3. Hinduism (1)

Hinduism is shorthand for the philosophy, the religious beliefs and practices, and the way of life of many of the people in India . For Hindus in India , Hinduism is an inseparable part of their existence, a complete approach to life that involves social class, earning a living, family, politics, diet, etc., in addition to the items Westerners view as religious.

The origin of Hinduism is generally connected to the Indus River. Others suggest the term was invented later by Europeans as a common term to capture the complex diversity of religions found among the people of the Indian sub-continent. Hindus themselves prefer the term Sanatana Dharma or Hindu Dharma, which translates into “everlasting law” or “eternal teaching.” This indicates the eternal and revelatory nature of Hindu beliefs.[1]

Background

With an estimated 950 million followers and perhaps more, it is the world’s third largest religion after Christianity and Islam. It also contends with Judaism for the oldest surviving religion, even though it has no known founder. The vast majority of its adherents (900 million or more) live in India where more than 80% of the population is Hindu. Other countries with large Hindu populations include Nepal , Bangladesh , Indonesia , Malaysia , Sri Lanka , and Pakistan .  There thought to be more than one million Hindus in the USA .[2]

Not traditionally missionary, it has spread through the world as Hindus have traveled and immigrated. With expanding export of skilled labor from India to Western countries, Hinduism is a growing phenomenon.

The classical theory of the origins of Hinduism traces the religion’s roots back as far as 3000 BC to an ancient Indus valley civilization. Its development was influenced by the many invasions of this valley. The earliest documented beliefs and practices of the 1500-500 BC era are often called the Vedic religion. The oldest surviving textual document of Hinduism is the Rigveda, thought to have originated between 1700–1100 BC, based on linguistic and philological evidence.

During the second half of the Middle Ages, successive waves of Muslim armies invaded and established control over North India . Hinduism declined rapidly, and many Hindus converted to Islam. Some Muslim rulers destroyed Hindu temples and otherwise persecuted non-Muslims, while others were more tolerant.

Today various concepts of Hinduism have become integrated into Western culture. Examples are Yoga and Transcendental Meditation. Alternative spiritualities and New Age lifestyles have also incorporated many aspects of Hindu practices.

Belief About God

Most Hindus believe in a One Supreme Cosmic Spirit called Brahman that may be worshiped in many forms, represented by individual deities such as Vishnu, Shiva. and Shakti. Hinduism centers upon a variety of practices meant to help one experience Brahman who is everywhere and in everything, and to realize the true nature of the self.

This makes Hinduism a pantheistic religion (as “the divine” is considered to reside in ourselves and the world around us).  At the same time it is also monotheistic (as there is one supreme being, Brahman) and polytheistic (as Brahman can be represented by multiple deities.  Actually there are as many gods as the Hindu would like.

Is Brahman like God? According to the monotheistic and pantheistic theologies of Hinduism, Brahman is, in the highest sense, beyond form, infinite, and eternal. He is changeless and is the very source of consciousness. Brahman is beyond time, space, and causation, and yet he permeates everything and every being. Brahman is beyond gender. Hindu writings declare Brahman to be beyond description, understood only through direct spiritual experience.

The goal of Hinduism is to somehow “wake up” and realize one's own connection to the divine reality called Brahman.  Thus, despite Hinduism's belief in the abstract principle of Brahman, most Hindus worship Brahman on a day-to-day basis in one of Brahman's less abstract personal forms, such as Vishnu, Shiva, or Shakti. Some Hindus worship these personal forms of Brahman for a practical reason: it is easier to cultivate genuine devotion to a personal being than to an abstract principle. Other Hindus consider the personal forms in themselves to be the highest form of truth, and worship Brahman as an infinite and yet personal being. It should be noted that superstition plays a major role in the life of a Hindu.

 Read on about: Buddhism