What is your belief of Hinduism?

Answer 1

Hinduism is one of the oldest known organized religions - it's sacred writings date as far back as 1400 to 1500 B.C. It is also one of the most diverse and complex, having millions of gods. Hindus have a wide variety of core beliefs and exist in many different sects. Although it is the third largest religion in the world, Hinduism exists primarily in India and Nepal.

It is more than a religion. It is a set of instructions that tell how to live a virtuous life. Hinduism originated in India but people practice the religion all over the world in places like Maldives, Cambodia, Malaysia, Nepal and Srilanka.

Though Hinduism is often understood as being polytheistic, supposedly recognizing as many as 330 million gods, it also has one "god" that is supreme - Brahman. Brahman is an entity believed to inhabit every portion of reality and existence throughout the entire universe. Brahman is both impersonal and unknowable and is often believed to exist in three separate forms: Brahma - Creator; Vishnu - Preserver; and Shiva - Destroyer. These "facets" of Brahman are also known through the many other incarnations of each. It is difficult to summarize Hindu theology since the various Hindu schools contain elements of almost every theological system.

Hinduism can be:

1. Monastic - Only one thing exists; Sankara's school
2. Pantheistic - Only one divine thing exists so that God is identical to the world; Brahmanism
3. Pantheistic - The world is part of God; Ramanuja's School
4. Theistic - Only one God, distinct from Creation; Bhakti Hinduism.

Observing other schools, Hinduism can also be atheistic, deistic, or even nihilistic. With such diversity included under the title "Hindu," one may wonder what makes them "Hindu" in the first place. About the only real issue is whether or not a belief system recognizes the Vedas as sacred. If it does, then it is Hindu. If not, then it is not Hindu.

Answer 2

There is basic agreement on what is accepted to be Hinduism whilst there is great diversity between different schools. These are the law of Karma (each person brings the 'effect' of their actions in their past live/lives into this one and one's deeds into this one will affect our next birth), re-incarnation (life is a cycle of birth and death until this is broken by one's efforts to rid ourselves of all our desires to achieve liberation (moksha)), most people still believe in the Caste System (although several reformers including Gandhi have attempted to eradicate this) - that one's station in life is due also to our past actions (karma) and that one should attempt become 'egoless' by continuous service (can be work) and self-sacrifice. Most schools believe in praying to various gods and goddesses to bring them good luck and rid themselves of bad habits but this is not essential and and other more spiritual schools (Arya Samaj) reject idol worship and caste barriers altogether.

It is my culture, it is my guide to life.

Answer 3

Hinduism does not have one commonly acceptable belief. Many variations have crept into Hinduism over last 3000 years. Almost all beliefs conflict with each other.

1) Hindus believe in three-in-one God as Brahman. Brahman comprises Brahma (the creator), Vishnu (the preserver) and Shiva (the destroyer).

2) Hindus worship not only these three but they also worship the three wives of these Gods known as Sarasvati, Laxmi and Parvati or Kali. Besides, there are 330 million Gods. The most conflicting aspect of this belief in God is that Hinduism is polytheistic and pantheistic both.

3) Hinduism professes that all living being are Brahman, yet they believe in caste system. It has divided all living beings into four classes, viz., Brahman the priestly class, Kshatriya, the warriors and rulers, Vaishyas, merchants and farmers and Shudra the labourers. Those who do not fall into any of the cast system they call them untouchables or the outcast of Hindu society. None belongs to a particular cast by choice, but their caste is decided only when one is born into it.

4) In Hinduism, there is not one path to salvation or Moksha, but three. Their most preferred path to salvation is Karma. Karma is the effects of a person's actions that determine their fate in this life and the next incarnation. Way of Knowledge or is the second way of salvation. In Hinduism, ignorance is the main cause of human bondage to the cycle of rebirths. In Hinduism, one can attain salvation by shunning the mistaken belief that we are not individual self, but the one conjoined to the ultimate divine reality, that is Brahman. The third and final path to salvation is the way of devotion, or Bhakti yoga. Bhakti yoga involves self-surrender to any of the one among 330 million Gods. Worship, observance of rituals and pilgrimages is the part of Bhakti yoga.

5) One of the most popular doctrines of Hinduism is belief in reincarnation. According to this doctrine, a person may be reborn successively into one of five classes of living beings depending on the person's own actions. Hinduism believes that if one performs a good Karma he would be reborn into a higher caste. Bad Karma would relegate him into a lower caste, or he may be forced to lead a life of an animal in their next life.

6) Nirvana is yet another Hindu belief, which is the ultimate goal of every Hindu. One can attain Nirvana only after the release of the soul from the seemingly endless cycles of rebirths.