WHAT IS HINDUISM?
- Hindu scripture is not reducible to the principal Vedas
(‘the Knowledge’), but embraces a vast and diverse
historical body of still-evolving spiritual teachings. - God is not seen as a person or even a supreme being.
Instead the Hindu gods in all their multiple forms are
understood as diverse personifications of the Divine. - Similarly, all individual beings are individualisations of
the Divine. Thus the true Self (Atman) of every being is
understood as both eternal and one with the Divine. - Though not understanding God as a person, Hinduism
not only allows for but encourages the attainment of a
direct personal experience of the Divine – in particular
through devotion to a chosen divinity or personification
of the Divine. - Hinduism stresses that the Divine needs to be experienced
in order to be spoken of truly – simply citing or
interpreting scriptures is no substitute for revelation
emerging from direct experience. - Strictly speaking, Hinduism is not a ‘faith’ at all – for
faith is only needed where direct knowing
(jnanas/gnosis) is lacking.