Faith/Religion Isn't Only About Belief But Also About Action

[Cureus]

When I enter a topic and come out more confused than when I went in; I think its best to keep my distance, but I'll have a shot anyway. Yes I think I agree.

 

[Jainarayan]

Most Hindus I know don't really clearly know what they believe, yet they still act ethically according to dharma.

I am coming to see this more and more. Maybe it's because there is so much more inter-personal contact in this shrinking global village, people are exposed to other people's beliefs. However, 'tis true that living the dharma is a given.

It's not really a philosophical religion at all, other that the few who go for that. In the west, because of the 'religious' paradigm Quintessence alluded to, people interested in Hinduism usually do it through philosophy first, often practically ignoring ethical action. Kind of sad, that, IMHO, as it sets up a gap between two groups.

Ftw and qft ("for the win" and "quoted for truth").

 

[Jainarayan]

Compassion is an action.

I believe it's a feeling first. The feeling does move one to action (as much as is possible). One may not be able to perform a compassionate act, yet still have the feeling. Of course, we might say "well, that's empathy or sympathy". As the Buddha said "Compassion is that which makes the heart of the good move at the pain of others. It crushes and destroys the pain of others; thus, it is called compassion. It is called compassion because it shelters and embraces the distressed."

 

[Jainarayan]

I think westerners(as converts) know more about Hindu philosophy because they studied it deeply and compared it with other religions before converting to Hinduism.

This is not always a good thing. As a western adopter of Hinduism I can attest to this. Sometimes there are too many choices and conflicting views. You approach it from an intellectual, not spiritual perspective. It's like an all you eat buffet: you don't even know where to start, but then you become sick having stuffed yourself. "Village Hinduism", or being provincial or parochial is not always a bad thing. I often regret having come onto internet sites where Hinduism is discussed. There are things that, in my naivete, I accepted from people as the only truth of it, which I came to regret.

 

[ChristineES]

I believe it's a feeling first. The feeling does move one to action (as much as is possible). One may not be able to perform a compassionate act, yet still have the feeling. Of course, we might say "well, that's empathy or sympathy". As the Buddha said "Compassion is that which makes the heart of the good move at the pain of others. It crushes and destroys the pain of others; thus, it is called compassion. It is called compassion because it shelters and embraces the distressed."

I agree with you, it is a feeling.

What I am saying that it is useless to someone if he or she is suffering and I am able to stop the suffering but choose to just let the person suffer and just feel sorry for him or her, then that is not true compassion.

 

[ChristineES]

Oh, and I also believe the person you are helping has to want your help; if you help them and they wanted to do something themselves then that is wrong, too.

 

[Vinayaka]

I think westerners(as converts) know more about Hindu philosophy because they studied it deeply and compared it with other religions before converting to Hinduism.

Not true in my case, but maybe you're right. I'm only one of many.

 

[ChristineES]

I suppose there is a difference between following a faith that you were born into and decided to go with that faith and those who studied it and then decided to follow it. It's true in Christianity, too. Those who were born into it tend to know less about the faith than those who studied it first (they know about Church politics but less about Jesus' actual teachings).

 

[Jainarayan]

I agree with you, it is a feeling.

What I am saying that it is useless to someone if he or she is suffering and I am able to stop the suffering but choose to just let the person suffer and just feel sorry for him or her, then that is not true compassion.

Absolutely... not only is that not compassion it is himsā, violence, and adharmic, the "wrong way".

 

[ChristineES]

Absolutely... not only is that not compassion it is himsā, violence, and adharmic, the "wrong way".

As we say in my faith: Amen.

Frubal.