Hinduism

Hinduism originated in India somewhere between 1300 and 1500 BC. It existed for so long that a number of other traditions have combined themselves in with Hinduism, so that pieces of almost a number of religions can be found in it. Yet, it does not aim to convert others; one must be born a Hindu. As a Hindu, one's purpose in existence is to become closer to the Absolute. The better one lives in this life, then they shall be accordingly rewarded in the next. The higher one's caste, the closer one is to the Absolute. The universe, the human, and the Absolute all combine in such away in Hinduism that they are almost inseparable

The universe was created by the Absolute, for the human. "He is the Creator of the earth-the righteous Creator of the sky, Creator too of oceans bright, and far-extending waters" (21). The Absolute created the entire universe, without him nothing would exist. "He is the one God hidden in all beings, all-pervading, the self within all beings, watching over all worlds, dwelling in all beings, the witness, the perceiver" (16). He exist in every piece of the universe, so humans treat the universe the same way they treat the Absolute. The human's job while in the universe is to live life properly and create peace and harmony, through "truth, self-control, asceticism, generosity, non-injury, constancy in virtue" (18). The values, when obeyed in ones life create positive Karma. Karma, a Hindu value, follows the idea of cause and effect. Depending how one acts in this life, determines what life they will live in the future. "Thou canst not gather what thou dost not sow" (18). This quote states that one cannot feel the rewards with out the appropriate amount of work. In order to live a happy life in the future, one must follow the Hindu values in his or her current life. "Let him therefore always accumulate spiritual merit, in order that it may be his companion after death" (24). Ones soul stays with one after their death; therefore it remains the most important thing in life. Therefore, one should be good, in order to assure a better next life. Karma acts almost as a threat to hold people to not do bad in this life, a worse life would be ones punishment. "The whole world is kept in order by punishment...through fear of punishment the whole world yields the enjoyments which it owes" (25). Karma holds humans in line, forces them to follow the virtues and treat the universe with kindness and peacefulness.

Re-incarnation, a unifying idea in Hinduism, means that humans don't have just a single life on earth; instead they exist in a never ending cycle of life, death, and re-birth. "For to one that is born, death is certain; and to one that dies, birth is certain" (27). This endless cycle can only be escaped when one reaches Nirvana. Nirvana, the goal of Hinduism, represents a release from this succession. "Then a mortal becomes immortal! Therein he reaches Brahma!" (23). When one achieves Nirvana they have managed to live the best life they can, and no longer need to continue on earth. Until this point a soul follows this continuous pattern improving or declining in caste through the idea of Karma. A caste is a social plane which one is born into. The highest caste is the Brahmans; since they are highest they, therefore are closer to Brahma. "Being very Brahma, he goes to Brahma"