Difference between revisions of "Ethics of Hinduism"
(→See also: added internal links) |
m (→Śāndilya Upaniṣad) |
||
Line 62: | Line 62: | ||
# Śaucha: Purity, avoidance of impurity in body, mind and speech | # Śaucha: Purity, avoidance of impurity in body, mind and speech | ||
− | ==Śāndilya Upaniṣad== | + | ===Śāndilya Upaniṣad=== |
It has 10 commandments. ''Śāndilya [[Upaniṣad]]'' is the 62nd [[Upaniṣad]]<ref> P. 18 ''[[Monotheism]] of Hindu religion: unity in diversity of Hindu [[worship]]'' By Krishnaswamy Srinivasan </ref> and it declares 10 yamas.<ref> P. 122 ''Values and Value Theories in the Light of Sri [[Aurobindo]]'' By V. Madhusudan Reddy </ref> | It has 10 commandments. ''Śāndilya [[Upaniṣad]]'' is the 62nd [[Upaniṣad]]<ref> P. 18 ''[[Monotheism]] of Hindu religion: unity in diversity of Hindu [[worship]]'' By Krishnaswamy Srinivasan </ref> and it declares 10 yamas.<ref> P. 122 ''Values and Value Theories in the Light of Sri [[Aurobindo]]'' By V. Madhusudan Reddy </ref> | ||
# Ahiṅsā - Non-violence | # Ahiṅsā - Non-violence |
Revision as of 19:25, 6 April 2020
In Hinduism, there are five main commandments known as a the Panchavrata[1], that are always the core forbearance. Regardless of any rules prescribed, they cannot conflict with these Five Precepts. These are the chief vows of Buddhism and Jainism as well. Not only are Hindus required to adhere to these five forbearances, but there are other vows which they are encouraged to keep. Hindus are also encouraged to commit to service to humanity which is known as Mānav Dharma. Example of these include “Oh Noble men! We do not commit violence. We do not hurt others. We do not quarrel either. We of course chant Vedas and act according to its dictates“[2] and the Atharva Veda declares, “Every man should protect the other in all respects“[3].
Sir Edward Blunt writes[4]:
A Hindu's code of ethics is as high as that of any other civilized nation.
Sir Richard Burn writes of Hindu ethics[5]:
He knows that it is wrong to commit murder, adultery, theft, and perjury, and to covert and he honors his parents, in the case of the father at any rate, to a degree exceeding the customs of most nations, which have no ceremony resembling that of the Śrāddha.
Contents
Commandments
Ṛgveda
It means 5 commandments. Hindus today submit to the Panchavrata or five major vows or commandments:
- Ahiṅsa - non-injury
- Brahmacharya - non-fornication
- Asteya - non-stealing
- Satya - non-lying
- Aparigraha - non-possessiveness
The following excerpt from the Ṛgveda[6][7] sums up the Panchavrata:
- "Violence, womanizing, drinking liquor, gambling, stealing, falsehood or lying and association with those who commit these sins; one who commits any of these sins is a sinner."
Bhagavad Gitā
It has 9 commandments. The lawgiver Kṛṣṇa gave the following precepts:
- Amanitva - Absence of pride
- Adambhitva - Absence of deceit
- Ahiṅsā - Non-injury
- Śanti - Patience
- Arjava - Uprightness
- Acaryopāsāna - Service to the teacher
- Sauca - Internal and external purity
- Sthairya - Steadfastness
- Atmavinigraha - Self-control
Manu Smriti
It has 10 commandments. In Manusmṛti ten aspects of general duties are mentioned. They are:
- Ahiṅsā
- Truthfulness
- Non-stealing
- Purity
- Control of senses
- Intelligence
- Knowledge
- Non-anger
- Forgiveness
- Tenacity of purpose
Yājñavalkya Smrti
It has 5 commandments. Sage Yājñavalkya was a ṛṣi in the Vedic age and mentor of Rājā Janaka. The Yājñavalkya Smṛti[8][9]) prescribes the Panchavrata, apart from other moral codes.[10]
Yoga Sutra
It has 10 commandments. Patanjali in his Yoga Sutras lists them to follow for a good or sinless livelihood.
- Ahiṅsā: Nonviolence. Abstinence from injury that arises out of love for all, harmlessness, the not causing of pain to any living creature in thought, word, or deed at any time. This and Satya are the “main” yama. The other eight are there in support of its accomplishment.
- Satya: Truthfulness, word and thought in conformity with the facts, honesty.
- Asteya: Non-stealing, non-coveting, non-entering into debt.
- Brahmacharya: being constantly aware of the universe, immersed in divinity, divine conduct, continence, celibate when single, faithfulness when married.
- Kṣama: Patience, releasing time, functioning in the now.
- Dṛti: Steadfastness, overcoming non-perseverance, fear, and indecision; seeing each task through to completion.
- Dayā: Compassion; conquering callous, cruel and insensitive feelings toward all beings.
- Ārjava: Honesty, straightforwardness, renouncing deception and wrongdoing.
- Mithara: Moderate appetite, neither eating too much nor too little; nor consuming meat, fish, shellfish, fowl or eggs.
- Śaucha: Purity, avoidance of impurity in body, mind and speech
Śāndilya Upaniṣad
It has 10 commandments. Śāndilya Upaniṣad is the 62nd Upaniṣad[11] and it declares 10 yamas.[12]
- Ahiṅsā - Non-violence
- Satya - Truth
- Asteya - Non-stealing
- Brahmacharya - Celibacy
- Dayā - Compassion
- Ārjava - Equanimity
- Kṣamā - Forgiveness
- Dhṛti - Firmness of mind
- Mitāhāra - Vegetarianism and non-wasting of food
- Sancha
Veda Vyāsa
It has 10 commandments. In the Mahā Purāṇam Śrimad Devî Bhāgavatam, Veda Vyāsa writes of achieving yoga or union with God by destroying the six enemies of yoga;
- Lust
- Anger
- Greed
- Ignorance
- Vanity
- Jealousy
The six attributes can be destroyed by following Patanjali's commandments.[13]
Maharishi Gautama
It has 10 commandments. Mahaṛṣi Gautama was a lawgiver, and ascribed eight yamas.[14]
- Dāyā sarvabhuteshu: Kindness, compassion, pity and sympathy towards every living being.
- Kṣamā: Forgiveness.
- Anusuyā, anirmatsarata: No jealousy.
- Śauch, antar-bāhya-śuchirbhutata: Purity, the state of being pure from outside and inside.
- Anāyāsa: Not to indulge in petty and meaningless things.
- Mangala: To think, wish and work for bliss, well-being and prosperity of all.
- Akarpanya: Neither to be nor to show weakness and miserliness.
- Aspṛha: Neither list nor wish to possess whatever belonged to others.
Srimad Bhagavatam
It has 30 commandments. The Śrimad Bhāgavatam[15] lays down the following customs to be practiced for a good human life.[16]
- Truthfulness
- Mercy
- Austerity[17]
- Bathing twice a day
- Tolerance
- Discrimination between right and wrong
- Control of the mind
- Control of the senses
- Nonviolence
- Celibacy
- Charity
- Reading of scripture
- Simplicity
- Satisfaction
- Rendering service to saintly persons
- Gradually taking leave of unnecessary engagements
- Observing the futility of the unnecessary activities of human society
- Remaining silent and grave and avoiding unnecessary talk
- Considering whether one is the body or the soul
- Distributing food equally to all living entities[18]
- Seeing every soul[19] as a part of the Supreme Lord
- Hearing about the activities and instructions given by the Supreme Personality of Godhead[20]
- Chanting about these activities and instructions
- Always remembering these activities and instructions
- Trying to render service
- Performing worship
- Offering obeisances
- Becoming a servant
- Becoming a friend
- Surrendering one's whole self
Nārada Bhakti Sutra
It means 5 commandments. The Nārada Bhakti Sūtra 78 declares five principles to practice.[21]
- Nonviolence
- Truthfulness
- Cleanliness
- Compassion
- Faith
Rules of war
- See also: Rulership in Hinduism
For the Rajanya (Kshatriya) it should be either death or victory in battle...He should not in battle kill one who is stunned, who has surrendered his arms, or is a fugitive, nor those of his enemies whom he has captured nor their wives or children. Whatever is acquired either by victory or treaty should be distributed amongst the soldiers in shares according to merit.[22]
See also
- Sanātan Dharma principle
- Ideals and Values
- Rulership in Hinduism
- Animal rights
- Panchavrata
- Ahimsa
- Ahimsa Paramo Dharma
External links
References
- ↑ It means five vows.
- ↑ Ṛgveda 10.134.7
- ↑ Atharva Veda 6.64.1
- ↑ P. 303 The Caste System of Northern India By Sir Edward Blunt
- ↑ P. 303 The Caste System of Northern India By Sir Edward Blunt
- ↑ Ṛgveda 10:5:6
- ↑ Divine Message Of God To Mankind Vedas By J.M. Mehta
- ↑ Yājñavalkya Smṛti 5.122
- ↑ p. 104 An Introduction To Gerontology By Swami Śankrananda
- ↑ P. 76 New Dimensions in Vedanta Philosophy, Volume 2 By Swami Sahajānanda
- ↑ P. 18 Monotheism of Hindu religion: unity in diversity of Hindu worship By Krishnaswamy Srinivasan
- ↑ P. 122 Values and Value Theories in the Light of Sri Aurobindo By V. Madhusudan Reddy
- ↑ "On the Yoga and Mantra Siddhi"
- ↑ You and Your Queries By Shrikant Prasoon
- ↑ Śrimad Bhāgavatam 7.11.8-12
- ↑ Śrīmad Bhāgavatam 7.11.8-12
- ↑ It means observing fasts on certain days of the month.
- ↑ both men and animals
- ↑ It means especially in the human form.
- ↑ It means who is the shelter of the saintly persons.
- ↑ Nārada Bhakti Sūtra 78
- ↑ The Shape of Ancient Thought: Comparative Studies in Greek and Indian Philosophies By Thomas McEvilley