HINDUISM AND I

I have wanted to write about this for quite sometime now. But, really did not know where to start, how to proceed and how to limit myself? But the thought kept nagging like a toothache. Like a big, ugly pimple on my face, this thought made me conscious and aware of its presence…..threatening to leave an ugly scar, if I did not do something about it.

First, a Disclaimer:

“The opinion expressed here is solely mine and do not intend to hurt the sentiments of anyone.”

Since I started writing, I have made some amazing friends, online. They are from various parts of the world. They are all so talented and also appreciative of others’ talents too. It is the diversity in culture, religion and language amongst other things which fascinates me about their writings….blogs and poems alike.

While discussing a poem of mine, a friend through the Facebook Poetry Society mentioned that – “You have 3000 years of Hindu wisdom to your benefit.” A flash bulb went off in my head!

While talking to people from other countries, invariably sometime during the conversation, the topics of religion, spirituality, meditation, and traditions are raised.

Is this the way we have presented ourselves to the world or is it a misconception on their part or is it both?

I am not an expert who can talk about Hinduism. But, as a lay person, how much do we know about it? Or let me re-phrase this; how many of us understand Hinduism?

“Hinduism may not be called religion in the sense other religions are known. It has no founder. It is much more than a religion. It is a total way of life.”

But, is Hinduism a way of life today? Our roots, customs and traditions define who we are? Yet, how many of us will identify with this?

Right from a young age we are taught to recite Sanskrit shlokas or prayers. For the people who have learnt Sanskrit, it is easy to interpret or understand the essence of that prayer…..but for the rest of us it is as good as learning “Twinkle Twinkle” or “Jack and Jill”…by rote.

Since ages, we have been practicing our religion without either questioning or when we did not get any answers; we were forced to follow ‘our’ traditions….without questions. That is also because even our elders did not know the answers and it was against our custom to question our elders. And, sadly we are continuing this tradition…of making our children follow.

For example, the first thing most of us do after our morning ablutions, is to pray to God. We join and fold our hands in the Namaste position……how many of us know the meaning of Namaste? I was curious so I put this question as my status on FB…”What is the meaning of Namaste?” And I got 3 responses! It is embarrassing when someone asks as simple question as this and we don’t know the answer. It is not necessary to know the answer, but it becomes embarrassing when the other person thinks that we may know.

For anyone who is willing enough to seek, there are answers, irrespective of the religion.  But, if we are not aware of what to seek; someone comes along and acts as a catalyst steering us towards what is to be sought. And that is how we learn. And there is no “one path.”

“A little knowledge that acts is worth infinitely more than much knowledge that is idle.” – Khalil Gibran

“Hindu religion does not consist in struggles and attempts to believe in certain doctrine or dogma, but in realizing not in believing, but in being and becoming.” – Swami Vivekananda.

Today we are much more than our religion and customs as the video shows. We have come a long way and we are evolving and becoming more of a global citizen.

On a positive note, by being and becoming a bit more knowledgeable about the religion I was born in, I am able to appreciate all those practices which I considered mundane and sometimes irrelevant.

Namaste.

INCREDIBLE FACTS ABOUT INDIA - A VIDEO

http://youtu.be/-0QbG8wkLhk

MANY THANKS TO- 

CORINNE RODRIGUES;

ANJALI RAMANNA;

PRATHIMA P.