@ Insult to Rocks
Hindus have a similar concept....
THE YAMAS
* Ahimsa - Don't be violent.
* Satya - Be truthful and Honest.
* Asteya - Don't steal.
* Brahmacarya - Have sexual self-control.
* Aparigraha - Don't be possessive, greedy or envious.
THE NIYAMAS
* Shauca - Be pure in mind, speech and body.
* Santosha - Be content. Accept others. Accept one's circumstances for good or ill (and to be better able to change them if you can). Self-Esteem.
* Tapas - Persistence, perseverance, penance, austerity.
* Svadhyaya - Study of sacred texts and of self. Self-reflection.
* Ishvarapranidhana - Contemplation of The Higher Power/Supreme Being/Higher Reality/Meditation.
You can say it's the Hindu "Decalogue".
But these Saffron freaks are certainly breaking a few of these.
@ Arceus
Indeed. In fact, many of the stupider elements in Hinduism and Hindu society (even some scriptures) come from later attitudes. There was once a time, very long ago, in which women had more rights, sexuality wasn't a big taboo, nudity was fine and the Varna system was less about strict social castes and more of a vaguer, fluid concept (sort of like The 'Four/Five Temperament' concept, only applied to souls a bit).
Scriptures in Hinduism are divided into two categories; Shruti & Smirti. Shruti are considered direct communications/revelations from the Higher Power and infallible whereas Smirtis are human-made interpretations.
The Vedas and Muktha (oldest/original) Upanishads are Shruti. The Puranas, Law Books, The Epics, etc. are Smirtis.
Most of the hardcore sexism and stupidity is in the Smirti literature and said literature may be subject to changes, translations, mistranslations and such whereas the Shrutis MUST be kept the same as originally written and translated VERY carefully. If something Smirti contradicts something Shruti, said Smirti verse/verses are best left ignored or rendered invalid.
