The Essence of Hinduism

The essence of Hinduism can be stated quite suscinctly: Atman is Brahman and Brahman is All.

[peteyzen]

I like that seeker

Indeed. Only, it has to be actually and experientially realized. Uttering those words alone is meaningless.

In the words of Sri Sankaracarya, in his book Vivekacudamani (The Crest-Jewel of Discrimination), translated by Swami Turiyananda:

(6) "Men may recite the scriptures and sacrifice to the holly spirits, they may perform rituals and worship deities -- but, until a man wakes to knowledge of his identity with the Atman, liberation can never be obtained; no, not even at the end of many hundreds of Brahma's years."

(11) "Right action helps to purify the heart, but it does not give us direct perception of the Reality. The Reality is attained through discrimination, but not in the smallest degree even by ten million acts."

(54) "A clear vision of the Reality may be obtained only through our own eyes, when they have been opened by spiritual insight -- never through the eyes of some other seer. Through our own eyes we learn what the moon looks like; how could we learn this through the eyes of others?"

(56) "Neither by the practice of Yoga or of Sankhya philosophy, nor by good works, nor by learning, does liberation come; but only through the realization that Atman and Brahman are one -- in no other way."

(59) "Study of the scriptures is fruitless as long as Brahman has not been experienced. And when Brahman has been experienced, it is useless to read the scriptures."

(62) "A sickness is not cured by saying the word "medicine". You must take the medicine. Liberation does not come by merely saying the word "Brahman". Brahman must be actually experienced."

(63) "Until you allow this apparent universe to dissolve from your consciousness -- until you have experienced Brahman -- how can you find liberation just by saying the word "Brahman"? The result is merely noise."

(223) "This is the cause of liberation from the world -- the consciousness, the knowledge of the non-separateness of the self from the Supreme. By this knowledge, one attains that Bliss Eternal."

(300) "As the moon, free from the dragon, shines in her own glory, so one being free from this ego, attains his real Self."

The practice of compassion is essential to Buddhism, and the practice of compassion begins with the cultivation of compassion within. The Buddha taught his monks to arouse four states of mind, called the "Brahma-vihara" or "four divine states of dwelling." These four states are sometimes called the "Four Immeasurables" or the "Four Perfect Virtues."

The four states are metta (loving kindness), karuna (compassion), mudita (sympathetic joy) and upekkha (equanimity), and in many Buddhist traditions they are cultivated through meditation. These four states inter-relate and support each other.

Metta, Loving Kindness

"Here, monks, a disciple dwells pervading one direction with his heart filled with loving-kindness, likewise the second, the third, and the fourth direction; so above, below and around; he dwells pervading the entire world everywhere and equally with his heart filled with loving-kindness, abundant, grown great, measureless, free from enmity and free from distress." -- The Buddha, Digha Nikaya 13

The importance of metta in Buddhism cannot be overstated. Metta is benevolence toward all beings, without discrimination or selfish attachment. By practicing metta, a Buddhist overcomes anger, ill will, hatred and aversion.

According to the Metta Sutta, a Buddhist should cultivate for all beings the same love a mother would feel for her child. This love does not discriminate between benevolent people and malicious people. It is a love in which"I" and "you" disappear, and where there is no possessor and nothing to possess.

Karuna, Compassion

"Here, monks, a disciple dwells pervading one direction with his heart filled with compassion, likewise the second, the third and the fourth direction; so above, below and around; he dwells pervading the entire world everywhere and equally with his heart filled with compassion, abundant, grown great, measureless, free from enmity and free from distress." -- The Buddha, Digha Nikaya 13

Karuna is active sympathy extended to all sentient beings. Ideally, karuna is combined with prajna (wisdom), which in Mahayana Buddhism means the realization that all sentient beings exist in each other and take identity from each other (see shunyata). Avalokiteshvara Bodhisattva is the embodiment of compassion.

Theravada scholar Nyanaponika Thera said, "It is compassion that removes the heavy bar, opens the door to freedom, makes the narrow heart as wide as the world. Compassion takes away from the heart the inert weight, the paralyzing heaviness; it gives wings to those who cling to the lowlands of self."

Mudita, Sympathetic Joy

"Here, monks, a disciple dwells pervading one direction with his heart filled with sympathetic joy, likewise the second, the third and the fourth direction; so above, below and around; he dwells pervading the entire world everywhere and equally with his heart filled with sympathetic joy, abundant, grown great, measureless, free from enmity and free from distress." -- The Buddha, Digha Nikaya 13

Mudita is taking sympathetic or altruistic joy in the happiness of others. The cultivation of mudita is an antidote to envy and jealousy. Mudita is not discussed in Buddhist literature nearly as much as metta and karuna, but some teachers believe the cultivation of mudita is a prerequisite for developing metta and karuna.

Upekkha, Equanimity

"Here, monks, a disciple dwells pervading one direction with his heart filled with equanimity, likewise the second, the third and the fourth direction; so above, below and around; he dwells pervading the entire world everywhere and equally with his heart filled with equanimity, abundant, grown great, measureless, free from enmity and free from distress." -- The Buddha, Digha Nikaya 13

Upekkha is a mind in balance, free of discrimination and rooted in insight. This balance is not indifference, but active mindfulness. Because it is rooted in insight of anatman, it is not unbalanced by the passions of attraction and aversion.

[Miss Hepburn]

I like that seeker.

That was succinctly put.

Originally Posted by Miss Hepburn

That was succinctly put.

According to Buddha's reasonings, atman is not Brahma. " Because it is rooted in insight of anatman, it is not unbalanced by the passions of attraction and aversion."
__________________

Anatman means "not atman"

The reasoning would seem to me to be this.
... Atman is ego and ego related and ego bound therefor, but true Brahma is purely creative force devoid of the feelings of an ego of feeling separated from the all.

[Xan]

Atman is not ego but soul... without the attributes of ego self-identity, which has formed out of lost awareness in Atman.

Brahman - pure infinite beingness... is Atman - pure being.


Xan

Originally Posted by Xan

Atman is not ego but soul... without the attributes of ego self-identity, which has formed out of lost awareness in Atman.

Brahman - pure infinite beingness... is Atman - pure being.


Xan

I thought that Brahman meant God and atman meant breath!? Xan, is Brahman Consciousness or the absolute? Thanks in advance : )

[Xan]

Brahman is the absolute.... infinite pure beingness, unboundaried and formless presence.

Atman means "soul"... pure individual expression of Brahman.

Another name, Brahma, is God the creator... the first light/consciousness form emanating from Brahman, and the source of all other forms.


I'm just now reading the Upanishads again and all this is fresh in my mind.


Xan

Originally Posted by Xan

Atman is not ego but soul... without the attributes of ego self-identity, which has formed out of lost awareness in Atman.

Brahman - pure infinite beingness... is Atman - pure being.


Xan

Indeed.

I'd like to correct what I wrote above.
That Atman and Brahman are one is the essence of Advaita Vedanta branch of Yoga, not of Hinduism. (See here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Advaita_Vedanta ).
Hinduism is both a culture and a religion. As a religion (like all other religions), it's essence is to worship the Gods and follow the commandments, or religious rules of conduct.

Buddhism started as a pure path and later on turned to be both a path and a religion.

The terms used in Yoga and Buddhism are different, yet, both have the same ultimate goal (or, actually, the only one goal).