A Photo I Took of Lord Nrsinghadeva at New Vrndavana

General Hindu Questions
A response by John of AllFaith, Nov. 2006

Questioner: Katrina

Subject: Hinduism

Question:

Can you please explain the desire for liberation from earthly existence and what are the cultural and societal influences that have made Hinduism vital to the region in which it originated?
Thank you!

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John of AllFaith's reply

Hi Katrina,

People of every religion seek liberation from earthly existence. The reasons are as many as the people.

• Escape from sufferings of every kind
  
• Continuation of life/existence
  
• Spiritual blessings...

Ask yourself these questions and your answers will apply to Hindus. All people of faith regardless of the religion are seeking this. Why do you want to survive death and enter a better afterlife?

There are lots of possible answers to the cultural and societal influences that have made Hinduism vital to the region in which it originated question.

The people of the Indian Subcontinent were racially, religiously, ethnically, and culturally diverse. The acceptance of the umbrella faith called Hinduism (Sanatana Dharma) created a unifying influence and philosophy that established peace and cooperation.

The adoption of vegetarianism, especially cow protection, assured that the people would be well fed instead of utilizing their limited resources on meat production.

Although it became discredited later, in ancient India the Caste System (varnashram dharma) established social order, defined authority. This was vital in ancient India. The holiness of the various waterways (Ganges, Yamuna etc) kept access to fresh water available.

The teaching of ahimsa or non-violence minimized warfare and greed and assured the existence of dairy cows, plowing bulls, cow dung for fires and medicines, etc. etc.

These are but a few.

Om Santi (Peace)

~John of AllFaith
Jagannatha Prakasa

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Follow-up

Question: If I need more information about these questions and what makes up the hindu religion, can you recommend a web site

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John of AllFaith replies:

Sure Katrina,

I can tell you just about anything you want to know about Hinduism as well. Just ask.

I don't know why teachers ask these two questions, they are very poor ones when it comes to Hinduism. May I ask, which textbook does this question come from? Must be a text because I get them a lot.

A difficulty with the types of questions often asked by secular teachers is that they don't take the vast diversity of Hinduism into consideration. Hinduism is composed of many different belief systems, rites and traditions. Hindu culture emerged through thousands of years and was influenced by untold cultural influences rather than with a set teacher at a set time and place.

Here are a few basic resources:

The Hindu section of Beliefnet ( http://www.beliefnet.com/index/index_10003.html ). Beliefnet.com is a good basic source for information on all the world's religions.

Here is another clear introduction to basic Hinduism with an emphasis on cross-cultural understanding: http://www.religioustolerance.org/hinduism.htm

On my Hinduism site you can also find several links to specific Hindu teachers: http://allfaith.com/Religions/Hinduism/

If you are interested in reading what is arguably the most important Hindu Scripture, the Bhagavad Gita, you can read my translation free and online at: http://www.allfaith.com/Religions/Hinduism/gita.html

If I can be of help don't hesitate to write back.

~John of AllFaith
Jagannatha Prakasa

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Follow-up by Katrina:

The text book that I'm working with from is Living Religious,Sixth Edition. what I'm finding difficult is that I'm suppose to have at least 700 words on these three questions and I don't see how.

Thank you.

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John of AllFaith replies:

Hi again Katrina,

Thanks for information on the textbook. I'm not familiar with it, I'll have to check it out.

Our conversation thus far has been around 600 words, so you aren't that far off. As I suggested in my last reply, allow such questions to challenge you. What and why do you believe as you do? What do you hope for etc. One of the wonderful things about religious studies is that it forces us to think and examine our own beliefs. In this way, we grow as individuals. Perhaps it seems unimportant to you why Hindus do or believe as they do, but use such questions as springboards for personal growth and development. This is the goal of all education in my opinion.

Here's what I'd probably do...

With the first question: Tell about the desire for liberation from earthly existence... I'd do a web search on facts about India and work with them. For instance,

"India has always had a problem supplying food for its people. Today ---- percentage of the population are considered malnourished by the UN. Many Hindus hope to achieve a life where there is plenty of food and their children are well fed. This historic poverty has fostered the Hindu dream of a better future."

You'll need to do a bit more research in stats, how many people are malnourished on the Indian sub-continent (remember Pakistan was part of India until relatively recently), how many people live in India? How many die annually, weekly, daily (and hence how many Hindus are we talking about here?), and so on. This should get you a better grade and you'll also learn more as well. I think you'll find that 700 words are not nearly enough.

You can also explain HOW most Hindus believe they will find this desired liberation. For instance:

Hinduism has two basic views about this liberation (which is known as moksa, pronounced moksha). Some Hindus believe that when they achieve liberation, after that death, they will merge with what we might call the collective unconsciousness, i.e. that they as individuals will merge into the totality of existence in a state sometime called Neti-neti or Not this-not that (the same basic belief as Buddhism with nirvana, which of course arose from Hinduism). In this sense, some say Hindus believe they "become God," but this isn't accurate... they believe they transcend such concepts as gods and goddesses. Other Hindus believe they will enter into heavenly realms of bliss, sometimes known as Goloka Vrndavana (pronounced Brindaban) where they will live as eternal beings in a state of bliss and joy, enjoying the Presence of God in various ways (in the form of their family deity or ista devata). This state is similar to the Christian Heaven, but has no material likeness (streets of gold etc).

In either state, the sufferings, wars, trials and tribulations and so on will be over and the Hindu and her/his family will live on in "eternity, knowledge and bliss" (or sat chit ananda). In Hinduism the family is extremely important. As one of the holy books, the Srimad Bhagavatam says:

"In that transcendental state of labdhopaśānti, there is no supremacy of devastating time, which controls even the celestial demigods who are empowered to rule over mundane creatures. (And what to speak of the demigods themselves?) Nor is there the mode of material goodness, nor passion, nor ignorance, nor even the false ego, nor the material Causal Ocean, nor the material nature" (Śrīmad Bhāgavatam 2.2.17).

This is how I would answer such questions. Flesh them out by explaining the "how" and "why" of the questions, not just the "what."

Hope this helps, write back any time.

~John of AllFaith
Jagannatha Prakasa

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By Katrina:

Thank you very much. I will take your advice. I like learning different things and you have taught me a better way of understanding this religion.

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