Essential Beliefs of Hinduism

[imranhasan]

I would appreciate, if someone would kindly enlighten me on what are the essential beliefs ascribing to which, a person becomes a Hindu.

 

Serious answers only, please.

 

Thanks.

[Eternal Law]

Beliefs are the building blocks of the mind. Our beliefs determine our thoughts and attitudes about life, which in turn direct our actions. By our actions we create our destiny. Beliefs about sacred matters—God, man and cosmos—are essential to one’s approach to enlightenment. But beliefs are not mere matters of agreement. They are what we value and hold as true.

 

The following nine beliefs, though not exhaustive, offer a simple summary of Hindu spirituality.

 

1) I believe in the divinity of the Vedas, the world’s most ancient scripture, and venerate the Agamas as equally revealed. These primordial hymns are God’s word and the bedrock of Sanatana Dharma( Hinduism) , the eternal religion which has neither beginning nor end.

 

2) I believe in a one, all-pervasive Supreme Being who is both immanent and transcendent, both Creator and Unmanifest Reality.

 

3) I believe that the universe undergoes endless cycles of creation, preservation and dissolution.

 

4) I believe in karma, the law of cause and effect by which each individual creates his own destiny by his thoughts, words and deeds.

 

5) I believe that the soul reincarnates, evolving through many births until all karmas have been resolved, and moksha, spiritual knowledge and liberation from the cycle of rebirth, is attained. Not a single soul will be eternally deprived of this destiny.

 

6) I believe that divine beings exist in unseen worlds and that temple worship, rituals, sacraments as well as personal devotionals create a communion with these devas and Gods.

 

7) I believe that a spiritually awakened master, or satguru, is essential to know the Transcendent Absolute, as are personal discipline, good conduct, purification, pilgrimage, self-inquiry and meditation.

 

8)I believe that all life is sacred, to be loved and revered, and therefore practice ahimsa, “non-injury.”

 

9) I believe that no particular religion teaches the only way to salvation above all others, but that all genuine religious paths are facets of God’s Pure Love and Light, deserving tolerance and understanding.

 

Hinduism, the world’s oldest religion, has no beginning—it precedes recorded history. It has no human founder. It is a mystical religion, leading the devotee to personally experience the Truth within, finally reaching the pinnacle of consciousness where man and God are one. Hinduism has four main denominations—Saivism, Shaktism, Vaishnavism and Smartism. The above nine beliefs form a common ground for all Hindu sects.

(HimalayanAcadamy)

 

 

YOGA is a mediation technique through which soul connects itself to GOD which results in real peace , sprituality and good health . We can say Hinduism in action is called YOGA .

[imranhasan]

Thank you, very much my brother Eternal Law

 

Beliefs are the building blocks of the mind. Our beliefs determine our thoughts and attitudes about life, which in turn direct our actions. By our actions we create our destiny. Beliefs about sacred matters—God, man and cosmos—are essential to one’s approach to enlightenment. But beliefs are not mere matters of agreement. They are what we value and hold as true.

This is most brilliantly and eloquently put. I find it to be the voice of my own heart. I have always felt that Beliefs must precede actions, for they provide meaning as well as the basis for all actions.

My dear brother, before I address my questions on your points, I would like to first seek your comment on one of the important starting points in my approach to understanding. This point relates to something I very strongly believe in through introspection. Nevertheless, I assure you, if I am convinced that this belief of mine is wrong (which, as you will see can only be done by resorting back to it), I will review and revise it, without a problem. This is my promise with myself...

 

• I believe that God created man;
• I believe that God gave man all the faculties and senses so that he could live an enlightened life by using these faculties and senses properly;
• I believe that with these faculties of and senses, God also gave us the ability to distinguish right from wrong and good from bad. This entails man's universal awareness of and ascription to the basic moral values.
• I believe that God's first and foremost guidance to man is to bestow on him the faculty of understanding and it is man's duty towards God to use this faculty of understanding and to take his decisions in the light of this faculty of understanding.
• I believe that the only true universal standard of right and wrong is also provided by this faculty of understanding and the universal inherent awareness of the basic moral values.

Please do consider these points very closely and let me know if you fully agree with these. My very limited exposure teaches me that without agreeing on these points, there's hardly a chance of establishing and continuing a meaningful discussion. In case you disagree with any of these points, I would love to know the basis, so that I can understand your view point.

Thank you very much, indeed for your time and brilliant and precise response. God bless you.

[Eternal Law]

Ofcoure, everyone will agree with these basics points. At the same time, People of different religions may disagree with defination of God.

I believe that the only true universal standard of right and wrong is also provided by this faculty of understanding and the universal inherent awareness of the basic moral values.

True aim of Soul is to progress spiritually. Every Soul is not equal spiritually. This explains why there is difference between Gandhi and Hitler. Two people read same scripture, one becomes Terrorist and another Suffi saint who has universal understanding. This is because of difference in Spiritual advancement of Soul. For primary class student, Theorems of College are useless, he have to learn basics and advance to understand them. That doesn't mean teachings of his class are not basics of some higher spiritual truths which he will learn in future when that soul will progress spiritually.

Yes, ultimately there is only one Sanatan (Eternal) Truth which can't be explained but realised.

[Guest guest]

 

• I believe that God gave man all the faculties and senses so that he could live an enlightened life by using these faculties and senses properly;
• I believe that with these faculties of and senses, God also gave us the ability to distinguish right from wrong and good from bad. This entails man's universal awareness of and ascription to the basic moral values.
• I believe that God's first and foremost guidance to man is to bestow on him the faculty of understanding and it is man's duty towards God to use this faculty of understanding and to take his decisions in the light of this faculty of understanding.
• I believe that the only true universal standard of right and wrong is also provided by this faculty of understanding and the universal inherent awareness of the basic moral values.

[imranhasan]

Thank you very much for your beautiful response once again, I truly appreciate your contributing time for me.

 

Ofcoure, everyone will agree with these basics points. At the same time, People of different religions may disagree with defination of God.

I would once again request you to please review these points once again. These points are not an enumeration prepared by a learned scholar, these are my own points. I assure you, I will be delighted to review and revise them on the basis of a better understanding.

The reason I say that you may kindly review these points once again is that if you agree with these points, then the part, "At the same time, People of different religions may disagree with defination of God" does not remain as significant. Understanding is universally communicable. You have very rightly stated that peoples ascribing to different religions differ in their concept of God. I also acknowledge that differences in understanding are quite likely. But I still believe that even if such intricate concepts like the concept of God were presented on the basis of our God-gifted faculty of understanding, we would, at worst, be able to appreciate and acknowledge these differences in understanding and, at best, resolve them.

 

True aim of Soul is to progress spiritually. Every Soul is not equal spiritually. This explains why there is difference between Gandhi and Hitler.

I am not sure if I have understood this point correctly. Please clarify: Are you saying that Gandhi was Gandhi only because of the level of progress that Gandhi's soul had attained and Hitler was Hitler only because of the same reason? Was this level of progress of each of these souls in the hands of these people or was it because of something beyond the control of these people?

Do you think that Hitler was devoid of the sense of Moral and Immoral action or would you think that he refused to listen to the voice inside of him and knowingly acted against it, even if he tried to justify his actions to himself and to the world, in general?

 

Two people read same scripture, one becomes Terrorist and another Suffi saint who has universal understanding. This is because of difference in Spiritual advancement of Soul.

I really do not know how to judge what you term as "Spiritual advancement of the Soul", but I do know that the two people understand the scriptures differently and are very active in trying to propagate their respective understanding to others. One can try to understand their respective views on the basis of one's own understanding and decide which of the two are correct. I really feel that this is the only objective way of approaching any subject. i really do not possess any objective criterion to measure the spritual advancement of people around me. But I do possess an ability to understand their point of views and decide if they are wrong or right.

 

For primary class student, Theorems of College are useless, he have to learn basics and advance to understand them. That doesn't mean teachings of his class are not basics of some higher spiritual truths which he will learn in future when that soul will progress spiritually.

I fully agree with this. Where would you guide a person to begin, if he wants to take up an understanding of Hinduism?

 

Yes, ultimately there is only one Sanatan (Eternal) Truth which can't be explained but realised.

I request you to please let me know how is a person supposed to accept this Eternal Truth, if he cannot understand it. What is the means of realizing it, without understandig it?

Thank you very much for your generosity. God bless you.

[Eternal Law]

Namaste Imran,

Thank you for the post,

 

"At the same time, People of different religions may disagree with defination of God" does not remain as significant. Understanding is universally communicable. You have very rightly stated that peoples ascribing to different religions differ in their concept of God. I also acknowledge that differences in understanding are quite likely. But I still believe that even if such intricate concepts like the concept of God were presented on the basis of our God-gifted faculty of understanding, we would, at worst, be able to appreciate and acknowledge these differences in understanding and, at best, resolve them.

Yes, it may not be significant in Abrahmic religions where God is saparate from creation.

Hinduism has concept of Brahman. Only Brahman exists and nothing else. So, in a way Hinduism is more Monotheistic than Abrahmic religions provided you understand concept of Brahman.

 

I am not sure if I have understood this point correctly. Please clarify: Are you saying that Gandhi was Gandhi only because of the level of progress that Gandhi's soul had attained and Hitler was Hitler only because of the same reason? Was this level of progress of each of these souls in the hands of these people or was it because of something beyond the control of these people?

 

Law of Karma and concept of reincarnation is one of the most basic things in Hinduism (Later adopted by Buddhism, Sikhism and Jainism).

If life is one and God is not partial, then Why many people are spiritual from very beginning and some can't even understand divine all their lives?

If life is one and God is not partial then why God allowed people to take birth in sufferings of Africa and others in divine spiritual enviornment or in comforts of America?

If life is one and God is not partial then Why that Child was born with AIDS or is without family and another with good Health or in a respected family?

If life is one and God is not partial and their is only one true religion (Islam or Christianity)..then Why God allowed soul to take birth in false religions and suffer?

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practically their are unlimited Questions like these...

So, Is God partial? If he is not then why so much diversity and partiality all around?

No, he is not parital. In Hindu view everything is governed by Law of Karma and Reincarnation(till you achieve Moksha).

Gandhi was Non-Voilent and Hitler was voilent because Soul in them were at different level of spiritual advancement. The person is suffering because of his own Karmas, nature of person is because of his own karmas.

 

Do you think that Hitler was devoid of the sense of Moral and Immoral action or would you think that he refused to listen to the voice inside of him and knowingly acted against it, even if he tried to justify his actions to himself and to the world, in general?

 

We are completely free to do Karmas. Hitler Karmas were negative and against Dharma. Negative Karmas will produce negative effects sooner or later. Positive Karmas will produce positive affects sooner or later. Do psitive Karmas and rise, Do Negative Karmas and fall further.

Concept of Karma is very deep and there are many types of Karma.

 

I really do not know how to judge what you term as "Spiritual advancement of the Soul", but I do know that the two people understand the scriptures differently and are very active in trying to propagate their respective understanding to others.

 

There is concept of MAYA in Sanatana Dharma. Maya is an illusion which prevents soul from realising it's Eternal Nature. As Maya reduces, Spiritual awareness increases.

 

One can try to understand their respective views on the basis of one's own understanding and decide which of the two are correct. I really feel that this is the only objective way of approaching any subject. i really do not possess any objective criterion to measure the spritual advancement of people around me. But I do possess an ability to understand their point of views and decide if they are wrong or right.

There is so much diversity. Everyone is doing their Karmas. Some are rising , some are falling. Is there any difference in your eyes between people like Mother Teresa, Gandhi, Saints, Suffis , Yogis and people in porn industry, terrorists who kill innocents, dacoits etc.? We can't judge everyone, we can some easily.

At the end of the day, most important is what you think about yourself? Am i progressing and moving closer towards divine? or Am i falling?

At the end of the day, most important is Self-realisation.

 

I fully agree with this. Where would you guide a person to begin, if he wants to take up an understanding of Hinduism?

 

Try to read Bhagavad Gita.

Ramayana is beautiful.

Read commentries on Law of Karma, Reincarnation , Nature of Soul and concept of Maya.

 

I request you to please let me know how is a person supposed to accept this Eternal Truth, if he cannot understand it. What is the means of realizing it, without understandig it?

Thank you very much for your generosity. God bless you.

 

It's a natural process, It happen of it's own. Our body is just a cloth of this Soul and our life is just a small part in the big journey of this soul whose destination is Moksha.

Thank you

[imranhasan]

Namaste Eternal Law, Thank you for your time.

 

Yes, it may not be significant in Abrahmic religions where God is saparate from creation. Hinduism has concept of Brahman. Only Brahman exists and nothing else. So, in a way Hinduism is more Monotheistic than Abrahmic religions provided you understand concept of Brahman.

Probably, I could not make myself clear. What I meant was. Any concept that is based on understanding can be communicated to others too. That is why differences become insignificant, for at least, we'll have a common grounds to communicate our ideas to others and others can communicate our ideas to us.

I am most certainly interested in understanding the concept of Brahman. But does that imply the agreement that it is, in fact, our understanding that will make us believe or not believe anything?

 

Law of Karma and concept of reincarnation is one of the most basic things in Hinduism (Later adopted by Buddhism, Sikhism and Jainism).

If life is one and God is not partial, then Why many people are spiritual from very beginning and some can't even understand divine all their lives?

If life is one and God is not partial then why God allowed people to take birth in sufferings of Africa and others in divine spiritual enviornment or in comforts of America?

If life is one and God is not partial then Why that Child was born with AIDS or is without family and another with good Health or in a respected family?

If life is one and God is not partial and their is only one true religion (Islam or Christianity)..then Why God allowed soul to take birth in false religions and suffer?

.

.

.

.

practically their are unlimited Questions like these...

Brother, you have made your point very clear. And look, you have provided arguments for your belief. Right? That is exactly what I had requested you to confirm your agreement for. If we believe things on the basis of arguments, then our belief is based on understanding. If it is not on the basis of arguments but on the basis of tradition, then my questions may not find the answers, they'd be seeking.

Do we agree on the points that I had given in my first post addressing you?

[Apep]

I have a question.

 

( Also I am new to Hinduism and I am a seeking convert.)

 

After many reincarnations there is a transcending of life away from this earth.

 

What happens when all reincarnations are complete?

 

Some say nirvana, others say complete peace and bliss. Is complete peace and bliss a form of afterlife?

 

Is there such a thing as a afterlife in hinduism?