Hinduism

 

 

Hinduism is an ancient and vast religion. Hinduism is often considered a way of life as much as a religion. There is little conformity in the religion, so the practices are very varied. Hence, it is difficult to give an all encompassing summary of the Hindu beliefs. Across the board, there are four major concepts in Hinduism, the deities, the endless cycle of rebirth, karma, and dharma.

 

One thing that makes Hinduism very different from western religion is its belief in a multitude of deities. There are gods of life, death, sorrow, wealth, fertility, destruction, and nearly anything else. Some deities are regional and others common to all forms of Hinduism. Most important deities are probably Brahma, the creator; Vishnu, the sustainer; and Shiva, the destroyer. These three are all the different incarnations of the same entity, and together sustain the cycle of the universe.

Hinduism believes in an endless cycle of life and death for all beings. Humans, animals, plants, even the universe follow this cycle. When one dies, one will be reborn into a new form. The universe also follows the same cycle. Brahma creates the universe and all the other deities. Then Brahma takes the form of Vishnu, who sustains the universe. Finally, in the end, Shiva comes and destroys, but cleanses the universe, only for it to be reborn again.

Dictating this cycle of death and rebirth is a force or concept called karma. Karma is the idea that all actions will have an equal reaction come back on the doer of the action. If one is good, good things will happen to them, if one is bad, bad things may happen. More than just explaining the cause and effects of life, karma is attached to the soul. Karma travels with the soul after death, and dictates what form a soul will be reborn in. If one was good in their past life, one will be reborn in a higher caste/form and if one was bad, the caste/form will be lower. Karma carries on from life to life, traveling with the soul with the soul. It may affect one’s present life based on the actions in a past life, or actions from the present.

Ultimately, karma explains the cause and effect of life. It says that if one leads a good life, one will benefit either in this life or a later life. Karma also explains that hardship, even seemingly unwarranted, was caused by the recipient, though this may have been in a past life one cannot remember. In many ways karma is similar to the western idea of faith, and provides a way to accept life. By Hindu belief one should tolerate and accept whatever happens to them as karma, and just do their best to live with it. Karma also gives one incentive to live a good life.

The question left is what defines a “good life.” Hinduism has created another concept, called dharma, which explains how one should live their life. Dharma can roughly be translated as duty, but is much more complicated than duty. To follow dharma one must try their hardest to do their duty. Duty to one’s family, one’s work, one’s self, the duties included in dharma are endless. Dharma also says that it is important to fulfill all of one’s duties before moving on to other things. This concept is strongly incorporated into the caste system. Following dharma is difficult; often doing one duty may conflict with another. A delicate balance must be reached between different duties, and some duties are naturally more important than others. One’s ultimate goal in life should be to fulfill the dharma, regardless of cost. This will make one’s life full, and cause positive karma. Dharma provides the code by which one should live their life, and also tries to teach the cold truth that there are many unpleasant things in life which must be accepted before one can move onward.