OPPapers.com

Jim Crow

Life and Death Displayed Through the Indian and Greek Cultures
Hinduism, an ancient religion is one of the oldest in the world, evolving more that three thousand years ago.   Indian and Greek cultures tend to have some similarities as well as some differences.   Life and death are both equally important one to the other with these two cultures, but they seem to relate differently to these concepts.   Exploration of these cultures concerning these concepts is enlightening.
In the Indian culture, Hinduism is an enriching religion to explore.   The concepts of Hinduism are not based on the teachings of a single person or text.   Hinduism has been enriched by a collection of teachings from great saints over a period of thousands of years.   A Hindu may choose to worship a particular god or several or all of them.   There is no central authority or single leader in the Hindu religion, though the role of a spiritual master is defined.   Reincarnation and nonviolence are among the major beliefs of the Hindus.   It is a part of the Hindu belief that you are reincarnated until you achieve moksha, liberation and unity with Brahma.   The sense of death is not really reality in Hinduism because of the fact that you will continue to come back as someone or something different until you "get it right."  
It is also a belief of the Hindus that the soul cannot be destroyed.   Therefore, death is not existent in the Hindu faith.   There is a sense of death because Hindus are human.   The body can die, but the soul will remain forever.   This concept is evident in the Bhagavad-Gita when Arjuna is faced with the dilemma of fighting a war against his family.   The Bhagavad-Gita states that life does not begin at birth nor end with death.   It is eternal.   The soul is constantly transmigrating from one body to another according to its desires and quality of activities (karma).   In order to have a more fulfilling life, Krishna expresses to Arjuna that he must do his dharma or fulfill his duty as...