What is Hinduism? For some people, it’s a religion with multiple Gods while other see only one true God. Both ideas are correct, depending on which one you’re referring to. The three aspects are Vedic, Upanishad and Theistic/Classical. Although each aspect has its own identifying factors, they also flow and blend together.
Like all complex and ancient religious tradition you can’t think that Hinduism is one monolithic religion. It is more than that with its different tradition involving arrays of texts, beliefs, and practices. Hinduism isn’t a static religion, which means it absorbs other aspects of religion and cultures. Hindus today have the ability to pick what deity they choose to worship or none at all. A vast majority follow their family’s …show more content…
This mediation lead people to connect with not only themselves but the spirits around. “The world of the shaman is one of cosmic unity and a sense of love. In shamanic ecstasy, tears of joy exist. It is the same world of the great Eastern saints,” is what Michael Harner stated is the heart of shamanism. The main goal is to reach enlightenment in order to bypass the cycle of life, death, and rebirth known as Reincarnation. There are many forms of mediation or practice of spiritual discipline to attain the desired union with one self. One of the most well-known practice is called Yoga. It means “yoke” or “union”-referring to union with true Self, described in Upanishads. Yoga helps develop a state of balance, purity, and peace of mind by doing stretches for relaxation. This created Yogi’s who take this practice to the limit. They separate themselves from all human desires and family to find the ultimate happiness. The world was seen as a place of suffering and imprisonment, and a new goal, release from this wheel of birth, death, and rebirth, was posited (Hinduism Historical Overview …show more content…
Differing in how they interpreted the secret language, the origins of Vedic, Upanishad and Classical circle back to Sanskrit. The Veda’s rituals and sacifices were thought to bring them benefits in life including fame and success, a long and fulfilling life as well as a place in heaven. The Upanishads believed in also doing these rituals for benefits, although they saw more meaning behind the rituals. They felt there was a link between sacrifice, the universe and oneself. In order to achieve a balance of unity they replaced the sacrificial acts with meditation to get good karma. The Classical aspects circles back to the Vedic because they were once in the caste system, but due to their low standing they decided to abandon the caste system. So taking the sacrificial rituals from the Vedic and the belief in karma from the Upanishads, believers in the Classical aspect created their own form to achieve
Like all complex and ancient religious tradition you can’t think that Hinduism is one monolithic religion. It is more than that with its different tradition involving arrays of texts, beliefs, and practices. Hinduism isn’t a static religion, which means it absorbs other aspects of religion and cultures. Hindus today have the ability to pick what deity they choose to worship or none at all. A vast majority follow their family’s …show more content…
This mediation lead people to connect with not only themselves but the spirits around. “The world of the shaman is one of cosmic unity and a sense of love. In shamanic ecstasy, tears of joy exist. It is the same world of the great Eastern saints,” is what Michael Harner stated is the heart of shamanism. The main goal is to reach enlightenment in order to bypass the cycle of life, death, and rebirth known as Reincarnation. There are many forms of mediation or practice of spiritual discipline to attain the desired union with one self. One of the most well-known practice is called Yoga. It means “yoke” or “union”-referring to union with true Self, described in Upanishads. Yoga helps develop a state of balance, purity, and peace of mind by doing stretches for relaxation. This created Yogi’s who take this practice to the limit. They separate themselves from all human desires and family to find the ultimate happiness. The world was seen as a place of suffering and imprisonment, and a new goal, release from this wheel of birth, death, and rebirth, was posited (Hinduism Historical Overview …show more content…
Differing in how they interpreted the secret language, the origins of Vedic, Upanishad and Classical circle back to Sanskrit. The Veda’s rituals and sacifices were thought to bring them benefits in life including fame and success, a long and fulfilling life as well as a place in heaven. The Upanishads believed in also doing these rituals for benefits, although they saw more meaning behind the rituals. They felt there was a link between sacrifice, the universe and oneself. In order to achieve a balance of unity they replaced the sacrificial acts with meditation to get good karma. The Classical aspects circles back to the Vedic because they were once in the caste system, but due to their low standing they decided to abandon the caste system. So taking the sacrificial rituals from the Vedic and the belief in karma from the Upanishads, believers in the Classical aspect created their own form to achieve