Most
Hindus
believe that their religion and its teachings are without beginning
or end and it precedes even creation. The Vedas are like the very
breath of Almighty God. Most philosophers do not like to describe
the faith as a mere religion as it does not describe the practice
adequately, since even an atheist and agnostic are accepted into
the religion. Free thinking of the individual, questioning of the
faith and reasoning of its teaching are freely allowed without a
dogma.
The
religion permeates totally into the life of every one born in the
faith from the moment of birth all through his life and beyond,
whether he is a believer or not, a scholar of the religion or illiterate.
The different views and aspects of the religious practice are not
contradictory but just complimentary. Every Hindu understands this
fact that the religion accepts varying forms of worship and every
one of the way the devotee prays, as the prayers for every form
of God is for the same Almighty who comes to protect them. This
is not a form of Poli-Theism but truly it is Mono-Theism or even
Monism.
Hinduism,
since the beginning of history, has profoundly influenced the
lives and thoughts of countless millions of the people. It has left
an impression on the entire culture of India and other Eastern countries
even among those following other faiths; on their philosophy, art,
architecture, literature, politics, sociology and everything in
their daily living. People with Western education also are able
to follow the practice.
Even
people, converted to other faiths, though very marginal and limited,
continued to adhere to some of the basic teachings of the Hindu
faith as their culture. The main aspiration of a Hindu is to live
a life of purity and simplicity with a sense of justice, follow
the proper Dharma, believe in one's Karma and the goal is to attain
Moksha or the ultimate liberation from the cycle of rebirths.
The
religious Traditions and the Faith gives to a Hindu a certain peace
and tranquillity of mind both in prosperity and in adversity, courage
to face the problems in his life and a definite vision of his ultimate
spiritual destiny. For this reason, it is often said that Hinduism
is not just a religion but a whole way of life and a social practice.