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The Dharmic Religions
- Thread starter James Field
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Dorothy Dandridge
Member
I mean, like, besides Wikipedia of course. Haha. Like literature. Books.
Dorothy Dandridge
Member
Very wise. I'll get the basics down first. I just love learning. 
Nicholas
Bodhicitta
Try this translation of, and commentary on the Bhagavad Gita; it gives an excellent view of Hinduism. Of course you can buy it in many places online.
Chennaimath.org: Universal Message of the Bhagavad Gita Vol 1 - 3
Aupmanyav
Be your own guru
Bhagavad-gita As It Is that is Gita I like. Concise. Of course, it is from ISKCON and I am an atheist. It is not that I do not love the story of Krishna, only that I do not take him as God. I do take him as the sole constituent of the universe, Brahman, as we term that entity. You and myself, we too are none other than that. That is one of the 'Advaita' POVs. Advaita - non-duality.
Nicholas
Bodhicitta
But you will admit the Gita is far ahead of whatever is in second place.
The Vedas are in first place.
Nicholas
Bodhicitta
Really? evidence please. But maybe you mean chronologically or in significance. I just mean popularity.
Aupmanyav
Be your own guru
They may have differences but Gita is universally respected. I may not go with 'mamekam saranam vraja' (seek refuge in me only), but I fully endorse 'pandita sama darshina' (wise consider all as same). Gita has something for everybody.
Vedas may lack in popularity but lead in chronology (in portions by four thousand years or more) and in authority. Cannot be faulted (heard, words of Supreme), 'Apaurusheya' (not written by men), 'Anadi' (without beginning or end). They are supposed to transcend the dissolution of universe and appear even in another creation.
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Kalibhakta
Jai Maha Kali Ma!
The Gita is the summation of the Upanishads, like Brandy is condensed Wine, or how Ghee is Clarified butter. But is still Just a form of Wine or Butter in the end.
And butter only arose from milk in the first place. Much as the wisdom of the Upanishads is available in the world we live in, but has crystallised out in the writings of the rishis.
shivsomashekhar
Well-Known Member
In popularity, highly condensed versions of the Ramayana and the Mahabharata rank foremost. Most Hindus do not read the Gita. Among those who may read parts of it, I would question the value it offers to Hindus in their everyday practice of their religion. The Gita is about various paths to liberation and the common man does not care for liberation or the after-life. He has more pressing, more real matters that fill his time (family, career, health). Liberation is lower in priority, if it has any priority at all.
The Rig-Veda is not really something that one picks up and reads as a book and therefore it can never match the above texts in popularity. The Upanishads are popular among the more philosophy oriented people, but then again, by themselves, they do not offer much.
In general, viewing Hinduism as a scripture oriented religion is incorrect. While other popular religions like Buddhism, Judaism, Christianity and Islam started from a single point and later divided into sub-groups, Hinduism went the opposite way. Various, diverse beliefs from around the country were artificially combined under one umbrella, which came to be known as Hinduism. Obviously then, it can neither be scripture based nor can it have a core set of beliefs. Westerners are generally ignorant (not their fault) about this, much in the same way they are ignorant of Indian cuisine, incorrectly led to the understanding that the food served in Indian restaurants in foreign countries is what Indians all around India eat on a daily basis (naan and chicken tikka masala).
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Desert Snake
Veteran Member
Hi. I like actual books. I would recommend the Bhagavad Gita, with explanations after the chapters or paragraphs. I very much like Prabhupada's version.
Which was actually invented in Glasgow, and has been recognised as a traditional British cultural dish.
Satyamavejayanti
Well-Known Member
Namaste,
Apart from Dharmah and Karma as the obvious ones, some of the many things that unites us is the Non exclusivity in our truth claims, which is achieved largely by not being too history centered or not relying too heavily that historical events/people are the only means of knowing the divine or achieving liberation.
Also the practice of Adhyatama Vidya, or searching within to find knowledge and answers is big in our traditions.
I also think one of the more key things that units us is the idea that ignorance and the actions performed under this "Maya" of ignorance is the cause of Dukkha, which needs to be corrected through knowledge in order to achieve Annanda.
And also the concept of Ahimsa (Non harming, Not causing violence, un necessary harm) is agreed upon even by the staunch Charvaks and Lokyatas, let alone Hinduism, Buddhism, Jain and Sikhi traditions.
Well as long as ones Karm is punya, one can be considered Dharmic.