By Jayaram V
1. According to Hinduism God is One, but also Many. The One
becomes
many and the many have to begin their journey finally towards
the One as a process of creation.
2. Hinduism believes that man is divine in nature. The basic
purpose of a human being is to realize this divine nature in
him.
3. Hinduism firmly declares that the ego or ahamkar is the
root cause of all suffering. If an individual has to escape
from suffering he has to cease to be his egoistic self and
identify himself with his limitless inner self.
4. Hinduism believes unquestionably that the world is an
illusion or maya. Attachment with it is the cause of birth and
death. When a person overcomes this illusion through detachment
and withdrawal of senses he will become qualified for
self-realization.
5. The Hindus believe in reincarnation or rebirth, according
to which each individual lives many lives because of his
ignorance and the play of maya before he attains liberation.
6. Hinduism believes that all beings have souls, are equally
important in the scheme of creation and that they all evolve
continuously till they achieve final freedom. Man is but one
stage in this evolution of life and in the soul's upward
journey towards such liberation. This is the reason why many
Hindus choose to remain as vegetarians throughout their lives.
7. Hinduism believes in the concept of incarnation of God.
According to this concept God is an active and dynamic
principle, who sometimes descends into the earth's
consciousness directly and assumes human form to protect the
weak and restore world Order.
8. Hinduism has given to the world the concept of karma,
according to which all actions produce positive or negative
reactions and effect our lives. There is however no scope here
for fatalism. Actions done as an offering to God do not effect
us. Sacrifice through surrendering to God is therefore the
basis of salvation. Hinduism offers the best way to live a life
devoid of anxieties and worries. It says, "Live your normal
life, offering all your actions and possessions mentally to God
in the spirit of sacrifice without bothering about the results
of your actions."
9. Hinduism gives immense freedom to each individual to
choose whatever path he or she wants to choose. It does not
believe in super imposition of faith from outside, nor changing
of ones faith to another because it is more attractive. Each
has to pursue the path of God according to his or her inner
nature and evolution. Hinduism says, "Follow your own self,
live according to your own dharma and discover you own truth
that is in harmony with yourself."
10. Finally Hinduism does not believe in converting people
from one faith to faith in an organized way. If an individual
want to change his religion that is his inner choice. But no
one should force him or tempt him to change. Hinduism strictly
prohibits teaching of the scriptures to people who are not
inclined to understand them or follow them. There are many ways
in which one can approach God. All paths in the end lead to Him
only.
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Truly speaking every one in this world is a Hindu, whether
he believes in God or not, whether he is a Hindu or a
Buddhist or of some other faith. A Hindu is an individual
soul who has been separated from God, is under illusion
and has to rejoin God some day. No one need force him to
become a Hindu in the physical sense, because one day, in
some birth, he will become aware of what he is or who he
is. What he does in between is all part of a Divine Play. |
Suggested Further Reading
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