I have been reading Manusmriti, and it leaves me with conflicting feelings. There are a few verses in it, which are essentially to do with who is included in the brahman class. One has to perform certain austerities, and is then included. Anyone who does not, is excluded. But what is the real function of a brahman? Why would people want to be included in this class? A promise of "insurpassable bliss". Freedom from care and worry. There is no mention of kindness, or love, or service to people in what I have read so far. It is like a set of rules, some formula, which has been passed n for generations. The rules of manu is the organization of religion and society, a set of formulae given to society to make them obey something greater than themselves without question. By subjugating their desire, they overcome their guilt. According to this text, satisfying any desire creates guilt, one feels really bad about oneself, and then one practises the rule of something bigger, therefore punishing oneself and not allowing desire to be fulfilled. Contrast this with a tribal and simple religion, where love is the primary driving force. The antithesis of love in this world, may actually not be hate, but guilt.