Hinduism

Step 9: Following the teaching.

Principle: Justice

All human beings have five debts we need to repay during our lifetimes:

We must express our gratitude to the gods for their blessings by honoring them through ritual.
We must pay the debt we owe our parents and teachers by supporting them, and passing on their knowledge to our children.
We treat guests visiting our homes as if they are deities.
We treat all human beings with the respect, which is their due.
We offer help to those who are in need.

Text or Verse

If you perform the duties of your own nature imperfectly, that is no reason to abandon those duties and begin something else, for all your undertakings, at the outset, are enveloped by evil, as smoke surrounds fire.
Bhagavad Gita 18:48

Practice

The ultimate goal of Hindu spirituality is liberation from the wheel of rebirth. To assist us there are Ten Commitments which are moral and ethical tenets of practice. Patanjali, a yogic philosopher, defined the Commitments. The first five are yamas or ethical practices of self control which must be practiced in thought, spoken word and deeds:

Non-injury to others (ahimsa)
Honesty (satya)
Not stealing (asteya)
Continence (bramacharya)
Noncovetousness (aparigraha)

Resources

American Institute of Vedic Studies (go to Links menu to connect to the website)

Auyrvedic Institute (go to Links menu to connect to the website)

Hindu Universe (go to Links menu to connect to the website)

Hindu University of America (go to Links menu to connet to the website)

Hinduism Today. (bimonthy magazine) South Asia Books, P.O. Box 502. Columbia, MO 65205. Email: sabooks@juno.com (go to Links menu to connect to the website)

World Association of Vedic Studies (go to Links menu to connect to the website)

Yoga Research Center (go to Links menu to connect to the website)