Brookhaven Courier

Issue date: 11/12/07 Section: News

Media Credit: Alma Aguinaga Jai Joshi lectures to Brookhaven students about Hinduism and its beliefs.

Third in a series



Dr. Patricia Dodd, world literature professor, hosted a Hinduism lecture Oct. 18 and said the goal of exploring different religions is to realize how people are similar as human beings, regardless of what religion they practice.

"You don't sell spirituality, you just be it," Dodd said. "People will see it and they'll resonate toward it."

Jai Joshi, a published author, visited Brookhaven College to talk to students about the core fundamental concepts of Hinduism.

Joshi said Sanatan Dharma, which can be roughly translated from the Sanskrit language as a tunnel of science or being, does not have a standard meaning.

She said Sanatan means tunnel, without beginning or end. She said Dharma's most accurate translation is the science of being. In many cases people mistakenly translate Dharma to mean religion, but its Latin roots mean to tie or to bind. Dharma sets people free, she said.

Joshi said Hinduism is often misunderstood as a polytheistic religion when, in fact, it is monotheistic. She said Hindus believe in only one God who is almighty, and can manifest in endless ways from men, women, animals and elements.

To give an example of God manifesting in different aspects, Joshi talked about Ganesh, the God of intellect. She described Ganesh as the God who listens and removes obstacles. She said Ganesh rides on a rat because they never sit still and are always moving. Intellect, cleverness and understanding, among other things, are useless if they are not carried by action, she said.

She said according to Hindu scriptures, God comes in all these forms to please all followers and to remove limitations on worshiping only one form of God.

Joshi said another common misconception of Hinduism is that people associate it with idol worship. She said there are Hindu temples and statues that people can visit and find a focus to direct their love towards God.

Joshi said Hindus believe in reincarnation. They believe for every action there is a reaction; they do not believe in eternal damnation.

She said people do not choose what they would be reincarnated as and spiritual change only comes in the human form.

Robert Caraveo, marketing advertising sophomore and vice president of Brookhaven Student Government, said he thought the lecture was very interesting and it gave him a better perspective on various other religions. He said the lecture gave him a more in-depth view of Hinduism.

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