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Hinduism:
The Origin of the Eastern Worldview
It is estimated that between 11 and 14 percent of the world’s
population are adherents to the Hindu religion It is the third largest
religion in the world. The vast majority of Hindus – some 750
million – live in India, where they account for 85% of the
population. Hindus also comprise a significant portion of the
population in Nepal (89%), Fiji (41%), Trinidad (25%), Surinam
(28%), and Bhutan (25%) to name a few. There are around 1.5
million Hindus in the U.S.
Hinduism’s Origins
The origins of Hinduism can be traced back to around 1500 B.C. (prehistoric), in what
is now India. In its origins, it is a ritualistic religion, while in its modern form, it is
rooted in internal meditation. Hinduism can be difficult to study because of the
diversity of belief that is included – the path of any seeker is given credence (at least to
a certain extent; belief in pluralism does not always equal practice).
The Vedas (knowledge): (1200 B.C. – 800 B.C.)
The earliest, and most sacred documents in the Hindu religion are called the Vedas; the
Vedas are a collection of prayers, chants, incantations, and meditative musings. They
were initially written as instructions for priests as to how believers should perform the
rituals of the religion; however, as a result of the Upanishads, they have become a more
“personal” document – they are used by some Hindu believers.
The Upanishads (to end/conclude): (800 B.C. – 300 B.C.)
The equivalent to the Christian New Testament, are a series of stories called the
Upanishads. These stories expound the idea that behind the many gods of this world
stands one Ultimate Reality, which the Hindus refer to as Brahman – however, as much
as Hinduism is monotheistic, it has elements of polytheism, pantheism, and panentheism.
The Bhagavad Gita (Song of the Lord)
The Bhagavad Gita is the highest expression of philosophical Hinduism. It is a chapter of
the immense Indian epic, the Mahabharata, the saga of the war between the Pandavas and
the Kauravas. Arjuna, hero of the Pandavas, is about to confront the army of the Kauravas
on the battlefield. Among the opposing army are his friends and relatives. Convinced that it
would be wrong to kill his own kinsmen, Arjuna is overcome by despair. He lays down his
bow and declares that he will not fight. The God Vishnu, incarnated as the charioteer
Krishna, explains that Arjuna should do his duty and do battle. The human soul, which
participates in the universal soul, is immortal - therefore no-one is actually slain. If people
perform the duties appropriate to their station, without attachment to success or failure,
then they cannot be stained by action.
The Bhagavad Gita is an expression of the Hindu philosophy that God is in all things, and
all things are in God. It contains probably the most powerful expression of pantheism in
world scripture. The one God is the pinnacle of all things - the radiant sun of lights, the
guiding light of sensory organs, the intellect of beings, the ocean of waters, the Himalayas
of mountain ranges, the Ganges of rivers. He is also the inherent essence of everything including evil. He is the gambling of rogues, the courage of the courageous, the rod of
disciplinarians, the statecraft of politicians, the knowledge of the knowing.
The Importance of Hindu Scripture
It is doubtful if modern day Hinduism would buy the argument that these
and these alone (and any other religious book for that matter) would ensure
salvation to an individual, although it does emphasize that one should live
and act in accordance with ones own dharma and the scriptures. Those
who still trust their religious validity look for new meaning in them, while
others look elsewhere for answers to their perplexing questions.
The skepticism of a modern day Hindu, or perhaps their indifference or
lack of interest towards all religious literature, is born out of the unlimited
freedom Hinduism offers to humans in their search for truth. Each person
alone has the solace and the comfortable feeling of assurance that his/her
religion and his/her scriptures give liberty to pursue truth in his/her own
way.
The Hindu Life
 Ultimately, Brahman is an impersonal oneness that is beyond all
distinctions, a being who is entirely transcendent, yet is the essence of
everything.
 The universal soul, known as the Atman, is one with Brahman and is
representative of the “true self.” Just as the air inside an open jar is the
same as the air that surrounds it, so our essence is identical to that of
Brahman – it is the job of every Hindu to “open the jar.”
 Humanity’s primary problem, according to the Hindu, is our ignorance
to our divine nature. We have forgotten that we are extended from Brahman
and so we mistakenly attach ourselves to the desires of our “separate self”
(jiva) and thereby suffer the consequences. Because of our attachment to
desire and individualistic existence, we are all subject to the law of karma.
 The Law of Karma is the moral equivalent to the natural law of cause
and effect. Every action, good or bad, produces a just and definite reaction.
Moreover, the cumulative effects of our actions, follow us not only in our
present lifetime, but in lives to come.
 Reincarnation (Transmigration of the Soul), is the Hindu concept that the
soul is transferred into another body after death. This is the ever-revolving
wheel of life, death, and rebirth (samsara). A person’s karma determines the
kind of body (any living being) into which he or she will inhabit in the next
life. Through pure acts, thoughts, and devotion, one can be reborn at a higher
level. Likewise, bad deeds can cause a person to be reborn at a lower level.
The unequal distribution of wealth, prestige, and suffering are thus seen as the
natural result of karma.
 In acknowledging the truth of the above process, Hindus organize their
lives around certain activities, known as purusharthas (the doctrine of the
fourfold end of life).
 dharma – righteousness in religious life; sacredness of all life
 artha – success in economic life; material prosperity
 kama – gratification of the senses; pleasurable existence
 moksha – liberation from the cycle of rebirth
Liberation (moksha), is attained through the realization that the concept of
the individual self (jiva) is an illusion and that only the undifferentiated oneness
of Brahman is real. Detachment from self and the illusion that is the material
world (maya) is the the path to liberation.
Important Hindu Terms
Puja – the act of showing reverence to a god or to aspects of the divine through prayers,
songs, and rituals. The essential part of puja for the Hindu is making a spiritual
connection with a deity. Home pujas do not require a priest; temple pujas typically are led
by a priest.
Ahimsa – doctrine of nonviolence to all life, which is the basis for Hindu vegetarianism.
This stand was personified in Gandhi.
Guru – one who shows by example a spiritual path to follow.
Tilak – Generally, no religious work should begin without a tilak on the forehead. There
are 13 places on the body where the tilak can be placed, however, it is only on the
forehead that it is noble. The head is the summit of the body with the brain being the axis
of the entire body. The wearing of the tilak is a symbol of worship and devotion,
differentiated by color for the deity of the particular sect.
Yoga (means “path”) – Bhakti (means intense love for God), Karma (is often called the
path of right action), Jnana (described as the way to God through intellectual ability).