A status in FB today
What is Hinduism?
• One of the oldest religions of humanity
• The religion of the Indian People
• Gave birth to Buddhism, Jainism and Sikhism
• Tolerance and Diversity “Truth is one, paths are many”
• Many deities but a single impersonal reality
• A philosophy and a way of life – focussed both on this world and beyond.
V V S Sarma
I do not agree with any of the statements above. They are naïve, simplistic and are responsible for all the problems Hinduism and Hindus are facing in today’s world.
Discussion
1. What are the other oldest religions in the world which have any measurable following today? It is the only oldest living religion and its name is not Hinduism. A correct description is Sanatana Dharma and it is a recent name for several religions, viewpoints, philosophies (darsanas) lumped together with a single name – Saiva, Vaishnava, Sakteya, Ganapatya, Kaumara, Saura – being the shanmatas, at least six astika and six nastika darsanas, which are different; many existing today also and evolving in the framework even today.
2. Even in a lumped form, it is only one of the religions of the many inhabiting Republic of India, Pakistan, Nepal, Bangladesh, Bali in Indonesia, Sri Lanka, and the rest of the world.
3. A religion does not give birth to other religions. Just as Abrahamic religions Judaism, Christianity of very many churches, and Islam of its own divisions are religions with the same roots, Buddhism, Jainism and Sikhism or for that matter the more recent Brahmo-samaj, ISKCON, are various viewpoints or ways of life evolved from Sanatana dharma and some of them may not even consider themselves as Hindus. Some similarity to Protestantism may be relevant. If Buddhism rejects pramana of Veda it is that much farther from the source. Same is true of Marxists with Hindu names. It is Western Historians and the English rulers who widened these gaps as part of their divide and rule policy. (Division of Bengal in 1905 and 1947)
4. Tolerance and diversity – Tolerance is not accepted by major Indian religions like Christianity. Christian Evangelism is intolerance promoted by hundreds or thousands of missionaries and church hierarchy. It is peaceful coexistence – like LOC in Kashmir – that is the goal. Hindus when they say - “Truth is one, paths are many”- They say in blissful ignorance of other paths. This is bad translation of “Ekam sat vipraa bahudhaa vadanti.” What is the truth of each one of the many religions and where does each path lead to? Who are the wise men who say this about this? In fact, I have seen bill boards proclaiming “I am the only truth and the only path” in this city.
5. Many deities but one reality. … The worship is that of many deities with name and form – saguna form – the realization of nirguna may not be attainable in one life time. Reality and Truth are different notions. God is not more logical than gods, because it is the divinity that exists. The reality should be understood at the back of mind. Each deity has its own role in worship.
6. Hinduism is principally materialistic. Belief in God helps you to face samsara with courage and strength. Dharma, Artha, Kama are for happy living in this world. Yajna is for the happiness of svarga and good rebirth in the next life. The religion is mostly for this. Moksha is to be a strong desire that is to be cultivated at some point in the gati. The illusionary nature of the world should naturally be felt and experienced as one goes along. The concept of Guru is unique to Hinduism in this Kali Yuga. Siva, Krishna, Subrahmanya, Maitreya, Dattatreya, several maharshis etc.
The need today for Hindu society is to understand that there is need for recognition of a bond between all of us, understand the religion more correctly, and look at the social and political issues of Hindus collectively. Hindus have to realize that religion is more important than caste.
What is Hinduism?
• One of the oldest religions of humanity
• The religion of the Indian People
• Gave birth to Buddhism, Jainism and Sikhism
• Tolerance and Diversity “Truth is one, paths are many”
• Many deities but a single impersonal reality
• A philosophy and a way of life – focussed both on this world and beyond.
V V S Sarma
I do not agree with any of the statements above. They are naïve, simplistic and are responsible for all the problems Hinduism and Hindus are facing in today’s world.
Discussion
1. What are the other oldest religions in the world which have any measurable following today? It is the only oldest living religion and its name is not Hinduism. A correct description is Sanatana Dharma and it is a recent name for several religions, viewpoints, philosophies (darsanas) lumped together with a single name – Saiva, Vaishnava, Sakteya, Ganapatya, Kaumara, Saura – being the shanmatas, at least six astika and six nastika darsanas, which are different; many existing today also and evolving in the framework even today.
2. Even in a lumped form, it is only one of the religions of the many inhabiting Republic of India, Pakistan, Nepal, Bangladesh, Bali in Indonesia, Sri Lanka, and the rest of the world.
3. A religion does not give birth to other religions. Just as Abrahamic religions Judaism, Christianity of very many churches, and Islam of its own divisions are religions with the same roots, Buddhism, Jainism and Sikhism or for that matter the more recent Brahmo-samaj, ISKCON, are various viewpoints or ways of life evolved from Sanatana dharma and some of them may not even consider themselves as Hindus. Some similarity to Protestantism may be relevant. If Buddhism rejects pramana of Veda it is that much farther from the source. Same is true of Marxists with Hindu names. It is Western Historians and the English rulers who widened these gaps as part of their divide and rule policy. (Division of Bengal in 1905 and 1947)
4. Tolerance and diversity – Tolerance is not accepted by major Indian religions like Christianity. Christian Evangelism is intolerance promoted by hundreds or thousands of missionaries and church hierarchy. It is peaceful coexistence – like LOC in Kashmir – that is the goal. Hindus when they say - “Truth is one, paths are many”- They say in blissful ignorance of other paths. This is bad translation of “Ekam sat vipraa bahudhaa vadanti.” What is the truth of each one of the many religions and where does each path lead to? Who are the wise men who say this about this? In fact, I have seen bill boards proclaiming “I am the only truth and the only path” in this city.
5. Many deities but one reality. … The worship is that of many deities with name and form – saguna form – the realization of nirguna may not be attainable in one life time. Reality and Truth are different notions. God is not more logical than gods, because it is the divinity that exists. The reality should be understood at the back of mind. Each deity has its own role in worship.
6. Hinduism is principally materialistic. Belief in God helps you to face samsara with courage and strength. Dharma, Artha, Kama are for happy living in this world. Yajna is for the happiness of svarga and good rebirth in the next life. The religion is mostly for this. Moksha is to be a strong desire that is to be cultivated at some point in the gati. The illusionary nature of the world should naturally be felt and experienced as one goes along. The concept of Guru is unique to Hinduism in this Kali Yuga. Siva, Krishna, Subrahmanya, Maitreya, Dattatreya, several maharshis etc.
The need today for Hindu society is to understand that there is need for recognition of a bond between all of us, understand the religion more correctly, and look at the social and political issues of Hindus collectively. Hindus have to realize that religion is more important than caste.
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