I have two points here...
Well I say that Hinduism originally doesn't give me any commandments to follow. It doesn't bother me with restrictions limitations and gives me the luxury of imagination. There is Geeta which primarily talks about Karma. As you sow so shall u reap. There are the Vedanta and the Upanishads but then they aren't necessarily to be read for a clean survival. They are pretty scientific I have heard and do not refer to a person, community, individual but are universal in application and approach. I shall now delve into them as part of my new project.
However and this being a big However, Hinduism created class. While other religions (again in my common knowledge, reached that state of division of work either by merit or suppression of other communities, Hinduism had a direct classification of individuals. Now, the genesis of this might have been pretty apt back in the time (the much discussed and referred Ram Rajya) but it lead to all kinds of problems in the recent centuries continuing with much disgust till today and years to come.
In understanding and accepting the statement that religion degenerates and limits self confidence and mind it took me lot of guts.
I also think that I was born free, Russell said it already. But I guess the moment I started absorbing I started becoming insecure.
I shouldn't do this, I shouldn't have done this, I should only do this...
It was very much inside my mind till (because primarily of my Maa) I did not reside to the the fate's declaration that I have screwed up. My mom has been one of the most liberal and liberated woman who has told me its ok to ruin things. But keep walking. Of course it wasn't a lecture but her instinctive nature which I absorbed over the growing up years. It is because of her that I don't feel scared to be impulsive, instinctive and accept failure.
As my best friend she has never restricted my thought. In fact she made sure I m well exposed to have a mind of my own. She emphasized on being a vegetarian most importantly because she loves life in the animals. Wow... My various relationships. She is so brave and courageous to have accepted my big lies. Isn't that cool. While exposing me to ideologies of life through books, through movies, through discourses she has never ever restricted my mind. She trusts her creation.
I might not follow her ideas and she would be OK with it. Yet, I would certainly debate with her the right, the wrong and the desired.
Do we really need an idealized God who's existence is merely In the books (scriptures) and not in real life. I rather prefer the real life. Where I don't have to be waiting for a Miracle to happen based on the degree of my prayers but the faith that I have in the person.
Krishna, Rama, Jesus, Budha, Mahavira, Md PBUH are the legends I learn from (aptly put, second hand learning from others experiences). They are great personalities who have a lot of character to teach but I won't bend down and pray to them. For me they are apostles of characteristics as the courage of the Great Alexander the Great, the dedication of Gandhi and the passion of the Christ, the mind of Nelson Mandela...