Hinduism:

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Hinduism The Origin of the Eastern Worldview
It is estimated that between 11 and 14 percent of
the worlds population are adherents to the Hindu
religion It is the third largest religion in the
world. The vast majority of Hindus some 750
million live in India, where they account for
85 of the population. Hindus also comprise a
significant portion of the population in Nepal
(89), Fiji (41), Trinidad (25), Surinam (28),
and Bhutan (25) to name a few. There are around
1.5 million Hindus in the U.S.
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Hinduisms Origins
The origins of Hinduism can be traced back to
around 1500 B.C. (prehistoric), in what is now
India. In its origins, it is a ritualistic
religion, while in its modern form, it is rooted
in internal meditation. Hinduism can be
difficult to study because of the diversity of
belief that is included the path of any seeker
is given credence (at least to a certain extent
belief in pluralism does not always equal
practice).
The Vedas (knowledge) (1200 B.C. 800 B.C.) The
earliest, and most sacred documents in the Hindu
religion are called the Vedas the Vedas are a
collection of prayers, chants, incantations, and
meditative musings. They were initially written
as instructions for priests as to how believers
should perform the rituals of the religion
however, as a result of the Upanishads, they have
become a more personal document they are used
by some Hindu believers.
The Upanishads (to end/conclude) (800 B.C. 300
B.C.) The equivalent to the Christian New
Testament, are a series of stories called the
Upanishads. These stories expound the idea that
behind the many gods of this world stands one
Ultimate Reality, which the Hindus refer to as
Brahman however, as much as Hinduism is
monotheistic, it has elements of polytheism,
pantheism, and panentheism.
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The Bhagavad Gita (Song of the Lord)
The Bhagavad Gita is the highest expression of
philosophical Hinduism. It is a chapter of the
immense Indian epic, the Mahabharata, the saga of
the war between the Pandavas and the Kauravas.
Arjuna, hero of the Pandavas, is about to
confront the army of the Kauravas on the
battlefield. Among the opposing army are his
friends and relatives. Convinced that it would be
wrong to kill his own kinsmen, Arjuna is overcome
by despair. He lays down his bow and declares
that he will not fight. The God Vishnu,
incarnated as the charioteer Krishna, explains
that Arjuna should do his duty and do battle. The
human soul, which participates in the universal
soul, is immortal - therefore no-one is actually
slain. If people perform the duties appropriate
to their station, without attachment to success
or failure, then they cannot be stained by
action. The Bhagavad Gita is an expression of
the Hindu philosophy that God is in all things,
and all things are in God. It contains probably
the most powerful expression of pantheism in
world scripture. The one God is the pinnacle of
all things - the radiant sun of lights, the
guiding light of sensory organs, the intellect of
beings, the ocean of waters, the Himalayas of
mountain ranges, the Ganges of rivers. He is also
the inherent essence of everything - including
evil. He is the gambling of rogues, the courage
of the courageous, the rod of disciplinarians,
the statecraft of politicians, the knowledge of
the knowing.
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The Importance of Hindu Scripture
It is doubtful if modern day Hinduism would buy
the argument that these and these alone (and any
other religious book for that matter) would
ensure salvation to an individual, although it
does emphasize that one should live and act in
accordance with ones own dharma and the
scriptures. Those who still trust their religious
validity look for new meaning in them, while
others look elsewhere for answers to their
perplexing questions. The skepticism of a modern
day Hindu, or perhaps their indifference or lack
of interest towards all religious literature, is
born out of the unlimited freedom Hinduism offers
to humans in their search for truth. Each person
alone has the solace and the comfortable feeling
of assurance that his/her religion and his/her
scriptures give liberty to pursue truth in
his/her own way.
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The Hindu Life

• Ultimately, Brahman is an impersonal oneness
  that is beyond all distinctions, a being who is
  entirely transcendent, yet is the essence of
  everything.
• The universal soul, known as the Atman, is one
  with Brahman and is representative of the true
  self. Just as the air inside an open jar is the
  same as the air that surrounds it, so our essence
  is identical to that of Brahman it is the job
  of every Hindu to open the jar.
• Humanitys primary problem, according to the
  Hindu, is our ignorance to our divine nature. We
  have forgotten that we are extended from Brahman
  and so we mistakenly attach ourselves to the
  desires of our separate self (jiva) and thereby
  suffer the consequences. Because of our
  attachment to desire and individualistic
  existence, we are all subject to the law of
  karma.
• The Law of Karma is the moral equivalent to the
  natural law of cause and effect. Every action,
  good or bad, produces a just and definite
  reaction. Moreover, the cumulative effects of
  our actions, follow us not only in our present
  lifetime, but in lives to come.

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• Reincarnation (Transmigration of the Soul), is
  the Hindu concept that the soul is transferred
  into another body after death. This is the
  ever-revolving wheel of life, death, and rebirth
  (samsara). A persons karma determines the kind
  of body (any living being) into which he or she
  will inhabit in the next life. Through pure
  acts, thoughts, and devotion, one can be reborn
  at a higher level. Likewise, bad deeds can cause
  a person to be reborn at a lower level. The
  unequal distribution of wealth, prestige, and
  suffering are thus seen as the natural result of
  karma.
• In acknowledging the truth of the above
  process, Hindus organize their lives around
  certain activities, known as purusharthas (the
  doctrine of the fourfold end of life).
• dharma righteousness in religious life
  sacredness of all life
• artha success in economic life material
  prosperity
• kama gratification of the senses pleasurable
  existence
• moksha liberation from the cycle of rebirth

Liberation (moksha), is attained through
the realization that the concept of the
individual self (jiva) is an illusion and that
only the undifferentiated oneness of Brahman is
real. Detachment from self and the illusion that
is the material world (maya) is the the path to
liberation.
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Important Hindu Terms
Puja the act of showing reverence to a god or
to aspects of the divine through prayers, songs,
and rituals. The essential part of puja for the
Hindu is making a spiritual connection with a
deity. Home pujas do not require a priest temple
pujas typically are led by a priest. Ahimsa
doctrine of nonviolence to all life, which is the
basis for Hindu vegetarianism. This stand was
personified in Gandhi. Guru one who shows by
example a spiritual path to follow. Tilak
Generally, no religious work should begin without
a tilak on the forehead. There are 13 places on
the body where the tilak can be placed, however,
it is only on the forehead that it is noble. The
head is the summit of the body with the brain
being the axis of the entire body. The wearing
of the tilak is a symbol of worship and devotion,
differentiated by color for the deity of the
particular sect. Yoga (means path) Bhakti
(means intense love for God), Karma (is often
called the path of right action), Jnana
(described as the way to God through intellectual
ability).