One of the basic problem in discussing Hindusism
is that no body knows what it is.
It is different for each person.
It is not a unified system but a collection of systems
which are so different that most of them contradict the
other at one level or other.
All systems of Hindu philosophy are based on the
experiences of sages of ancient India. Since each had
different experiences, each developed a different system.
Because of this it is difficult to di s cuss Hinduism
coherently until we define what we mean by the term.
Hence it is easy for the Hindu to slip away from the evil
that is hidden within by saying that it is not part of
Hinduism. Dissociating anything that is opposed by the
critic one can distill the religion and isolate an
idealistic part. At the same time it can permit and
assist errors and evil when it profit the person.
Everything can be explained away.
Hence we are going to look at Hinduism at varying levels.
At the intellectual level it is only a philosophy.
It is entirely based on intellectual enquiry and not
based on God experience.
On the mystic level o n the other hand it is based only
on subjective spiritual and mystical experience of
people.
On the practical level Hinduism is totally different. It
is not based on any historical verifiable revelation of
God. Thus objective verification of claims are out of
place. On the practical level it can be anything from
black magic, witchcraft to erotic orgy on one side to
bhakthi and submission and asceticism on the other.
All systems of Indian philosophy have for their ultimate
goal, the spiritual freedom or Moksha, which terminates
all sorrows and sufferings and endows a state of enduring
bliss. But this is only on the ultimate level which is
not always discussed at the mundane level. At this level
Hinduism reduces to a means of attaining temperal ends.
For this purpose temperal lower gods are created and
worshipped. This temperal gains cover up and hide away
the ultimate mukthi.
What is the ultimate bliss
is defined differently by different system.
To some it is ceasing to exist to total annihilation.
Then we do not have sorrow or sickness nor joy or
happiness.
For others it is not really annihilation, but being one
with God, never to fall into the trappings of life. It is
a conscious inactivity. If you talk to a common Hindu,
his visions are different. He is still thinking of lif e
where there are no problems i.e a continuation of life
with joy and happiness. There are six Darsanas viz,Nyaya,
Vaiseshika, Sankhya, Yoga, Purva Mimamsa and Vedanta. We
do not hear much about any other today than Vedanta. This
is because this is currently the hot export item. The
Hindu Maharishies extensively export this with various
flavors. If one reads through their brands we will never
recognise any similarity. This is not accidental because
that is the very essence of Hinduism - whether it is good
or bad.
|
