Digest Number 1921

[Guest guest]

(1) Will any one clarify whether Hinduism is a religion or a culture?

 

Hinduism is a happy amalgamation of both. It is a religion when we talk about it

in terms of rituals, puja, mantra etc. It is a religion when we talk

about it in terms of those believers who follow it and worship the Hindu

Pantheon. It is a culture or way of life when we talk about it in terms of our

traditions, mores, norms, social institutions like family, marriage, our dress

and food habits.

Now, there are some non-vedic religions in India which may not follow Hinduism

as a religion, but cannot free themselves from the influence Hindu Culture which

can be seen in their food and dress habits, in their social institutions, in

their norms and mores..in other words Hindu Culture is their way of life too.

This cannot be denied as long as they are born or live in India.

 

(2) In Dasavathara of Mahavishnu, Budha is considered as one avathara. Is Budha

and Gautham Budha are one and the same? If it is so why Buddists consider

themselves as a separate Religion?

 

Yes, Gautama, the Buddha and Siddartha Gautama are same. Why would anybody

consider anything?  It is their personal belief which views Gautama separate

from mainstream Hinduism. It is our belief that Gautama, The Buddha is an

incarnation of Vishnu. Now to question someone's belief is like asking who is

right and who is wrong which is foolish in the matters of religion. For me

personally what finally matters is what you believe in. I believe that Gautama,

The Buddha is an incarnation of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Vishnu. 

Hence I worship mine and respect theirs. But just so you know, all religions

that took birth in this great land of Karma are rooted in the ancient

Vedic/Upanishadic wisdom of Knowing Thyself. Be it Krsna's Karma yoga or

Kapila's Samkya yoga or Buddha's Vippassana - the ultimate aim is to achieve

Moksha or to Know Oneself.  So, would it matter if Buddhists consider

themselves as a separate religion? The evolution of religion depends on a

variety socio-political and geographical factors. The Buddhism in India over a

period of time was absorbed into Hinduism. The Buddhism elsewhere evolved as a

separate entity. That's evolution. Who are we to question it?

 

(3) Adi Shankara's ADVAIDA was to revive Hinduism and against the spread of

Buddism. Is it correct?. 

First, it is Advaita(not ADVAIDA), meaning non-dualism. Well, the way I see is

Adi Shankara was not just reviving Sanathana Dharma. He was also integrating all

the sects and subsects like Saivism, Vaishnavism, Buddhism, Jainas, Shakteyas,

Karthikeyas, Ganapathyas etc of Sanathana Dharma into one formidable unified

entity.

 

( 4) Is the caste system which started in the primitive stages, still relevant

in the Modern World?

Well, if you are asking the relevance of the original Varnashram Dharma, as it

is enunciated in The Gita, which is based on Guna and Karma, then I think, it is

not just 'still relevant' but will be relevant throughout the evolution of

mankind and human society. For it is based on the merit of the individual which

provides him a status in the society. Hence a Brahmin Pushymutra Sunga or a

Sudra Chandragupta Maurya could become Kings owing to their Kshatra merit in the

past. Even the Manusmrithi informs us, Shudro Brahmanathamethi Brahmanaschethi

shudrataam meaning, " a Shudra becomes a Brahmin and a Brahmin becomes a Shudra

because of his Karma " . If you consider the earliest Vedic times, Rig Veda says

in (RV 9.112.3)

" I am a bard, my father is a physician, my mother's job is to grind the

corn...... " Hence, the Varnashrama tradition followed in the past is not based

on birth and definetly not a heriditary inheritance.  But if you are

referring to the present day caste system which is a degenerated version of

Varnashrama Dharma, then I am afraid it has no relevance, but it is here to stay

for a long time to come. So, in a way it has its own relevance .

 

More comments/discussion are welcome.

Krsnam Vande Jagatgurum

Gopi