Guest guest Posted April 28, 2003 Report Share Posted April 28, 2003 The other night I was in Gainesville and I witnessed a groups of folks making fun of a girl who said she worshipped Lord Ganesh. They were making rude comments about a god with an elephant's head and other ridiculous comments. So, I began to explain to them some elements of the belief, to the degree that I knew it. They made jokes about food offerings to Ganesh. I just told them that they should not do that, but instead, they might go back to this girl and ask her better questions and allow her time and respect to share why she performs this ritual. I told them that there is profound philosophy behind ritual actions in various religions and that instead of closing themselves off to it they should open up to understanding more. They thought a god with an elephant's head was silly. I told them that God is depicted in a variety of forms for a variety of reasons. I also told them that it is good in the spiritual life to be more childlike and humble and not so critical. They also kept joking about reincarnation by taking some words the girl said and playing out ridiculous scenarios with the mechanics of reincarnation. I told them whether or not you believe in reincarnation, you should at least familiarize yourself w more of the support beliefs of it and not just bash these little scenarios you keep creating. I don't know any Hindu who pays too much attention to what they may have been in a former life or what they will be in a next life. I do know many Hindus who care about how their actions affect them in terms of their beliefs in maya, karma, moksha, etc. So, this whole discussion was rather missing the point I thought. Still, I didn't try to condemn them or speak in anger. I explained a little about Ganesh to them as well, and happily they listened. Please pray that all obstacles to correct understanding be removed between persons regardless of religious affiliation. Bill Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 2, 2003 Report Share Posted May 2, 2003 Namaste Bill, Well done for standing up against ignorance and maintaining your composure at the same time. The vast majority of people in western culture have no understanding of the profound and subtle nature of Sanatana Dharma, and it ain't an easy task to explain even a little of it to them, especially to those folk whose consciousness is rooted in the lower chakras. So well done to you Bill, it sounds as if you responded to the situation in a calm and appropriate manner : ) Om Shanti, Neil , "Bill Rogers" <wondermagazine@a...> wrote: > The other night I was in Gainesville and I witnessed a groups of > folks making fun of a girl who said she worshipped Lord Ganesh. They > were making rude comments about a god with an elephant's head and > other ridiculous comments. So, I began to explain to them some > elements of the belief, to the degree that I knew it. They made jokes > about food offerings to Ganesh. I just told them that they should not > do that, but instead, they might go back to this girl and ask her > better questions and allow her time and respect to share why she > performs this ritual. I told them that there is profound philosophy > behind ritual actions in various religions and that instead of > closing themselves off to it they should open up to understanding > more. They thought a god with an elephant's head was silly. I told > them that God is depicted in a variety of forms for a variety of > reasons. I also told them that it is good in the spiritual life to be > more childlike and humble and not so critical. They also kept joking > about reincarnation by taking some words the girl said and playing > out ridiculous scenarios with the mechanics of reincarnation. I told > them whether or not you believe in reincarnation, you should at least > familiarize yourself w more of the support beliefs of it and not just > bash these little scenarios you keep creating. I don't know any Hindu > who pays too much attention to what they may have been in a former > life or what they will be in a next life. I do know many Hindus who > care about how their actions affect them in terms of their beliefs in > maya, karma, moksha, etc. So, this whole discussion was rather > missing the point I thought. Still, I didn't try to condemn them or > speak in anger. I explained a little about Ganesh to them as well, > and happily they listened. Please pray that all obstacles to correct > understanding be removed between persons regardless of religious > affiliation. > > Bill Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 2, 2003 Report Share Posted May 2, 2003 Thanks Neil, for such a kind response. , "indianpaganism" <pashu@t...> wrote: > Namaste Bill, > > Well done for standing up against ignorance and maintaining your > composure at the same time. The vast majority of people in western > culture have no understanding of the profound and subtle nature of > Sanatana Dharma, and it ain't an easy task to explain even a little > of it to them, especially to those folk whose consciousness is rooted > in the lower chakras. So well done to you Bill, it sounds as if you > responded to the situation in a calm and appropriate manner : ) > > > Om Shanti, > > Neil Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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