Foreign travel presents a host of wonderful cultural experiences such as observing the practice of an unfamiliar religious tradition. That happened to me on a trip to the Indonesian island of Bali where most people are adherents of Hinduism.

Hinduism, considered the oldest religion in the world, is said to have evolved from an ancient Indian religion dating from the 2nd millennium B.C. Eventually, it spread to Southeast Asia. Indian traders introduced their religion to Indonesia around the 9th century A.D. About one hundred years later, Islam arrived and it become the predominant religion in the region. Today, while approximately 90% of Indonesians are Muslims, most Balinese continue to adhere to the Hindu faith of their ancestors.

Hinduism, with approximately 800,000,000 adherents worldwide (although mostly in India and expatriate communities around the world), is difficult to describe. There are different sects, sects that may rely on any one of five different holy texts. It has no founder, common creed or doctrine that binds all Hindus together. It can be polytheistic, a belief system based on more than one God. The oldest of the holy texts, The Rig Veda, contains prayers to dozens of objects each serving as a deity. Or, one may believe in a "Supreme Spirit." Since the 18th century, there have been movements away from Hinduism's polytheistic practices.

Perhaps the most fundamental belief of the Hindu faith is the trinity of Brahma, the creator, Vishnu, the preserver, and Shiva, the destroyer.

These and the other numerous deities can be understood as manifestations of the one Brahma, from whom everything proceeds and to whom everything ultimately returns. Vishnu, the preserver, guides the cycle of birth and rebirth. His many reincarnations save the world from evil forces. Shiva, as destroyer, is at once protective and destructive. He destroys evil in the world but also the world itself. Brahma, of course, rebuilds the world.

Since Brahma is responsible for all workings of the world and everyone is a part of him, everyone should connect their selves with Brahma. There are four paths to union: knowledge, meditation, service to God, and work for God.

Another fundamental Hindu belief is reincarnation. One's subsequent status is dependent on one's actions (karma) and duties (dharma) in this life. The cycle is broken only when one attains liberation from the finite world through self-discovery: union of self with Brahma.

Hindus observe complex societal divisions based upon four primary castes. These castes are defined by occupation and social standing. The highest caste, the Brahmans, are the priests and intellects. The remaining three, in order, are the warrior caste, the artisan and agricultural caste, and the low caste.

Hindu worship is largely an individual and family matter rather than a congregational matter. Worship is conducted in a temple (or a smaller home temple) devoted to a god or group of gods. It includes rites, offerings and ceremonies centering on the socio-religious occasions of birth, marriage and death. Such activities are intended to bring the worshipper and the god closer together.

Hindus have a deep respect for all living things. In addition, great emphasis has been placed on non-violence and social equality as practiced by the founder of modern India, Mahatma Gandhi.