Can you please explain the difference between your form of Hinduism and others? And since Hindus believe in one God who has many forms (? Please correct me if I am wrong) .. how can a Hindu be an atheist? Can you clear up my confusion ..Thanks in advance.
Hindu belief is very varied. People say that the number of theories equal the number of Hindus (We do not put any restriction on personal beliefs. The least common denominator and a must for Hinduism is fulfillment of 'dharma', doing one's duty and humane conduct). So:
1. Hindus can believe in many Gods and Goddesses,
2. Supremacy of the Hindu Trinity (
generally Brahma the creator, Vishnu the sustainer and Shiva the destroyer),
3. Supremacy of one of the three (Vishnu, Shiva and Mother Goddess),
4. Existence of an uninvolved Supreme Spirit (Brahman), or
5. Brahman as the substrate of all things in the universe without being a God, just what constitutes everything.
I follow this last view, which says 'there is nothing in the universe other than Brahman, there is no second thing' (
Eko Sad, Dwiteeyo Nasti). Whether it is any human, any animal, any vegetation, any stone, water or air, it is all Brahman. Upanishads say 'All things here are Brahman' (
Sarve Khalu Idam Brahman). You too are Brahman and So am I (
Tat Twam Asi and S
o Aham). Chandogya Upanishad says, "
Yatha, saumya, ekena mrit-pindena sarvam mrinmayam vijnatam syat vacarambhanam vikaro nama-dheyam, mrittiketyeva satyam" (As, Gentle Enquirer, by knowing one lump of clay, all that is made of clay is known, the difference being only a distortion in name arising from speech, while the truth is that it is just clay).
This is the strict form of 'Advaita', the non-dual philosophy, which has no space for God/s. Therefore, I am a Hindu and an atheist.