Hinduism

The Hindu Goddess Radha Rani

This section will include my writings about Hinduism, Yoga, and world religions. For now I am starting with a brief survey of basic Hindu beliefs. Later I will include more about Hindu Deities, rites of passage, festivals, and ritual worship of Deity.

Om Namah Sivaya, Radha

Basic Hindu Beliefs

Hinduism is a term used by Westerners describe the religious, cultural, social, political and philosophical beliefs which make up the totality of the Hindu way of life. It is also a term of geographical origin, which was used to describe anyone living in India that followed a spiritual system other than Christianity, Judaism, or Islam. The correct term for this spiritual path is Eternal Sacred Duty or Sanatana Dharma. Hindus believe in reincarnation, reverence for nature, the law of karma, and avoidance of harm and injury to all beings (ahimsa). They also believe that divine beings, called Devas, exist in unseen worlds and that temple worship, rituals, and meditation can develop harmony, communication, and interaction with these beings.

Hinduism differs from many of the mainstream religions as it has no historical founder, no ecclesiastical hierarchy, and no uniform doctrine, belief, or practice. The central defining elements of the Hindu tradition can be listed as the following:

1) Reverence for the Vedas

The Vedas are the oldest texts of Hinduism and provide the foundation for belief and ritual practice. The Vedas are divinely inspired texts that were seen or perceived by realized seers know as rishis.

In addition to tracing their roots to the Vedas, many Hindus are learning that their spiritual system dates back further than the Vedas to the Indus/Sarasvati River Valley culture. (For more information on the this geographic area and culture please visit the links about History/Indus-Sarasvati Civilization listed under Links: Yoga, Sanatana Dharma, and Indian Culture and Indus/Sarasvati Culture.

2) Following Dharma

The word dharma does not exactly translate into English. The best rendering of the term I have seen is “sacred duty”. One dharma is context sensitive. That is, dharma depends upon age, social position, sex, etc. The dharma or sacred duty of a married man or women with children will be different from that an unmarried religious student such as a yogi. Dharma includes religious duty, laws, ethics, and proper moral behavior.

The most commonly used term for Hinduism is Sanatana Dharma which means Eternal Sacred Duty. Others may use terms such as Satya (True) Dharma or Arya (Noble)Dharma. Dharma is also related to the Sanskrit word “rta” from which we get the English words “rite” and “right”. Rta refers to the cosmic and moral order of the universe. following one’s dharma hold up and supports the rta or cosmic order.

3) Belief in the law of Karma, Samsara, and Moksha

Karma is a moral law of cause and effect. Good thoughts, actions, and any positive energies will return to the doer. Negative thought, actions, and energies also return to their original source as well. This is similar to the Wiccan rule of three, which states that all energies sent out return threefold to the doer. (Incidentally, I have read texts and spoken with Hindu teachers who also believe that karma returns threefold as well.)

Samsara refers to the cycle of rebirth. Hindu believe that the soul is immortal and does not perish with body. At the time of death for the physical body the soul continues on. The soul will inhabit a new body according to the accumulated karmas. However, Hindus do not believe that the goal of existence is to endlessly continue changing bodies. The ultimate goal is to keep growing and evolving spiritually to an advanced state where a body is not longer necessary. Eventually the soul becomes one with Deity or Brahman. This is know as moska or liberation.

4) Purushartha (Four Goals of Life) and the Triple Debt

The four goals of Hindu life include dharma (sacred duty), artha (wealth and power), kama (pleasure, including sensual pleasure), and moksha. Hindus believe that a debt is owed to sages and rishis, their ancestors, and to the Gods. We repay our debt to the rishis and sages (who recorded the Vedas and developed the Yoga system) by studying and passing on these teaching to our children and students. We repay our debt to our ancestors by having children and performing ritual for their benefit and peace. We repay our debt to Deities by performing rituals to them and passing on our tradition.

5) Belief in One, but Many Gods

The supreme being is called Brahman by the Hindu tradition. Brahman includes and encompasses all things. Brahman is infinite. Brahman includes the entire cosmos and the realms beyond it’s reach. Brahman is the one, the whole, the existence.

Hindus believe that forms arise out of Brahman. Included in Brahman are all of the Hindu Gods and Goddesses and according to many Hindus, the dieties/godforms of other cultures as well since these are equally valid as part of the one.

Hindu Sacred Writings and Scriptures

Hindu and Pagan

Hindu Lunar Calendar

Here in an excerpt from one of my current favorite books, the The Complete Idiots’ Guide to the World’s Religions (Brandon Topopov and Father Luke Buckles, O.P.):

“A Short and Inconclusive Discussion on Topics Related to the Divine

Newcomer: So, which is it? One God, Brahman, or a whole bunch of gods?

Hindu: Absolutely. Or, if you prefer, not so absolutely.

Newcomer: This is a pretty important issue. Doesn’t Hinduism address it directly somewhere?

Hindu: Of course.

Newcomer: And how is it resolved?

Hindu: You know, it’s funny. Someone came in here just a millennium or so ago asking basically the same question. “How many gods are there?” he asked.

Newcomer: What was the answer?

Hindu: “How many do you want?”

Newcomer: Suppose I were to tell you that still sounds like fence-straddling?

Hindu: Suppose I were to ask you where human beings get off trying to tell the Brahman the Eternal, the Ultimate, what forms are off-limits?

Newcomer: But it has to be one way or the other, doesn’t it?

Hindu: If everyone understands the process of labeling the Divine to be the thing that’s really limited, what difference does it make what forms are acknowledged?

Newcomer: I’m getting confused. What do the Vedas have to say about this?

Hindu: “This Self, what can you say of it but ‘no, no?”

Newcomer “No, no?”

Hindu: No real description of Brahman is possible; but direct experience, through whatever method, discipline, or form of devotion, is.

Newcomer: So there’s one God.

Hindu: From a certain point of view.

Newcomer: And there are lots of Gods.

Hindu: From a certain point of view.

Newcomer: I’m still felling just the tiniest bit woozy...

Hindu: Don’t worry. That doesn’t last long. Keep practicing.”