How to become a Hindu

[JattMaula]

So I guess you could have Proud Paedos of India group openly declaring their allegiance to Hinduism then.

No such thing as "allegiance to Hinduism".

You are asking queries in bad faith but that is ok too. You are a Hindu now. We will try to help you to a righteous path.

 

[JattMaula]

Monotheism and polytheistic are 180 degree different , do you realize that ?

Not necessarily. Not everything is black and white. Oneness of divinity and worship of gods is both possible and present.

 

[Cpt. Rishwat]

Well, everything is relative innit. Nothing exists in a vaccuum. Your query whether paedophilia is acceptable in Hinduism makes no sense given that no world religion out there has teachings/rules on this topic on what is age-appropriate. Paedophilia is very much a modern age concept.

Hence my reply to your pointless question..

It makes perfect sense in a thread where I am asking for clarification on what distinguishes a Hindu from other beliefs and I am being told Hinduism basically encompasses every belief as long as you say you are a Hindu.

 

[Nikhil_cric]

It makes perfect sense in a thread where I am asking for clarification on what distinguishes a Hindu from other beliefs and I am being told Hinduism basically encompasses every belief as long as you say you are a Hindu.

Well they are wrong. It is not as clear and as definite as Islam wherein you become a Muslim by reciting the shahadah but there are certainly limitations.

Many Hindus even claim that Buddhism, Jainism, Sikhism are essentially strands of Hinduism and that even atheists can be Hindus. They are only partially correct
.

If it is in reference to Sanatan Dharma ( The eternal faith), you can only be a sanatan dharmi if you believe/practice a method/lifestyle that accepts the ultimate authority of the Vedas.

That could be any of the orthodox 6 schools of classical Hindu thought and you could attain enlightenment by a number of ways(sometimes even contradictory) as long as the particular book/method you follow/practise accepts the Vedas.

If you follow a heterodox belief system/book but it denies the authority of the Vedas but the system is essentially Indic in origin , they are considered to be "Nastika" or hetero dox .

Modern Hindus, especially post 19th century consider heterodox Indic system believers to be part of a larger Dharmic umbrella of beliefs and generally consider any belief system that originated within the subcontinent to be Hinduism

While they may have some similarities , they are technically quite different because they fundamentally reject the Vedas.

 

[Cpt. Rishwat]

Well they are wrong. It is not as clear and as definite as Islam wherein you become a Muslim by reciting the shahadah but there are certainly limitations.

Many Hindus even claim that Buddhism, Jainism, Sikhism are essentially strands of Hinduism and that even atheists can be Hindus. They are only partially correct
.

If it is in reference to Sanatan Dharma ( The eternal faith), you can only be a sanatan dharmi if you believe/practice a method/lifestyle that accepts the ultimate authority of the Vedas.

That could be any of the orthodox 6 schools of classical Hindu thought and you could attain enlightenment by a number of ways(sometimes even contradictory) as long as the particular book/method you follow/practise accepts the Vedas.

If you follow a heterodox belief system/book but it denies the authority of the Vedas but the system is essentially Indic in origin , they are considered to be "Nastika" or hetero dox .

Modern Hindus, especially post 19th century consider heterodox Indic system believers to be part of a larger Dharmic umbrella of beliefs and generally consider any belief system that originated within the subcontinent to be Hinduism

While they may have some similarities , they are technically quite different because they fundamentally reject the Vedas.

Thank you. That sounds like a genuine answer which reflects the development of Hindu thought down the ages.

 

[Local.Dada]

There is an old temple in Kolkata where it is written in Sanskrit and the English translation

“The more religions/ belief systems there are the more paths there are to reach god”

That sums up sanatana dharma or Hinduism as it is known in modern days.

Hinduism is more of a culture attributed to the people of the subcontinent.

In fact I have heard Pakistanis,Indians, Bangladeshis who go to Middle East are referred to as “Hindus” too by locals not endearingly but more like a slur.

The modern Christianity is more or less like Hinduism now especially the ones practiced in Us and Uk. Obviously right wing religious nuts exist there too but I have seen people embracing religions like Hinduism, Islam, Buddhism or even becoming born again Christians or being Atheist etc without fear of getting their heads chopped off.

Basically the point is Hinduism believes in figuring out your own path that suits you to find god. It leaves it to the individual to find it. If he finds Islam then good for him:

However in subcontinent religion gets mixed up with culture. For example in South India, West Bengal or some other parts of India you can’t even tell if someone is Hindu or Muslim because they dress and talk the same way as everyone else. Exceptions to the rule exist.

Dressing up like a person who arrived from Arabia or named like them is not Islam. People focus on these things more than the actual spiritual aspects of Islam which becomes the major problem. Other wise tough for some to understand but you can be culturally Hindu and religiously Islamic. That’s the original beauty of both Hinduism and Islam of the subcontinent.

Look at Malaysia, Indonesia etc.

I think the Hinduism you see in modern days is more reactionary to this kind of cultural appropriation that happens from others.

 

[The_Odd_One]

So then there doesn't seem much point in becoming a Hindu then, we know all of this anyway, we can easily follow these same natural thought processes as Muslims or Christians.

There's a difference. Both Islam and Christianity have beliefs and rules that you have to follow.

You cannot be a Muslim without accepting that Mohammad is the last prophet of Allah.

You cannot be a Christian without believing in Jesus.

You can be a Hindu without believing in Mohammad and Jesus.

So, you cannot be both Muslim and Hindu or Christian and Hindu at the same time.

 

[The_Odd_One]

Can you specify who formulated these Universal values , and where can I get access to them? You gave example of killing , for hitmen this is business , they do not consider it wrong .

There are many people and groups , who have there own set of values.

Humans learned it from evolution. Humans hunted in packs. There was strength in numbers when you were hunting large prey or defending yourself against predator. Humans learned that it was better to protect than kill each other to improve their own chances of survival.

Hit men do not even make up 0.001% of all humans. They kill specific people for specific reason. They do not kill people randomly. So, they are not relevant to the discussion. Besides, hit men do consider killing others wrong but they still carry out their act similar to how a smoker knows that smoking is injurious to their health but they still smoke.

 

[Cpt. Rishwat]

There is an old temple in Kolkata where it is written in Sanskrit and the English translation

“The more religions/ belief systems there are the more paths there are to reach god”

That sums up sanatana dharma or Hinduism as it is known in modern days.

Hinduism is more of a culture attributed to the people of the subcontinent.

In fact I have heard Pakistanis,Indians, Bangladeshis who go to Middle East are referred to as “Hindus” too by locals not endearingly but more like a slur.

The modern Christianity is more or less like Hinduism now especially the ones practiced in Us and Uk. Obviously right wing religious nuts exist there too but I have seen people embracing religions like Hinduism, Islam, Buddhism or even becoming born again Christians or being Atheist etc without fear of getting their heads chopped off.

Basically the point is Hinduism believes in figuring out your own path that suits you to find god. It leaves it to the individual to find it. If he finds Islam then good for him:

However in subcontinent religion gets mixed up with culture. For example in South India, West Bengal or some other parts of India you can’t even tell if someone is Hindu or Muslim because they dress and talk the same way as everyone else. Exceptions to the rule exist.

Dressing up like a person who arrived from Arabia or named like them is not Islam. People focus on these things more than the actual spiritual aspects of Islam which becomes the major problem. Other wise tough for some to understand but you can be culturally Hindu and religiously Islamic. That’s the original beauty of both Hinduism and Islam of the subcontinent.

Look at Malaysia, Indonesia etc.

I think the Hinduism you see in modern days is more reactionary to this kind of cultural appropriation that happens from others.

In Islam the concept is race or region is not so important, the human condition is considered as one, whether you reside in India or Scandinavia. Culture is a detail, basic human nature is all encompassing.

I have heard Pakistanis being referred to as Hindus in some areas of Pakistan as well, such as Kashmir and Khyber regions. You are right it's not a compliment, usually a derisive term for those who put money first and Islam second.

 

[Cpt. Rishwat]

There's a difference. Both Islam and Christianity have beliefs and rules that you have to follow.

You cannot be a Muslim without accepting that Mohammad is the last prophet of Allah.

You cannot be a Christian without believing in Jesus.

You can be a Hindu without believing in Mohammad and Jesus.

So, you cannot be both Muslim and Hindu or Christian and Hindu at the same time.

Again, this just demonstrates that there is exclusivity on both sides. A Nigerian can become a Muslim or Christian by accepting MUhammed PBUH or Christ PBUH, and then he is a Muslim same as any other Muslim in the world, and in fact can be considered superior according to the Quran if his faith is more pure.

He cannot become a high caste Hindu however, and he will always be considered a fake because he is not tied to the culture of the subcontinent which many of your fellow Hindu posters have already said is what the faith is all about.

 

[Local.Dada]

In Islam the concept is race or region is not so important, the human condition is considered as one, whether you reside in India or Scandinavia. Culture is a detail, basic human nature is all encompassing.

I have heard Pakistanis being referred to as Hindus in some areas of Pakistan as well, such as Kashmir and Khyber regions. You are right it's not a compliment, usually a derisive term for those who put money first and Islam second.

I don’t think the villagers, poor etc I am talking about care so much about putting Islam first. For them putting food on the table for their families comes first. Whatever religion they follow only helps them to get through with hardships of life and give them peace. It’s easy to put religion first and be carefree in countries where government pays you welfare so you have more time to complaint online on every topic where you are out of depth. Doesn’t work that way in subcontinent. People have to get along and get to work. Everything else becomes secondary. That’s probably the same work ethic that helps Indians regardless of religion succeed in the west.

 

[The_Odd_One]

Again, this just demonstrates that there is exclusivity on both sides. A Nigerian can become a Muslim or Christian by accepting MUhammed PBUH or Christ PBUH, and then he is a Muslim same as any other Muslim in the world, and in fact can be considered superior according to the Quran if his faith is more pure.

He cannot become a high caste Hindu however, and he will always be considered a fake because he is not tied to the culture of the subcontinent which many of your fellow Hindu posters have already said is what the faith is all about.

You cannot even offer Salah in Islam in any language other than Arabic and Salah is a pillar of Islam from which none is excused. You face a specific direction to pray. You go to a specific place to perform Hajj. Don't you think it automatically gives preference to the people who are Arabs?

Hinduism is far more inclusive and tolerant than any Abrahamic religion. You can see it with your own eyes how Indians (Hindus) assimilate more easily into any society and culture. It does not hurt their religious feelings if someone drinks alcohol or eats pork.

Caste system in Hinduism was bad, there's no justification. However, there is discrimination in every religion. Islam has Muslims vs Kafirs (who are destined for eternal hell). Hindus do not believe that a Muslim or anyone with a low caste will go to hell.

 

[Colorblind Genius]

I don’t think the villagers, poor etc I am talking about care so much about putting Islam first. For them putting food on the table for their families comes first. Whatever religion they follow only helps them to get through with hardships of life and give them peace. It’s easy to put religion first and be carefree in countries where government pays you welfare so you have more time to complaint online on every topic where you are out of depth. Doesn’t work that way in subcontinent. People have to get along and get to work. Everything else becomes secondary. That’s probably the same work ethic that helps Indians regardless of religion succeed in the west.

How do you define “success”?

Probably there could be a difference in your definition and understanding of “success” with others?

 

[Local.Dada]

In

I have heard Pakistanis being referred to as Hindus in some areas of Pakistan as well, such as Kashmir and Khyber regions. You are right it's not a compliment, usually a derisive term for those who put money first and Islam second.

how do Kashmiri and Khyber folk qualify as Hindus even while being used as a slur but the UP- Bihar migrants and Punjabis don’t )

That sums up a lot for me unless you are taking about the real handful of Hindus left in Pakistan being abused with slurs.

 

[RexRex]

It makes perfect sense in a thread where I am asking for clarification on what distinguishes a Hindu from other beliefs and I am being told Hinduism basically encompasses every belief as long as you say you are a Hindu.

But when did the acceptability of paedophilia become a religious distinction ? Gandhi, a devout hindu, married at the age of 12. Islam's prophet had a pre-teen wife. Both come from very different schools of religious thought.

 

[Champ_Pal]

Again, this just demonstrates that there is exclusivity on both sides. A Nigerian can become a Muslim or Christian by accepting MUhammed PBUH or Christ PBUH, and then he is a Muslim same as any other Muslim in the world, and in fact can be considered superior according to the Quran if his faith is more pure.

He cannot become a high caste Hindu however, and he will always be considered a fake because he is not tied to the culture of the subcontinent which many of your fellow Hindu posters have already said is what the faith is all about.

At this point you are asking questions to troll. You do not need caste to be a Hindu in this day and age. There are many Hindu denominations which do not need caste. Caste is something you are born into in modern Hinduism. If you are a new convert, you do not need caste.

Tons of people are converting to Hinduism and they follow no caste system. There are no hard rules like Islam and you do not need to believe that so and so is the only God or so and so is your savior or prophet.

 

[Justcrazy]

Not necessarily. Not everything is black and white. Oneness of divinity and worship of gods is both possible and present.

How is it possible ? Oneness is completely contrast to plurality , unless you speak a different English than what I know.

 

[Justcrazy]

There are some universal values which are not specific to any religion. A religion should not have to teach you that killing another human is bad. It's something that comes naturally to you. Just because a religious book does not say it explicitly or there is no religious book, it does not mean that humans are free to kill each other for no good reason.

You gave the killing example in the previous post , that is why I mentioned it. If we look into the very example you gave , groups of people have different views to that.

Hit men may be less percentage , but they do exist.

Serial Killers kill people without any specific reasons. They also exist.

Different legislations have different opinions regarding punishment for murders . Some approve of capital punishment , some do not . Some approve of capital punishment in specific cases etc. Some legislations approve of capital punishment , some do not , some approve of

So , we do not see any uniform universal laws. It all depends of country , culture , age etc.

 

[Justcrazy]

You cannot even offer Salah in Islam in any language other than Arabic and Salah is a pillar of Islam from which none is excused. You face a specific direction to pray. You go to a specific place to perform Hajj. Don't you think it automatically gives preference to the people who are Arabs?

Hinduism is far more inclusive and tolerant than any Abrahamic religion. You can see it with your own eyes how Indians (Hindus) assimilate more easily into any society and culture. It does not hurt their religious feelings if someone drinks alcohol or eats pork.

Caste system in Hinduism was bad, there's no justification. However, there is discrimination in every religion. Islam has Muslims vs Kafirs (who are destined for eternal hell). Hindus do not believe that a Muslim or anyone with a low caste will go to hell.

Salah is done in Arabic for a reason , people can jpin in prayers, because they know salah is going on. If it was allowed in all languages , how will be there uniformity ? Same thing is the reason for having one direction. That gives clarity .

In Hinduism also certain rituals are done in sanskrit language , not in any other language. If you have witnessed any pujas done by pandits , you will find them reciting certain slokas.

Muslims themselves do not consume alcohol or pork , but if someone else wants to have them , and it is available , they can have.

Having discrimination of believers and disbelievers is different thing. Allah is going to distinguish and judge them in the next life , HE does not distinguish them in the world .

On the other hand in the hindu scriptures Lower castes shudras are distinguished in real life by various ways. If you want I can quote Hindu scriptures that speak about shudras if you are interested to know.

 

[Justcrazy]

Yes. They were actually men who walked in this earth. Due to their exemplary qualities, people called them as Avatars of God. When you venerate these men, you are essentially venerating the qualities of Gods.

Hinduism is a seeking religion. You seek God and try to find the God within yourself. You control your senses and overcome evil qualities like Kama(want), Lobha (greed), Mada (ego), Matsarya(Miserliness). If you win over your senses, you become a Yogi and venerated by the people. This concept of overcoming senses can be found in Buddhism and Jainism.

So , when you say they were men , who created those men or were they self created?

 

[Champ_Pal]

You gave the killing example in the previous post , that is why I mentioned it. If we look into the very example you gave , groups of people have different views to that.

Hit men may be less percentage , but they do exist.

Serial Killers kill people without any specific reasons. They also exist.

Different legislations have different opinions regarding punishment for murders . Some approve of capital punishment , some do not . Some approve of capital punishment in specific cases etc. Some legislations approve of capital punishment , some do not , some approve of

So , we do not see any uniform universal laws. It all depends of country , culture , age etc.

There are mentally ill people who kill people for no reason. For any person with a healthy mind, killing is something he or she knows is wrong instinctively. Even animals don't kill if they are not hungry.

Every religion that exists today is born under certain circumstances. Hence their view on violence and torture can vary as they are product of their time.

 

[Champ_Pal]

So , when you say they were men , who created those men or were they self created?

Their parents created them. Rama, Krishna, Buddha, Mahavira etc all had parents. They did not appear on earth directly.

 

[Justcrazy]

Their parents created them. Rama, Krishna, Buddha, Mahavira etc all had parents. They did not appear on earth directly.

Yes , But Ram and krishna are considered as Gods by Hindus and are worshiped.

What you are saying here is your own views or views of hindus?

 

[Colorblind Genius]

You cannot even offer Salah in Islam in any language other than Arabic and Salah is a pillar of Islam from which none is excused. You face a specific direction to pray. You go to a specific place to perform Hajj. Don't you think it automatically gives preference to the people who are Arabs?

Hinduism is far more inclusive and tolerant than any Abrahamic religion. You can see it with your own eyes how Indians (Hindus) assimilate more easily into any society and culture. It does not hurt their religious feelings if someone drinks alcohol or eats pork.

Caste system in Hinduism was bad, there's no justification. However, there is discrimination in every religion. Islam has Muslims vs Kafirs (who are destined for eternal hell). Hindus do not believe that a Muslim or anyone with a low caste will go to hell.

What does Hinduism believe where Muslim and Low caste Hindus go after their demise?
And is there anyone who may end up in Hell in Hinduism mythology?

 

[Cpt. Rishwat]

You cannot even offer Salah in Islam in any language other than Arabic and Salah is a pillar of Islam from which none is excused. You face a specific direction to pray. You go to a specific place to perform Hajj. Don't you think it automatically gives preference to the people who are Arabs?

Hinduism is far more inclusive and tolerant than any Abrahamic religion. You can see it with your own eyes how Indians (Hindus) assimilate more easily into any society and culture. It does not hurt their religious feelings if someone drinks alcohol or eats pork.

Caste system in Hinduism was bad, there's no justification. However, there is discrimination in every religion. Islam has Muslims vs Kafirs (who are destined for eternal hell). Hindus do not believe that a Muslim or anyone with a low caste will go to hell.

So is Hinduism tied to the subcontinent or not? This is where the confusion comes in, because many Hindu posters have said it is about Indian culture, which automatically means it is not relevant to those who are outside of India.

 

[Cpt. Rishwat]

At this point you are asking questions to troll. You do not need caste to be a Hindu in this day and age. There are many Hindu denominations which do not need caste. Caste is something you are born into in modern Hinduism. If you are a new convert, you do not need caste.

Tons of people are converting to Hinduism and they follow no caste system. There are no hard rules like Islam and you do not need to believe that so and so is the only God or so and so is your savior or prophet.

Why do you need to be a Hindu at all, if there are nothing distinguishable about it? I don't understand why you think this is some sort of troll question, if I want to understand Hinduism as a modern belief system, I am of course going to ask what makes it worthwhile from a global perspective.

 

[Champ_Pal]

Why do you need to be a Hindu at all, if there are nothing distinguishable about it? I don't understand why you think this is some sort of troll question, if I want to understand Hinduism as a modern belief system, I am of course going to ask what makes it worthwhile from a global perspective.

Hinduism is not a belief system. It is a seeking system. There are many ways to seek and many great men from subcontinent has laid out a path for that. You choose what fits you.

The freedom to choose and the freedom to worship or not worship depending on your time and schedule is what makes Hinduism appealing. It is just that it is not marketed the same way other religions did. So far, Hare Krishna is the only organization that actively proselytizes and seeks new converts. If there are thousands of such Hindu organizations are active around the world, you would see Hinduism also grow at a much rapid pace.

 

[uppercut]

Why do you need to be a Hindu at all, if there are nothing distinguishable about it? I don't understand why you think this is some sort of troll question, if I want to understand Hinduism as a modern belief system, I am of course going to ask what makes it worthwhile from a global perspective.

In order to do that you first need to keep aside the classical definition of what constitutes a religion as defined by the West which is a product of Abrahamic religions and has a very rigid set of rules which goes along the lines of if religion x then you do a,b,c but not d,e,f. Hinduism cannot be codified like that. Which is why its the most liberal religions out there and one of the main reasons why most Hindus are liberal by nature.

 

[Cpt. Rishwat]

Hinduism is not a belief system. It is a seeking system. There are many ways to seek and many great men from subcontinent has laid out a path for that. You choose what fits you.

The freedom to choose and the freedom to worship or not worship depending on your time and schedule is what makes Hinduism appealing. It is just that it is not marketed the same way other religions did. So far, Hare Krishna is the only organization that actively proselytizes and seeks new converts. If there are thousands of such Hindu organizations are active around the world, you would see Hinduism also grow at a much rapid pace.

Again there are conflicting messages. In this same thread many have argued that Hinduism is tied to the culture of India itself, in fact I am pretty sure Hindutva groups which have ties to the BJP party such as RSS have also made this a central tenent. That is why we have the rise of Hindutva in the first place, and loud noises raised in objection about love jihad. So is it inclusive or isn't it? Otherwise what is the problem of "love jihad"?

 

[Cpt. Rishwat]

In order to do that you first need to keep aside the classical definition of what constitutes a religion as defined by the West which is a product of Abrahamic religions and has a very rigid set of rules which goes along the lines of if religion x then you do a,b,c but not d,e,f. Hinduism cannot be codified like that. Which is why its the most liberal religions out there and one of the main reasons why most Hindus are liberal by nature.

Most Hindus are liberal by nature, yet they have voted in a party with links to right wing Hindutva parties across India. You see why there might be some doubts raised right?

 

[Local.Dada]

Yes , But Ram and krishna are considered as Gods by Hindus and are worshiped.

What you are saying here is your own views or views of hindus?

They are called “avatars” which means manifestation of god. It is not the Apple to Apple comparison but look at it like Jesus etc who are worshipped as divine beings even though they didn’t claim to be god but a representation of god’s message.

We consider Buddha as an avatar too and in the same league of Ram and Krishna. However he took a different path.

Ram and Krishna themselves have separate independent paths due to which they are considered divine and so is Buddha.

 

[Local.Dada]

Most Hindus are liberal by nature, yet they have voted in a party with links to right wing Hindutva parties across India. You see why there might be some doubts raised right?

For the nth time Modi won due to the Gujarat model. Voting on just religion is not sustainable in India otherwise every Muslim would vote for guys like Owaisi who is the most known Muslim leader.

Does he have a RSS background and Hindutva philosophy absolutely but he was not voted in 2014 because of riots in 2002 if that’s what you are implying.

You have been given enough material to work with. Rest DYOR. However I feel you want to keep shifting goal posts till you fulfill your entertainment quota for the day aimlessly.

 

[uppercut]

Most Hindus are liberal by nature, yet they have voted in a party with links to right wing Hindutva parties across India. You see why there might be some doubts raised right?

Thats according to you and Pakistani's. However most Indians now realize that the Congress party which ruled for 60+ yrs was the most communal one and was responsible for appeasement politics to the detriment of the majority.

 

[Justcrazy]

In order to do that you first need to keep aside the classical definition of what constitutes a religion as defined by the West which is a product of Abrahamic religions and has a very rigid set of rules which goes along the lines of if religion x then you do a,b,c but not d,e,f. Hinduism cannot be codified like that. Which is why its the most liberal religions out there and one of the main reasons why most Hindus are liberal by nature.

But Hindus have codified laws and scriptures. If you do not believe in them , then that is your own personal choice , you cannot say it does not exist.

 

[Justcrazy]

They are called “avatars” which means manifestation of god. It is not the Apple to Apple comparison but look at it like Jesus etc who are worshipped as divine beings even though they didn’t claim to be god but a representation of god’s message.

We consider Buddha as an avatar too and in the same league of Ram and Krishna. However he took a different path.

Ram and Krishna themselves have separate independent paths due to which they are considered divine and so is Buddha.

As far as I know Jesus never claimed to be any manifestation , he claimed to be a human who has revelations.

You may consider Bhuddha as an avtar , but Buddha no where claimed that . If he was avtar he would have come as avtar for a specific purpose , and would not hide his identity.

 

[Local.Dada]

As far as I know Jesus never claimed to be any manifestation , he claimed to be a human who has revelations.

You may consider Bhuddha as an avtar , but Buddha no where claimed that . If he was avtar he would have come as avtar for a specific purpose , and would not hide his identity.

Any belief system that is born in the Indian subcontinent is considered Hinduism. Present day Buddhists might disagree because there are hardly any Buddhists left in India so mostly they are in the far East so naturally they will not identify with India in this day and age . Maybe some Khalistani Sikhs will not agree but that’s about it. That’s the high level definition. We don’t consider Jains, Buddhists, Sikhs any different from us. Ironically so do the Abrahamic faiths who consider these belief systems out of their category.

The modern version of Hinduism more or less started in 6th century when an Indian saint Shankaracharya from south of India travelled all over the subcontinent to even current day Pakistan and Afghanistan and established/ identified various major temples of that time as power centers/Shakti peethams. Hinglaj Mandir being one of the prominent ones I think and the other being sharda peetham in present day Azad/Pok Kashmir.

Anyway the motive was to unite all the various sects of that time and bring them under one umbrella of Hinduism and then organize it and provide a common structure while still maintaining the diversity of that region.The chants etc in any temple north,east, west or south are the same for that reason. Not sure if it’s the right example but kind of let’s say Sunni, Shias etc I am assuming have some basic differences but they are under the common umbrella of Islam. That’s based on my understanding so apologize if I am wrong. In India we have other indigenous Islamic sects too but I will leave them out as it’s not the point of discussion.

In fact that geographical length and breadth he travelled is one of the things that gives rise to the Akhand Bharat theory even though technically back then they were different kingdoms. I am sure other theories exist too but this is one of them.

I can only give you a historical perspective. As I said you come across like an Islamic religious scholar. I am not so it won’t be on an equal footing. Just take my post as trivia that I have read over the years from solid sources.

 

[uppercut]

But Hindus have codified laws and scriptures. If you do not believe in them , then that is your own personal choice , you cannot say it does not exist.

They are not uniform and rigid unlike Abrahamic faiths ... that's what I meant. Right from birth to death and burial/cremation you will not find uniformity. You will find absolutely pure vegetarian Hindus and you will also find those who are not. You will find those who believe in burial and those who believe their bodies to be burnt. This is what trips those who follow Abrahamic faiths because it violates all text book definitions of the concept of religion and the reason for this is very simple - the definition of religion was codified by the Abrahamic religions who are the overwhelming majority in the world.

 

[Cpt. Rishwat]

For the nth time Modi won due to the Gujarat model. Voting on just religion is not sustainable in India otherwise every Muslim would vote for guys like Owaisi who is the most known Muslim leader.

Does he have a RSS background and Hindutva philosophy absolutely but he was not voted in 2014 because of riots in 2002 if that’s what you are implying.

You have been given enough material to work with. Rest DYOR. However I feel you want to keep shifting goal posts till you fulfill your entertainment quota for the day aimlessly.

The BJP were in power once previously before in the late 1990's, and they swept in on a similar mosque demolishing agenda. Were they voted in on the Gujarat financial model as well? Nor everyone was born yesterday, the RSS has deep roots in India, deep Hindutva roots, and you should not feel any need to hide any of this. It's apparent in all your posts anywyay. Instead of getting defensive, why not say come join us bro, you are a Hindu and on a level with us for this reason, and that reason. This is what Hinduism has to offer the world.

 

[Cpt. Rishwat]

They are not uniform and rigid unlike Abrahamic faiths ... that's what I meant. Right from birth to death and burial/cremation you will not find uniformity. You will find absolutely pure vegetarian Hindus and you will also find those who are not. You will find those who believe in burial and those who believe their bodies to be burnt. This is what trips those who follow Abrahamic faiths because it violates all text book definitions of the concept of religion and the reason for this is very simple - the definition of religion was codified by the Abrahamic religions who are the overwhelming majority in the world.

It doesn't violate text book definitions of religion, it just latches onto the latest idea of the day and claims it for it's own. For all the uniformity and rigidity that you claim Abrahamic faiths cling to, they have actually produced far more in material terms than the Hindu culture, and this is attested by the proof that Abrahamic nations are still the world leaders in building desirable nations in which the world's ambitious people want to live.

 

[RexRex]

For all the uniformity and rigidity that you claim Abrahamic faiths cling to, they have actually produced far more in material terms than the Hindu culture, and this is attested by the proof that Abrahamic nations are still the world leaders in building desirable nations in which the world's ambitious people want to live.

Abrahmic nations no, just the Christian ones.

 

[uppercut]

It doesn't violate text book definitions of religion, it just latches onto the latest idea of the day and claims it for it's own.

Which ideas are these?

For all the uniformity and rigidity that you claim Abrahamic faiths cling to, they have actually produced far more in material terms than the Hindu culture, and this is attested by the proof that Abrahamic nations are still the world leaders in building desirable nations in which the world's ambitious people want to live.

As RexRex correctly pointed out its only the Christian nations ... which BTW were built by looting/plundering/destroying large portions of the Non-christian world. You left out that bit of inconvenient fact.

 

[ex-q-zit]

The BJP were in power once previously before in the late 1990's, and they swept in on a similar mosque demolishing agenda. Were they voted in on the Gujarat financial model as well? Nor everyone was born yesterday, the RSS has deep roots in India, deep Hindutva roots, and you should not feel any need to hide any of this. It's apparent in all your posts anywyay. Instead of getting defensive, why not say come join us bro, you are a Hindu and on a level with us for this reason, and that reason. This is what Hinduism has to offer the world.

Its funny that for someone who has never stepped foot in India you speak with so much conviction based on hearsay. Firstly, BJP in 1997 wasn't voted to power due to Babri Masjid demolition. To give you an historical context Congress was at an all time low then. Rajiv Gandhi was assinated and no one from Gandhi family was heading it which meant there was lots of in fighting and the only credible national party of that time was at its lowest ebb. The other regional parties formed a coalitiona nd we had 2 PMs IK Gujral and Deve Gowda for short periods. It was at this time that BJP formed an allaince with other regional parties like Janata Dal, Trinamool Congress, Janata Party, Akali Dal, Samata Party etc and came to power. Mind you, BJP unlkike the Modi era didn't get an aboslute majority and had to rely on the support of regional parties. By the 2004 elections Sonia Gandhi had already taken over the reins and Congress with other regional parties like DMK, Samajwadi Party, RJD etc held power for 10 years.

Between 2004-14 corruption was rampant with huge scams like Commonwealth Games Scam, Coal Scam, 2g/3g spectrum scam etc. Add to this Manmohan Singh was seen as a puppet PM with the council headed by Sonia Gandhi making all the decisions. This was well exploited by Modi who parallelly marketed Gujarat as a prosperous and rich state. People were vexed with the corrupt UPA regime and voted Modi unanimously to power. With Modi projecting himself as a saviour and Rahul Gandhi projected by UPA as Pm candidate and had an image of 'Pappu' there was no way BJP was going to lose. The middle class voted overwhelmingly to BJP.

@bold: My friend who exactly is a hindu? Hindu is not a monolith. A hindu in every state of India speaks a different language or dialect, has different food habits, dresses differently. In north cousin marriage is a taboo while in south we are allowed to marry cross cousins. A hindu in Uttar Pradesh may be a Shiv or Ram bhakt while a hindu in Andhra may be a Balaji devotee. There are a section of muslims in andhra who pray to lord Balaji as its believed the lord married a muslim woman from their tribe bibi nanchari as one of his wives.

If you really want to know India then take a visa and visit it yourself to see how the people are. Is RSS really as powerful as the Pakistani media projects it as. Then you can give a more informed PoV.

 

[Romali_rotti]

It doesn't violate text book definitions of religion, it just latches onto the latest idea of the day and claims it for it's own. For all the uniformity and rigidity that you claim Abrahamic faiths cling to, they have actually produced far more in material terms than the Hindu culture, and this is attested by the proof that Abrahamic nations are still the world leaders in building desirable nations in which the world's ambitious people want to live.

Correct, the Jewish & Christian nations....

 

[Justcrazy]

Any belief system that is born in the Indian subcontinent is considered Hinduism. Present day Buddhists might disagree because there are hardly any Buddhists left in India so mostly they are in the far East so naturally they will not identify with India in this day and age . Maybe some Khalistani Sikhs will not agree but that’s about it. That’s the high level definition. We don’t consider Jains, Buddhists, Sikhs any different from us. Ironically so do the Abrahamic faiths who consider these belief systems out of their category.

The modern version of Hinduism more or less started in 6th century when an Indian saint Shankaracharya from south of India travelled all over the subcontinent to even current day Pakistan and Afghanistan and established/ identified various major temples of that time as power centers/Shakti peethams. Hinglaj Mandir being one of the prominent ones I think and the other being sharda peetham in present day Azad/Pok Kashmir.

Anyway the motive was to unite all the various sects of that time and bring them under one umbrella of Hinduism and then organize it and provide a common structure while still maintaining the diversity of that region.The chants etc in any temple north,east, west or south are the same for that reason. Not sure if it’s the right example but kind of let’s say Sunni, Shias etc I am assuming have some basic differences but they are under the common umbrella of Islam. That’s based on my understanding so apologize if I am wrong. In India we have other indigenous Islamic sects too but I will leave them out as it’s not the point of discussion.

In fact that geographical length and breadth he travelled is one of the things that gives rise to the Akhand Bharat theory even though technically back then they were different kingdoms. I am sure other theories exist too but this is one of them.

I can only give you a historical perspective. As I said you come across like an Islamic religious scholar. I am not so it won’t be on an equal footing. Just take my post as trivia that I have read over the years from solid sources.

Firstly let me clarify I am an ordinary person , not any Islamic scholar.

I agree you consider Jains , Bhuddits , sikhs to be part of hinduism , but the issue is they do not consider themselves as Under Hinduism.

They are more important than your consideration. Because I may want to be a part of Elon Musk , but he would not want that , so my wanting is of no substance.

You gave a good example of shia - sunni . The issue here is that sunni - shia agree on fundamentals of religion , but hindu sects do not.

 

[Justcrazy]

They are not uniform and rigid unlike Abrahamic faiths ... that's what I meant. Right from birth to death and burial/cremation you will not find uniformity. You will find absolutely pure vegetarian Hindus and you will also find those who are not. You will find those who believe in burial and those who believe their bodies to be burnt. This is what trips those who follow Abrahamic faiths because it violates all text book definitions of the concept of religion and the reason for this is very simple - the definition of religion was codified by the Abrahamic religions who are the overwhelming majority in the world.

So you want to say that there is absolutely no structure. Anyone is free to do what the person wants.

 

[JattMaula]

So you want to say that there is absolutely no structure. Anyone is free to do what the person wants.

That's right. There is no universal structure but pockets of related and accepted but autonomous and largely unenforced doctrines.

Everyone is always free to try doing what they want. You have to face consequences eventually if you do anti societal deeds.

 

[Cpt. Rishwat]

Abrahmic nations no, just the Christian ones.

Are UAE nations not Abrahamic?

 

[Cpt. Rishwat]

Which ideas are these?



As RexRex correctly pointed out its only the Christian nations ... which BTW were built by looting/plundering/destroying large portions of the Non-christian world. You left out that bit of inconvenient fact.

I didn't leave anything out. If you as a hindu want to discuss Christian empire and it's impact on hindus then by all means raise a thread. This one is about how to become a Hindu.

 

[Champ_Pal]

Again there are conflicting messages. In this same thread many have argued that Hinduism is tied to the culture of India itself, in fact I am pretty sure Hindutva groups which have ties to the BJP party such as RSS have also made this a central tenent. That is why we have the rise of Hindutva in the first place, and loud noises raised in objection about love jihad. So is it inclusive or isn't it? Otherwise what is the problem of "love jihad"?

Every religion s tied to the geography of its origin. Hinduism is no different.

I still don't understand what your confusion is. As a Hindu, I am saying, you pray to your God and meditate on his/her name and light a candle or lamp and look inwards and try to find God within yourself. You will become a Hindu.

These Hindutva and RSS organizations are just a reaction to the onslaught of Abrahamic faiths trying to convert people to their way. None of these Hindu organizations existed before independence. Hinduism is a much organized form of Sanatana Dharma because of 500 years of Central Asian and Turkic rule.

 

[Champ_Pal]

So you want to say that there is absolutely no structure. Anyone is free to do what the person wants.

in Hinduism, you can pray to any God and there are no rules on how to worship. Rituals and mode of worship varies with region. Sometimes it varies so much that it is hard to believe that they follow the same religion. It is very hard for Muslims to accept that. But it is what it is.

 

[Cpt. Rishwat]

Every religion s tied to the geography of its origin. Hinduism is no different.

I still don't understand what your confusion is. As a Hindu, I am saying, you pray to your God and meditate on his/her name and light a candle or lamp and look inwards and try to find God within yourself. You will become a Hindu.

These Hindutva and RSS organizations are just a reaction to the onslaught of Abrahamic faiths trying to convert people to their way. None of these Hindu organizations existed before independence. Hinduism is a much organized form of Sanatana Dharma because of 500 years of Central Asian and Turkic rule.

So if a religion is tied to it's region this means it would be impossible for me to become a Hindu as I am born to the British isles. So does this mean I should become an Abrahamic Christian looking to Jerusalem as my inspiration rather than Kolkata?

 

[uppercut]

I didn't leave anything out. If you as a hindu want to discuss Christian empire and it's impact on hindus then by all means raise a thread. This one is about how to become a Hindu.

you were the one that decided to bring in the achievements of Abrahamic countries ( post 359) and I reminded you the genesis of their prosperity. So maybe you should first try to implement your own advice about sticking to the topic before lecturing others.

 

[Cpt. Rishwat]

you were the one that decided to bring in the achievements of Abrahamic countries ( post 359) and I reminded you the genesis of their prosperity. So maybe you should first try to implement your own advice about sticking to the topic before lecturing others.

We are talking about religion not how the British looted India. If you want to discuss British emprie, then I can bump the thread for you, let's see how many of you pipe up there.

 

[uppercut]

We are talking about religion not how the British looted India. If you want to discuss British emprie, then I can bump the thread for you, let's see how many of you pipe up there.

if you are so particular about staying on topic in this thread then maybe you should start be retracting your post 359 ?

 

[Cpt. Rishwat]

if you are so particular about staying on topic in this thread then maybe you should start be retracting your post 359 ?

It was in line with the post I was replying to which was unsurprisingly yours. So there is nothing to retract.

 

[uppercut]

It was in line with the post I was replying to which was unsurprisingly yours. So there is nothing to retract.

my post you are replying to in 359 has nothing about what the Abrahamic nations did or did not do. That was randomly introduced by you in 359 ... not my problem.

 

[Cpt. Rishwat]

my post you are replying to in 359 has nothing about what the Abrahamic nations did or did not do. That was randomly introduced by you in 359 ... not my problem.

Ok, let's move on and get to the point. Take me out of the equation, and let's pretend it's [MENTION=7774]Robert[/MENTION] who wants to become a Hindu. How would he go about it, and what caste would he land on? I'm guessing Rajput because they were the British Raj innit?

 

[uppercut]

Ok, let's move on and get to the point. Take me out of the equation, and let's pretend it's [MENTION=7774]Robert[/MENTION] who wants to become a Hindu. How would he go about it, and what caste would he land on? I'm guessing Rajput because they were the British Raj innit?

Doesn't matter who it is and his skin color. However like I said in one of my earlier responses the difference between your situation and Robert would be that you will have to make contingency plans to deal with your current co-religionists who do not take kindly to even think about exiting your current religion. If I were you I would focus on that.

There is plenty of youtube videos where Europeans have adopted Hinduism. You dont even have to pick a caste nor go through a process or indulge in rituals to be considered a Hindu.

 

[Cpt. Rishwat]

Doesn't matter who it is and his skin color. However like I said in one of my earlier responses the difference between your situation and Robert would be that you will have to make contingency plans to deal with your current co-religionists who do not take kindly to even think about exiting your current religion. If I were you I would focus on that.

There is plenty of youtube videos where Europeans have adopted Hinduism. You dont even have to pick a caste nor go through a process or indulge in rituals to be considered a Hindu.

So what caste would [MENTION=7774]Robert[/MENTION] land on? Rajput because of the British Raj innit?

By the way, I never mentioned skin colour.

 

[Champ_Pal]

So if a religion is tied to it's region this means it would be impossible for me to become a Hindu as I am born to the British isles. So does this mean I should become an Abrahamic Christian looking to Jerusalem as my inspiration rather than Kolkata?

Islam is tied to Arabia more than Hinduism to Kolkata. Everyday all Muslims face kaba 5 times a day to pray.
When you explain the life of Jesus to certain Rishwat in Britain, you hear about the geography of modern day Israel.
Your snide remarks make no sense.

 

[Cpt. Rishwat]

Islam is tied to Arabia more than Hinduism to Kolkata. Everyday all Muslims face kaba 5 times a day to pray.
When you explain the life of Jesus to certain Rishwat in Britain, you hear about the geography of modern day Israel.
Your snide remarks make no sense.

So I would become a Hindu by wondering how Islam is tied to Arabia?

I see, now I can understand where the Indian bros are coming from.

 

[Champ_Pal]

So I would become a Hindu by wondering how Islam is tied to Arabia?

I see, now I can understand where the Indian bros are coming from.

My post was about Religion and geography of its origin.

Since you want to become a Hindu, what sect of Islam do you follow currently?

 

[Cpt. Rishwat]

My post was about Religion and geography of its origin.

Since you want to become a Hindu, what sect of Islam do you follow currently?

Why would that be relevant? Is there a different entry path to Hinduism depending on sectarian allegiances?

 

[Champ_Pal]

Why would that be relevant? Is there a different entry path to Hinduism depending on sectarian allegiances?

Trying to understand where you come from. If you are an atheist, then my approach will be different.

 

[Cpt. Rishwat]

Trying to understand where you come from. If you are an atheist, then my approach will be different.

Let's just say I'm ambivalent on atheism and religion. What does Hinduism have to offer a Britisher. Don't say a job in the home office stopping immigrants, we got the memo on that one.

 

[Champ_Pal]

Let's just say I'm ambivalent on atheism and religion. What does Hinduism have to offer a Britisher. Don't say a job in the home office stopping immigrants, we got the memo on that one.

Freedom to pray when you want, whom you want to or not pray at all. You can sit and meditate at your convenience and look for the God(peace and happiness) within yourself. Hindus believe God is within you.

Also believe that there are multiple ways to reach eternal peace and Nirvana. There is Shiva's way, Buddha's way, Mahavir's way, Krishna's way etc. You choose what best suits you. No one will judge you.

 

[Colorblind Genius]

Freedom to pray when you want, whom you want to or not pray at all. You can sit and meditate at your convenience and look for the God(peace and happiness) within yourself. Hindus believe God is within you.

Also believe that there are multiple ways to reach eternal peace and Nirvana. There is Shiva's way, Buddha's way, Mahavir's way, Krishna's way etc. You choose what best suits you. No one will judge you.

So why there are 33 million gods and 100 n thousands of temples to find god, when it's already in you?
Just stand in front of a mirror and worship yourself. no?

 

[IndoorCricket]

So why there are 33 million gods and 100 n thousands of temples to find god, when it's already in you?
Just stand in front of a mirror and worship yourself. no?

You are right. That's exactly what we have to do. But first one need to realize they are god. Not just mere words, one has to experience the ultimate reality as one self.

The Bhagavad Gita talks about four paths of yoga, called the four margas to achieve this. These are:

Karma Yoga, the yoga of selfless service
Jñana Yoga, the yoga of knowledge and learning
Raja Yoga, the practice of conquering the mind through Patanjali’s eight-limbed path
Bhakti Yoga, the yoga of devotion

Bhakti Yoga is a way to come to this realization by love and devotion to God. Gita says this is the easiest way to realization.

We create gods as per our liking. These are not typical gods. They are called Istha Devatha. Every family, street, city has their own istha devatha. No wonder we have 33 million gods. May be more than that.

 

[Colorblind Genius]

You are right. That's exactly what we have to do. But first one need to realize they are god. Not just mere words, one has to experience the ultimate reality as one self.

The Bhagavad Gita talks about four paths of yoga, called the four margas to achieve this. These are:

Karma Yoga, the yoga of selfless service
Jñana Yoga, the yoga of knowledge and learning
Raja Yoga, the practice of conquering the mind through Patanjali’s eight-limbed path
Bhakti Yoga, the yoga of devotion

Bhakti Yoga is a way to come to this realization by love and devotion to God. Gita says this is the easiest way to realization.

We create gods as per our liking. These are not typical gods. They are called Istha Devatha. Every family, street, city has their own istha devatha. No wonder we have 33 million gods. May be more than that.

But I have not seen a hindu worshipping himself as god.... so all 1 Billion Hindus in India are lost from their religious path and worshipping other things rather than worshipping themselves?

 

[Champ_Pal]

So why there are 33 million gods and 100 n thousands of temples to find god, when it's already in you?
Just stand in front of a mirror and worship yourself. no?

Every household has their own God or subordinate God or a God in the Hindu Pantheon. Some are known all over India and some are unknown. People worship their profession, tools, land, crops, animals as their livelihood depends on it. No one cares who or what you worship if it brings them peace and prosperity.

Hindu Gods are nothing like Middle Eastern ones.

Visiting temples is not mandatory in Hinduism. Praying is also optional. No one will judge you. You can sit at home and meditate if you do not like going to crowded temples.

 

[Colorblind Genius]

Every household has their own God or subordinate God or a God in the Hindu Pantheon. Some are known all over India and some are unknown. People worship their profession, tools, land, crops, animals as their livelihood depends on it.

So after thousands of years of practice, all these Hindus are totally lost. They are unable to recognize that the god is actually inside their own selves, yet they worship all different kinds of gods. And even though it may bring them happiness, they are still worshipping the wrong god.

No one cares who or what you worship if it brings them peace and prosperity.

But didn't we just say, god is inside you?
If that's correct then anyone who worships any other god, may be going against the actual god that lives inside you. So perhaps that god who lives inside you, cares as to who do you worship?

Hindu Gods are nothing like Middle Eastern ones.

What's the main difference?
And before we answer that, you must identify the god is in hinduism. On one hand, you say the god in Hinduism lives inside you. Then you say, it's OK to worship a god who may be a statute or a snake or an elephant in a temple. Let's nail down what exactly is god in hinduism before we compare it to the middle eastern one.

Visiting temples is not mandatory in Hinduism. Praying is also optional. No one will judge you. You can sit at home and meditate if you do not like going to crowded temples.

Again, why would you go to temples anyway and worship a statue, IF the actual god is within you? Aren't all those hinduz lost who go to temples and worship other gods, and also, all those hinduz are lost who do not go to temples and sit home to worship any other god besides the one that's inside them?

 

[IndoorCricket]

But I have not seen a hindu worshipping himself as god.... so all 1 Billion Hindus in India are lost from their religious path and worshipping other things rather than worshipping themselves?

Because not many people are realised. There are only very few people in history who are fully realised. Where did you get the idea people lost their way. There is no one single way to realisation. People choose their way based on their tendencies.

 

[DesiMunda]

Too much confusion here. Ultimate goal is Enlightenment / Nirvana : Realisation that the whole universe is one entity. As a saying goes, we are not individual entities experiencing the universe, but we are the universe experiencing itself. Once a person reaches this state, society becomes more equitable by nature we we see everyone and everything as an extension of ourselves. The role of Sanatana Dharma was to ensure that our land had the critical mass of "enlightened" beings to keep the society just and "Dharmic" (i.e. just society by nature)

Traditionally some of the ways to achieve it were:

1. Bhakti Yoga: This is complete devotion to an entity.. could be any idol, god, so much so that you drown your ego and individuality so much to achieve oneness with the universal identity (khudi ko maar kar khuda ko paana). Hence the huge number of gods, idols, etc

2. Gyana Yoga: This is where you dissect philosophically and scientifically the meaning of life, death, existence, physical reality etc, and come to the realisation of the oneness of all.

3. Karma Yoga: This is where you devote yourself to work and perfection, but not with desire of fruits of your labor (karma karo, phal ki iccha mat karo). This might not lead to "enlightenment", but the society continues to function in a dharmic manner

4. Raja Yoga: This is more for rulers and administrators. I don't know much about this.

 

[DesiMunda]

Doesn’t it make it even more confusing? You are posting things that you don’t know about?

I'm just admitting what I don't know. Generally, admission of ignorance is the first step towards removing confusion.

 

[Champ_Pal]

So after thousands of years of practice, all these Hindus are totally lost. They are unable to recognize that the god is actually inside their own selves, yet they worship all different kinds of gods. And even though it may bring them happiness, they are still worshipping the wrong god.





But didn't we just say, god is inside you?
If that's correct then anyone who worships any other god, may be going against the actual god that lives inside you. So perhaps that god who lives inside you, cares as to who do you worship?



What's the main difference?
And before we answer that, you must identify the god is in hinduism. On one hand, you say the god in Hinduism lives inside you. Then you say, it's OK to worship a god who may be a statute or a snake or an elephant in a temple. Let's nail down what exactly is god in hinduism before we compare it to the middle eastern one.



Again, why would you go to temples anyway and worship a statue, IF the actual god is within you? Aren't all those hinduz lost who go to temples and worship other gods, and also, all those hinduz are lost who do not go to temples and sit home to worship any other god besides the one that's inside them?

Hinduism gives you options. Finding God within you is Yogic style. Not everyone can do it. For people who prefer a definite way, they can go to temples and bow down to a statue. The statue itself is not God. It is only a representation of God.

Until you remove your Islamic Glasses and see the freedom to choose your own way, you will never understand Hinduism.

Hinduism is a pot of several ways of reaching the Paramatman aka Supreme soul. You pick what best suits your desire. It is not one size fits all like Islam. There are no overbearing rules.

 

[JattMaula]

I believe our Abrahamic brothers need stricter universal rules in order to experience religion. Those rules don't exist in Hinduism. You will not have or get to surrender fully into external God.

I believe OP has found what he is looking for already, if you know what I mean.

 

[Technics 1210]

I believe our Abrahamic brothers need stricter universal rules in order to experience religion. Those rules don't exist in Hinduism. You will not have or get to surrender fully into external God.

I believe OP has found what he is looking for already, if you know what I mean.

Religion isn't about stricter rules, but consistent rules, which clearly Hinduism lacks.

Frankly speaking, based on the responses in this thread - and I duly note Hindus are not really responding to each other - Hindusim doesn't fall into the Religion or Spirituality categories.

Hinduism (based on this thread) seems is just a (con)fusion of culture.

 

[Colorblind Genius]

Religion isn't about stricter rules, but consistent rules, which clearly Hinduism lacks.

Frankly speaking, based on the responses in this thread - and I duly note Hindus are not really responding to each other - Hindusim doesn't fall into the Religion or Spirituality categories.

Hinduism (based on this thread) seems is just a (con)fusion of culture.

From what I am seeing here is that Hinduism does seem to have one rule - and that is, "no rules".

 

[Nikhil_cric]

But I have not seen a hindu worshipping himself as god.... so all 1 Billion Hindus in India are lost from their religious path and worshipping other things rather than worshipping themselves?

It's not about worship . You are looking at it from an Islamic perspective where there is definitevly a distinction between the Creator and the Created. Dharmic faiths dont have that generally. Buddhism is certainly non theistic.

Hinduism is pantheistic. Essentially all things in the Universe are manifestations of the One Truth.

Those who embark on a process of self actualization need not worship a deity at all if it doesn't work for them.

You said Hindus are lost because they don't worship themselves. The point is , if you need a visual representation for the purpose of self actualization I e. an anthropomorphic figure then you can use that for "worship" as you put it.

Whatever helps you in the process of attaining enlightenment

 

[hoshiarpurexpress]

From what I can understand going through this thread, some Muslims have no tolerance towards another different way of life and religion and no respect. They just troll and taunt the concept of Hinduism and its ways of life, and have been doing such gaslighting since centuries.
I don’t know why my Hindu brothers are giving space and answers to such toxic individuals.
As a Sikh myself I have deep appreciation of concepts like Nirvana, Enlightenment and Isht Devta. We Sikhs are monotheistic but appreciate Hindu concepts and way of also. Cannot say the same about Pakistani Muslims from whatever interaction I had with them.
Arab Muslims are more tolerant and acceptable in my interactions with them.