Hinduism and Advaita

Hinduism, for most within its fold, is a way of life. It has no one Pope, no one text, no inflexibly prescriptive ritual, no mandatory congregation, and no one presiding temple. It is for this reason that it has continued to flourish from time immemorial, sanatan and anant, because what is ubiquitous but not constrained by the brittleness of form, is by definition imperishable. But it is precisely for this reason, too, that most Hindus, while practising their faith in their own way, are often largely uninformed about the remarkable philosophical foundation of their religion. If Hindus are adrift from the deep philosophical moorings of the religion they practise, they are deliberately choosing the shell for the great treasure that lies within. When religions are largely reduced to rituals, there is always the danger that the form will become more important then the substance. That, I believe, will be a great disservice to Hinduism itself, and to the great seers and sages and thinkers — to whom the book I have authored, titled ‘Adi Shankaracharya: Hinduism’s Greatest Thinker’ is humbly dedicated — who gave to this sanatan dharma some of the most profound philosophical insights the world has seen. Jagat Guru Adi Shankaracharya was, undoubtedly, one of the greatest minds in Hinduism’s unrelenting quest for the ultimate truth. His short life of but 32 years is as fascinating as the Advaita philosophy that he so meticulously crafted.…

Source: Economic Times, 30/11/2018