What Do Hindus Practice, but Cannot Prove
What do Hindus practice with deep śraddhā but cannot prove - karma phala siddhānta, reincarnation, mantra efficacy - and what is the right epistemic posture toward such axioms?
#indian knowledge systems
#karma
Conscious Hindus differentiate themselves from Muslims and Christians on the basis of belief. They say that while Islam and Christianity demand blind belief in their dogmas, Hindu dharma is not the same as the truth claims in its texts can be verified. Although the laboratory for testing many of the central axioms of Hindu dharma is an inner one, like yoga and meditation.
Even then there are certain practices and axioms in which Hindus have deep shraddha but which they cannot prove through rational and logical methods. One of the most central of these tenets is karma phala siddhanta, which almost every practicing Hindu agrees with but cannot prove. But is it entirely true? Is there proof for reincarnation? And are there other practices and fundamental axioms of Sanatana dharma which cannot be proved but which are central to the worldview and lifestyle of practicing Hindus? This big question deals with such practices and axioms.
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