Hello, I received a email from a friend and it is a brief explanation on Hinduism and also a brief explanation on why I am a Hindu.
WHY I AM A HINDU
WHY I AM A HINDU
Four
years ago, I was flying from JFK NY Airport to SFO to attend a meeting
at Monterey , CA. An American girl was sitting on the right side, near
window seat. It indeed was a long journey - it would take nearly seven
hours. I was surprised to see the young girl reading a Bible unusual of
young Americans. After some time she smiled and we had few
acquaintances talk. I told her that I am from India
Then suddenly the girl asked: 'What's your faith?' 'What?' I didn't understand the question.
'I mean, what's your religion? Are you a Christian? Or a Muslim?'*
'No!'
I replied, 'I am neither Christian nor Muslim'. Apparently she
appeared shocked to listen to that. 'Then who are you?' 'I am Hindu’, I
said. She looked at me as if she was seeing a caged animal. She could
not understand what I was talking about.* A common man in Europe or US
knows about Christianity and Islam, as they are the leading religions of
the world today.
But a Hindu, what?.*
I explained to her - I am born to a Hindu father and Hindu mother. Therefore, I am a Hindu by birth.*
'Who is your prophet?' she asked.
'We don't have a prophet,' I replied.*
'What's
your Holy Book?'* 'We don't have a single Holy Book, but we have
hundreds and thousands of philosophical and sacred scriptures,' I
replied.*
'Oh, come on at least tell me who is your God?'*
'What do you mean by that?'*
'Like we have Jesus and Muslims have Allah - don't you have a God?'*
I
thought for a moment. Muslims and Christians believe one God (Male God)
who created the world and takes an interest in the humans who inhabit
it. Her mind is conditioned with that kind of belief.*
According
to her (or anybody who doesn't know about Hinduism), a religion needs
to have one Prophet, one Holy book and one God. The mind is so
conditioned and rigidly narrowed down to such a notion that anything
else is not acceptable. I understood her perception and concept about
faith.
You can't compare Hinduism with any of the present leading religions where you have to believe in one concept of god.*
I
tried to explain to her: 'You can believe in one god and he can be a
Hindu. You may believe in multiple deities and still you can be a Hindu.
What's more - you may not believe in god at all, still you can be a
Hindu. An atheist can also be a Hindu.'*
This
sounded very crazy to her. She couldn't imagine a religion so
unorganized, still surviving for thousands of years, even after
onslaught from foreign forces.*
'I don't understand but it seems very interesting. Are you religious?
'
What can I tell to this American girl?* I said: 'I do not go to temple
regularly. I do not make any regular rituals. I have learned some of the
rituals in my younger days. I still enjoy doing it sometimes..'*
'Enjoy? Are you not afraid of God?'* 'God is a friend. No- I am not afraid of God. Nobody has made any compulsions on me to perform these rituals regularly.
'* She thought for a while and then asked: 'Have you ever thought of converting to any other religion?
'*
'Why should I?. Even if I challenge some of the rituals and faith in
Hinduism, nobody can convert me from Hinduism. Because, being a Hindu
allows me to think independently and objectively, without conditioning. I
remain as a Hindu never by force, but choice.' I told her that Hinduism is not a religion, but a set of beliefs and practices. It is not
a religion like Christianity or Islam because it is not founded by any
one person or does not have an organized controlling body like the
Church or the Order, I added. There is no institution or authority.*
'So, you don't believe in God?' she wanted everything in black and white.
'I didn't say that. I do not discard the divine reality. Our scripture, or Sruthis or Smrithis - Vedas and Upanishads or the Gita - say God might be there or he might not be there. But we pray to that supreme abstract authority (Para Brahma) that is the creator of this universe.'*
'Why can't you believe in one personal God?'*
'We
have a concept - abstract - not a personal god. The concept or notion
of a personal God, hiding behind the clouds of secrecy, telling us
irrational stories through few men whom he sends as messengers,
demanding us to worship him or punish us, does not make sense. I don't
think that God is as silly as an autocratic emperor who wants others to
respect him or fear him.
'I
told her that such notions are just fancies of less educated human
imagination and fallacies, adding that generally ethnic religious
practitioners in Hinduism believe in personal gods. The entry level
Hinduism has over-whelming superstitions too. The philosophical side of
Hinduism negates all superstitions.*
'Good that you agree God might exist. You told that you pray. What is your prayer then? she asked'
'Loka Samastha Suk ino Bhavantu. Om Shanti, Shanti, Shanti,
'* 'Funny,' she laughed, 'What does it mean?'*
'May all the beings in all the worlds be happy. Om Peace, Peace, Peace.
'*
'Hmm ..very interesting.. I want to learn more about this religion. It
is so democratic, broad-minded and free' she exclaimed.*
'The
fact is Hinduism is a religion of the individual, for the individual
and by the individual with its roots in the Vedas and the Bhagavad-Gita.
It is all about an individual approaching a personal God in an
individual way according to his temperament and inner evolution - it is
as simple as that.'
'How does anybody convert to Hinduism?'
'Nobody
can convert you to Hinduism, because it is not a religion, but a set of
beliefs, practices and a way of life and culture. Everything is
acceptable in Hinduism because there is no single authority or
organization either to accept it or to reject it or to oppose it on
behalf of Hinduism.
'*
For a real seeker, I told her, the Bible itself gives guidelines when
it says ' Kingdom of God is within you.' I reminded her of Christ's
teaching about the love that we have for each other. That is where you
can find the meaning of life.
Loving each and every creation of the God is absolute and real. 'Isavasyam idam sarvam Isam
- (the God) is present (inhabits) here everywhere – nothing exists
separate from the God, because God is present everywhere. Respect every
living being and non-living things as God. That's what Hinduism teaches
you.
Hinduism is referred to as Sanathana Dharma,
the eternal faith. It is based on the practice of Dharma, the code of
life. The most important aspect of Hinduism is being truthful to
oneself. Hinduism has no monopoly on ideas - It is open to all. Hindus
believe in one God (not a personal one) expressed in different forms.
For them, God is timeless and formless entity.
Ancestors
of today's Hindus believe in eternal truths and cosmic laws and these
truths are opened to anyone who seeks them. But there is a section of
Hindus who are either superstitious or turned fanatic to make this an
organized religion like others. The British coin the word 'Hindu' and
considered it as a religion.
I
said: 'Religions have become an MLM (multi-level- marketing) industry
that has been trying to expand the market share by conversion. The
biggest business in today's world is Spirituality. Hinduism is no
exception'*
I am a Hindu primarily because it professes Non-violence - 'Ahimsa Paramo Dharma' - Non violence is the highest duty. I am a Hindu because it doesn't conditions my mind with any faith system.
A
man/ woman who change 's his/her birth religion to another religion is a
fake and does not value his/her morals, culture and values in life.
Hinduism was the first religion originated. Be proud of your religion
and be proud of who you are.
Om Namo shivaya, Om Namo Narayanaya Namaha*
