yeah that business about Hinduism
Re: Hinduism -- PatD Top of thread Post Reply Forum
Posted by:
aunt bea ®

05/07/2017, 05:36:18
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I didn't know if I should comment or not, and don't want to really go into detail, but in a word, the "New Voice's" characterization of Hinduism is completely wrong.

I certainly would not call myself an expert on the subject, but I did study it in college and even studied Sanskrit for a bit.

Rawat's references to Hindu scriptures doesn't make his philosophy Hinduism any more than Jim Jone's references to the Bible make him Christian.

Hinduism is first of all more like a collection of many religions rather than a single one, so it is very rich and complex. But the basic tenets of it are about following dharma (duty) which influences your karma (fate). Not so much different than Christianity actually, except that hell is being reborn rather than a place to roast marshmallows.

Anyway gurus and surrender are not a central thesis. There was a kind of populist Bhakti movement that evolved at some point around Krishna, kind of a fast track way of getting past the Brahmin (priest) gatekeepers. Today gurus do play a role in some offshoot sects of Hinduism, but this is definitely not the central tenet. Spend some time in an Indian temple and this will be obvious.






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