| Essence Of Hinduism |
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HINDU ETHICS |
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| But Hinduism does
not glorify self - conquest for its own sake. It is glorified for the sake of the ultimate
liberation of the spirit from the thralldom of the body and the mind.
Self-conquest, when
it is made an end in itself, becomes mere asceticism. Some critics say that Hinduism
glorifies asceticism and that it wants its followers to suppress the flesh altogether. Hinduism does nothing of the kind. It recognizes, on the other hand, that the body is a dharma - sadhana or instrument of righteousness Accordingly, it only seeks to regulate its appetites and cravings. The flesh is not suppressed, but only taught its place. A man who pampers his body is not fit for the kingdom of the spirit. Hinduism takes into account all the factors of human personality-body, mind, soul and spirit-and prescribes, a graded discipline for all. The so-called Asramas are stages in the progressive emancipation of the spirit, and the formula of Dharma - artha - kama - moksha is symbolic of the complete life in which the claims of the various factors of human personality are reconciled and harmonized. |
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| About Hindu Ethics |
