Editing Religious pluralism (section)

==Hinduism==

[[File:Om symbol.svg|thumb | 220x124px | right | alt=OM is a popular symbol in Hinduism. It is a Sanskrit letter in the Devanagari script. |
The [[Om]] (aum) is a [[Sanskrit]] sound and a popular symbol of [[Hinduism]].]]
{{See also|Hinduism and other religions}}
[[Hinduism]] is naturally pluralistic<ref>{{Cite news|title=Hinduism|language=en|url=https://pluralism.org/hinduism|access-date=2021-08-21}}</ref> as it "acknowledges different forms and representations of the divine, all understood in their relation to the supreme being, Brahman." Historians argue that the differentiations between the various Indic religions of the subcontinent were blurred before their specific codification and separation during British efforts to catalog different Indic philosophies. {{citation needed|date=May 2022}} . Moreover, Hinduism itself is the oldest major religion, explaining a relative lack of antipathy towards specifiable religious traditions – and so the Hindu religion has no theological difficulties in accepting degrees of truth in other religions.{{citation needed|date=August 2019}} From a Vedantic perspective, Swami Bhaskarananda argues that Hinduism emphasizes that everyone actually worships the same God, whether one knows it or not.<ref>See Swami Bhaskarananda, ''Essentials of Hinduism'' (Viveka Press 2002) {{ISBN|1-884852-04-1}}</ref> In the 8th sutra of the Pratyabhijñahrdyam, the Indian philosopher Ksemaraja says that all the siddhantas or theses of all the darsanas (schools of thought) are just the different aspects of the one Atman. It being all-pervading and all-inclusive, from matter to consciousness to nothingness, all are its aspects or its different roles. The [[Advaita Vedanta]] philosophy, a widely held view of many Hindus who follow [[Hinduism|Sanatana Dharma]], encompasses pluralism.{{clarify|date=August 2021}}.<ref>{{cite book|title=An Occult Glossary:A Compendium of Oriental and Theosophical Terms|author=T. Depurucker|date=January 2003|publisher=Kessinger Publishing|page=130|isbn=9780766129757|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=eRztON94euYC&q=paramatman&pg=PA130}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|author=Arvind Sharma|title=A Guide to Hindu Spirituality|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=VYeAIM0d-KYC |year=2006|publisher=World Wisdom |isbn=978-1-933316-17-8|pages=38–43, 68–75}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|author=Richard King|title=Orientalism and Religion: Post-Colonial Theory, India and "The Mystic East" |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=eOiDNx_co5wC |year=2013|publisher=Routledge|isbn=978-1-134-63234-3|pages=128–132}}</ref> Other, lesser-known philosophers have strived to encompass Indic philosophies under traditions other than Advaita, including the Indian philosopher Vijñabhikshu. Thus, the culture of open boundaries and continuous interaction and synthesis between all schools of thought is a very important aspect in understanding Hinduism and its fundamental nature of plurality.

In several [[mantra]]s, [[sutra]]s, [[smriti]], and [[Śruti|shruti]], the idea that there are many ways to approach Truth or an underlying Reality is emphasized.

For example, the [[Rigveda|Rig Veda]] states that the [[Satya|Truth]] can be known in different ways:

{{Blockquote|text={{lang|sa|एकं सद्विप्रा बहुधा वदन्ति}}
{{lang|sa-latn|ékam sat vipra bahudā vadanti}}

Truth is One, though the sages know it variously|title=Rig Veda|source=1.164.46}}

The Rig Veda also envisions an ideal world where a diverse collective speaks together to focus upon an idea that pervades all:

{{Blockquote|text={{lang|sa-latn|saṃ ghachadhvaṃ saṃ vadadhvaṃ saṃ vo manāṃsi jānatām <br>devā bhāghaṃ yathā pūrve saṃjānānā upāsate <br>samāno mantraḥ samitiḥ samānī samānaṃ manaḥ saha cittameṣām<br>samānaṃ mantramabhi maṇtraye vaḥ samānena vohaviṣā juhomi <br>samānī va ākūtiḥ samānā hṛdayāni vaḥ <br>samānamastu vomano yathā vaḥ susahāsati}}

Assemble, speak together: let your minds be all of one accord, as ancient Gods unanimous sit down to their appointed share.

The place is common, common the assembly, common the mind, so be their thought united.

A common purpose do I lay before you, and worship with your general oblation.

One and the same be your resolve, and be your minds of one accord. United be the thoughts of all that all may happily agree.|title=Rig Veda|source=1.191.2-4}}

The [[Uddhava Gita]] is explicit that those interested in spirituality should learn the perspectives of a diverse group of proficient practitioners rather than a singular one who espouses a specific doctrine:

{{Blockquote|text=Though the Absolute Truth is One, various sages and scriptures have described Him in many different ways. For this reason, an aspiring spiritual practitioner would do well to learn the perspectives of numerous spiritual masters, rather than just hearing from one.|title=Uddhava Gita|source=3:21}}

Conversely, the [[Bhagavad Gita]] warns against exclusivism:

{{Blockquote|text={{lang|sa|यत्तु कृत्स्नवदेकस्मिन्कार्ये सक्तमहैतुकम्।<br>अतत्त्वार्थवदल्पं च तत्तामसमुदाहृतम्}}

But that which clings blindly to one idea as if it were all, without logic, truth or insight, that has its origin in Darkness.|title=Bhagavad Gita|source=18:22}}

It also affirms [[Satya|Truth]] in a variety of spiritual practices:

{{Blockquote|text={{lang|sa|ये यथा मां प्रपद्यन्ते तांस्तथैव भजाम्यहम्।<br>मम वर्त्मानुवर्तन्ते मनुष्याः पार्थ सर्वशः}}

{{lang|sa-latn|ye yathā māṃ prapadyante tāṃs tathāiva bhajāmyaham mama vartmānuvartante manuṣyāḥ pārtha sarvaśaḥ.}}

As people approach me, so I receive them. All paths lead to Me.|title=Bhagavad Gita|source=4:11}}