Essential teachings of the
ancient India religion - Hinduism
The topic of this page is the ancient India religion –
Hinduism and its relevance to the modern age.
I'll start off by quoting Bertrand Russell, the famous
agnostic, mathematician and philosopher. He believed all
religions - including the ancient India religion, Hinduism - to
be both false and harmful. Regarding the challenges facing
mankind today, due to rapid scientific and technological
progress he said (in the Scientific Outlook): "Man has been
disciplined hitherto by his subjection to nature. Having
emancipated himself from this subjection he is now showing
something of the defects of slave turned master. A new moral
outlook is called for in which submission to the powers of
nature is replaced by respect for what is best in man. It is
where this respect is lacking that scientific technique is
dangerous. So long as it is present science, having delivered
man from bondage to nature, can proceed to deliver him from
bondage to the slavish part of himself."
Modern science has progressed over the last hundred years to
the extent that man can now destroy all life on this planet
simply by pressing the nuclear button. But we can also
eradicate poverty, disease and all forms of avoidable human
misery while preserving life in all its forms. The choice is
ours.
In addition to technological marvels the growth of modern
science has resulted in a scientific and rational attitude to
life, which has destroyed many a fable, myth and superstition.
Modern man is questioning everything – including established
religious faiths – and this has led to a loss of inner
direction within himself. He lacks the foundation for "respect
for what is best in Man" as Bertrand Russell put it.
It is here that the ancient India religion – Hinduism – can
help. As explained in the page the Philosophy of Hinduism all
religious Hindu texts and holy books are categorized as either
sruti – the essential spiritual truths – or smrti – the rules,
regulations, dos and don'ts specific to a particular social
milieu. The modern scientific, questioning outlook has exposed
the fables, myths and superstitions as false and not relevant
to our day and age. But there is no need to throw the baby out
with the bathwater. The sruti – the essential spiritual truths
– remain and as enunciated in the Upanishads they provide the
guidance the inner direction needed by modern man today. These
are the essential teachings of the ancient India religion -
Hinduism.
There is nothing in the spirit of the Upanishads, which
would go against the modern rational skeptical bent of mind.
One of the most striking features of the Upanishad is the
fearless quest for truth and the rational bent of mind
exemplified by the sage of ancient India. The only difference
between those sages and modern day scientists is that the
scientist looks outward – at the external world – in his search
for truth and the sages of ancient India religion of Hinduism
looked inward.
The values preached by the Upanishad – along with a passion
for truth – are human happiness and welfare, detachment from
worldly pleasures and a lack of clinging. Service to mankind
was stressed. And of course the Upanishads show the way to the
inner experience of our oneness with the ultimate or God.
The unabated materialism and pursuit of money may drive the
world economy but it also leads to conflict and competition
between individuals, nations and rapid destruction of our
environment. In addition most people are plagued by the
internal demons of their subconscious minds and give vent to
their negative feelings and passions in a destructive way. The
message and methods revealed by the Upanishads and in fact all
eastern philosophy is that man can rediscover his lost sense of
oneness, of unity with the rest of existence. Any person who
has had this experience will be a light to the world and will
help rescue humanity from its headlong rush towards chaos and
destruction.
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