Unity in Variety
Humans differ from one another in many ways: physical, intellectual, moral, social, cultural, etc. There are inherent temperamental differences in people. If we do not take into account these differences while prescribing a certain path to lead a good life—and instead offer a single formula to all, it will only lead to incompatibility. Moreover, it is this variety in human beings that makes them valuable to one another.
While...
The Individual and Society
From what we have seen so far, it is quite clear that Sanātana-dharma constantly straddles between high ideals on one side and rooted pragmatism on the other. It is a consistent attempt to take humans closer towards the ideal while always making allowance for their basic instincts. Intimately familiar with human nature, the ancient seers focussed on individuals—getting them to try and raise their standards through...
Supreme Spirit
We now come to the all-pervading Supreme Spirit (known as ‘Brahman’) defined in the Hindu texts. Brahman[1] is beyond creation and dissolution. It is beyond thought, form, and attributes. Brahman is the highest reality. The Vedas mention that the idea of ‘god’ is subsequent to creation[2], thus making a clear distinction between god(s) and Brahman. Hinduism has many deities but only one Supreme Being.[3]
Brahman includes all of...
Creation and Dissolution
The Sanskrit word for creation is sṛṣṭi, which means ‘pouring forth.’ In other words, it is not ‘creation’ but rather an outpouring, an expansion, an expression. In the Vedas, the concept of Creation is discussed in various ways. One hymn (Nāsadīya-sūkta[1]) proposes a brilliant conceptual model for creation while another (Hiraṇyagarbha-sūkta[2]) raises and answers many questions about the creator and creation. Yet...
Liberation: Here and Now
One of the remarkable contributions of Hindus is that they not only crystallized the concept of Ultimate Liberation but also established its immediacy. In other words, mokṣa is not restricted to a post-death stage but can happen here and now.
This glorious conception—of being liberated during one’s lifetime—is called jīvanmukti.
Indeed, the Hindu conception of liberation is not a post-dated cheque but a demand draft. The...
Nature of the Self
Everyone, without exception, wants to be happy – at all times and at all places. Happiness is our highest goal. All our suffering, struggle, and effort invariably are exercises towards the attainment of happiness. Happiness is the one point where all our diverging natures converge.
The means by which one attains happiness varies from person to person. What people perceive as joy also varies. The source of happiness is...
Cultural Refinement
The expanse of a human life starts at conception—even before the child is actually born—and continues even after death, albeit in the minds and hearts of people who know the individual. Through the course of this journey, sixteen different points of time were earmarked by our seers—spanning from conception until death, all of which were to be recognized by means of special ceremonies. Apart from this, they envisaged a yearly...
Freedom of Choice
There is a pre-existing universal order (ṛta), we are born into this world carrying the three great debts (ṛṇa), and we are expected to adhere to a path of sustainability (dharma). So, it is natural to ask: Where does individual freedom feature in the scheme of things?
Sanātana-dharma offers the greatest possibility for individual freedom with the caveat: My desire to be free should not trample upon your desire to be free.[1]...
Cosmic Order
Understanding reality in all its dimensions takes us closer to the Vedic conception of ṛta. The word ṛta may be roughly translated as the ‘cosmic order in the universe,’ ‘divine principles governing the world,’ ‘cosmic law behind existence.’ It refers to the dynamism inherent in the universe. Even in nature, dynamism means life and stasis means death—a man is deemed to be alive only if he is breathing, his heart is beating, and...
Fact and Value
To understand truth from a different perspective, let us take a look at Fact and Value. Seers of ancient India cherished the implications of facts and values, which are both outside the purview of blind faith. On the one hand, they did not completely exclude faith from philosophy and on the other, they did not attempt to explain everything within the narrow framework of faith. They were intelligent and mature to approach fact and...