Comments on: Hinduism: Myth vs. Reality

By: Hari

Hari — Fri, 03 Sep 2010 10:56:29 +0000

I agree that the rate of variation between Hinduism and Islam and Christianity is different. But aspects like Sufism in Islam and Gnosticism in Christianity extend way beyond the traditional boundaries set by the Koran or the Bible.

By: Lakshmi rajan

Lakshmi rajan — Fri, 03 Sep 2010 05:25:05 +0000

They might be evolving but they have to evolve within their own strict codes. Islam can’t evolve beyond the tenets of Koran. Christianity can’t go beyond the gospels of Jesus. Yes they do evolve but not when we take the varied stance of Hinduism. Hinduism has a flavour for everyone – Samkhya, Yoga, Nyaya, Vaisheshika, Mimamsa, Vedanta. One can find, invent and reinvent any version unlike the monotheistic religions.

By: Ajay

Ajay — Fri, 03 Sep 2010 04:54:35 +0000

@Lakshmi

Good one abt th open source! so true! :)

By: Hari

Hari — Thu, 02 Sep 2010 11:32:09 +0000

I think you hit it on the nail Lakshmi Rajan. I liked your IT reference. But I think that there is a lot of reinventing going on in the Abrahamic religions as well. Looking from afar we might think that Abrahamic religions are not evolving or reinventing but that might be the same way they might be looking at us.

By: Lakshmi rajan

Lakshmi rajan — Thu, 02 Sep 2010 05:16:20 +0000

The confusion today with religion and Hinduism is with the advent of monotheistic religions. Hinduism was never considered in old days as a single entity of religion as Christianity or Islam is. It is a way of life and many groups have their own way of life. Loosely, it derived various inspiration from vedic sampradayas to various degree during various period. In short, Hinduism is kind of open source technology where people can invent and reinvent the knowledge where as Abrahamic religions are proprietary institutions.

By: Hari

Hari — Wed, 01 Sep 2010 21:50:48 +0000

Hello Keerthana,

Your last sentence is a good one. I think some of us are afraid to question because in many cases we know the answer and the answer makes us uncomfortable. We are much more comfortable ignoring the whole issue.

By: Hari

Hari — Wed, 01 Sep 2010 21:43:36 +0000

Welcome Ujjwal. Thank you for providing your feedback. I am familiar with the concepts of Karma and Re-incarnation (I am no expert). I always wonder why Indians have to learn about our language, culture, religions and so on, on our own. Why do we not learn about all this when we are in school?

By: Ujjwal Trivedi

Ujjwal Trivedi — Wed, 01 Sep 2010 21:05:06 +0000

Some of your understanding is quite correct. Hinduism is a group of faiths.

“Hindu” the word itself is foreign. Everyone that Arabs found on this side of river ‘Sindhu’ were called Hindu. The real name of the religion most of the hindus follow is ‘Sanatan Dharma’. There are various streams of faith in it. You can read more about it in Wikipaedia.

If you want to know more about Karma and re-incarnation you must study ‘Geeta’.

By: keerthana

keerthana — Wed, 01 Sep 2010 14:11:39 +0000

From the time I was a kid, I’m disgusted by the rituals performed unnecessarily by people at home or otherwise without even knowing their significance/meaning. I think most people in India just don’t have a conscience, they just do what people around them are doing. They are scared to question their beliefs.

By: Hari

Hari — Tue, 31 Aug 2010 21:34:15 +0000

I liked your environmental message at the end. We should not get too close to god. It is in our best interests to maintain a safe distance :)

By: Nalini Hebbar

Nalini Hebbar — Tue, 31 Aug 2010 02:36:47 +0000

For those how are superficially involved in the customs and traditions of the Hindu way of worship of Gods without questioning their meaning and intention are indeed following Mystical Hinduism.
I would say that Hinduism is not a religion at all, it has become a set of rituals/customs that make you Indian more than anything else!
God was never in the picture as is now. Astavakra Gita talks about an energy…may be the sun…that is the supreme entity…if you wish to call that energy ‘GOD’, so be it!

On a lighter note…though one respects and is in awe of the Sun, one shouldn’t try to dissolve the Ozone layer just to feel its presence a little more!

By: Hari

Hari — Fri, 27 Aug 2010 10:52:35 +0000

Welcome and thank you for your feedback Abhishek. You are right about religion having no boundaries. Hinduism is a great example.

By: Abhishek

Abhishek — Fri, 27 Aug 2010 03:42:34 +0000

A religion is not a writeup, it’s a faith. And there are no clear boundaries to it.

Well-thought-of post.

By: Hari

Hari — Wed, 25 Aug 2010 21:05:32 +0000

Thank you for attaching the link. TED is a great site and the speech by Devdutt was very informative. I am not sure whether I agree with all of what he says (the concept of One and Infinity is not necessarily East vs. Western thought. The Greek and the Roman mythologies were as much about infinity as the Indian was).

By: YAYAVER

YAYAVER — Wed, 25 Aug 2010 13:00:18 +0000

What an amazing coincidence, i was reading about it yesterday only. WATCH this

http://www.ted.com/talks/devdutt_pattanaik.html