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Adie |
Topic: A Brief Introduction To Hinduism
Posted: 2004-08-06 @ 20:26:19
The Hindu Concept of Ultimate Reality
Hinduism shares the five common concepts of South Asian religions: reincarnation, karma, enlightenment, desire, and dharma. Samsara (reincarnation) is the cycle of birth, death, and rebirth through which karma (cause and effect through actions) is acquired. Samsara can place a person in either a position closer to or farther away from enlightenment depending on their karma. When samsara is complete, enlightenment occurs. Desire is the human need or want for material gain, and dharma is the duty one must fulfill throughout the course of life.
In Hinduism, the eternal soul, Atman, is connected to and a part of the Ultimate Reality, Brahman. It is through the biological self that the Atman is transported, and karma is acquired. Although there are two levels of reality, ultimate (Brahman) and penultimate (biological being), both levels are recognized as real and necessary. Attachment to either the spiritual or material aspect of life is done in avidya (ignorance) and confusion between the two realities is an error of maya (illusion). To stay in maya means that moksha (liberation from the cycle of rebirth, enlightenment) will never occur.
Brahman is the Ultimate Reality, and is primarily an impersonal god. Once the Atman achieves moksha, the Atman becomes a part of Brahman. Personal gods, Brahman, Vishnu, and Shiva, are worshipped as a means of contacting the Ultimate Reality. The personal gods take three hundred million different avatars (earthly manifestations) of the gods they represent. By paying homage to an avatar, the Ultimate Reality is also being honoured. For the Atman to achieve moksha and become a part of Brahman, good karma must be acquired through dharma.
How Ultimate Reality is Known in Hinduism
There are many paths to enlightenment in Hinduism. One of which, the most common, is through karma yoga, a system of discipline through actions. In karma yoga, enlightenment is achieved only by men of the highest caste, the Brahmins (priests). The other castes, Kshatriyas (warriors and noblemen), Vaishyas (craftsmen), and Shudras (unskilled labourers) can acquire good karma through dharma and can hope to be reborn as a male Brahmin in their next life. The Laws of Manu set the guidelines for what actions should be taken according to gender, caste, and stage of life. The Bhagavad-Gita adds that dharma should be carried out with an attitude of detachment and should be viewed as sacrifices to the Ultimate Reality.
There are four stages of life within Hindu culture. To reach enlightenment, a person must fulfill the dharma for each stage of life. The first stage is the student, who prepares himself for a life of comfort materially and spiritually through education. The second stage, householder, creates a family and raises his children. When his children are grown, he becomes a forest-dweller and begins to renounce his material identity. In old age, he becomes a renuncient, and prepares his spiritual self for his journey either into enlightenment or another life. Women have a different set of duties; they must completely honour their fathers, husbands, and sons, and must create a life around the fulfillment of the men in their life’s needs.
In order to escape maya, each Hindu must first realize that everything is a part of god, and god is a part of everything. This is declared as tat tvam asi, which translates to “that is you.” “That” means Brahman, and “you” means the Atman. It is with this first admittance that the path to enlightenment occurs. Through karma, dharma to caste, gender, and stage of life, and the realization of tat tvam asi, enlightenment can be reached and the cycle of rebirth can be completed.
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