Guest guest Posted October 7, 2009 Report Share Posted October 7, 2009 Hinduism for Beginners By Subhamoy Das What is Hinduism?:Hinduism is the world's oldest extant religion, with a billion followers, which makes it the world's third largest religion. Hinduism is a conglomeration of religious, philosophical, and cultural ideas and practices that originated in India, characterized by the belief in reincarnation, one absolute being of multiple manifestations, the law of cause and effect, following the path of righteousness, and the desire for liberation from the cycle of births and deaths. Read More: How do you define Hinduism? <http://hinduism. about.com/ od/hinduism101/ a/definition. htm> How is Hinduism unique from other religions?:Hinduism cannot be neatly slotted into any particular belief system. Unlike other religions, Hinduism is a way of life, a Dharma, that is, the law that governs all action. It has its own beliefs, traditions, advanced system of ethics, meaningful rituals, philosophy and theology. The religious tradition of Hinduism is solely responsible for the creation of such original concepts and practices as Yoga, Ayurveda, Vastu, Jyotish, Yajna, Puja, Tantra, Vedanta, Karma, etc. Read More: The Uniqueness of Hinduism <http://hinduism. about.com/ od/hinduism101/ a/uniqueness. htm> How and when did Hinduism originate?:Hinduism has its origins in such remote past that it cannot be traced to any one individual. Some scholars believe that Hinduism must have existed even in circa 10000 B.C. and that the earliest of the Hindu scriptures – The Rig Veda – was composed well before 6500 B.C. The word "Hinduism" is not to be found anywhere in the scriptures, and the term "Hindu" was introduced by foreigners who referred to people living across the River Indus or Sindhu, in the north of India, around which the Vedic religion is believed to have originated. Read More: Theories About the Origin of Hinduism <http://hinduism. about.com/ od/hinduism101/ a/origin. htm> What are the basic tenets of Hinduism?:There is no "one Hinduism", and so it lacks any unified system of beliefs and ideas. Hinduism is a conglomerate of diverse beliefs and traditions, in which the prominent themes include: * Dharma (ethics and duties) * Samsara (rebirth) * Karma (right action) * Moksha (liberation from the cycle of Samsara) It also believes in truth, honesty, non-violence, celibacy, cleanliness, contentment, prayers, austerity, perseverance, penance, and pious company. Read More: The Main Tenets of Hinduism <http://hinduism. about.com/ od/hinduism101/ a/tenets. htm> What are the key Hindu scriptures?: The basic scriptures of Hinduism, which is collectively referred to as "Shastras", are essentially a collection of spiritual laws discovered by different saints and sages at different points in its long history. The Two types of sacred writings comprise the Hindu scriptures: "Shruti" (heard) and "Smriti" (memorized). They were passed on from generation to generation orally for centuries before they were written down mostly in the Sanskrit language. The major and most popular Hindu texts include the Bhagavad Gita, the Upanishads, and the epics of Ramayana and Mahabharata. Read More: The Sacred Texts of the Hindus <http://hinduism. about.com/ od/hinduism101/ a/scriptures. htm> What are the major Hindu deities?:Hinduism believes that there is only one supreme Absolute called "Brahman". However, it does not advocate the worship of any one particular deity. The gods and goddesses of Hinduism amount to thousands or even millions, all representing the many aspects of Brahman. Therefore, this faith is characterized by the multiplicity of deities. The most fundamental of Hindu deities is the Trinity of Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva - creator, preserver and destroyer respectively. Hindus also worship spirits, trees, animals and even planets. Read More: Gods & Goddesses in Hinduism <http://hinduism. about.com/ od/hinduism101/ a/gods.htm> Who is a Hindu and how to become one?:A Hindu is an individual who accepts and lives by the religious guidance of the Vedic scriptures. While the teachings of the Hindu tradition do not require that you have a religious affiliation to Hinduism in order to receive its inner teachings, it can be very helpful to formally become a Hindu because it provides one a formal connection to the "world's oldest continually existing enlightenment tradition." Thanks & Regards,Sudhir SrinivasanB.Arch, Dip.ID, Dip.CAD, Dip.PM, AIIA, IIID, ARIAI| Architect | M: +353-87-285 9086 | Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted October 8, 2009 Report Share Posted October 8, 2009 I "MET" THE ZEN MASTER AT THE BRONX ZOO,NYC.USA He told me to "unlearn" everything I knew$$$$$$$$$$$..********@@@@......!!!!!!!!!! I am starting learning again.......!!!!!!! Thanks for the BEGINNERS FOR HINDUISM....... Syama --- On Wed, 10/7/09, Sudhir-Architect <ar_sudhirkumar wrote: Sudhir-Architect <ar_sudhirkumar Hinduism for BeginnersWednesday, October 7, 2009, 12:04 PM Hinduism for Beginners By Subhamoy Das What is Hinduism?:Hinduism is the world's oldest extant religion, with abillion followers, which makes it the world's third largest religion.Hinduism is a conglomeration of religious, philosophical, and culturalideas and practices that originated in India, characterized by thebelief in reincarnation, one absolute being of multiple manifestations,the law of cause and effect, following the path of righteousness, andthe desire for liberation from the cycle of births and deaths.Read More: How do you define Hinduism?<http://hinduism. about.com/ od/hinduism101/ a/definition. htm>How is Hinduism unique from other religions?:Hinduism cannot be neatlyslotted into any particular belief system. Unlike other religions,Hinduism is a way of life, a Dharma, that is, the law that governs allaction. It has its own beliefs, traditions, advanced system of ethics,meaningful rituals, philosophy and theology. The religious tradition ofHinduism is solely responsible for the creation of such originalconcepts and practices as Yoga, Ayurveda, Vastu, Jyotish, Yajna, Puja,Tantra, Vedanta, Karma, etc.Read More: The Uniqueness of Hinduism<http://hinduism. about.com/ od/hinduism101/ a/uniqueness. htm>How and when did Hinduism originate?:Hinduism has its origins in suchremote past that it cannot be traced to any one individual. Somescholars believe that Hinduism must have existed even in circa 10000B.C. and that the earliest of the Hindu scriptures – The Rig Veda– was composed well before 6500 B.C. The word "Hinduism" is not tobe found anywhere in the scriptures, and the term "Hindu" was introducedby foreigners who referred to people living across the River Indus orSindhu, in the north of India, around which the Vedic religion isbelieved to have originated.Read More: Theories About the Origin of Hinduism<http://hinduism. about.com/ od/hinduism101/ a/origin. htm>What are the basic tenets of Hinduism?:There is no "oneHinduism", and so it lacks any unified system of beliefs and ideas.Hinduism is a conglomerate of diverse beliefs and traditions, in whichthe prominent themes include:* Dharma (ethics and duties)* Samsara (rebirth)* Karma (right action)* Moksha (liberation from the cycle of Samsara)It also believes in truth, honesty, non-violence, celibacy, cleanliness,contentment, prayers, austerity, perseverance, penance, and piouscompany.Read More: The Main Tenets of Hinduism<http://hinduism. about.com/ od/hinduism101/ a/tenets. htm>What are the key Hindu scriptures?: The basic scriptures of Hinduism,which is collectively referred to as "Shastras", are essentially acollection of spiritual laws discovered by different saints and sages atdifferent points in its long history. The Two types of sacred writingscomprise the Hindu scriptures: "Shruti" (heard) and "Smriti"(memorized). They were passed on from generation to generation orallyfor centuries before they were written down mostly in the Sanskritlanguage. The major and most popular Hindu texts include the BhagavadGita, the Upanishads, and the epics of Ramayana and Mahabharata.Read More: The Sacred Texts of the Hindus<http://hinduism. about.com/ od/hinduism101/ a/scriptures. htm>What are the major Hindu deities?:Hinduism believes that there is onlyone supreme Absolute called "Brahman". However, it does not advocate theworship of any one particular deity. The gods and goddesses of Hinduismamount to thousands or even millions, all representing the many aspectsof Brahman. Therefore, this faith is characterized by the multiplicityof deities. The most fundamental of Hindu deities is the Trinity ofBrahma, Vishnu and Shiva - creator, preserver and destroyerrespectively. Hindus also worship spirits, trees, animals and evenplanets.Read More: Gods & Goddesses in Hinduism<http://hinduism. about.com/ od/hinduism101/ a/gods.htm>Who is a Hindu and how to become one?:A Hindu is an individual whoaccepts and lives by the religious guidance of the Vedic scriptures.While the teachings of the Hindu tradition do not require that you havea religious affiliation to Hinduism in order to receive its innerteachings, it can be very helpful to formally become a Hindu because itprovides one a formal connection to the "world's oldest continuallyexisting enlightenment tradition." Thanks & Regards,Sudhir SrinivasanB.Arch, Dip.ID, Dip.CAD, Dip.PM, AIIA, IIID, ARIAI| Architect | M: +353-87-285 9086 | Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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