MALAYSIA Organisation for Knowledge on Hindu Science, Heritage and Arts Founder President Prof Dr Bala Tharmalingam said every person carries inherent worth regardless of race, gender or status.
“Hindu philosophy carries specific terms for human dignity and human flourishing. Manava Karima is the inherent worth of every person, while Manava Abhyudaya is the state of living a good, meaningful and fulfilling life,” he said at the recent Multi-Faith Roundtable Discussion here.
He said Hinduism, whose original name is Sanatana Dharma or eternal truth, has no single founder and developed instead as a way of life among the people of India.
“The tradition centres on one ultimate reality expressed through many forms,” said Bala, who was among the invited panellists at the Roundtable Discussion 1: A Multi-Faith Vision of Human Dignity and Flourishing for the Future.
He said the concepts of Dharma and Karma are central to Hindu teaching, describing Dharma as a person’s righteous duty and Karma as the responsibility each person carries for their own actions.
“Hindu teaching places heavy weight on context rather than rigid instruction when applying moral principles to real situations,” he said.
He outlined four pillars of wellbeing in Hindu practice, namely physical health known as Arogya, mental peace known as Shanti, social solidarity known as Bandhutva, and spiritual joy known as Ananda.
“The principle of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam, which regards the entire world as a single family, underpins the Hindu approach to communal harmony,” he said.
He proposed joint activities that different faith communities could undertake together, including preparing food for underprivileged households, forming disaster response task forces and setting up community eco-gardens.
Responding to a participant’s concern about rising individualism among younger generations, Bala said Hindu teaching identifies four responsibilities in life. These are responsibilities to oneself, known as Brahmacharya, responsibility to family, known as Grahastha, responsibility to society, and finally, responsibility to a higher power.
He said instilling these responsibilities helps prevent people from becoming self-centred.
“The multi-faith vision of human dignity and flourishing unites diverse religious traditions around the belief that every person possesses inherent worth,” he said, pointing out that compassion, justice and community solidarity remain essential pillars for a peaceful society.
