People can totally do that. Many do.
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Hindu Monotheism
- Thread starter duvduv
- Start date
People can totally do that. Many do.
Quoted for truth!
Then what would be a sect of Sanatana Dharma who focus only on the formless Supreme Creator?
It's not so much about sects as about individuals. But everyone focuses on the formless Supreme Creator, actually, in different ways.
I guess if you want organised sects of what you're thinking about, the Satnamis, Sikhs and maybe Lingayats could be of interest. But as I say, more about people than sects.
Only? I've never met anyone, but sure, it's likely, given a billion people and 10 000 sects.
That's interesting. I am familiar with the Sikhs and have always found their ideas interesting. I never heard about the other two sects, although I believe the Sikhs refer to Satu nam in their prayers. Are these other two very small sects?
Do Indian Hindus have any interest in their beliefs (which online indicates that they do not believe in karma, deities, etc.)?
Were the two sects influenced by Islam the way Sikhism was in the days of Guru Nanak?
Do Indian Hindus have any interest in their beliefs (which online indicates that they do not believe in karma, deities, etc.)?
Were the two sects influenced by Islam the way Sikhism was in the days of Guru Nanak?
Arya Samaj. Most groups of Advaita Vedanta.
I am not sure of what you mean here. Can you perhaps put it in other words?
Sounds unlikely. Even Sikhs are IMO not all that influenced by Islaam, despite the popularity of describing them as a mix of Hinduism and Islaam. They are unambiguously monotheistic, but that seems to be the extent of their similarity to Islaam.
Just asking if ordinary Hindus are drawn to the Satnami etc.?
I just read about the Arye Samaj and Dayanand Saraswati. Very interesting man indeed, along with Vivekananda.....
That is a bit of a slanted question, don't you think? How can we tell whether a specific person qualifies as an ordinary Hindu, or that he or she is drawn to the Satnami?
The answers would rest considerably on the expectations of those who ask the questions, IMO.
But anyway, are you implying that the Satnami do not use the concepts of Karma and do not use the Devas in their practices? Somehow that sounds odd, particularly if they do consider themselves Hindus.
Maha Periyava (a well respected leader of Kanchi in the 20th century) would be a good example of Advaita (non-dual, i.e. monistic)
View of Hinduism. The view here is that the world is entirely Brahman and Brahman alone, and it is only an illusion that makes it look like multiple entities. Removing this illusion makes one realize that One oneself is identical to Brahman and also the world.
Here is a book (note, I have read only first few pages..but looks good) that explains his views more,
https://holybooks-lichtenbergpress....adhanaa-Kanchi-Maha-Swamigal’s-Discourses.pdf
Of course the whole deal in plenty of "idol-worshipping" groups too!
Thank you for the link. I am reading now also about Brahmo Samaj. I never knew that some Hindus had the bizarre practice of a widow throwing herself on the pyre to die with her husband. In any event, did these reformist leaders (Periyava, Vivekananda, Saraswati, etc.) want to sweep away from the Vedic teachings all references to multiple deities? How did they relate to the traditional Sanatana Dharma literature and beliefs?
Check Wikipedia. It was a strictly monotheistic movement within Hinduism perhaps similar to Sikhism. Punjab seems to have produced alot of interesting religious activity.
As I and others have said said before several times, Hinduism is vast, with many variations of theism, and atheism, for that matter, if you consider a wider range called Indian philosophy. Most 'ordinary' Hindus will have heard of their own sect, and maybe a couple of others. You still aren't grasping our great and wonderful diversity, and I see no point in continuing any discussion unless this is at least acknowledged.
You seem to be approaching it entirely from an intellectual perspective, looking for a sect that mostly agrees with your faith, and then somehow trying to prove that it's the 'correct' one. Just not how Hindus think ... at all. We just want to worship God and Gods, and feel uplifted doing so.
Aum
That is untrue. I am trying to see how all the "pieces" fit together based on what I understand to be competing philosophies or theologies of what is called "Hinduism" at least as expressed by traditional religion versus that of Vedanta, Arya Samaj etc. Indeed, the strict monotheists have argued that the Vedas themselves are strictly monotheistic. But the point is putting together pieces together in what appears to be a puzzle for an outsider who is looking for more than a superficial understanding. Vineyaka I think you display a bit of intolerance or impatience.