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April 30th, 2007 at 6:16 am
Great to meet the talents behind all those STRONG feelings & Emotions expressed thro’ this site.
I am a journalist editor based in South India and had been a regular visitor to Hindu UK.
Hinduism transcends all known parameters of time and age. And it will survive forever. But can that be said about Hindus? I feel it is not Hinduism but Hindu society that faces a lot of challenges today. We can face these challenges
· By making every Hindu proud about his inheritance and
· By proving the significance of Hinduism in the modern world.
I think you are exactly doing this through the site.
Great Job friends…….keep it up..
Regards
Rajesh Pillai
April 30th, 2007 at 9:35 am
Om Swastiastu,
Hi I am a Hindu from Indonesia and I am very happy to finally see your guys faces although in a cartoon look a like
Anyway I would like to thank you guys a lot for sending me your website regulary everymonth to my private mailbox since you first send me your first article somewhat a year ago or so. As a matter of fact I still keep your first email as my appreciation to you for somehow recovering my mail address and sending me this very useful and informative articles about how my Hindus brothers and sisters in the UK, India, and the rest of the world are doing. Here in my homeland I also enrich my knowledge and my Hindu faith with local Hindu magazines and books. Anyway keep on sending me your articles. If I was living in the UK we probably might hang out alot and becoming good friends
Thank you very much and God bless.
Om Canti Canti Canti Om.
April 30th, 2007 at 1:55 pm
Namaste
It is fantastic to be back from a long holiday and read my favourite online magazine Hindu Voice.
It si also nice to be able to put a face in front of a name. HV is unique in one way that practically every article is a masterpiece, a joy to read.
I have been reading HV since its conception. Although I enjoyed reading every article, I must point out two I enjoyed most, for different reason.
The first one is Lord Krishna’s War Ethics. Gita is a complex book. So the piece explains Krishna’s philosophy, the true meaning of our holy book Gite, the reason behind writing this most amazing book that contains nore wisdom than all other Hindu literature put together.
Yet Gita is not easy to understand, as it has hidden meaning, written with guile, duplicity and utmost shrewdness, perhaps more for the ruling class than ordinary people. So any piece which simplifies Gita for us all to grasp its true greatness is most wellcome.
The second piece I appreciated, for different reasons was about forceful conversion, the harassment of our girls on the Uni campus. This is the most serious problem that confront us and has ruined many families.
But through your effort and the hard work done by many ordinary as well as influential people, of ringing every Hindu family with children at UNi, Holding HSC and making politicians, press and police aware of this anti social behavious, the problem is now in public domain.
Practically every Hindu family is now aware. But we must not lower our guards, keep it in public eye as long as possible until the problem is irradicated.
I am an OAP, perhaps in my twilight years. The time is in short supply for us, so it is very precious to us, the people of my generation.
As a journalist, now more of a hobby than trying to earn a living, I am heartened to observe that so many of our younger generation are taking such a keen interest in our culture and religion. At last we feel that we are leaving behind our wellbeing in capable hands, dedicated youngsters who will continue the good work that we started a very long time ago.
Keep up the good work and God bless you all.
Bhupendra
April 30th, 2007 at 2:09 pm
Namaste
It seems you have a wonderful team of dedicated youngsters. A few words of wisdom from an OAP who is a journalist, more of a hobby one than to earn a living.
As for Neha, please follow your heart and be a politician, an MP, as an MP can contribute more for the wellbeing of our community than any one else.
For Rajesh, congratulations for taking on the responsibility of being a co-editor but hurry up and be a journalist. We have many pharmacists but very few journalists. As myself a journalist, I can assure U that it is one of the most respected professions, easy to make friends at the top and influence them as well.
As for Pavan, I hope U are as quick as hurricane. Kick box your way to the top. Our youngsters need role model like U.
To Asmita, we know how successive governments in India and most Hindu organizations have let us down on Ramjanmabhumi issue. How can we succeed when we are so divided, ignorent and selfish. But 21st Centaury belongs to us, the Hindus and our younger generation like u all is the living proof.
Rudra has an international background and having lived in an Islamic nation, you like us, the East African Indians appreciate and understand our rich cultural heritage more than Hindus of India.
Lastly keep up the good work and may God bless U all.
Bhupendra
April 30th, 2007 at 5:14 pm
Interesting to meet and read a bit about the people behind Hindu Voice UK. Many thanks for what you’ve done and are continuing to do, and best wishes with taking it forward.
Might I be so bold as to take this opportunity to ask whether there is any link, formal or otherwise, between Hindu Voice UK and Shakti Marg?
Dhanyavaad.
April 30th, 2007 at 11:28 pm
Satya, please check the e-mail you have been sent.
May 1st, 2007 at 10:23 am
Dear HV Team
I wanted to express my support and gratitude for the good work you are doing for our people.
Before discovering this site, I browsed to various sites which claim to represent the Hindu Community in the UK, but have done little more than to stress the importance of yoga and vegetarianism in Hindusim - even when the community was going through crisis.
Hindu Voice is advanced in its thinking and creative in writing about issues which the Hindu diaspora has close to heart. Hindu revival is dependant on intelligentsia which you represent
Thank you!
May 2nd, 2007 at 5:46 pm
Hey
Like the others, i agree that its great to to finally hear about the writers behind Hindu Voice. I find alot of the articles quite inspirational, and the best bit behind it all is that you do write truthfully, and not just pad out the articles with bags of stuff that may be the ‘correct’ thing to do/say…Also alot of the articles are things that im sure most of the readers can relate to. Also fab to see a fellow pharmacist on the team (there is life outside pharmacy woohoo!!)
keep up the brill work!
May 3rd, 2007 at 6:13 pm
I appreciate the dedication behind the talents that write month after month
and wish that I too could share and inspire at least a few to join forces with those working for sucha noble cause .Ramjanmabhoomi is not a lost
cause nor will it ever be . It lives along in the hearts of millions of sane thinking Hindus . Of course we have to set our own house right and I will get back by anon to this forum with a few of my ideas.
May 6th, 2007 at 3:09 pm
Hi Guys,
Nice to meet you all at last - you are a great team, one and all!
To Beti Neha especially, go get it! And then, get into politics thereafter as fast as your economical target achievements and ambitions will permit. This is important, and more important for Inidans living in the UK is to encourage young Indians to get into Parliament and fight for the Hindu’s in the UK.
Ever thought of holding a “meet & greet” event guys? A lot of Indians in the UK would love to meet “like minded” people, exchange views of all types … on all subjects, and one especially.
RAJESH - Hindus & Hinduism (in using the word Hinduism here, I use that in the context of Hunduism as embracing the philosophies and the preachings of Seikhism & Buddhism as well) will survive however, I do believe that we can no longer take its survival for granted as Hinduism is under attack in our own cultural motherland India.
Challenges we do face indeed! The question is - what are we going to do about it Rajesh?
Bhupendra & Prof.T.Subrahmanyam - read your comments. It would be so good if we could all meet up for a drink some day. Pravin_bhate@hotmail.co.uk
Great work team Hindu Voice. Now try to organise something where Indian thinkers can meet up someday.
May 7th, 2007 at 1:58 pm
To Pravin
namaste pravin
Thanks for your invitation. I will get in touch with you by email.
In the mean time, If U would like to read my column, my articles, my book, etc published in various newspapers and magazines, please go to www.indialink-online.com
Regards aand best wishes
Bhupendra
May 8th, 2007 at 7:02 pm
A great team. Congrats on what you’ve done, who you are, and (some pressure) for what you will contribute to make our world better.
hariaum
May 11th, 2007 at 1:57 pm
can we have article on south wales temple cow to be slughtered.
very important for our faith.
May 13th, 2007 at 10:38 am
to Pravin-ji and otheres
If non-sectarian Hindu Intellectuals can get together and work in harmony as suggested by Pravin-ji, Bhupendra-ji, Subrahmanyam-ji and others then, in my view it would be a creditable success for Hindu Voice.
Kind regards
Prem
May 19th, 2007 at 2:35 am
Namaste
What a beautiful, measured and intellectual response this piece has received from the readers. It potrays harmony, unity and strength of our culture, our religion.
Even where there are differences, it is pointed out, discussed in a civilized manner, befitting our noble, tolorant and rich cultural heritage.
What a pity the contributors to Veggie debate have sunk so low
that they show more hatred for each eather than our real enemy.
It seems we have adopted the policy of our enemy’s enemy is our friend, even if that person may be the devil. No wonder Bharat suffered a thousand year’s of gulami and now heading the same way again.
Thanks to all the contributors to this column and keep up your high standard, don’t sink to gutter press level. If the truth is on your side, even a polite, friendly approach will win the argument, if not no amount of rudeness, insults and tantrums will make any difference.
Good luck and God, Lord Rama bless you all.
Bhupendra
May 27th, 2007 at 3:57 am
I keep coming back to your wonderful web site which it self speaks volumes of the hard work put in by the contributers. There is so much to learn about our own faith because not much has beeen done to simplify it for common understanding. You are doing this . You have added intellectual honesty by introducing discussions and views which is what makes your site yet more creative and popular. The site can do yoeman service by addressing issues which keeps one face of Hinduism undynamic and obscurantist and so vulnerable to personalised exploitation. Yes Ram Mandir issue should be an eye opener for all who thought taking faith to the streets via the political route would strengthen its cause . No this route only made it more vulnerable and fallible . This trend needs to be reversed through wrtings and education.Moral ascendency cannot be achieved through politics and this is the key to upholding the cause.
Good wishes and more inspiration
jai deva
chauhan
July 24th, 2007 at 9:14 am
I’d just like to congratulate Rajesh Patel for presenting a balanced and well-delivered summary of the Hindu viewpoint on the Shambo issue in his recent BBC interview - even leaving the specific issue aside, it was heartening to see a representative from the Hindu community being shown presenting a Hindu viewpoint in a clear, cogent, sensible manner.
July 25th, 2007 at 9:54 am
Incidentally, for the benefit of those who may not have seen the above-mentioned piece, here is the link to the BBC report (including the video interview):
http://www.bbc.co.uk/london/content/articles/2007/06/04/shambo_video_feature.shtml
July 31st, 2007 at 7:14 pm
Prem,
I have been pondering for days whether I ought to make a point here or not - political correctness/common sense or not, I thought the point is best made than not.
You say: ” If non-sectarian Hindu Intellectuals can get together and work in harmony …” etc.
I limit this comment in relation to India now, and does not relate to the UK in any way:
The Indians (Sikhs, Hindus, Buddhists, Christian & Jewish Indians) are not sectarian, and make for harmonious, peace loving and secular India.
What then?
August 25th, 2007 at 10:59 am
The letter by the RSS worker had me laughing my head off.It shows they can’t even take any criticism and they hold the RSS higher then even Hinduism itself .Its no wonder they haven’t made any difference in India for the last 80 years while wearing those oversized Khaki shorts.If you’re not ready to reform then you deform.
September 7th, 2007 at 7:34 am
rss chaddi wallas r only good for swinging around their broomsticks, its funny how that chicken-legged loser also implied a threat in his letter….as if people are gonna get scared of some loser chaddiwala.
December 20th, 2007 at 5:22 pm
thank you. enjoy all the articles.
March 7th, 2008 at 8:29 am
The 125 th birth anniversary of Veer Savarkar falls on 28 May 2008. Veer Savarkar was the foremost exponent of Hindutva. His views on social reform, Hindutva, Hindu-Muslim relations, militarization of the Hindus, Hinduisation of politics are relevant today and tomorrow. A new website www.savarkar.org has been launched recently. I appeal to all readers of Hindu Voice to visit the website. Readers can also visit India House on Cromwell Avenue, London from where Savarkar carried on his revolutionary activities.
Dr. Shreerang Godbole, Pune, India
April 19th, 2008 at 8:54 am
To me RSS is the only non political organisation in India that upholds the ethos of India, Hindutwa and teaches the young generations to live a disciplined life. Importantly it also keeps tabs on Christians and Islamists who are trying to divide India by following their foreign instructors. In many ways RSS correctly exposes the political motives of the Christian West and Islamic Mid-East including Pakistan. For this reason there is constant anti-RSS propaganda in the media.
My advice to RSS is they should come out of its ‘middle class’ image and recruit youngsters from lower classes of Hindu society. Should involve even farmers’ children from villages and streets of small towns and teach living a disciplined life. This will help the families of the farmers who are sometimes for years remain in poverty and debt with money lenders due to failure of crops. RSS should also form dedicated groups who will persuade the money lenders to write off the debts of the needy farmers as a practice of Hindutwa. I think RSS is a good organisation which can give practical help at all level and bring some cohesiveness in the practise of Hinduism.
My advise to all Hindus is beware of media anit India, anti Hinduism propaganda, especially by Churches authorities and Pakistan oriented Islamists.
April 21st, 2008 at 12:03 am
My advice to RSS is to grow some balls and instead of targetting Hindu teenagers/shopkeepers on feb 14th or the petty Ayodhya issue, deal with real issues such as illegal bengladeshis, muslim ghettos/terrorism, prostitution, drugs, poverty, illiteracy, etc…
April 21st, 2008 at 12:41 pm
Rather then offer advice, wouldn’t it be a great idea for strong Hindus & Sikhs to come together, group, talk, and formulate some thoughts on how things can be reshaped in India so as to negate the 200 million storng Islamic threat to India?
Have you guys listened to some of the more popular Indian film superstars and the program “nachle-ve” on NDTV?
My stomach truns when I listen to the Muslims living in India whom Barkha Dutt invites to the debate.
They inevitably turn the debate onto Kashmir and how the Indian government will not look after them properly.
That is a debate for another time though.
April 22nd, 2008 at 10:00 am
Kumar and Prahalad above make some good points. If I might share, from my personal experiences of dealing with RSS and its associate organisations..
Kumar rightly suggests that RSS needs to move away from its middle-class image and recruit those from the lower echelons of society. I have seen Sangh work in Delhi’s inner-city slums, Bundelkhand’s far-flung villages and Orissa’s tribal communities; in all these areas, the focus has been on inspiring and equipping (in terms of knowledge and skills) the communities they work with to enable sustainable self-development. People in those communities are not interested in becoming RSS workers; however, they are interested in continuing the work that RSS (under whatever guise) has shown them. RSS has always maintained that its entire raison d’etre is to equip the youth of India to become the nation’s leaders; it has never been about recruiting membership or campaigning for votes. That is exactly what it is doing.
Prahalad is absolutely right to suggest that illiteracy, drugs, prostitution and poverty are some of the most serious problems in India, which need to be worked on. As I have described above, their work on poverty is exemplary. I have also seen projects all around the country that are very successfully tackling illiteracy. Some of their inner-city slum work that I have come across has also included work on issues such as drugs, prostitution, etc. Unfortunately, this is not regarded as news-worthy and the media are just not interested. The fact that thousands of dedicated RSS workers are working tirelessly in the slums and villages is completely ignored; but when a handful of loony fringe elements (how often do any of these people actually attend a shakha?) attack shops on Valentine’s Day, suddenly the media can’t mention RSS enough.
Having said all that, I agree that RSS themselves are also to blame. Within their traditional core values, dating right back to their founder Dr Hedgewar, they have always shunned PR in the naive belief that just doing good work is enough. Unfortunately, whether they like it or not, RSS has become bigger than itself - it is not just an organisation, but it has become, for better or for worse, the face of an entire movement. That being the case, much as it may hate to do so, it has to accept that its responsibilities now run wider, deeper and further than just doing the work. They now have to be seen to do the work, and they have to sort themselves out and start getting serious about PR and image. That is the big challenge for the Sangh Parivaar today.
April 22nd, 2008 at 5:07 pm
Satya thanks for the update.
I may be wrong but I think there is still lack of belonging to RSS and that RSS is for the maintenene of Hindu ethos of the country. I am sure RSS help is welcomed in the hutments of Mumbai and Delhi but still appear to be detached and that is because the majority of workers look middle class doing a big favour. The poor must feel the self help by working shoulder to shoulder with more educated and knowledgeable RSS members. Then and then the poor Hindus will know our religion is better than those white do gooders who blabber about goodness of their religion. Once I confronted a white English in Mumbai in front of poor children that his work looks impressive but motive behind is political and I don’t like it, he left the place in anger to children’s surprise. Probably he caught the next plane to London. RSS should lift the knowledge and pride of the poor masses in the street and it will only happen when they are also participating in RSS.
April 23rd, 2008 at 7:25 am
RSS have a big, positive and fulfilling role to play in building democratic and secular Hindu nation. As knowldgeable, cultured and disciplined organization between Government and the poor Hindus they can teach how to live a Vedic life with pride and get closer to Nirvana, the spiritual goal of every Hindu. They should look busy and constantly keep busy in the activities culture and social events. As required they should take and show leadership for the events that the poor lack. They can run Ambulance services in towns and provide ancillary supportive role to medical needs of the poor. During natural calamities like earthquakes, flooding and epidemics they can organise on the spot positive help to all. They can also take interest in running schools and clubs for the blind and disabled. I am convinced such activities will make the anti-Hindu missionaries of other religions run out of the country.
April 23rd, 2008 at 9:39 pm
Kumar, some really positive ideas and great suggestions. This is going somewhat off the topic of this discussion, and is of course a subject that will continue to repeatedly arise. I do not speak for RSS, nor am I personally an RSS member; however, I have worked with RSS on numerous occasions in the past, and continue to do so as and when I feel it appropriate, and so speak purely on the basis of my own experience.
The work that I personally have seen RSS doing is generally focused at helping the communities they work with to acquire the knowledge, skills and self-belief to help themselves and work out their own solutions to their own problems, rather than imposing ultimately unsustainable outsider solutions on them. Running ambulance services, clinics, schools, etc. are all good short-term solutions but ultimately do nothing to actually help the communities long-term, but merely confirm in the eyes of those communities their absolute dependence on others. In my personal experience, that kind of feeling of dependence and need for outside support, and the lack of self-belief and self-respect that it fosters, simply weakens the community and makes them more, not less, vulnerable to missionary activity. However, if those communities are encouraged and helped to feel that they themselves have everything they need to succeed, then not only are they equipped to better themselves, but they are also simultaneously equipped to shrug off the advances of missionaries, etc. This is not short-termist work and therefore does not grab headlines, but it is the kind of work that makes a real difference and leaves a true, meaningful, lasting benefit for the communities involved. At the same time, this is exactly what you suggest, in terms of being members of the communities doing the work themselves, rather than just a bunch of middle-class do-gooders coming in and making themselves feel good about themselves by helping the less fortunate. Personally, I have been highly impressed by the work, and even more the approach to work, that I have seen from the RSS and its affiliates; my only concern is that this all happens behind the scenes, and so the public remain blissfully unaware, and therefore feel comlpetely justified in their (incorrect) belief that RSS is doing nothing.
In terms of disaster relief, I have myself worked on and seen RSS relief projects in Kashmir, Gujarat and Maharashtra after the earthquake, Orissa after the cyclone and even Tamil Nadu and Kerala after the tsunami; even over the past 10-15 years that I have been involved, such RSS operations have become increasingly slick and increasingly professional; they have now built up a vast pool of experienced, highly motivated and skilled individuals, as well as building up a considerable amount of corporate experience in the area. Disaster relief is one area in which their expertise and commitment cannot possibly be faulted, and indeed has frequently been praised both within India and abroad.
April 24th, 2008 at 9:16 am
Satya, thanks for updating me with successful projects and activities of RSS of which I personally was not aware. I know for sure that the poor always look for practical help and are always appreciative. In case of Ambulance service I was thinking of only provision of administration at the top otherwise the drivers, nurses and doctors if required have to be paid. In Mumbai, I was told, in the event of accident in the street local Doctor will not attend without getting paid upfront. I would say a Doctor member of RSS should rush to the scene as volunteer and take charge of the situation until the Police and Ambulance services arrives.
Other important service RSS can provide is mid-day meals to children whose parents cannot afford to pay, to children in villages when their parents have gone to work in the field or factories. I know one organisation near Ahamadabad that provides some 8000 meals every day for the poor.
May I also once again warn all the Hindus in India and abroad of anit-RSS propaganda that may be deliberately purported by foreign agencies which I know would go any length to bring down Hindu organisation that is competing with their operations. They may even try to implicate RSS in by their sinister plotting. Christianity is all about organisation and hierarchy otherwise they have nothing spiritual.
May 5th, 2008 at 6:17 am
In India one thing I always notice in small towns and cities there is a substantial population of retired educated people doing absolutely nothing. Having worked in some office for ages or carried out some technical task thy look knowledgeable and confident. I think they could make themselves available to work for other Hindus in need of writing letters, filling applications, learning Hindi alphabets and reading scriptures. They should join RSS. It will also test their honesty and responsibility in their belief of Hindu religion and God. I think time has come for Hindus to strive to improve quality of life for the poor. RSS elderly can be of good help for collecting donations in the streets of cities if they keep in mind RSS principle of HONESTY at all times.
May 16th, 2008 at 1:26 pm
Hinduism is being denigrated constantly. This denegration is carried out by non-Hindus and, ironically, by Hindus (directly and indirectly). Simply look at what many Sanskrit/Hindu terms and concepts mean today:
Swastika=an evil symbol.
Guru=any type of expert; i.e., Fitness Guru, Wall Street Guru, etc.
Mantra=any tpye of repetative chant; i.e., “money, money, money.”
Karma=”whatever.”
Ayurveda=new-age alternative medicine.,
Chakras, Kundalini=new-age stuff.
Avatar=an online image you create; a cartoon character.
Achariya=Anyone can become one in a week through lifebliss.org
Yoga=just another physical exercise like boxing, etc. (for money, of course); or, perhaps, a new-age universal spirituality that has nothing to do with religion and certainly NOT Hinduism–as the “certified yoga teachers” will adamently point out to all those (who they refer to as:) “fundamentalist, narrow-minded Hindus” who inform them that Hatha Yoga and all forms of Yoga equal Hinduism.
When are Hindus going to stand-up for their Dharma and stop giving away their religion?
Swami Param
Dharma Yoga Ashram (Classical Yoga Hindu Academy)
May 17th, 2008 at 6:26 am
I find study of Hinduism by David Frawley and the way he presents it is very useful and assures me of the strength Hinduism has. I find majority of Hindus practice their religion just because they were born in it and follow it more emotionally almost as blind faith. It is not their fault because it was too easy to perform just the rituals and claim to be Hindus. This has been the practice for centuries. In my own research and observation I find that if instead Hindus would have followed the religion according to the scriptures the Moguls and British wouldn’t have dared to touch India. E.g., to me in Geeta the message is simple; freedom is a birth right and an essential part for human development but loosing it without a good fight or killing if required is a coverdice and betrayal of one’s own soul.
There are many non Indians like David Frawley, especially in ISKON who have made good scholarly research about Hinduism and expressed it so and in many ways wakes me to follow true Hinduism, am respectful and grateful to them. My appeal to youngsters would be please do not make Gurus out of them as we have done in the past. Otherwise we will go wrong again. And always remember, ‘Krishnam Vande Jagat Guru’.
May 21st, 2008 at 1:23 pm
The point about non-Indians becoming Hindus is not that this cannot be done, but that such a conversion or adoption (having had no previous religion) must be done in an ethical and logic manner. When one formally becomes a Hindu, one legally takes on a Sanskrit (or associated language like Tamil) name. On the surface, it is a bit silly to have a Hindu with a Christian name or vice versa.
As far as Krishna being THE Guru, this is the kind of sectarianism that Hindus need to get over.
May 22nd, 2008 at 9:37 am
There are no quick fix formulas or methods like Baptism, dipping one’s head three times in the water, or circumcision of one’s genitals, male or female for converting to Hinduism. In Hinduism there is absolute freedom and truthfully it doesn’t matter what one wares, what name one takes, or does as long as one acts with clear human conscions through one’s soul which is constantly connected to our creator.
To be a Hindu one has to believe in the God being a holy spirit named Brahama, creation being His principle Brahama Tatwa, some knowledge about the Vedas, Upanishads and Bhagawat Geeta and Krishna being the last incarnation of Vishnu the first incarnate of Brahama in human form. Importantly, there has to be belief in inevitable reincarnation of every Soul in the Universe. These are the fundamental essential beliefs. Then from the Vedas has to learn about what this Brahama Tatwa is and understandingly shape the life on earth that will keep one’s soul in tune with the process of uniting with our creator. So it is the belief, right from Brahama Tatwa, that makes one a Hindu and not dictates or commandments or doctrines concocted by any Prophet who claimed exclusive personal relationship with God.
I may be wrong but these are the things I was taught and have lived by them.
May 22nd, 2008 at 1:44 pm
Kumar, here are a few points of clarification that may help:
1. There is “obviously” no “absolute freedom” in this world of duality. Without realizing it, you go on to state what you believe to be important aspects for one to be a Hindu.
2. Again, you use the “God” word and associate (as it defined) with a “He.” Again, this is Christian Monotheism and not the broader scope of Hindu Dharma.
3. It is “obvious” that you also of a negative sectarian, Vaishnava persuasion. Saiva and Shaktite Hindus would not concur with your conclustions.
4. It is very important that Hindus be clear on the basics of what it is to be a Hindu. It is because of this lack of clarity that Hinduism is distorted and made the brunt of theft and crass humor. (Look, for example, at the new movie “The Love Guru.”) Do you think Hollywood would produce “The Love Imam?”
May 26th, 2008 at 10:12 am
Many thanks for your comments.
1. I agree there cannot be ‘absolute’ freedom. I was more comparing with Abrahamic religions that have robbed the followers the fundamental freedom necessary for human progression in uniting with our creator and only Hindu religion can provide it.
2. As Paramatma (God) by definition is a Holy Spirit it cannot be male or female. And have said so many times in the past.
3. I am neither Shaivite nor Vaishnavite, all I am trying to do is simplify Hinduism and I have found it to be of very positive nature. My complaint is Hindus are still not thinking positively and not directing their lives.
4. In Hinduism I find there is ample clarity and positive direction for leading a happy life. It is the interpretations that some teachers give that creates confusion.
Only a few weeks ago I asked someone not to refer to Hanuman as ‘Monkey God’. No doubt Hanuman has been a popular figure in the history of Hinduism as ideal strong monkey looking person who helped Shri Raam in rescuing Sita. Even recently scientists have agreed that there must have been a long period when pre-humans (erichtheous?) must have worked side by side. Perhaps Hanuman was one of them. To me Hanuman was definitely not God.
I do not intend to harm people’s feelings and would apologise if I have done so for some.
May 28th, 2008 at 1:47 pm
Namaste Kumar,
Nice thoughts, however, you continue to misunderstand the Christian term “God;” noun, He, Creator, Supreme Being. The word “God” is, “obviously” different from the word “Goddess.” When Christians use the word “God” they DO NOT mean “God (or Lord) Siva” or “God Vishnu,” for example; and they certainly are not making any reference to a Goddess much less Mother Kali or Durga, for example.
For Christians, God and Lord is only about their Biblical God and “the only Lord/Jesus” (this is why they say “Jesus is Lord”). Note also the thoughtless (mis) use even by Hindus of god (small “g”). Again, when Hindus misuse these Christain terms, they insult Christianity, Hinduism and of course the Mother. It is also because of the common (mis)use of “God” and “Lord” by Hindus that conversion (to Christianity) is common.
There is no reason for Hindus to use these Christian terms. We have numerous Sanskrit/Hindu terms that are far more accurate such as: Brahman; Isvara/Isvari; MahaDeva/Devi; Bhagwan; Prabhu; Esana, etc.
A hallmark of the Hindu/Yogic Dharma is to recognize other religions. An integral part of this recognition should “obviously” include the recognition of our own Dharma! If we do not stand strong for our Dharma/religion, we can never expect respect from others. Unfortunately this disrespect for the Hindu/Yogic Dharma is exactly what we have created. We can undo this travesty.
Jai Ganesha!
Swami Param
May 29th, 2008 at 5:48 pm
Swami Param,
I have used word God on many occasion for the sake of convenience. As far as I know when Christians refer to God they refer to ‘father in heaven’. Jesus is not refered as God but Lord and son of God. For Hindus Paramaatma is the God as the Creator and Paramaatma is not He or She but by definition is a spirit which the Christians have agreed. Even Archbishops have just recently started calling the God in heaven Holy Spirit and no more Holy Ghost or Father in heaven as they couldn’t explain where the heaven is.
As Sanatan Dharma was already in place thousands of years before Christianity or Islam their roots have to be in Hinduism. That is why Hinduism looks engulfing all the religions, but strictly speaking other religions cannot be part of Hinduism because their Prophets for selfish reasons invented doctrines and dogmas which is against the principle of Dharma.
June 1st, 2008 at 3:38 pm
Kumar,
You still do not get the point and seem to have more respect for Christian and its clergy than your own Hindu Dharma. Look at your message, it contains several “obvious” contradictions.
June 4th, 2008 at 5:56 am
Swami Param,
As a matter of fact I have never shown more respect to Christian or Muslim priests than Hindu priests. Perhaps my language was not clear enough. I am trying to point out how even Archbishop has changed his mind about God and has lately come to accepting Hindu definition of the Creator, Paramaatma. If you recall the previous Archbishops never used to refer to their God as ’spirit’ and for them it was always He, Holy Ghost and father in heaven.
I find that Hindu scriptures have well defined our creator, incarnations, the Universe, more correct way of life, the nature, the life of the Earth itself and a logical process for uniting with the Creator. It is us who have misunderstood, misinterpreted and mispresented them, and worst of all following and worshipping the Saints than their explanations of the scriptures. E.g., in many houses I have seen two feet high garlanded photo of Chinmayananda, life size photo of Satya Saibaba, Hanuman on the walls but no sign of Krishna who gave us the Geeta and direction for living a spiritual, yet progressive life. This kind of distortions only confuses our youngsters and does not help them develop stronger personalities so necessary to survive. And I am not interested in arguing the semantics of Dharma.
July 11th, 2008 at 6:57 am
With due respect to all intelligent contributors to this forum may I request that we refrain from developing our own definition and insist on own version of ‘DHARMA’. It only creates confusion for youngsters and gives impression of us developing Hindu religion as we go along. Dharma has been very adequately explained and translated by eminent gurus like Swami Vivekananda, Chinmayananda, Shreela Prabhupad and Dayananda Saraswati. We should remain loyal and follow their versions and get on with living according to that discipline and bear responsibility.