Digest Number 2064

[Guest guest]

Mr. Thomas Rea is certainly welcome to his views. He is a Vedantist

and no true Hindu will ever ask him to call himself a Hindu. Hinduism

(Sanatana Dharma)is extreemly liberal in this regard. What is

essential is individual's spiritual progress. If the person is able to

overcome his evil tendencies and is able to cultivate desirable

qualities(God-like qualities)in himself, nothing else is needed. It

is immaterial what he calls himself. There is only one caution and that

is: every one knows that all people are not at the same level of

mental makeup and need different ways to reach the same goal. Hinduism

or Sanatan Dharma's beauty is that it provides limtless variety of ways

to achieve the same goal. It includes 'Vedanta' as one of the many ways

to reach God. The ultimate goal of a Vedantist and a worshipper of an

idol is the same, however approach and methodlolgy adopted is different

depending upon each ones level of progress and upbringing. Therefore as

Sri Ramakrishna says 'Have respect for every way that leads to God,but

put your whole heart in your own chosen path and tenaciously go forward

on it.' Sri Ramakrishna himself started as a 'pujari' of mother Kali

and he in his life verified all the various approaches of reaching the

highest and found it to be the same, and this included Vedantist's way

also. Totapuri, his vedantist Guru was amazed to find him achieving

'Nrivikalp Sanadhi' in three days, which he had taken forty years of

sterneous effort (Tapasiya) to achieve. Even after reaching the

pinnacle of spiritual life, Sri Ramakrishna continued to remain all his

life a simple child of his mother Kali! That is the greatness of a

Hindu. He loves and respects all ways that lead to God simultaneously

holding on to his faith and approach.

Chetan Merani

--- Ramakrishna wrote:

Fri, 15 Apr 2005 08:31:47 -0700

Thomas Rea <tomikin

Are Vedantists Hindus?

I am a Western Vedantist. I have never called or thought of myself

as Hindu. I don't mean for the distinction to sound too esoteric. To me

the word " Hindu " in English connotes a vast array of Hindu sects,

none of which I wish to be included in. Not out of contempt or

disregard, but mainly cultural upbringing and lack of exposure. In

fact, I believe many early Ramakrishna Mission Swami's to the West have

seen their mission as bringing the particular Vivekananda message to

Westerners.

 

------Message truncated------

 

Chetan Merani

 

 

 

 

 

 

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[Guest guest]

Dear Thomas,

Religon as followed by Hindus is Inclusive and accepts

all methods for searching the ultimate Truth or Self

or Brahmana or God with a Form or without it,

apersonal God or an impersonal cosmic Infinity.

The form includes Krishana or Rama or Ganesh or

Hanuman or thousands of other.

Whichever or whatever gives you joy of seeking is Good

enough for you to practice without rejecting what

others practice. Only important thing is to always

seek the Divine Grace and follow our right full duty

called 'DHARMA' By Hindus or Humans all over the

world.

 

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