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The Dharmic Religions

James Field

James Field

Member
What is it that unites Hinduism, Jainism, Buddhism and Sikhism ? Obviously they're from India and have certain concepts such as Dharma and Karma in common, but what else is there that y'all think they share in common ? Even amongst the religions themselves there are significant differences in doctrine and even practice, especially in the different sects of Hinduism and Buddhism. What about spiritual pracitces, a side from meditation, are there any that seem to be found in the other Indian religions or any that are applicable to the others ( and I ask this as someone who doesn't find syncretism a helpful practice)
I've alwas felt the most significant aspect which unites them was the realization that we aren't the body or the Ego; which always surpised me that it isn't brought up as much when someone asks about the beliefs of these religions/philosophies. Finally,if this is the most significant truth the Dharmic religions share would that mean that such concepts found outside of India could be considered Dhamric such as Gnosticism ?
 
Kalibhakta

Kalibhakta

Jai Maha Kali Ma!
What unites them?

The idea that actions inform Karma, and that your ego when it is unaware of it's true nature, accumulates Karma, and necessitates reincarnation. Breaking the Ego is needed to stop the cycle.

The four religions differ strongly on *how*.
 
U

Unveiled Artist

Veteran Member
Does "true nature" in Hindu view similar to that of Mahayana Buddhism, if you are familiar with that?
Kalibhakta said:
What unites them?

The idea that actions inform Karma, and that your ego when it is unaware of it's true nature, accumulates Karma, and necessitates reincarnation. Breaking the Ego is needed to stop the cycle.

The four religions differ strongly on *how*.
Click to expand...
 
Aupmanyav

Aupmanyav

Be your own guru
LuisDantas said:
IMO what truly defines Dharma is the attitude of responsibility towards one's religious teachings.
Click to expand...
IMHO, that is half the part. The other half is 'social responsibilities'. All dharmic/Indic religions are strong on that.
James Field said:
I've always felt the most significant aspect which unites them was the realization that we aren't the body or the Ego; which always surpised me that it isn't brought up as much when someone asks about the beliefs of these religions/philosophies. Finally,if this is the most significant truth the Dharmic religions share would that mean that such concepts found outside of India could be considered Dhamric such as Gnosticism ?
Click to expand...
Not all religions (Jainism for example) will agree on that and not all sects of Hinduism (Dvaita, dualist philosophy of Sri Madhvacharya). But differences do not part us asunder because dharma unites us. Gnosticism, Sufi, we have enough, who needs that?
Kalibhakta said:
The four religions differ strongly on *how*.
Click to expand...
I do not think they do. There is only one way to lighten our load of karma (for those who believe in karma and someone like me who does not believe in transference of karma and rebirth), and that is by doing good works and abstaining from evil deeds.
 
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Kalibhakta

Kalibhakta

Jai Maha Kali Ma!
Vishvavajra could explain it better then me, but while there is an "Adi-Buddha" who is LIKE "Brahman", but he is not a person like Brahman. There is nothing like Atman in Buddhism, but the potential to be a Buddha, the Buddhanature.
 
psychoslice

psychoslice

Veteran Member
I love this quote by Osho.

One has to be aware; otherwise you can miss the obvious! And dharma is the obvious, godliness is the obvious. It is not a complicated, complex thing. It is not far away; it is very close by. It is dharma that beats in your heart; it is dharma that pulsates in your blood. It is dharma that breathes; it is dharma that lives in you. It is dharma that you are made of – the very stuff that you are made of – and yet you are unaware of it. -OSHO
 
Aupmanyav

Aupmanyav

Be your own guru
Kalibhakta said:
Vishvavajra could explain it better then me, but while there is an "Adi-Buddha" who is LIKE "Brahman", but he is not a person like Brahman.
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Even in Hinduism Brahman is not a person, not a being, but an entity which we do not understand completely. It is what constitutes all things in the universe, something like physical energy.
 
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Kalibhakta

Kalibhakta

Jai Maha Kali Ma!
Of course, but when I mean as a person I mean "Something that positively exists". I am not fully sure you could say that about Adi-Buddha
 
Aupmanyav

Aupmanyav

Be your own guru
You are correct, all Hindus (with the exception of Mother Goddess worshipers, Shaktas) believe that Brahman positively exists. For the Shaktas, the Mother is Brahman.
 
Kalibhakta

Kalibhakta

Jai Maha Kali Ma!
Of course. You can't quite say that for Buddhist because that would violate Dependant Arising. Nothing quite exists in a permanent sense.

And you are right. I guess that is why I meant "as a person." Mother is not different from Brahman for me, but I understand that is not the case for most other HIndus
 
James Field

James Field

Member
Aupmanyav said:
IMHO, that is half the part. The other half is 'social responsibilities'. All dharmic/Indic religions are strong on that.Not all religions (Jainism for example) will agree on that and not all sects of Hinduism (Dvaita, dualist philosophy of Sri Madhvacharya). But differences do not part us asunder because dharma unites us. Gnosticism, Sufi, we have enough, who needs that?I do not think they do. There is only one way to lighten our load of karma (for those who believe in karma and someone like me who does not believe in transference of karma and rebirth), and that is by doing good works and abstaining from evil deeds.
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Does Dvaita and Jainism believe that the Jiva retains their personality like in the Abrahamic Relogions ? What would they not agree about ?
 
Vinayaka

Vinayaka

devotee
Premium Member
Some commonalities I see in the practices (as opposed to philosophy).. course I've had very limited experience, and could be dead wrong.
. a focus on looking inward, introspection
. character development coming out of that
. commitment, an attempt at 24-7 practice
. strong family, whether nuclear or, the community
. more monasticism than elsewhere
. more focus on selfless action
 
Aupmanyav

Aupmanyav

Be your own guru
James Field said:
Does Dvaita and Jainism believe that the Jiva retains their personality like in the Abrahamic Relogions?
Click to expand...
Jainism does not believe in a creator God. Their Gods are like the Buddhist Gods, denizens of another level. Jiva is distinct through births and attains the highest loka after Moksha through good deeds. Dvaita also is like that, jiva remains different rather than merger it attains proximity to Godhead who is Krishna. (My best effort, I am none of these :))
 
James Field

James Field

Member
Aupmanyav said:
Jainism does not believe in a creator God. Their Gods are like the Buddhist Gods, denizens of another level. Jiva is distinct through births and attains the highest loka after Moksha through good deeds. Dvaita also is like that, jiva remains different rather than merger it attains proximity to Godhead who is Krishna. (My best effort, I am none of these :))
Click to expand...
Oh ok, and these are done solely through good deeds and doesn't involve realizing the Jiva or the impermanence of their Ego or body through things like Yoga and meditation ?
 
Aupmanyav

Aupmanyav

Be your own guru
Meditation is OK. Jains and Dvaitist certainly can meditate on the teachings of their masters but they do not deny permanent and separate existence of Jiva.

Jain beliefs postulate that the universe was never created, nor will it ever cease to exist. It is independent and self-sufficient, and does not require any superior power to govern it.
Bandha: The karma masks the jiva and restricts it from having its true potential of perfect knowledge and perception.
Saṃvara: Through right conduct, it is possible to stop the influx of additional karma.
Nirjarā: By performing asceticism, it is possible to shred or burn up the existing karma.
Mokṣa: The jiva which has removed its karma is said to be liberated and to have its pure, intrinsic quality of perfect knowledge in its true form.

Five fundamental, eternal and real differences are described in Dvaita - 1. Between the individual soul (or jīvatma) and God (Brahmatma īshvara or Vishnu). 2. Between matter (inanimate, insentient) and God. 3. Among individual souls (jīvatma) 4. Between matter and jīva. 5. Among various types of matter.
Madhva divides souls into three classes. One class of souls, which qualify for liberation (Mukti-yogyas), another subject to eternal rebirth or eternal transmigration (Nitya-samsarins) and a third class that is eventually condemned to eternal hell or andhatamas (Tamo-yogyas). No other Hindu philosopher or school of Hinduism holds such beliefs.
(Thanks to Wikipedia)
 
Vishvavajra

Vishvavajra

Active Member
Coming out of a similar geographic and cultural space means there's a lot of shared assumptions and terminology and conceptual frameworks, at least initially. Where individual traditions take those things can be very, very different in the end. But you can see the genetic similarities, sort of like looking at different species that share a common ancestry.

They also benefited from growing up in ancient India, which was fertile ground for philosophical and religious development, with a high tolerance for differences. People could discuss and debate across sectarian lines with little danger of open hostility or persecution. That led to some cross-pollination over the centuries, and I believe it also led individual groups to refine their ideas more than if they only had themselves to argue with.

As far as there being a single doctrine or practice that is common to all, I'm not sure there is one, honestly. I would hesitate to claim such a thing for Hindus alone, never mind all the rest. It's a family that is defined by diversity.
 
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