Why hinduism?

[Real Asian]

I would like to know, being a hindu and dont know it, why you people on this site chose hinduism ahead of other mainstream religions?

[karthik_v]

Originally posted by Real Asian:

I would like to know, being a hindu and dont know it, why you people on this site chose hinduism ahead of other mainstream religions?

To begin with, Hinduism is not a religion at all. The Persians and the Greeks used the term Hindu to refer to the people and culture of those who lived on the eastern side of river Sindhu, pronounced as Hindhu in Persian. Even the name India came up that way.

 

Our religion actually has no name. It is often referred to as Sanatana dharma, meaning eternal truth. It has its basis in the vedas and everything that springs out of them. Every realized sage has come up with his vision of the Supreme and that has been formulated into various philosophies such as Advaita, Vishistadvaita, Dvaita, Acinta Beda Abeda tattva etc.. Any serious Hindu follows the path of one acarya and one philosophy.

 

For a Hindu, the teachings of Jesus don't constitute a seperate religion. They just form another line of philosophy as those of Sankara and Madhva do.

 

If we are discussing predominantly Indian philosophies, it is due to 2 reasons:

 

One, most of us, follow one of them.

Two, they are intrinsically more complete than the philosophies of Jesus or Buddha.

 

Hope that answers you.

 

 

[Real Asian]

thanks alot due, was an interesting read.i am not convinced i am hindu, but its interesting.u from the USA uk or india?

[karthik_v]

Originally posted by Real Asian:

thanks alot due, was an interesting read.i am not convinced i am hindu, but its interesting.u from the USA uk or india?

I am from India, now living in the USA. How about you? I think your approach is positive. You should not be convinced that you are a Hindu without a proper understanding of philosophy. Such an understanding tends to be a mere sentiment. What is really important is to understand the philosophy and develop a love for the Lord. Have you ever had a chance to read the books of Srila Prabhupad? He was a sannyasi from the Gaudiya Vaishnava tradition and imparted spiritual training to many westerners. He also founded ISKCON.

 

 

[Real Asian]

I am from The Uk, how old r ya?

[karthik_v]

Originally posted by Real Asian:

I am from The Uk, how old r ya?

32. How about you?

 

 

[bhaktajoy]

Dear Real Asian,

Get yourself some Srila Prabhupada books mainly "Bhadavad Gita as it is" it is online at http://www.asitis.com They will help you great deal understanding the eternal truth.There is vast amount of knowledge,soon you will develop love for the Supreme personality of Godhead,Sri Krsna.Also,do you understand Hindi?

 

http://www.near-death.com has many profound near death experiences.

 

You already convinced of the existence of God?

 

You will have to start with the Bhagavad Gita.

 

Hope this meet you well.

Love & blessings,Joy

 

[This message has been edited by bhaktajoy (edited 04-15-2002).]

 

[This message has been edited by bhaktajoy (edited 04-15-2002).]

[abhi_the_great]

Originally posted by Real Asian:

Why Hinduism?

Bcos hinduism is not a narrow idea, which claims, "there is only one way and that is ours".

 

Bcos hinduism does not consider god has lost his ability to procreate after having one son.

 

Bcos hinduism does not teach us to kill a person bcos he follows another path.

 

Bcos hinduism teaches to respects all the living entities, including animals and plants as the children of god. It gives the true meaning of being merciful.

 

bcos hinduism can cater to the material and spiritual needs of any person on any level of spiritual evolution.

 

Bcos hinduism is simply a way of life, where one naturaly & gradually developes to the highest level of pure love of god.

 

Bcos hinduism is able to absorb into itself all the cultures of the other religions and bring abt harmonious existence.

 

Bcos hinduism does not demand that you have to destroy the photos or dieties of the gods you were worshipping if you want to become a hindu.

 

Bcos hinduism beleives that everyone is equally entitled to claim salvation, and surrender to the Lord.

[Rati]

Certainly the term Hindu has been applied to a wide variety of traditions and schools of philosophy. The bhakti traditions are the focus here, although there is some overlap with the Vedic and yogic traditions (as well as others).

 

Sri Caitanya really espoused a universal religion of divine love that transcends all designations such as Hindu, Muslim, Christian or Jew. However, He demonstrated the need to be initiated in a disciplic succession by Himself taking instruction from a guru, just as Christ learned from the Hebrew rabbis of His time. Caitanya's guru just happened to come in the Hindu tradition, but he could have just as easily have had some other relgious affiliation, and the message would still have been the same. So, it is not necessarily a matter of the people here having chosen the Vaishnava branch of Hinduism over the faith they were raised in (you will find many Christians and Jews that are followers of Caitanya), nor does it imply they converted and totally abandoned the faith of their families.