In Hinduism we're born into a state of illusion or Maya. Our world, and everything in it, appear to be separately real, and perhaps more real, than the Brahman inherent in all things. Our souls or jivas come from God because everything does (which is the only explantation one will get), and the core of us is Atman (God). We start out in the bodies of the simplest creatures of Earth and through a karmic system of reincarnation we graduate to more complex animals until we eventually reach the human body. Everything that happens in life is a result of the karma from the previous life. Joy, misery, sadness and anger are all reflections of past actions and desires of our jivas. One's karma determines the condition of their current life. Which reminds me of Newton in his third law of motion; "For every action there is an equal and opposite reaction." Karma allows us to live in a universe which is wholly just. In a world where many bad people do many bad things, this can be a person's only comfort. There are 4 stages the jivas go through. At first the desire is for sensual pleasure. After a personalized amount of time the desire for solely pleasure wanes and the desire for social conquests begins. When that desire wanes the desire for something more deeply satisfying sets in, which is the duty stage. As Huston Smith puts it in World's Religions, the duty stage is "total dedication of one's life to one's community." Finally the only satisfaction left is Moksha, the "Eternal and Infinite" or liberation from Maya. Although the achievement of this final stage takes a different amount of time for different people, eventually everyone will end up here. When we ask questions such as "Why are there so many versions of 'reality' seen by people" or "Why do we feel separate from God when Atman is our core?" Hinduism answers, "The world is lila, or God's play." Smith uses the analogy of children playing hide and seek. "They put themselves in situations from which they must escape. Why do they do so when they could free themselves by simply withdrawing from the game? The only answer that can be given is that the game is it's own reward. So too, must it be with the world."
On this path to the Divine, Hinduism says we struggle with three limitations. The first falls into three subgroups, physical pain, thwarted desire, and ennui. The second is ignorance and the third is restricted being. Of the first, physical pain will end as our spirit is reborn into a new body, in the next life. Thwarted desire and ennui are both consequences of the ego, which can be quieted as we grow spiritually. Ignorance too will be left in the same manner. As for the third, restricted being means that we are unable to fathom all that our minds hold. Hinduism purports that our minds are infinite in being, awareness, and joy. Smith explains, "We are like kings who, falling victim to amnesia, wander our kingdoms in tatters not knowing who we really are...We are like a lover who, in his dream, searches the whole wide world in despair for his beloved, oblivious of the fact that she is laying at his side throughout."
To help us overcome these limitations or obstacles are the four paths. Yoga, a word which has connotations of uniting, contains physical exercises but it's purpose is union with God. Hinduism stresses the importance of recognizing the different spiritual personalities and so has detailed the principal types and their corresponding yogas in four categories. Bhakti, Karma, Raja, and Jñana.
Bhakti yoga, or heart yoga, is the most popular of the four. It is the yoga of love and devotion and it's aim is "to direct toward God the love that lies at the base of every heart." Karma yoga, or work yoga is the way to God through work. For people who prefer to be actively engaged in a task karma yoga shows the way to work in such a manner that takes you to God instead of away from him. Raja yoga, or royal yoga is the way to God through psychophysical experiments or "willed introversion." Meditation is used to still the "drunken crazed monkey with St. Vitus' Dance who has just been stung by a wasp" that is the mind and delve to that very inner core that is Atman.
So, to sum up, Man is both a creation of God and an emanation of God. The human condition is that of a manifestation of a God that is all things. Pain, suffering, heartache are all conditions part of human life, as are joy, love, and pleasure. The solution of this condition is to wake up, realize that the Atman is the true essence of ourselves and return to being Of God (achieve Sat Chit Ananda.) In order to do this we practice one of the four paths of yoga.
Personally, Hinduism is one of my favorite religions. I love the whole "many paths, one summit" friendliness towards each other and other religions. There are a couple religions in particular that come to mind that could use a good dose of "Bigotry Is Not Cool." I also love the destroyer god, Shiva. I've lost so many loved ones and Shiva, along with the Om Nama Shivaya chant, helps me remember to let go of the ephemeral and focus on embracing the Eternal. This has been a great comfort to me.
My biggest problem with Hinduism, and everyone else's too I'm sure, is the caste system. Perhaps because I am an American and grew up on the American Tail (yes, I am talking about Feivel and the near perfect animated rendering of the hope immigrants had for America as the land of opportunity where a poor man could become a very wealthy man and live The American Dream if he worked hard enough.) I can't wrap my head around being stuck in a caste, particularly one of the lower ones (or god forbid the outcastes or "untouchables"), by birth and never being allowed to work, pray, or con your way out of it. I believe that one should be judged on one's mettle and accomplishments and never by one's name or family. Karma, is also a bit of an issue for me. It's so perfect and has all the answers it sometimes feels like I'm being tricked by a very slick lawyer/con artist. I'm just a little taken aback by the ability to reason away terrible situations with "That's their karma." Ever tried telling a rape victim it was their karma? Or a child suffering through some terminal illness? Or the parents of that child? I think some times bad things happen because without them we wouldn't hold on to the great moments in life. Bad things can make food taste better, air smell sweeter, and the sun shine brighter. I think they have a purpose. I just don't think bad things always happen because we earned them. Then again maybe it's just my karma to not be at the point where I can accept Karma.
Maybe next lifetime.
I agree that caste is Hinduism "original sin." And I understand how you can see karma as almost too good to be true.
ReplyDeleteI was troubled to learn that you have experienced so much loss, and yet comforted to learn that Shiva and om nama shiva helps you cope.