Hinduism Research Paper

Research Paper: On Hinduism Hinduism is the primary religion on the continent of India. It has profound influence on every aspect of life in that region of the world. It is an ancient religion that has roots going back thousands of years. In this paper, I will discuss the mythical, ethical, doctrinal, & social dimensions of this nuanced religion and the impact those dimensions have had on the culture of India historically and today. I will examine the ancient texts that have informed this religion and the answers it has come up with for the boundary questions this life incites. I will discuss the Hindu understanding of God and the paths they have in place in order to achieve communion with this higher power. To contextualize their concept

The Hindu view of God is a blend of polytheistic & monotheistic ideologies. They see the entity of God as singular with endless manifestations. “One sun, innumerable beams of light; one ocean, trillions of droplets of water.” (Beliefs & Believers). To better understand the vastness of God however, they have created a, “hierarchy of divinities: Brahma, who possesses the power to create; Vishnu, who controls the power of preservation; and Shiva, known as the great destroyer, but in that disintegrative power exists the co-power of re-creation. In fact, Shiva more accurately is the deity in whom all opposites meet, complement each other, and become resolved in a fundamental unity.” (Beliefs & Believers). To better understand this view of God, it would do well to outline the Hindu view of what makes a human a human to contrast that with their understanding of God. The Hindus believe that underlying the human consciousness there is “a reservoir of being that never dies, is never exhausted, and is unrestricted in consciousness

This path is intended for the person whose natural bent is for emotions. It is put beautifully in the Bhagavata Purana, “As the waters of the Ganges flow incessantly toward the ocean, so do the minds of the bhakti move constantly toward Me, the Supreme Person residing in every heart, when they hear about my qualities.” That being said, the bhakti yogi sees and experiences God differently than the jnana yogi. Whereas the jnanic yogi sees themself as a drop of water coming from the ocean that is God, the bhakti yogi sees themself as something other than God which allows them love for God which is not merely indirectly adoration for self. The goal of the bhakti yogi therefore then is to love God fully with every fiber of their being. This encapsulating experience of love is where moksha is