Is comparing capitalism or communism with varnashrama like comparing apples and oranges?

 

 
Answer Podcast

Is Comparing Capitalism or Communism with Varnashrama Like Comparing Apples and Oranges?

Question: If Varnashrama is classically about engaging people according to their natural propensities, what benefit does it offer in today’s world? Comparing it with capitalism or communism seems like comparing apples and oranges—since capitalism and communism are judged materially, while varnashrama is spiritual. Isn’t the real question whether varnashrama can do better at addressing both material and spiritual concerns? Otherwise, it may come across like telling a starving person, “I can’t give you food, but I can show you God.” If varnashrama fails materially, won’t people ignore its spiritual value?

Answer: Yes, that’s a valid concern. If varnashrama doesn’t offer material relevance, it may lose spiritual credibility in people’s eyes. So let’s unpack this.

At a material level, people are different — not just in terms of superficial traits, but also in deep-seated psychophysical natures and talents. Everyone needs to be engaged in a way that is personally fulfilling and socially productive.

Varnashrama is, first and foremost, a socio-economic or socio-occupational system — it is not inherently spiritual. In fact, our acharyas and the scriptures clearly state that varnashrama is of no real value unless it is aimed at pleasing the Lord. One may execute one’s varnashrama duties perfectly, but if that does not lead to attraction for Lord Hari, it is ultimately of little use. This highlights that spirituality is not intrinsic to varnashrama — it must be intentionally infused into it.

Varnashrama vs Capitalism and Communism

• Communism assumes that all people are equal and should have equal outcomes.
• Capitalism acknowledges that people are different and allows the industrious or resourceful to rise to the top — though this often leads to exploitation of those who don’t have the same resources or opportunities.

But capitalism isn’t just about money. “Capital” can mean financial wealth, yes, but also intelligence, creativity, determination, and skill. Essentially, capitalism recognizes human diversity, but it doesn’t provide different definitions of success. It celebrates a single ideal of success — usually wealth or power — and those who don’t fit that mold often feel left behind.

This is where varnashrama offers a powerful corrective. It doesn’t impose one metric of success for all. Instead, it provides four broad categories of natural human proclivities, each with its own dignified path and definition of success:

• Brahmanas succeed through learning, contemplation, and sharing wisdom.
• Kshatriyas succeed through protection, leadership, and governance.
• Vaishyas succeed through resource management, trade, and agriculture.
• Shudras succeed by offering service, functionality, and artistry.

Each path has its own culture that supports that lifestyle. For example, if brahmanas are respected for their scholarship and moral integrity, they don’t feel compelled to chase after the wealth of vaishyas or the power of kshatriyas. But if society only respects wealth, even brahmanas will try to earn more money just to feel “successful,” losing sight of their original role.

Similarly, if someone has a vaishya mentality and is forced to compete in intellectual fields valued by brahmanas (like being judged solely by IQ), they may feel like failures, even though they could excel in managing resources and creating wealth.

Thus, varnashrama gives different people different, yet dignified, standards of success, allowing for a more harmonious and satisfying society. And all this happens at the material level — even before bringing in any spiritual dimension.

Why the Comparison Is Meaningful

In today’s world:

• Communism often crushes individuality in its attempt to enforce material equality.
• Capitalism can devalue those who don’t shine according to its narrow success criteria.
• Varnashrama, in contrast, recognizes both spiritual equality and material diversity.

It acknowledges that:

• Spiritually, all souls are equal.
• Materially, people are different.
• And that society should be structured in a way that allows each person to flourish according to their nature.

Whether and how varnashrama should be implemented in modern society is a larger question. However, the underlying principle — engaging people according to their nature — is timeless and can offer immense value today.

Addressing the Spiritual Comparison

Your concern is important: “Are we just offering God to those who need bread?” But varnashrama doesn’t ignore material needs — it seeks to meet them through alignment with one’s natural talents. Only after people are materially stable and engaged can their spiritual potential be nurtured.

The purpose of bringing spirituality into the discussion wasn’t to sideline material well-being. Rather, it was to point out that real equality can only exist at the spiritual level. Materially, people are different — and that’s okay. What’s important is that no one be dehumanized or undervalued for those differences.

Conclusion

• Capitalism’s flaw: Overemphasis on competition and narrow definitions of success, which can lead to exploitation and devaluation of the less “productive.”
• Communism’s flaw: Forcing material equality, which suppresses creativity and individuality.
• Varnashrama’s strength: Offering different, dignified paths of success according to one’s nature, while recognizing spiritual equality.

In that sense, comparing varnashrama with capitalism or communism is not like comparing apples and oranges. All three are socio-economic systems, but varnashrama offers a more human and holistic approach — materially inclusive and spiritually elevated.