Hinduism

Metaphysical Aspects

A major philosophical-metaphysical distinction between Hinduism and the “religions of the book”—Judaism, Christianity, and Islam—is that Hinduism “postulates no absolute distinction between divine and human beings” (Fuller 2004, 3). Thus, people greet each other and pray to gods with the same gesture of folded hands, bowed head (“Namaste”). As Fuller notes, however, there is almost always an implied hierarchy: humans may be divine—but are highly stratified—in the Hindu worldview.

The pervasive and inherent godliness of all creation—living or inanimate—is thus the key metaphysical basis of Hinduism. All animate subjects and objects, including subatomic particles not yet discovered, are manifestations of god.

Cultural Aspects

In cultural terms, the continuous blending of divinity and humanity implies blurring of the lines between the sacred and the profane. A car can be used for amorous dalliance, perhaps even a robbery, and then worshipped with flowers and incense during Vishwakarma Puja (a day to worship technology).

Several interesting and sometimes contradictory views of consumer culture are found in Hinduism. At a deep philosophical and spiritual level, the world of goods is regarded as Maya—an illusion, a web of entanglements in which humans are trapped through unending cycles of birth, death, and rebirth. Ultimate salvation (Nirvana, Moksha) is seen as an escape from the reincarnation cycle, from the web of Maya, and hence from all desire. And yet, there is pragmatic realization that daily life of ordinary people is rooted in materialism. Hinduism therefore offers multiple paths to godliness, including paths that rely very much on material means. Swami Bhaskarananda, a monk in the Ramakrishna Order, writes, “Hinduism offers two major spiritual paths. … The path for householders is … ‘the path of permitted sensual desires.’ The path for monks is … ‘the path of renunciation of sensual desires’” (2002, 109). The notion of what is “permitted,” however, is quite flexible. Unlike Islam or Orthodox Judaism, there are no explicit proscriptions about any form of consumption in Hinduism. Even the “sacred cow” notion and the admonition not to eat beef are generally seen as late developments in Hinduism, probably to safeguard the economically vital cattle stock in periods of famine.

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