Hindísmo

Culture and Religion
Information Sheet

Hinduism

Hindu Association of Western Australia (Inc)

October 2009

CULTURE AND RELIGION

Hindu Association of Western Australia (Inc)

Hinduism
Introduction
Western Australia is a multi ethnic, multi-religious and multicultural society. Religious freedom and mutual respect for different religions is an important underlying principle ofmulticulturalism and democracy. Service providers who recognise, value and promote cultural and religious diversity can address more fully the needs of their clients. Respecting the roles of religion in various cultures is part of courteous, ethical and professional behaviour, which promotes a just and equitable society. This Information Sheet aims to raise awareness and understanding of Hindureligious and cultural practices to assist service providers in the government and non profit community sectors in improving service delivery. Hindus in Australia have migrated from a number of countries particularly India, Fiji, Malaysia, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Kenya, Uganda, Mauritius and the United Kingdom. Hinduism has no formal conversion into or excommunication from the faith. The following ofSanatana Dharma, a set of eternal and universal ethical and moral principles of virtuous and true living, is acceptable whether or not one is born a Hindu. In Australia, the Hindu philosophy is adopted by Hindu centres and temples, meditation and yoga groups and a number of other spiritual groups. The International Society for Krishna Consciousness is also a Hindu organisation.

Background andOrigins
It is somewhat misleading to refer to Hinduism as a religion. It is more a way of life, upholding the principles of virtuous and true living. The Hindu faith has numerous schools of thought, has no founder, no organisational heirarchy or structure and no central administration but the concept of Dharma, the social and ethical system by which an individual organises his or her life. The Hindubeliefs, codes of conduct, rituals and other social practices emanate and are drawn from a wide collection of philosophical literature and Scriptures including the Vedas, the Upanishads, the Brahma sutras, the Bhagavad Gita and the epics Ramayana and the Mahabharatha. The Mahabharatha, for example, is approximately six times the length of the Bible. The Hindu belief is totally non exclusive andaccepts all other faiths and religious paths. In fact, an ancient Vedic text says that God or Truth is one and wise people refer to it by very many names. Who is a Hindu? A Hindu is a believer in an omnipresent, omnipotent and omniscient non dual Absolute, which pervades everything as consciousness and whose nature is existence, knowledge and bliss. A Hindu readily accepts that the Absolute can begiven any name God, Cosmic Consciousness, Brahm etc. A Hindu views the entire universe as God’s and everything in the universe as God. Hindus believe that each person is intrinsically divine and the purpose of life is to seek and realise the divinity within all of us.

INFORMATION SHEET October 2005

CULTURE AND RELIGION

Hinduism
Key Beliefs
The Hindu ethical code attaches great importanceto values such as truth, right conduct, love, peace and non violence. All Hindu ceremonies, rituals and worships end with a prayer for universal peace and harmony. An important principle in the Hindu thought is the law of Karma. It is the law of cause and effect in which each and every action has a reaction, generating conditions to be experienced within this lifetime or the next. Life is lookedupon as a continuum in the sense that the pristine life energy is never destroyed. Death is accepted not as a denial of life but as a process of life. As a result, the Hindu view accepts and believes in re incarnation or the cycle of life death rebirth until such time as the individual soul, on self realization of its own essential divinity, emerges into the Absolute. A Hindu accepts on...