Hinduism is the oldest, most complex and enigmatic of the world's major religions and the most atypical compared to predominant Western belief systems. Hinduism represents the other side of religion - the ancient, imagistic, occult, mystical and yogic side that Western monotheistic religions have tried to supplant, if not exterminate. Pagan religions, of which Hinduism is the main representative in the world today, are not simply primitive, immoral or oppressive as they have been portrayed by their detractors.

As the unknown, the other and as the religions they sought to replace, monotheistic beliefs projected their own fears and suspicions upon Pagan religions and their different approaches to reality. Predominant Western religions have seen Hinduism according to the limited perception caused by their monolithic beliefs which, like a particular language, condition us to see the world according to a particular point of view.

Dharmic traditions are experiential rather than belief- oriented - as we see among the Hindus, Buddhists and Taoists. They are open, creative and meditative in their approach, an attitude often shared by Western pagan religions and philosophies as well. Such experiential traditions have a great appeal to the inquiring spirit, with their knowledge of deeper levels of consciousness and extrasensory powers.

They have a greater history of tolerance and respect for other beliefs, a necessary attitude in the multi-cultural world order in which we live today. Hinduism as Sanatana Dharma has always been able to accommodate many different religious and spiritual approaches. From its standpoint religious beliefs are not absolutes but merely theories, working models, guides to practice, which must eventually be left behind.

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