Page:An Essay On Hinduism.pdf/170

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CHAPTER IX

FUTURE OF HINDUISM

"WILL Hinduism spread?" Before answering this question it is necessary to give to the expression some definite meaning. The question is capable of being interpreted in several different ways. We may interpret it as a question whether Hindu ideas will spread, or whether membership of Hindu society will be extended to others in future. It is possible to make an affirmative answer to this question provided we make it with a proper explanation of the meaning. The spread of Hinduism should not be understood in the sense in which we use the expression "the spread of Christianity." The spread of Christianity means increase in the membership of the sampradāya by recruits from other tribes; while the spread of Hinduism means carrying Hindu civilization to peoples not yet brought under Hinduism, so that the Hindus may regard those peoples as nearer to them than to any other peoples; and the other people also may think in a similar manner.

From the nature of Hinduism already described it will be clear that Hindus first of all have a conception that all the tribes and races in the world form one community composed of Brāhmaṇas, other Āryas (good, noble people; that is, Hindus themselves), and Barbarians, that is, the jungle tribes in India and the foreigners. When this theory is

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