Hinduism For Dummies Quotes

“One of its earliest sacred scriptures, known as the Rig Veda, declares “Let noble thoughts come to us from all directions.”
― Amrutur V. Srinivasan, Hinduism For Dummies

“The goal of life, according to Hindus, is to reach back to Brahman, the one Reality, by realizing our true nature. That goal is defined as moksha: liberation from repeated cycles of births and deaths. The goal is to realize unity, or oneness, with Brahman. For that reason, the Hindu prays, “Asato ma sat gamaya,” which means “Lead me from the unreal to the real.”
― Amrutur V. Srinivasan, Hinduism For Dummies

“This outlook is based firmly on the belief in an intimate connection between the individual soul, called atman (or Jivatman), and the Supreme Soul, called Paramatman.”
― Amrutur V. Srinivasan, Hinduism For Dummies

“Hindus accept all religions to be true and self-contained. A Hindu hymn asserts this view by comparing the various paths to God with hundreds of rivers and streams all mingling finally with the ocean.”
― Amrutur V. Srinivasan, Hinduism For Dummies

“Dharma or right conduct is so central to Hindu life that it encompasses everyone, irrespective of age, station in life, or caste. Each being has its own dharma consistent with its nature. A tiger’s dharma, for example, is to kill and eat its prey. Yielding milk to sustain the life of the young is a cow’s dharma. The dharma of humans is to serve.”
― Amrutur V. Srinivasan, Hinduism For Dummies

“Hindus understand Brahman to be the only thing real in the universe. All else is therefore unreal, false or illusory, and untrue.”
― Amrutur V. Srinivasan, Hinduism For Dummies

“Hinduism’s view of the world is epitomized by this declaration from one of its sacred scriptures, the Mahopanishad (Chapter VI, Verse 72): “Vasudhaiva kutumbakam,” which means “The whole world is a family.” This fundamental belief helps Hindus feel connected with the world. The belief that there is but One Supreme Soul from which everything — all living entities and inanimate objects — emerged further strengthens the connection with the entire universe.”
― Amrutur V. Srinivasan, Hinduism For Dummies