New Member Introduction

[Guest guest]

Hello All-

 

I just thought I would pop off an introduction for myself.

 

My name is Danielle (although I usually just go by D), and I live in Toronto,

Ontario, Canada. While I am not a born Hindu, nor do I practice Hinduism in a

fully traditional sense, my spirituality revolves around the wisdom, theology,

cosmology, etc of it.

 

I first discovered it in first year University. I had already been searching

spiritually for about 3 or 4 years, not being content or fulfilled at all with

the faith of my birth (Christianity), when out of pure interest I decided to

take a year long course overviewing Hinduism. I had chosen that course, because

the religious art of India had always intrigued me, but I knew absolutely

nothing about the religion. One of our assignments towards the beginning of the

course was to chant "OM" for at least 15 minutes, every night for a week, and

then write about our experience. While I had chanted before, this was my first

experience with an actual Sanskrit mantra. I had never before felt so uplifted!

Within 4 months of beginning that class, I knew that I had found what I was

searching for, and also the source of a lifelong passion. I changed my major

after the first semester to Religious Studies, and declared my specialist as the

Hindu Tradition. I actually even ended up taking an extra undergrad year in

order to take a few courses that I desired, but had not been able to take in the

fours years for whatever scheduling reasons.

 

During my final year of University, I began to feel guilty about my

non-traditional "appropriation" of Hinduism into my spirituality. Although I

felt absolutely wonderful, and my life had taken a wonderful turn for the

better, I wasn't sure if what I was doing was acceptable, and I wouldn't want to

be partaking in anything that was offensive, especially to a culture that I

admired so deeply. Someone suggested that I contact the Hindu chaplain, and so I

did. I think he may have been a bit surprised to see a white girl with a slight

southern accent walk into his office! We chatted, and I explained how I came to

be familiar with the spirituality, and how I had felt enveloped by Ganesha

several years ago and regularly chanting his mantras before a small statue of

Him that I had aquired. I asked the chaplain if this was wrong, and he happily

said no, and that it didn't surprise him at all that Ganesha had become a part

of my life - as Ganesha is usually responsible for bringing non-Hindus into the

circle of that grand spirituality.

 

Since then, my spirituality has finally grown enough so that I feel drawn to

worship the Goddess in Her various manifestations, and especially Durga. (For a

long time, probably due to my Christian upbringing, along with the fact that I

had always had strained relationships with women, I had not been able to feel a

connection to any female Deities.) I sometimes visit Hindu temples in town, but

very infrequently, as I still feel too much the outsider. This leaves me feeling

a bit alone at times, and that is why I am seeking out others. I hope that I can

learn from this group some things that I have not been able to learn elsewhere,

and I hope that I am accepted.

 

Blessings,

~D~

[Guest guest]

Welcome, "D"!

 

I agree that Lord Ganesha is usually responsible for

attracting "Western" devotees to Hinduism. It may be

because he's associated with the astrological shadow

planet Rahu, and Rahu sometimes produces a feeling of

"being in the wrong faith."

 

Settle in, listen to the many wise writers on this

list, and enjoy!

 

-- Len/ Kalipadma

 

 

--- ~Devi~ <prana_devi wrote:

> Hello All-

>

> I just thought I would pop off an introduction for

> myself.

>

> My name is Danielle (although I usually just go by

> D), and I live in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. While I

> am not a born Hindu, nor do I practice Hinduism in a

> fully traditional sense, my spirituality revolves

> around the wisdom, theology, cosmology, etc of it.

>

> I first discovered it in first year University. I

> had already been searching spiritually for about 3

> or 4 years, not being content or fulfilled at all

> with the faith of my birth (Christianity), when out

> of pure interest I decided to take a year long

> course overviewing Hinduism. I had chosen that

> course, because the religious art of India had

> always intrigued me, but I knew absolutely nothing

> about the religion. One of our assignments towards

> the beginning of the course was to chant "OM" for at

> least 15 minutes, every night for a week, and then

> write about our experience. While I had chanted

> before, this was my first experience with an actual

> Sanskrit mantra. I had never before felt so

> uplifted! Within 4 months of beginning that class, I

> knew that I had found what I was searching for, and

> also the source of a lifelong passion. I changed my

> major after the first semester to Religious Studies,

> and declared my specialist as the Hindu Tradition. I

> actually even ended up taking an extra undergrad

> year in order to take a few courses that I desired,

> but had not been able to take in the fours years for

> whatever scheduling reasons.

>

> During my final year of University, I began to feel

> guilty about my non-traditional "appropriation" of

> Hinduism into my spirituality. Although I felt

> absolutely wonderful, and my life had taken a

> wonderful turn for the better, I wasn't sure if what

> I was doing was acceptable, and I wouldn't want to

> be partaking in anything that was offensive,

> especially to a culture that I admired so deeply.

> Someone suggested that I contact the Hindu chaplain,

> and so I did. I think he may have been a bit

> surprised to see a white girl with a slight southern

> accent walk into his office! We chatted, and I

> explained how I came to be familiar with the

> spirituality, and how I had felt enveloped by

> Ganesha several years ago and regularly chanting his

> mantras before a small statue of Him that I had

> aquired. I asked the chaplain if this was wrong, and

> he happily said no, and that it didn't surprise him

> at all that Ganesha had become a part of my life -

> as Ganesha is usually responsible for bringing

> non-Hindus into the circle of that grand

> spirituality.

>

> Since then, my spirituality has finally grown enough

> so that I feel drawn to worship the Goddess in Her

> various manifestations, and especially Durga. (For a

> long time, probably due to my Christian upbringing,

> along with the fact that I had always had strained

> relationships with women, I had not been able to

> feel a connection to any female Deities.) I

> sometimes visit Hindu temples in town, but very

> infrequently, as I still feel too much the outsider.

> This leaves me feeling a bit alone at times, and

> that is why I am seeking out others. I hope that I

> can learn from this group some things that I have

> not been able to learn elsewhere, and I hope that I

> am accepted.

>

> Blessings,

> ~D~

>

>

>

 

 

 

 

 

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[Guest guest]

Dear Friend, U have said u got the thing what u were scarching fr ! If i am not

mistaking or read u wrongly u are held up in spirituality and religion. All

religions are the art of disciplined living towards the ultimate goal i.e.

MOKSHA. . By following theose lines u may reduce the time to reach the goal.

Sprituality is in every religion .The core of Hinduism is AHAM BRAMHAS MI

,meaning I am the God.The God is not the stranger but is within U.To try to find

HIM is spirituality. ............... I hope i havnot hurted U .With regards take

care,SHUBHASTE PANTHANAM.

 

~Devi~ <prana_devi wrote:Hello All-

 

I just thought I would pop off an introduction for myself.

 

My name is Danielle (although I usually just go by D), and I live in Toronto,

Ontario, Canada. While I am not a born Hindu, nor do I practice Hinduism in a

fully traditional sense, my spirituality revolves around the wisdom, theology,

cosmology, etc of it.

 

I first discovered it in first year University. I had already been searching

spiritually for about 3 or 4 years, not being content or fulfilled at all with

the faith of my birth (Christianity), when out of pure interest I decided to

take a year long course overviewing Hinduism. I had chosen that course, because

the religious art of India had always intrigued me, but I knew absolutely

nothing about the religion. One of our assignments towards the beginning of the

course was to chant "OM" for at least 15 minutes, every night for a week, and

then write about our experience. While I had chanted before, this was my first

experience with an actual Sanskrit mantra. I had never before felt so uplifted!

Within 4 months of beginning that class, I knew that I had found what I was

searching for, and also the source of a lifelong passion. I changed my major

after the first semester to Religious Studies, and declared my specialist as the

Hindu Tradition. I actually even ended up taking an extra

undergrad year in order to take a few courses that I desired, but had not been

able to take in the fours years for whatever scheduling reasons.

 

During my final year of University, I began to feel guilty about my

non-traditional "appropriation" of Hinduism into my spirituality. Although I

felt absolutely wonderful, and my life had taken a wonderful turn for the

better, I wasn't sure if what I was doing was acceptable, and I wouldn't want to

be partaking in anything that was offensive, especially to a culture that I

admired so deeply. Someone suggested that I contact the Hindu chaplain, and so I

did. I think he may have been a bit surprised to see a white girl with a slight

southern accent walk into his office! We chatted, and I explained how I came to

be familiar with the spirituality, and how I had felt enveloped by Ganesha

several years ago and regularly chanting his mantras before a small statue of

Him that I had aquired. I asked the chaplain if this was wrong, and he happily

said no, and that it didn't surprise him at all that Ganesha had become a part

of my life - as Ganesha is usually responsible for bringing non-Hindus

into the circle of that grand spirituality.

 

Since then, my spirituality has finally grown enough so that I feel drawn to

worship the Goddess in Her various manifestations, and especially Durga. (For a

long time, probably due to my Christian upbringing, along with the fact that I

had always had strained relationships with women, I had not been able to feel a

connection to any female Deities.) I sometimes visit Hindu temples in town, but

very infrequently, as I still feel too much the outsider. This leaves me feeling

a bit alone at times, and that is why I am seeking out others. I hope that I can

learn from this group some things that I have not been able to learn elsewhere,

and I hope that I am accepted.

 

Blessings,

~D~

 

 

 

 

 

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