Hinduism Essay

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Hinduism

Gail Ginn
HUM /130
Professor Williams
July 27, 2014

Hinduism

The historic foundation of the Hindu religion dates back to BCE c:8000-6000 (Fisher, 2014). Hinduism is a fascinating and respectable religion that is practiced widely in the world today. Specifically. This religion has quite a dominant presence on the geographical plains of India, which is located in the southern subcontinent of Asia. What differences and unique cultural traditions are practiced by the Hindu peoples? In the following paper, such questions will be discussed. First, we must learn about the history of this religion. Hinduism does not pay credit to a singular founder of the faith. It has been said that Hinduism is among the eldest of worldly religions, with historical presence dating back to BCE c:8000-6000 (as previously mentioned). Currently, this faith is practiced worldwide, with the largest concentration being home to India. Hinduism is centered on a multitude of abstract philosophical ideals. There have been scholars of religion who have argued that Hinduism lacks a central focus. This theory is due to the wide variety of separately founded beliefs. It is said that the Hindu way of life includes practicing daily rituals of worship (puja), occasional pilgrimages and festivals. There is a term that helps to describe the overall meaning of the depth that Hinduism upholds. “The Hindi word, ‘dharma,’ often translated into English simply as ‘religion,’ refers to a broad complex of meanings, encompassing duty, natural law, social welfare, ethics, health, wealth, power, fulfillment of desires, and transcendental realization.” (Fisher, 2014). Next, we must familiarize ourselves with what the Hindu people stand for. Ultimately, individuals of Hindu faith yearn for eternal bliss and transcendence. A daily life striving toward unimaginable peace, is a belief of the religion. “According to the Shankara, our material life is an illusion. It is like a momentary wave arising from the ocean.” (Fisher, 2014). This concept of belief must be tremendously profound to grasp. As explained by Fisher (2014), “The absolute spirit, Brahman, is the essence of everything, and it has no beginning and no end. It is the eternal ocean of bliss within which forms are born and die, giving the false appearance of being real.” (Fisher, 2014).
A tradition within the Hindu religion is to strive for the liberation of a physical existence on earth. A major belief within the religion of Hinduism, is Samsara. This principal is the belief that an individual is reincarnated and born again, many times to be several rebirths over again. A Hindu person can be believed to pass on and be reborn numerous times into an animal, insect or person. When a Hindu person is finally freed of this cycle formed by reincarnation, is it called Moksha. According to Fisher (2014), “To escape
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