Beliefs of Hindu

The Hindu Portal

July 10, 2015

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Sanatana Dharma by being a dharma is by definition not dogmatic in its beliefs or faith. Below is a list of key beliefs that are common across most followers of this dharmic tradition.

Reverence for Revealed Scriptures
The Vedas are of divine origin. These primordial hymns are the bedrock of Sanatana Dharma, the eternal religion.

All-Pervasive Divinity
There is one, all-pervasive Supreme Being, who is both immanent and transcendent, both Creator and Unmanifest Reality

Three Worlds and Cycles of Creation
There are three worlds of existence -- physical, astral, and causal -- and the universe undergoes endless cycles of creation, preservation, and dissolution.

Laws of Karma and Dharma
Karma, the law of cause and effect by which each individual creates his own destiny by his thoughts, words, and deeds -- and by obeying the laws of dharma, righteous living.

Reincarnation and Liberation
The soul reincarnates, evolving through many births until all its karma has been resolved and moksha (liberation from the cycle of rebirth) has been achieved. Not a single soul will be eternally deprived of this destiny.

Temples and the Inner Worlds
Divine beings exist in unseen worlds. Temple worship, rituals, sacraments as well as personal devotion create a communion with these devas, divine beings.

A Path Guided by a Guru
A spiritually awakened master, or guru, is essential to know the Transcendent Absolute, aided by personal discipline, good conduct, purification, pilgrimage, self-inquiry, meditation, and surrender to the guru and the divine scriptures.

Compassion and Noninjury
All life is sacred, to be loved and revered; and therefore one is expected to practice ahimsa, or "non-injury"

Diversity of Paths
There are many paths that lead to salvation. Although the goal is one, the sages call it by different names and means.

References
"Introduction to Hinduism." April/May/June 2009 edition of "Hinduism Today"

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