Students explore Hinduism in formal instruction amid culture clash

Please review the paper on the link below for an understanding of Racial Bigotry versus Culture Clash.

http://www.infidels.org/library/modern/balgri...

I meant religious bigotry

Hindu Dharma was never a religion. Someone thought that Indian beliefs needed to be categorized as a religion and Hindus are stuck with a religion when it was never a religion.

http://2ndlook.wordpress.com/2008/07/31/india...

And What Is Dharma?
That is the question that all Indian rishis, munis, holy texts, folklore try and answer.

There are many Indian texts on the path of Dharma-the Bhagwad Geetha (most famous), the Shanti Parva (dharma of kings), the Upanishads. Gautama Buddha established the Dharmapatha (now known as Dhammapada – the Path Of Dharma). It is Dharma that Indians belief systems focus on – and worship is only a (in some cases no) part of it. Buddhism focused on the Dharma-chakra - a virtuous cycle of right actions leading to greater goodness in the world. This is represented in the Ashoka pillar – adopted by modern India as its symbol.

Buddha in India, was another, in a long line of teachers. After the fall of Takshashila, in 499 AD – by the Huna (Western history calls them White Huns, Romans called them Ephtalites; Arabs called them the Haytal; The Chinese Ye Tha). Mohammed Bakhtiar Khilji destroyed the Universities and schools of Nalanda, Vikramshila, Odantapura and Jagddala around 1200 AD. This marked the destruction, persecution and decline in Indian education, thought and structure. Believers in Indian faith systems stopped coming India.‘Consumers’ of ideological products from the ‘Indian Thought Factory’, were left with Desert Bloc alternative products. Buddhism soon became a religion outside India.

Religion is about founders and followers. Judaism had Moses, Christianity had Jesus and Islam had Mohammed. The founders of the ‘desert religions’ exhorted their converts to follow them and promised them deliverance.

Dharma is everyone’s concern, timeless – and has no founder. Gautama Buddha did not set out to establish a religion. He was interested in establishing the Dhammapada. So, did Mahavir. As did Guru Nanak. The definition (legal, conceptual, theological) of Indian dharmic systems as religion by outsiders created divides where none existed. There is no Hindu religion. We strangely call ourselves Indians. Why are we calling ourselves by a name given to us by others. We have our own name to call ourselves by.

Yes Dharma is not religion.
i'm searching for shanti parva on the internet..
It mostly consists of conversation between yudhishthira and Bheeshma focuses on Dharma(includes caste/varna discussions, apaddharma, rajaniti, dandaniti etc.,)
Very true, we also imported the concept of 'religion' along with slavery and "Free"!! absolutely.. nice blog! thank you.

Yes all religions and sects are united under dharma!
absence of the term 'hindu-religion' sure wouldve made this place lot more better!

I do not agree, Hinduism consist of Dharmisch religions, but Christianity is not or much less. In fact Hinduism is a pure Dharmisch religion. To be a Hindu it is not necessary to read the Veda's or to worship God in any form, or to believe certain ideas. The only thing necessary is respect for all in creation.

Hinduism, or better Sanatan Dharm is not one religion, but a collection of religious movements that all have this idea of respect.

Essential to this dharmisch way of life is the idea the God is in all. We do not have to like a person to respect him. We respect animals whether they are to our use or not.

In Abramist religions this is the opposite. People are respected for their ideas. If they have opinions that they don't like, they show no respect. Also the think that people should earn respect first, before it can be given to them. They also limit their respect to animals that are close or of use to them. A dog is sacred because he keeps them company and gives love. Cattle is cared for, but not loved or respected, because it is their property. Animals that hinder them they just kill.

In Protestant religion even living as good person is made redundant. Accepting Jesus is the only condition to be saved and rewarded heaven and you can do that on your deathbed.

Those are not Dharmisch religions! It is for a reason that Dharm is in Sanatan Dharm. That is what binds all Hindu religions. Hinduism is collective of religions, because every Guru creates his own movement. Hinduism is still comprised of living religions, while Abramist religions are all around dead guru's. That is why the book is so important, the guru's can not speak for themselves. They are fossilized.

All religions that originated in India are Dharmic.
Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism, Sikhism.
Hinduism is nothing but Sanatana dharma.