Principles of Life: Hinduism

Author Rekha Gupta

Like for many people, for me too, Hinduism has always been a way of life. Hinduism-the concepts as laid down by ‘Vedas’ for mankind in general, to live a good disciplined life, while on earth ! It goes beyond, much beyond the realms of religion or its ironical juxstapose against other religions. Belonging to the oldest civilisation on this planet ( much older than Indus valley )and to be following these principles is now no longer valued, but if one were to delve deep into this on a basic practical level as well as spiritual level, you will realise how profound these maxims are and how a long long time, has only altered, distorted, diluted, devalued these teachings, values which are the very foundation of mankind. Only if people could rise above territorial, religious, linguistic ,economical and all the other manmade barriers, one would truly know how to Live Life. There would be no stress, cluelessness, health or mental issues . In today’s time, it could actually prove to be the best coping mechanism ...ha…many may seem out of date to you, a little difficult to follow even, but just knowing them, understanding them and passing this knowledge on will be a huge favour that one could possibly do.

If you want to gain a new perspective and some semblance, than this one is for you. 💁🏻. I would also at the very onset like to forewarn, that Hinduism is a vast and mighty subject. I, as a humble writer have only simplified a few aspects of this subject for the benefit of all in their day to day functioning.

HINDUISM OVER THE LAST 2000 YEARS: We will need to know a little brief history of why and how Hinduism from a Dharma became a religion. Why Hinduism was belittled instead of glorified. Larger than life, the very premise of mankind on which humanity should have just trusted and followed as the maxims of leading a good quality life, was ignored, buried and dusted. And now after almost a 1000 years + of invasion this generation is confused and swinging somewhere in between. In between rapid technological advancement, fast paced changes, believing blindly the false stories spread by the west about our roots, we are actually in a sad state. We began aping the lifestyle of west which brought about an array of changes in our eating habits, our lifestyle, declining cognitive skills, confusion and most of all unheard of ailments . You know what is ironical and funny about this entire thing? So on one hand while we are being fed false stories and made to feel inferior about our lifestyle habits, our roots, our culture and heritage, the west is secretly aping the Hindu ways of life , almost like a covert operation . For eg- commercialising Yoga as their’s ? Our good old desi haldi milk is now being sold in their country as turmeric latte. Cow urine patented is the latest and being sold in capsules! Inept at handling criticism and a need to be accepted by the world has led to our disinterest in our own culture to such an extent that we easily get swayed into believing that aping the western life style is being advanced whereas in reality we couldn’t be further from truth. It actually is ancient Bharat that has been the most advanced & technically sound civilization in every field that has literally introduced the world to all the modern technical know how . And because we are the most advanced and superior civilization in every sense, is the reason of non-acceptance by the western world . At the risk of sounding cynical I’m pretty much sure and join the bandwagon of several Indian historians who believe that it’s the agenda of West to instill inferiority in us Bhartiyas and steal all our knowledge gradually and claim it as their own! Sounds improbable? Well there is a reason that they promote sanskrit in their universities while we are hankering after French and Spanish. This is why it becomes so very imperative to not only have discerning viewpoint but to also reclaim our rich cultural legacy : Hinduism.C@Rg

WHAT IS HINDUISM ?

Hinduism according to Vedas is Eternal Knowledge-that which has always been in existence, it has no beginning no end. Hindu dharm is older than mankind and history itself. Eternal knowledge that which has always existed just like the Brahmand /Universe and to understand the precepts as set down in the ancient texts- the Sacred Vedas . Teachings that state : truth, patience, peace , compassion , penance and spiritual uplift are the foundations of human life. Accordingly Hinduism is a culture, an eternal law , an eternal way of life through adherence to one’s duty in life performed with the right and pure action by karma to free oneself from the physical existence and escape the cycle of rebirth and death ,having done so the Aatma /Soul joins Parmaatma / Supreme Soul thus attains Moksh.

Dharma : means- duties performed with ‘Righteousness’ of action that is Karma which is to think ,speak and do good for all ,that each ones consciousness alone knows. Following Hinduism through eternal law of life wherein when all people surrender to live by Dharma / righteousness then not one individual but the society as a whole benefits. Hinduism is a code of conduct set down for the good of humanity wherein the whole universe benefits and flourishes.

PRINCIPLES OF HINDUISM

The main principle of Hinduism is that there is only one Supreme Power – Parmaatma : the creator of all life and this universe . All jeev aatmas / living beings have a soul that is part of the Supreme soul hence we all are connected. Thus to have faith in the Supreme Power to take care of everything in his own way.

DHARMA: Far from thee cliched belief, hindu dharma does not mean religion, rather it is a sanskrit word that means to ‘uphold’ . Dharma is the very foundation of life, a universal law to uphold and sustain an individual, humanity , a nation and the entire universe . Dharma is righteousness wherein every action / karma is to be performed by righteousness which is to act morally and ethically throughout one’s life.Satya/truth is Dharma that equates ones Soul with the Supreme Soul. A truthful person never regrets nor loses. There is either gratitude or ingratitude and Hinduism teaches the ideal way to live is to be in a constant state of gratitude to God for giving us this life, to be in gratitude to all the revered deities who sustain life and to our surroundings, the all encompassing nature as nature provides in abundance all that is needed for survival. Being in Gratitude is one of the main learnings of Hinduism as one learns to be content in however little or more one makes and has, one remains positive by counting one’s blessings as well as grounded & humble .C@Rg

Karma: is one of the utmost important principles in Hinduism: Law of Karma is different from the law of land because karma is the universal law of ’cause and effect’ that is absolutely accurate and fair. Each Aatma /soul goes through multiple cycles of rebirth and death until one resolves ones karmas to finally attain Moksh / liberation from acquired impure sanskars. Karma is the law of life : do good and good comes back to you ., do bad and bad comes back to you. Karma teaches that you are the Master , the Creator of your own Destiny hence you alone are solely responsible for shaping your destiny, good or bad that is created by your past and present good & bad karmas both. When this realization dawns then one tries to create good karma all along the journey of life by being resolute to virtues like : purity, peace, power, truth ,Compassion, benevolence and co-operation thereby respects all others and their beliefs. Through karma’s lessons learnt, one automatically is embedded with righteousness and moral values.

KAMA & ARTHA : Pleasure & Prosperity are practicalities of life that have to be pursued with righteousness till a certain age thereafter to renounce willingly ones wealth and pleasures to seek Moksh.

Moksh or Mukti- Hinduism states that an Aatma / Soul is on an eternal journey of life, the continuous cycle of rebirth after death that is reincarnation. Moksh – means liberation that has various interpretations. For most school of thoughts – Moksh is liberation from cycle of rebirth and death. Personally for me Moksh is -‘liberation from ignorance’ that comes with knowledge . Enlightenment can liberate one while being in the cycle of life. The aim of Hinduism is for an individual to realize Aatmas original sanskars and an individual may take one lifetime or many more to attain Moksh that is liberation from acquired impure sanskars of the body conscious state.The ultimate goal of each Aatma /Soul is to reach a soul conscious state and to live a life with all its original pure sanskars.

CONCEPTS AND PRACTISES

Hinduism is code of conduct of Hindus that defines Hindustan . Like one’s actions and behaviour define a person’s character similarly Hinduism is a code of conduct followed by Hindus that defines our country Hindustan. Strict adherence to Nitya Karma/daily rituals that are backed by science besides nurturing the physical body also purifies the mind wherein evolution happens when practiced daily.C@Rg

C0-Exist with all

Hinduism – As stated in Sacred ‘Bhagwad Gita’ – ‘aatmaupamya’ – means putting all other living being on par with oneself. Each life is as precious as any other and each one serves a purpose on this earth to keep the the ecological balance hence we know how to best co-exist with humans, all living beings and animals. From offering of : sustainable livelihood to Global economy they support human well being. We are Cow & plant worshipers as its an innate Sanskar of Bhartiyas to be in gratitude to each and everything that is life giving and life sustaining : Sun God ,Agni Dev, Indra Dev, holy Rivers , Mother Earth, Plants and Cows…. In Bhartiya culture they all are revered hence we worship and offer our prayers to them before partaking of anything. Cow is so Sacred that its panchagayvya -milk ,ghee ,curd, urine and dung are used to treat fatal diseases or keeping diseases at bay hence makes a Cow life giving and therefore is revered . In Bharat a child is born to three mothers -Maa ,Bhoomi Maa and Gau Mata.

How Man is one with Nature and vice versa and therefore , their impact on each other.

Hinduism teaches to worship and nurture mother earth & nature that is essential for all survival. Both nature and Humans are made up of the same five elements : ‘earth, water, fire, air, space, hence man and nature influence each other. Nature seems outside of the physical body nonetheless it transcends to become a part of all existing life. The air one breathes, the water one drinks and the food one eats are all from nature that influences man and vice-versa. We cannot survive outside of Nature therefore we safeguard Ecosystem that supports all life. For the life system to operate at its optimum best for the benefit of all ,it is imperative for man to understand his role : neither to disrupt nature nor animals. Have you ever wondered why nature affects humans differently, depending on where they are located as nature emits its blessings in varying quantities: energy, light, warmth , water…..,it is because of the collective karma of a country .

Power of Universe and Planets on Humans and their every act :

Hindus believe in the Power of the Brahmand / Universe and all other planets that control the events in the life of each individual as well as that of the Nations and the World as each living being makes this universe. Scientifically proven: human brain is made of the exact same atoms as the universe !! And Hindus have known this since the beginning of life on Earth. In certain puja rituals the pandit asks the performer to touch specific body parts that are similar to Brahmand. Sacred Yajurveda states ‘yattha pinde tattha brahmande‘ , yatha bramhande tatha pinde’ which when translated means ‘As is an individual so is the universe, as is the universe so is the individual’ . So if one wants to understand the universe or even the slightest bit of it,one really needs to delve inside oneself. All answers are there.

BRAHMCHARYA / CELIBACY :

In Hindu Dharma , Bramcharya is diligently observed till a certain age ( till one is a student ) to preserve vital life energy, to focus one’s energy and discipline one’s senses. Brahmcharya is to abstain from sensual pleasures so as to be able to prepare for life ahead and beyond  too. Because casual sex, alcohol, drugs etc. which are mere distracting physical pleasures of life that take away not only one’s energy but deviates one’s mind and focus away from knowing the self and connecting to the universe and ultimately to Divine Supreme. Furthermore for some people most of these vices become addictions for a lifetime and we all are well aware of the consequences that are faced by the person as well as the family.C@Rg

DINCHARYA / NITYAKARMA & RITUCHARYA:

Daily Activities : that is to awaken the Divy/Divine sanskars

The basic principle is to follow a lifestyle that maintains harmony between one’s body, mind ,nature and the universe. One has to discipline oneself to abstain from either falling to temptations or from doing wrong karma. A disciplined lifestyle by following the principle of dincharya and ritucharya : Dincharya means day discipline : A daily regime when followed prevents disease by keeping Vatta, Pitta, kapha doshas at bay thereby keeping one physically and mentally strong and stress free. Emphasis is laid on prevention rather than cure. And a day regime further aids in supporting optimal health through nourishment and detoxification. Ritucharya means Seasonal Discipline : Seasonal changes impact not only the nature & environment that are visible but impacts body , mind and emotional well being too in an unseen way and to cope with these seasonal changeso ne needs to make internal adjustments by following Ritucharya..

DINCHARYA / NITYA KARMA –

Daily dharma /duties : Nitya karma from waking up to retiring at night are tapasaya / penance with an objective to purify one’s mind. Adhering to the laws of daily duties help nourish the physical body along with it purification of the mind begins thereby assisting in evolution, and when an embodied soul starts to perform every karma selflessly for the benefit of the society, it truly becomes Dharma. This is supreme conduct which takes one to Moksha.

WAKE UP AT BRAHMA MUHURAT.

Nitya karma : begins by waking up at the most auspicious time of a day which is : Brahma muhurat / Divine time that is before sunrise and starts from 4.24 am until 5 .12 am. ( there are 30 mahurats in a day and each muharat is of 48 minutes ) This truly is a mystical time and their is science behind this : because at this time waves emitted by deities are more active than any other time of the day and this time hindu deities who come down on earth at this exact hour to bless pure souls. Thus there is dominance of positivity all around that can prove to be conducive to anyone who is awake at this hour. . Very few people are aware that Brahm muharat is the divine time when deities come down to bless by taking control of the Jivattma/ Soul to start the chakras in the body that energizes every organ to function at its optimum best for the next 24 hours. At this time one’s energy is considered pure hence the ability to absorb and grasp is at one’s highest. The space around is free of clutter, free of negative or pained energies . ( like our good old internet connection would be best at 4 am cause only a few people are using it this time) therefore this is the best time to undertake anything productive ,to imbibe virtues or evolving of self by gaining knowledge and its the best time to meditate. (I feel amused when I see westerns books with titles, how to become successful if you wake up at 4am or 5am!!)

ISHWAR VANDNA

Upon waking up ,before getting out of bed : first is to Thank God for a new day and new hope. Thank ones parents. Saying Thank you to Bhagvan Vishnu by reciting names of Sri Vishnu ji while touching the right ear with right hand, this leads to internal purification. Before stepping down: Bhoomi Maa vandna -salutations are made to Mother Earth seeking forgiveness and thanking her for allowing me to tread on her with my feet . Why salutations to mother Earth ? Human body is made up of five elements: Earth,Water, Fire, Air and space hence all the five are revered Deities.C@Rg

BATHING:

Bathing is not just an activity meant to be done. In hinduism , its a ritual to be followed diligently. Emphasis is laid on bathing early morning just before Brahma muhurat ( just before 4.24 am ) ideally from water of a river . This has science too- besides destroying the negative energy a bath increases vitality and longevity. At this time vibrations of deities are more dominant than any other time of the day hence a bath at this time helps a person absorb the waves emitted by deities thereby purifying not only the body but the mind too. And when the conscious mind is purified the sanskars of the subconscious (original sanskars) of Peace, truth, Purity , Power, love, knowledge,  bliss are easily absorbed by the conscious mind. As we all know that Negative or Positive vibrations both affect water instantly this is why its recommended to bathe from a river as negativity does not impact the flowing water’s of a river whereas negativity does impact the stored bucket water the most. Bathing at Brahma muhurat when only divy energies / divy souls are awake along with the waves of the Divine Deities hence a strong Divy setting helps further to strengthen the sanskars of Divy Shakti ( Divine Energy), Iccha Shakti ( will power), Sankalp shakti,( resolve) and Dhyana Shakti ( knowledge and focus).

Meditation, Yog & Pranayam and chanting of Mantras;

Yog and meditation are being sold and popularised as a commercial commodity these days, as an excercise tool , weight loss tool etc. Mental balance is actually far from that. In Hinduism, to do Yog Pranayam and Meditation is again a ritual meant to be done daily in order to align your mind, body and soul. Sounds cliched? Think of the times when your mind is so enthusiastic about doing an activity but your body is fatigued and your soul depleted or pained? what work can you possibly achieve with such an imbalance. Senses or the conscious mind is only the tip of the iceberg meant to witness the physical world but one has to delve within to awaken the subconscious mind to realize the power of soul and search the purpose of ones existence ,to evolve as a better being each day and the final goal to be one in unison with Parmaatama /Supreme Soul that can be achieved only by meditation.

Power of Silence :

We understood the power of observing silence because our texts say that one who understands this ”pind like human body, it will not be difficult for him to understand the Brahmand” therefore Maun Vrat is part of Hindu culture that has been passed on from one generation to another since time immemorial . It’s a conscious self restraint to disconnect from the physical or external world to be able to delve deep inside ones subconscious. The first step is to ‘silence ones speech’ then one moves forward to ‘silence the mind of non stop chatter of thoughts ‘. And when one has the ability to silence the mind automatically words are very few, only those which are of utmost importance are spoken. The benefits are endless ,its heals the body and mind both .There are no disagreements no heated arguments as serenity comes automatically with calmness, Its gifting oneself peace of mind , tranquillity and bliss . When one is calm it literally means one is in complete control of all ones five senses thereby one becomes more observant , focussed and mentally apt at finding solutions easily. The bigger purpose is to save one’s energy and to direct / focus this energy within oneself to evolve spiritually . ( for eg -Sun is the greatest & biggest source of Energy that nourishes all life on the universe – at sometime or other we have all done this scientific experiment that is let the Sun shine through a magnified glass on a paper, keeping the focal point on the paper for a moment and the sun will burn the paper. This was done only as a fun element without realizing that energy when concentrated and focused can produce desired results ).C@Rg

Power of Chanting Mantras & spoken words:

Science very recently has asserted that OM is the sound of universe whereas Hindus have known since long this fact that OM is the first sound / vibration of the universe which is how every Hindu’s sacred Mantra begins with the highest sacred symbol OM. OM is the cosmic sound that initiated the creation of Universe . The mantra comprises of three syllables ‘a’ , ‘ u’ , ‘m’ which represent the Trinity of Hindu Gods: Brahma , Vishnu and Shiva, indicating past , present and future. In Mundaka Upanishad OM is referred to as the ‘Pranava’ : ”power that is eternal”. AUM is the first sound / vibration of the universe thus all other sounds /  vibrations manifest from AUM. The universe is made up of vibrating pulsating energy which produces the humming sound of AUM . The word AUM is so powerful and transcendental sound thus meditating on OM not only arrests the wandering mind but also stimulates the Vagus nerve which sharpens the power of brain. AUM Chanting a 108 times and its vibrations amazingly opens ones crown Chakra hence its one’s way to self realization that is a process to evolve step by step spiritually.

PRATAKAL & SADHYA PUJA:

Morning and Evening prayers have significance & science both. . An innate Sanskar of Bhartiyas is to be in gratitude to each and everything that is life giving & life sustaining. Pratakal / morning puja is a family ritual performed by lighting a lamp before Bhagwan ji to say thanks for a new day and new hope that fills the home with positivity and vibrancy. Surya Dev, Agni Dev, Indra Dev, holy Rivers , Mother Earth, Tulsi & other Plants and Cows, all are revered in Hinduism hence we worship and offer our prayers to them.Below is a prayer from our sacred texts that we chant:

ॐ सर्वे भवन्तु सुखिनः
सर्वे सन्तु निरामयाः ।
सर्वे भद्राणि पश्यन्तु
मा कश्चिद्दुःखभाग्भवेत् ।
ॐ शान्तिः शान्तिः शान्तिः ॥’

Om Sarve Bhavantu Sukhaninah , Sarve Santu Niramyah ,Sarve Bhadrani pashyantu , Ma krashit dukh Bhagbhavet -which means : May all be in bliss, may all be healthy, may all see good everywhere, may none be unhappy ever ,Peace be to all. Hinduism teaches to pray for the wellbeing of all life and the whole universe and when the universe is in bliss one is automatically in bliss. Chanting HIS name while performing Nitya Karma with righteousness of Dharma is the way to liberation.

FOOD:

Food for us is revered, it is for survival, energizing, comforting, satiating all the five senses and the Soul with Healing qualities. ‘Ayurveda’ says Bhartiya food is not only food but considered as “aushadhi”. , meaning Medicinal that naturally clears the body of ashudhi or toxins. Food items are cooked according to dincharya (day) and ritucharya (seasonal ), so that cooked food can pacify the unbalanced doshas of body. Where , How and What to eat When and how its to be cooked is all scientific.…C@Rg

Recent changes like- Grab a bite on the move, coffee on the go, is a complete NO and quite conflicting to ancient Hindu wisdom. Being seated on a dinning table & eating may seem most normal, harmless, comfortable, modern and logical to most of the people but it is fundamentally wrong for health and certainly a no-no, for us Bhartiyas.
The ancient Hindu tradition which is still followed by many across the country is to be seated on a mat spread on the floor to eat with one’s fingers is a family ritual that begins with offering Bhog to Bhagwan ji first that becomes Prasad then a small prayer by saying thankyou to Bhagvan ji, all of which helps a family to bond and stay united. Sitting on the floor to eat has its roots in Ayurveda & Yoga and is backed by science and logic both to inspire many.  Sitting on the floor cross legged in a pose ‘Sukhasan’ is akin to doing Yoga while eating which can actually help to live longer and healthier besides multiple health benefits. Most significant being that it instantly calms the mind which is better equipped to focus on food . (Sukhasan is ideal for meditation hence makes you more attentive of whatever you are about to do.) When in Sukhasan the flow of oxygen increases to the body and reduces the blood circulation to the legs and the extra blood is transmitted to the heart and to other organs that aid in digestion thus the digestive system works better keeping the load off the liver ( whereas while seated on a chair the blood is directed to the feet). Bending forward and returning to the original posture after every morsel , secretes more digestive juices. In this asan one can rarely overeat as the vagus nerve transmits signal from the stomach to the brain that you have eaten enough thereby helps you to feel full and satiated immediately ( as opposed to seated on a chair you get the signal after you have overeaten) In Sukhasan the muscles around the abdomen and lower abdomen stretch thus posture is automatically corrected, helps in keeping the joints supple with healthy knees thereby body becomes agile and stronger.  Eating is a process that involves the sensory organs of 1st -seeing the food , smelling , touch / feel and taste hence eating with fingers to feel the food so as not only the body but the soul is satiated too. (Whereas eating with a spoon you loose out on an important aspect of touch/ feel.) Our ancient Hindu texts state that 5 fingers of a hand represent the 5 elements that nature and humans are made of. So while the world can continue making fun of us, eating with our hands, we need to not only stand tall and take pride, but if possible practise it too unapologetically.

KAMA :

Pleasures: To seek enjoyment and pleasures from life but within moral boundaries and never to allow it to override your bigger purpose in life.

ARTHA :

Pursuit of wealth : In today’s time everyone is seeking and is a doer in an auto mode without a second thought to whether its being pursued with righteousness or not , in Hinduism ‘Lord Krishna tells us that whatever work one has done or one does should be an offering to the Supreme for a reason’ – Treat your work as worship.

karmany evadhikaras te
ma phalesu kadachana
ma karma-phala-hetur bhur
ma te sango ’stv akarmani” 

‘Sri Krishna says- You have a right to perform your prescribed duty, but you are not entitled to the fruits of action. Never consider yourself the cause of the results of your activities, and never be attached to not doing your duty’.

Seeking wealth & material comforts is the aim of life that is associated with success and happiness both. But crucial is ‘how should one be’ while seeking these ? In today’s world of cut throat competition, brutal workforce, reaching the success ladder sooner than necessary takes precedence over being ethical and moral. But thats where we are going wrong, as this is exactly the place where we need to practise- Dharma hence our work, career, wealth should be pursued with truth & righteousness of karma /action .The aim of life is to clear ones past karmic debts as early as possible and add more to ones karmic credit . for people to realise how in a mindless rush for pursuing worldly pleasures , takes one away from, Spirituality or God. One must not forego of moral & ethical values cause if one is not righteous then the karmic debt increases which means more to go through the cycle of birth and death. Whether little or more which is relative but wherein one is in a perpetual state of contentment & Gratitude for having more than enough. In Gratitude lies the essence of bliss wherein one’s focus is only on ones blessings while in pursuit of ones goals. While in pursuit of wealth,if you are also connected to God , automatically you will be doing the correct things in life – it helps one to work ethically with righteousness of Dharma which is the way to liberation.

Charity and Philanthrophy

Giving back to society is yet another important principle in Hinduism. Charity is not only of help for others , its an act that helps the doer the most by adding to one’s karmic credit .It eliminates social problems. Charity has always been around since the beginning of humanity that’s a part of Nity karma for Hindus because we believe that ”we fall together and we rise together’. Everyone has something to give, to help, to co-operate and it may not necessarily be wealth but sharing of ones skill, ones knowledge or by giving away ones precious time is as important .To extend help in any possible way, any helpful random act for a needy one . It’s so gratifying at so many levels. It’s inspiring,  creates a stronger bond between a family & community and it nurtures children’s innate generosity that reinforces moral values. Having the power to make a difference to another life is a privilege. The next level to liberation is attained by the mantra of co-operation / Philanthrophy . C@Rg

CO-OPERATION in SPIRIT:

In this era that is kalyug someone created a thought that ‘its a competitive world’ and it soon became a universal thought. It gripped most of the people in a mindless rush to beat all others in every sphere which is not only impossible but also wrong at so many levels cause it makes one angry , jealous and envious of other people’s success which is heavy pained energy that not only leaves one frustrated which leads to major physical and mental ailments but also disconnects one from each other and God further. There are millions of people on this planet yet each one with different finger prints , similarly each one’s destiny too is completely different . It’s each one’s journey alone then how can there ever be any competition? Purpose of our very existence is to co-operate . Example The human body has 70 trillion cells and one message from the brain is relayed to all these cells alike, within a fraction of a second ,through their advanced neural interconnection. But if even one cell does not cooperate for whatever reason, the chain breaks, the message is not relayed. Similarly we all are connected in such a way (we don’t understand) but believe me one thought , one action soon catches up and that becomes the norm for mankind. To raise our frequency or vibration , we are meant to be helping one another without a thought or a pause.

CONCLUSION

Well by now, you all know how strongly connected to my roots I am ! And stronger is the urge for me to reiterate time and again the need for our children and future generations to remain connected to our roots.

Hinduism is all about shift of focus: from the sensory and physical world outside to shift the focus within oneself to awaken the purity & power of aatma /soul.

Hinduism gives meaning and purpose to a clueless life by defining the goal of life . Hinduism gives one the understanding of how and why all living beings are caught in the cosmos cycle of reincarnation because one has to clear one’s karmic debts. It gives clarity by stating guidelines/principles to achieve the ultimate purpose .

Nity Karma / Daily Activities are performed with utmost discipline to evolve spiritually and for the benefit of universe and all life on it. Yes , it is a regimented, disciplined life, so that come different century, era, technological advancement, mankind remains close to his roots, the universe, God.

Karma: actually is not between you and others cause every act of yours is between you and your Bhagwan as Its each one’s journey alone . Your each act good or bad with others is in reality for yourself.

And today humans are solely responsible for transforming nature . Natures resources & wealth are misused by human greed thereby altering climatic Conditions. Humans are dominating the Earth : forests are destroyed and seas are reclaimed that results in reduced population of wild life all essential to support human wellbeing . All of this further breaks down the connect. Mass production of Synthetic is toxic that pollutes the air and usage of Chemicals which produce more carbon dioxide than plants can assimilate.

The universe and life on Earth is not since  a few thousand years as science says but life on earth is actually in existence since millions of years . And life on Earth could only be upheld by the fundamental principle of peaceful co-existence wherein Hindu Dharma that is as old as universe , has withstood test of time. Hindu Dharma teaches us the fundamental golden rules to live by – peaceful co- existence that is possible only when there is respect and feeling of equality , selfless help to humanity. We all are meant to be helping one another without a thought or a pause for life on this Universe to be at its optimum best. There are no ifs and buts because this is how human life on Earth is designed, which is truly sustained and upheld by ways of life that Hinduism teaches. Purpose of our existence can only be met when we co- exist beyond the realms of caste, religion, race language or even territorial borders for that matter.

Author Rekha Gupta