| Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What is the law of karma?
A: The law of karma is similar to the Biblical idea that "as you sow, so shall you reap." In physics, the analogous law is "for every action there is an equal and opposite reaction." The law of karma simply puts the responsibility for our lives on us. If either seemingly bad luck or good fortune comes our way, we must deserve it somehow because of our past actions. These past actions may have been in a past life. Otherwise, when we observe life's various situations, God would seem to be an arbitrary and partial God.
Q: Does past life mean reincarnation?
A: Yes. Hinduism believes that this is not our first birth. When someone dies, it is only the body that dies. The spiritual essence of the person lives on and carries with it subtle impressions (samskaras) of past actions (karmas). When the time is right, the spiritual essence incarnates in a new body. Our past actions give us tendencies, talents, and handicaps.
Q: Is it possible to be reborn as an animal or plant?
A: Schools differ on this point. It would be like flunking high school and being sent back to kindergarten. Hopefully we do not need the fear of being reborn as a slug or a pig to keep from doing bad deeds.
One should not get too bogged down in trying to figure out the details of how karma and reincarnation work. It is important to remember that our real nature is divine, one with Brahman. It is only an illusion that we are born in a body, die and get reborn. But while under the influence of maya (cosmic illusion), it appears as if the law of karma operates and that the soul gets reincarnated. There will always be details that remain vague and that we cannot know for certain. How certain can you be about an illusion anyway?
Q: Why do some Indian gods and goddesses have so many arms?
A: Remember that Hindu gods and goddesses are manifestations of the one Reality, Brahman. Each one manifests certain archetypal energies, powers, or attributes of the infinite existence that is Brahman. To symbolize the various attributes being manifest, the deities appear with many arms holding different symbols in each hand.
Q: Are Rama and Krishna deities?
A: Rama and Krishna are divine incarnations of God, or avatars—God born in human form. Buddha, Christ, and Ramakrishna are also considered avatars by many.
Q: I don't like to think of God as a person, and Hindu deities seem strange to me. Can I still practice Vedanta?
A: Yes. God manifests in different forms for the sake of devotees with different temperaments. Almost all religions have some symbol for God. God can be personal or impersonal, with form or without form. God may be approached in many ways.
Vedanta philosophy can be used with any aspect of God. A personal aspect of God is not essential to spiritual practice. However using a personal form of God can help us focus the emotional-devotional component of our nature to help us along our spiritual path. Christ, Mother Mary, Buddha, or other great spiritual beings can all be used as symbolizing the personal form of God.
Q: Do Hindus worship cows?
A: Cows have been revered in India for thousands of years because of their gentle nature and their life-sustaining abilities. They are allowed to roam free and it is considered a heinous act to kill a cow. As such, Hindus do not eat beef.
It is not correct to say Hindus worship cows or consider them holy. Generally, Hindus do not eat beef because In times when food is scarce it would be shortsighted to kill a cow for food in the short run when it can provide milk for many years. Cows are thought of much like family pets in this country, or a horse to a horse lover. We don't eat dogs and horses in this country. Hindus don't eat beef.
Q: Are Hindus vegetarian?
A: Some are and some are not. If being a vegetarian helps you keep your mind on God and keeps your body healthy, then it is good. If it makes you fanatical about those who are not vegetarians or it weakens your health, then it is not good. The point is to do whatever helps you think of God and whatever keeps you healthy to be of service to others and to pursue spiritual practices.
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