Labels

accident (1) adam (1) affection (2) allah (1) anger (3) anxiety (2) Ashtanga (2) awareness (1) balance (1) Beauty (1) Better (1) breathing (1) Buddha (2) caduceus (1) choice (1) choice to be happy (1) communication (1) Compassion (1) computer (1) conflict (1) contentment (1) couples (1) crusade (1) Dalai lama (3) death (1) decode (1) defeating anger (1) depression (1) destiny (1) dificult times (1) disease (2) disorder (1) Doubt (1) doubts (1) ego (1) eliminating enemy (1) Emptiness (1) Enemy (1) Enlightenment (5) enough (1) eve (1) externalize (1) Failure (2) faith (3) Fear (1) forgiveness (1) forgiving (1) fortune (1) freedom (1) friends (1) Fugu (1) gaining Tao (1) god (6) Good (2) gratitude (1) guru (1) happiness (25) health (5) Heart rate (1) Heaven (2) hell (2) Hunger (1) ideas (1) ideologies (1) ignorance (1) inner peace (2) Intelligence (1) introduction (1) introduction of tao (1) jesus christ (1) journey (1) Journey of life (1) joy (7) karma (1) knowledge (2) Life (8) living (1) Love (7) luck (1) medicine (1) mind (6) mindful (1) Misfit (1) nanak (1) natural (1) neighbor (1) observer (1) original sin (1) own (1) pain (1) panic (1) paradise (1) past (1) path (1) Peace (10) play (1) Poor (3) power (1) pran (1) Pranayam (1) present (1) questions (1) quotes (2) religion (1) rhythm (1) Rich (3) Richness (2) right (1) Satisfaction (2) secret (1) secrets (1) self (1) Self discovery (5) self improvement (1) Self realization (7) selfish (1) shankara (1) Shiva (1) silence (1) sorrow (2) spontaineity (1) stranger (1) stress (1) success (6) sucsess (1) suicide (1) sunlight (1) suppresion (1) surrender (1) Tao (12) the way (1) Think (1) time (2) truth (3) Unhappiness (1) universe (1) violence (1) viral (1) vitamin (1) war (1) War and peace (1) wisdom (1) world (1) Wu Wei (1) Yoga (3) zen (1)

Faith, Belief, Religion, Spritualism, Adhyatm, Dharma & Hinduism : At a Glance

Let us study and analyse these concepts one by one

A. Belief :-
Definition:
Oxford :
"An acceptance that something exists or is true, especially one without proof."
"Trusting something without proof."

B. Faith:-
Definition:
Oxford: "A strongly held belief."


C. Religion :-
Definition:

"An institution that mostly sets itself as definer, custodian & ultimate authority of the faith."

Oxford :-"A particular system of faith and worship."

Wikipedia :-
"From L. religionem (nom. religio) "respect for what is sacred, reverence for the gods, sense of right, moral obligation, sanctity", "(obligation, the bond between man and the gods") is derived from the Latin religiō(Meaning: to bind), the ultimate origins of which are obscure."

D. Spiritualism :

Wikipedia :
"Spiritualism is a religious movement based on the belief that the spirits of the dead exist and have both the ability and the inclination to communicate with the living. "

E. Adhyatm:-
Adhyayan +Aatm ie study of self,
Adhyatm is Belief and practice of following :

  • The truth of universe is within self,
  • Objective is realization of universe through self Realization.


F. Dharma :

Wikipedia :
"Key concept with multiple meanings in Indian Religions like Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism, Sikhism and others. There is no single-word translation for dharma in Western languages.
In Hinduism, dharma signifies behaviors that are considered to be in accord with Ṛta, the order that makes life and universe possible, and includes duties, rights, laws, conduct, virtues and "right way of living".
 In Buddhism, dharma means "cosmic law and order", and is also applied to the teachings of Buddha. In Buddhist philosophy, dhamma/dharma is also the term for "phenomena".
Dharma in Jainism refers to the teachings of tirthankara (Jina) and the body of doctrine pertaining to the purification and moral transformation of human beings. For Sikhs, the word dharm means the path of righteousness and proper religious practice."

G. Hinduism :
Wikipedia:
"Hinduism is an Indian religion and dharma, or way of life,widely practised in the Indian subcontinent and parts of Southeast Asia. Hinduism has been called the oldest religion in the world, and some practitioners and scholars refer to it as Sanātana Dharma, "the eternal tradition", or the "eternal way", beyond human history. Scholars regard Hinduism as a fusion or synthesis of various Indian cultures and traditions, with diverse roots and no founder."

Belief of Hinduism :
Hinduism does not have a "unified system of belief encoded in a declaration of faith or a creed", but is rather an umbrella term comprising the plurality of religious phenomena of India.

The word Hindu :
Wikipedia :
 "Starting with the Persian and Greek references to the land of the Indus in the 1st millennium BCE through the texts of the medieval era, the term Hindu implied a geographic, ethnic or cultural identifier for people living in the Indian subcontinent around or beyond the Sindhu (Indus) river. By the 16th century, the term began to refer to residents of the subcontinent who were not Turkic or Muslims."

Conclusion : Hindu is an alien word for India, used by Persians as a geographical notifier.
So called "Hinduism" is a foreign word used by western people as a superset of people (Other than Abrahamic Religions) of South Asia and their Beliefs, cultures, traditions and ways of life.

Is Hinduism a Religion?
According to the Supreme Court of India,
"Unlike other religions in the World, the Hindu religion does not claim any one Prophet, it does not worship any one God, it does not believe in any one philosophic concept, it does not follow any one act of religious rites or performances; in fact, it does not satisfy the traditional features of a religion or creed. It is a way of life and nothing more".
Hinduism includes a diversity of ideas on spirituality and traditions, but has no ecclesiastical order, no unquestionable religious authorities, no governing body, no prophet(s) nor any binding holy book; Hindus can choose to be polytheistic, pantheistic, panentheistic, pandeistic, henotheistic, monotheistic, monistic, agnostic, atheistic or humanist. Ideas about all the major issues of faith and lifestyle including: vegetarianism, nonviolence, belief in rebirth, even caste, are subjects of debate, not dogma.
Because of the wide range of traditions and ideas covered by the term Hinduism, arriving at a comprehensive definition is difficult. The religion "defies our desire to define and categorize it". Hinduism has been variously defined as a religion, a religious tradition, a set of religious beliefs, and "a way of life".From a Western lexical standpoint, Hinduism like other faiths is appropriately referred to as a religion. In India the term dharma is preferred, which is broader than the Western term religion.

Supreme Court , further :
"Hinduism does not have a "unified system of belief encoded in a declaration of faith or a creed, but is rather an umbrella term comprising the plurality of religious phenomena of India."


Hindu Dharma comprises of 4 major Dharmic Schools ( 'Hindu', Buddhist, Jain, Sikh) which include a diverse paradigm of philosophies:
"Hindu", Buddhist, Jain, Sikh

The Explanation II of Article 25 reads:
"...The reference Hindus shall be construed as including a reference to persons professing Sikh, Jaina or Buddhist religion and the reference to Hindu religious institutions shall be construed accordingly," 

Common Beliefs of Dharmic Schools:
Reincarnation,
Karma,
Moksha,
Advait
&
Above all "Omkar"

Omkar : Om is the most important spiritual sound. It refers to Atman (soul, self within) and Brahman (ultimate reality, entirety of the universe, truth, divine, supreme spirit, cosmic principles, knowledge), Akalpurush, Advait (Non Duality).

Advaita: The term Advaita refers to its idea that the true self, Atman, is the same as the highest metaphysical Reality (Brahman).
In other words : All living beings /things are forms of same indivisible Brahman.

Plurality: The belief that there can be multiple ways of religion/spirituality/faith and all may co-exist together.
Opposite: Binarism, the belief that there is only one true religion , an essential belief of Abrahamic religions .

Conclusion:
As evident from above, Hinduism is neither a faith or religion, but plural way of life of Indian cultures whose spiritual belief generally based on Reincarnation, Karma, Advait , Moksha through self realization, and there being no fixed way, sadhak is encouraged to find and follow his own preferred way of self realization.

Not For Me!

His eyes slowly opened.

To his amazement, he was finding himself himself in a unique, magical and serene place.

 
He was lying on a cloud. 

The ambience had was a different slight bluish diffused light.


He was feeling as if in a dream and  trying to understand his environment.

 
He recalled his most recent memory of him lying in a bed of some hospital and Doctors and Medical staff moving around him in their uniforms. He recalled himself being in acute pain also.

Now, where was he? Which was this place? Must be a dream?

 
He slowly rose and stood up. Suddenly he heard a voice calling his name. He turned to find an old man at a distance, with a white flowing beard and a face which was as if glowing, sitting on a golden throne, beckoning him to come to himself.

He approached the old man in heightened amazement and asked in a quivering voice :
"Who are you? Where am I?"

The old man said "I am your God. You are with me."

He said: "You mean I am in heaven!"

 
God: "Nope. U were in heaven earlier, when u were alive."

He asked in a shock : "What? And Hell!?"

God: "That was also there."

He:"What? Meaning?" 

God: "That, ur life, was everything. U cud make it Heaven or Hell also. If u were happy, then it was heaven, if you were sad it was hell."

Man: "Lord, What r u saying? I was told that u are the most merciful and award the good people by bringing them to heaven."

God: "And where did I say or write so? It's u humans who say and write such things. And where is the mercy in giving something after death?"

Man: " Then what about those pleasures of heaven like golden Palaces, beautiful consorts, delicious cuisine, finest wines.. Such pleasures for an eternity? "

God :" Eternity? Meaning millions, Billions, trillions of ur years? "

" Forget such an infinitely long period, can u enjoy the luxurious pleasures of most decelicious food etc, even for one month, without being fed up of it? Can u eat ur most favorite food for three days consistently? Even ur most favorite food would taste like poison to u by the 4th day. Then any pleasure would feel like pain of hell in long run or no? Also, just think about how it can be justified to award or torture someone for "eternity" for his/her act in a life of 1, 10 or even 100 years? "

Man:" But Lord that's u taking our test about who is Good and who is Bad, no? Good ppl go to heaven and Bad ppl go to the hell. "

God:" Really? Ok take it this way, you all believe I am all knowing and almighty also, or not?
If I am all knowing then what's there that's unknown to me and that I need to conduct a test to find out? "

Man:" Then why did u make sin and virtue? "

God:" Why I would I, God, make such thing as sin?"

Man:" Yes lord. It wasn't you, it was Satan who created Sin, in rebellion against you . "

God:" But as per you it was I who created Satan, because, as per you, nothing happens without my will, no?

Man:" But satan rebelled, Didn't he Lord?"

God: "Could this alleged rebellion have happened without my will, my being almighty and all? Or cud I have been unaware of the future while making him, being omniscient either?"

Man: "Lord I am highly confused!"

God: " It's simple. You have beliefs that your almighty and all knowing God created Satan, who created sin in rebellion with him,no?
Now these beliefs are contradictory as well as mutually exclusive & therfore cant all be true at the same time. Therefore there can't be no such thing as a God-Satan duality or if Satan exists then there can't be no such thing as a God. And if everything happens in the world by my will, why would I torture u for an eternity for being an agency of my own will?"

Man:"Then these books I have been following my whole life?"


God:" I never wrote a Book and why would I need a Book or a person or any medium to get to you. I should have given everything to you when I created you or not? So I did. I gave you wisdom, rationale, distinction of Good and Bad. Now live ur life freely with happiness. Tell me did u feel right when giving pain to others?"

Man:" Not at all, but while giving pain to others, I was thinking of myself as fighting being your soldier, so that those who don't believe in you are eliminated and your kingdom should be everywhere. "

God:" When I alone is the creator, father and master of whole infinite universe of Billions of galaxies  stars, planets, then where is the question of wars & kingdoms on specks of planets to be won and lost?

Man: "Then plz tell me, what is there at all after death?"

God:" Nothing! Death is the end, period."

 
Man:"Nothing after death? Then what's the objective of living the life?"

God: "The only objective of the life is to live this beautiful wonderful life with joy, happiness and bliss. What could be a greater objective!"

Man: "OoooooKkkkkkk! Now I see, but Plz tell me. All these religions, do they all worship you actually?"

God: "Only those worship me who love all humans, animals, beings, things i.e. all my children."

Man : "Is this form your true form?"
God: "Whatever you form u see me in your mind and imagination that is my form. Otherwise all animals, things, you yourself are my forms. Why should I need a form like a human or why should that only be my form."

Man:"Lord, if there is no Heaven or Hell, where do u live? What is this place?"

God: " I am everywhere. In each and every living being and thing, in every particle. And this place here where we are talking is in your own mind."

Man: "Then can I talk to you anytime?"
God: "Why not? Whenever u in a peaceful state ask your mind a question, you will get my answer too."

Man: "God then isnt it wrong that People are fighting and slaughtering  each other over difference in Belifs, religions, scriptures etc? Why don't u do something?"

God:" I already did. I gave everyone wisdom and thinking capability. Do they use it? They simply follow whatever they see their parents, elders, peers doing. Why don't they apply their own minds to what they are told. "

Man:" Then how come u talked to me today then?"
God:" Because u had conflicts and grave doubts about what you were doing. That's why I am asking your question from inside your own mind. "

Man:" Now I get it. Now if I go back, I tell spread your message to everyone, all my life. "

God :" No. You didn't get it even now. Don't live and do things for me. Live for urself with joy. Love others, love the world, love the life, love urself. Not for me but because it feels Good. "

Man:" Oh! Now I see it. Wonderful is your creation."

He bowed in deference. When he rose there was no one around. It was dark. He had a feeling of falling, falling continuously for long, then he passed out.

When he again opened his eyes, this time he found himself in an ICU of an hospital. His wife, his kids had gathered around him. His family was crying as well as smiling.

They told him, he had an accident an dhis heart had stopped. Doctors declared him dead and were going to keep him in the morgue when suddenly there was a spasm in his body and his breath returned.
All were taking it as a God's Miracle.

He smiled and embraced his family.

When coming out of the hospital he saw an old man cleaning the stairs. The old man smiled at him and went on with his work.