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Practicing Hinduism

Aupmanyav

Be your own guru
I have noticed that Each person I've talked to about this has given me a different answer .. :)
That is what we are proud of in Hinduism, its freedom. One never feels oppressed. Anything from polytheism to atheism is admissible, the only condition is that one must not say what others believe is wrong. What is a must for all Hindus is to fulfill one's 'dharma', i.e., fulfill one's responsibilities and engage in righteous human action. Nothing beyond that.
 

Satyamavejayanti

Well-Known Member
sunflower

Namaste,

I think there are plenty of good suggestions already, so i will only advise what I think is considered the key features and requirements of Hindu Dharmah.

Dharmah - Responsibilities, Natural disposition, righteousness, Duty, vertue, Ethics, religion, spirituality are some words to describe Dharmah, but Dharmah is a "Non Translatable", word. Dharmah is a context based idea, each individual has their own Dharmah (SvaDharmah), but also as we are living in communities and in specific societies each community/society has its Dharmah that can be different from another set of communities ect.

As Hindus Our Highest and Prime Dharmah are advised as, Satya and Ahimsa.

Satya being generally described as "Truth", it is also applicable to being honest in ones words and deeds, for Hindus the knowledge of Truth is paramount and is the first and foremost Dharmah. Ahimsa is a deep concept with requires that the we as Humans must limit or minimize the harm we cause to our self and others and also the environment, it is the principal of not being the cause of excessive or unnecessary harm, but Ahimsa has never meant that we become passive to violence or are not to defend our self by the means of force, in Hindu Dharmah, Ahmisa also requires one to actively be against the causes of Hinsa (Harm).

The Concept of Karma is also a key Hindu belief, Karma is action performed weather intentionally or unintentionally, for Hindus even breathing is Karma, with Karma (action) there comes the Phala (consequence) and in Hindu Dharmah the idea is that since we are not in control of the Phalla of Karma our Karma must always be intentional or one must always be conscious of our actions as the consequences may effect us self and others also.

The other common and key concept that i can think of and which probably relates to your search is our concept of the "Atma", or the Self.
In Hindu Dharmah generally many would agree that the Atman is un-created, no Deva/Devi/Avatar/Bhagvan/Ishvar/Brahman has "Made", or "created", the Atma, and is therefore eternal. The Atman is also recognized as being Sat-Chit-Annand, or Truth, Consciousness and Bliss and therefore our innate nature is that of "Goodness", Purity, Truthfulness, Blissfulness and any actions, thoughts or words that we do if they are against the concept and our innate nature are discouraged.

We are told simply to "be good, do good, for the sake of Goodness", because that is our natural disposition.

The Atman is to be realized rather then believed in, and there are many methods (Bhakti/Karma/Gyan Yog) to help us and guide us to fully comprehend our True (satya) existence.

Hope this helps,

Dhanyavad
 
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Dropship

Member
After much general research on many different religions I have found that Hinduism is a religion I would like to begin to practice...


Hmm-

rel-caste2.jpg
 

Vinayaka

devotee
Premium Member
Gandhi strongly objected to the caste system, especially that of the untouchables, and it is gradually dying.

Here, and scroll down to "Origins": https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caste_system_in_India

So does everyone else who's religious. No religious leader advocates for it. Yes, it's dying. On my two trips to India I didn't notice it at all. But the myth of the horrible caste system (as if slavery was some sort of decent thing?) keeps being perpetuated by the anti-Hindu crowd, despite lots of evidence against it. Shucks darn lol.

But OP hasn't been seen in these parts in 5 years. One wonders the motives for bringing a thread back.
 

mangalavara

सो ऽहम्
Premium Member
Who exactly is the founder of Hinduism, let's examine his credentials..:)

In Hinduism, there is a set of scriptures known as the Vedas. Of all scriptures in Hinduism, they alone are śruti or 'heard,'* which entails that they are of the highest authority in the area of scriptures. Considering that the Vedas are śruti, it would be helpful to see what they have to say about 'caste,' if there is indeed anything about caste in them.

In the Ṛgveda, which is a particular Veda, there is a sūktam or hymn in the ninth maṇḍalam or collection of hymns that happens to mention what caste is associated with: occupations. Let's have a look at two interesting verses.

Ṛgveda 9.112.1:

'Our thoughts bring us to diverse callings, setting people apart' (The Rig Veda 235).

Ṛgveda 9.112.3:

'I am a poet; my Dad's a physician and Mum a miller with grinding stones' (The Rig Veda 235).

Considering that this scripture with such a high status mentions that our vocations originate with our thoughts rather than lineage, and that the Ṛṣi or seer/sage who speaks in first person was of a different occupation than his father, and that his parents were even of different occupations, there is no foundational support for a caste system in Hinduism or the ideal Hindu society. Instead, there is foundation for the view that individuals ought to choose their roles in wider society.

I hope this is enlightening to you. :)

*I have to admit that I am unsure if Siddhanta Saivism recognizes the Āgamas as śruti as well.

Works Cited​

The Rig Veda. Translated by Wendy Doniger, Penguin Books Ltd, London, 1981.
 
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Aupmanyav

Be your own guru
Who exactly is the founder of Hinduism, let's examine his credentials..:)
Warning: Don't do that. It will seriously jeopardize the credentials of Abrahamic religions. Fables, hunger for power, superstition, ignorance and falsehood.
Hinduism is a pagan religion created by the people of India over a period of 4-5,000 years.
It incorporates polytheism as well as atheism. I am an atheist Hindu.
 
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