CULTURE

 

HINDU AND HINDU DHARM

Hindu dharm is world’s oldest living dharm.

it is also called Sanatan Dharm or Eternal Dharm.

it is over 9000 years old.

It is tolerant, resilient and peace-loving.

it has no founder, the word Sanatan implies that it always existed.

The root of Hindu Dharm lie in the Indian subcontinent, in the Indus (Sindhu) valley which had 300 advanced settlements as early as 5000 BCE.

Acceptance of different modes of worship.

 

SUMMARY OF ESSENTIAL ELEMENTS

Harmony of religions :

All true religions lead to the same goal. Revere all great teachers and prophets of all religions, respect their teachings as the same eternal truths adopted to the needs of different peoples at different times. Hindus do not seek to convert.

Incarnation :

Whenever righteousness declines and unrighteousness rises, God incarnates himself on earth to restore righteousness.

Non Violence :

Non-violence, non-injury and non-killing (Ahimsa).

Doctrine of Karm :

Belief in the doctrine of Karm and rebirth. Ignorance viewed as cause of bondage.

Unity of Existence :

All things and beings are the manifestation of one Supreme Being. When the mind is transcendent through spiritual experience, the Universal spirit is seen as the sole essence of the universe.

Dharm :

Righteousness and good moral and ethical practices in accordance with the scriptures. Includes all duties -- individual, social and religious.

Humanism :

Equality of all human beings, regardless of caste, color and creed. Respect and reverence for womanhood.

Aatma :

Essence of all living things and beings is Aatma, infinite and eternal, unchanging and indivisible. True nature of the individual is the Aatma, which is one with the underlying reality of the Universe. There is but one being, one reality "Thou art That".

Reality :

The Supreme Reality (Brahman) is both formless and with form, impersonal and personal, transcendent and imminent. The supreme reality becomes manifest in various aspects and forms, and is known by various names. There are various ways by which individuals, in accordance with his/her temperament can realize God.

Moksh :

Freedom from cycle of birth and death. To make an individual a better person, so that he/she can live harmoniously in this world and seek union with God.

Authority :

Non-reliance on a single book. Has many sacred writings Veds, Upanishads, Sutrs, Bhagwad Gita etc.

 

FIVE MAJOR DOCTRINES

Truth is one, Sages call it by different names

Rig Ved, 1.164.46

All Mankind is One Family

Hitopadesh, Subhashit Ratn Bhandagare

Law of Karm - As you sow, so shall you reap

Mahabharat, Shantiparv 299.42; BG 18.60

That mode of living which is founded upon total harmlessness towards all creatures or [in case of genuine necessity] upon a minimum of such harm, is the highest morality

Mahabharat, Shantiparv 262.5-6

Whenever there is a decline of virtue, God incarnates Himself on earth to uphold righteousness BG 4.7, 4.8

CONCEPT OF GOD

The truth (Ultimate Reality) is one, Sages call it by different names - there is one God, (Supreme Reality) perceived differently.

Supreme Reality - Brahm has two aspects, transcendent (impersonal) and immanent (personal).

In the impersonal aspect Brahman is without attributes (nirgun Brahm).

In personal aspect (sagun Brahm) the God is creator, preserver and controller of the universe.

Sagun Brahm is worshipped in male and female form.

Hindu Deities represent various perceptions of a one God.

Hindus believe in monotheistic polytheism, rather than polytheism.

 

HINDU TRINITY

Represents Three manifestations of the Supreme Reality.
These are :

Brahma : Creation Vishnu : Preservation Shiva : Destruction
 

Three Faces of Divine

Three Cosmic Functions of the Supreme Lord

Creation + Preservation+ Dissolution

Generator + Operator + Destroyer = GOD

 

FOUR ENDS OF HINDU LIFE

Based on the principle of progressive evolution of soul.

Doctrine of four ends forms the basis of individual and social life of a Hindu.

The four Ends are :

Dharm

Righteousness and good moral and ethical practices in accordance with the scriptures. Includes all duties -- individual, social and religious

Arth (Wealth):

Not an end in itself but basic necessity, one must earn enough wealth in order to raise a family and maintain a household

Wealth must not be for hoarding but for sharing with those who are poor, handicapped or less fortunate

Dharma and Arth must be coordinated in order to earn decent living while recognizing that arth is not an ultimate end of Hindu religious life

Kaam

Denotes the wants and desires of body and mind in the form of desires, passions, emotions and drives

Satisfaction of genuine human desires such as art, music, savory food, sports, conjugal love, filial affections, clothes, jewelry etc. are not suppressed but must be satisfied in a controlled fashion

Through controlled satisfaction of genuine desires and passions, an individual becomes free from kaam.

Freedom from sensual desires and passion is necessary for attaining moksh and is made possible by the proper coordination of dharm, arth, and kaam

Moksh

Freedom from cycle of birth and death. To make an individual a better person, so that he/she can live harmoniously in this world and seek union with God.

 

THREE DEBTS DURING LIFE

 First Debt to God that can be repaid by dedicating one’s life to the service of God - this is done by :

• Service to all mankind

• Reverence for elders, teacher

• Practice of non-violence, truthfulness, respectfulness

• Obeying scriptural injunction

• Protection of the Earth

• Vegetarianism or Purity in Diet

• Moderation/Simplicity

• Non-interference

• Universality

• Peace
  
  

Second Debt to sages and saints that can be repaid by

• Reverence and and service to saints, sages and gurus

• Transmission of the scriptural teaching and cultural heritage

• serving the society and poor, without expectation of returns

• Third Debt to one’s ancestors

  Can be repaid by raising one’s family in accordance with the moral and ethical principals of dharma

  TO FOLLOW TEN GREAT OBSERVANCES

  01. (Dhrati) Patience, firmness and stability
  
  02. (Kshama) Forgiveness
  
  03. (Dama) Self-control and contentment
  
  04. (Asteya) Not to steal or conceal, or be selfish
  
  05. (Suchi) Cleanliness, purity and honesty
  
  06. (Indriya Nigraha) Control over senses and sexual energy
  
  07. (Dhee) Right knowledge of the scripture
  
  08. (Vidya) Material and spiritual knowledge or study
  
  09. (Satya) Truth
  
  10. (Dya) Absence of anger