Any help from pujaris, priests, Yoginis and Yogis?

[Guest guest]

Namaste everyone,

 

Since my sampradaya gives me freedom to associate with other

traditions and lineages, I really would like to learn the Puja arts.

The Hindu community in Montreal (where I reside) is pretty closed to

Westeners. I contacted every priests, brahmins and pandits by fax,

mail, in person and email but nobody wanted to perform the namakarana-

samskara rite of passage. I really feel I belong to Sanatana-Dharma,

especially of the Shakta sect.

What would be your advice to start to build satsang with fellow

Hindus? Can namakarana-samskara be performed at distance? It's after

reading "How to convert to Hinduism" by Sadguru Subramuniyaswami that

I felt this urge to convert completely. I obtaines a letter of

severance from the religious groups my parents baptized me in (which

was a hard procedure in my case - it took about 6 months before the

ending-). Being physically distant from my Guru-Mother is a great

teaching. I get some cyber-satsang with fellow gurubhais and other

disciples of my Parama-Guru, Sri Neem Karoli Baba but I would love to

enter in bhava with fellow brothers ans sisters.

What should be done next? Thanks a lot!

With prem,

 

Varuna

always the my Guru's padukas

 

P.S Please excuse the English mistakes, French is my native language.

[Guest guest]

Namaste Varuna,

 

Upon stumbling into this group, myself, I was quite confused as to

my "place" within my spirituality. I knew what I held true, and that

I felt I'd found my spiritual home, but also knew that I felt quite

out of place at the local temple.

 

It is because of the people I have met through these

that I have found the strength to ignore all of the stares and

continue on with what I feel is right for my own spirituality. I

would encourage you to continue to stop by here, read, and post. The

benefits, I feel, are great.

 

As far as the ceremony, I'm sure that it will happen for you if it is

meant to happen. Keep trying, faxing, emailing...sooner or later

you'll find an open door if it is meant for you. Have you tried

emailing the Neem Karoli Baba ashram in Taos, NM? Perhaps they could

point you in a good direction.

 

Someone once told me, "You know what you are." Was he ever right! I

know some people feel it is necessary to go through the ceremony, but

I really do not feel it is necessary for me. Devi knows where I

belong and I feel I do not need to prove my spirituality to anyone.

 

If we live in the light, no one can deny our sincerity.

 

With love,

Erica

 

PS I would love to hear more about Neem Karoli Baba. Would you mind

sharing with us? I have heard some of his teachings, retold through

Krishna Das and would love to hear more.

 

, "ruchirananda" <tulasi3@w...> wrote:

>

> Namaste everyone,

[Guest guest]

Welcome ruchirananda to our humble abode. We hope you will take the

time to read out past posts and join us in regualr satsangh, sharing

your thoughts, views and feelings on the various questions presented.

 

Ruchirananada, you are Ram Dass's gurubhai! Ram Dass has been my

teacher for a longest. The honor is mine to have you with us. I hope

you will share with us what is your experience of learning from Neem

Karoli Baba's teachings.

 

Conversion to the "religion" gets into sticky waters. Traditionally

Hindusim being what it is, a life style, a philosophy, there are

several opinions about the conversion process. Most in mainstream

believe one cannot convert to the religion. At the same time, the

role of conversion has been recognized by some groups like the one

you mentioned and they have developed procedures to do the same.

 

I feel, that part of the reason why conversion was never an issue in

the "religion", was that at the time the religious ceremonies

evolved, there weren't any other religions around. So what was a

person converting from? Another reason expressed by some is that this

philosophy is truely the grandfather of all "religions", and being in

any is being part of the greater family of "Hindusim". Further, the

term Hindus is derived from the geographical place the civilization

evolved, and it makes sense that one has to be born there to

get that name. In lectures I have often been asked by an amazed

audience, as to how can a "religion" survive without conversion. My

answer usually is Truth doesn't need any conversion. And in fact, a

true "Hindu" honors ALL paths, while choosing a specific path for

themselves.

 

Either way, today, being a Hindu involves a faith, in the teachings

of the Vedic tradition. (Yes, we can get even more picky about it,

but personally I disagree.) To participate in specific ritualistic

aspects of the religion one rather needs more specific initiation and

training, and for that one has to trace an appropriate Guru in the

lineage you are interested in.

 

I apologize for the "attitudes" you have had to face in your attempts

to reach a sympathetic ear. No group of people have a monopoly on

arrogance. I join Erica, who has pointed out so well, to keep trying

and reaching out to different organizations. I add, perhaps you can

take these experiences as a testing period to test your own

commitment to the journey.

 

I also would like to add a word of caution here. There are many

organizations, some lurking here on the net too, that love to prey on

the eagerness of those who wish to convert. Please please follow your

gut, check and countercheck with others, and know, that paperwork is

the least of what is important in the religion you want to "join". It

is how you feel within you that makes a "Hindu", not the title

itself.

 

Much love and welcome again.

 

_/\_ Tat twam asi

 

Uma

 

 

Post 4372 "ruchirananda" wrote:

>

> Namaste everyone,