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HINDU RELIGIOUS TRADITIONS Susan J. Barrera REL333 - World Religious Traditions 1 Jerry Voltura September 17, 2003 Hindu Religious Traditions “The best Hindu I have ever met, in fact, was Mother Teresa, as a Catholic (she) would treat everyone as children of God and give them love.” Ubal Kumar, a life-long Hindu, made this statement to a BBC interviewer to express the openness and freedom he experiences when practicing his Hindu religion. This ageless religion allows a person the freedom to believe as much or as little as they want. To seek truth within yourself and to live with complete devotion to the Supreme are the basic sacred elements that characterize Hindu religious traditions. Sanatana Dharma devotees believe in the existence of one Supreme Being, the Ultimate Reality, which is present in the soul of everything throughout the Universe, as well as in themselves. Hindu traditions are not practices that are limited to deity worship. Hindu traditions are philosophical and encompass all areas of a Hindu’s life. In most Hindu residences there is a special room or place set aside for the daily worship of their favorite deities. Hindus respect four daily duties in their individual worship; revere the deities, respect their ancestors, respect all beings, and honor all human kind. The Hindu style of worship does not fit into the rigid box that depicts western worship.
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