Western Vedantists ard Hindus

[Guest guest]

Re: the question of whether Western Vedantists are Hindus:

Historically, of course, Vedantist philosophy as practiced in the West

comes from Hinduism. The term Hinduism cannot really be used to define

a specific religious persuasion—the umbrella of Hinduism is so vast.

Indeed the world could benefit from the teachings of tolerance and

inclusion that are Hindu ideals.

 

I would like to point out this observation of Sri Ramakrishna in the

Gospel. Tolerance and the notion of the equality and unity of religion

as taught by Ramakrishna seem not to be based on concepts of kindness

and goodwill alone. Tolerance and goodwill are side effects of what Sri

Ramakrishna taught. He didn’t teach tolerance just to promote peace as

some may think. Sri Ramakrishna, unlike a mere social thinker,

idealist, or philosopher, taught the truth as he himself had realized

it.

 

Ramakrishna Vedanta is to be a practical, experiential path to

realization. He demonstrated for himself, and as an example for us,

that he could attain union with the Divine by the major religious

paths. He attained realization as a Christian, Muslim, Jew and a

variety of divergent Hindu traditions. He proved for himself—remember

he was a great experimenter—the truth that all religions COULD lead to

God-realization. We have no greater teacher of this truth. But notice I

capitalize the word COULD. By no means is it true that every practice

and every religious idea is harmless. That is simply not so and is so

self-evident that one need only mention a few terms found in historical

commentary in regards to religion: promotion of misogyny; condoning of

slavery; practices of incest; racial and ethnic discrimination and

genocide; human and animal sacrifice; child marriages without consent;

circumcision and mutilation of girls to prevent sexual satisfaction;

socially encouraged suicide of widows on their husband’s funeral pyre;

persecution and execution of sinners or religious and/or sexual

minorities; in Judaism, sexual relations with a brother’s widow by all

his brothers until a male heir is produced; polygamy, exclusive

marriage only to fellow Jews or members of the same religion, race or

caste; the horrific concept of the murder of infidels as pleasing to

God. This subject is a bombshell to even acknowledge. Tom Rea

[Guest guest]

Hi all,

 

I am not much into the subject of religions, however I would like to make a few comments on a few points that caught my attention.

 

First and foremost, Hindu ideal is not tolerance, it is ACCEPTANCE.

 

Vedanta is universal, i think there is no such thing as Ramakrishna Vedanta or Western Vedanta as seen from the point of view of vedanta , there is only Advaita Vedanta (we have our perceptions and our perceptions are different from the Truth).

 

River flows, we drink from it, we swim in it, we wash clothes , the farmer diverts it towards his fields, how does it matter to the river, it flows and joins the ocean.

 

I also believe, Ramakrishna could not have taught vedanta as he perceived or realised, because such people as Ramakrishna are born to teach Truth as it is, that is the reason that centuries pass by and the TRUTH and its teachings remain as it is. All the effects merge into the Truth of Vedanta.

 

Best Wishes

Sunil NimmalaThomas Rea <tomikin wrote:

Re: the question of whether Western Vedantists are Hindus: Historically, of course, Vedantist philosophy as practiced in the West comes from Hinduism. Send instant messages to your online friends http://uk.messenger.

[Guest guest]

Re: the question of whether Western Vedantists are Hindus:

 

Actually, the term 'Hindu' has really nothing to do with

religion, per se.

It describes the people of Hindustan.

There are many religions in Hindustan...Vaishnavism, Islam, Sikhism,

Jainism, Shivaism, Shaktism, Christianity, Arya Samaj,

Vedantists, etc etc etc.

 

They are all Hindus, by virtue of their sub-continemt origins.

 

We 'western vedantists' are not Hindus, per se.

 

I think the term, 'Ramakrishna Vedantist'; being international

in scope, is able to stand alone; without any other affiliation.

I should say that we are Shaktas...worshippers of the Divine

Female Principle.

 

We recognixe Sri Ramakrishna as the Vehicle of the Divine

Mother.

 

Om Tat Sat