Religious INfluence in India

If you order your papers from our custom writing service you will receive a perfectly written assignment on Religious INfluence in India. What we need from you is to provide us with your detailed paper instructions for our experienced writers to follow all of your specific writing requirements. Specify your order details, state the exact number of pages required and our custom writing professionals will deliver the best quality Religious INfluence in India paper right on time.

Our staff of freelance writers includes over 120 experts proficient in Religious INfluence in India, therefore you can rest assured that your assignment will be handled by only top rated specialists. Order your Religious INfluence in India paper at affordable prices!

RELIGIOUS INFLUENCE IN INDIA

Many things affect our world and why it is the way it is; religion in no matter what country or culture, is probably the biggest influence that shapes each individual person and country. This is no different in India; two major religions have built the foundation of the culture in India. Hinduism and Buddhism are complex religions that require a firm commitment and a strong faith filled background.

The first of these two religions is, Hinduism. Unlike many religions Hinduism was not based on the teachings of a certain individual or rooted in a holy book. It was founded in many different beliefs and a big influence was the "Vedas and the Indian Epic" ( ). Hinduism is based on the Hindu Trinity, which consists of, Brahma, Vishnu, and Shiva. They are the creator, preserver and destroyer or the universe. Each part of the trinity has its own figure or symbol associated with it. Shiva is the transcendent Godhead, Vishnu is the cosmic lord, and Brahma is the cosmic mind. This Trinity represents the Divine in its threefold nature and function; each aspect of the trinity contains and includes the others.

When categorizing Hinduism most would classify it as a polytheistic religion; which means the worship of multiple gods or goddesses. In reality Hinduism is a "henotheistic religion which recognizes a single deity, or god, but also recognizes other gods and goddesses as facets or manifestations, or aspects of that supreme God" (Frawley 87).

Order College Papers on Religious INfluence in India

Most Hindus follow one or two divisions of Hinduism; either the Vaishnavaism or the Shivaism. The followers of the Vaishnavaism regard the Vishnu as the single most important deity, where Shivaism followers believe the Shiva to be the most important (Levinson 1). If a Hindu does not classify themselves as either of the two aforementioned divisions, then they tend to worship their own "village goddess or an earth goddess" (Origin npg).

"Hindus believe in the repetitious Transmigration of the Soul. This is the transfer of one's soul after death into another body" (Hindu npg). This creates a continuing cycle of rebirth; life, then death, then being reborn; this continuously happens throughout one's life. A common term used when talking about the whole rebirth process is Karma. "Karma is the accumulated sum of ones good and bad deeds" (Frawley 6). It determines how one will live the next life, after their rebirth. If one partakes in pure-acts, and has a high devotion towards the deities, then they can be reborn at a higher level (Frawley 116). Eventually one can escape the cycle of rebirth and achieve enlightenment, which is the ultimate goal of all Hindus.

Hinduism is a very complex religion as one can confer from the above information. The other major religion in India is Buddhism, which is also an extremely complex religion.

The second of these two religions is Buddhism. Buddhism is a philosophy of life, which was founded by Gautama Buddha (About npg). "The teachings of the Buddha are aimed solely to liberate sentient beings from suffering" (About ngp). Buddhists follow the four noble truths, which are, the reality of suffering, the cause of suffering, the cessation of suffering, and the eightfold path.

The reality of Suffering is the first of the four noble truths. Within this noble Truth, there are three types of suffering, these include, ordinary suffering, suffering produced by change, and suffering as conditioned states. Ordinary suffering would be, birth, old age, sickness, death, or association with unpleasant people. Suffering produced by change could be, happy things or feelings that are not permanent, therefore when they change it causes pain and disappointment. Suffering as Conditioned states would include, "changing mental and physical forces", which can be divided into five things one can get attached to. These five things are, matter, sensation, perceptions, mental formations, and consciousness.

The second of the four noble truths is the cause of suffering. The main cause of suffering is the attachment to a desire or craving (Levinson 7). There are three types of desires which include, desire for sense-pleasure, desire to become, and desire to get rid of. The desire for sense-pleasure would be something like, the taste of good foods, or delightful music. The desire to become is the ambition or wanting recognition; it is the craving to be somebody who they are not. The desire to get rid of is the wanting to disregard of unpleasant sensations, fear, anger and jealousy.

The third of the fourth noble truths is the cessation of suffering. This is the letting go of one's suffering or the ending of one's desires. "This is the state of Nirvana, where greed hatred and delusion are extinct" (Cessation npg). When one can let go of the five attachments mentioned in the Reality of suffering, that is the end of suffering. One thing the Buddhists strongly believe is that, "We need to see for ourselves that everything that has a nature to be born has a nature to die" (Cessation npg).

The final noble truth is the eightfold path. If one follows this path, it will result in the end of suffering. There are three components to this path, wisdom, morality, and concentration. Wisdom is the right understanding, and the right thought. Morality is the right speech, the right action, and the right livelihood. Concentration is the right effort, the right Mindfulness, and the right concentration.

Both Hinduism and Buddhism have very complex components to them, as one can see from the above explanation. Religion truly does have a huge impact on a country or culture; each and everyone of the components mentioned in this paper has at one time effected the nation of India, and continues to do so even today.

WORKS CITED

"About Buddhism." Buddha Life 6 Feb 15. Dec 00

http//www.buddhalife.org/srh_home/15_1/msg0017.html

"Cessation of Suffering." Carleton's Journey. 1 March 10. 5 Jan 00

http//www.ncf.carleton.ca/dharma/NobleTruth_.html

Frawley, David. Gods, Sages, and Kings. Boston Morson, 11.

Frawley, David. The Myth of the Aryan invasion of India. Boston Morson, 1.

"Hindu Beliefs and Practices." Hindu Life 7 Sep 14.17Jan 00

http//www.hindulife.org/srh_home/14_4/msg007.html

Levinson, David. Religion A cross-cultural guide. Oxford U of Oxford P, 18.

"Origin of Hindu." Hindu Life 1 Dec. 16. 1 Jan 00

http//www.hindulife.org/srh_home/16_7/msg0087.html

Please note that this sample paper on Religious INfluence in India is for your review only. In order to eliminate any of the plagiarism issues, it is highly recommended that you do not use it for you own writing purposes. In case you experience difficulties with writing a well structured and accurately composed paper on Religious INfluence in India, we are here to assist you. Your papers on Religious INfluence in India will be written from scratch, so you do not have to worry about its originality.

Order your authentic assignment and you will be amazed at how easy it is to complete a quality custom paper within the shortest time possible!