Some of the most important aspects of Hinduism are atman and samsara which represent one of the clearest distinctions between Hinduism and other religions. When Krishna says, “I never existed; neither you, nor these lords of men. Nor shall we cease to exist, all of us, henceforth” (Bhagavad Gita, 185), refers to the atman or human soul which is believed to have always existed and will continue to exist. And when he says: «Just as one throws away old clothes and then wears new ones; thus the incarnated self abandons old bodies to acquire new ones” (Bhagavad Gita, 187), he is talking about samsara and reincarnation. It is from this text that Hinduism draws its distinctive characteristics. As long as the Gita continues to be relevant in India, so will these philosophies. It reinforces the idea of reincarnation, the soul and duty that shapes the way Hindus live their lives. The goal for a Hindu is to emerge from samsara and attain Brahman, and according to the Gita, realizing one's dharma is the way to achieve this goal. The Bhagavad Gita is significant to Hinduism because it helped Hindus identify an end goal and teaches them how to achieve it.
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