Five questions about Hinduism

March 8, 2004

Hello everyone,

I am interested in the Hindu religion, and would like to learn about the religion from a person of the Hindu religion. I would appreciate any feedback that you could give me about these questions.

1. In Hinduism,what is the meaning of life, or what is the purpose of life?

2. In hinduism what is the meaning of death?

3. What must a Hindu do to achieve a good life? a.How does Hinduism explain the reason bad things happen to people trying to strive for a good life? b.Is there any way(s) that a Hindu can avoid misfortune? ( or bad things happening to them).

4. How does Hinduism provide a sense of security about the unknown in life( i.e things in the future that are going to come to pass that they are unaware of).

a. Is there a way or ways that a Hindu can seek guidance in making decisions?

5. Can you explain the Hindu understanding of Moral Law ( or what is right v. what is wrong)

a. IS there an understanding of good and evil that guides 1. relationships with others and 2. relationships with other gods?

Thanks for your time

Danielle

barney · March 8, 2004

Dear Danielle'

I would be glad to answer your question to the best of my ability and hope you will understand.

Q. 1. In Hinduism, what is the meaning of life, or what is the purpose of life?

Answer:

Hinduism is not considered as a religion but a way of life, because religion is deeply interwoven into the life of a Hindu, the way nerves are interwoven in our bodies. It is very difficult to separate living and religion in the life of a devout Hindu. Both are inseparable. Both compliment each other. Both exist because of each other and both would lose their meaning and significance without the other. Religion is the center of living and living is the center of religion for all Hindus. According to Hinduism, religion is not separate from living. It is living itself. God does not exist in temples and sacred places only. Going to the temples is a good practice, but that is not the only way to worship God. God does not exist in temples alone, in some particular altar or sacred place. He exists every where and can be approached in many ways, not just by performing some special yagnas and rituals, but also through the very process of living ones life and discharging ones responsibility towards oneself, ones family, ones society and ones own religion. Even helping other religions is not an abominable act. Life is but divine and sacred. The Divine does not exist elsewhere in some heavenly regions, separate and distinct from ours. He is right here, amidst us, at the centers of our very lives and activities. Every act that we perform in this life will either contribute towards our evolution or inhibit it. Life is verily an opportunity to receive into our selves, the Divine force, the illuminating and enlightening awareness of God, the overwhelming and all encompassing soul consciousness. Life is an opportunity to discover our hidden selves. It is a great way to go beyond our limited vision and limited capacities. It is the best possible instrument with in our reach to realize Truth of ourselves and of God in the truest and grandest possible manner.

The present life is but a continuation of the previous. It is another opportunity that we create for ourselves to continue our experiments with truth, to correct our past mistakes, cleanse our souls and make ourselves more qualified for the infusion of light and ascent into higher planes of existence. The present is so because of the deeds of the past.

We are the creators of our own lives and destinies. We create them out of our right and wrong actions, which have both positive and negative consequences. So if one has to change the conditions and secure a better future one has to live more responsibly and more carefully. And this has to be done right now, here and in this very life.

This is the philosophy, the line of thinking, behind the concept of Hinduism as a way of life. The concepts of the omnipresence of God and his inviolable law of life (dharma) operating universally keeps the typical Hindu careful in his actions and responsible towards his own life. For the typical Hindu religion is thus a way of life, a means of self-purification and inner evolution.

Q. 2. In Hinduism what is the meaning of death?

Answer: According to Hinduism a being has to live many lives and under go many experiences before it attains perfection and becomes one with the Divine. The Hindu theory of creation suggests that creation begins when the individual souls becomes separated from the undifferentiated One. It continues as the evolution of life and consciousness in matter progresses. During this process some of souls journey back to God through the transformation of matter or prakriti in which they were hidden. The remaining souls continue their existence and rejoin Him in the end, not through transformation but through a process of great destruction. Thus the great cycle of creation, stretching over millions of years, comes to its logical end.

Q.3. What must a Hindu do to achieve a good life? a. How does Hinduism explain the reason bad things happen to people trying to strive for a good life? b. Is there any way(s) that a Hindu can avoid misfortune? ( or bad things happening to them).

Answer: An individual must learn to see the omnipresence of God in every thing and everywhere. He who sees Him in all and all in Him would lead a deeply religious and spiritual life, because having realized the presence of God in all, he develops compassion and right attitude towards the whole creation of God.

An individual must lead life in strict accordance with the laws laid down in the scriptures. He must perform daily rituals, various samskaras and live the four ashramas or stages of his life in accordance with the rules prescribed in the scriptures. It is unfortunate that many modern Hindus have a great contempt for the observation of rituals, which according to them are nothing short of superstition. It must be remembered that these rituals are meant to inculcate feelings of reverence and devotion to god. The purpose of human birth is to live a life full of love for all. No joy is greater than that of loving others. Amassing wealth, acquiring property, earning fame, bedecking oneself give but transient pleasure, not any sense of fullness. The happiness that permeates our inner being is the happiness of loving others. When we love others we are not conscious of our suffering the physical exertion we make and the money we spend: indeed the joy of divine bliss.

a & b.. It is thought that whatever karmic debt or credit we might have brought forward with us there will eventually be compensation or remonstration for both our past and present actions. For those who do positive action and have also done so in their past lifetime there will be a positive reward and for those who have done negative actions there will be debt to make amends for and possible hardship and suffering as a result of their past actions. The concept of Karma plays a very important role in a Hindus life. So-called free will is also an effect of Karma. "We must remember that positive acts also produce positive Karma, and positive Karma interacts with negative Karma.

c. The so-called good effect or bad effect is not a judgment nor is it given as a reward or punishment by a superabundance authority such as God. The good or bad effect produced by good or bad Karma is purely and simply a natural phenomenon governed by natural laws that act automatically, with complete justice. If God has anything to do with it, then God must also act according to this natural law. This cause produces this effect. That cause produces that effect. God would not change this natural path because of his like or dislike of a particular person. Sure you can avoid misfortune by constant prayers and pujas [rituals], which will protect you from worst misfortune but as I have said above you cannot completely escape the law of Karma.

Q. 4. How does Hinduism provide a sense of security about the unknown in life( i.e things in the future that are going to come to pass that they are unaware of).

Answer: Hinduism provides shelter not security. Even non-Hindu religions do not know about future happenings so do they provide any security by way of protection from any ill happening such as fire, accident, lost of wealth due to flood and other natural disaster, and lost of loved ones? No! no, religion can foresee any such and according to Hinduism if you are destined to meet death by accident and that was punishment for your bad karma in your past life so will you meet death in the face of accident. Hey are many things unknown to man and to unlock the mystery in the Vedas there the tantric part of sastras, which most hindus would like to discover. There are scripts written in palm leaves by sages, which would unlock the mystery of your personal life but that is another part do be discussed if you become a Hindu.

Q. 5. Can you explain the Hindu understanding of Moral Law ( or what is right v. what is wrong)?.

Answer: The Hindu doctrine of dharma states that right action must be performed for the sake of righteousness, and good must be done for the sake of goodness, without any expectation of receiving something in return. The question arises as to what is right? Hindu scriptures include the following guidance that should be used to determine what is right under given circumstances:

· Individual actions (svadharma) which are based upon truth, ahimsã, and moral values are considered righteous actions.

· Political, social, and community-related activities, which are based upon unselfishness, truth, ahimsã, and moral and ethical values are defined as right actions.

· Actions that arise as a consequence of one's stage of life (ash-ram dharma) are considered good. The dharma of a student is to acquire knowledge and skills, whereas the dharma of a householder is to raise the family, and that of a retiree is to advise and guide the younger generations.

· Actions that are associated with one's profession (varna dhar-ma) are considered right actions. The duty of a soldier may be to take the life of an enemy, whereas the duty of a doctor is to save the life, including that of an enemy.

· Actions which ensure adherence to the laws of the land are righteous actions. If the laws are unjust, they must be changed through democratic means and non-violence.

· In the event of a conflict between individual and social dharma, the social dharma takes precedence. "He who understands his duty to society truly lives. All others shall be counted among the dead," declares Tirukural, a Hindu scripture.

· "What you desire for yourself, you should desire for others. What you do not like others to do to you, you should not do to others." (Mahãbhãrata, Shãntiparva, 258)

a. Is there a way or ways that a Hindu can seek guidance in making decisions?

Answer: Yes, there are centers all over the world where Hindus can seek advice. All you need to o is go the nearest Hindu temple and seek the advice of Hindu Priest, Pundit or Gurukal who will help you if you are in need of any advice on personal matters regarding Hindu religion.

c. IS there an understanding of good and evil that guides? 1. Relationships with others and relationship with other Gods.

Answer: I do not get the real meaning of your question here but what I can perceive is you would like to know what relationship do Hindus have with other religions. Well, our understand is that all religions teaches the word of God in their respective point of view but some of them do not want to know or understand each others concept and so there arise conflicts among them. But as far as Hinduism is concerned the Hindus respect other religions doctrines but do not wish to follow theirs as the Hindus already have more than enough to know what is life all about and how to reach the feet of the Lord when the immortal soul departs the mortal body.

Denial, I hope, what has been explained here is only a small part of answers to your question because Hinduism cannot be explained in a day or in short note. The Vedas contain large volumes of sastrats, so to know all will take a life time. But most Hindus will learn the basic in the sastras, rituals, slokas, and puja methods. I hope your questions are answered but feel free to ask if you need more info.

Barney,

maadhav · March 9, 2004

<< 1. In Hinduism,what is the meaning of life, or what is the purpose of life? >>

To realize god and go to Him, thusn ending the cycles of births/deaths.

<< 2. In hinduism what is the meaning of death?>>

The body is no more operational.

the souls can quit it, and pick another according to his diseres and karma.

<< 3. What must a Hindu do to achieve a good life? >>

a good life for a hindu is sin free living.

krishna says how to live sin-free in gita.

<< a.How does Hinduism explain the reason bad things happen to people trying to strive for a good life? >>

the reasons are adhibhautic, adhidaivik , and adhyatmic.

past karma play a major role.

<< b.Is there any way(s) that a Hindu can avoid misfortune? ( or bad things happening to them). >>

yes, by living sin-free and as instructed by krishna.

misfortune still could come, but the devotee is not affacted.

<< 4. How does Hinduism provide a sense of security about the unknown in life( i.e things in the future that are going to come to pass that they are unaware of).>>

all happen by the wish of god only.

<< a. Is there a way or ways that a Hindu can seek guidance in making decisions? >>

yes, from guru, sdhus, and shastras.

<< 5. Can you explain the Hindu understanding of Moral Law ( or what is right v. what is wrong) >>

anything that guru, sadhu, and shastra say to do is good,

contrary is bad.

<< a. IS there an understanding of good and evil that guides 1. relationships with others and 2. relationships with other gods? >>

one is guided by the intelligence one has, more or less, right or wrong. hindus pray for better intelligence.