Your ease of explaining the most complex and confusing facts about Hinduism is simply beautiful. You certainly are a real Sanathani, just born in America with different faith 🙏🙏🙏
I guess one of the benefits of not having been brought up a Hindu, and not knowing many Hindus, is that I don't have a lot of misconceptions engrained in my head regarding Hinduism.
Yes and no. You're in the dark about it (ignorance), but also not miseducated on it, perhaps. There's no single religion known as Hinduism. It's a wide array of beliefs and practices of Hindu peoples.
Sir, you are our recent Sankaracharya who will salvage Sanatana Dharma, while millions of Hindus cook meat on Diwali, the Day Of Remembrance. You are truely Great,sir.
Pranam Swamiji. Wonderful to hear the basics of Hinduism from you, Swamiji. As a Hindu though I was knowing the basics in a broad way but not clearly and precisely as you have explained. Thank you from my heart.
The first misconception that you explained at the end - am blessed to have watched your explanation Swamiji and how true you are...all your effort shows in the simple yet detailed explanation you provided... am truly blessed...
These misconceptions (in similar but not identical forms) also exist in western religions. They are also believed by those inside and outside those religions as well. I am saddened that these common misunderstandings are so pervasive in western culture that their versions of these misconceptions seem to be what you know of their beliefs. Thank you for all of your excellent work. I am really enjoying and learning from your lectures... in particular the class on Atma Bohda.
Two quick examples of what I am talking about: 1. Obviously "You shall not murder" is very nuanced because there have always many soldiers in Abrahamic faiths. This misunderstanding comes from "murder" or "kill" being imperfect English translations (something you are very adept at pointing out in Sanskrit.) The idea in this verse is closer to "manslay", "dirty kill" or "slay in an unnatural or unlawful way". There are Christians who are total pacifists and take the contradiction you posed very seriously, but they are a minority. "Just War" is an entire school of western thought, begun from religious teachers, about this relationship between murder and soldiering. (Also, Galatians is an entire sacred text to Christians that teaches that rule following as a whole is not the point but unity with God in mercy is the point... but I digress.)
2. Throughout Christian and Jewish history, there have been significantly large groups who do not believe heaven and hell are literal places but are metaphors for the subjective experience of the soul when it encounters the same universal pure divinity after death... the prepared and open vs the unprepared and closed. Also, universalism is a school of Christian thought that teaches that all beings, matter, and energy will be reconciled to God... there were ancient teachers who taught even Satan and demons would be ultimately saved.
One of the universal misconceptions I have learned about all religions is this: "It is very hard to say one sentence that applies to all groups in a religion." This is probably the universal misconception.
@@mikebaker2436But where is karma and reincarnation? These 2 are the poison pills for Christianity which has been trying to digest Advaitha vedanta (unity consciousness)
That is the best explanation I ever heard about misconceptions about HINDUISM. Thank you, Swamiji, for uploading these beautiful videos about meditation, Geetha, and Vedanta topics. 🙏
I hear your lectures many times. Each time the understandings becomes clearer. I think everyone should listen multiple times to really grasp the meaning of your lectures. Thank you very much.
So blessed to hear this short lecture, so meaningful and rational. Om Shanti! Thanks to AI, I am able to study each of the 10 Upanishads in a manner, easy to understand and assimilate.
तदात्मानन्दगुरवे सर्वश्रेष्ठाय धीमते । नमः सात्विकयोध्रे तेsज्ञानानीकविघातिने ।।😊 I now down to the best of all, Tadatmananda Guru who is a soft Satwik solider who fights and destroys the army of darkness 😊. My offerings to our teacher in the form of a Sanskrit shloka composed by me . 😊
Thanks for caste system explanation Swami Ji. So basically Caste system is a Position of a person in life. A new born baby is not of any caste. If the person do job and get paid then it becomes shudra. After doing job for few years, if it does business then becomes Vaishya. If the person works to save people of his country from disasters, enemies etc then becomes Kshatriya Finally the person learns enough knowledge throughout his life and is ready to give free knowledge in Gurukul and is Also ready to help people regarding marriage or spiritual things then it is Brahman.
@Margaret Brother are you from UK? Actually current caste system with Lower and Upper is a byproduct of Colonialism by British East India Company and Mughals. They promoted this position based caste system as Birth based caste system. All the west historians are brainwashing the childrens in schools in UK and America. The history is 90% fake. All inventions and knowledge of India was destroyed but before destroying they copied data and took to UK. From 24% GDP to below 4% when british left.
@Margaret Yes, you are correct that there is no social mobility in the rigid birth based caste system. But it is different from jathi system which allowed social mobility until 18th century. British agent Lord Herbert Hope Risley morphed varna and jathi based on race science and created the rigid birth based caste system. The same race science was used in Africa which led to Rwandan genocide. Indian constitution unfortunately only solidified the rigid caste system for quotas. British also created zamindari system to take away the land from shudras in a foul manner. It means so called dalits were land owners before British/East India company looters sneaked in.
@Margaret Previously all occupations were hereditary (kings to carpenters), hence varna started getting assumed. But technically it's not so. We have started reservation system, made caste discrimination criminal offence. A lot more needs to be done. But that doesnt mean that the observation that a society is comprised of these 4 sections is wrong.
@@sujayarao7322 yes and still the so called " lower " caste people fail to see that cause they are filled with all sorts of rubbish in their ears...they think someone is going to come and save them
Revered and respected Swamiji Saashtaanga Namaskara at your lotus feet. I am amazed at the clarity and the knowledge your explanation. I have no doubt at all that every human on earth will be benefited and reformed if he or she listen to you even once. I am a volunteer in a vedic research institute exploring the-inner meanings of Veda. I pray to to the Lord to give you long and healthy life to continue to enlighten people 🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏
Both Ramayan and Mahabharata were history happened…the Dwarka city of Krishna is exactly located in sea has been recently found and the weapon used in war of kurukshetra r also found in Hariyana state of India to archeologists 🙏🏻Hare Krishna Hare Ram 🙏🏻
Mahabharat might have been a historically accurate event However, as Guru ji said, there is a lot of mythical additions to it to make it somewhat interesting and appealing to people for coming generations
🙏Thank you Swamiji for your eloquent explanations and wisdom. As a new Hindu thirsty for truth and spiritual knowledge , I am so grateful to have found you ! 🙏💕
🙏😊Jai Shree Krishna 😊🙏 1. "Gyan(Knowledge)" stabilizes the "Mastisk(Brain)". 2. "Dharya(patience)" stabilizes the "Maan(Mind)". 3. "Prem(Love)" stabilizes the "Hriday(Heart)". 4. "Samarpan(Dedication)" calms the Impulses of the Body and stabilizes the "Sareer(Body)". 5. "Naay(Justice)" stabilizes the "Aatmaan(Soul)". When these FIVE Bases of "Dharma" becomes stable, then man/woman is filled with "Karuna(Compassion)" ..... It's called "DHARMA" 😊🙏Jai Shree Krishna🙏😊
Swamiji. That's a nice video so lucidly explained in your own inimitable way. Please also address about why there are so many scriptural texts and which one is the best/easy to follow.. 🙏
Excellent! Every Hindu should watch this video first. Many non-Hindus have misconceptions about Hinduism. This video will help us when they confront us.
You have explained each and every concept of Hindu Dharma in a very simple way making it interesting and understandable. I love to watch your videos. Thanks a lot. 🙏🙏
Thanks for pointing out that the message of "Ahimsa Paramo Dharmah" in Sanatan tradition is not absolute non-violence but "least harm to everyone involved". This can also be thought of as what is best for the "greater good". Unfortunately, MK Gandhi twisted the meaning of "Ahimsa" in Sanatan Dharm and conflated it with "showing the other cheek" in an attempt to appeal to the aggressor's "conscience". As if this "conscience" was some absolute concept of this universe!! As you so rightly pointed out here, "conscience" can have different meaning for different persons based on their upbringing / indoctrination. People even tend to mould their conscience and devise their own justifications in pursuit of their selfish ends!! Such people and entities cannot br reasoned with or influenced by emotion or convinced by sacrificing oneself.
@ Indian society DID have a caste system. And everybody reaped the benefits such forms of "strategic discrimination" brought to the society as a whole. Same applies to all ancient cultures.
@ That's not how it works, dude. You'll have to own up to all that is produced within your society. Fact is, these "corrupted ppl or groups of ppl" established a system that was used for centuries, with all its good & bad. Dissociating yourself from it because it's become unfashionable today is fine, but you can't (& don't need to) deny its history. An American can uphold freedom as his core value today, but insisting that slavery has never been "an American thing" is pointless (& apathic - not that it doesn't happen anyways).
@ This is just denialism to attempt & live in an imagined past. India's GDP actually grew with the arrival of Mughals & later the British. It's a matter of facts & figures. As unfair as it may seem, empire has its benefits - whoever brings it. (It is also true that India was already the largest economy in the world before the M invasions. In fact, some of their historians also mentioned this as the very reason for invasion). Also, corruption (& suggested countermeasures) are found in the Arthashastra (>2500 years old) itself. Birth based discrimination is found in the Mahabharata & other ancient texts. But it's true the British had concretized it immensely(by census-based discrimination & land redistribution) during their colonial rule. And no respectable source claims Hinduism to be 21,000 years old. One should correct one's mistakes... not disown them & blame "a few people" & out-groups for it - this is just misplaced pride & laziness. Also, I've never claimed Islam or Christianity to be "good". Modern scholarship holds these to immense scrutiny too. Denial only leads to loss of credibility. If you are unwilling/unable to reconcile with your own short-comings, even in the face of evidence, the others will just extract your good stuff & dissociate from you (it's already happened many times.) The Chinese seem to have more tact in these matters. Arguably the most successful story of a non-Western (hence delayed) charge into modernity.
Yes but jathi (occupational groups) are not rigid and birth based (allowed social mobility between 2 jathi groups) but the British created "caste" system (by morphing jathi and varna based on race science) was rigid and birth based (and did not allow social mobility). indian constitution later solidified birth based caste system for quotas
 wonderful lecture of yours again, dear sir! I always appreciate your profound knoweldge. And as a christian (orthodox Church) theologian, only a very little correction. It is definitely NOT the main goal of the my own orthodox christianity to get into a place called "paradise". Our goal is to get fully united with the attributes of God, by whome He communicates with creation, these are His love, His light, His grace and so on. Also in Judaism - at least in its mystsical branches - the main goal is in no way becoming an indweller of paradise, but again to unite with Gods greatest and most beloved attributes, thus performing in part the "tikkun olam" - the re-creation and restoring of the entire world by re-uniting the world with its creator. And even in the mystical forms of Islam, the goal is not achieving some paradise, but getting united with God himself and all His attributes in love, light and devotion. So I found in all religions - abrahamic and non-abrahamic alike - the ONE and only goal of meaning of life is LOVE and nothing but LOVE and to unite with that uncreated an undefilable LOVE, that we christians call God (and yes - this LOVE may have personal attributes - or even dont (like in parts of Buddhism, for example), but that is eventually of no greater relevance). May the Lord, who is love itself, bless you and those who follow the illuminous path to God you teach! Please carry on, enlightening all of us with such a great and profound wisdom! God bless you!
But where is karma and reincarnation? These 2 are the poison pills for Christianity which is slowly trying to digest Advaitha vedanta (unity consciousness) just like how it digested so called Paganism eg Christmas tree, church bell (copied from HIndu temples) etc.
Your theological approach to the ultimate goal of salvation is beautiful. It's also IMO very Orthodox, which means mystical, and dare I say it, Eastern. The Western Church, especially the Protestant tradition, really does focus on accessing paradise as the ultimate goal of salvation. Or maybe it's better described as escaping hell by making it to paradise (through the blood sacrifice of Jesus). But I appreciate more your description, which does show the connective spiritual tissue within so many world religions.
slight correction to the egyptian religion comment, just so you're not misrepresenting the tradition (as I know is not desired): the religion is still practiced today, just by a very small group. It's called Kemetism and is a revival of the practices and traces their practices back to ancient egypt (just with a long gap in the time period in between). Though your point still stands: religions have died out and have had 0 followers. Often they get absorbed into other religious traditions near them before the population goes out completely, and some of their traditions end up surviving into the present time (e.g. the neanderthal religion religion is where we returning the body to the earth (burial) likely comes from)
7:47 you wouldn't attack your feet because they are lower than your head, would you? the intent of that verse was to show that all are nessacary for the health of society.
Thank you Swami ji. You have done a tremendous job in helping Hindus to understand their own true nature and their faith. Also for non Hindus and society in general you have elegantly removed the misconceptions about Hinduism Hope this gives Hindus a curiosity to learn more about their faith/ Dharma and purpose in life
The thing is we do not need so many deities in our spiritual path People who are just religious can still worship deities But worshipping god or gods is of no real use to a spiritual person
I listen to so many sitar ragas while exercising that the TH-cam algorithms have decided that I'm probably a Hindu. Maybe I AM a Hindu? How does one know?
@@freakboostez6971 How do you know you like sandwich? By going to a subway and choosing the stuff you like. Same for Hinduism. Make a list of things you would like to follow in your life and follow them.
Just read once bhagwat geeta and eat meat .. and know your real dharm. We dot have conversion system . Veda say be human just it is. Whole world is one family . Our family. Each animal has right to live.
You know you are not a hindu if you have not been born in Hindustan which is another name for india. But you are a Sanatan dharmi as you are part of the eternal system of responsibility. Sanatan Dharma means eternal responsibility. So keep enjoying your raga sessions.
It's hard to say. But you can be hindu by just following dharma, believing in rebirth, karma. You know some hindus even don't follow rituals but still call themselves hindus. You can just call yourself hindu if you want to.
Sir I really bow my love and respect to your teaching I was feeling this all time in the past but no there to give me confidence that it is true But after watching your teachings I am so happy that yes my thoughts are true and I am very positive towards life. Thank you lot for sharings your knowledge with us it will help so many people
while explaining misconception 3.. God punishes evil people for their bad deeds and rewards pious for their good, I thought you were little harsh on Christianity.. to say that the reason why many Hindus themselves believe in this could possibly be because of their co-existence with Christianity for several years.. is bit unfair.. I mean, isn't this particular misconception... one of those many simple things that every child would like to believe? and how wise are many grownups compared to children? :).. by the way I am myself a Hindu, but I thought we need not blame this on other religions... among us Hindus there are, and were so many simple minded followers who doesn't need encouragement from other religions to misunderstand their own :).. just my thought. Other than that I find your video highly enlightening and answers some of the questions that I could not answer with confidence earlier about my own religion.. thank you Swamiji for that 🙏.
I would belief in God in a great loving way with devotion straight from my heart, if only I saw proof of the fact that good is rewarded with good and bad with bad. But thats not the case. Instead "karma" appears randomly, good is random and bad is random as well. There is so much lack of consistency that my belief in God is weak and under question all the time. All I seek is to know God, but I cant really find Him anywhere because of contradictions and lack of consistency.
This has been observed on a mass scale many times in history. The plague of Athens is good example. "The plague also caused religious uncertainty and doubt. Since the disease struck without regard to a person's piety toward the gods, people felt abandoned by the gods and there seemed to be no benefit to worshiping them. The temples themselves were sites of great misery, as refugees from the Athenian countryside had been forced to find accommodation in the temples. Soon the sacred buildings were filled with the dead and dying." en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plague_of_Athens
MLH Your confusion is like a person searching for a mirror to find himself/herself... As far as Karma is concerned, it is pre-programmed for everyone. It is like a script of a movie which is already written before the start of a movie. If your role in the movie is a bad role, then you are pre-programmed to create more karma. if your role is good, then you are pre-programmed to create good karma and if your role is to be dharmic (action without creating karma) then you don't create any new karma. if you have either good or bad karma, you move on to the next movie with a pre-programmed script. if you don't have any karma, then you retire from movies called as Moksha. Free will is also there but it cannot help you to achieve anything which is beyond the framework of your pre-programmed karma in this life. Free will can create new karma (which goes to your future lives) based on unfulfilled desires, wishes, regrets, likes, dislikes you have in this life. Now, Karma works on the principle of delayed causation when it comes to humans. So your unfulfilled desires created by your free will can materialize only in one of your future lives. Karma of inanimate objects is immediate. Our true-self or shiva is the divine which is omnipresent (both immanent and transcendent). But the immanent true self or shiva confuses and identifies with the intellect (close to mind) manas (close to heart) and body due to the faculty of ego or ahankara which is a spoiled child of manas where likes and dislikes are formed. To experience your true self, don't use your intellect or buddhi unnecessarily to analyze your subconscious thought patterns or habitual thoughts. Most of the problem solved. You would be your true self (shiva). Let the garbage thoughts come to the surface but don't react. Observe it. It would clean up your subconscious garbage which reduces your new karma (Agama karma) . This is called Jnana yoga or Vipassana which can be practiced through out the day whenever you get an opportunity . This is yoga off the mat
"Do your duty. Don't worry about results". This is an important thing to not. You can't control the result. Only your actions. So stop worrying about you getting good or bad results.
Perhaps you are blessed to explain the Hindu scripture . you were one great sage in ancient India in your last birth.
Thank you very much swamiji, you are the perfect saint to explain about Hinduism and we are grateful to you 🙏🙏🙏
@@lakshmanmurthy6425 [
Your ease of explaining the most complex and confusing facts about Hinduism is simply beautiful. You certainly are a real Sanathani, just born in America with different faith 🙏🙏🙏
I guess one of the benefits of not having been brought up a Hindu, and not knowing many Hindus, is that I don't have a lot of misconceptions engrained in my head regarding Hinduism.
But you could also be easily fooled/converted by the opponents of Hindu tradition
You won't be enlightened if you are being kept away from it.
You also wouldnt have misconception about yourself if you weren't yourself.
Yes and no. You're in the dark about it (ignorance), but also not miseducated on it, perhaps. There's no single religion known as Hinduism. It's a wide array of beliefs and practices of Hindu peoples.
It happen with every one,,,its also happen in science,,,it also happen in business,,,,misconception is key factor of human mind understanding
Sir, you are our recent Sankaracharya who will salvage Sanatana Dharma, while millions of Hindus cook meat on Diwali, the Day Of Remembrance. You are truely Great,sir.
Pranam Swamiji. Wonderful to hear the basics of Hinduism from you, Swamiji. As a Hindu though I was knowing the basics in a broad way but not clearly and precisely as you have explained. Thank you from my heart.
Remarkable observations.
Oh man... Christians are so confused and misled. Thank you for this wisdom! Funny how connected religions truly are.
That's true for most people not just Christians.
But hindu have Varna...Gita says..
@@chetanshukla3755 yes, it says guna karma, which is as per your attitude and attributes
@@kage9701 I'm not a Christian, but was raised in church. It was just a comment.
@@chetanshukla3755 Varna is not based on birth. it is based on guna which is shaped by past karma. Varna means color of a guna.
The first misconception that you explained at the end - am blessed to have watched your explanation Swamiji and how true you are...all your effort shows in the simple yet detailed explanation you provided... am truly blessed...
!
These misconceptions (in similar but not identical forms) also exist in western religions. They are also believed by those inside and outside those religions as well. I am saddened that these common misunderstandings are so pervasive in western culture that their versions of these misconceptions seem to be what you know of their beliefs.
Thank you for all of your excellent work. I am really enjoying and learning from your lectures... in particular the class on Atma Bohda.
Two quick examples of what I am talking about:
1. Obviously "You shall not murder" is very nuanced because there have always many soldiers in Abrahamic faiths. This misunderstanding comes from "murder" or "kill" being imperfect English translations (something you are very adept at pointing out in Sanskrit.) The idea in this verse is closer to "manslay", "dirty kill" or "slay in an unnatural or unlawful way". There are Christians who are total pacifists and take the contradiction you posed very seriously, but they are a minority. "Just War" is an entire school of western thought, begun from religious teachers, about this relationship between murder and soldiering. (Also, Galatians is an entire sacred text to Christians that teaches that rule following as a whole is not the point but unity with God in mercy is the point... but I digress.)
2. Throughout Christian and Jewish history, there have been significantly large groups who do not believe heaven and hell are literal places but are metaphors for the subjective experience of the soul when it encounters the same universal pure divinity after death... the prepared and open vs the unprepared and closed. Also, universalism is a school of Christian thought that teaches that all beings, matter, and energy will be reconciled to God... there were ancient teachers who taught even Satan and demons would be ultimately saved.
One of the universal misconceptions I have learned about all religions is this:
"It is very hard to say one sentence that applies to all groups in a religion."
This is probably the universal misconception.
Pew Research December 2009: 22% of American Christians say they believe in reincarnation.
@@mikebaker2436But where is karma and reincarnation? These 2 are the poison pills for Christianity which has been trying to digest Advaitha vedanta (unity consciousness)
That is the best explanation I ever heard about misconceptions about HINDUISM. Thank you, Swamiji, for uploading these beautiful videos about meditation, Geetha, and Vedanta topics. 🙏
I hear your lectures many times. Each time the understandings becomes clearer. I think everyone should listen multiple times to really grasp the meaning of your lectures. Thank you very much.
ten gems of thought sets.
This collection of teachings are some of the best I have ever had the pleasure of learning. Thank you so much
Thank you Swamiji for uploading more videos!
So blessed to hear this short lecture, so meaningful and rational. Om Shanti!
Thanks to AI, I am able to study each of the 10 Upanishads in a manner, easy to understand and assimilate.
तदात्मानन्दगुरवे सर्वश्रेष्ठाय धीमते ।
नमः सात्विकयोध्रे तेsज्ञानानीकविघातिने ।।😊
I now down to the best of all, Tadatmananda Guru who is a soft Satwik solider who fights and destroys the army of darkness 😊.
My offerings to our teacher in the form of a Sanskrit shloka composed by me . 😊
Very nice. Thank you.
@@SwamiT प्रणमामि 🙏🙏🙏
Thanks for making this video. You kind of opened my eyes by quashing my misconceptions!
Humans born predestined nature and has free will to choose his actions( karma) to uplift his dharma (his true self)
Very crisply explained. Relevant, progressive and practical and in tune with changed environment
Thank you. You are such a help for clarification in detail and complete picture.
Why are you in christianity then
@@ritamganguly6346 Take it easy. It is just a name
Pranam to swamiji for delivering such great knowledge to us….
Thanks Guru Dev!
Thanks for caste system explanation Swami Ji.
So basically Caste system is a Position of a person in life. A new born baby is not of any caste.
If the person do job and get paid then it becomes shudra.
After doing job for few years, if it does business then becomes Vaishya.
If the person works to save people of his country from disasters, enemies etc then becomes Kshatriya
Finally the person learns enough knowledge throughout his life and is ready to give free knowledge in Gurukul and is Also ready to help people regarding marriage or spiritual things then it is Brahman.
@Margaret Brother are you from UK?
Actually current caste system with Lower and Upper is a byproduct of Colonialism by British East India Company and Mughals. They promoted this position based caste system as Birth based caste system. All the west historians are brainwashing the childrens in schools in UK and America. The history is 90% fake.
All inventions and knowledge of India was destroyed but before destroying they copied data and took to UK. From 24% GDP to below 4% when british left.
@Margaret Yes, you are correct that there is no social mobility in the rigid birth based caste system. But it is different from jathi system which allowed social mobility until 18th century. British agent Lord Herbert Hope Risley morphed varna and jathi based on race science and created the rigid birth based caste system. The same race science was used in Africa which led to Rwandan genocide.
Indian constitution unfortunately only solidified the rigid caste system for quotas. British also created zamindari system to take away the land from shudras in a foul manner. It means so called dalits were land owners before British/East India company looters sneaked in.
@Margaret Previously all occupations were hereditary (kings to carpenters), hence varna started getting assumed. But technically it's not so. We have started reservation system, made caste discrimination criminal offence. A lot more needs to be done. But that doesnt mean that the observation that a society is comprised of these 4 sections is wrong.
@@RAIRADIO the political establishment is doing its most to preserve the poison tree that the british planted.
@@sujayarao7322 yes and still the so called " lower " caste people fail to see that cause they are filled with all sorts of rubbish in their ears...they think someone is going to come and save them
Revered and respected Swamiji Saashtaanga Namaskara at your lotus feet. I am amazed at the clarity and the knowledge your explanation. I have no doubt at all that every human on earth will be benefited and reformed if he or she listen to you even once.
I am a volunteer in a vedic research institute exploring the-inner meanings of Veda.
I pray to to the Lord to give you long and healthy life to continue to enlighten people
🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏
an excellent presentation
Very very Good. This should be taught in every school,every section of the society.
Easiest way of convincing and teaching.
Both Ramayan and Mahabharata were history happened…the Dwarka city of Krishna is exactly located in sea has been recently found and the weapon used in war of kurukshetra r also found in Hariyana state of India to archeologists 🙏🏻Hare Krishna Hare Ram 🙏🏻
Mahabharat might have been a historically accurate event
However, as Guru ji said, there is a lot of mythical additions to it to make it somewhat interesting and appealing to people for coming generations
🙏Thank you Swamiji for your eloquent explanations and wisdom. As a new Hindu thirsty for truth and spiritual knowledge , I am so grateful to have found you ! 🙏💕
Absolutely amazing and well needed video.
Remarkably described by you swamiji...
Very transparent and honest out of all controversial believes prevalent today.
Thanks Swamiji for making this wonderful video....🙏🙏
🙏😊Jai Shree Krishna 😊🙏
1. "Gyan(Knowledge)" stabilizes the "Mastisk(Brain)".
2. "Dharya(patience)" stabilizes the "Maan(Mind)".
3. "Prem(Love)" stabilizes the "Hriday(Heart)".
4. "Samarpan(Dedication)" calms the Impulses of the Body and stabilizes the "Sareer(Body)".
5. "Naay(Justice)" stabilizes the "Aatmaan(Soul)".
When these FIVE Bases of "Dharma" becomes stable, then man/woman is filled with "Karuna(Compassion)"
..... It's called "DHARMA"
😊🙏Jai Shree Krishna🙏😊
Pranam and much thanks to Guruji. In this age of frantic rhetoric I find his simple explanations a soothing balm🙏🙏🙏
Thank you Swamiji for a wonderful wisdom session 👍🙏
An enlightening talk. Thank you very much Swami Ji.
Thank you very much swamiji.
Swamiji. That's a nice video so lucidly explained in your own inimitable way. Please also address about why there are so many scriptural texts and which one is the best/easy to follow.. 🙏
Gita and vedas
Excellent! Every Hindu should watch this video first. Many non-Hindus have misconceptions about Hinduism. This video will help us when they confront us.
You have explained each and every concept of Hindu Dharma in a very simple way making it interesting and understandable. I love to watch your videos. Thanks a lot. 🙏🙏
Thanks for pointing out that the message of "Ahimsa Paramo Dharmah" in Sanatan tradition is not absolute non-violence but "least harm to everyone involved". This can also be thought of as what is best for the "greater good".
Unfortunately, MK Gandhi twisted the meaning of "Ahimsa" in Sanatan Dharm and conflated it with "showing the other cheek" in an attempt to appeal to the aggressor's "conscience". As if this "conscience" was some absolute concept of this universe!!
As you so rightly pointed out here, "conscience" can have different meaning for different persons based on their upbringing / indoctrination. People even tend to mould their conscience and devise their own justifications in pursuit of their selfish ends!! Such people and entities cannot br reasoned with or influenced by emotion or convinced by sacrificing oneself.
Every society has a caste system.
@ not jains also
@ Indian society DID have a caste system. And everybody reaped the benefits such forms of "strategic discrimination" brought to the society as a whole. Same applies to all ancient cultures.
@ That's not how it works, dude. You'll have to own up to all that is produced within your society.
Fact is, these "corrupted ppl or groups of ppl" established a system that was used for centuries, with all its good & bad. Dissociating yourself from it because it's become unfashionable today is fine, but you can't (& don't need to) deny its history.
An American can uphold freedom as his core value today, but insisting that slavery has never been "an American thing" is pointless (& apathic - not that it doesn't happen anyways).
@ This is just denialism to attempt & live in an imagined past.
India's GDP actually grew with the arrival of Mughals & later the British. It's a matter of facts & figures. As unfair as it may seem, empire has its benefits - whoever brings it.
(It is also true that India was already the largest economy in the world before the M invasions. In fact, some of their historians also mentioned this as the very reason for invasion).
Also, corruption (& suggested countermeasures) are found in the Arthashastra (>2500 years old) itself. Birth based discrimination is found in the Mahabharata & other ancient texts. But it's true the British had concretized it immensely(by census-based discrimination & land redistribution) during their colonial rule.
And no respectable source claims Hinduism to be 21,000 years old.
One should correct one's mistakes... not disown them & blame "a few people" & out-groups for it - this is just misplaced pride & laziness.
Also, I've never claimed Islam or Christianity to be "good". Modern scholarship holds these to immense scrutiny too. Denial only leads to loss of credibility.
If you are unwilling/unable to reconcile with your own short-comings, even in the face of evidence, the others will just extract your good stuff & dissociate from you (it's already happened many times.)
The Chinese seem to have more tact in these matters.
Arguably the most successful story of a non-Western (hence delayed) charge into modernity.
Yes but jathi (occupational groups) are not rigid and birth based (allowed social mobility between 2 jathi groups) but the British created "caste" system (by morphing jathi and varna based on race science) was rigid and birth based (and did not allow social mobility). indian constitution later solidified birth based caste system for quotas
Thank you Swam Ji for your inspiring words🙏
Thanks for clearing doubts.
Thanks for this great teachings.
Very relevant Videos for All Thank you so much , we are grateful to you Guruji !
Thanks 🙏🏾 for this great video
Very enlightening discourse.Pranam Swamiji.
Thank you, Swamiji, for introducing two types of karma--- prarabdha karma and purusartha karma that is accomplished by free will.
Hey can u tell d name of d temple at d beginning it's so marvellous
Khajuraho temple in madhya Pradesh
 wonderful lecture of yours again, dear sir! I always appreciate your profound knoweldge. And as a christian (orthodox Church) theologian, only a very little correction. It is definitely NOT the main goal of the my own orthodox christianity to get into a place called "paradise". Our goal is to get fully united with the attributes of God, by whome He communicates with creation, these are His love, His light, His grace and so on. Also in Judaism - at least in its mystsical branches - the main goal is in no way becoming an indweller of paradise, but again to unite with Gods greatest and most beloved attributes, thus performing in part the "tikkun olam" - the re-creation and restoring of the entire world by re-uniting the world with its creator. And even in the mystical forms of Islam, the goal is not achieving some paradise, but getting united with God himself and all His attributes in love, light and devotion. So I found in all religions - abrahamic and non-abrahamic alike - the ONE and only goal of meaning of life is LOVE and nothing but LOVE and to unite with that uncreated an undefilable LOVE, that we christians call God (and yes - this LOVE may have personal attributes - or even dont (like in parts of Buddhism, for example), but that is eventually of no greater relevance). May the Lord, who is love itself, bless you and those who follow the illuminous path to God you teach! Please carry on, enlightening all of us with such a great and profound wisdom! God bless you!
But where is karma and reincarnation? These 2 are the poison pills for Christianity which is slowly trying to digest Advaitha vedanta (unity consciousness) just like how it digested so called Paganism eg Christmas tree, church bell (copied from HIndu temples) etc.
Your theological approach to the ultimate goal of salvation is beautiful. It's also IMO very Orthodox, which means mystical, and dare I say it, Eastern. The Western Church, especially the Protestant tradition, really does focus on accessing paradise as the ultimate goal of salvation. Or maybe it's better described as escaping hell by making it to paradise (through the blood sacrifice of Jesus).
But I appreciate more your description, which does show the connective spiritual tissue within so many world religions.
Looking forward to start Year 2021 with a bang with the teachings of the Bhagavad Gita , Advaita Makaranda and Meditation classes ..Pranaam Guruji .🙏🏻
Pranams Swamiji! Thank you very much for making this complex topics, easily understandable! Grateful for all the efforts!
Thank you swanji❤️🙏🏻
धन्यवाद स्वामी जी ।बहुत बहुत शुभकामनायें ।
Thank you for this summery
Thank you good sir for your diligent thoughtful work. 🙏🏾 I am eternally grateful.
Loving your teachings ever since I found them a few days ago!
You have simplified the scriptures so beautifully! It's amazing feeling I found you!
Thank you for the charity of your clarity.
slight correction to the egyptian religion comment, just so you're not misrepresenting the tradition (as I know is not desired):
the religion is still practiced today, just by a very small group. It's called Kemetism and is a revival of the practices and traces their practices back to ancient egypt (just with a long gap in the time period in between).
Though your point still stands: religions have died out and have had 0 followers. Often they get absorbed into other religious traditions near them before the population goes out completely, and some of their traditions end up surviving into the present time (e.g. the neanderthal religion religion is where we returning the body to the earth (burial) likely comes from)
Excellent analysis of the Hindu doctrine. Thank you Swami Ji.
Explanation was very precise. Excellent Ji pranams
Pronaams!🙏
So well explained to remove common misconceptions about Hinduism. Thank you for your great work. May God continue to bless you
7:47 you wouldn't attack your feet because they are lower than your head, would you? the intent of that verse was to show that all are nessacary for the health of society.
A new word is used for God in the universe and transcending the universe- it is called panentheism! Another wonderful video, swamiji. Thank you!
Thank you, Swamiji.
Excellent work, thanks. Not much else to say.
Super episode. Thank you so much Swami!!
Thank you Swami ji. You have done a tremendous job in helping Hindus to understand their own true nature and their faith. Also for non Hindus and society in general you have elegantly removed the misconceptions about Hinduism
Hope this gives Hindus a curiosity to learn more about their faith/ Dharma and purpose in life
Hinduism(Sanatana Dharma)
33 koti devata ≠ 330 million gods
33 koti devata = 33 Principle deities
They are as below:
(8) Vasus (Deities of elements)
1. Dyaus : Sky
2. Prithivi : Earth
3. Vayu : Wind
4. Agni : Fire
5. Nakshatra : Stars
6. Antariksha : Space
7. Surya : Sun
8. Chandra : Moon
(12) Adityas (personified deities)
9. Vishnu : The presever
10. Indra : Leader of other Adityas and god of clouds
11. Ansh : Due share
12. Aryaman : Nobility
13. Bhaag : Due inheritance
14. Dhatri : Ritual skill
15. Tvashtar : Skill in crafting
16. Mitra : Friendship
17. Pushan/Ravi : Prosperity
18. Savitra/Parjanya : Power of word
19. Surya/Vivasvan : Social law
20. Varun : Fate
21. Vaman : Cosmic law
(Adityas may vary).
(11) Rudras (The five abstractions)
22. Ananda : Bliss
23. Vijnana : Knowledge
24. Manas : Thought
25. Prana : Breath or life
26. Vack : Speech
(5) names of Śiva
27. Isana : Revealing grace
28. Tatpurusha : Concealing grace
29. Aghora : Dissolution/rejuvenation
30. Vamadeva : Preserving aspect
31. Sadyojata : Born at once
32. Atma : Self
And the last
33. The 2 Ashwins : Twin solar deities.
No all of them are one and same. there is no difference between Vishnu or Shiva
The thing is we do not need so many deities in our spiritual path
People who are just religious can still worship deities
But worshipping god or gods is of no real use to a spiritual person
🙏 Thank you Swamiji🙏
Namasthe Guru ji! Thank you for the enlightenment🙏🏻
Thanks Swamiji
This video is one of the most important things I have ever come across in my life.
Please Swami subtittles in spanish. Om Tat Sat
A very beautiful myth buster 🙏
This helped ❤️Thankyou ❤️🙏
Very nicely & clearly made me understand abut Hinduism.
Great clarity and wisdom
What a learned decent man! Many kudos Sir!
Seconds well spent!🧡
Good video! But i think that hinduism is not polytheistic, more like pluralistic.
I’ve been lost trying to find my way in Hinduism until this video
Thanks you for clear distinktion various religous concept about God.
Easy to understand explanation.
Thank you guru 🙏🙏❤️
Thank you guruji for explaining in such simple yet clear terms. 🙏
Thank you for your videos
Very very neatly organized explained
A very good understanding. Thank you.
This video gives me a really new understanding of Hinduism, and respect it more as one of the oldest belief system that is still relevant today.
I listen to so many sitar ragas while exercising that the TH-cam algorithms have decided that I'm probably a Hindu. Maybe I AM a Hindu?
How does one know?
@@freakboostez6971 How do you know you like sandwich? By going to a subway and choosing the stuff you like. Same for Hinduism. Make a list of things you would like to follow in your life and follow them.
Just read once bhagwat geeta and eat meat .. and know your real dharm. We dot have conversion system . Veda say be human just it is. Whole world is one family . Our family. Each animal has right to live.
You know you are not a hindu if you have not been born in Hindustan which is another name for india. But you are a Sanatan dharmi as you are part of the eternal system of responsibility. Sanatan Dharma means eternal responsibility. So keep enjoying your raga sessions.
It's hard to say. But you can be hindu by just following dharma, believing in rebirth, karma. You know some hindus even don't follow rituals but still call themselves hindus. You can just call yourself hindu if you want to.
Sir I really bow my love and respect to your teaching I was feeling this all time in the past but no there to give me confidence that it is true
But after watching your teachings I am so happy that yes my thoughts are true and I am very positive towards life.
Thank you lot for sharings your knowledge with us it will help so many people
Very nice explanation swamiji.
Thank you thank you thank you thank you
Beautiful video! Please re-release the Bhagavad Gītā Chanted in English if you can Swami!
Honest observations
what is the song that plays in the transition please?
Thank you for this lecture!
Great contribution for better understanding of Hinduism...thanks a lot Gurudev...keep it up...God bless you
Om
Ooooooooooooooooooooooooooo(. )
while explaining misconception 3.. God punishes evil people for their bad deeds and rewards pious for their good, I thought you were little harsh on Christianity.. to say that the reason why many Hindus themselves believe in this could possibly be because of their co-existence with Christianity for several years.. is bit unfair.. I mean, isn't this particular misconception... one of those many simple things that every child would like to believe? and how wise are many grownups compared to children? :).. by the way I am myself a Hindu, but I thought we need not blame this on other religions... among us Hindus there are, and were so many simple minded followers who doesn't need encouragement from other religions to misunderstand their own :).. just my thought. Other than that I find your video highly enlightening and answers some of the questions that I could not answer with confidence earlier about my own religion.. thank you Swamiji for that 🙏.
I would belief in God in a great loving way with devotion straight from my heart, if only I saw proof of the fact that good is rewarded with good and bad with bad. But thats not the case. Instead "karma" appears randomly, good is random and bad is random as well. There is so much lack of consistency that my belief in God is weak and under question all the time. All I seek is to know God, but I cant really find Him anywhere because of contradictions and lack of consistency.
This has been observed on a mass scale many times in history. The plague of Athens is good example.
"The plague also caused religious uncertainty and doubt. Since the disease struck without regard to a person's piety toward the gods, people felt abandoned by the gods and there seemed to be no benefit to worshiping them. The temples themselves were sites of great misery, as refugees from the Athenian countryside had been forced to find accommodation in the temples. Soon the sacred buildings were filled with the dead and dying." en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plague_of_Athens
Yes you can seek and actually attain god!! It's through many ways (crux of hinduism) you need to explore and find your way to god. Good luck! 😃
Do read " I have no faith to be an atheist" and "Stealing from God" by Frank Turek
MLH Your confusion is like a person searching for a mirror to find himself/herself... As far as Karma is concerned, it is pre-programmed for everyone. It is like a script of a movie which is already written before the start of a movie.
If your role in the movie is a bad role, then you are pre-programmed to create more karma. if your role is good, then you are pre-programmed to create good karma and if your role is to be dharmic (action without creating karma) then you don't create any new karma. if you have either good or bad karma, you move on to the next movie with a pre-programmed script. if you don't have any karma, then you retire from movies called as Moksha.
Free will is also there but it cannot help you to achieve anything which is beyond the framework of your pre-programmed karma in this life. Free will can create new karma (which goes to your future lives) based on unfulfilled desires, wishes, regrets, likes, dislikes you have in this life. Now, Karma works on the principle of delayed causation when it comes to humans. So your unfulfilled desires created by your free will can materialize only in one of your future lives.
Karma of inanimate objects is immediate.
Our true-self or shiva is the divine which is omnipresent (both immanent and transcendent). But the immanent true self or shiva confuses and identifies with the intellect (close to mind) manas (close to heart) and body due to the faculty of ego or ahankara which is a spoiled child of manas where likes and dislikes are formed.
To experience your true self, don't use your intellect or buddhi unnecessarily to analyze your subconscious thought patterns or habitual thoughts. Most of the problem solved. You would be your true self (shiva). Let the garbage thoughts come to the surface but don't react. Observe it. It would clean up your subconscious garbage which reduces your new karma (Agama karma) . This is called Jnana yoga or Vipassana which can be practiced through out the day whenever you get an opportunity . This is yoga off the mat
"Do your duty. Don't worry about results". This is an important thing to not. You can't control the result. Only your actions. So stop worrying about you getting good or bad results.