In the event you aren’t aware of it, Diwali is the Hindu competition of lights, symbolizing the religious “victory of sunshine over darkness, good over evil, and data over ignorance.” It’s marked with residence decorations, buying, fireworks, items, feasting, household gatherings and extra. This yr, it’s celebrated at present, Monday, October 20.
It has turn into more and more widespread for Hindus to ask their non-Hindu buddies to take part in a number of of the festivities surrounding Diwali. So, ought to Christians settle for? The reply, particularly for Diwali, is “No.” The reason being that this could be dabbling with the occult. Particularly, worshiping a false god or idol.
Diwali is all of that and extra.
As a cultural observer, it’s been fascinating to observe how this has unfolded on the American scene. And never as a non secular occasion, not as a Hindu occasion, however extra of an virtually Hindu-culture occasion, an Indian tradition occasion, virtually like a Greek Orthodox competition.
For instance, in celebration of the multi-day competition, Mattel launched its first Barbie Diwali doll final yr. And consistent with the way in which the remainder of tradition is assessing Diwali, Mattel’s information launch stated that it’s releasing the doll “in a continued dedication to selling celebrations of heritage.” Including that the “Barbie Diwali doll celebrates India’s cultural richness.”
Truly, no. It particularly celebrates Hinduism. There’s a distinction.
Maybe a fast primer would assist.
Hinduism has no clearly recognized founder, no prophet, no historic occasions marking its starting, no institutional construction and no actual creed. And whereas the philosophy of Hinduism is influential, solely 13% of the world’s inhabitants are training Hindus, and most reside in India. In truth, that’s what the phrase Hindu means—it’s the Persian phrase for “Indian.”
Hindus have religious academics, generally known as gurus, and plenty of wandering holy males, generally known as swamis. They’ve sacred writings, such because the Vedas, the Upanishads and the Bhagavad Gita.
However they’re greatest recognized and most influential for 3 massive concepts. And once I stroll you thru these three concepts, you’ll say, “Oh I’m aware of that concept.” You’ll have simply by no means recognized that it was Hindu.
The primary thought is the “Pressure”—and sure, that is from Hinduism. For the Hindu, there isn’t any such factor as one, omnipotent, private God who created us. As an alternative, final actuality is Brahman—an impersonal oneness that’s one thing like an impersonal drive of existence. That drive can present itself within the type of many gods (One estimate is that there are 330 million completely different Hindu gods.).
The principle three gods are Brahma the Creator, Vishnu the Preserver and Shiva the Destroyer. That’s what the mantra “om” is all about. It’s really spelled “A-U-M” with these three letters symbolically representing Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva. Saying that phrase, “om”, is actually calling up their essence and worshipping them.
However behind all these gods is one massive drive or actuality, which is Brahman. To not make Star Wars a primer on Hinduism (although it’s primarily based on Hindu and New Age concepts), however you may consider Brahman because the Pressure and the Jedi because the gods.
So whereas there are various of the manifestations of Brahman by way of the hundreds of thousands of gods the Hindus worship, Brahman itself – final actuality – shouldn’t be private. Which means that our true selves, our Atman, is at one with Brahman. Our essence is identical, it’s an identical to that of Brahman. Of their pondering, all is one and one is all. Or you possibly can say the drive is all and all is the drive. Or as you hear many New Age thinkers put it, God is all and all is God. Our downside, they are saying, is that we aren’t conscious of our divine nature; we aren’t conscious that we’re part of – and at one with – Brahman. In consequence, we’re sure by this life.
That’s what the legislation of karma is all about, the second massive thought inside Hinduism. Karma is the sum of your life’s actions—good and unhealthy. In the event you don’t liberate your self from this life and embrace your divinity, you’re sure to this life—and the following life, and the following life, and the life after that. Hindus don’t consider that life is linear, going from a starting to an finish. As an alternative, they consider that it’s a endless circle of life, demise and rebirth. Sure, that’s the place The Lion King received that phrase “the circle of life”—it’s a Hindu thought
This brings up the third massive thought of Hinduism, which is the concept of reincarnation. Based on Hindu thought, proper now we’re all reaping the results of what we did in an earlier life. In the event you had good karma in a previous life, you’re residing a very good life now. If not, then your life is not going to be so good. Your karma will even decide what you’ll be in your subsequent life. You’ll be able to come again as a human, an animal, an insect—what you’ll be reincarnated into in your subsequent life is determined by your karma on this life.
That is one purpose why all types of life are held sacred to the Hindu, particularly the cow, which is the image of Mom Earth. The answer to all of that is to be liberated from the wheel of life, demise and rebirth by realizing that you just – as a self – are an phantasm. Or for those who keep in mind the Matrix films, you could recall the scene from the primary movie the place Neo goes to the Oracle and talks with somewhat boy who is ready to bend a spoon. When Neo asks how the boy did it, the boy stated that the key is to recollect “there isn’t any spoon.”
Every thing is an phantasm. Solely the impersonal oneness of the power drive of Brahman is actual. So, you need to try to detach your self from this life and attain enlightenment. Once more, like Neo liberating himself from the Matrix. You’ll be able to attempt to try this by way of numerous types of yoga, motion and ritual, by way of data and meditation, and thru devotion. In truth, that’s what the phrase yoga means—union with, or yoking with, one thing. And for Hindus and yoga, meaning union with Brahman.
This brings us again to Diwali, which is something however a mere celebration of Indian tradition. It’s a deeply religious occasion celebrating primarily two gods, worshiping two gods. Celebrating them, honoring them, calling on them. Particularly, the goddess Lakshmi and the god Ganesha (after which together with these, many others like Vishnu).
Make no mistake—Diwali is a celebration of Hindu gods and goddesses. And with all due respect to our Hindu buddies, they’ve to grasp that from the Christian religion perspective, it is a stark divide. Attending a celebration would contain the acknowledgment and worship of a false god, the honoring of false gods, and this we can not do.
So when the invitation involves take part,
… politely, respectfully, decline.
James Emery White
Editor’s Word
This weblog was initially revealed in 2024. The Church & Tradition Group thought you’ll be all for studying it once more as at present (October 20) marks the start of Diwali and in gentle of California formally making it a state vacation.
Sources
Amber Ferguson, “Barbie Will get Desi Makeover for Diwali. Right here’s the That means Behind the Doll.” The Washington Submit, October 5, 2024, learn on-line.
