What is Hinduism?

My $0.02:

>From Living Religions (Mary Pat Fisher, Prentice-Hall) page 123 quotes the

Indian Supreme Court definition.

"However, the Indian Supreme Court has formally defined Hindu beliefs in a way

that affirms universality rather than exclusiveness. According to the Court's

definition, to be a Hindu means:

1.. Acceptance and reverence for the Vedas as the foundation of Hindu

philosophy;

2.. A spirit of tolerance, and willingness to understand and appreciate

others' points of view, recognizing that truth has many sides;

3.. Acceptance of the belief that vast cosmic periods of creation,

maintenance, and dissolution continuously recur

4.. Acceptance of belief in reincarnation;

5.. Recognition that paths to truth and salvation are many;

6.. Recognition that there may be numerous gods and goddesses to worship,

without necessarily believing in worship through idols;

7.. Unlike other religions, absence of belief in a specific set of philosophic

concepts."

Also see Hinduism Today, December 1996, p 33

Cheers

Mukti

What a wonderfull way to define something undefinable!!! I had just

read the same definition on page 532 of Dancing with Shiva by Shree

Sivaya Subramuniyaswami. This universality is what quenched my

thirst for truth, and takes away the darkness, the all abiding love

of our mother.

Jai Maa!!!

jk

, "Mukti Parupudi" <mukti.parupudi@v...>

wrote:

> My $0.02:

>

> From Living Religions (Mary Pat Fisher, Prentice-Hall) page 123

quotes the Indian Supreme Court definition.

>

> "However, the Indian Supreme Court has formally defined Hindu

beliefs in a way that affirms universality rather than

exclusiveness. According to the Court's definition, to be a Hindu

means:

> 1.. Acceptance and reverence for the Vedas as the foundation of

Hindu philosophy;

> 2.. A spirit of tolerance, and willingness to understand and

appreciate others' points of view, recognizing that truth has many

sides;

> 3.. Acceptance of the belief that vast cosmic periods of

creation, maintenance, and dissolution continuously recur

> 4.. Acceptance of belief in reincarnation;

> 5.. Recognition that paths to truth and salvation are many;

> 6.. Recognition that there may be numerous gods and goddesses to

worship, without necessarily believing in worship through idols;

> 7.. Unlike other religions, absence of belief in a specific set

of philosophic concepts."

>

> Also see Hinduism Today, December 1996, p 33

>

> Cheers

> Mukti

>

>

>

>

>