There is confusion between rules and commandments. Hinduisms doesn’t have commandments, but it has rules.
Commandments must be followed to be able to get into the Christian or Muslim heaven. And according to their doctrine, you have only one life. Yet even more important than the commandments, is the belief in Jesus and the Bible (that’s what the Christian doctrine claims) or the belief in Mohammed and the Quran (that’s what the Islamic doctrine claims).
Hinduism doesn’t make such claims, but it has rules to be followed if you want to make your life into an ideal life where you have the chance to realise the purpose of life. The purpose of life is to ‘know’ (not intellectual knowledge, but being absolutely sure) that you are not a small person in a big universe but essentially one with all. “Ayam Atma Brahma”, (= this Ataman is Brahman) or “Aham Brahmasmi” (= I am Brahman) claim the Upanishads.
Now what is the point to discover this purpose? Well, everyone looks for happiness. True happiness lies within. Brahman is blissful Consciousness.
Anandamayi Ma, a sage from Bengal who left her body in 1982, once said “People feel sorry for Sadhus that they miss out on the joys of life. They don’t realise what THEY miss out by not trying to discover the inner bliss.”
So yes, Hinduism has rules, but nobody forces you to follow them.
However, Hinduism also postulates the law of Karma, which of course makes sense. Even Christianity copied it “As you sow, so you reap”. Hinduism says that the reaction to an action will find the doer of the action, like a calf finds its mother under thousand cows.
Manusmriti considers not only those who kill animals but also those who cook, serve or eat them as murderers.
So the choice is ours. Hinduism doesn’t threaten with eternal hell if we eat meat, but it will be in our own interest (and also in in the interest of the animals and the world’s ecology) if we stick to vegetarianism unless we need meat for survival.
An ideal life means a purified, refined life where one’s true essence has a chance to shine through. To put into your body the flesh of a brutally killed animal surely won’t contribute to refinement, but to the opposite.
by Maria Wirth
21 Comments
Beautiful post! Jai shri Krishna. Love from India ❤️
Projecting SanAthana DHaRMmam as “Hindu Religion” itself is misrepresentation. There are no rules and regulations in DHaRMmam. It is knowledge. SanAthana DHaRMmam provides Dharmic knowledge and gives people to intelligently scrutinize that dharmic knowledge and choose the best knowledge and act accordingly. That is what is explicitly advises Bhagavat Geetha.
Very clearly brought out Maria ji
Even the name “Hinduism” is not correct. It is not a religion. For all practical purpose Rules are commandments and commandments are rules. Any one who study Bhagavat Geetha can understand it.
Very right sir
I like to project it as Sanathana Dharmmam Only. Not as Religion. Yes, Religion has rules and commandments, not Sanathana Dharmmam.
Your posts are very insightful, keep doing what you do. Thank you
thanks for sharing this precious knowledge
Dharma has principles.
आर्यसमाज के दस नियम
ARYA SAMAJ KE DAS NIYAM
THE TEN PRINCIPLES OF A NOBLE SOCIETY
१. सब सत्यविध्या और जो पदार्थ विध्या से जाने जाते हैं, उन सबका आदिमूल परमेश्वर है ।
1. SAB SATYAVIDYAA AUR JO PADARTHA VIDYA SE JAANE JAATE HAI UN SAB KAA AADIMOOL PARAMESHWAR HAI
The first (efficient) cause of all true knowledge and all that is known through knowledge is God, the Highest Lord (Parameshwar).
२. ईश्वर सच्चिदानंदस्वरूप, निराकार, सर्वशक्तिमान, न्यायकारी, दयालु, अजन्मा, अनन्त, निर्विकार, अनादि, अनुपम, सर्वाधार, सर्वेश्वर, सर्वव्यापक, चर्वान्तर्यामी, अजर, अमर, अभय, नित्य, पवित्र और सृष्टिकर्ता है, उसी की उपासना करनी योग्य है ।
2. ESHWAR SACH-CHIDAANAND SWAROOP, NIRAAKAAR, SARVASHAKTIMAAN, NYAAYAKAARI, DAYAALOO, AJANMAA, ANANT, NIRVIKAAR, ANAADI, ANUPAM, SARVADHAAR, SARVESHWAR, SARVAVYAAPAK, SARVAANTARYAAMEE, AJAR, AMAR, ABHAYA, NITYA, PAVITRA AUR SHRISTI KARTAA HAI USEE KEE UPAASANAA KARNEE YOGYA HAI
God (Ishwara) is existent, and blissful. He is formless, omnisicient, unborn, endless, unchangeable, beginningless, the support of all, the master of all, omnipresent, immanent, unageing, immortal, fearless, eternal, and holy, and the maker of all. He alone is worthy of being worshipped.
३. वेद सब सत्यविध्याओं का पुस्तक है । वेद का पढ़ना – पढ़ाना और सुनना – सुनाना सब आर्यो का परम धर्म है ।
3. VED SAB SATYAVIDYAAO KAA PUSTAK HAI. VED KAA PARDHANAA- PARDHAANAA AUR SUNNAA-SUNAANAA SAB AARYO KA PARAM DHARM HAI
Vedas are the scripture of true knowledge. It is the first duty of the Aryas to read them, teach them, recite them, and hear them being read.
४. सत्य के ग्रहण करने और उसत्य के छोड़ने में सर्वदा उद्यत् रहना चाहिएँ ।
4. SATYA KE GRAHAN KARNE AUR ASATYA CHHORNE SARVADAA UDYAT RAHANAA CHAAHIYE.
One should always be ready to accept truth and give up untruth.
५. सब काम धर्मानुसार, अर्थात् सत्य और असत्य को विचार करके करने चाहिएँ ।
5. SAB KAAM DHARMANUSAAR ARTHAAT SATYA AUR ASATYA KO VICHAAR KARKE KARNE CHAAHIYE.
One should do everything according to the dictates of Dharma, i.e. after due reflection over right and wrong.
६. सँसार का उपकार करना इस समाज का मुख्य उद्धेश्य है, अर्थात् शारीरिक्, आत्मिक और सामाजिक् उन्नति करना ।
6. SANSAAR KAA UPKAAR KARNAA ESA SAMAAJ KAA MUKHAYA UDHESYA HAI ATHAART SHAAREEKRIK, AATMIK AUR SAAMAAJIK UNNATI KARNAA.
Doing good to the whole world is the primary objective of this society, i.e. to look to its physical, spiritual and social welfare.
७. सबसे प्रीतिपूर्वक, धर्मानुसार यथायोग्य वर्तना चाहिए ।
7. SAB SE PRITIPOORVAK DHARMANUSAAR YATHAYOGYA VARTANA CHAAHIYE
Let thy dealing with all be regulated by love and justice, in accordance with the dictates of Dharma.
८. अविध्या का नाश और विध्या कि दृध्दि करनि चाहिए ।
8. AVIDYAA KAA NAASH AUR VIDYAA KEE VRIDDHI KARNE CHAAHIYE
One should promote knowledge (vidya) and dispel ignorance (avidya).
९. प्रत्येक को अपनी ही उन्नति से सन्तुष्ट न रहना चाहिए, किन्तु सब की उन्नती में अपनी उन्नति समझनी चाहिए ।
9. PRAYEK KO APNEE HEE UNNATI SE SANTUSHT NA RAHANAA CHAAHIYE KINTU SAB KEE UNNATEE ME APNEE UNNATI SAMAJHNEE CHAAHIYE
One should not be content with one’s own welfare alone, but should look for one’s welfare in the welfare of all.
१०. सब मनुष्यों को सामाजिक, सर्वाहितकारी, नियम पालने में परतन्त्र रहना चाहिए आर प्रत्येक हितकारी नियम पालने सब स्वतंत्र रहें ।
10. SAB MANUSHYO KO SAAMAAJIK SARVAHITAKAAREE NIYAM PAALNE ME PARTANTRA RAHANAA CHAAHIYE AUR PRATYEK HITKAAREE NIYAM PAALNE SAB SWANTANTRA RAHE.
One should regard one’s self under restrictions to follow altruistic rulings of society, while in following rules of individual welfare all should be free.
Very good and informative. Thanks
Very Nice and rudimentary analysis!!
Dhanyawaad Immensely, Maria Ji
You have explained in simple terms what sometimes is confused in definitions and misinterpretations, Maria ji. Thank you for such simple, wonderful words.
All what is purusheya has rules.
All what is apurusheya has no rules.
The problem is that when it is talked about Hinduism (I too do not like this term) it is talked only about ‚religion‘. Mysticism and metaphysics are overlooked. Religion is full of do’s and dont’s. Until now I did not read an Upanishad that talks about eating meat or not. On a higher level this everlasting quarrel becomes void.
hinduism is not relegionbut way of life , suggested by intellectuals .
Currently Hindus are viewed from Abrahamic lens needs to change
It’s simply hated by all, for no reason, the only thing I can think is maybe out of frieght. Which has no feelings. And this is happening from all sections of the world.
when we slaughter an animal for meat. some fear hormones are released in animals body which is not good for us. And some research also suggests that non-vegetarian people are more aggressive.
I have been vegetarian my whole life and very healthy. many of my friends always suggested me to eat meat for protein and for taste. But I think if we have the veg food available then why kill any animal.
I would say Hinduism has “laws” not rules. Rules are limited to certain sects, orders, or families – they don’t apply to the Hindu religion as a whole. For example, the “don’t eat meat” rule was limited to Brahmins. But the other castes are also Hindu – they are bound by the laws of Universe and they can choose what rules they want to have to live by those laws either by their caste, community, and family or by personal Dharma.
yes, conscience is based on laws
‘iti te jnarzam akilyatmil
guhyad gllhyataram maya
vimrsyai ‘tad aseshena
yathe ‘chchhasi tatha kuru
Thus, the ‘Wisdom’ which is a greater secret than all secrets, has been declared to you by Me; having reflected upon it fully, you now act as you choose. (This is what Bhgawad Geetha says on it)