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by Jayaram V
"After
a study of some forty years and more of the
great religions of the world, I find none so
perfect, none so scientific, none so
philosophical and none so spiritual than the
great religion known by the name of
Hinduism."-Annie
Wood Besant
"That which we call the Hindu religion is
really the eternal religion because it
embraces all others." -
Sri Aurobindo
Is Hinduism a religion or group of religions? It is very difficult to
answer this question because Hinduism is a very ancient religious
tradition that ordinarily do not fit into the known definitions of an
organized religion such as Christianity, or Buddhism or Islam. It
evolved over a period of time into a complex set of religious traditions
constituting what we today know as Hinduism. The problem is compounded
by the fact that some of these traditions contradict each other so much
that it looks as if they belong to different religious traditions.
Hindus manage to accept these contradictions with nonchalance as it is
ingrained in their thought process that all these contradictions are
also part of God's grand play or leela and they exist because God in his
eternal wisdom has granted free will and freedom to each individual to
purse truth in the manner that suits his or her personality.
While it is difficult to arrive at a commonly acceptable definition
of Hinduism, we can identify certain beliefs and practices, which sets
it apart from the rest. In the following paragraphs we have identified
some of these for the benefit of those who want to understand what
Hinduism is all about.
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.
Truly
speaking every one in this world who is a seeker of truth and
interested in knowing truth in an objective and detached manner is a Hindu, whether he believes
in God or not, whether he is a Hindu or a Buddhist or belongs to
some
other faith. A Hindu is an individual soul who has been
separated from God, is under illusion and has been in the
process of rejoining 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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