Any religion that formed after a preceptor, an enlightened one was stable, had a large following. Buddhism evolved after teachings of Gautama Buddha when Siddhartha Gautama finally gained enlightenment in his lifetime 80 years of age.
Christianity evolved after teachings of Jesus Christ. It is primarily the dominant religion of West.
Islamic Dharma evolved after coming of Prophet Mohammed.
Other religions in world that were based on imaginary gods and goddesses disappeared with time.
Jainism religion, similar to Hinduism exists from times immemorial. But Jainism has its limitations. The doctrines of Jainism conveyed a deeper spiritual meaning much beyond conceptualization by most followers of Jainism. After coming of Mahavira, 24th Tirthankara of Jainism… the teachings of Jainism primarily remained limited to scholars. Commoners, masses mostly indulged in rituals, prime reason why Jainism could not spread world over. The teachings of Jainism paralleled that of Hinduism.
As Jainism believes that our body was clothing for soul atman, their monks ritually left wearing clothes! The naked Munis monks in Digambar sect of Jainism conveyed all. This was totally a wrong premise. Our body being clothing for our soul atman does not mean we start roaming streets of community totally naked. The nudity was symbolic that only an enlightened one could understand. Why should a young Digambar monk Muni not wear clothes, one who has just started travel of spiritual path? Clothes can only be abandoned becoming an enlightened one, never before!
Hinduism also believes that our body was clothing for our soul atman but none goes naked in Hinduism. The precepts and practices of Hinduism were acceptable to masses, commoners. The roots of Hinduism spread more than Jainism. Hinduism religion is the oldest and the best. To understand anything relating to cosmic truths of life contained in scriptures of Hinduism, one needs following teachings contained in Bhagavad Gita and Upanishads (independent treatises). The teachings of Hinduism were practical, easily followed by masses, commoners.
Born in a Jain family I could have easily indulged in teachings of Jainism. But not getting a preceptor to explain simple fundamentals of life I switched to teachings of Hinduism contained in Bhagavad Gita and Upanishads. Realizing Sri Ramakrishna Paramhansa and Maharishi Ramana finally succeeding in reaching stage of enlightenment, I started duplicating their efforts. I never accepted a precept on mere hearsay. I tested each and every precept of Hinduism on altar of absolute truth. I never followed a path based on what people said or did. I followed voice of my inner soul atman that seemed to come from within my heart. Teachings contained in Bhagavad Gita were really so simple, lucid and easy to understand. Wow!
In present times teachings of Hinduism were unparalleled. For reaching stage of enlightenment anyone can indulge in teachings of Bhagavad Gita, even Upanishads. We only need following path of contemplation, self enquiry, logical reasoning. The teachings of Bhagavad Gita can only be assimilated by understanding the hidden underlying meaning contained in sacred text. Literally nothing becomes clear. All was so simple yet humanity world over searched elsewhere.
By: Vijay Kumar “Atma Jnani”… The Man who Realized God in 1993 – (Ref 150930)
Bhagavad Gita Study Circle: a meeting point for people from all walks of life interested in knowing anything relating to spirituality, Bhagavad Gita, Upanishads and on a broad platform… life!
Subscribe Weekly Newsletter “Spiritual Secrets Unveiled”
Whats more… it is free. You would love you did!