Page:The Religion of the Veda.djvu/20

The Religion of the Veda
down in the Hindu mind as the basis and funda-
mental axiom of all speculations about the soul and
future life. This of itself is merely a theory. The
practical importance of this theory is, that it is
coupled almost from the start with a pessimistic view
of life. According to this the everlasting round
of existences is a nuisance, and release from it an
imperative necessity. It would be difficult to find
anywhere else a purely speculative notion which has
taken so firm a hold upon practical life. It pervades
the Hindu consciousness in a far more real and
intimate way than its great rival, the belief in an
eternal future life, pervades the religious thought
of the Western world.
4
From the beginning of India's history religious
institutions control the character and the develop-
ment of its people to an extent unknown elsewhere.
Hindu life from birth to death, and even after death
in the fancied life of the Fathers, or Manes in
heaven, is religious, or sacramental/throughout. It
is surrounded by institutions and practices, and
clouded by superstitions which are discarded only
by them that have worked their way to the highest
philosophical aspects of religion.
The religious life of the Brahmanical Hindu is
divided into the four stages of religious disciple; god-
¹ Called äçrama, literally, "hermitages."