There is an excellent preface by Sri Pavan K. Varma in his recent book on
“ADI SANKARACHARYA – HINDUISM’S GREATEST THINKER.” I am reproducing the first two paragraphs that reflects the greatness of hinduism in an exquisite manner.

“Hinduism, for most within its fold, is a way of life. It has no one Pope, no one text, no inflexibly prescriptive ritual, no mandatory congregation, and no one presiding temple. It is precisely for this reason that it has continued to flourish from time immemorial, sanatan and anant, because what is ubiquitous but not constrained by the brittleness of form, is by definition, imperishable.

“But it is precisely for this reason too, that most Hindus, while practising their faith in their own way, are often largely uninformed about the remarkable philosophical foundations of their religion. Hinduism, as a religion, is inseparable from Hinduism, as a philosophy. If Hindus are adrift from the deep philosophical moorings of the religion they practise, they are deliberately choosing the shell for the great treasure that lies within. When religions are largely reduced to rituals, there is always the danger that the form will become more important than the substance. That I believe, will be a great disservice to Hinduism itself, and to the great seers and sages and thinkers who gave to this sanatan dharma some of the most profound philosophical insights the world has seen.”