Religion originating in northern India about 4,000 years ago, which is superficially and in some of its forms polytheistic, but has a concept of the supreme spirit, Brahman, above the many divine manifestations. These include the triad of chief gods (the Trimurti): Brahma, Vishnu, and Shiva (creator, preserver, and destroyer). Central to Hinduism are the beliefs in reincarnation and karma; the oldest scriptures are the Vedas. Temple worship is almost universally observed and there are many festivals. There are over 805 million Hindus worldwide. Women are not regarded as the equals of men but should be treated with kindness and respect. Muslim influence in northern India led to the veiling of women and the restriction of their movements from about the end of the 12th century.

Roots

Hindu beliefs originated in the Indus Valley civilization about 4,500 years ago, which passed on a rich assortment of myths and legends to the Dravidians. Following the invasion of northern India by the Aryans, about 3,000 years ago, these myths were absorbed into Aryan ritual and religion, which now forms much of the tradition of Hindu religion. Ancient Babylonian and Egyptian influences are also discernible.

Scriptures

The Veda collection of hymns, compiled by the Aryans, was followed by the philosophical Upanishads, centring on the doctrine of Brahman; and the epics, containing both Aryan and pre-Aryan material, Ramayana and Mahabharata (which includes the Bhagavad-Gītā). All were in existence before the Christian era. The Puranas, sacred historical texts dating from the 4th century AD, reflect the many cultural streams of India.

Beliefs

Hindu belief and ritual can vary greatly even between villages. Some deities achieve widespread popularity such as Krishna, Hanuman, Lakshmi, and Mahādevī; others, more localized and specialized, are referred to particularly in times of sickness or need. Some deities manifest themselves in different incarnations or avatars such as Rama or Krishna, both avatars of the god Vishnu.

Underlying this multifaceted worship is the creative strength of Brahman, the supreme being. Hindus believe that all living things are part of Brahman: they are sparks of atman, or divine life, that transmute from one body to another, sometimes descending into the form of a plant or an insect, sometimes the body of a human. This is all according to its karma or past actions, which are the cause of its sufferings or joy as it rises and falls in samsara (the endless cycle of birth and death). Humans have the opportunity, through knowledge and devotion, to break the karmic chain and achieve final liberation, or moksha. The atman is then free to return to Brahman.

The creative force of the universe is recognized in the god Brahma. Once he has brought the cosmos into being, it is sustained by Vishnu and then annihilated by the god Shiva, only to be created once more by Brahma. Vishnu and Shiva are, respectively, the forces of light and darkness, preservation and destruction, with Brahma as the balancing force that enables the existence and interaction of life. The cosmos is seen as both real and an illusion maya, since its reality is not lasting; the cosmos is itself personified as the goddess Maya.

Practice

Hinduism has a complex of rites and ceremonies performed within the framework of the jati, or caste system, under the supervision of the Brahman priests and teachers. In India, caste is traditionally derived from the four classes of early Hindu society: Brahmans (priests), Kshatriyas (nobles and warriors), Vaisyas (traders and cultivators), and Sudras (servants). A fifth class, the untouchables, regarded as polluting in its origins, remained (and still largely remains) on the edge of Hindu society. The Indian Constituent Assembly (1947) made discrimination against the scheduled castes or depressed classes illegal, but strong prejudice continues.

“A unique being, an extraordinary man arises in this world, for the benefit of the many, for the happiness of the many out of compassion for the world, for the benefit, the good and happiness of Gods and men. Who is this unique being? It is the Exalted fully Enlightened One.” ( Thathagatha )

Who is a Buddha?
He is known as the highest perfection of man. Before attaining Enlightenment to be a Buddha, one has to fulfil ten Perfections (Paramita). These perfections are dhana (Charity) or the love of giving for others’ welfare, virtuous discipline (Seela), renunciation of lay life, panna or wisdom, patience, trustfulness, determination and courage, compassion and equanimity. A Buddha is one who has released Himself from all attachment and pleasures of the senses and is free of ignorance of the Four Noble Truths. He is pure and one who by His own effort attained Enlightenment.

The Buddha left us no written word, and lived in a land steeped in spirituality and vedic religious tradition. His charismatic personality, collected around Him a band of devoted disciples who were in search of the Truth. As a Teacher of morality He left His footprint on Indian soil. Sakyamuni Gautama Buddha was, according to scholars of the Anglo-Buddhist school (i.e., Mrs. Rhys Davids, Edward Conze and Marshall) an extraordinary man. He was a social reformer who lived at a time when Vedic traditions and ceremonialism were strong. He did not approve of animal sacrifices which would be at the price of others suffering. He decried the caste system. Several of His disciples were considered to be of low castes. Suneetha was a scavenger, Radha was a beggar, and Upali of the barber caste. They all entered the Maha Sangha (priest-hood) Order. The Buddha’s humanism crossed many a racial and national barrier. He believed in the oneness of man although we are born with Karmic inheritances (of Samsara) which are highlighted indicating degrees of intellect, degrees of human dynamism, varying riches, poverty and even human handicaps at birth.

What is Buddhism?
All major religions excepting Buddhism bind one to believe in a supreme Creator God, immortal soul, revelations, eternal heavens and hells. The Theravada Buddha Dharma is free from such belief, dogmas and theories. Hence it cannot strictly be called a religion, but today due to Hindu influence and certain Hindu practices such as poojas (offerings, vows) have crept into the practice or observance of Buddhism. Buddhist dharma is essentially a teaching of cause and effect (Hetupala Dharma).

The virtues of Dhana (charity), Seela (righteousness) and Bhavana (meditation) promote the individual to follow ‘The Correct Path’ on his Samsaric journey (Karmic journey) towards the goal of Nibbana. This dharma (philosophy) is based on the Four Noble Truths, the Noble Eight-fold Path, the Law of Dependent Origination, Karma and rebirth. In homage to the Buddha during Vesak, millions flock to temples wearing white, to observe Ata-sil (a day of absolute devotion to the observance of Dhmma) in a religious atmosphere. They will all partake in a vegetarian diet, a frugal meal, listen to discourses on the dharma and meditate on the law of Anicca (impermanence of life). Prof. Lakshmi Narasu, an Indian Buddhist scholar who lived 100 years ago had said, “Of Buddhism alone it can be said that it has discarded all animism, all dogmatism, all sensuality, all ascetism, all ritual, ceremonialism and consists of universal compassion or maitri, charity, self-denial and love for all life.”

“All mankind is His shrine
Seek Him hence forward in the good and wise
In happy thoughts and blissful emotions,
In kind words and sublime serenity.
And in the rapture of the living deed,
There seek Him if you would not seek in vain,
There is the struggle for justice and right,
In the sacrifice of self for all
In the joy and calm repose of the heart,
Yes, and for ever in the human mind ;
Made better, and more beauteuns by this work.”

Vesak
Vesak is a full moon day of great significance when the thoughts of about three million people all over the world, are focused on the noble figure of Sakyamuni Gautama Buddha and His teachings (Dharma), as recorded by His disciples in Suttas.

It was on a full moon day in May 623 BC that, a noble Sakyan Prince named Siddhartha Gautama, who was blessed at birth with 32 special marks such as the lotus and conchshells on His palms and a further 108 marks on His two feet, was born at the Lumbini Gardens (now located in Nepal) amidst a grove of Sal trees, all in bloom. He preached His first sermon at the Deer Park in Saranath in the open air, and about 45 years later, at the age of eighty years passed away (Maha Parinibbana) again in the open air amidst tall trees at Kasi, now known as Kasi-Nagar (Kushinare) in India. It was also on a Vesak day in Sri Lanka, centuries later, that King Dutugemunu began constructing the Ruwanveli Maha Seya (largest stupa in Sri Lanka) at Anuradhapura.

By Kimberly Palmer

Source: US News & World Report

If you find yourself nervously checking your bank account balance before payday, then perhaps it’s time to make some changes. Before swearing off restaurants or cutting up your credit card, ask yourself the following 8 questions, which are designed to help get you back on top of your finances.

Do I know where my money is going? Beyond a quick glance at our credit card statements each month, most of us don’t bother tracking how we’re spending money. That means we might not realize that our grocery expenses have suddenly skyrocketed, or our utility bills have doubled. Using an online personal financial management tool to automatically track your spending – www.Mint.com and www.Wesabe.com are among the most popular – allows you to figure out where money is going with minimal effort. The programs can also warn you once you get close to your target budget for the month.

Am I focusing too much on the month, instead of the year? Research suggests that people often fall victim to forgetfulness when budgeting by the month. They tend to overlook unexpected and one-time expenses, such as car repairs or gifts, so underestimate how much they’ll need to spend. But when people budget by the year, they tend to factor in those costs. Research by University of Southern California’s Gulden Ulkumen, Cornell’s Manoj Thomas, and New York University’s Vicki Morwitz found that college students were about 40 percent off-target when budgeting by the month, but only three percent off base when thinking by the year.

Do I do something everyday that wastes money? It might be a cab ride, lunches, or a six-pack of beer. These types of small, daily expenditures add up, and by the end of month, you could be out $100 or more. (In the case of a $10 lunch on each weekday, that’s $200.) Finish Rich author David Bach famously coined the phrase “Latte Factor” to capture this idea. He argues that if you invested the money instead of spending it, you could eventually become a millionaire.

Do I know my own weakness? Almost everyone has one. It might be a golf habit, fancy jeans, or nice dinners. Perhaps it’s simply buying more than you need when you’re out running errands. Gwyneth Paltrow’s budgeting expert for her GOOP newsletter, Lynnette Khalfani-Cox, offers the following advice: Carry a stopwatch with you on shopping trips. She also suggests bringing a loyal friend on shopping trips to remind you not to overspend.

Am I saving too much? This question might sound counter-intuitive – how could anyone be saving too much? But if you’re going into debt to fund your lifestyle and you’ve already cut back wherever possible, then it’s time to look at how much money you’re funneling into your 401(k). While it always makes sense to take advantage of matching programs from your employer, it doesn’t make sense to save additional pre-tax dollars at the expense of a hefty credit card bill that comes with a 10 percent or higher interest rate.

Is my relationship hurting my bank account? Even if you’re on top of your own finances, your bank account won’t reflect it unless your significant other is also on board. If you share credit, in the form of credit cards, auto loans, or a mortgage, then any late payment from your partner can also ding your own credit report. Marriage can intertwine your financial lives even further. Before tying the knot, be sure to review each other’s credit histories, talk about whether you prefer joint or separate accounts, and make sure you are familiar with each other’s long term financial goals. Couples also often get tripped up when it comes to handling money requests from needy family members. Make sure you’re on the same page to prevent tension later.

Are the big items dragging me down? According to Elisabeth Leamy, Good Morning America’s consumer correspondent and author of Save Big: Cut Your Top 5 Costs and Save Thousands!, it’s the big items, not the small ones, that hurt people’s finances the most. She suggests focusing on minimizing your mortgage, car, health, debt, and grocery payments. Buying a used car instead of a new one, for example, can save drivers tens of thousands of dollars. Plus, she says, since “cars these days are really well built, the risk is lower than it used to be.”

Am I wasting money by carrying debt? If you’re paying down a $10,000 credit card bill with a 15 percent interest rate, then you’re paying about $1,500 a year to carry that debt. If you’re paying off a $10,000 car loan at 6 percent, then you’re wasting $600 a year on interest. If you can find the extra cash, consider paying off those loans so you can stop throwing money away on debt payments.

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