Can an American Convert to Hinduism?

[Mystical Lotus]

Hello guys, I've been wondering this for quite a while. Can an American convert to Hinduism or is Hinduism a religion that only Indians can practice?

[herenow]

Hinduism is as such not an religion. Its in a general sense, a path to the self with the guidance of an Living Guru. Many do it with rites and rituals to elements & / or powerful Gurus & Beings that have left their bodies.

 

Its also said that everyone is a born Hindu, doesn't matter in which part of of the world.

 

So you can practice Hinduism, I guess there is no need to officially convert too.

 

Its as free a religion that you can come across, almost bordering, the jump into true spirituality,

[Kali_Upasaka]

Yes. Anyone can convert to Hinduism. There is a n article about this in Himalayan Acdemy.

 

http://www.himalayanacademy.com/resources/books/hbh/hbh_ch-5.html

[anweshi]

Hi Mystica Lotus, Namaste. Yes definitely anybody can convert to Hinduism. Actualy hinduism is not a exactly a religion, it is more of a way of life or practice, hence in a broader aspect, it is called as "Sanatana Dharma" which means eternal way of life. Just learn more about it and start practicing.

[razious]

Hi Mystic Lotus,

 

There is no "conversion" in Hindu religion, as it is a non converting religion at the first place. However it is not against outsiders embracing Hinduism if one so desires. If you want to do it ritualistically, then you can approach any one of the Sankara mutts and seek the advise and appropriate rituals and instructions. If you are not finique of the official ritual just acquaint Hindu way of life and religious practices and follow that.

 

Magic Flute

[shivrudraksha]

i am a hindu by birth. by whatever i know there is no such thing like conversion in hinduism. it is all about belief and spirituality. there are many spiritual gurus and yogis in india who have foreign disciples. so dont worry about that.

[hinduism♥krishna]

 

Hello guys, I've been wondering this for quite a while. Can an American convert to Hinduism or is Hinduism a religion that only Indians can practice?

 

before converting to hinduism u should know what is hinduism.

 

name hinduism is not real name.previous name of hinduism was sanatana dharma.

 

hindu is the one who accepts vedas as supreme truth.because vedas have created by lord krishna supreme bramhan.

 

the main motivation of hinduism is to worship saguna bramhan vishnu and to reach to the parameshwara who is beyond saguna and nirguna.

 

here are the some rules to b followed by hindus

 

RULES OF CONDUCT:

 

1. BELIEVE THAT PARAMESHWARA – THE GOD IS QUALIFIED – SAGUNA AND ALSO NON-QUALIFIED – NIRGUNA

Parameshwara manifests himself as qualified – Saguna and non – qualified – Nirguna as well.

Remember this fact well and perform worship to both qualities – gunas.

Saguna indicates omniscience perpetual happiness, holiness and possessing limitless qualities of strength and the like. Since Parameshwara possesses all these qualities, HE is considered Saguna.

Just as Earth is considered saguna, because it has qualities like ODOUR, and also considered nirguna, because it has no capacity “to desire” similarly parameshwara is considered nirguna because qualities of universe – jagat and soul – jeeva are different from HIM.

He is considered suguna as HR possesses qualities like omniscience etc.

There is no object which is only saguna or only nirguna. Material object is nirguna, because it has no intelligence – chetana, however it is considered saguna due to its own intrinsic quality. Similarly soul – jeeva is considered nirguna when it does not exhibit any material knowledge or wordly wisdom (as in the state of samadhi) and considered saguna, as it is attached with its own quality as well as its capacity “to desire” etc.

Hence remember that Parameshwara is Saguna and also Nirguna.

 

2. FULLY SURRENDER TO LOTUS FEET OF PARAMATMA ( Lord Krishna )FOR FORGIVENESS.

1) Accept only things/aspects which are worthy of worship of paramatma.

2) Reject all tose which are unfavourable for that purpose.

3) Possess implicit TRUST that parameshwara will save me.

4) Completely surrender yourself to the mercy of parameshwara.

5) Dedicate yourself to spiritual work.

6) Firmly believe that parameshwara will give me shelter and protection.

 

3. POSSESS UNSHAKABLE TRUST IN PARAMATMA – THE GOD, ALMIGHTLY

 

4. ALWAYS BE WORSHIPPING PARAMESHWARA

The primary cause of knowledge acquired by material and spirituyal education is parameshwara only.

Parameshwara is SAT-CHIT-ANANDA (Existence, Knowledge and Bliss).

He is all – knowing, formless, almightly, omnipresent, eternal, all – supporter ever holy all pervasive and the like. Above all HE is the SUPREME CREATOR of all creation.

So trust in parameshwara and it is most necessary to worship HIM according to sacred rules.

 

5. ALWAYS SPEAK THE TRUTH – SATYAM.

Adopt truth as a way of life, as a Divine Rule which must be followed. Never speak untruth. Speaking untruth is maha-papam – great sin.

Whatever you have seen, whatever you have heard, if you tell them factually, it is known as TRUTH – Satyam.

Therefore whatever you have seen, if you tell them as heard or whatever you have heard, if you tell them as seen, it is considered untruth – asatyam.

 

6. ADOPT THE RULE OF NON-VIOLENCE – AHIMSA

The reason being, violence – HIMSA is a thom in the path of mankind. To be attracted by all the desirable things of the world and to possess enthusiasm to harm others. This is known as violence – HIMSA

Violence is a great obstacle in spiritual way of life and hence shun violence always. Adopt only non – violence and ahimsa as a solemn rite.

Violence – HIMSA will push man downward and downward. In spiritual living, it is only non – violence – ahimsa which will imbibe quality of equanimity.

 

7. HAVE COMPASSION TOWARD EVERY SOUL – JEEVA.

IF you have compassion, you will experience sorrow when others are sad and experience happiness when others are joyful.

One attribute of parameshwara is merciful – Dayanidhi. Unless you possess the quality of compassion yourself, it is very difficult to receive compassion from that Dayanidhi

 

8. ENJOY PURE JOY

Always be anxiety – less and relish exclusive pure joy!

 

9. DEVELOP DEVOTEDNESS – SHRADDHA TOWARDS PARAMATMA.

You must have devotedness – Shraddha towards Paramatma. And you must have devotedness towards all tings created by paramatma. Only when you develop such devotedness, you can attain anxiety – less state.

 

10. DO ATMASAMARPANA – SELF SURRENDER

Ensure atmasamarapana – Self Surrender at the LOTUS FEET of paramatma

 

11. PERFORM ONLY NISHKAMA KARMA – DESIRELESS ACTIONS.

Perform all acts of duly with devotedness – Shraddha. Offer fruits (results) of all such actions at the feet of parameshwara. Give up all acts of desires and perform only desireless actions.

 

12. ENSURE ALL YOUR ACTIONS ARE WITHIN PRINCIPLES OF DHARMA – RIGHTEOUSNESS.

At all times, consider carefully Truth and Untruth and perform only acts and reject untruthful acts.

 

13. READ AND LISTEN TO VEDAS gita bhagavatam etc.

Vedas are books of truthful knowledge. To read Vedas or to have them read, to tisten or to have them listened to – these are suggestions of followers of Sanatana Dharma.

 

14. Be helpful to others Always render assistance to others. Perform such noble actions which would result in improvement of body, mind, spiritual endeavours and society.

 

15. BEHAVE YOURSELF WITH LOVE TOWARDS ONE AND ALL

 

16. PARTICIPATE IN DEBATES ON EDUCATION.

It is your duty to eliminate illiteracy and improve education.

 

17. YOUR PROSPERITY LIES IN THE PROSPERITY OF EVERYONE.

Each individual should not feel content with his own prosperity, but should feel the prosperity of others, as his own. This is essential

 

18. OBEY THE BENEFICIAL RULES OF SOCIETY.

While observing all beneficial rules of society, one should strive to follow his own righteous rules for self spiritual sadhana.

 

19. ALWAYS KEEP YOUR HEART HOLY.

Never do evil acts. ( sex ouside marriage , killing animals , gambling etc )

 

20. BE RIGHTEOUS AND A FIRM BELIEVER IN MONISM – ADVAITA

This is absolutely necessary.everything u should see as a bhagavan paramtma

 

21. POSSESS THE QUALITY OF GENEROSITY

1) Be generous always.

2) Never speak ill of or insult any other religion.

3) Never look with hatred towards those who worship idols.

4) Never abuse noble persons (mahatmas)

5) Always be modest with others.

6) Never do evil acts

 

22. ALWAYS REMAIN GRATEFUL

Whoever has helped you, to him always be grateful and ever try to be helpful to him in turn.

This is considered showing gratitude.

 

23. GIVE UP THE “I” FEELING FOREVER.

Only Parameshwara – the God Almighty has the authority to say “I”. Therefore instead of saying “I” or “mine”, always consider everything belongs to parameshwara only. u have to merge your i ness in absolute reality

 

24. DESIST FROM REVENGE:

Never adopt revengeful attitude, Desist from it. If anyone causes harm to you, there is no need to get worried. If anyone causes harm to you, there is no need to get worried. If you are steadfast in your own righteous Dharmic path no one can cause harm to you. Therefore to desist from revenge is essential.

 

25. WORSHIPPING SRI GURUDEV AND RECITE Vishnu'S NAMA (AUSPICIOUS NAME OF GOD) ACCORDING TO GURUDEV’S INSTRUCTIONS – UPADESA.

On who by giving initiation – upadesa indicates clear spiritual path and also sows the seed of devotion – Bhakti in the heart of disciple, is known as GURU DEV – PRECEPTOR.

Gurudev is a representative of paramatma.

He is an inspired person of paramatma and also a good preceptor. Since Gurudev is an inspired person of paramatma, he has the form swaroopam of paramatma.

Therefore everyday perform regular worship to GURU DEV with steadfast devotion in the same way one would worship parameshwara – the God

If GURU DEV is pleased then certainly parameshwara is pleased. In accordance with initiation – upadesa of GURU DEVA, every day constantly think and recite GOD’s name (auspicious name) worship HIM, sing songs in praise of HIM.

This conduct is most essential. With constant recital of GOD’s name others too will be influenced.

 

26. NEVER PERFORM ANY ACTIONS WHICH ARE NOT IN CONFORMITY WITH SANATANA DHARAM – SACRED PRINCIPLES.

In the temple of paramatma, always perform worship of paramatma. Avoid actions not in conformity with sacred principles of Sanatan Dharma.

Avoid actions not in conformity with sacred principles of Sanatan Dharma. As a consequence of their own earlier sins – Paapam, if some are having terrible experiences or if they are disabled, never hate such people or make fun of them.

Never have a thought that in this universe, some are low or mean. Every living being according to his own Karma-fate, is performing the great work of parameshwara.

This body of ours is the temple of paramatma, it is always pure.Thinking in this way, if you perform your duty righteously our body will never become impure.

Offer seat to Parameshwara the God almighty in your heart, and perform worship with all offerings. Concentrating all the five pranas and with the strength of devotion, enjoy the nectar flowing from the LOTUS FEET of parameshwara and become immortal.

Never entertain the feeling that this temple (human body) has become impure. If you experience such a feeling, then you will not have devotion – Bhakti at the LOTUS FEET of parameshwara. The LOTUS FEET WILL MOVE FARTHER AWAY!

This is an axiomatic TRUTH. Therefore always perform worship to parameshwara in the temple. This Divine Abode will never become impure since it is the seat of paramatma. This is a noble TRUTH. Always have your concentrated vision focused on this absolute truth.