Srila Acaryadeva starts by explaning the development of Hinduism in three phases, coming from the word “sindhu”. Hinduism was revived by Vivekananda and Dr. Radha-Krishnan.

The Rg-Veda demonstrates the non-sectarian perspective of the Vedas. There God is called “puru-hutam”, which means one who is called upon in many ways. The same mature approach to spirituality can be found in the Gita.

Acaryadeva explains that he invented the term “Principled Inclusivism” for the religion of the Vedanta, because while it sets up clear principles at the same time it includes and respects also others paths. In ancient India there were no religious wars, only debates.

 

Thomas Aquinus said that animals have no soul. He and others thus paved the way to modern materialism and consumerism. In ancient Greece they had the idea that there is no life and consciousness without a soul. This concept doesn’t have the influence of middle-eastern influence. It would be cruel and unjust to believe that God doesn’t have a plan to elevate every soul, no matter which body they are in. The notion of God in the Old Testament is that of a jealous God.

 

In the end there is a long question and answer session around various topics. This is an excerpt:

 

Q: Why didn’t God create us in a way that we remember past lives?

A: Our false ego prevents us from remembering and we would probably have some kind of identity crisis if we were able to remember all of them. The body I had in my last life was an expression of my state of mind, which I can still psychologically access. If we have strong material desires we calculate what we experience by making subjects into objects of our enjoyment. So we need to examine ourselves and our motives and take life itself as an opportunity to look deeply into ourselves and aspire for purity.

 

Karma is cosmic sensitivity training: If I am suffering it means I have to learn a lesson. If I can let go and accept the lesson I become free of it. God’s ultimate will is that we become free, so we are given as much freedom as we can handle. “Who wants to hang out with people who have no free will?” We have to become responsible in order to become free.