Common Concepts in Hindu-ism
HINDU
The label Hindu was given by the Persians who pronounced “S” as “H” in Sindhu (river). We also know that the people living around Sindhu (five rivers, and later, around Ganga, Yamuna) called themselves as followers of “Sanaatana Dharma” or “Vedic Dharma”.
SANAATANA
The word Sanaatan simply means eternal, timeless, continuous.
DHARM:
See detailed explanation on another post. Briefly, Dharma means property of nature, rule of nature, duty, principle, inherent order, etc.
SANAATANA DHARM
So we can say that the “Sanaatan Dharm” means: The Eternal rules, The Eternal Principles of Existence, The Universal Order or the Grand Scheme of things, Inherent Principles of creation.
We can now see that the English word ‘religion’ does no justice to the word Dharm.
To keep the language simple, we will continue to use the Hindu for followers of Vedic or Sanaatan Dharma. However, to differentiate between Dharm and religion, we will use the term Hindu-ism rather than Hinduism.
YOG
Correct pronunciation is more like ‘Yoag’, not ‘Yogaa’.
The commonly accepted meaning of Yog is ‘to join’. However, this word lacks the complete spirit of ‘Yog’. One can join two diesel locomotives head to head – but that would really not have the desired effect one expected. To obtain the desired effect, the two engines have to be ‘aligned’ with each other. Hence, the term Yog in the context of Dharma must be to act or to be in alignment with the universal Dharmic principles – swimming in the direction of the stream of Consciousness. All yogic efforts are intended to align themselves along the direction of Dharma.
JNYAAN YOG (Path of Knowledge)
Hindu world view accepts that people come with different mind sets. Some people have questioning minds. To them, everything must have a reason, must be analyzed and evaluated before being accepted. Such folks, such as scientists, are interested in knowing how does the machinery of existence work, who are we, how we are here, why we are here, and so on. This inquiry can be in the material as well as spiritual domain. Regardless, it is important to investigate ‘correctly’ – that is, framing a proper hypothesis, defining the logical pathway to prove/disprove the hypothesis, assigning check and balance on the course to conclusion, etc. In scientific research, the saying goes – garbage in garbage out. Therefore, Yog in the Jynaan sense is to be think in accordance with known laws of nature while applying vigilance, logic, focus, determination and analytical skills.
BHAKTI YOG (Path of Faith or Devotion)
Some people by nature, either do not have analytical capability or choose not to indulge in such analytical endeavor. They have a trusting nature. They just want to follow someone who they revere – who has demonstrated to be superior in mind, heart or spiritual achievements – with total surrender.
KARM YOG (Path of Action)
A third group of people is more action and result oriented. They are not interested in rigid enquiries, nor are they prone to place their complete trust in someone else. For them tireless work to serve humanity is the service to the divine.
PAAP and PUNYA
With the above definition of Yog, it is easy to understand the meanings of Paap and Punya. Punya is accrued when one works (swims) in harmony or alignment with Dharma (stream of Consciousness). Paap is accrued when one works (swims) against or in discordance with Dharma (stream of Consciousness). See below to understand why one has to pay penalty if one commits Paap.
PAAP (Sin) – A SCIENTIFIC VIEW
Note: I have purposely kept this explanation simple so that non-engineers and non-scientists may also understand it. The experts can easily delve deeper in this without any further direction. This principle of Paap is understood in science as the extra energy one must expend in order to make energy flow from a lower state to higher state. The Dharma of matter as well known in science is to progressively move from ordered state to disorder (concept of entropy). Therefore, one must spend extra effort or energy to bring back order to things ( or even continue to maintain order). This is simply understood as wasted energy or loss in efficiency (thermodynamic cycles). For example, not one hundred percent of energy from gasoline is used on moving a car, nor one hundred percent of electricity is effective in cooling food in a refrigerator or turning a ceiling fan etc. The wasted energy is “Paap” or sin penalty.
In this same way, when we commit sin or Paap, by going against Dharma, sooner or later we must pay a penalty.
KARM
Correct pronunciation is more like ‘Kerm’ and not ‘Kaar-maa’.
KARM: PURUSHAARTHA, SANCHITA and PRAARABDHA
The phrase ‘sooner or later’ should be defined here. In the material world, the penalty for sin is extracted immediately or conversely the benefits of Punya are awarded immediately. However, in the spiritual realm, the penalty can be delayed (called Sanchit karm),to be exacted or manifested at the appropriate time (called Praarabdha karm). This delay can be not just in this life but can extend to future lives. The decision to flow with or against the stream of Dharma is the individual’s choice (called his/her Purushaartha). It should be noted that human beings are special in the sense that they are endowed with discriminatory power, to choose between right and wrong. Other animals and insects act instinctively and thus exempt from the results of their actions.
KARM: Why Good things Happen to Bad People
This delay in the manifestation of results of a person’s past choices (Purushaartha) of actions is how Hindu-ism explains why bad things happen to good people, good things happens to bad people, unexpected happenings, people born gifted or sickly or with reduced physical or mental capacity. The Karm insight essentially helps and encourages people to not to fret over and get discouraged when bad things happen, or become arrogant with when they achieve great acclaim, but continue to move ahead making right decisions in accordance with Dharma, because, their current thoughts and actions will decide their fate in the rest of the life and future lives. The law of Karm is extension of Newton’s laws of motion (and similar other scientific laws) into spiritual domain.