Religious Studies in Hinduism
How the world should be treated and why
from a Hindu perspective
One of the most fundamental beliefs of Hinduism is that everything is
a part of the Universal Spirit called Brahman, including humans.
Therefore, humans, animals, plants and any other life form should be
treated equally with the same amount of sacredness.
The Rig Veda says:
Purusha (Brahman) is the whole universe, that which was and which
shall be. Such is his greatness...One quarter of all beings is one
quarter of him. The other three quarters are immortal in heaven thence
in all directions he spreads into living beings and inanimate matter.
There are a few basic messages this particular passage is saying:
Every single bit of the all living things are a part of Brahman
All things of the past, present and future are Brahman's
Three quarters of everything are immortal in heaven
Brahman is in all beings, even inanimate matter
We know that all things of the past, present and future are Brahman's
and that we are a part of it, therefore we should preserve the Earth
for it to preserve us. We need it as much as it needs us to take care
of it this is why we need to take care of it so that it will be there
in the future. The Assisi declaration on behalf of Hindus states that
humans are not different from nature, as we all have the same
spiritual power i.e. we are all a part of Brahman. It then goes on to
say that even though humans are at the top of the evolutionary pyramid
we were not put on the Earth to be dominant over lesser beings, but
instead to be a part of nature and use our gift of the power to reason
to take care of the Earth.
The law of Ahimsa, which says that we should not be violent, is also
mentioned; this law is frequently disobeyed, as harming the
environment by things such as cutting down trees is violent.
In the chapter on Hinduism in Philip Novak’s book The World’s Wisdom the section titled “The Transmigration of the Soul” describes the Hindu concept of reincarnation, the wheel of life, and ultimately becoming one with god. The lines in this passage very concisely describe the Hindu concepts of Brahman, Atman, Samsara, Karma, Maya and Moksha (Molloy). I believe that these concepts are at the core of all of the expressions of the Hindu religion; which makes understanding this paragraph the key to having a basic understanding of the Hindu religion.
The purpose of life is necessary to face up the nature of life and death, which can not be controlled by any forces over nature and reality. The appearance of human beings break the character of animal’s existence - the harmonious with the nature. Only when humanity learn to coexist in harmony with nature and animals, they can realize the deepest significance of mankind’s existence. Moreover, Science and religion are pursuing of truth, which is also promoting life happiness for humanity. The truth of science is researching material. The truth that religion is researching spiritual. Science is knowledge; religion is a belief. Life needs knowledge to enhance the life level. Faith is the same demand for people; which can make people get spiritual peace happiness.
The Question of Origin: Hinduism believes everything has been in existence and is a part of numerous gods. In (Foundation of Indian Psychology Vol.2 Pg.116) the text Hinduism is a treasury of spiritual laws discovered by different people in different times of life. Over the centuries the Hindus beliefs are not literally interpreted by the scriptures and there ethics are derived from them.
...ade to ensure the successful future in cooperating with mother nature, to continue tor provide for everyone, as she has graciously done for many past generations.
There are many different areas of Hinduism covered in the book The Hindu Religious Tradition. The first important area discussed is about Aryans and early Indian culture. The Indus civilizations, cities, art, and culture are explained. Also discussed is the coming of the Aryans, the Gods of the early Aryans, and Aryan fire sacrifice.
Spirit is the embodiment of the spirit within ourselves, and it is essential to our very existence and human beings. We can describe, or represent it in any way, but it will always be Spirit that dwells within humans, and it what has made humans to great.
Hinduism is easily the oldest major world religion that is still in use today. It has not only survived countless attacks but has also thrived and has changed little to none in the last 2500-3000 years. "The Aryans are said to have entered India through the fabled Khyber Pass, around 1500 BC. They intermingled with the local populace, and assimilated themselves into the social framework. The Aryans did not have a script, but they developed a rich tradition. They composed the hymns of the four vedas, the great philosophic poems that are at the heart of Hindu thought" (The Aryans and the Vedic Age, 2004, par. 2).
The Hindu religious tradition is a tradition unlike any other. As a conglomeration of varying beliefs and practices, Hinduism defies the western ideology of a compact religion, and through its historical significance has incorporated itself into all aspects of Hindu society. This assumed spirituality within Hindu culture serves as a platform for the ideas of dharma and moksa to be intertwined not only within Hindu social and religious practices, but in the very identity of Hinduism as well (Heehs 19). There is an inherent tension between dharma and moksa, but rather than opposing each other, they make the other stronger, as one must live a satisfactory lifestyle within each to live a complete life through the eyes of Hinduism.
...h as food, drink, shelter, and clothing, which cannot be given up due to our nature.
Hinduism is a very complicated religion from an outsiders prospective. When I think about it I never have really given any thought to what Hinduism is, so what is this religion, what do they believe in, what are the social and cultural influences and what is the desire for liberation from earthly existence?
Hinduism is the world’s third largest religion and was originated in the Indian subcontinent. Is rare that a big religion like Hinduism don’t have a single founder, religious organization, specific theological system and don’t even a system of morality, but it is a religion that has evolved over thousands of years. Hinduism has a diverse body of cultural and philosophical practices. Hinduism consists of belief and tradition. The most recognized belief and traditions of the Hinduism are Karma, Dharma, Samsara and Moshka. Hindu people don’t believe in violence, but they do believe in prayers, honesty, truth, austerity, celibacy and penance. The Hindu scriptures are collectively referred to as the Shashtras. The Hindu scriptures were initially passed on orally from generation to generation until finally ancient scholars wrote them down; mainly in the Sanskrit language that was the prevailing language of the time. Some of the Hindu scriptures are the Shruti and Smritis. The Shruti primarily refers to the Vedas which represent eternal truths revealed to ancient sages but some other Hindu individuals associated the Vedas with a God or a powerful person. The Smritis are all of the other text different than the Shruti. The most know of the Smritis are the Mahabharata and the Ramayana. Although the Hindus worship a large pantheon of Gods and Goddesses, they believe in the one Supreme Power that manifests itself in various forms.
The definition of religion changes all throughout the world. A neighbor, a coworker, a traveler, a student studying abroad would provide all sorts of different views and opinions on what religion means to them. It can be difficult at times to relate to other religions and provide factual information that has no bias and fully demonstrates the religion but it is important to find a common ground between factual and bias to create a better perception of what religion has to offer others. When narrowing in on three certain religions, Judaism, Christianity and Islam, there are similarities in beliefs or doctrines but they may symbolize for completely different things.
While most traditional religions are easy to define and comprehend, Hinduism is not. It cannot be spoken about as one single entity but rather a label for many different traditions within itself that originated in India. It is the world’s third largest religion with a following of a billion people. Hinduism, at its most basic definition, is the belief in either several gods or goddess, or the belief in one God with many faces. It is a way of life that relies heavily on the ideas of cause and effect. They believe in reincarnation with a desire to be liberated from the cycle of birth and death. They believe it is the key to a lifetime of happiness, prosperity and love. While it is considered to be the oldest
us to nurture life, to love life, and to live it. Let's do our best.
The sociological approach looks at religious belief and practice in relation to the society. Sociologists are interested in two themes, the centrality of religion in society and the diversity of forms it inhabits (Hamilton 1995/2001:1). It regards religion as a social fact subject to empirical observation, which produces empirical evidence (Dillon 2003:7). The sociology of religion is a product of the enlightenment, from which it inherited a tendency to dismiss religion as incompatible with rationality (Dillon 2003:6). This dismissal has had significant impact on the attitude towards religion and it is the basis for the most influential paradigm in the history of the field; secularisation. The secularisation theory claims that religion is or will be on the decrease in society. So profound was its impact that modern sociology often aims to account for the continued presence of religion in society and has generally held a rather negative view of religion as being an unworthy subject of study(Davies 2007:2).