Hinduism Stack Exchange
Hinduism Stack Exchange

Questions tagged [philosophy]

Questions about Hindu Philosophy, which is divided into six main schools: Sankhya (also called Samkhya), Yoga, Nyaya, Vaisheshika(Vaiśeṣika), Mimamsa and Vedanta.

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What is the ultimate goal of Hinduism?

I have observed that many Hindus today put a strong focus on liturgy (rituals, cracking coconuts, offering flowers, lighting diyas etc) and narratives (Hindu mythological stories,Puranas, Ramayana,Mahabharat etc). Whilst these aspects of Hinduism…
Aditya K
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Is it possible for us to see the subtle body?

Majority of you might know the three bodies doctrine in Indian philosophies, i.e., Gross body, subtle body and casual body. We can see gross body with our two eyes. But is it possible to see subtle body?
Tat Tvam Asi
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Is it true that, in order to finally attain a human birth, we must live as other beings, first?

Basically, what I am asking is whether all humans have lived as other beings or not. I heard that everyone attains human birth after progressing through 84 lakh (or 8.4 million) stages of being born as other beings (animals, plants, etc.). I may be…
user24449
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What is Prashtantrayi?

I have heard this name many times related to Adi Shankaracharya. He has given many lectures about Prasthantrayi. Is this any Upanishad, Purana or else? I just want to know some brief detail about Prasthantrayi.
Yogesh Borad
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Have Hindu Philosophers attempted to solve problem of improbability of a creator him/her/it being more complex?

I know that many hindu philosphers believe God can be known only through scriptures. Brahma sutras also try to explain logically about nature of brahman etc.. Any place where the problem of improbability of a creator him/her/it being more complex…
user2612
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Can a sinner attain liberation and avoid hell just through bhakti?

I saw a picture of an elephant being saved from a crocodile by Vishnu. The caption read that the elephant was supposed to represent humans, and the crocodile was meant to be the hardships (punishments) due to bad karma, and it represented Vishnu…
Ploxguideme
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Why must there be suffering at all?

It seems that suffering is an important, yet disliked, component of all kinds of life, in every epoch. As if there can never be no suffering. If the Gods are eternally blissful, then why must suffering exist? If suffering is necessary, then why is…
Ploxguideme
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Did any indian philosopher try to address the omnipotent paradox?

Can [an omnipotent being] create a stone so heavy that it cannot lift it.(Source) So did an Indian philosopher or a hindu philosopher answer this question? Or is there any answer to this question according to hindusim or hindu philosophy?
Dark Knight
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What Is Neti-neti? Is it a practice or an expression of ineffability?

Is Neti-neti a practice of negation, or an expression of inneffability? I'm curious because I've heard it described in both ways.
WillyWonka
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Joseph Kaplan as quoted by Swami Prabhavananda?

Swami Prabhavananda's The Spiritual Heritage of India (1962) quotes "the physicist Joseph Kaplan" several times (in the chapter on the Samkhya system). For instance: Thus the molecule is not something which takes on successive states, but it is…
Drux
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Altruism and Hinduism

What does Hinduism say about altruism. When learning about Hinduism in college level textbooks and other authoritative texts, altruism or service is not mentioned as a key tenet of the religion.
ChefShab
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What is the subtle body?

It is called "Sukshma Sharira", or "Linga Sharira", but what exactly is it?
Rahul
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Is it possible to work without passion?

The Complete Works of Swami Vivekananda/Volume 2/Practical Vedanta and other lectures/Practical Vedanta: Part I: I have been asked many times how we can work if we do not have the passion which we generally feel for work. I also thought in that…
Nayan Borah
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Hinduism v. Buddhism

What is the most important distinction between Hindu and Buddhist teachings? From comparing Hindu and Buddhist texts, I have the impression that the most important difference is Atman v. anatta. Is this correct?
Martin
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Colour of Gods and Godesses

The Hindu Mythological literature speaks that the color of Lord Brahma is red, the color of Lord Vishnu is blue (black in kaliyuga) while the color of Lord Shiva is white. The color of Goddess Mahakali (Consort of Lord Shiva) is black, the color of…
Kuldip
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