Page 115 - Hinduism

CHAPTER XII CONCLUSION
Hinduism is a universal religion because it affirms the existence of God as not only God beyond the world but as the inner Love in all Jīvas. Every one can seek Him and see Him face to face. The great ṛṣis, Ālvārs and Nāyanmārs sought God and saw Him face to face. The existence of God is proved by the experience of God. Sāṣtra is not opposed to science as its method of knowing God is scientific and it can be verified by personal experience. God is satya and amala, true and pure. Therefore, only the pure in heart who follow the sāttvik way can reach Him. Since the end is pure, the means also must be pure. Hinduism, therefore, insists on purity of conduct in thought, word and deed as the essential requisites for religious life. It is more a personal religion aiming at inner purity of life than on institutional loyalty and uniformity of faith.
No two persons are alike in temperament or station in life. Hinduism provides for every kind of adhikārin or aspirant and he is allowed to choose the path that is suited to his spiritual growth. A man may worship God in whatever form; He reveals Himself to him in that form. But he should seek Him with a pure heart. Though Hinduism thus aims at unity in variety, it still follows an ancient tradition bequeathed from father
to son and from guru to śiṣya and insists on 115