Ten Disciplines of Hinduism

Ten Disciplines of Hinduism

The Hindu Disciplines are found in the Bhagavad Gita, which is Krishna's battlefield discussion with Arjuna.The oldest continuously-practiced religion in the world, and the dominant religion of South Asia (chiefly, India of course), the Indonesian island of Bali, and certain parts of The Caribbean (such as many areas of Guyana or Trinidad) due to the presence of Indo-Caribbean people there, Hinduism's roots can be traced back to Iron Age India, and as such it is believed to be the oldest living religion in the world. Contrary to popular Western belief, most modern Hindus will attest that it is monotheistic, not polytheistic. To sum it up simply, in the same way Catholicism has the concept of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit being different forms of the same God, Hinduism has a similar belief: Vishnu, Lakshmi, Lord Shiva, Bramha, Hanuman, etc. are all different forms of one God, known variously as Brahma, Ishvara, or other names. So, though Hindu Mythology contains a vast pantheon of gods and beings, they are all recognized to be part of the same Sarvasva or "All-Being", i.e, God.

1) Nonviolence. 
2) Truthfulness. 
3) No desire to posses or steal.
4) Celibacy or sense control, and no adultery.
5) Non-greed. 
6) Purity of thought, word, and deed. 
7) Contentment.
8) Austerity, perseverance and penance. 
9) Study of scriptures 
10) Surrendering to God with faithful loving devotion, regular prayers

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WHAT IS HINDUISM?

WHAT IS HINDUISM?

THIS IS WHAT THE RAMAYANA , MAHABHARATA , VEDAS AND UPANISHAD SAYS.

H stands for Harmony
Hinduism respects all religions and thus aspires for mutual tolerance and respect.
Hinduism does not encourage hate or distrust.
Hinduism is intolerant of intolerance.
It does not actively seek converts.
It emphasizes conduct and not creed.
It has the capacity to assimilate all the Faiths and the Philosophies.

I for Incarnation (Avataara)
God descends to Earth in any form and under any sky as may be needed to uphold DHARMA (righteousness). There is no space, time, form or numerical limitation to Avataaras.

N for Non-Violence (Ahimsa)
Hinduism recognizes that life supports life. One should avoid causing unnecessary injury (in thoughts, words or deeds) to one-self or other fellow beings including other life forms. Vegetarianism is glorified by some Hindu sects, but never a prerequisite to be a Hindu.

D for Dharma (Righteousness)
We should always protect Dharma (support what is right). This is regarded as a necessity, because Dharma is the basis of harmonious life. If we don't support Dharma, it will be as if chopping the very branches of the tree (of life) we are resting on.

U for Unity of existence
Everything and all beings are inter connected or inter related and are essentially the manifestation or extension of the one Supreme Being. The world is one big family.

I for Inherent Value
The God is Omnipresent & Omnipotent. Both the manifest & the un-manifest are a projection of God. They are supported, directed & controlled by God as well. The God can be worshipped in any 'Form' or 'No Form'. Just as the Flag is a symbol of a Nation, an Idol for the Hindu is symbolic of the God. A Hindu worships the God enshrined in the Idol, not the idol itself.

S for Supreme Reality (Brahman)
Supreme Reality is both formless and with form, impersonal and personal, transcendent and immanent. The Supreme Reality is known by many names.

M for Moksha & Mantra
Dharma (Virtue), Artha (Material prosperity), Kama (pleasures) & Moksha (liberation from cycles of birth & death, harmonious union with God) are the goals of life.
The secondary objectives (Artha & Kama) are sandwiched between the primary objectives of

(Dharma & Moksha).Adherence to one's own inherent talents (attitudes & aptitudes) in achieving these goals is suggested.
Moksha is the ultimate goal of Hindu life.
There are numerous paths and innumerable opportunities.
It can happen by one way or the other and in one life or the other.

The various paths for Moksha include:
Karma Yoga - Selfless good deeds
Gnaana Yoga - Knowledge of Brahman
Bhakti Yoga - Faith or Devotion
Prapatti (sharNaagati) Yoga - Total Surrender
Raaja Yoga - Control of body, mind and intellect
Mantra Yoga - Union with God through repetition of a Mantra, etc.

Mantra is a sacred word or a verse used for prayer. Some examples below:

The most sacred Mantra of Hinduism is AUM/OM. AUM represents our beginning (Spring), being
(Summer), passing away (Fall) and immortality (Winter). The A, U and M are followed by silence.

OM iti Brahma, OM iteedam Sarvam (Shiksha Valli, Taittireeya Upanishad )
OM is Brahman, All this is OM (OM is The One - OM is The Many)
(OM is the WOMb of everything)

sarve bhavantu sukhinah sarve santu niraamayaah.
May all be happy, may all be healthy.

sarve bhadraani pashyantu ma-kashchit dhuhkha-bhaag bhavet.
May all be prosperous, may none suffer.

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10 COMMANDMENTS OF HINDUISM

10 COMMANDMENTS OF HINDUISM

The essential features of the inner core of Hinduism can be grouped into 10 directive principles:

1.  The purpose of life is to realize the omnipresent divinity intuitively.
2.  Purification of mind is the purpose of all religious disciplines.
3.  The divinity inherent in each one of us has a dharma of its own.  We should strive to go back to God, our source.  Every action of ours must be concordant with this natural order of things.   These three are the fundamental axioms.
The other seven follow from these three. 
4.  Act in the living present, in total detachment and dedication, by avoiding all egocentric desires, fears and anxieties.  If such an action serves another fellow being, it becomes service to God.
5.  Freely search for a personal God and seek His grace for the purification of the mind.
6.  The  avataras  emphasise on one’s duties to one’s mother, father, guru and truth and love as the basic core of dharma and unity of all faith.
7.  Remember God’s names, chant them.  Be aware continuously of His presence.
8.  Surrender to God in heart, soul and will.  Then our future is His concern.
9.  Discover the Ultimate in yourself.  Allow intuition and mystical experiences to take you beyond reason and intellect.
10.   All faiths are valid.  It is the attitude that matters, not the rituals.

5 PRINCIPLES
1. God Exists: One Absolute OM.
    One Trinity: Brahma, Vishnu, Maheshwara (Shiva) Several divine forms.
2. All human beings are divine
3. Unity of existence through love
4. Religious harmony
5. Knowledge of 3 Gs: Ganga (sacred river), Gita (sacred script), Gayatri (sacred mantra) 

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