Hinduism Essay Research Paper A Religion of

Hinduism Essay, Research Paper

A Religion of Tolerance

Hinduism is unique in many ways. One of the most endearing aspects of Hinduism is it’s religious tolerance. One devotee may worship Vishnu, another may worship Shiva, and yet another Krishna, while honoring the other’s choice and feeling no sense of conflict. Hinduism is a religion of tolerance that allows for different types of worship, and personal expressions of devotion. This extends beyond the religion itself to include other cultures. A Hindu is content to allow a Christian to worship Christ or a Bhuddist to revere Buddha. This tolerance goes so far as to allow Hindus to recognize Buddha or Jesus as a worshipable figure in their own right. Most Hindus believe that all religions eventually lead to the same destination and that though the means may be different the end is the same.The Webmaster Sects of Hinduism

Basic Information

Hinduism Founded: Hinduism, the world s oldest religion, has no beginning – it predates recorded history. Founder: Hinduism has no human founder. Major scriptures: The Vedas, Agamas and more. Adherents: Nearly one billion, mostly in India, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Nepal, Malaysia, Indonesia, Indian Ocean, Africa, Europe and North and South America. Sects: There are four main denominations: Shaivism, Shaktism, Vaishnavism and Smartism. Synopsis: Hinduism is a vast and profound religion. It worships one Supreme Reality (called by many names) and teaches that all souls ultimately realize Truth. There is no eternal hell, no damnation. It accepts all genuine spiritual paths – from pure monism (God alone exists) to theistic dualism (When shall I know His Grace.). Each soul is free to find his own way, whether by devotion, austerity, meditation (yoga) or selfless service. Stress is placed on temple worship, scripture and the guru-disciple tradition. Festivals, pilgrimage, chanting of holy hymns and home worship are dynamic practices. Love, nonviolence, good conduct and the law of dharma define the Hindu path. Hinduism explains that the soul reincarnates until all karma are resolved and God Realization is attained. The magnificent holy temples, the peaceful piety of the Hindu home, the subtle metaphysics and the science of yoga all play their part. Hinduism 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.

Denominations

Hinduism is composed of four main denominations – Shaivism, Shaktism, Vaishnavism, SmartismGoals of the four Major Hindu sects: Shaivism: The primary goal of Shaivism is realizing one s identity with God Shiva, in perfect union and non-differentiation. This is termed nirvikalpa samadhi, Self Realization, and may be attained in this life, granting moksha, permanent liberation from the cycles of birth and death. A secondary goal is savikalpa samadhi, the realization of Satchidananda, a unitive experience within super consciousness in which perfect Truth, knowledge and bliss are known. The soul s final destiny is vishvagrasa, total merger in God Shiva Shaktism: The primary goal of Shaktism is moksha, defined as complete identification with God Shiva A secondary goal for the Shaktas is to perform good works selflessly so that one may go, on death, to the heaven worlds and thereafter enjoy a good birth on earth, for heaven, too, is a transitory state. For Shaktas, God is both the formless Absolute (Shiva) and the manifest Divine (Shakti), worshiped as Parvati, Durga, Kali, Amman, Rajarajeshvari, etc. Emphasis is given to the feminine manifest by which the masculine Un-manifest is ultimately reached. Vaishnavism: The primary goal of Vaishnavites is videha mukti, liberation – attainable only after death – when the small self realizes union with God Vishnu s body as a part of Him, yet maintains its pure individual personality. Lord Vishnu – all-pervasive consciousness – is the soul of the universe, distinct from the world and from the jivas, “embodied souls”, which constitute His body. His transcendent Being is a celestial form residing in the city of Vaikuntha, the home of all eternal values and perfection, where the soul joins Him upon mukti, liberation. A secondary goal – the experience of God s Grace – can be reached while yet embodied through taking refuge in Vishnu s unbounded love. By loving and serving Vishnu and meditating upon Him and His incarnations, our spiritual hunger grows and we experience His Grace flooding our whole being. Smartism: The ultimate goal of Smartas is moksha, to realize oneself as Brahman – the Absolute and only Reality – and become free from samsara, the cycles of birth and death. For this, one must conquer the state of avidya, or ignorance, which causes the world to appear as real. All illusion has vanished for the realized being, Jivanmukta, even as he lives out life in the physical body. At death, his inner and outer bodies are extinguished. Brahman alone exists. Paths of Attainment: Shaivism: The path for Shaivites is divided into four progressive stages of belief and practice called charya, kriya, yoga and jnana. The soul evolves through karma and reincarnation from the instinctive-intellectual sphere into virtuous and moral living, then into temple worship and devotion, followed by internalized worship or yoga and its meditative disciplines. Union with God Shiva comes through the grace of the satgur