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From: aarti%pollux.usc.edu@usc.edu (Aarti Kumar)
Newsgroups: soc.religion.eastern
Subject: Re: Article What is the goal of Hinduism?
Message-ID: <14548@phoenix.Princeton.EDU>
Date: 15 Mar 90 14:41:42 GMT
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The goal of Hinduism is to find the true self. Vedanta is the system of
knowledge which helps you reach the true self. But the self can be reached
through other paths as well. Nirvana is in a sense, a continuous abidance
in the true self i.e. to be continuously aware of the true self.

It should be reached because, (1) it takes you out of this wheel of births
and rebirths. Hinduism believes in re-incarnation.

(2) It also gives you a fundamental knowledge of reality, aside from mental
impressions and  intellectual thought. This knowledge releases you  from 
controversies, confusion, any kind of limiting thought and  also helps
you to be understand your emotions. Its the knowledge which gives you
knowledge of everything else. 

This is the main purpose of Hinduism, all other questions such as God,
paths, religions, traditions, etc, have their own place in the search,
but the search is for the self only. Since this fact has been recognised
in Hinduism, it essentially allows one to worship or "search" in a 
variety of ways.

Anyway, this is as I understand it. Read some books by Dr. RadhaKrishnan,
Vivekananda, or others too for other answers.

Aarti
.