Hinduism is one of the oldest religions in the world. Mahabharata was written more than 5000 years back. The Hindus call God as Brahman. Brahman is our soul. Brahman makes the whole world. There is nothing but Brahman in the world according to Hinduism. We do not see our true nature because of Maya. The goal is to break the curtain of Maya and see the self. Guru helps in doing that.
The foundation of Hinduism is non-dualism. God is same as we are. God shows himself as this world. Our objective is to achieve the godhood. That is the goal of a true Hindu. One who has done this becomes a Siddha.
Hinduism believes in the trinity of God. The three names are- Brahma, Vishnu and Mahesh. In different forms God performs differently. Brahma creates, Vishnu sustains and Mahesh or Shiva destroys. All three are same as Brahman.
Many people in India want to get extraordinary powers. Some of these powers are for doing well to others while others are for evil acts. That is black magic. For getting good powers, there is no way other than a true Guru. For other powers that are evil, people learn magic and do tantric and mantric practices. Most of these practices are performed in cremation grounds.
Beware of any Indian Guru who shows any magic. True Gurus avoid that. If you come across a guru who performs extraordinary actions, please keep away. You cannot follow more than one Guru. Following guru does not mean listening to him; it is much beyond that. Guru arouses the Kunadlini and helps his disciple reach enlightenment. Most of the Indians do not seek Guru. Most of them do not know who is a Guru. Any preacher can fool them. When a disciple attains enlightenment, he/she becomes Guru. Buddha, Lord Dattatreya, Ramakrishna, Swami Vivekananda, Baba Nityananda and Baba Muktananda are some of the Gurus of India.
CD Mohatta
http://www.articlesbase.com/religion-articles/hinduism-the-basic-ideas-134853.html
What are the basic ideas behind Hinduism?
pantheism- "the braham"a personality-less force of nature that created us all and sustains us all. its the equivalent of the spirit world, but its also part of everything in this world.
trimurti – "brahma", "shiva", and "vishnu" 3 principle dieties who are represent the braham
reincarnation
finding your inner "atman" through meditation, called "yoga". the atman is the hindu idea of a soul, but its not like we think of a soul. it has no personality or anything, its just your tiny little piece of the braham
progress through lives lends you a more advanced status, which makes me more predisposed to reach moksha… finding your atman
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Well, I don’t know that much about it, and I know there are many, many schools of thoughts within Hinduism…
Brahman is the closest idea to God Hindus have. The world is an emanation of Brahman, a dream if you will. As such, everything is only of relative value.
The Gods themselves are emanations of Brahman.
Man’s soul is his atman. But the atman is identical to the Brahman. This means the difference is only in concept since man himself emanates from Brahman.
I once met an Hindu who explained to me that the Gods were simply ways man used to navigate a reality too complex to understand. I don’t know if that is mainstream, or if that was simply his view.
This is what I know.
I am not a Hindu, and I am not an expert on Hinduism.
It is correct as far as I know.
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Hinduism is primarily not a religion… it is a way of life! It is only Hinduism that teaches how human beings can reach the stage of enlightenment (kaivalya jnana) and finally salvation (moksha). No other belief other than Hinduism is more valid or tacit for gaining enlightenment in present lifetime.
The concept of God Almighty… the definition of God Almighty… the start of Cosmos with a big bang… the theory of evolution… the concept of heaven and hell… the doctrine behind souls atmans manifesting human forms… the doctrine of karma… the law of Dharma… why God made this world… importance of celibacy on the path of self realization… all is explained in Hinduism!
The Bhagavad Gita of Hinduism is one such sacred scripture the knower of which finally gains emancipation from the cycle of birth and death forever. The path of spirituality is best traveled following the dictates of Bhagavad Gita in Hinduism. Religion and spirituality is not about reaching the gates of heaven (aka Swarga in Hinduism).
It is Hinduism which clearly states that heaven and hell are interim stages for the soul atman to hibernate until matching parents are available on Mother Earth! After the death of the body… the hibernating soul atman remains in heaven or hell depending upon the residual balance of karma. Heaven… if the balance is positive and hell if negative!
Hinduism never mingles words. It is totally based on logistics. Either you convince me… or I convince you… similar as the dialogues of Plato! Whoever convinces last is the winner. Hinduism does not have one document like Christianity and Islamic Dharma. Christianity is based on the teachings contained in Bible and Islamic Dharma on Quran!
In Hinduism… the list of sacred scriptures is endless! As per Hinduism… initially came the Vedas… the revelations from God… termed by many as Hindu revelations! (Truly revelations never belong to anybody). They are universal in nature… with a universal appeal! Along with Vedas developed Upanishads… the treatises by individual enlightened souls.
The voluminous Vedas… the Rig Veda, the Sama Veda, the Yajur Veda and Atharva Veda were not comprehensible to the masses. And was born Lord Krishna… an Avatar of his era (God manifest in human form)! Lord Krishna reduced the voluminous Vedas to Vedanta (the end of Vedas). Vedanta is another term used for sacred Bhagavad Gita.
With the doctrine of Bhagavad Gita… with the teachings imbibed in Bhagavad Gita… Lord Krishna gave to humanity the much needed reprieve! Now the essence of worldly wisdom was available to the masses in a simpler language… a commoner could fathom! Bhagavad Gita is the end of all. The sacred Bhagavad Gita contains everything worth knowable.
The knower of Bhagavad Gita finally gains enlightenment… becomes the knower of all… gains omniscience forever! Hinduism is not related to any religion, belief or caste. Any human being world over without converting to Hindu religion can follow the dictates of the sacred Bhagavad Gita. The teachings of Bhagavad Gita belong to all.
On the path of spirituality… every single factor one encounters on the uncharted path is detailed in the sacred Bhagavad Gita. Other than the 700 shlokas (verses) contained in the sacred Bhagavad Gita… one need not read or refer anything else! Fathoming the depth of wisdom contained in the sacred Bhagavad Gita… I finally realized God in 1993.
When 11 years of age I wanted to see and meet God in this very life. By 13 years of age my desire firmed up into firm conviction… come whatever may (even if I have to leave my family… my parents, brothers and sisters)… I shall within this lifetime reach God. 25 years of Yoga meditation… I finally reached the stage of self realization at 37 years of age! More on Hinduism- http://www.godrealized.com/Hinduism.html
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http://www.godrealized.com/hinduism_beliefs.html
Our beliefs determine our thoughts and attitudes about life, which in turn direct our actions. By our actions, we create our destiny. Beliefs about sacred matters–God, soul and cosmos–are essential to one’s approach to life. Hindus believe many diverse things, but there are a few bedrock concepts on which most Hindus concur. The following nine beliefs, though not exhaustive, offer a simple summary of Hindu spirituality.
1) Hindus believe in a one, all-pervasive Supreme Being who is both immanent and transcendent, both Creator and Unmanifest Reality.
Hindus believe that all life is sacred, to be loved and revered, and therefore practice ahimsa, noninjury, in thought, word and deed.
2) Hindus believe in the divinity of the four Vedas, the world’s most ancient scripture, and venerate the Agamas as equally revealed. These primordial hymns are God’s word and the bedrock of Sanatana Dharma, the eternal religion.
3) Hindus believe that the universe undergoes endless cycles of creation, preservation and dissolution.
4) Hindus believe in karma, the law of cause and effect by which each individual creates his own destiny by his thoughts, words and deeds.
5) Hindus believe that the soul reincarnates, evolving through many births until all karmas have been resolved, and moksha, liberation from the cycle of rebirth, is attained. Not a single soul will be deprived of this destiny.
6) Hindus believe that divine beings exist in unseen worlds and that temple worship, rituals, sacraments and personal devotionals create a communion with these devas and Gods.
7) Hindus believe that an enlightened master, or satguru, is essential to know the Transcendent Absolute, as are personal discipline, good conduct, purification, pilgrimage, self-inquiry, meditation and surrender in God.
9) Hindus believe that no religion teaches the only way to salvation above all others, but that all genuine paths are facets of God’s Light, deserving tolerance and understanding.
Hinduism, the world is oldest religion, has no beginning–it precedes recorded history. It has no human founder. It is a mystical religion, leading the devotee to personally experience the Truth within, finally reaching the pinnacle of consciousness where man and God are one. Hinduism has four main denominations–Saivism, Shaktism, Vaishnavism and Smartism.
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I am a Hindu