Hinduism

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Hinduism
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Post # 1
Hi I'm Lilliana, feel free to call me Lilly.

Here I shall tell you about the Hindu beliefs and how the religion is followed, as after talking to people here I realize they are unaware and misunderstand what the culture actually is.

Firstly know this, you'll find thousands and thousands of things that are not found in the religion and yet the Hindu culture practices them, These things are the impact/influence other religions/cultures left on us.

Besides our inner cultures and beliefs and languages are sooo vast that they change within every few miles, Hope you are getting my point.

Keeping that in mind we shall go forth the introduction.

Hinduism is ancient, though there is no specific date for when it was formed. The name is a Sanskrit word; Hinduism and Hindu were coined by invaders who used the terms to refer to the people they encountered when they crossed the Hindu Kush mountains and arrived at the Indus River.

Being near Indus also termed the country's name as India, which was locally called 'Bharat'(I shall tell you why it was called that later as we progress deep in the study)

Yoga and meditation that is grown popular these days, also find their roots in Hinduism.

Hinduism is the world's oldest living religion and the third largest - behind Christianity and Islam - with more than 1 billion followers.

Some argue that Hinduism is more a way of life than religion. It has no common creed or church. Nor is it based on the teachings of a founder or holy book.

There are holy books yes but they were written not to preach the religion but are great stories of the people we believe were god's incarnation on earth.

That's all for today, I shall post again tomorrow, Thanks for reading.

Namaskar. (well wishes)
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Re: Hinduism
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Post # 2
Well done Lilly:)
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Re: Hinduism
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Post # 3
Thnxx toxic,

Thanxx everyone who took time to read and reply to my post,

Pranam (Greetings)
Today I'll tell you about the popular myths about Hinduism.
As the religion remains a mystery for many.
And thus take forms the myths.

Myth No. 1: Hindus worship cows.

Reality: Hindus do not pray to cows but they do regard it as sacred, as it gives us milk which only a mother provides her child so we respect cows as our mother.

Myth No. 2: All Hindus are vegetarians.

Reality: A majority of Hindus eat meat. But about 30 percent do not. That stems from a fundamental belief in 'ahimsa', the principle of non-violence. Since all living things are manifestations of God, violence against them is considered contrary to the natural balance of the universe.

The reason why they do eat meat shall be specified later as we'll discuss the castes of Hindus.

Myth No. 3: Hinduism supports a discriminatory caste system.

Reality: Caste discrimination is rooted not in religion but culture.

Caste was an ancient system of occupational class delineated in Hindu texts that over the years developed into a rigid social hierarchy. The lowest castes, or untouchables, were marginalized and faced persecution. But many modern Hindus have argued that caste-based discrimination is not intrinsic to Hinduism and should not be thought of as religiously sanctioned.

Why making of casts was important will also be told in the caste section.

Myth No. 4:The Bhagavad Gita is like the Bible.

Reality: There is not one central, authoritative book in Hinduism.

But Hinduism is rich in scripture with a vast collection of ancient religious writings. Hindus believe god revealed truths to wise men who passed them on for thousands of years through a rich oral tradition. The scriptures include the Vedas, the Upanishads, the Puranas and the Bhagavad Gita, or Song of God.

Not all Hindus read the Gita as there is a superstition that keeping Mahabharata in your house will result in the ultimate destruction of it(I'll tell you why later). I however am studying the Bhagwad Gita right now.

Myth No. 5: Karma is fatalistic.

Reality: Everyone has the ability to choose life?s actions.

This is the theory behind karma: for every action a person sets in motion, there is a corresponding reaction. Hindus believe they have to face the consequences of past actions. Each person creates his or her destiny with deeds. The ultimate goal is to have karma that will free a soul and gain moksha(peace), or liberation from the cycle of rebirth, As it is widely believed by us that there are 9 births in different forms(this includes other living things even the trees) that you take before finally attaining peace

Nmaskar (Farewell/Well wishes).
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Re: Hinduism
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Post # 4
Even though cows are sacred,hindus do eat beef these days

Another good post
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Re: Hinduism
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Post # 5
Thanxx again toxic bout no. Hindus don't eat beef, they never do. Muslims of India may but that too discreetly. Hindus are very possessive about cows.

One of the major reasons of riots between them and Muslims, is this.

(Not trying to hurt any feelings here by writing this, In India Hindus are peaceful till provoked and so are muslims. And there is communal harmony between all Our religions and we respect each other)

If a hindu eats beef he is automatically shunned out of the religion, And it is so sad if they have started doing that, cows we believe are our mothers, how can you kill whom think of as a mother.
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Re: Hinduism
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Post # 6
You cannot say that "Hindus don't eat beef" it's like you are very confident that they don't, some actually eat! There are some Hindu that aren't very serious about their religion and so they do eat!
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Re: Hinduism
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Post # 7
And may you are aware.... That killing of cow & Bulls for purpose of food is banned in many states of India, but still the killing is in process due to poor implementation of rules & regulations in India and problems of caste (Xians & Muslims).
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Re: Hinduism
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Post # 8
Read it carefully I've corrected myself in the latter lines "And it is so sad if they have started doing that, cows we believe are our mothers, how can you kill whom think of as a mother."

Personnely, people can do whatever they want, follow anything! Nothing is binding them to any religion, but if they think that they truly are a Hindu, they shall not eat beef.
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Re: Hinduism
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Post # 9
Well blessed be you to post such good information lilly, myself as a spiritual Satanist I respect animals a lot and personally I do worship cow because Hathor known I be daughter of the sun God (Ra) was usually being seen with cow and cow is sacred to her.
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Re: Hinduism
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Post # 10
Yes Tlon, I'm aware of that and I mentioned that it is done discreetly,
And yes I'm confident that a person who believes in his religion will follow the given ideologies

If, of course they are worth believing like there are many irrelevant things, in the caste system but as I told you in myth no. 3# that "many modern Hindus have argued that caste-based discrimination is not intrinsic to Hinduism and should not be thought of as religiously sanctioned." What Hindus believe and want to practice, is soo diverse that there is no one point of view, as there is no book that tells you how it should be followed.
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