There are several Hindu values that holds us together. A lot of which we all know of. There are a few values which are transparent but highly significant. This topic is an effort to capture them. Pratipaksha Bhavana - Beyond compassion The word 'compassion' is often used with a presumption that one is better than the other in some aspect. Compassion towards animals for instance, is a common usage. Animals are inferior in their ability to improvise given a certain situation. When it comes to 'compassion' towards poor and downtrodden, or compassion towards victims of social ills, it sounds inadequate. Does 'compassion' also mean a recognition that all humans are equal as implied by the Mahavakyas of the Vedas? If not, then the word 'compassion' is not good enough to represent the true Hindu values. The sanskrit word 'Pratipaksha Bhavana' is far more sophisticated. It means the ability to see in every other point of view. What a great empowering ideal! Karmaphala Thyaga - Beyond positive thinking 'Positive thinking ' literature sell like hot cakes worldwide. It shows how much we are prone to negative thinking. Hinduism's view of life when rightly grasped, eliminates the need for any kind of forced positive thinking exercise. How? The theory of cause and effect (karma) as elaborated in Hinduism is not a binding force. It is a liberating force and an enabling force. Action without doer-ship is completely free of past conditioning. Action without doer-ship is devoid of fear and anxiety about the future. So the actor is absolutely clear and intensely focused while performing the action. What a powerful way to act! Chaitanya Atma - Beyond death The happening continuity of sense perceptions is life. At death, sense perception stops. Death is for the body. Whereas the real 'I' is the only thing that we can be sure of. Everything else is dependent on perception by senses. Solid objects are fundamentally atoms and space. Our consistent meeting with solid objects is temporary but long enough that we make a life out of it. Any knowledge that we may acquire depends on our five senses and the mind (mind's interpretation based on past experience). However, there is one knowledge that is not caused by any sense perception. That is, our being conscious of whatever is around us. The knowledge that 'I exist' is experiential truth even before senses come into play. (In deep sleep there are no objects, but we experience our presence) That 'I' which is not the body, mind or thoughts is 'Atma' which is Chaitanya (consciousness). What a practical inquiry into life! Darshan Shastra - Seeing beyond Theory The word 'Seer' in the context of Hinduism is used to convey the experiential oneness during perception. Not the same as mere optical perception. The practice of Hinduism in the quest for liberation does not require blind belief. It can be seen by anyone who is willing to see. There is a way of seeing where the essential is absrobed and the unessential is discarded. Darshan Shastras attempt to enable a true learner see for oneself that which is strikingly True and Real. In fact, there can be many ways of seeing which are equally powerful. Hinduism recognizes this truth. Hence Buddha is also considered an Avatar. What an evolving principle!
