Rules of Hinduism

[Guest guest]

Following recd from Sukhbeer who is doing an exhibition on World religions

in Birmingham England.

 

Can the list help?

What are the main commandments of Hinduism?

 

Sukhbeer Bhopal <Sukh

27 July 1999 23:33

 

Thankyou for your offer of help. What we need is a summary of the main

commandments or rules of Hinduism. This will part of an exhibition which

would have the commandments of the Worlds great religions presented

together. I was not able to do this myself.......

 

Sukhbeer Bhopal <Sukh

 

 

You may reply directly or via the list.

[Guest guest]

There is only one commandment in Hinduism and that contains all other

rules within: -

 

"Satyameva Jayathu." - Truth is the ultimate path of Success!

 

Mahatma Gandhi gave seven golden thumb rules:

 

No Wealth Without Work

No Pleasure Without Conscience

No Knowledge Without Character

No Commerce Without Morality

No Science Without Humanity

No Worship Without Sacrifice

No Politics Without Principle

 

Bhagavad Gita defines rules that are direct and subtle: The following

verse contains one of the fundamental rules:

 

karmaNi eva adhikaaraste maa phaleshu gadaachana

maa karma phala hetuH bhuH maa sanghaH astu akarmaNi

(Gita, Chapter 2:47)

 

Translation: We should act not because the actions will produce such

and such result or avoid the activity because we think the results

produced may not be of our interest. Actions should proceed from the

sense of duty. One has to do his duty no matter what the consequences

are.

 

Let me present this quotation from Gandhiji describing the Gita Ideal:

"I am a devotee of the Gita and a firm believer in the inexorable law of

karma. Even the least little tripping or stumbling is not without its

cause and I have wondered why one who has tried to follow the Gita in

thought, word and deed should have any ailment. The doctors have

assured me that this trouble of high blood- pressure is entirely the

result of mental strain and worry. If that is true, it is likely that I

have been unnecessarily worrying myself, unnecessarily fretting and

secretly harboring passions like anger, lust, etc. The fact that any

event or incident should disturb my serious efforts, means not that the

Gita Ideal is defective but that my devotion to its defective. The Gita

Ideal is true for all time, my understanding of it and observance of it

is full of flaws." Harijan, 29 February 1936. ("What is Hinduism?"

Mahatma Gandhi, National Book Trust of India, page, 95).

 

The Vedantic notion of becoming Brahman implies that the actions become

spontaneous. A spontaneous action has no cause or effect. A good example

for a spontaneous action is the blooming of flowers. The flower plant

blooms whether we appreciate or criticize. Such actions essentially

become inaction and generate total peace and tranquility. Are we capable

for such spontaneous actions? The answer is yes! If a child falls

accidentally in a swimming pool then someone jumps immediately to save

the child. At times, people who do not swim will also jump onto the

pool to save the child. This is human instinct (spontaneous human

dharma) or temporary realization of the True Human Nature. Becoming

Brahman is the permanent realization of the True Human Nature. When we

start conducting all our actions spontaneously with the yagna spirit,

we just do the action without looking for alternatives! The essence of

the message of Karma Yoga is: "Actions are inevitable and excuses are

unforgivable."

 

Honestly, Hinduism doesn't lay out rules for human behavior and the

fundamental stress of Hinduism is human freedom (from bondage). Hindus

can define their own Swadharma or Mamadharma (individually defined

ethical behavior). However, after the dharma being defined, the duty of

every Hindu is to strictly follow the Dharma with discipline and

dedication. Hindus also believe that Vedas represent the TRUTH and

Vedic knowledge becomes the path of salvation.

 

Prof. V. Krishnamurthy (a member of advaitin list) has written a book

with the title "The Ten Commandments of Hinduism." This book is an

excellent source to get the unwritten rules of Hinduism. I take this

opportunity to request him directly to put forward the commandments.

 

Finally let me stop here and request others to participate in this

discussion.

 

--

Ram Chandran

Burke, VA

[Guest guest]

At 04:51 PM 7/29/99 +0100, you wrote:

>"Vivekananda Centre" <vivekananda

>

>Following recd from Sukhbeer who is doing an exhibition on World religions

>in Birmingham England.

>

>Can the list help?

>What are the main commandments of Hinduism?

 

Hinduism covers a lot of sects and religions... however, I would say as

opinion that there is only one that is common to all: Love thy neighbor as

thyself.

 

With Love,

 

Tim

 

-----

Visit The Core of the WWW at: http://core.vdirect.net

Music, Poetry, Writings on Nondual Spiritual Topics...

Also Personal Site with Shareware, Entertainment, Etc.

[Guest guest]

The following list of "The Ten Commandments" is prescribed by

Paramacharya Maha Swamigal (JagadGuru Shri Chandrasekarendra

Saraswati). Shankara Maths have been established to protect and

preserve the Hindu Vision of Shri. Shankara - Advaitam. Advaitam is the

religious tradition which confirms to the Advaitic Philosophy

established by Shankara. Advaitam fully integrates the Jnanam, Bhakti

and Karma aspects with the vision of complete unity of human souls with

no division and contradiction. Paramacharya's rules fully reflect the

responsiblity of human souls in crossing the ocean of life (Samsara

Sagaram) with happiness and love. The welfare of individual soul

depends on the welfare of everyone around it - plants, beasts and

humans!

 

1. One of our duties as human beings is to avail ourselves of every

opportunity to do good to others. The poor can serve others by their

loyal work to the country and the rich by their wealth to help the poor.

Those who are influential can use their influence to better the

condition of the lowly. That way we can keep alive in our hearts a sense

of social service

 

2. Man by himself cannot create even a blade of grass. We will be guilty

of gross ingratitude if we do not offer first to God what we eat or wear

- only the best and choicest should be offered to Him.

 

3. Life without love is a waste. Everyone should cultivate "Prema" or

love towards all human beings, bird and beast.

 

4. Wealth amassed by a person whose heart is closed to charity, is

generally dissipated by the inheritors: but the family of

philanthropists will always be blessed with happiness.

 

5. A person who has done a meritorious deed will lose the resulting

merit if he listens to the praise of others or himself boasts of his

deeds.

 

6. It will do not good to frieve over what has happened. If we learn to

discriminate between good and evil, that will guard us from falling into

the evil again.

 

7. We should utilise to good purpose, the days of our life-time. We

should engage ourselves in acts which will contribute to the welfare of

others rather than to our selfish desires.

 

8. We should perform duties that have been prescribed for our daily life

and also be filled with devotion to God.

 

9. One attains one's goal by performance of one's duties.

 

10. Jnana is the only solvent of our troubles and sufferings.

 

Jaya Jaya Shankara Hara Hara Shankara !!

 

Source: Homepage of Kanchi Kamakoit Peetam:

http://www.kamakoti.org/das.html

 

 

Vivekananda Centre wrote:

>

> "Vivekananda Centre" <vivekananda

>

> Following recd from Sukhbeer who is doing an exhibition on World religions

> in Birmingham England.

>

> Can the list help?

> What are the main commandments of Hinduism?