Sanathana Dharma, later labeled Hinduism, dates back to 2500-4000 years, depending on the source. Judaism is the only religion that has stood the test of time. This thread will not be about which religion is best. It will try to understand why Hinduism has lasted so long. I willncome back to provide my opinion later. Inputs welcome from all.
Re: Sanathana Dharma - will this continue its record of longivity?
From what little I know, the Upanishads were the first text of this "religion". To me, it is just a collection of commons's sense principles. That probably is one reason for its longivity. Will delve into contents when time permits.
Re: Sanathana Dharma - will this continue its record of longivity?
Dunno about Hinduisim enough, but I think part of the issue has been that any population that came into that area just abused the inhabitants, and so even though many converted to Islam, many did not, and still did not convert to Christianity under British rule. If you get treated like crap, WHY would you convert and abandon your identity?
Re: Sanathana Dharma - will this continue its record of longivity?
It was here before the times and it will be here after the times. Literally the entire world attacked it to kill it but it stood the test of time without attacking anyone.
It is older than you think southie. not the religion but the culture. Calling it religion is insult to it.
Anyways whats the point of this thread on this forum?
Re: Sanathana Dharma - will this continue its record of longivity?
Kaka, I did use "quotes" areond religion.
No specific point. Purpose is as stated in the post. Inspired by thread abt where is Religion heading. Got me thinking about the ever evolving philosophy of sanatana dharma.
Re: Sanathana Dharma - will this continue its record of longivity?
I have been trying to find an easy to understand book on Upanishads. Unfortunately, I have misplaced it. Here is what I recall.
There are 10 Upanishads. The one that made the most impression teaches us about Atman - our inner self. Divinity reside within each of us. We need to look inward to find the truth.
For example, in the Gita, when Krishna advises Arjuna to do his Dharma and fight his cousins the Kauravas, he is advising him to fight the evil within. In other words, there were no Kauravas! The Mahabharata did nit happen!
My take? All this is common sense. Some folks 3000 to 4000 years ago had plenty of it. Doesn't mean Krishna was real. The Gita could have been composed by very bright individuals.
Re: Sanathana Dharma - will this continue its record of longivity?
i doubt even 1% of hindus can name even two upanishads, forget reading even one.
hinduisms aspects that make it stay with the populace are its earthiness and animism. anyone who lives close to the land, experiences the vagaries and consistencies of nature can relate to it at an unpretentious level. that is mostly it.
Re: Sanathana Dharma - will this continue its record of longivity?
I've noticed that there is an interesting pattern of the Indian Cultural Worship Phenomenon ... If anything it is an array of religions that come and go, manfiest in to other things and propagate in different ways.
In Era X > Lives of the old kings/sages - becomes reading (philosophical) material for the new kings/sages of Era X + Y
The People of Era X + Y respect and obey the kings/sages of their own era and worship the kings/sages of the previous era
Then when Era X + Y + Z comes along then more is to be learned and the learnings of kings/sages of Era X become folkloric, the practices of Era X + Y become ritualistic and cycle continues ...
Even to this day there are Gurus/Pandits living - who will most probably to later generations become known as manifestations of Shiva, Krishna and so on ...
Sanataana Dharma is like the Never Ending Story - which a system that is in constant flux noticeable changes in each era ... I think this is the reason why it has lasted - because it is a living philosophy and not something cast in stone. It is the people's way of making sense of life and learning from the wise people of the past - to become wise people of the present and if successful they become "cast to the stars" and will then themselves be known as greats and then as gods ...
I personally do not think this is purely a "spiritual metaphoric" culture ... The fact that idols exists shows that this is a culture that honours its past and elevates its traditions to holy status.
Re: Sanathana Dharma - will this continue its record of longivity?
Abrahamic religions are very different in make up ... The saints and holy men of the Abrahamic religions are to be emulated not worshiped ... whereas the emulation of the sages/kings of the past in the Hindu cultures is rooted in inheritance so not all people are called to emulate them ... but worship is rooted in directing the focus on to those people who become larger than life - more than just human - probably to ensure that a clear difference is understood between the ruling elite from the lay masses.
If people start to worship their leaders then they will never think of trying to overthrow them and they will obey them with their lives too. The holy people of the Abrahamic orders - often found themselves ridiculed by their own people ... this is not the case of the Hindu persons of similar significance.
There is an intense respect by the people of the Hindu cultures for people who have mastered their own desires and who can live by limiting their possessions and needs ... This is the reason why Sufism spread Islam in the region.
Re: Sanathana Dharma - will this continue its record of longivity?
Abrahamic religions are very different in make up ... The saints and holy men of the Abrahamic religions are to be emulated not worshiped ... .
right. and jesus is not worshipped son of god by the largest abrahamic religion, while being considered an ordinary human by another, and a charlatan by yet another? when in all likelihood, he was just a simple social reformer of the time.
abrahamic religions are fable upon fable piled on over the years. old testament of the jews. modified, rehashed, compiled from different versions into the bible. reformed, revived, into muslim ideology. of course, this won't go down well with those with vested interests..
Re: Sanathana Dharma - will this continue its record of longivity?
i doubt even 1% of hindus can name even two upanishads, forget reading even one.
hinduisms aspects that make it stay with the populace are its earthiness and animism. anyone who lives close to the land, experiences the vagaries and consistencies of nature can relate to it at an unpretentious level. that is mostly it.
True. We weren't taught Upanishads growing up!
Re: Sanathana Dharma - will this continue its record of longivity?
right. and jesus is not worshipped son of god by the largest abrahamic religion, while being considered an ordinary human by another, and a charlatan by yet another? when in all likelihood, he was just a simple social reformer of the time.
abrahamic religions are fable upon fable piled on over the years. old testament of the jews. modified, rehashed, compiled from different versions into the bible. reformed, revived, into muslim ideology. of course, this won't go down well with those with vested interests..
Thanks for correction regarding the Christians ... But the fable upon fable part is your opinion. My point was to stress that Abrahamic religions are to do with a law that should not be adulterated - the fact that it was adulterated is a consequence of disobedience and weakness.
Re: Sanathana Dharma - will this continue its record of longivity?
Peace,
Out of many reasons, one reason for lasting for so long of religion 'Hinduism' could be that they believe in as far as they don't concern in what they were taught to believe.
Re: Sanathana Dharma - will this continue its record of longivity?
Good discussion.
Anyway, Sri Eknath Easearan to the rescue. Found his book in the bookshelf - where I had looked earlier...
Aryans arrived 2000 BC. There were Siva status found 1000 yrs earlier. That makes it 5000 years ago.
The Aaryans chanted hymns, passed down through generations. These are the Vedas. Rig Sama Yajur Atharva. Theese are ritualistiic - karma Kanda. ( coincidentally autocorrected turned kanda. To Kandahar! )
They also have a 2nd part - jnana Kanda. Wisdom. About life. The 10 Upanishads form this.
Re: Sanathana Dharma - will this continue its record of longivity?
Just as an aside - hearing theVedas being chanted is a good feeling. Though cant understand a word.
Re: Sanathana Dharma - will this continue its record of longivity?
The Upanishads focus on our inner Self - the Atman or Brahman. The Brahman here does not denote caste. It apparently is a state of consciousness deeper than dreamless sleep. Where we are asleep an awake at the same time. The I goes away. We are all connected. Divinity within each of us.
More to follow.
Re: Sanathana Dharma - will this continue its record of longivity?
Peace Southie,
I was listening to a lecture of "jagat guru shankaracharya", who said Sanathana dharma is the dharma and Hindu dharma is not dharma. What is difference between these two? Will you explain, if possible?
Re: Sanathana Dharma - will this continue its record of longivity?
Peace kamikaze-san.
I am far from an expert on this subject. From what little I know, Hindus were identified by geography. Hindustan was a location the residents of which erred Hindus, regardless of their religion. The scriptures don't refer to Hinduism, which clearly is an English word. So a Muslim in present day Pakistan and India is a Hindu. Since he hails from the old Hindustan.
Sanatan Dharma. Dharma does not mean religion. It is a set of principles that the Universe and its inhabitants follow. There is divinity in each of us. The Self. To realize the Self is the ultimate goal.
Re: Sanathana Dharma - will this continue its record of longivity?
Peace Southie,
If 'Sanatan Dharma, is a set of principles that the Universe and its inhabitants follow, here I would like to know then who wrote the set of principles in ‘Sanatan Dharma’? 
Re: Sanathana Dharma - will this continue its record of longivity?
Good question, kamikaze-san
I recall reading that these principles are inherent to the cosmos. Not sure any one person contributed. Something like open source code such as Linux. A community of developers. Some or all of these principles captured in The Upanishads. Which don't talk about the various gods. Just about getting in tune wuth and realizing our inner divinity. Our Self.