Preface

For one, to be proud of the possession of an object, material or an abstract thing, the possession must be a rare and great one. In the present context, It is like the story of a prince, who was lost in childhood itself and when grew up did not know that he was the king of the very state. What has to be done to enable the king to discover himself and recover from pettiness? Obviously he has to be informed of the fact. Again what is to be done to protect the kingdom and perpetuate the glory of the throne? Again the answer is the same. The prince must be informed about the glory of duties (dharma).

Similarly Hinduism-the Sanatana dharma, must be practised in its glory and must be protected for our future generations and loved ones-a precious and priceless asset, through understanding, honouring and preserving through practice, particularly in this age wherein everything is weighed in terms of rupee and paisa. In Kali-yuga moral values-the dharma is at stake and a scapegoat.

Thus this book places before the world community, the great ideals, to be striven for and what has already been acquired, to be honoured. It is the fountain-head of eternal inspiration for the entire community, a code of conduct for internal peace and harmony.

I will be failing in my duty if do not acknowledge the assistance rendered to me in my work of this volume by Mr. G. Ramamurthy.

Introduction

The pride and prestige of Hinduism is not the poison of cobra as professed at some quarters or discomfort from crow droppings, as some Hindus feel shy of owning it, but the very reptile-without fang and the poison neutralized, has become the ornament around the neck of Lord Siva. Again the moss around the sandal wood, when removed emanates the pleasant and wonderful fragrance in the wild forest. We may decorate woman with ornaments and all facial make-up but that serves no purpose without the life energy, the breath in it and Hinduism is that life force-the human virtues the differentiate us from the animals.

Mental Peace and Joy

Some people are of the opinion that external objects and beings, clinging around, are the sources of joy. If that had been the case, the materialistic world would have been happier lot all through, but we see that all those are contrary to expectations. In fact it is the Inner fulfilment that projects happiness. At times it coincides with the external acquisitions and that is mistaken, one for the other, like rope for the snake. Hindus are blessed that their religion can give something to the world, which others do not have and they are running for it. It is that which exists is one, the inner wealth; sages call it by various names. Thus our personal outlook should not interfere in our objective understanding. It is the Hinduism that honours followers of every religion. After all we have our common ancestors and we care for one and the same descendents of those fathers.

Practical Approach

The Hindu does not want to live on flowery words, theories and hypothesis. If there is existence beyond the ordinary sensuous existence, he wants to come face to face with that, if is soul in him, which is not matter and also there is a universal soul he wants to go directly to Him and he must see Him. Then alone the doubts can leave. So the best proof, a Hindu sage gives about the soul, about the God is “I have seen soul; I have seen the God.” And that is the only condition for perfection. The Hindu religion does not consist of struggle and attempts to believe on certain doctrines or dogmas but in realizing-not blindly believing, but in being and becoming the Self.

Measure of Happiness

Thus the religion in the Hindu’s system is the constant struggle to become perfect, to become divine, to reach God and see God. This reaching God, seeing God and becoming perfect even, as the “Father in the heaven is perfect”, constitutes the religion of the Hindus. Now what is it to become perfect? One progresses from the style of finite to Infinite. Thus enjoys the pure bliss. This is the only state or thing one can think of-the freedom from all limitations. Please note that happiness, one harnesses to enjoy the consciousness of this one individual-the small body is limited. Then there must be greater happiness, enhanced with the consciousness of two bodies and happiness of increasing number of bodies and ultimately to the Universal Consciousness. Upanisads talk of this bliss as ananda and the scale of happiness, objectified. Suppose there is a young man at the prime of his life, good looking, well educated, healthy, full of vigour and the whole earth is available for him as wealth for enjoyment. This pleasure he gets out of this enjoyment is taken as a standard of one unit of human enjoyment. This enjoyment is multiplied by one hundred to be the one unit of happiness of manusya-gandharva. But this is of no interest to the follower of Vedas as they are not prepared to exchange for it. This joy again is multiplied by one hundred times is one unit of enjoyment of Deva-gandharva. The follower of Vedas is not affected by this too. If this joy of Deva-gandharva is again multiplied by one hundred times, is one unit of bliss for the manes. The joy of manes multiplied by one hundred times is the unit of enjoyment of the Gods, born in the heaven. These successive units go on multiplying further for Kinnara-Devas, to Gods to Indra, Indra to Brhaspati, to Virat and Virat to Hiranyagarbha. These increases in steps in steps cause no desire to the follower of Vedas as he has the sum total of enjoyment/bliss as he has attained the Infinite. The logic is that Infinite includes finite also but finite cannot be Infinite.

Idol Worship

Through image worship, the Hindu mind is not travelling from error to truth, but from truth to truth. You may, if you like, call the lower truth and higher truth. Every action is an attempt of the human soul to realize the Infinite. Everything is determined by determined by condition of birth and association, to be known by conviction. Each one of these is a progress like that of a soaring young eagle from strength to strength to reach the glorious sun.

Unity in Diversity and Morality

The unity in variety is the plan of nature and Hindus have accepted this truth. Every other religion has certain fixed ideas, which are put before the society to adopt it, even if it does not suit. Hindu religion gives freedom to adopt the best that suits for one and all, the ultimate truth and that is the objective. The path may be different. I have my own path but I have no right to condemn others. Indian society of the yore was so great that a Greek historian was led to say his observation that ‘No Hindu was known to tell untruth and no Hindu woman was known to be unchaste’. Does this not make us to be taller?

Non-Violence

The Hindu religion is not established on the anvil of persecution but by absorbing all good, found anywhere. Accommodating every faith, freedom to all to practice their own concept without any hindrance is the golden goal of Hinduism. At times there were severe onslaughts, but the forbearance and the values-both moral and ethical values of the Hindu religion triumphed over the odds and became more vibrant than before. We have been blessed with the oldest and richest scriptures of the world, which has been always the source of inspiration to live in harmony and not with ill will against even enemies. A hand of friendship is extended to all and curse to none. Do good that multiplies and in grace.

The Ultimate Truth of the Hindu Religion

Identifying everything in one-the Absolute and seeing one self in every being is the philosophical concept of Hinduism. It implies that one should free oneself from all limited ideas and to know that God is in every person, working through every hand, walking through all feet, eating through every mouth and present in all the minds. When this goal is reached one is immortal. One remains no longer in limited cage but in every glory and evil as well as beyond the good and bad. This is the status of a realized soul. The Hindus know.

Contents