To Sergio about experiences and attitudes

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Sergio wrote

 

<quote> " 1. I have recently visited a large ashram in

Europe with a large mandir to Shri Lalita (won't specify where),

seeking further guidance. There I was told that while mahamantras

are theoretically open to all, they were not going to give me any

or encourage me to use them.

 

I understand - and was told - that without initiation I cannot do

proper puja (which requires pranapratishstha), recite mantras or

chant texts like the Sri Lalita Sahasranama.

 

2. I don't mind swamis etc. being cautious about giving mantras

etc.: these are certainly powerful tools, and esp. in this age,

it is best not to cast pearls to the swine. One thing I cannot

stand is 'Hindutva' and the idea that Sanatana Dharma somehow

only applies to ethnic Indians. This is an annoying attitude I

have often come across. A problem with the ashram I visited, I

guess, is that they do not emphasise bhakti in particular, which

is what I am after, really. I feel more at ease with Devi Mandir,

because its concern appears to be very much on devotion (after

the example of Sri Ramakrishna).

 

I respect the value of orthodoxy, and don't want to do anything

wrong. " </quote>

 

Namaste. Sergio.

 

I am happy that you are here and have been able to get answers to

some of your questions.

 

I am writing this message only to clarify some of the points you

have raised.

 

1. There are thousands of traditions in Hinduism. I am familiar

with the school that the Ashram you mentioned belong to. This is

one of the oldest and most respected Tantrik traditions. But to

follow the tradition requires years of continuous training under

a qualified Guru. It is by far the toughest tradition and not for

the faint hearted. Even if I had gone to the Ashram, I would have

been given the same reply. It takes quite sometime for the Guru

to evaluate a person to find out whether he/she is fit for

initiation. Years at times. This is not orthodoxy, but

tradition. Bhakti is part of the tradition, but the rituals and

Mantras are of supreme importance. Very few Indians leave alone

Westerners are initiated into this. Even Sri Ramakrishna had to be

initiated into Tantra by Bhairavi Brahmani and Advaita by Tota

Puri.

 

As Sri Ramakrishna said " There are as many ways as there are

men. "

 

I am sorry that your initial contact has been with this exclusive

tradition. But that should not devalue the tradition. To quote a

personal example, it took me some years before my Guru gave me

the right to even read the entire Chandi Path. Here in Devi

Mandir everyone is allowed to read it.

 

2. " Hindutva " is a Indian nationalist concept. In a judgment the

Supreme Court of India ruled that " no precise meaning can be

ascribed to the terms 'Hindu', 'Hindutva' and 'Hinduism'; and no

meaning in the abstract can confine it to the narrow limits of

religion alone, excluding the content of Indian culture and

heritage. " The Court also ruled that " Ordinarily, Hindutva is

understood as a way of life or a state of mind and is not to be

equated with or understood as religious Hindu fundamentalism. A

Hindu may embrace a non-Hindu religion without ceasing to be a

Hindu and since the Hindu is disposed to think synthetically and

to regard other forms of worship, strange gods and divergent

doctrines as inadequate rather than wrong or objectionable, he

tends to believe that the highest divine powers complement each

other for the well-being of the world and mankind. "

 

3. I would like to clarify the attitude of the Indians towards

non-Indians practicing Hinduism. While travelling with the group

during the Banares retreat, I sometimes got angry at the attitude

of the general public. But then I think we should try to

understand the attitude. This may enable us to deal with such

situations.

 

Hinduism is not a proselytizing religion. In the thousands of

years of its existence not many people have been converted. It

was believed for a long time that you could be a Hindu only if

you are born a Hindu. This changed with the modern times

especially under the guidance of Swami Vivekananda. Sister

Nivedita was one of the first Westerners to become popular in

India. But even after more than 100 years the general belief of

the average Indian is that you have to be born a Hindu to be a

Hindu. Unlike the practitioners of other religions the average

Hindu is not happy to see others following his/her religion.

 

It is this idea that leads to Indians in India and abroad looking

askance at westerners practicing Hinduism. You can not change an

age old belief easily. The Indians who have studied Sanatana

Dharma are very happy about the the growth of Sanatana Dharma in

the West. Sadhus do recognize fellow Sadhus.

 

But it would take some time before the average Indian who is far

from a Sadhu accepts this.

 

I am still angry at the ignorance of the average Indian in India

and abroad.

 

3. Now that you are here, you need not look any further. Please

go through the old messages which will enable you to understand

us better. Under the guidance of Sree Maa and Swamiji you can

find your way to achieving your spiritual goal as we have done.

 

Jai MAA !!!

 

Sankar