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?'
'Loka Samastha Sukino 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 and practices. 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.'
I told her - if you look for meaning in life, don't look for it in religions;
don't go from one cult to another or from one guru to the next.
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 shiva……………
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