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    Hinduism

    What good things are there in Hinduism that Islam and Christianity lack?

    Maria WirthBy 40 Comments5 Mins Read

    There are several good things in Hinduism which Christianity and Islam are lacking and which are obvious, provided a Christian or Muslim can get over the negative stereotypes with which Hinduism is (probably purposely) associated all over the world, like caste system and idol worship. In fact an unbiased observer will come to the conclusion that Hinduism not only has many beneficial aspects that the others are lacking, but also lacks the harmful aspects which Christianity and Islam have unfortunately incorporated into their doctrine and which have caused so much suffering over almost 2000 years.

    The most glaring difference is that Hinduism is a genuine enquiry into the absolute Truth, into what we really are. It is not a fixed belief-system which must be believed as true, even if it does not make sense or agree with one’s conscience.

    Yes, the Vedas also tell us about the truth and what we are: They claim that we are divine. The Divine is in all and all is in the Divine. The I or Self (Atman) is essentially the same in all (=Brahman). Thoughts attached to the pure I make it look as if the I in you is different from the I in me. Those thought-based I-s have their role to play in the world, like actors in a movie. Yet in the same way, as the actor doesn’t forget his true identity, we should not forget that we are one with Brahman.

    But is it true? Or are Christianity and Islam right to claim that the Divine and we are eternally separate and that He (God/Allah) wants us all to believe this and if we don’t we are punished eternally with hell?

    Hinduism does not demand blind belief, but gives valuable tips on how to analyze, what types of evidence exist, and the Vedas contain several Q&A sessions between guru and disciple, or husband and wife, or father and son. Like scientists who came meanwhile to the conclusion that all is one energy, we can come to the conclusion that all is awareness. Moreover, it is claimed that this Oneness can be experienced when the mind has been stilled, and many rishis have done so.

    You are not what you see in the mirror. “You are non-local awareness independent of time and space”. This is the view of the Vedas, yet this particular quote is by Russell Targ who worked for CIA, NASA, Army Intelligence, etc. for 23 years. Interestingly, the video-talk, which contains this quote, was not accepted as TEDx talk. (It can be googled under ‘banned TEDx talk, Russell Targ’). Targ claims that everyone is capable of remote viewing, if properly trained. And how does he train? He quotes Patanjali.

    It seems the US Intelligence agencies take Indian wisdom more seriously than Indians.

    Now since it is very likely true that the Divine is in us, just let it sink in. This knowledge is not a small thing. It empowers. Is there anything what you couldn’t do, if you fully trusted your inner Being? There is no room for despondency, for unhappiness, depression. But it not only makes people internally strong, it also makes them kind, as the Divine is in others, as well.

    Could there be a better reason for following the Golden Rule of not doing to others what you don’t want to be done to you?

    And this big-heatedness extends also to animals and nature as a whole. It explains why the great majority of vegetarians are Hindus. Strangely, media portrays meat eating as normal even in India. Why? Would not even simple humanity require respecting the lives of animals, unless taken in self-defense?

    These aspects and many other helpful aspects of Vedic tradition have ensured that India was a great civilization. Yet they had also a downside. Indians simply could not imagine that in the name of the Supreme, foreigners who came to their land, would not only discriminate against them but even kill many of those who did not subscribe to their view of the Supreme Being.

    Here needs to be mentioned which harmful things Christianity and Islam have unfortunately incorporated into their religion which Hinduism lacks:

    These religions divide between believers and unbelievers and ‘believers’ are defined very narrowly: Those, who believe in the fixed doctrine of the respective religion, are believers. It does not include Hindus, who are probably world over the greatest believers in the Divine Presence. Instead, Hindus suffered and still suffer greatly from this narrow view of Christianity and Islam, both of which insist on blind belief in their respective doctrine, which is based on what a particular person allegedly claimed as having been revealed to him by the Supreme personally as the one and only truth.

    And even today, in the 21st century, in many countries this unverifiable belief is enforced with blasphemy laws with death as punishment.

    by Maria Wirth

     

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    40 Comments

    1. mayur55270@gmail.com on

      Danke Maria. Im Moment ist ziemlich viel los in Indien. Pass auf dich auf. Gut das du die Indern wieder mal zu deren eigentliche Dharma zurück bringst. Da wirst du einhellig von allen Indern Zustimmung bekommen.

      LG Mayur +491786579553

    3. gssrg on

      Yes its very true thought. Hindus are born devin. They never hate other believer at any cost. even they respect all human even enemy. They see god in every live creature on earth.They love nature at heart.

    9. Sudhir Gupta on

      It is worth reading. Three points can be added. 1st, Hinduism professes equality of all human beings in the world (caste system being introduced by some selfish people subsequently). 2nd, it professes well-being of all (humans as well as animals). 3rd, it welcomes and adopts good thoughts from all around the world. All these three are not found in the other two religions.

    10. Jeetendra Nayak on

      Its true. Hindu’s are inclusive and welcome all thoughts and philosophies easily. However the dogma’s and superior attitude of the two major religions are unsettling. They need to change for peace on earth. The world can learn a great deal from the Veda’s.

    16. Manisha poddar on

      Completely endorse your view.Hinduism has the answer to questions of life and existence. The Gita is the book of self discovery and Hinduism is not really a religion but a way of life.

    17. |CSR Prabhu on

      In fact all religions are off shoots of Santana Dharna over thousands of years

    18. CSR Prabhu on

      In fact all religions are off shoots of Santana Dharna over thousands of years.Blind belief is forced by all the Abrahamic Religions .Scientific approach with proof is possible only in Sanathana Dharma

    19. CSR Prabhu on

      Before all the modern religions came out around d 5000 years and beyond,only the Vedic Sanatana Dharma prevailed all over the world.So called Pagan religions all over the globe are now realizing this and are tracing their original source as the Vedic Santana Dharma itself,which is the source of modern Hinduism, so called.The so called monotheistic religions also derive their original source of thought from the Vedic Sanatana Dharma itself,though confused or distorted later .The Arya Samaj,purely Vedic branch of Sanatana Dharma is also against idol worship and against Puranic polytheism or even Pantheism.Advaita Vedanta leads to Oneness or Monism,much beyond Monotheism .The integration if the three frameworks if Monotheism,Polytheism and Pantheism has well taken shape in Hindu Culture The lack of such understanding of integration of synthesis has been resulting in unnecessary confusion and conflicts across so called different religions,which all in fact derive from the same source.

    20. J Chandrasekhar on

      I as a Hindu, always used to say this basic difference between Sanatana Dharma and other religions. The Abrahamic religions force you into acceptance/submission by coercion and instilling in your mind a sense of fear right from the childhood; whereas it’s a pure love/devotion/Bhakti that binds the Atman and Brahman in the case of Hinduism. “Sarve Lokhan Sukhino Bhavantu” – may the entire universe be blessed and peaceful

      Chandrasekhar

    21. MW on

      for your info: not a single paisa. but maybe you can tell me where you feel i am not truthful or where i am wrong? in case you wonder about the title… it was a question on Quora to which i replied.

    22. Rajat Shirali on

      BJP propaganda at its best…how much does the Sangh Parivar pay you to write this blog?

    23. Sundari on

      Dear Maria, I disagree with your perspective, even though I don’t have the presumption to be right, maybe you do? When you say […]an unbiased observer will come to the conclusion that Hinduism not only has many beneficial aspects that the others are lacking, but also lacks the harmful aspects which Christianity and Islam have unfortunately incorporated into their doctrine and which have caused so much suffering over almost 2000 years[…] I am an unbiased observer and personally I had beneficial aspect from the other doctrines you mentioned rather than Hinduism (that I respect and studied too). The harmful aspects you say have been incorporated into the Christianity and Islam is your statement which actually I do not agree. Although I have studied also these two doctrines I don’t see what you are saying being correct, I would say that have been probably used and interpreted in a way to harm people from human being that were searching for power and not because they are incorporated into the doctrine. Sorry, sometime statement sound so arrogant and often wrong.
      Om Tat Sat,
      Sundari

    24. Tejas on

      Hello Maria.i am tejas.As you mentioned about the enquiry of Hindus in the Absolute truth.But can you plz explain what do u mean by a term like “Absolute truth”.And if there is such a thing as the absolute truth then can’t there be multiple ways to reach it(we do know that there are great prophets that Christianity and Islam has produced)

    26. beyondsecularism on

      ‘Hinduism does not demand blind belief’

      So Islam and christianty are? Islam and christianty only demand blind belief in the question of the reality of god, their we cant really understand the true meaning of the revelation. But Who told you musims have to follow blindly? Yes this is what Popes like and this is what many Sects like shistic or sufistic sects are preaching to blindly follow their holy gurus. But In Islam you have to use your heart and brain to follow the truth this can happen blindly, because blindly you will fall into the traps of Shaytan.

      ‘Is there anything what you couldn’t do, if you fully trusted your inner Being? There is no room for despondency, for unhappiness, depression. But it not only makes people internally strong, it also makes them kind, as the Divine is in others, as well.’

      you could say the same sentence with a monothestic world view:

      ‘Is there anything what you couldn’t do, if you fully trusted your Lord over the havens and with you with his love and knowledge and power? There is no room for despondency, for unhappiness, depression. But it not only makes people internally strong, it also makes them kind, as they realize that they are week and others are week, as well. and God is the Lord of everything.

      you simply described the spiritual happynes of a beliefer who is really believing in God, this is nothing special for hindus, if you really belief this, we should discuss again who is claiming to have to only truth on his side.

      ‘Would not even simple humanity require respecting the lives of animals, unless taken in self-defense?’

      respect the lives of animals is truely a consquence of believing in God, but first it is not logical and second having respect to animals does not meen to be a vegetarian. As having respect of woods does not meen not to cut them down. or having respect of weed and apples does not meen to not collect them. If God created us Animals, or even is inside of them, so why I cant eat them and bring them inside of me? What is more natural then this? And yes its not logical to eat animals, but it is also not logical to do not. But no humanity does not requiere to not kill animals.

      ‘These religions divide between believers and unbelievers.’

      you do that too. You call us ‘thees religions’ and you write how superior your religion is. You dont call us unbelievers. But make also clear that we are somewhat wrong. So the diffrence is only polictal coreccnet. And if you look to the Hindu world then you cant say, that Hindus would not clame Muslims to be wrong, they even also Attack and kill them as Muslims and Christians are doing the other way round. Now you will say that this would not come from Hinduism and Muslims will say the same. And yes I can be that your religion is not speaking about war. I dont know. But fact is all societies need to make war and need to use violence, even their religion is not speaking about it. So Hindus are making war, in the Name of India, as Americans are doing war in the Name of Freedom, but they are christianse even if most todays christians are preaching non violence they are in fact doing violence. So Islam is simple most complete religion as it realisticly speak about the reality of war and violence and it has clear and sound rules. Even the killing in the war has to be done with Ikhlas and not out of aggression or hate. It has to be done in the best and perfect and less hurting war for the enemy.

      ‘Allah has ordered the perfection in every action, so if are killing( in war) so do it in the best possible way, and if if you slaughter (animals) so do it in the best possible way.

      of corse in the realiy in war in most cases morals are forgotten quikly, but this is true for all mankind not only for muslims. And if we look to history of islamic wars, especialy the early wars we see how the muslims tried their best to do what has to be done, in the best possible way.

      Islam is realistic. Other secular, meditation religions are sounding nice, but dont have sound answers to all aspect of live. nothing is more complete then the sunna of the prophet who does not leaf something out.

    27. MW on

      my main objection regarding the two exclusvist, expansionist abrahamich religions is not that they see the Supreme as a separate, super-human entity. many Hindus, too, may stop at the personal level. my objection is that those two religions claim without any proof whatsoever, that they (each one claims it for itself) alone are true and who does not believe this and join them, will burn eternally in hellfire. this is unacceptable, leads to hate crimes.

    28. buddhistronin on

      Any argument that one religion is better than another is doomed to failure. If religious people would focus more on what they have in common I think they would be surprised to find out how much common ground there is.

    29. Phani on

      Thank you sir. Let me explain my name. Phani-bhushan Kumar. PHANI means Snake in English, sarpamu in Sanskrit ;
      BHUSHAN means Ornament, Aa-bharanam respectively.;
      KUMAR means Son.
      Totally ‘ Son of the one who wears Snake as an Ornament., Lord Shiva’ s son, Kumaraswamy. All the Hindus name have such type of meanings.

    30. Phani on

      I like Germans, they maintain standards. They are disciplined. I bought Bosch washing machine by its name not by specs.

    31. Phani on

      Excellent madam. One rice grain is enough to check whether it’s boiled or not. Need not check the entire bowl full of rice. We’ll articulated.

    32. Umesh Dutt on

      Maria ji I want you to write preface for my new book. Would you agree?. If agreed I can send you details about the book.
      Looking forward
      Regards
      Umesh Dutt

    35. Hans Grob on

      Sorry for my intervention here, it may not be the best context. At least, you have stated “They [the Hindus] see god in every live creature on earth.”

      Unfortunately, I have just received an e-mail which challenges this assertion:

      ‘As a PETA member, you’re likely aware that among Ingrid’s [Newkirk] many notable accomplishments is the wonderful progress made for abused and neglected working animals in her childhood home of India.

      I’ve had the privilege of seeing firsthand the impressive work that Animal Rahat—an organization that she founded—does for some of the most overworked animals in the world. From the sanctuary to the streets, every single day, its team is improving the lives of bullocks and other working animals.

      The group also supplies veterinary and emergency care to animals who are often in urgent need, promotes lifesaving spay/neuter campaigns that are reducing the population of homeless dogs on crowded streets, works to make the streets of Delhi animal cart–free, spares the lives of thousands of bullocks and donkeys through its mechanization program in sugar factories and brick kilns, and so much more.

      Animal Rahat’s community outreach work has taught many thousands of Indian schoolchildren about the importance of treating all living beings with kindness, even helping many of them and their families go vegan. Not only are they inspired by Animal Rahat to rescue animals and care more deeply for their animal companions, they also have a greater sense of what it means to treat all beings with the empathy and respect that they deserve.

      Ingrid’s compassion and determination have inspired work that’s saving millions of animals from cruelty.’

      Why must it always have to be a Westerner who does something against sufferings?

    36. MW on

      your last sentence is highly arrogant and wrong. WHY does Peta not care about those 56 billions of animals that are every year cruelly slaughtered, mostly in the west?
      meat consumption is low in India, but attempts are on to increase it… by whom? Christians for example. i asked a priest if they force converts to eat cow meat. he replied, we don’t force them, but of course they have to show they belong to us now…
      yes, some donkeys, horses buffaloes may be overworked, so are human beings. Compare with the pain a cow or goat feels being brutally pushed into the slaughter house, knowing what is in store for her.
      since you have a friend in Peta, i would greatly appreciate if you could convince her to take up this issue.
      as long as they go out of their way to save a dog, but turn a blind eye to the millions of slaughtered animals, their compassion is hypocritical.

    37. Hans Grob on

      My main point was: Hinduism claims to consider the well-being of all creatures, yet Hindus fail to comply miserably in many instances. There are animal-friendly rules already in the Torah, but I argue that we in the West must take an extended view today, since husbandry has taken an industrial, anonymous, often exploiting form. Therefore, I am also member of quite some national animal- and nature-protecting organisations.

      I have a lot of sympathy with vegetarism, but consider eating meat not so much an evil, IF the animal has had a good life and is slaughtered instantly (or painlessly or if it has died for a natural reason). That is possible now, and it was possible in our recent past. See the film DER SCHWARZE TANNER, and you see in the end how it used to be done.

      Therefore, if we come to the rare opportunity to eat meat or not, we should follow that rule: if you don’t know the life circumstances past of that animal, don’t.

      For an animal with a lower level of self-consciousness, death is not so much a problem, since one reason to continue living, the existence of a personal, knowledgable, ontological future, is just barely there. The next morning means: get up, eat, eat, …

      I would rather prefer to be an European cow, feeding on fat grass never too little, and being killed instantly, than to lead the miserable life of many Indian cows and to croak in the end.

      Esther Vilar has written a good essay with the title ‘Warum Vegetarismus Unsinn ist’ in the book ‘Der betörende Glanz der Dummheit’. Another point of view.

      How do you solve the problem with the ageing, deadly sick animal?
      I am convinced: euthanise at the optimum time.

    39. Hans Grob on

      In a certain book about religion, either in a general way or probably specifically Christianity, is written the notable statement: THE SOURCE OF RELIGION IS THE SPIRITUAL EXPERIENCE. Now you could dispute that, or argue that EXPERIENCE Of is different from or less valued than SPIRITUALITY itself. It is a common misperception that the West, or Christendom, is the contrary of spiritualism, that means materialist or so. That is utter nonsense, based firstly partially on its ‘materialist’ success, secondly on its social attempt to bring relief to the poor and sufferers in this world. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Church_music?wprov=sfla1 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parable_of_the_Good_Samaritan?wprov=sfla1 I wish that the attitude here ‘We Only’ is being questioned.

    40. Uma singh on

      Spirituality is the basis of Hinduism, as u have shared your in depth and beautiful understanding,with us all, may u b blessed,,

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