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Buddhists/Doubt about previous response

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Expert: - 11/22/2008


Question
In your previous response subjected ( buddhism and hinduism) you quoted- "One reason is that "Hinduism" is a relatively new idea,"

What exactly did you mean by this? Please let me know?

regards

Answer
Hi Varun,
I can't remember the context. However, the idea that there was a "religion" called "Hinduism" largely developed as a response to and in the minds of Europeans. India, in its own terms, simply had a rich and varied range of beliefs, practices, spiritual and ethical systems. There was no "Hinudism" any more than there is "Whitepersonism" in European and American culture.
Does that explain it?

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Alex Wilding

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I have practiced and studied Tibetan Buddhism in the Kagyu and Nyingma traditions since the early 1970s, and have a good knowledge of theory, history and of the struggles of trying to practice the teachings, including meditation, while leading a normal, modern life. I am also available to provide background information for journalists.

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