our scriptures

[kvenkat.krishna]

for one who belongs to the hindu religion how esssential is it for him/her to read our scriptures???

while thinking about the topic there was an intresting quote that i came across

"Hinduism is a living organism liable to growth and decay subject to the laws of Nature. One and indivisible at the root, it has grown into a vast tree with innumerable branches. The changes in the season affect it. It has its autumn and its summer, its winter and its spring. It is, and is not, based on scriptures. It does not derive its authority from one book. Non violence has found the highest expression and application in Hinduism"

can we put this argument into practice?can practicing non violence act as a substitute for religious practices??

[Shamini]

My dear Fren,

The question on "why study our Scriptures" is well answered by Aryan under the Karma Topics. Well this is what he has posted.

Why study scriptures?
Our rishis have passed down this glorious tradition for more than 5000 years, to solve the human problem. This is the only gratitude we can show to them. Plus, we benefit from them too. And also, one must be sure when choosing the right teacher to teach the scriptures. A teacher who can't unfold you the tradition he has come from is not qualified to teach the scriptures, and more likely to confuse us with wrong teachings. We have many among us, sad to say. A very important point to take note of.

Plus Aryan has also highlighted that reading of scriptures is one of the 5 great duties that a hindu has to carry out.
 
They are:

1.  Devayajna: Prayers to Ishvara. Could be your Ishta or Kula deivata.
2.  Brahma/Rishi Yagna:  Studying our scriptures
3.  Pitru Yagna: Offerings to our ancestors, praying for their well being.
4.  Manushaya Yagna: Service to those who are in need.
5.  Bhoota Yagna: Taking care of Nature: envirionment, animals, plants, etc

Shamini

[Aryan]

Namaste,

Before we make assumptions on what is the goal of hindu scriptures, we shall see overview and types of scriptures we have. By this, we would understand that all hindu scriptures are driving through the same point.

Firstly, I'd like to use the sanskrit word "Shastra" that its english translation scriptures. Because the word Shastra itself will reveal its goal.

The word Shastra is a combination of two sanskrit rootwords: Shas and Trai. 'Shas' means teachings and 'Trai' means protects. Therefore Shastra means teachings that protects us. And it protects us from products of ignorance such as misery, sorrow etc.

And the beauty of Shastra is that it reveals something which is not at all available in any other means of knowledge or any other academic knowledge. It is unique, beneficial and does not contradict any other knowledge. It does not contradict our logic and experiences as well. This is very very important, coz nowadays most of the new age movements talks about this non perceptible out of body experience which is not at all practical and logical as well.

Our shastras reveals the
1. concept of Ishwara,
2. concept of Papa & Punya,
3. the knowledge of Atma or Self,
4. Creation of Universe,
5. the relationship between the self, universe and Ishwara,
6. reincarnation,
7. an extensive and expansive desciption of svarga and Naraka,
8. an extensive explanation of the two lifestyles one goes through in his life, and
9. the ultimate goal in life, Moksha.

Our shastra shares a new perspective to life in contrary to how we see it. It brings upon happiness, completeness, basically a new dimension in our life. And the most beautiful part of it, we need not change anything we are doing right now to achieve it. We just need to shift our understanding a lillte. Our Shastaras make it happen that easily and practically.

I'd be touching more on our shastras in the coming days to give much better understanding in order to benefit all of us. It's good to know, so that we would know how to start.

Om Tat Sat

Aryan