Responsibilities and Freedoms In Hinduism
Responsibilities and Freedoms In Hinduism
Hinduism is more of a way of life than a Religion. It abounds with every possible name and form for Truth or the Divine. This is because Hinduism requires that we see the same reality in all the diversity of creation - that we see the same Self in all beings. It is not because Hinduism is trapped in the diversity of name and form but because its sense of unity is inclusive. Hinduism is not attached even to its own names and forms, however diverse. It can accommodate the names and forms of all religions into its view. This universal view pervades the form of the teachings of Hinduism, which consists of many different approaches to the same One Reality. It allows the teaching of Hinduism to encompass all time and all religion, and affords it a characteristic tolerance and syncretic view of life. In this paper, I will be contrasting the freedoms with the responsibilities of Hinduism.
Hinduism believes that freedom or liberation is the true goal in life. True freedom is freedom from all external conditioning influences, whether of body or mind. This is the freedom of Self-realization, complete independence of time, space and causation. We all seek freedom. One does not enjoy boundaries or limitations.
However, often, we seek freedom in the outer world, through more possessions, power and pleasure, which, according to Hinduism are forms of limitation. It says we must redirect seeking of freedom within ourselves, where alone it can be truly realized. Freedom is not the ability to have more things or gain more experiences but the inner completeness, which no longer requires external support for happiness.
Hindus have complete freedom in their spiritual life. They have any number of holy books to choose from and are not required to literally believe in any one of them. They have their sacred sites everywhere that they live. Hinduism does not require that we all have the same view of Divinity but encourages unique and diverse views for the complete unfolding of creative intelligence. It says that there is something unique about each person that is their special connection with the Divine, and that there should be no standardized religion for all people.
According to scriptures, a Hindu’s mode of living is governed by what is called the ‘Caste System’. “The word Caste comes from Portuguese...