Looking around the world, there are many ways for one to view and ponder his or her own existence. For thousands of years, holy men of countless cultures and faiths have been describing and documenting spiritual encounters which have, in return, set the cornerstone for the philosophy of their religions today.
In the Eastern world, it is not uncommon to find homeless men and women on the streets. They are not there for any reason other than the renunciation of all material things. These sadhus, or holy men, are the most steadfast in their faith of God or the supreme Lord, and believe that the flesh of the body is just a shell for the soul. These spiritual wanderers believe life is a journey towards eternal realities that are beyond the realities that surround us.
When looking at the specific religion of Hinduism, it is important to note that there is no single founder. Hinduism has been practiced for thousands of years by inhabitants of India, and still remains the dominant religion in that region today. Unlike many Western faiths, Hinduism also contains no single theology, meaning there is no one way to practice the religion, nor is there a central authority such as the Pope.
The common idea of Hinduism is a circular flow of life. People are born, grow up, get a job, work, work, work, die, and then rebirth takes place again. In this understanding, one who walks the spiritual path of enlightenment can awaken from this cycle of birth and death and free the soul forever.
In Eastern philosophy such as Hinduism, Buddhism, Confucianism, or Taoism, there tends to be an understanding and recognition of a unifying force. The Hindus refer to this force as “Brahman." It is the force which connects all living things of this universe, self-aware or not. Further more, “Atman” is the word to describe the unifying force in each individual; all life is considered to be only a single piece of the larger whole.
The belief of a Karma, where all actions have consequences, is an ever present power in the Eastern faiths. It simply means that if you do good in the world, than the world is a better place. Counter to that, if you do bad in the world, the world is a worse place.
The path to Moksa, or knowledge, is the only way to escape a life of suffering, as reads the Bhagavad-gita. The Hindu holy text explains how the one who seeks self-knowledge and performs actions of devotion and selflessness will be released from this cycle of birth and death.
In the Western part of the world, it is also not uncommon to find homeless people on the streets. Unlike in the East, where these people are spiritual wanderers, people in the West are just down on their luck. Jobs are becoming harder and harder to come by, and when someone is put on the streets they often find they have nowhere to turn to except drugs and alcohol.
Society in the West is outer-world dependent, teaching that more money equals more power and a higher social status. Westerners are driven by self-dedication to one's life goal. For many, that life goal is to obtain as much wealth as humanly possible and spend it all before one dies.
The dominant religion in the West is Christianity, which originally started in the East by a man named Christ. Unlike Hinduism, which has no founder, Christianity was started by Jesus, the son of God, and his disciples. Christianity has a linear view of the universe and life, where everything has its own beginning and end. Unlike the Hindus, who believe in reincarnation, people of the Christian faith do not.
Like the Hindus who believe in an omnipresent supreme lord, Christians believe in a one true god. To Christians, God is seen outwardly and is worshiped through outward expression of dedication to the church, family, and work. The Holy Spirit, as many refer to as God, is the unseen force which connects all of God's creations.
Similar to the Hindus who believe in karma, the Christians believe in a heaven and a hell. The Hindus believe that if you do bad, then the world is a worse place, and if one does good then the world is a better place. The Christian perspective is if one sins in this life and is not forgiven by God, then they will spend an eternity in damnation.
The Holy Bible is the most sacred text in the Christian faith. The Bible is a series of stories and lessons for followers of God to come to know God better. The Bible speaks of many fantastic tales of giant-slaying and standing firm in the belief of the Lord. The main message of the Bible is to have faith in God and believe in Jesus Christ as your lord and savior. If one believes that, then they are a good Christian and will go to Heaven.
To conclude, when comparing the East and West there are obvious differences. But when one looks at it more closely, it is easy to connect these opposite hemispheres. Both are filled with passionate people who are firm believers in the faiths they’ve chosen and are willing to go to any lengths to achieve the goals they set for themselves.
