Essential Concepts of Hinduism and Spiritual Philosophy

Sanatana Dharma: The Eternal Truth

Sanatana Dharma consists of virtues such as honesty and refraining from injuring living beings. It is contrasted with svadharma, or one’s "own duty." This term has also more recently been used by Hindu leaders, reformers, and nationalists to refer to Hinduism as a unified world religion.

Totemism and Symbolic Identity

Totemism is a system of belief in which humans are said to have kinship or a mystical relationship with a spirit-being, such as an animal or plant. The entity, or totem, is thought to interact with a given kin group or an individual and to serve as their emblem or symbol, representing a symbolic identity between nature and the psyche.

Re-ligare: The Origin of Religion

Re-ligare is the Latin root for the word religion, meaning "to bind again." Originally, it was used to mean reverence for God or the gods and the careful pondering of divine things. It encompasses the belief in and worship of a superhuman controlling power, especially a personal God or gods.

Atman and Brahman: The Soul and the Universe

Atman refers to the internal essence of each individual living thing—its soul or primary living energy. Every living thing, including people, animals, and plants, has an atman that forms its eternal essence.

Brahman is the "world soul" or "cosmic soul." It is the eternal essence of the universe and the ultimate divine reality. A fundamental principle of this philosophy is, quite simply, that the individual soul is the world soul.

Raja Yoga: Path to Mental Control

Raja Yoga involves seeking union with Brahman through psychophysical exercise. It is a form of Hindu yoga intended to achieve total control over the mind and emotions.

The Role of the Guru

A Guru is an influential teacher or popular expert. The term is derived from two Sanskrit syllables:

• Gu: Dispeller of ignorance
• Ru: Bringer of enlightenment

Samsara: The Cycle of Rebirth

Samsara is the cycle of death and rebirth to which life in the material world is bound. It involves the process of reincarnating or transmigrating from body to body.

Sikh: The Path of the Disciple

A Sikh is a disciple or a student. Members of this monotheistic religion believe the term is derived from the ancient term saka.

Samadhi: Divine Union

Samadhi is the state of union with God. It is the final stage of meditation in which a union with the divine is reached; this state can be achieved during life or at the moment of death.

Sannyasin: The Spiritual Renunciant

A Sannyasin is one who neither hates nor loves anything. Also known as a nonentity, they typically abandon all claims to social or family standing to pursue a life of spiritual devotion.

The Untouchables and Harijan

The Untouchables were the fifth group in the traditional caste system. Mahatma Gandhi later renamed them Harijan (God's people). Historically, they were considered the lowest social group, often consisting of those who were impoverished and marginalized.