Hinduism, in a nutshell

K S SIVAKUMARAN

The All Ceylon Hindu Congress in collaboration with Kumaran Book House has published a 120 page book in English of Some Thoughts on Hinduism by Justice C V Wigneswaran, a scholar recently. I thought it is a useful book to understand the fundamentals of Hinduism which everybody interested in religious studies would benefit. The book is priced atRs.500/-per copy.

Besides the message and the publisher's message, there is also the preface by the writer. Justice C V writes: ‘By rue religion I do not mean any specific label given to organised religions but the understanding of the limitations of the mind and its finite boundaries. True religion transcends such boundaries or enables humans to transcend.”

What the book contains is explained thus: “This publication is a selection of some of my public speeches based on Hinduism, Hindu ideals, Hindu saints and the Hindu way of life. Many speeches in this series refer to the possible inputs Hinduism could provide in the resolution of conflicts, in achieving peace and harmony, in effecting reconciliation and co-existence within a battered State and other issues facing society in general. I t is hoped that it would in some measure establish the continued relevance of religion today.”

There are 11 chapters in this collection of speeches. They are: Hinduism and Conflict Resolution, A Path to Purposeful Living, Our Quest for Unity, Communal Harmony and Nation Building, His Holiness Swami Shanthanandaji, Impact of Religious Leadership on Peace and Harmony, Guru Poornima, The Role Religions Can Play in the process of Reconciliation and Coexistence-The Hindu Standpoint, Launching of Reprint of “Studies in Humanism”, Hindu Culture, The Science of Mantra and the Platinum Jubilee Celebration of Ramakrishna Mission Students’ Home Batticaloa, held in Colombo.

What does the Justice say about Hindu Culture? The main points:

* Hinduism is a way of life. It is not a religion in the sense in which other major religions are considered.

* As for Hinduism it has no founder, no one sacred book nor is it known as to when Hiduism started.

* Culture is refined living that arises generally in a peaceful stable society. It is the state of development in intellect, emotions, interests, manners and tastes in a Society at a given time.

* Religion and Culture are inseparable. You cannot talk about Culture without implying Religion nor about Religion without implying Culture.

* India is one of world's most ancient civilizations while Hinduism is the world's oldest living religion.

* For over five thousand years the Sanathana Dharma influenced India's intellectual life and almost completely determined India's social and cultural life as well.

* This large and complex socio-religious organism consists of innumerable sects, cults, philosophical systems involving various rituals, ceremonies and spiritual disciplines.

* Hindu Culture had spilled over to Sri Lanka even before the birth of the Buddha.

* Two of the core beliefs are that of tolerance and pluralism.

* Basically Hinduism is of the view that Truth is One but that Sages call it by different names and in different ways.

* But Truth could appear differently to different people according to their understanding, capability and environment. The Truth depends on the perceiver and his potentialities. From this attitude of recognizing differences among votaries of various Religions comes great tolerance and inclusiveness which is characteristic of Hinduism.

* Vedas are the outpourings of many Saints, Sages and Seers. The Vedas are four in number. They are Rig, Saama, Yajur and Atharvana Vedas. Each Veda is divided into fore sections known as Samhitas, Brahmanas, Aaranayakas and Upanishads.

* Upanishads deal with metaphysical problems relating to God or Para Brahman, Soul or Atman, Liberation or Mukthi etc.

* Society was recommended by the Saints, Sages and Seers to journey through the four Ashrams or stages of life -- Brahmacharia, Grahastha, Vaanaprasastha and Sanyaasa, which represented the natural growth in human life.

* The basic spiritual instruction in Hinduism is that the multitude of things and events around us are but different manifestations of the same Ultimate reality -the Para Brahman. Thus Hinduism is essentially monistic in character in spite of the worship of numerous gods and goddesses.

* Hinduism, like its daughter Buddhism, is premised on realization and not revelation.

* Another important facet of Hindu thought is the playoff Karma in life. Karma means action. To be free from the spell of Maya (Illusion), to break the bonds of Karma means to realize that all the phenomenon we perceive with our senses are part of the same Reality

* It means to experience concretely and personally that everything including our own self is Para Brahman. This experience is called Moksha or liberation in Hindu Philosophy and it is the very essence of Hinduism.

I shall stop here. Justice C V Wigneswaran's speeches are very absorbing and analytical and it is a treat to understand many things from him not only on culture and religion but also on many other things. Please read the rest of the chapters to find out what Hinduism means.

[email protected]