Expert: Alex Wilding - 12/29/2009

Question
Dear Alex,

I am writing from Melbourne, it's interesting to hear you are in Australia.  In January I have booked to attend the Buddhist Summer School organised by Traleg Rinpoche. I went on my first retreat in 1999 and have been 'dabbling' in practice in Buddhism through evam institute since that time.  

I appreciated your recent answer to a question on guru yoga, as I read in a book on relating to spiritual teachers that sometimes it takes ten years before making an official commitment to a teacher, so that's also my experience.

I just have one question for you at this time - I recall Traleg Rinpoche saying once in a dharma talk the the original Brahmans in India were of Caucasian descent - do you know whether this is true -  I need my memory jogged on this one, I'm interested if this is accurate how the caucasions got to their community in India.

Enjoy Australia and have a safe new year.

Kind regards,

Michael T.  

Answer
Hi Michael,
I know a few people likely to be at that retreat! Look out for Annabel Fraser and Gary Gadsby.
I would not want to touch that question with a bargepole. There are those (A) who make that claim, particularly on the grounds that the people of the far south are much darker, where the people of the Gangetic plain, prime Brahmin territory, are lighter.
There are those (B) who dispute it, claiming that genetic evidence shows these peoples to be very close, and that the lighter north-indians are not genetically close to Caucasians in spite of appearances.
There are those (C) who say that the genetic evidence is very much weaker than the "B" people claim. C-people say that B-people are politically motivated - there is a movement in India that promotes the idea that Indian culture is pure, entirely Indian, original and ancient. B-people may claim that C-people are politically motivated and under the sway of European power.
I think TR's claim was widely accepted, probably still is, but it has been challenged. Whether the challenge is well-founded or mere politically motivated tricksery is not for me to say.
Good luck at the retreat!
Alex W