Book Review: Hinduism, doctrine and way of life

Hinduism, doctrine and way of life

by C Rajagopalachari (1878-1972)

Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan
 

“Hinduism, doctrine and way of life” is a wonderful book explaining the fundamental beliefs, doctrines, and way of life of Hindus, or practitioners of Sanatan Dharm. Like in his other books, the author has explained the concepts in such a simple yet scientific language which all of us can understand. “If a religion is contrary to the scientific findings, it makes itself nothing but hypocrisy”, he says. Vedanta, as he elaborated in most of the pages, is both scientifically proven and finds inspirations in so many other world religions. Is Sanyasa about renouncing Karma or attachment? What is the concept of Karma – the scientific law of cause and effect? What is Maya? What is Leela? Is God one? All these questions are answered in the book. Nowhere else, you can find such a wonderful compilation of world’s ageless wisdom which comes from the land of Bharat or India.
 

Basically, all of we living beings are like reflections of the One eternal soul – the Parmatma, over water-like Maya. Like the same sun is reflected in so many water drops and we can confuse if there are suns in every drop, similarly all of us are reflections of the same Paramatma over Maya. This is part of Vedanta. Also, a Vedantin would obey the rules or dharma which one is expected to because of his/her birth or place in society. And Karma, based on scientific cause-and-effect process, makes us think farther and beyond the confines of this body made of flesh and bones. Karma is also one concept which is a contribution of our land – and is common and unifies most of the religions and sects which developed in the holy land of India. Also, concepts like how Hinduism doesn’t preach fatalism but we believe in “vidhi” – law, and how free will is an ingredient in many concepts, are explained very well.
 

It was a wonderful experience of having read this book from a learned thinker and great politician like Rajaji, also popularly known as Chakravarti or C.R. I am looking forward to read it again.
 

This book is part of a series of books from Rajaji published by Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan. It is a small size book of about 100 pages. If you are in Hyderabad and not finding it, one place is the bookshop of Birla Mandir.