Sucharit (good conduct or right behavior), sukkrit (good deed), and dharm (righteousness) are the basis of moral philosophy Hinduism prescribes for every human being and we would like to see these in our president.

We would also appreciate some of the other virtues in him/her, mentioned in the dharmasastras, like compassion, purity, equanimity, fortitude, and hands off from untruth and greed.

Satya (truth) is highly stressed in Hinduism and we think that it will be an important virtue we should look for in our next president. Upanishads state ‘satyam eva jayate’ (truth alone triumphs).

Are we asking too much?

Religion is a very mighty force, so we should not take it lightly. Sacred texts can be misapplied through handpicked reading, deciphering and interpretation.

It is hazardous:
· When we start seeing ourselves as God’s exclusive agents.
· When political profile is based on a decree from heaven that relies on us human
beings to execute.
· When religious beliefs become bolted into ultimate truths.
· When we appoint ourselves as the warden of the ultimate truth.
· When we start expanding the beliefs, convictions and doctrine of our religion to the
the social and political arena.

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In Hinduism, shunning of sinner is advised as sin is thought to be transmittable by physical contact, by thought, and by speech. Association with big sinners (mahapatakasamsarga) is a capital sin (mahapataka), which is difficult to atone for.

Sin is exonerated by purification, knowledge, penance (prayascittas), etc. Evils and sins are collectively known as dosha.

Hinduism instructs to avoid the following: avarice (lobha), jealousy (irsha), envy (matsarya), malice (dvish), fury (krodha), scurrility (durvachana), lust (kamarago), back-biting (parivada), anger (manyu), egoism (asmita), impatience (amarsha), arrogance (mana), sensuality (avirati), gluttony (atyahara), hostility (droha), self-centeredness (mamata), etc.

Whether we like it or not, human religiosity will not shrink in the future in the world and politicians/political parties will try to use religion to their advantage and rival’s disadvantage. The United States of America has a long tradition of church-state separation, but on the other hand also has a penchant for blending politics and religion.

Presidential candidates should be weighed upon their stands on foreign policy, health care, economy, peace/war, poverty, civil liberties, education, social security, trade issues, taxes and government services, deficit, technology and infrastructure, business and labor, minimum wage, environment, immigration, budget, etc., and their professional qualifications.

The trespass of religion into politics should be rebuffed.

Forgiveness is godly. Forgiveness is a virtue. Forgiveness is holiness. Forgiveness is powerful. Forgiveness is peace.

Ancient Hindu scripture Bhagavad-Gita says, “Develop purity, forgiveness, vigor, patience, a good will, and avoid pride—these are the riches of the person who is born for heaven."

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Physical truth and spiritual truth are inseparable. Religion and science are connected.

In Hinduism, science and religion go hand in hand. The relationship between Hinduism and science goes back to the Indus Valley civilization, as old as 2500 BCE. Vedic science appears to have included components of astronomy, biology, mathematics, chemistry, medicine, metallurgy, etc. The notion of atomic/molecular world was integrated into Vaiseshika school (between around 250 BCE to 100 CE) of Hindu philosophy. Yoga included some remarkable methods of breath/respiration control. Ancient sages were said to be acquainted with radar, microbiology, radioactivity, television, etc. Epic heroes of Hinduism flew first aircrafts. In Hinduism, there is theory of Seven Worlds, Doctrine of the Ages of the World, religious categories of Space in Veda, reference to quantum mechanics in scriptures, as well as mysteries of Vedic/Puranic aeronautics and Tantrik biochemistry, etc.

Because of ingrained respect for all forms of life and universe being a divine creation, Hinduism supports environmental protection. Nature is sacred and the divine is manifested through all its forms.

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Religions may start as sublime in their beginnings and their core doctrines, but slowly they mature into something which lacks perfection.

In addition to “love, compassion and forgiveness” of Dalai Lama, there are some more things in common in religions: misapplying holy scriptures through selective study and decoding, seeing ourselves as God’s charge d’affaires, claiming to be the lone owner of the truth and all the roads to salvation, positioning the ideal portrayal of one’s own religion with the apparently defective truth of other religions, etc.

As other human run establishments, all religions are equally vulnerable to pollution and exploitation.

Life does not end at death. It is just completion of an important particularity. Life rolls on till it merges in the Absolute. Life drifts on to achieve its triumph of the universal.

Self is reborn many times before it advances to moksha (liberation). Atman (self) is Brahman (the supreme being). Soul goes through many semblances.

Physical death is not final. Bhagavad-Gita compares death with the changing of worn-out clothing.

The major quest for us is to break the cycle of rebirth and attain a state of supreme freedom or liberation (moksha), which is a timeless state.

Where a candidate stands on the following issues, and not the faith background of the candidate, should be high on the agenda of the voter while going to presidential polls in 2008: fiscal policy, foreign policy, economy, health care, immigration, employment, civil liberties/rights, international trade, world peace, social security, etc. Religion, although the most powerful and pervasive force, is very personal. Political blueprints should not be based on a decree from heaven.