Alvarez-Vaca 1

Jacqueline Alvarez-Vaca
World Religions 403
Due Date: October 4, 2016
The Worlds Religion by Huston Smith
Huston Smith describes the many different aspects of Hinduism in this chapter. He writes
about what people want, which he later describes as what people take pleasure in doing or gain
pleasure from. He then shifts gears and writes about what people really want once all pleasure is
gained, leaving readers with the question Is this all [the world can offer]? Smith then mentions
that Hinduism believes the purpose of life is to pass far beyond imperfection. He speaks of the
four paths to the goal and the stages of life. However, his main focus in this chapter is the
different way to God through knowledge, love, work, and psychophysical exercises.
Smith mentions that one of the four paths to God is through knowledge; however, such
knowledge is not encyclopedic, but rather intuitive discernment that transforms, turning the
knower into that which she knows. (Page 29) Jnana yoga is the path to oneness with God
through knowledge. Hinduism proposes to those gifted with knowing that they know more than
their finite self. Once this point is grasped and comprehended, her sense of self will shift to a
much deeper level. He proceeds to inform the reader that the second step is thinking. Through
reflection the Atman, the God within, changes from being a mere concept to realization. In
thinking one must think in the third person as it drives a wedge between ones true self deep
within and ones surface self.
The other way to God is through love. Smith writes that The yoga of knowledge is said
to be the shortest path to divine realization. First of all, since healthy love is outgoing the
Bhakta will reject that the God you love is yourself. He mentions that a Hindu classic makes this
point simpler by stating I want to taste sugar; I dont want to be sugar.(Page 33) Secondly, if
the Bhakta is persuaded of Gods otherness, their goal will differ from the jnanis. The Bhakta
will strive to adore God with every element of his/her being. Finally, Gods personality is
indispensable. All that must me done in this yoga is love God dearly, not just claim to love God,
but factually love Him.
The third way to God is through work, this path is intended for people who are
actively inclined, or as it is called in Hinduism karma yoga. To these people Hinduism says
that it is not necessary to retire to a cloister to realize God since He can be found in in
everyday affairs. One is to engage in their work with everything they have; but they must do
so wisely so they may bring the highest rewards, not just trivia. Smith points out that a
physician one wrote regarding the human body that The human machine seems indeed to be
made for action. (Page 37)
The final path to God is through psychophysical exercises. Raja yoga is known to
India as the royal (raj) road to integration. This path is designed for those who are bent
scientifically. Unlike the experiments done in the natural science world, those of raja yoga
are on ones self. The call of raja yoga is to retreat from the worlds inconsequential
panorama to the deep lying casual zones of the psyche where the real problems and answers
lie.(Page 43) Raja yoga proposes a test to see if the person is prepared for the eight steps of
the experiment itself.