Learning about Hinduism Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Learning about Hinduism - Essay Example It aims to deliver the thought that every living being in itself is the manifestation of the Divine Unity and thus is God omnipresent. (What is Vedanta?). Being a part of both Islamic and Christian background I am more acquainted with monotheism and had little opportunity to understand the basis of a religion based on multiple Gods and Goddesses, such as Hinduism. To divulge more into this matter and to enhance the understanding of the religion in a better manner that the paper takes into accord an interview conducted upon a person who is a spiritual aspirant in this direction. The interview in this direction is taken online through chat with a person who is an engineer by profession and is aged around 47 years. He resides in Bangalore and is a staunch believer of Advaita Vedanta Philosophy. This person agreed to share his own personal views about the practices and rituals of Vedanta Religion on being contacted through the online sphere. Questions that were asked to him concerned mai nly on understanding the religious framework of Vedanta religion along with the doctrines and practices ingrained in such. The Religion of Vedanta The first question that was asked to the interviewee was concerned in understanding and identifying the philosophy of Vedanta as a religious philosophy practiced in India. Focus of the question was directly placed to know that whether Vedanta is truly a religion or just a set of dogmas and preset ideologies. To this end, the interviewee acclaimed that Vedanta is a scientific and intellectual religion. The interviewee stated that Vedanta as a religion renders focus on a universal God which the Vedantists or the followers of such religion regard as the Omnipresent Power of Supreme or Absolute Consciousness. He stated that the religion of Vedanta goes farther in understanding the realms of sublime consciousness ingrained in the physical system, which is regarded as the Universal Truth. The interviewee also stated that the religion of Vedanta is a more refined understanding of the Hindu philosophy or religion. He stated that Vedanta acts as a backbone to the Hindu religion. The Vedanta religion according to him stands on three main pillars viz. Existence, Knowledge and Supreme Bliss, which is also maintained in the Hindu religion as Sat, Chit and Ananda respectively. The interviewee also acclaimed that through Vedanta one can easily approach higher states of consciousness which transcends the body and mind to a Supreme and Unified state thus bringing peace and enlightenment. (Vedanta). Ritualistic Practices of Vedanta The second question that was asked to the interviewee mainly focused on understanding the ritualistic practices of the Vedanta religion. The question tried to divulge on understanding the ritualistic principles in use by the people following the Vedanta religion. The interviewee stated in regards to this question that the Vedanta philosophy being a refined state of the Hindu philosophy believes in the Unit y of the Divine Trinity Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva as the Supreme Self that resides within the body and is beyond mind and intellect. Vedanta Religion operates based on three religious doctrines or practices, which have been in use in Hindu religious systems from time immemorial. These three paths practiced by Vedanta religion are considered as highly sacred and are observed to grant liberation to the Self. The interviewee stated that the three paths viz. the road based on devotion, on knowledge and on performances and action all lead to the Supreme Being. The interviewee started that a Hindu person based on these Vedic principles can move forward to earn the salvation from all worldly misery and troubles concerning life and death.