Sects within Hinduism

[Jahnava Nitai Das]

Exactly how many sects and sub sects are there, right now, in india. Why can't there be one world and one religion

At present there are innumerable sects within Hinduism. This is mostly because people fail to follow the instructions of an acharya, and instead choose to manufacture their own system of dharma. Dharma cannot be manufactured, it must come directly from the Supreme Lord. The Bhagavatam states:

 

dharman tu sakshad bhagavat pranitam

 

"Dharma is the direct instruction of Bhagavan, the Personality of Godhead."

 

Why people choose to manufacture their own systems of religious principles is due to the conditioning of the three modes of material nature. Due to the influence of rajas (passion) and tamas (ignorance) one misleads oneself by creating a false system of religion, and ultimately misleads others. It is the blind following the blind, and their ultimate destination is not very promising. For this reason Lord Krishna instructs us in the Gita:

 

sarva dharman parityajya

mam ekam sharanam vraja

 

"Abandon all varieties of dharma and simply surrender unto Me. Take Me as your only shelter."

 

Krishna advises us to give up the man-made dharmas, and surrender to His divine will and instructions as presented in the Gita.

 

Sri Shankaracharya has also echoed this instruction of Lord Krishna's in his Gita Mahatmya (glorification of the Gita). Therein he states:

 

ekam shastram devaki-putra-gitam

eko devo devaki-putra eva

eko mantras tasya namani yani

karmapy ekam tasya devasya seva

 

"Let there be one scripture, the Gita spoken by Lord Krishna; let there be one deva, the son of Devaki; let there be one mantra, the name of Lord Krishna; and let there be one work, service to Bhagavan Sri Krishna."

 

Yours in service,

 

Jahnava Nitai Das,

Bhaktivedanta Ashram

http://www.foodrelief.org

 

 

[madhav]

For us, the world is one - this earth.

God did not tell us to make counry boundaries, we did it.

A strong country can make the whole world one country - one government. Suppose it happens, it would not stop wars.

The wars then would be called civil wars.

A material world cannot be free from any conflict, small or big.

 

Because there are many people

with different ego, intelligence, mind and body color and backgrounds (past karma and desires), they find it difficult

to accept any one religion. Each group says, "Accept my religion, it is best for all."

 

So, then what is the criteria to judge which religion is best, and best for what?

 

One would say - a religion is best that gives more material toys. Another will say - a religion is best that makes all super intelligent. Still another will say - a religion is best that says only a perticular color of people are allowed to live and otehrs as their slaves.

 

The best criteria for comparing religions is given in Bhagavatam. It says dharm has four legs:

 

satya (truth), dayaa (mercy), tapa (austerity), and shaocha (cleanliness, internal as well as external).

 

So in comparing religions one must ask:

 

- Which religion gives maximum freedom to seek truth?

Which religion does not care for truth but dogma only?

 

- Which religion teaches mercy and how much mercy and when mercy?

 

- Which religion teaches to practice austerity and huw much?

 

- Which religion teaches external and internal cleanliness?

 

Of course we know Sanatana Dharma is best.

We need to convice it to others.

A couple of religions are out there to force or entice us to accept their religion.

 

If we know we have something of utmost and eternal value to us and the world, we need to become able to protect it by all means including kshatriya means.

 

Jai Sri krishna!