Essay on "Beliefs and Tenets That Comprise the Hindu"

Essay 3 pages (1039 words) Sources: 2

[EXCERPT] . . . .

beliefs and tenets that comprise the Hindu religion? What is the history of Hinduism? Are there some things about this faith that are not well-known? Those questions about the beliefs and the history of the religion will be reviewed in this paper.

Review of Relevant Literature

Subhamoy Das explains that Hinduism is the "oldest extant religion" with over a billion followers. That means Hinduism is the third largest religion in the world, although some would argue that Hinduism isn't really a religion but rather a philosophy. To that, Das asserts that Hinduism is actually a "conglomeration of religious, philosophical, and cultural ideas and practices" that had its genesis in India (Das, 2010, p. 1). In fact, over 80% of the Indian population practice Hinduism, Das explains.

The most well-known aspects of Hinduism are: a) the belief in reincarnation; b) the law of cause and effect; c) "one absolute being of multiple manifestations; d) "following the path of righteousness; and e) the desire for liberation from "the cycle of births and deaths" (Das, p. 1). Das explains that Hinduism cannot be "neatly slotted into any particular belief system" and that it is really more a way of living than a strictly regulated religion with dogma.

In fact, Hinduism is known for "Dharma," the law the governs all action. Culturally, Hinduism is said to have been responsible for creating Yoga, Vastu, Puja, Tantra, Vedanta, Karma, Ayurveda, and Vastu. The origins of Hinduism go back to perhaps 10,000 BC, Das writes (p. 1), and the first scriptures (called "The Rig Veda") was written even before 6,5000 BC. Those reviewing the Rig Veda will not find the word "Hindu" or "Hinduism" because "Hindu" was not brought into the faith until foreigners used "Hindu" to describe Indians in the north of the country that lived on the other side of the River Indus, Das explains.

Though there are not specific rituals and dogma in Hinduism, there are "basic tenets," according to the Das article in About.com. The tenets (a "conglomerate of diverse beliefs and traditions") include: Dharma (the list of ethical values and duties); Samsara (rebirth); Karma (right action); and Moksha (liberation from the cycle of Samsara).

On the subject of Moksha, according to an article by Melissa Lorentz of the Minnesota State University Moksha is the "highest goal of Hinduism" -- and that goal is liberation, or Moksha, from the "karmic cycle of death and rebirth." Moksha literally is translated from Sanskrit to mean "release" or "to let loose, let go" and it is likely that the idea of Moksha originated in India by people that were perhaps influenced by Buddhism and Nainism. The Moksha is the final, last release from one's worldly conception of self; it is also accompanied by the coming to grips of the fact of one's fundamental nature as a human.

How to attain Moksha is an interesting component of Hinduism. The four disciplines (or Yogas) that must be obtained prior to achieving Moksha. They are Karma Yoga (that is, working for the Supreme); Jnana Yoga (realizing the Supreme); Raja Yoga (meditating on the Supreme), and Bhakti… READ MORE

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