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Hinduism

HINDUISM PAPER

HUM 130
Hinduism is an ancient religion that incorporates many sects and disciplines of Indian culture including uncategorized religions along the Indus River area. The term Hinduism was used more as a catch all by census takers when the land was under British rule. Hindu or Sanatana Dharma refers to a lifestyle, philosophy, devotions and rituals on how to live ones life. The religion also refers to beliefs in a deity and rituals that show a following and reverence to the Devine. According to the text there are over 330 million deities in India. The feeling is that the divine has countless faces. Rituals, including; hymns, performances, writings and Upanishads, (teaching from spiritual masters) comprise this revered collection of rituals called the Vedas. The Vedas are thought to transcend human time and are considered as relevant today as they were thousands of years ago.

The cultural and societal influences that have made Hinduism vital to the region in which it was originated include: karma, yoga, and spiritual truths, to name a few. Teachings on being moral and living life with the knowledge that ones actions have consequences is described in karma; practicing yoga, which allows one to become in tune with oneself and leads to a state of peace and contemplation; teachings of spiritual truth that affect change in ways, such as, using peaceful non-violent measures. For example; Mahatma Gandhi used these teachings to unite his people. Through peaceful hunger strikes he was successful in eliminating the western influence that was threatening to eradicate the Indian culture and its Hindu beliefs.

Like most religions Hindus have spiritual teachers referred to as gurus. Hindu gurus demonstrate their leadership abilities from self transformation. From their philosophy and spiritual experience, Hindu gurus conceptualize the universe as a manifestation of God. Human beings were also regarded as manifestations of God, in the aspect...