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Reply Flag 1 Thumbs Up Thumbs Down Bungi (2)
India

Hindu, while a term coined by the Persians probably in the 4th or the 5th century B.C., comes from ’Sindhu’, i.e., the river Indus. Thus, Hindus were people who lived that region. Apparently this continued till about 8th century A.D., until the Muslim invasion. Since then they have used Hindus to distinguish the general population from those other Indians who had become Muslims. Supposedly, the Persian scholars were aware of the distinction between the numerous religions among the Hindus, but when Europeans started using the term Hindu, they applied it without distinction to the non-Muslim Indians. 

Hence, although Hinduism does not have one universal tenet, creed, or belief system, it has multiple sects and creeds within itself. And like i had mentioned elsewhere, a Hindu is a person who is born to Hindu parents, and thus is a member of a particular community which professes its dharma according to the caste.

Again, while the newspapers have reported about there being a ’Hindu world view,’ i wonder what they are talking about, as there are many different world view within Hinduism, except perhaps the need to stay in the community and fulfilling one’s dharma. 

Even if some of the creeds/philosophies of Hinduism are embraced and lived by non-Hindus, they cannot become Hindus as it is an ascribed status. 

22.10.2010

Reply Flag 1 Thumbs Up Thumbs Down Cody_Lorance (12)   
United States
@ Bungi:

Bungi, thank you for your comment and for pointing people to some of my posts.  I appreciate your great insights on this matter. This is still a relatively new area of study for me, so I do want to be a bit tentative in what I am saying. I would suggest that perhaps even the concept of Dharma isn’t a universal one within Hinduism.  Many of the Hindus (especially my Nepali friends and neighbors) that I know here are not even aware of the concept as you are defining it.  It is a word that they’ve heard but the concept of sanantan dharma is almost completely unknown.  And much of what they do which might be considered as "fulfilling their dharma" by some Hindus is not consciously understood in that way by many of these people.

On the flip side, they do consider the possibility of conversion to Hinduism, as do a number of the so-called Hindu reform movements such as BAPS, ISKON, Sat Kaival, and others.  These groups are predominantly Indian and made up of those who are "Hindu-by-birth", however, they accept and encourage conversion.

What you’re saying about a Hindu being so by birth is important as is the connection to Dharma.  Many of those who identify themselves as Hindu hold this concept.  However, if they truly understand the concept, they would have to see that actually everyone has a dharma to fulfill and therefore everyone is a "Hindu", even a Christian, even a monkey.  In this kind of discussion then, the non-sanskrit term Hindu ceases to have any meaning - or it becomes synonymous with "living things." It feels like an obvious foreign object in masala.

It makes more sense to me to talk about the concept of bhakti and perhaps diksa, because this is where real religious action is manifest.  But alas, it is late and I’m feeling that my thoughts are getting muddled. I’d better call it a night.

Many blessings to you!

Jay Shree Yeshu!

22.10.2010

Reply Flag 0 Thumbs Up Thumbs Down Bungi (2)
India
@ Cody_Lorance:

That Hindu(ism) is more of a civilization than just religion is something i agree with - a civilization whose name is derived from the river Indus. Hence, i wouldn’t say that no one is a Hindu. On the other hand, in theory, i would agree that there is no one following Hindu religion for all the reasons that we’ve discussed earlier on. 

Following from this, i would say that one doesn’t really covert from one civilization to another. May be one can embrace aspects or even whole of the other civilization.

I would also say that those who become followers of ’neo Hindu’ and Hindu reformist movements are just that - followers or converts to those particular movements/definitions/philosophies derived from Hinduism.

Regarding the question of dharma:

I agree with you that most of the Hindus aren’t aware of the concept of Dharma and Sadhana Dharma, etc. Well, most of us aren’t even aware of all the scriptures that exist, and the creeds that we are supposed to follow. However, if you notice, there would be a close adherence to the rituals and traditions prescribed by the family and community - especially in things such as marriage, death, child birth, naming, and the various other rituals and ceremonies that mark the life stages. While not understood or questioned as to why we do what we do, we still adhere to these prescriptions. 

From the definition of it, Dharma is indeed a very universal concept which even the rock on the ground fulfills. So to qualify what i meant for a hindu, it is this adherence to the expectations of the family and community which i think marks a hindu. 

All these being said, i must say i am enjoying these conversations. It is making me think more and question myself more! Thank you for engaging me. :-)

23.10.2010

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