WESTERN SPIRITUALITY
VS. 
EASTERN SPIRITUALITY 

EXCLUSIVISM VS. INCLUSIVISM

By Hariharan Sivadasa

I came across a comment the other day on a religious online forum which described Christianity and Islam as being exclusivist while Sanatan Dharma (Hinduism) and Buddhism were inclusive in their natures.  This struck me because that is exactly the major difference I have observed between the Western, sometimes called Abrahamaic or Historical religions, and the Eastern, mainly Hindu and Buddhism traditions.

 In the west we find that Judaism, Christianity and Islam, having deep common roots, all possess the same core beliefs.  They all believe in one, exclusive, anthropomorphic personal male deity, Jehovah (or Yahveh/Adonai, Deus/Deo/God and Allah, respectively) who created the earth and mankind in his image.  They all believe that complete surrender of the personal Self to the historical founder of their respective religions is necessary to win the rewards of heaven in the afterlife.  Those who fail to follow the religion of their spiritual founder is damned to eternal torture in hell, with no chance of relief.  This all based on the merits or demerits of one single human lifetime.  All three believe their way is the only one, true way.

On the other hand, in the east we find that Sanatan Dharma (Hinduism) and it’s many offspring such as Buddhism, Jainism, Sikhism and others believe in a God (Brahmam) that completely transcends form, gender or personality.  This Brahmam manifests itself through it’s own creation, so that everything that exists is ultimately a part of God (Brahmam).  In terms of deities (devata), they are projections, or manifestations of various aspects of Brahmam).  The male deities are representative of the thoughts and  actions of Brahmam, while the female devi’s are representative of the energy or power through which the god’s will is made manifest.  Sanantan Dharma is not based on any historical person.  It reaches back past historical civilization.  The religions of the East believe that whatever path you follow, whatever religion you belong to, you will always ultimately return to the abode of Brahmam (God).  They believe in reincarnation and in karma.  Many lifetimes are spent by the Jivatma (soul) making and reaping the results of their self-made karma through their actions and omissions.  There is no concept of a particular deity passing eternal and final judgment over your soul at death.

Personally, I can say, after growing up a Christian and 7 years as a priest then 16 years of being a follower of Sanatan Dharma, literally the Eternal Faith (Hinduism), having embraced both basic concepts, that there is no spiritual profit in being exclusivist.  What good we have seen in the growth of modern society and values is that independence and freedom, especially in the area of religion, is essential to the refinement of civilization.  The east has always lead the way in this respect, but the west has overpowered  the east with their great might, then corrupted them with their sensual set of double-standards morality, and finally left the east to it’s own devices having nothing left of it’s glory and wealth, spoiled by western ways.  It is time for the followers of Sanatan Dharma to throw off the ill-effects of those tyrannical and colonial cultures.  Let us once again lead the world in righteousness, in justice (and justified self-defense), and let us all, no matter where on earth we may be born, once again proudly carry the title of  nobility, Arya.

JAI HIND!  JAI SRI RAM!   AUM NAMAH SIVAYA!