Coming to Hindu beliefs

[Guest guest]

I have been thinking a lot about how my beliefs

have developed over time... because in one sense, I am

a very 'new' Hindu, just a few months of giving

myself that label... yet looking back, I realise I have

been emerging, or evolving, for many, many

years.<br><br>I was brought up with no religion. Yet I always

felt that I was missing something, longed to have a

group and a set of beliefs to identify myself with. I

looked into the religions of those around me,

Christianity, Judaism, Islam, but could not feel that they were

for me. I began yoga asanas and pranayama in 1994,

and have gradually, gradually come to a Hindu

conciousness.<br><br>I have always believed certain things which I can

now see as principles of Hinduism: the

interconnectedness of the web of life; non-violence towards all

creatures (I have been a vegetarian all my adult life); an

underlying Cosmic Consciousness, quite different from the

'personality' of the Judeo-Christian God; tolerance towards the

beliefs and cultures of others; the importance of right

and ethical action toward others, etc.<br><br>Reading

more about Dharma and then reading translations of

some of the Upanishads and then - with much joy - the

Gita, I have had an ever increasing sense of, 'Ah, yes,

THAT is who I am! ' It gives me a profound feeling

of relief, satsifaction and peace to call myself

Hindu.<br><br>Wishing you all happiness,<br><br>Padma