Beliefs of Hinduism

1. Hindus believe in the divinity of the Vedas, and venerate the Agamas as equally revealed. They believe that these are God's words. They are the foundation of Hinduism or Sanatana Dharma. See: Hindu Scriptures
   

2. Hindus believe in a one, all-pervasive Supreme Being who is both immanent and transcendent, both Creator and Unmanifest Reality. Hindus believe in the universal soul (Brahman), as the sole reality who is present in all things.
   
   Brahman has no form, and is eternal. 
   Brahman is creator, preserver and transformer of everything. 
   Brahman appears in the human spirit as atman, or the soul. 
   
   But belief in one god is not a requirement for being a Hindu. See: Hindu Belief in God
   

3. Hindus believe that the universe undergoes endless cycles of creation, preservation and dissolution. See: Hindu Cosmology
   

4. Hindus believe in karma, the law of cause and effect by which each individual creates his own destiny by his thoughts, words and deeds. See: Reincarnation, Samsara and Karma
   

5. Hindus believe that the soul reincarnates, evolving through many births until all karmas have been resolved, and moksha is attained. See: Reincarnation, Samsara and Karma
   

6. Hindus believe that divine beings exist in unseen worlds and that temple worship, rituals, sacraments as well as personal devotionals create a communion with these devas and Gods.
   

7. Hindus believe that a spiritual master, or satguru, is essential to know the Transcendent Absolute, along with good conduct, personal discipline,  purification, self-inquiry, meditation, and pilgrimage.
   

8. Hindus believe that all life is sacred, to be loved and revered. They all have souls and are god's creations. They practice ahimsa, "noninjury." and "non-violence."

   No pain should be caused to any created being or thing.
   -- Devikalottara Agama

   He who sees that the Lord of all is ever the same in all that is-
   immortal in the field of mortality-he sees the truth. And when a man
   (woman) sees that the God in himself is the same God in all that is,
   he (she) hurts not themselves by not hurting others. Then we go
   indeed, to the highest path!  -- Bhagavad Gita

    

9. Hindus believe that no particular religion teaches the only way to salvation above all others. All genuine religious paths are facets of God's Pure Love and Light, deserving tolerance and understanding. The Hindu religion recognizes many religious paths, three of which are:
   
   The path of knowledge (jnana). 
   The path of work and religious performances (karma). 
   The path of devotion (bhakti). 

[Hinduism Infocenter Home]