Monday I followed a lesson on hinduism in religious class (I am on a christian school). It was about hinduism as it is in India (so I realize that it might be a bit different that hinduism in a western country, just as islam in a western country can be different that islam in the middle-east). Please correct me at any point if I’m wrong. This is what I got: In hinduism in India, life is suffering. Reincarnation is a process you must go through, the goal is to escape the samsara, the atman becoming one with brahman. This is done through a very long process of reincarnation through all the castes. I am not a hindu so I am a paria. Above that is the caste of servants/slaves, then the traders/farmers, then the warriors, and finally the brahmans (holy men/priests). These main casts consist of many hundreds of sub-castes. Reincarnating up the ladder takes many many reincarnations and it can take many thousands of years for the atman to reach the moksja. To reincarnate to a higher caste, thus coming closer to ending the process of samsara, you must not disturb dharma, your role/position in the samsara. This means that you will not care about someone in a lower caste, and will not deal with people in a higher caste. You will be raised, married, and die in the caste you are born in, because you should not disturb dharma. My karma must be on zero, by clearing my mind by yoga and citing mantra’s. In your house you daily practice puja’s. This would be the life of the hindu in India. But if I compare to that the life of a new-ager, the mentality is totally different. There, reincarnation is not a horror that must be get rid of by moksja, but a big adventure. Becoming one with the brahman is very great, but in hinduism it is impersonal: you won’t realise it, no consciousness. In hinduism the dharma must not be disturbed and one must stay where and how he is and only deal with people from his/her own caste, while in new-age you must not stay in the position where you are but get somewhere higher, thus going on a journey of enlightenment and mind expansion to find your dharma instead of not doing anything and so not disturbing your dharma. In hinduism, you will not give help to a beggar, for he is in his dharma and you are in yours, and it should stay that way. But in the new age, love for the fellow human is very very important. What do you think about the differences between hinduism and new-age? Ofcourse I realise that not all hindus are this way, but if I understand correctly, this is the traditional hinduism of india. And the new age (and maybe also western hinduism) is so different because it has a western mentality which means that there is hope for a better future, chances to expand or get a better life, opportunity’s, freedom etc. What do you think?
Dear Dutch Disciple, This is a very flawed overview of Hinduism, and it doesn't even begin to do it any kind of justice. There are many points which are not correct. The subject is a very big one, and I don't feel that I can go over your post point by point at the moment. But I will suggest this link http://www.btinternet.com/~vivekananda/ At this site you will find some very good introductory material, meant for colleges. But I would say this to you, as I know from your posts elsewhere on these forums that you are a Christian - there is really no conflict between Hinduism and Christianity. Some would advise you just to go on sincerely believing in Jesus. I would not disagree with that. But some knowledge of Hindu philosophy can lead to a deeper understanding and appreciation of Christianity.
"new age" how much of the "new age movement" came (directly or indirectly) from the late 19th & early 20th century writings of the theosophical society? (blavatsky, bailey, olcott, leadbeater, etc.)(& let us not forget their "world savior" jiddu krishnamurti - who eventually renounced his own postiton & left the theosophists...) & their turgid prose alleging secret teachings from master kuthumi (koot hoomi; see elizabeth claire prophet for moderen refernces, oy veh...) from his retreat high in the himalayas (with the many other illuminated masters from the great white brotherhood)... new age... in the usa, the great exposition of 1895 was when many first came into actual contact with religious practitioners from "over there"... (of course, "secret teachings" have been popping up in "the west" ever since the freemasons, the rosicruicians, & the many other "front groups" for the illuminati started shearing the sheep, hehheh...) ummmmm, ymmv...
