Hinduism is the oldest known religion in the world.
It is known as a fusion of various Indian cultures and traditions, with diverse roots and no single founder. Some of those traditions include scriptures of daily morality based on dharma, societal norms, and karma. Karma is known as the “moral law of cause and effect”. It directly relates to reincarnation, one’s personality, characteristics, and family. This notion of reincarnation and karma is a strong premise in Hindu thought.
Suffering for the Hindu is closely related to the concept of karma. Hindu spiritual suffering comes from knowing at the end of life that responsibilities and tasks are left uncompleted or bad thoughts and deeds had prevailed. Karma conveys that suffering is a part of life. Suffering is a result of past thoughts and actions either in this life or the previous life. Exactly like karma, when someone endures suffering, they ultimately “pay for” their past negative actions.
Hinduism acknowledges that while we may know the causes and solutions to suffering, suffering cannot be resolved as long as one is subject and vulnerable to the modifications of nature. However, no matter what one may do, some suffering is always inevitable in human life. Hindus recognize twelve things to be the main causes of human suffering.
Hindus may endure pain or discomfort to face their death with a clearer mind. Bringing all of their attention and energy to the top of their head while meditating should help the soul leave the body in the highest state possible. Ideally, a Hindu should die in their home while surrounded by family and friends singing sacred hymns, prayers or chants in their right ear if they are unconscious. Hindus with terminal illness or disabled conditions may choose a “self-willed death” by fasting but must first tell their family and community. As one’s death approaches, the bed should be turned so that the head faces east.
According to Hinduism, suffering is an inescapable and essential part of life. As long as man is caught up in today’s world of material objects and social expectations of appearances and becomes attached to them, he has no escape from eternal suffering. The whole purpose of Hindu practices is not to end human suffering, but to learn from it and resolve it. Hinduism is not a fatalistic religion. While it accepts karma as unavoidable, it acknowledges the importance of self-effort in shaping one’s own destiny and correcting their wrongs from their past.
