Why am I a Hindu?

I wish to share a wonderful article that I received from my friend that changed my perspective to look at religion. 

Disclaimer: This post doesn't intend to create any hatred among people, nor intends to hurt anyones sentiments. Read and share if you like.... or stop reading further! 

I was flying from Mumbai to Delhi to attend a meeting.

An American girl was sitting on the right side, near window seat. It indeed was a long journey - it would take nearly 2 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 Mumbai. 

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 a 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 overwhelming 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. Let there be Peace, Peace, and Peace everywhere.'

‘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 it is a Culture, a way of living life, a set of beliefs and practices.

Everything is acceptable in Hinduism because there is no single Authority or Organization either to accept you or to reject you or to oppose you 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 (multilevel- 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' means - Non-violence is the highest duty.

I am a Hindu because it doesn't condition my mind with any faith system.

A man/woman who changes 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 faith/way of life/dharma....

Golden Winged Beauty

Golden winged body,

trying to break into

an electric light bulb

and fry himself on the wires

I took him in my hand,

and asked him why do you fellows,

try this suicidal stunts?

what if it’s a sparkling candle light?

"Call us ephemeral" he said

bored of our daily life,

pollution, no pure air to breathe within.

Fire is beautiful, we know if we get too close

we will be in ashes....

But what does it matter, it’s better to be happy for a moment

than living in misery and bored all the while.

It’s better to be a part of the sparkling beauty for an instant…

Than just existing….

Before I could argue him on his philosophy,

He flew again in search of peace,

wings pressed towards the light bulb, as badly trying to fry himself….

DuDo - My Coffee Mug

Found a shop that prints photogaphs on Tshirts and other stationaries and got this printed for myself and few as a gift for my readers. :) 

Life is Perfect

Everything can be practiced and perfected except suicide, 

Feel free to make mistakes! 

But don't give up on life!

Rockstar movie - The worst review ever

Film: Rockstar
Director: Imtiaz Ali
Starring: Ranbir Kapoor, Nargis Fakhri
Rating: 3.5/5

A movie loosely inspired by universal rock artists indulged in dirty media fame, alcoholism and love life.

Janardhan Jakhar  (Ranbir Kapoor) a.k.a JJ is buffoonish Haryanvi Boy trying to flirt with Heer Kaul (Nargis Fakhri) a bombshell with Khatiya Tod Jawani.

The first half would make you laugh on JJ's buffoonery in flirting and his struggle to get noticed as a singer. A R Rahman's  background score and music compositions will melt your minds.

The young lads dirty image as a Rockstar Jordan spoiled by the media gives him a big hype for his glam & fame.

 I wrote all this in bits and pieces hehe, try to connect it by watching the movie its worth.
 

A tough decision

Its always surprise when life takes you to the unpredictable junctures to make sudden and random decision. Some may be rough and some may be tough. This random decision changes you upside down.

He cried, but no one saw him,

he screamed, but no one heard him,

he wished, but prayers were unanswered,

he glanced at his watch ticking,

he decided, to move on.... 

"To move on in life is a difficult thing!! But if you don't, you miss out on a lot of interesting things with the time you lost at the pit-stop."  

You are not alone - Part 1

I think I have really lost it!!!!

No not my mind silly…. My frequency in blogging.

The Indi-rank has come down from 57 – 43. L

Trying to find and remove creative and philosophical clot from my brain, to attempt the untried.  

YOU ARE NOT ALONE...

The days were dull and feelings were unrest. His mind haunted his grandfather Rtd Lt. Colonel Uday Prakash Dessai's last words on his death bed.

“Ved, you are not alone!”


He was orphaned at a young age when he couldn't even recognize the faces.   

All confused Ved began his search of hidden truth.  

To be continued….

• Predict the ending.
• Do let me know if you like to read more??? J

Broken Milestone

I know guys its been a few days, infact a month since I updated my space. It took a little time to settle down here at DXB. I wanted to update but....some things really kept me busy specially my laziness. The best part is I kissed it goodbye and back to my life of blank thoughts.

The new journey of my career kick-started with a bang! Enjoying to be a part of  a lively dedicated team members who are hungry for more. Everyday is a new learning experience.  Wish to write a lot but words may not describe those experiences.

Blank Thought

On the road of my personal life "Found a broken milestone and marked it as a new beginning.".  In this journey some people touched and some changed my way of looking at life, they walked away without a hitch. I know they won't stay with me forever.... The logic is simple, they have reached their destination. They were here to show me my pathway. And their memories wont fade away.
 

Shadows and Light

 

Don't chase the shadows,

Neeya's Dedication A Guest Post

To the God of Small Philosophies

We can't control another person's mind

Sometimes we can't even control our mind

But some smiles and some set of words,

Know the magic to change our mind

Lord Shiva Redefined

I believe every Indian epic, illustrated mythology and 330 million gods have some logic and scientific reasons for their existence. 

Shiva (Sanskrit: Auspicious One) is one of the main deities of Hinduism trios (Brahma, Vishnu, Mahesh) that is worshipped as the paramount lord by the Shaivaite sects of India. Mahesh, Rudra, Omkareswar, Rameshwar, Mallikarjuna, Bhimashankar…. 1000s of names defining him individually.  

Today being an auspicious Maha Shivaratri. Here is my attempt to define Lord Shiva logically.