankara, in Bhaja Govindam, says: ~ “(JnanaViheena Sarva Mathena Bajathi na Muktim janma Shatena)” - one without knowledge does not obtain liberation even in a hundred births, no matter which religious faith he follows.
Thus, it proves that religion is not the means to Self-knowledge or Brahma Gnana or Atma Gnana. :~Santthosh Kumaar
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