Hinduism & Communication

Mar 15, 2008 - 02:25 AM PST

Many of the world’s major religions, such as Judaism, Christianity, and Islam, are deeply connected to the everyday lifestyles and cultures of their followers. Countless aspects of life, including diet, appearance and dress, marital relations may be affected by spiritual beliefs and customs. However, few religions can claim such an interconnectedness with the history and development of a region’s culture and people as Hinduism.

Although the exact origins of Hinduism are not known, it is estimated to be the world’s oldest surviving religion, with its practice spanning approximately 5,000 years. (Hindustanlink) The Hindi language is widely used in religious contexts, but in India, where Hindus comprise 81% of the national population, British English is the lingua franca, and Hindi is spoken regularly only in northern areas of the country. (Hindu American Foundation) The continued adherence to British English and the common view that English is the language of wealthy, educated members of society lessen the probability for culture shock among American and British travelers embarking on a journey to India. (Butler) However, many cultural differences remain that non-natives should consider.

Hinduism is a unique spiritual path in that it does not have an identifiable beginning, a sole founder, a central governing establishment, or a single preeminent scripture upon which its followers base their worship. (Hindu Website) Hinduism is monotheistic, as Hindus do believe in one supreme deity or god figure. However, as Hindus also view their supreme deity as having both masculine and feminine aspects, and feel that He or She may be acknowledged and worshipped in many different forms and by different names, Hinduism can also be viewed as henothestic, meaning that one God can be worshipped without denying the existence of other forms or manifestations of that God. (Hindustanlink)

Two essential foundations for Hinduism are tolerance and pluralism. Tolerance exists because of the fundamental Hindu belief that there is divinity in all things, and therefore, all living organisms are considered equal. (Hindu Website) Hinduism theorizes that all people are born into a cycle of karma (every action will be rewarded or punished) and reincarnation (rebirth of the soul into another body following the body’s death), and that only by achieving a high level of consciousness and detachment from the material world can you break free from the constraints of karma and reincarnation. (Wikipedia) Those beliefs fuel the Hindus’ tendencies to be accommodating, accepting and understanding, and has also resulted in a significant portion of the Hindu population living a vegetarian lifestyle.

Pluralism is tolerance taken one step further. By openly acknowledging and accepting the existence and validity of spiritual paths other than Hinduism. In fact, Hinduism states that to insist one’s own spiritual beliefs make up the only true and meaningful path to divinity is both harmful and inherently flawed. As a result of this foundation, Hindus refrain from proselytizing, using military force to invade another country in the name of religion. (Hindustanlink) Instead, Hindus seek to foster an environment of peace, tolerant coexistence of various faiths (including Buddhism, Judaism, Christianity, Islam, Jainism, Zoroastrianism, and Sikhism in the Southeast Asia region alone) and prosperity for all people. The principles of karma, tolerance and pluralism recur often in Hindu communication, between parents and children, husbands and wives, managers and employees, and even amongst strangers.

India has a high Power Distance Index (PDI) on the Hofstede scale, ranking 77 overall compared to the world average of 56.5. (Butler) The high power distance experienced in the nation results in a high level of financial inequality and power differences, and seems to contradict the Hindu belief that all living things are fundamentally equal. Despite the large PDI, women are generally treated with respect in the home and in the workplace. (Stylus, Inc.) This is probably due to the Hindu belief that the male and female aspects of the creator god Brahma are equal and interdependent, and that without the feminine aspect, the god cannot be whole.

As stated previously, British English is the primary language spoken by Hindus in India. Proxemics are important in conversation. People tend to keep at least an arm’s length away from a person when speaking to them, and it is considered inappropriate to touch someone while speaking to them unless one knows them well. In addition, touching someone else’s head, even to pat the head of a child, is considered disrespectful, as Hindus believe the head is the seat of the soul. (Art of Travel) Topics of conversation with a new companion should be limited to topics such as family, sports, popular culture or food (taking care to acknowledge if one’s companion is a vegetarian). Topics such as religion, politics and class/caste should be avoided unless one knows his or her companion well. (Art of Travel)

Dress is also an important part of nonverbal communication among Hindus. In business, men and women should both dress conservatively. Shorts are rarely, if ever, considered appropriate, and women should always take care to ensure their chest, back, shoulders and upper arms are covered, even in casual settings. In addition, one should never wear or use leather goods in India or in largely Hindu cultures, as cows are considered sacred and the use of their hide as an accessory is a terrible insult. (Stylus, Inc.)

Marriage between Hindus is viewed as a sacred unity between two people and the gods. As such, the relationship between husband and wife is seen as spiritual rather than sexual, and is generally considered to be a respectful mutual acknowledgment of a woman’s ability to make a man whole, and vice versa. (Hindu Website) A married couple is expected to join for procreation, spiritual support, and care for each other in old age. It should be noted that Hinduism is the world’s only major religion to acknowledge a feminine aspect of the divinity (or the “Goddess” aspect) and that respect for women manifests itself in the union between husband and wife. (Hindustanlink)
In business, Hindus tend to speak more slowly than Americans. Aggressive American sales and business tactics are usually viewed as disrespectful in Hindu culture, as trust and familiarity is most valued in business transactions. Efficiency and punctuality are highly valued, but not so valued as taking the time to become familiar with someone, develop trust, and ensure quality work. (Stylus, Inc. ) Hindus have a high tendency to avoid all conflict, including conflict in the workplace, and would rather ensure that parties to a conflict are able to save face than to force their opinion on another. (Butler) Hindus also shy away from use of the word “no” as they fee it implies a refusal to try to accomplish something, rather than an inability to accomplish it, and view outright refusal as a sign of disrespect. Instead, they prefer to use vague phrases such as “I’ll try,” or “I will see what I can do,” rather than blatantly refuse a request. (Butler)

Lastly, symbolism plays a large part in Hindu culture and communication. Hindu art and décor, especially religious and spiritual art, is extremely colorful and ornate. (Wikipedia) Iconography such as the aum, which is regarded as the Brahma himself in word or symbol form, and the swastika, which represents the evolution or involution of the universe, can be seen on buildings, clothing, artwork, or jewelry, and reflect deeply rooted spiritual history. (Wikipedia) Body art including the tilaka (dots or lines painted on the face with clay or paint to denote religious sect or marriage status), bindi and henna tattoos (used mainly as a fashion statement in modern Hinduism) reflect the Hindu belief that religion and culture are always melded together as one. (Wikipedia)
In conclusion, the Hindu faith is a complex spiritual path and way of life. Communication, both verbal and nonverbal, play an important role in the maintenance and development of Hindu relationships with each other and with the divinity. By understanding the roots of Hindu philosophy, we can hope to better understand the Hindu culture and its people.