Anda di halaman 1dari 3

KOL1712

Recognized widely as the oldest religion in the world, Hinduism remains to be an essential part of the greater population. As Sri Aurobindo incurred, it cannot be deemed as a mere religion. It is something much more vast and complex, a way of life. Hinduism defines the manner in which many people live their daily lives. Many people have wondered how Hinduism has lasted for thousands of years and has remained as one of the worlds largest major religions. This lies in the fact that Hinduism is not a firm set of beliefs that fade over time it is a diverse and rich system that only strengthens as people practice it. It is true that Hinduism is predominantly practiced in the Indian subcontinent. However, many other religions also thrive in that area, mainly due to the tolerance of all beliefs that is one of the components of Hinduism. As Swami Vivekananda once stated May He who is the Brahman of the Hindus, the Ahura-Mazda of the Zoroastrians, the Buddha of the Buddhists, the Jehovah of the Jews, the Father in Heaven of the Christians give strength to you to carry out your noble idea. The majority of other countries are not as culturally diverse as India and this itself exemplifies how Hinduism unites the many groups and masses of the nation. Another concept of Hinduism that demonstrates unity is that all the deities of the religion are not different entities. They are merely various aspects or facets of the ultimate Supreme Being, something that many do not understand. For this reason, Hinduism is often considered monotheistic, polytheistic, and henotheistic depending on the viewpoint. The ultimate goal of any Hindu is to attain moksha, or salvation from the cycle of death and rebirth. However, it is believed that a human need not be Hindu to attain this goal. According to Hinduism, moksha can be attained based on an individuals level of selflessness, detachment from material needs, and spirituality. Thus Hinduism intertwines the basic concepts of humanity with understanding the

KOL1712

KOL1712 essence of God. It is a basis for all religions and for all manners of living. In fact, it was once the only way to live. As previously stated, Hinduism links religion, realization, and aspiration as it is much more complex than being a mere religion. The ultimate goal of every Hindu is to realize that there is no other life than to unite with God, to be free of all earthly ambitions and desires. This self-realization is what inspires an individual to be devout and pray. Religion is a system that often consists of a set of cultural beliefs that one can identify themselves as being a part of. It is something that guides you to attain self-liberation, but the attaining of this goal is something that must be done individually. Religion, when considering Hinduism, provides rules to help one understand how to attain self-actualization. This realization is the goal of Hinduism, and it is achieved when one does not identify themselves through earthly bonds. They must realize that there everything is God, and humans are merely forces driven by the Supreme Being. For one who understands religion thoroughly, this self-realization should be their only aspiration. An example is one such man named Kancherla Gopanna, more commonly known as Sri Ramadasu. His story revolves around his extreme devotion to Lord Rama despite the suffering he went through. After wrongly being framed for misusing the taxes of Sultan Tana Shah to build a temple in Badrachalam, Sri Ramadasu was imprisoned for twelve years where he composed many classical songs that depicted his surrender to the Lord. Soon after his imprisonment, Lord Rama was said to appear in his dream and promise him salvation. This story exemplifies how Gopanna never let earthly desires overcome his dedication to his Lord. In his mind, he had already become one with Shri Rama.

KOL1712

KOL1712 As Sri Aurobindo stated, Hinduism is not a mere religion it is too diverse and complex to be one. It is something that definitely involves religion, but also aspirations, values, and realization of what is most important surrendering to God. You need not be a Hindu to fulfill these goals, and it is this thought that binds Hinduism to all other religions. Above all, an individual must be humane and understand that the Supreme Lord is in every atom of the universe and every cell in our bodies. We cannot separate ourselves from the Almighty.

KOL1712

Anda mungkin juga menyukai