
Hinduism is practiced by 1.2 billion believers, making it the third-largest religion by followers after Christianity and Islam. It promotes goodness, happiness, and generally a better world through several fundamental precepts:
1.Ahimsa: the principle of non-violence, which teaches to treat all beings with compassion and respect.
2.Dharma: the moral and ethical duty that guides people toward just and benevolent actions.
3.Seva: selfless service to others, seen as an expression of devotion and compassion.
4.Karuna: active compassion and care for all beings, cultivating empathy and help for those in need.
5.Pluralism: encourages the acceptance of diverse beliefs and spiritual paths, promoting peaceful coexistence among different religious traditions. Also, tolerance towards the LGBTQ+ community.
6.Orientation towards inner peace, balance, and happiness, through the practice of meditation and yoga.
7.Kind treatment of animals: Ahimsa includes non-human sentient beings, teaching to treat animals with compassion and avoid causing them unnecessary harm. For this reason, many Hindus (according to some studies, between 30% and 40%) practice a vegetarian or even vegan diet based on the belief that killing animals for consumption is a form of violence.
Hindu stories and legends often feature animals as sacred figures or bearers of spiritual teachings, encouraging consideration and reverence towards them. These principles reflect a deep sensitivity towards animals within Hinduism, influencing the attitudes and daily practices of many of its followers.
8.Respect for nature: Hinduism values nature as sacred and teaches the importance of living in harmony with the natural environment, promoting environmental conservation and compassionate treatment of all forms of life.
HOWEVER…
Having said all the above, there are 3 issues that urgently need reform in Hinduism due to the great harm they cause to innocents:
1.Machismo. Read more…
2.Castes. Read more…
3.Hindu Ultranationalism. Read more…
Fortunately, this religion is currently undergoing a process of reformism that seeks to adapt its practices and teachings to the modern world. This renewing movement manifests in several aspects:
1.Promotion of equality and human rights: Hindu reformers are advocating for gender equality, the elimination of discriminatory castes, and the promotion of fundamental human rights for all individuals, aligning these causes with the ethical principles of dharma. To achieve this, they are reinterpreting sacred texts.
2.Innovation in religious practices, such as the adoption of contemporary forms of worship and meditation.
3.Interreligious and intercommunity dialogue, promoting constructive dialogue with other religious and philosophical traditions, seeking common ground and mutual understanding to foster peaceful coexistence and collaboration on issues of common interest.
Reformism in Hinduism not only seeks to preserve essential traditions but also to dynamically adapt them to the changing needs and contexts of the modern world, fostering a more inclusive, progressive, and benevolent religiosity.
LET’S SUPPORT THIS REFORM PROCESS!
How?:
- By signing to ask all Hindu religious leaders to reform their religion to eliminate castes, machismo, nationalism, and generally everything that is harmful to innocents. Sign…
- By sharing this signature campaign and this article, especially with Hindus or people who may know Hindus.
Thank you for doing so to achieve a better world.