Hinduism is not merely a religion; it is an umbrella term encompassing a vast array of practices, beliefs, and traditions that originate from the ancient Vedic texts. The Vedas, which are among the oldest sacred scriptures of humanity, consist of four main collections: the Rigveda, Samaveda, Yajurveda, and Atharvaveda. These texts are extensive and complex, containing hymns, rituals, philosophical discourses, and guidance on various aspects of life and spirituality.
Due to their profound and intricate nature, the Vedas are challenging for most people to fully comprehend in a single lifetime. To make the teachings of the Vedas more accessible and understandable, the Upanishads were composed. The Upanishads are a collection of texts that serve as commentaries and philosophical explorations of the Vedic teachings. They were written by various Sages and scholars who sought to distill the essential wisdom of the Vedas into more comprehensible forms.
The word "Upanishad" itself means
"sitting down near," referring to the tradition of students sitting
close to their teacher to learn. These texts capture the essence of the
discussions and instructions given by the teachers to their students. The
Upanishads delve into profound concepts such as the nature of reality, the self
(Atman), and the ultimate truth (Brahman). They emphasize knowledge (Jnana) and
the pursuit of spiritual enlightenment.
In essence, the Upanishads serve as a bridge
between the complex Vedic hymns and rituals and the more personal,
philosophical understanding of the divine and the universe. They encapsulate
the insights and interpretations of ancient sages, making the profound
teachings of the Vedas more approachable and applicable to everyday life.
The teachings of the Vedas are indeed complex and
typically accessible only to scholars well-versed in Vedic principles. For the
common person, understanding these teachings can be quite challenging. To
bridge this gap, the wisdom of the Vedas is conveyed through the Puranas, which
are a genre of ancient Indian texts that present the teachings in the form of
engaging stories and parables.
The Puranas are written in a narrative style,
making them easier to understand and more relatable for people from all walks
of life. These stories encompass a wide range of themes, including the creation
of the universe, the genealogy of gods, goddesses, heroes, and sages, as well
as moral and ethical teachings. While the surface-level narratives are
accessible and enjoyable, each story in the Puranas carries deeper, symbolic
meanings rooted in Vedic principles.
The true depth of these stories can vary based on
the intellect and insight of the reader. For those with a keen understanding of
Vedic philosophy, the Puranas reveal profound truths and spiritual principles.
For others, the stories provide valuable lessons and moral guidance. This
dual-layered approach ensures that the teachings of the Vedas are available to
everyone, regardless of their level of intellectual or spiritual development.
So we find that Puranas, Upanishads, Ramayana, and Mahabharata
all are laid down on the principle of Dharma defined in Vedas and this word
Dharma means the way of living. Although these are various ways suggested by
Vedas. So the way of living is not a fixed line like modern world religions but
it’s a complex network of various paths suggested to engage in divinity.
There are paths for people who even do not want to engage in divine perspective
and live a comfortable life. That shows that Vedic theory understood that human
is a complex creatures and that everyone can not be directed to one particular path.
These paths were adopted by different schools of thought called Mathas, even
Mathas have subdivisions and are called Akhadas. Akhadas are like specializations
where some people from a particular school will have an interest in one subject and
others will have an interest in some different subject. Any teacher has the freedom to
introduce his own Matha and if his prescribed norms appeal to people it is called Matha.
Buddhism is closely related to Vedic traditions
and shares many underlying principles. In fact, Buddhism initially emerged as a
matha (school of thought) within the broader framework of Vedic culture. The
term "Buddha, which means "enlightened one," is derived
from the same Vedic scriptures. There are numerous references to Buddhas in
various Puranas, indicating that the concept of enlightenment and the role of
enlightened beings predated Gautama Buddha. This suggests that Buddhism, as a
philosophical system, was already in existence before Gautama Buddha's time.
Gautama Buddha, originally named Siddhartha
Gautama, was born into a princely class, and his father was a king. Like many
others of his time, Gautama sought a teacher to guide him in understanding the
divine and the nature of existence. He joined the matha of Āḷāra Kālāma, an
accomplished teacher who instructed him on how to attain Jhanas. In Vedic
literature, Janas or Jhanas (or dhyānas) refer to profound meditative states that lead
to higher planes of existence, or lokas. These states allow beings to
comprehend the ultimate truths, including the concept of the Trinity.
By engaging in deep meditation, individuals on
earth can reach these elevated states of consciousness where the truths of life
are revealed. Gautama Buddha, after achieving these meditative states, began
teaching others about his insights. His teachings focused on the principles he
had realized, which emphasized the path to enlightenment and the nature of
suffering and its cessation.
As Gautama's teachings gained popularity, the matha
evolved into a pantha, a more established and widely followed tradition. Thus,
Buddhism can be considered a pantha that propagates a particular stream of dharma.
In the Pali language, this dharma is referred to as dhamma. The teachings of
Buddhism, therefore, are not entirely distinct from Vedic traditions but are
rather an extension and elaboration of them, focusing on the path to
enlightenment and the alleviation of suffering.
This Pali scripture contains
an important prayer in Buddhism, traditionally recited by those who become
followers. People also consider these stone inscriptions as Buddhism symbol. The prayer goes as follows:
I go to the Buddha for
refuge.
"Dhammam Saranam
Gacchami" (धर्मं
शरणं गच्छामि)
I go to the Dhamma for
refuge.
"Sangham Saranam
Gacchami" (संघं शरणं
गच्छामि)
I go to the Sangha for
refuge.
In this prayer, the term
"Dhamma" corresponds to "Dharma," as prescribed in Vedic
theory, and "Sangha" refers to a community or group of people who
share specific beliefs. Gautama Buddha himself referred to his community of followers
as the "Sangha," distinct from the mainstream Dharma. The Sangha
represents those who follow a particular path within the broader scope of
Dharma.
Throughout history, many
different Panthas (paths or schools of thought) have emerged from the
mainstream Vedic Dharma. Over time, some followers of these paths have
criticized the mainstream Vedic tradition. Such conflicts are common, but true
seekers of truth ultimately recognize and understand the underlying reality.
This article aims to clarify these points and help those who may be deviating from the original teachings to understand the true nature of these traditions and act accordingly. By fostering a deeper comprehension of the interconnectedness of these paths, we can promote greater harmony and respect among various spiritual practices. Buddhism and Hinduism are like same febrick of one thread hope my article acts as a platform for the Hinduism Buddhism Union.
Readers' comments and criticism are most welcome.
Your feedback is invaluable in fostering a deeper understanding and promoting
thoughtful discussion.
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