DJ Hadoken’s Perspective:
Upanishadic Hinduism
Upanishadic Hinduism
Theories of Human Nature
Written by DJ Hadoken
When I was studying Upanishadic Hinduism, the first thing I realized is that the authors of the book that I was reading mainly focused on the origin of existence, and not human nature.
Even as the authors suggest that they will begin to explain the Hindu view of human nature, they revert back to explaining why brahman is the origin of all things. They constantly repeat themselves in this sense and do not journey further into what followers of Hindu actually believe about the theory of human nature and behavior.
I agree that in order to understand Hinduism one must understand the meaning of brahman and maya, but there surely must be more to Hinduism than just the assertion or denial of the existence of these two aspects.
When describing other theories of human nature in the other chapters of the same book, the authors offer examples of how those theories can apply to a person’s everyday life. However, in the chapter about Upanishadic Hinduism, the extent of the authors’ explanation is only that a person should strive to seek knowledge. They offer no explanation about how a person is to act with another person; how society plays a role in the world.
The chapter on Upanishadic Hinduism in the book I read also proves that the authors tends to be very biased and selective in their explanations of human nature, and therefore, the chapter cannot serve as a valid interpretation that represents the whole of Upanishadic Hinduism.
I was disappointed after reading the chapter in that book because I have always been curious about the views of those of the Hindu faith, but the chapter offers nothing more than a long explanation of brahman. The authors also do not even explain the existence of the various Hindu gods and only mention briefly the existence of Vishnu.
Judging from what I learned from a guest who came to speak at a large group meeting that I attended, there are many powerful Hindu gods that play an important and central role in their belief system. The authors completely overlook all of this.
The authors instead present an explanation that very closely resembles the practices of Confucianism, particularly the goal of attaining nirvana, or ultimate knowledge.
Therefore, it is difficult to build an adequate opinion regarding Hinduism based on such a limited explanation as is presented in the book I read.
Works Cited
Stevenson Leslie, & Haberman David L. (1998). Ten Theories of Human Nature. Oxford University Press.
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