Nine Beliefs of Hinduism

Beliefs are the building blocks of the mind. Our beliefs determine our thoughts and attitudes about life, which in turn direct our actions. By our actions we create our destiny. Beliefs about sacred matters�God, man and cosmos�are essential to one�s approach to enlightenment. But beliefs are not mere matters of agreement. They are what we value and hold as true. Hindus believe many diverse things, but there are a few bedrock concepts on which most Hindus concur. The following nine beliefs, though not exhaustive, offer a simple summary of Hindu spirituality.

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Hinduism vs Christianity: Hindu beliefs compared with Christian beliefs

Read more here: » Hinduism vs Christianity: Hindu beliefs compared with Christian beliefs

Hinduism and Maya

According to Hinduism, the world around us is not real, because it is impermanent and ever changing. The world in which we live is a world of ignorance and falsehood or untruth, called Asat, in contrast to Sat or the world of Truth that exists beyond it, where neither the mind, nor any of the senses can ever reach even remotely.

Read more here: » Hinduism and Maya: Hinduism and Belief in Maya

KARMA and REINCARNATION

The twin beliefs of karma and reincarnation are among Hinduism's many jewels of knowledge. Others include dharma or our pattern of religious conduct, worshipful communion with God and Gods, the necessary guidance of the Sat Guru, and finally enlightenment through personal realization of our identity in and with God. So the strong-shouldered and keen-minded rishis knew and stated in the Vedas.

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Four Facts of Hinduism

About Karma, Reincarnation, Dharma and Worship.

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An origin belief is any story or explanation that describes the beginnings of humanity, earth, life, and the universe (cosmogony). Such beliefs can be derived from many different venues including scientific investigation, metaphysical speculation, or religious belief. As with any set of beliefs, opinions regarding the validity of particular origins beliefs differ —points of view on these subjects vary widely. Origin belief - Creation myths. Origins beliefs commonly refer to creation myths — mytho ...

Including:

• Origin belief - Creation myths
• Origin belief - Science-based beliefs
• Origin belief - Accepted mainstream scientific theories
• Origin belief - Beliefs grounded in philosophical naturalism
• Origin belief - Creation ex nihilo
• Origin belief - Religious creation beliefs
• Origin belief - Limits to the ontology of creation
• Origin belief - Creation within various belief systems
• Origin belief - Babylonia
• Origin belief - Buddhism
• Origin belief - China
• Origin belief - Christianity
• Origin belief - The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
• Origin belief - Creek
• Origin belief - Egyptian
• Origin belief - Classical Greece
• Origin belief - Hinduism
• Origin belief - Hopi
• Origin belief - Hmong
• Origin belief - Inca
• Origin belief - Islam
• Origin belief - Japan
• Origin belief - Jainism
• Origin belief - Judaism
• Origin belief - Maya
• Origin belief - Māori
• Origin belief - Navajo
• Origin belief - Norse
• Origin belief - Polynesian
• Origin belief - Randomness
• Origin belief - Sami
• Origin belief - Surat Shabda Yoga
• Origin belief - Taoism
• Origin belief - Zen
• Origin belief - Zoroastrianism

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What is Hinduism?

I will answer it simply, first by first asking if you ever heard of a religion called Jordanism? No, you haven't. But let us juxtapose it to Hinduism. Along the Jordan River Christianity, Islam and Judaism came up. Jordanism could become a modern word to name all three of these religions, which do have similar beliefs and practices. But, like the denominations now under the banner name of Hinduism, they are also three separate religions.

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What is the Hindu definition of God -monotheistic or polytheistic?

There is much confusion about this, not among Hindus but among those on the outside looking in.

Hinduism is both a monotheistic and a henotheistic religion. Hindus believe in one supreme God who created the universe and who is worshipped as Light, Love and Consciousness. Hindus were never polytheistic, but were always henotheistic. Henotheism is defined by Webster's as "the belief in or worship of one God without denying the existence of others."

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Kanada does not openly refer to God in his Sutras. His belief was that the formation of the world was the result of Adrishta, the unseen force of Karmas or acts. He traces the primal activities of the atoms and souls to the principle of Adrishta.

Excerpt from All About Hinduism by Sri Swami Sivananda

Read more here: » Adrishta: Vedic Philosophy - The Principle Of Adrishta And Its Inadequacies

A clear understanding of mans relation to God is a matter of momentous importance to students of philosophy and to all aspirants. Philosophers, prophets, saints, sages, thinkers, Acharyas and great religious leaders of the world have tried to explain the relation of man to God and the universe. Various schools of philosophy and different kinds of religious beliefs have come into existence, on account of various explanations given by different philosophers.

Excerpt from All About Hinduism by Sri Swami Sivananda

Read more here: » Hindu Philosophy: Hindu Philosophy and its Various Schools and Systems

Soma and Ananda

The Vedic ritual reaches its climax in the Soma offering, in which specially prepared plant juices are offered into the sacred fire (Agni) as the drink of the Gods. But this ancient ritual reflects a deeper internal ritual or alchemy of awareness that is its real import. In exploring this process, we will discover many secrets of the practice of Yoga, including the path of Self-inquiry or Jnana Yoga.

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What is Dharma? Dharma is so called, because it holds; Dharma alone holds the people, etc. The word Dharma is derived from the root Dhr - to hold - and its etymological meaning is that which holds this world, or the people of the world, or the whole creation from the microcosm to the macrocosm.

Dharma is generally defined as righteousness or duty. Dharma is the principle of righteousness. It is the principle of holiness. It is also the principle of unity.

Excerpt from All About Hinduism by Sri Swami Sivananda

Read more here: » Dharma: Definition Of Dharma

Excerpt from All About Hinduism by Sri Swami Sivananda

Read more here: » Asrama Dharma: Asrama Dharma Under Modern Conditions

In Satya-Yuga or the golden age there was a different set of Dharmas or laws; in Treta, they changed into another form; in Dvapara, the Dharmas were different from the Dharmas of other Yugas; and in Kali-Yuga, they assumed still another form. The Dharma changes according to the changes of the cycles. Man is undergoing change. His nature gets transformed through experiences. Hence, his external form of Dharmas also should change.

Excerpt from All About Hinduism by Sri Swami Sivananda

Read more here: » Dharma: Yuga Dharma

Grihastha or householder: The household stage is entered at marriage, when the student has completed his studentship and is ready to take up the duties and responsibilities of householder life. Of all the Asramas, this is the most important, because it supports all the others

Excerpt from All About Hinduism by Sri Swami Sivananda

Read more here: » Sanatana Dharma: The Grihastha or the Householder in Sanatana Dharma

The third stage is that of the Varnaprastha. Brahmacharya is a preparation for the life of the householder. Even so, Vanaprastha is a preparation for the final stage of Sannyasa. After discharging all the duties of a householder, he should retire to the forest or a solitary country place and begin to meditate in solitude on higher spiritual things

Excerpt from All About Hinduism by Sri Swami Sivananda

Read more here: » Sanatana Dharma: The Vanaprastha or the Recluse in Sanatana Dharma

The next stage is that of a Sannyasin. When a man becomes a Sannyasin, he renounces all possessions, all distinctions of caste, all rites and ceremonies and all attachments to any particular country, nation, or religion. He lives alone and spends his time in meditation. He lives on alms. When he attains the sublime state of deep meditation he rejoices in his own Self.

Excerpt from All About Hinduism by Sri Swami Sivananda

Read more here: » Sanatana Dharma: The Sannyasin or the Renunciate in Sanatana Dharma

Truth must be observed in thought, word and deed. If you are established in truth, all other virtues will cling to you by themselves

Excerpt from All About Hinduism by Sri Swami Sivananda

Read more here: » Truth: Truth and Ahimsa

The four Vedas, the Smriti texts, the behaviour of those who have entered into their spirit and act according to their injunctions, the conduct of holy men and satisfaction of ones own self - these are the bases of Dharma, according to Manu.

Excerpt from All About Hinduism by Sri Swami Sivananda

Read more here: » Dharma: The Sole Authority Of The Vedas for Hindu Dharma