why i am hindu

8/8/2019 why i am hindu

1/12

WHY I AM A HINDU-MUST READ (Long butinteresting)

Four years ago, I was flying from JFK NYAirport to SFO to attend a meeting atMonterey , CA An American girl was sittingon the right side, near window seat. It

indeed was a long journey - it would takenearly seven hours.

I was surprised to see the young girl

reading a Bible unusual of youngAmericans. After some time she smiled andwe had few acquaintances talk.I told herthat I am from India

Then suddenly the girl asked: 'What's yourfaith?' 'What?' I didn't understand thequestion.


2/12

'I mean, what's your religion? Are you aChristian? Or a Muslim?'

'No!' I replied, 'I am neither Christian norMuslim'.

Apparently she appeared shocked to listento that. 'Then who are you?' 'I am a Hindu', I

said.

She looked at me as if she was seeing acaged animal. She could not understandwhat I was talking about.

A common man in Europe or US knowsabout Christianity and Islam, as they arethe leading religions of the world today. Buta Hindu, what?

I explained to her - I am born to a Hindufather and Hindu mother. Therefore, I am aHindu by birth.


3/12

'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 wehave hundreds and thousands ofphilosophical and sacred scriptures,' Ireplied.

'Oh, come on at least tell me who is yourGod?'

'What do you mean by that?'

'Like we have Jesus and Muslims have Allah- don't you have a God?'


4/12

I thought for a moment. Muslims and

Christians believe one God (Male God) whocreated the world and takes an interest inthe humans who inhabit it. Her mind isconditioned with that kind of belief.

According to her (or anybody who doesn'tknow about Hinduism), a religion needs tohave one Prophet, one Holy book and oneGod. The mind is so conditioned and rigidlynarrowed down to such a notion thatanything else is not acceptable. I

understood her perception and conceptabout faith. You can't compare Hinduismwith any of the present leading religionswhere you have to believe in one concept ofgod.

I tried to explain to her: 'You can believe inone god and he can be a Hindu. You maybelieve in multiple deities and still you canbe a Hindu. What's more - you may not


5/12

believe in god at all, still you can be aHindu. An atheist can also be a Hindu.'

This sounded very crazy to her. Shecouldn't imagine a religion so unorganized,still surviving for thousands of years, evenafter onslaught from foreign forces.

'I don't understand but it seems veryinteresting. Are you religious?'What can I tell to this American girl?

I said: 'I do not go to temple regularly. I donot make any regular rituals. I have learnedsome of the rituals in my younger days. Istill 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


6/12

to perform these rituals regularly.'

She thought for a while and then asked:'Have you ever thought of converting to anyother religion?'

'Why should I? Even if I challenge some of

the rituals and faith in Hinduism, nobodycan convert me from Hinduism. Because,being a Hindu allows me to thinkindependently and objectively, withoutconditioning. I remain as a Hindu never byforce, but choice.' I told her that Hinduism

is not a religion, but a set of beliefs andpractices. It is not a religion like Christianityor Islam because it is not founded by anyone person or does not have an organizedcontrolling body like the Church or theOrder, I added. There is no institution orauthority.

'So, you don't believe in God?' she wantedeverything in black and white.


7/12

'I didn't say that. I do not discard the divine

reality. Our scripture, or Sruthis or Smrithis- Vedas and Upanishads or the Gita - sayGod might be there or he might not bethere. But we pray to that supreme abstractauthority (Para Brahma) that is the creatorof this universe.'

'Why can't you believe in one personalGod?'

'We have a concept - abstract - not apersonal god. The concept or notion of apersonal God, hiding behind the clouds ofsecrecy, telling us irrational stories throughfew men whom he sends as messengers,demanding us to worship him or punish us,does not make sense. I don't think that Godis as silly as an autocratic emperor whowants others to respect him or fear him.' Itold her that such notions are just fancies ofless educated human imagination and


8/12

fallacies, adding that generally ethnicreligious practitioners in Hinduism believein personal gods. The entry level Hinduism

has over-whelming superstitions too. Thephilosophical side of Hinduism negates allsuperstitions.

'Good that you agree God might exist. You

told that you pray. What is your prayerthen?'

'Loka Samastha Sukino Bhavantu. OmShanti, Shanti, Shanti,'

'Funny,' she laughed, 'What does it mean?'

'May all the beings in all the worlds behappy. Om Peace, Peace, Peace.'

'Hmm ...very interesting. I want to learnmore about this religion. It is so democratic,


9/12

broad-minded and free' she exclaimed.

'The fact is Hinduism is a religion of theindividual, for the individual and by theindividual with its roots in the Vedas andthe Bhagavad-Gita. It is all about anindividual approaching a personal God in anindividual way according to his

temperament and inner evolution - it is assimple as that.'

'How does anybody convert to Hinduism?'

'Nobody can convert you to Hinduism,because it is not a religion, but a set ofbeliefs and practices. Everything isacceptable in Hinduism because there is nosingle authority or organization either toaccept it or to reject it or to oppose it onbehalf of Hinduism.'

I told her - if you look for meaning in life,


10/12

don't look for it in religions; don't go fromone cult to another or from one guru to thenext.

For a real seeker, I told her, the Bible itselfgives guidelines when it says ' Kingdom ofGod is within you.' I reminded her of Christ'steaching about the love that we have for

each other. That is where you can find themeaning of life.

Loving each and every creation of the Godis absolute and real. 'Isavasyam idam

sarvam' Isam (the God) is present (inhabits)here everywhere - nothing exists separatefrom the God, because God is presenteverywhere. Respect every living being andnon-living things as God. That's whatHinduism teaches you..

Hinduism is referred to as SanathanaDharma, the eternal faith. It is based on thepractice of Dharma, the code of life. The


11/12

most important aspect of Hinduism is beingtruthful to oneself. Hinduism has nomonopoly on ideas.- It is open to all. Hindus

believe in one God (not a personal one)expressed in different forms. For them, Godis timeless and formless entity.

Ancestors of today's Hindus believe in

eternal truths and cosmic laws and thesetruths are opened to anyone who seeksthem. But there is a section of Hindus whoare either superstitious or turned fanatic tomake 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 hasbeen trying to expand the market share byconversion. The biggest business in today'sworld is Spirituality. Hinduism is noexception'


12/12

I am a Hindu primarily because it professesNon-violence - 'Ahimsa Paramo Dharma' -Non violence is the highest duty. I am a

Hindu because it doesn't conditions mymind with any faith system.A man/ woman who change 's his/her birthreligion to another religion is a fake anddoes not value his/her morals, culture andvalues in life. Hinduism was the first religion

originated. Be proud of your religion and beproud of who you are.Om Namo shiva

Documents

why i am hindu