In Hinduism, the law of karma states that all actions produce effects in the future. A concept that is linked to karma is that of dharma, one's duty or station in this life. The relationship between dharma and karma is discussed at length in the Bhagavad-Gita, a major text within the Hindu tradition. A rhyme is helpful: Doing one's dharma produces good karma.

Reincarnation

Essential to Hinduism is the idea of reincarnation. In more technical terms, Hindus accept the doctrine of transmigration and rebirth, and believe that previous acts are the factors that determine the condition into which a being is reborn in one form or another. The idea of reincarnation is virtually universal in India.

According to a basic Hindu concept, people are born over and over again into a state of suffering. Deeply involved in this transformation is the atman — a Sanskrit word meaning “self,” the eternal core of the personality that survives after death that is headed to a new life or is released from the bonds of existence. The atman is inextricably joined with Brahman, the Being itself, a concept that may also be thought of as high god. To be released from the cycle of rebirth, you must attain the atman/Brahman identity. That is, you must become one with Being.

One reason people are born over and over into suffering is that they do not understand this connection. As long as people think atman is separate from Brahman, or world soul, the cycle will continue forever.

Spiritual Goal

Another Sanskrit word, moksha, reflects the ultimate spiritual goal — the individual soul's release from the bonds of transmigration — to get out of the endless cycle of reincarnation. Now, if the individual is hampered by bad karma, moksha will not occur. But, if the individual has achieved moksha, then the atman is free to reunite with Brahman, thus concluding the cycle of suffering. Those who do not accept that their being is identical with Brahman are thought to be deluded — in such cases, you might say that the atman is clouded by maya, illusion. The only possible solution is to come to the realization that the core of human personality (atman) really is Brahman. The attachment to worldly goods blocks this understanding because it is an obsession that prevents people from reaching salvation and eternal peace.

To add to the difficulties in understanding this process, meanings and interpretations differ from one Hindu school to another. In spite of that, most of them agree that moksha is the highest purpose in life.

The Caste System

To some, Plato's Republic might bear relevance to the early Hindu doctrine of dividing society into groups, each of which had a role and a place. Brahmans were the priests; Kshatriyas were the warriors; Vaishyas were the merchants; and Shudras were the craftspeople.

This division was the beginning of the Indian caste system. As it progressed into Indian society, the castes multiplied, encompassing a vast range of occupations, rules, and traditions. The Laws of Manu (circa 100 C.E.) provide the text that explains all the complexities of this system. A person's caste and station in life determines their dharma. Members of one caste would not socialize or trade with another; certain professions were limited to certain castes; intermarriage between members of different castes was not permitted.

Eventually, a group (caste) who called themselves Dalit (downtrodden) formed. Members of this caste did what one might call the grunt work, menial work such as street cleaning and clearing away dead bodies, either human or animal. They became known as the “Untouchables.”

In 1950, a law was passed outlawing the practice of “Untouchability”; nevertheless, this group remains socially and economically the dregs of the caste system. Some members of the caste deny they are Hindu in an effort to overcome the stigma of Dalit.