Am I a Hindu?

it seem you have no clear idea of GOD and who HE is as you love to live by a notion and want others to believe in a notion. You have no clear idea that Atheist can’t be Hindu but you like to claim such because you have no clear idea and that is why you say “all is truth and all religions are leading to same God”.

Unfortunately, you do not even attempt to clear your muddle and happy in it…

I can write more but i have found that so called Hindus do not like to face the truth and so do not publish normal/common observation of someone like me which questions their so called religion which they think as set of beliefs. No wonder you have no idea of true God !!!

BE happy in your ignorence…

Jack, in discussion we must use polite words. One can disagree, but respectfully. Using right words is surely a virtue.

It is an interesting discussion. I do have a lot of questions on that. But I will not venture into it as this has been an issue big philosophers are debating on. Here I would like to express my view on that.

It speaks about Hinduism encompasses everything – theism, pantheism, atheism etc etc. It is a both/ and line of argument not either/or logic. In the post modern world this sounds very nice. This we can call the law of non contradiction. But does it hold reality? As I understand, it doesn’t. I shall quote an illustration from Ravi Zacharias.

“As the professor waxed eloquent and expounded on the law of Non-contradiction, he eventually drew his conclusion: “This is (either/ or) logic is a Western way of looking at reality. The real problem is that you are seeking… contradiction as a Westerner when you should be approaching as an Easterner. The both/ and is the Eastern way of viewing the reality”

After he belabored these two ideas on either/ or and both/ and for some time .. I finally asked if I could interrupt his unpunctuated train of thought and raise one question .. I said, “Sir, are you telling that when I am studying Hinduism I either use the both/ and system of logic or nothing else?”

There was a pin-drop silence for what seemed and eternity. I repeated my question: “Are you telling that when I am studying Hinduism I either use the both/ and system of logic or nothing else? Have I got it right?”

He threw his head back and said, “The either/ or does seems to emerge, doesn’t it”

Indeed, it does emerge,” I said, “And as a matter of fact, even in India we look both ways before we cross the street – it is either the bus or me, not both of us”

Do you see the mistake he was making? He was using the either/or logic in order to prove the both/ and. The more you hammer the law of non contradiction, the more it hammers you”
(Taken from EVIDENCE THAT DEMANDS A VERDICT BY JOSH Mc DOWELL, PAGE xIvII)

I do respect a different train of thought or view. And I respect Uday Pai. But the argument truly doesn’t make sense to me. Sure, it does have a feel good factor.

We don’t have democratic law. But we do have a democratic government. Law is only one. We, who are faced with moral questions at each turn, are forced to accept a moral law giver. And law DOES take sides for good.

Trust this doesn’t offend anyone. I just agreed to speak the truth in love.

Uday, Your answers are excellent.

I liked specially your statement

“You can believe in one god and he can be a Hindu. You may believe in multiple deities and still you can be a Hindu. What’s more – you may not believe in god at all, still you can be a Hindu. An atheist can also be a Hindu.”

Even an atheist can put down Hinduism in the market place and proudly proclaim he or she is a Hindu. Unlike all religions and cultures in the world, Hinduism had an atheistic philosophy called CHARVAKA philosophy founded by Charvaka who rejected existence of God. Charvaka died in bed. He was not killed by any one. He died in bed due to old age.

1. Hinduism is a culture and not an organized religion like Christianity or Islam.

2. It has no hidden agenda or motive expect to spread truth. ANY ONE WHO SEARCHES AFTER TRUTH IS AUTOMATICALLY A HINDU, since Hinduism is the relentless search after truth.

3. Beauty of Hinduism is that it accept truth from very many sources. Rig Veda 89-1 wrote, it welcomes truth from every side.

Aa no bhadraah kratavo yantu vishvatah

4 No where in the Hindu scriptures, you will read that Hindus alone have monopoly on God or salvation. Hindu scriptures state, any person who searches after truth will ultimately attain self realization, whether that person is a Hindu or not.

“ Even if some one kill every Hindu on earth and burn every book on Hinduism, this “thought process” we call Hinduism, will come back to life again within few years, may be with a different name, since Hinduism, is the relentless search after truth.”

Thank you very much Mr. Uday for the interesting story of am i a hindu. I also have the same view. I remember reading somewhere that the word hinduism came about after the first civilization in the world, ie. Harrapa-Mohenjadaro was discovered and a sort of cultural belief was practised in this first ever civilization, and this civilization existed by the Indus river, hence h-induism.

Why do you say, that the biggest business is spiritualism?

Excellent post uday.. Can i copy your content in my blog for quoting?

Btw, my approach to these question would be below..

Let’s see what’s to be a christian or muslim..

If i worship jesus and follow bible, i am a christian..

If i worship allah and follow quran, i am a muslim..

What should i be called, if i do both?

Can i worship both jesus and allah the same time?

I feel, for this very question, there is no answer from the westerner..

Infact, the either that joseph samuel in the previous comment speaks relates to such situation..

Either christian or muslim is the existing trend in the western society.. However, the “AND” factor is unacceptable.. how can i be both christian and muslim? they could not comprehend..

But, that is the essense of Hinduism..

Hinduism dwells on positive aspect.. ie to follow & pray for the goodness… and a Hindu has no problem, in taking goodness from christianity and islam..
That’s what Ramakrishna Paramahamsar has proved..

Ann that’s where the western society has failed..
According to them, if you are christian, you cannot be a muslim.. and vice versa.

It is in this context, the abrahamic religion is called “Exclusive religions” and Indic religions are called Inclusive..

Excellent post by Udai and a very intellectual statement by Senthil “What should i be called, if i do both?”. I think India is the ONLY true secular country in the world, the credit of which goes to the Hindu way of life. Forget about riots, which are political and nothing else. We have 9/11 everyday, still we don’t hate Muslims -the way they are being hated and marginalized in western countries. Although, Hindus make up about 80% of India’s population, a person from every religion, caste, and class has equal chance to become the President or the Prime minister of India, whereas, you will not find even a single example anywhere in the world. I am not deviating from my stand that this is all because of Hindu mindset. We have holidays for every religion, whereas, in western countries, the holidays are exclusively for Christian festivals. The Christian missionaries have indirect access to all colleges and Universities in Western Countries to convert students of other faith. Every room in every hotel has a bible. Do you think the so called civilized-democratic-secular Western countries- are really what they boost about. I would like to share one interesting incidence. A missionary was approaching me on a regular basis to convert me. They told me that if you will convert to Christianity, you will go to heaven for sure and will be able to meet your forefathers and relatives. I said my forefathers and late-relatives were Hindus and as per you, they should be in hell, then how I will be able to meet them. To which, they had no answer.
Being a Hindu, I believe that all human beings are created the same, i.e., they have same anatomy and physiology. This itself proves that there is only one God, whether you call him Yahweh or Allah or Krishna, or Rama, etc. This is the prime message of Bhagvad Gita. If somebody thinks that God is different for Christian or Muslim or Hindu or Sikh, then the God who came first on earth should sue Gods of other religions for plagiarizing the image of human body created by him. One cannot understand this fundamental truth of life without understanding the Hinduism.

One of my friend forwarded your article.
Having read the article, I raised a question to my friend ! My friend now feels disappointed in my having raised the question in the first place !! We have been spending almost a week debating on your article

So, I am putting this question to you. Hope you would honestly answer it.

You mention that you spend 7 hours with this young girl on a long flight.

My assumption is that this young girl was not a kid, but a young woman. If my assumption was wrong and she was a kid, I am really sorry to have raised this question.

Also you mention that it has been 4 years since you met this young girl. And you remember the interaction in such detail to write this detailed article.

Now, my question was:
Where you sexually attracted towards this young girl.
Did you develop any physical intimacy with this young girl after this flight trip.

Sorry to put you in this spot. Appreciate an answer.

cheers
HK

My thanks to Dr. Jaidev Singh Kohli of Canada for sharing this message.

HINDU LOVE: There are four rigid castes and thousands sub-castes. They have their own people who are called as harijans, scheduled castes, untouchable. Even their shadow is not tolerated though dog can enter their kitchen/home but not a lower caste person !!!!

GODS AND GODDESSESS: There are about 33 crores devi-devtas and they fight among themselves. Bengalis, Maharashtrians, South Indians,
UPwalas, etc. have different deities of their own but still they are one when confront others who follow different religions.

NON VIOLENCE: ON 30 January 1948, Brahmin Godse killed MK Gandhi;
In June 1984, Hindu Prime Minister Indira Gandhi attacked Sikhs’ Centre
Darbaar Sahib Complex, Amritsar;
On 6 December 1992, Muslims’ Mosque – Babri Masjid was demolished by
the Hindu mob;
Australian Christian Missionary and his two small sons were burnt and several Churches have been destroyed even though Hindus are supposed to be tolerant.

DESPITE DIFFERENT RELIGIONS OR WAY OF LIVING, LET US LIVE IN HARMONY AND PEACE AS EQUALS AND WITH DIGNITY. thanks,

Basically it is very good. Sikhs believe in ONE God and all beings as His children. It does not differentiate between Hindu Muslim or Christian. Religions are like schools or universities and one graduates in spirtuality from any of these universities. What is the difference if one graduates in medicine from Uni. A and other graduates from uni B. Both will heal suffering patients. Prophets are teahers or guides, all teach the same and show the path of Truth.
Warm love to all.
JaiDev

Some quotations(freely translated)from scriptures of Sanatana Dharma to ponder about:
1. Truth is One, the Wise call it by many names
2. The whole World is one family
3. God dwells in the heart of every living thing, O Arjuna
4.Relinquish the path of formal religion and take refuge in me.I will liberate thee from all sins.
5. May He, the indwelling Spirit, the remover of all sins, the presiding Deity of all undertakings, be pleased: He being pleased, the whole universe is pleased; He being satisfied, the whole universe is satisfied.
6. And finally,
Common be your desires;
Unified be your hearts;
United be your intentions;
Perfect be the union amongst you.

Hello webmasterEvery other blog I have read about Sikh Religion, has been lacking in information. Your insight into Sikh Religion is sooooo much better than anything else I have read. Thanks Michelle

Very interesting thoughts regarding Am I a Hindu?. But would you like to submit comments

Dear Uday Paijee,

After reading all the articles, pened by you, I have come certain conclusion that you are shying away from the very term ‘Hindu’ itself. Will you enlighten me on the following:
1. As from where this term has taken its shape?
2. And who has imposed the same on us?
3. And in what way it has anything to do with
‘Indianness’?

Secondly,
1. Have you ever tried to know the initial existance
of the modern conotation of ‘India’?
2. And from where to where and since when?

If you could think of the continental drift and the then nearness of all the continents, the, perhaps, you might start thinking about so called ‘Hinduism’ afresh!

May 13th, 2008 at 10:00 pm
Dear Uday Paijee,

After reading all the articles, penned by you, I have come certain conclusion that you are shying away from the very term ‘Hindu’ itself. Will you enlighten me on the following:
1. As from where and when this term has taken its
shape?
2. And who has imposed the same on us?
3. And in what way it has anything to do with
‘Indianness’?

Secondly,
1. Have you ever tried to know the initial existance
of the modern conotation of ‘India’?
2. And from where to where and since when?

If you could think of the continental drift and the then nearness of all the continents, then, perhaps, you might start thinking about so called ‘Hinduism’ afresh!

for u it looks like u r hallucianated.read some books about hinduiasm and know the depth of it. Hinduism is enlightenment ,knowledge and of course,
RELIGION.this is regarding to,am i hindu?the more u read it ,the better u understant,or seek a Guru. Otherwise, donot define something u donot know. write u back.

hope u write me back

Good Article! By birth I am a Hindu, by choice I am not sure who I am. May be you or may be other intellectual readers can help me figure out who I am. And please don’t try to convert me into Christianity or Islam or Buddhism or Hinduism or anything else! We all know why the world is what it is today!

I acknowledge and respect a super natural power that I can not explain or provide a shape to or describe its characteristics other than that IT exists. The key word is Respect. I believe that IT expects us to not do harm to others knowingly. I also believe that IT sometimes forgives us for straying from this behavior and at other times, punishes us. IT is not vengeful or dictatorial. All Religions or faiths or beliefs or lifestyles are like roads. There are various roads you can take to go from Point A to B.
Point A being the life here and point B being IT, there are various religions to go from that point A to Point B. Some call IT Jesus, some call it Allah or Buddah or Krishna or whatever else. I simply call it IT.

I don’t care if you follow one regilion over the other or none at all as long as you have respect for others and don’t do harm to others knowingly!

I read similar article also named Am I a Hindu?, and it was completely different. Personally, I agree with you more, because this article makes a little bit more sense for me

Efforts of Uday do deserve admiration and encouragement. I appreciate whole heartedly the polite,intelligent, scientific and appropriate way of answering a girl, who is totally ignorant of the matter. That method is the typical “HINDU WAY OF ANSWERING TO INGNORANTS”, who do not have “SHAASTHRA JNAANA”.

As is admitted by Will Durrant that the world’s OLDEST RELIGION is “SANAATHANA DHARMA SAASTHRA”. It was later on re-named by the Persian invaders as Hinduism. The real and scientific name of Hinduism is “SANAATHANA DHARMA SAASTHRA”.

It is not a codified RELIGION,like the Semitic religions- Judaism, Christianity or Islam. It is a scientific way of life. For more details on the subject, if anyone is really and sincerely interested, at least for the sake of knowing rather than raising worthless arguements, kindly go through the “COMPLETE WORKS OF SWAMI VIVEKANANDA-8 VOLS”. Righr from the date of his world famous talk, deliverd in the World Parliament of Rligions, at Chicago-USA, on 11th September-1893, Swami Vivekananda had cleared all the doubts / allegations raised against Hinduism by International intellectuals,mediamen, educationalists,publishers,politicians, scientists etc. Eversince that sweeping eperience, nothing new worth reply has been raised against Hinduism by anybody, so far. Hence all the meaningless / ignorant comments read up above are simple personal statements made by ignorant ones on the topic, simply for the sake of saying “something” !!

THERE IS ONLY ONE OMIPOTENT, OMNIPRESENT AND OMINISCIENT COSMIC MEGA POWER , that is working as the Creator, Maintainer and Transformer of everything seen or known in this Cosmic system. Even before the forming of all the so called religions in this world, that “MEGA POWER” ( NOT ANY PERSON ) had been in existence. It itself is the best scientific proof to establish the fact that the “GOD” does’nt want the crutches of any religion to stand erect or feed on!!!!!!!!. Even if the current religious systems all go in to nothingness, nothing my happen to that “MEGA POWER”. So, kindly understand that GOD is not dependent on the religions conceived and made by we the mortal beings, just the opposit is the ultimate reality. We are depending on that “MEGA POWER” our short-lived “VISIT ON THIS EARTH”, return journey of which is not scheduled. So let us live together, loving each other and respecting each other, in a very dignifiable manner.

As regards the STATUS OF HINDUS AMONG THE WORLD RELIGIONS, if anybody is doubtful, kindly refer to ENCYCLOPAEDIA BRITANICA or WIKIEPIEDEA. ( remeber that both of them are not Hindu publications !!) HINDUISM RANKS AS THE THIRD LARGEST RELIGION IN THE WORLD, WITH ONE BILLION PLUS BELIEVERS. IT REMAINS SPREAD OVER MORE THAN 156 NATIONS GLOBALLY. IN THE PREVIOUS CENTURIES, HINDUS LIVED IN INDIA ONLY. BUT RIGHT FROM THE BEGINNING OF THE 19TH CENTURY ONWARDS, HINDUS HAVE MIGRATED TO AS MANY COUNTRIES AS POSSIBLE , AND BY THE END OF THE 20 TH CENTURY HINDUS HAVE MADE PERMANENT SETTLEMENTS, IN VERY LARGE NUMBERS, IN ALL THE 7 CONTINENTS OF THE WORLD. NOW YOU CAN SEE HINDU TEMPLES AND ASHRAMS IN ALL SUCH COUNTRIES. BARRING SAUDI ARABIA AND A FEW FANATIC MUSLIM COUNTRIES, EVEN MUSLIM REPUBLICS HAVE OFFICIALLY ALLOWED CONSTRUCTION OF MAJOR HINDU TEMPLES IN DOZENS OF MUSLIM COUNTRIES. IN ALL THE CHRISTIAN DOMINATED COUNTRIES HUNDREDS OF HINDU TEMPLES, ASHRAMS, YOGA TRAINING CENTRES,AYURVEDIC TREATMENT CENTRES ETC HAVE HAVE BEEN ESTABLISHED ,IN VERY LARGE SCALES AND NUMBERS. EVERY YEAR MILLIONS OF TOURISTS FROM ALL THE COUTRIES COME TO HINDU TEMPLES OF INDIA, VISIT THEM, AND EXPRESS VERY HIGH APPRECIATION ABOUT THE HINDU WAYS OF WORSHIP, FAMILY LIFE, VEGETARIANISM, VOW FOR ONE-HUSBAND / ONE-WIFE TILL LIFE END, ETC. ( REMEMBER AIDS !!! ) HUNDREDS OF BRILLIANT INTELLECTUALS, ALL NON-HINDUS, HAVE MADE WONDERFUL STUDIES / RESEARCHES ON VARIOUS ASPECTS OF HINUISM AND HAVE PUBLISHED AMAZING BOOKS / WRITINGS ON THE SCIENTIFIC BACKGROUND OF HINDUISM AND ITS RELATED MATERIALS. SEVERAL FOREIGN INTELLECTUALS HAVE TAKEN DOCTORAL AND POST-DOCTORAL DEGREES, AFTER MAKING STRENUOUS STUDIES ON HINDUISM AND RELATED SUBJECTS. MAX MULLER, REV.FATHER KAMIL BULKE AND A LOT OF OTHER INTELLECTUALS HAVE WRITTEN VERY LARGE BOOKS, PRAISING THE GRETNESS OF HINDUISM IN AMZING WORDS. HUNDREDS OF SUCH BOOKS ON HINDUISM ARE AVAILABLE IN OPEN MARKET NOW, FOR A REALLY INQUISITIVE PERSON TO STUDY HINDUISM. IN DOZENS OF EUROPEAN UNIVERSITIES, CHAIRS AND FUL-FLEDGED DEPARTMENTS WITH FULL TIME PROFESSORS AND OTHER FACULTY HAVE BEEN APPOINTED TO TEACH HINDUISM. THOUSANDS OF NON-INDIAN , NON-HINDU STUDENTS ARE STUDYING THE REAL AND SCIENTIFIC HINDUISM IN THOSE DEPARTMENTS EVERY YEAR, AND ARE COMING TO INDIA FOR A REALISTIC EXPERIENCE OF HINDU WAYS OF THOUGHT AND LIFE. ALMOST ALL THE UNIVERSITIES OF INDIA ARE ENTERTAINING SUCH STUDY DELEGATIONS EVERY YEAR. THOUSANDS OF NON-HINDUS ARE EMBRACING ( NOT CONVERTED TO ) HINDUISM EVERY YEAR, ALL OVER THE WORLD. ALL SUCH DETAILS ARE ACCESSIBLE TO ANYONE ON THE VARIOUS WEBSITES OF SEVERAL UNIVERSITIES ALSO. SINCE HINDUISM HAS GAINED SO MUCH OF RESPECTABILITY, ACCEPTANCE AND INTELLECTUAL APPRECIATION GLOBALLY, ANY ATTEMPT MADE BY ANYBODY FOR DISRESPECTING SUCH A GLOBAL RELIGION FOR ANY REASON IS NOTHING BUT “SIMPLE PRETENDENCE OF DARKNESS WHILE THE MID-DAY SUN IS SHINING RIGHT ON TOP OF HIS OWN HEAD”. THE ONLY WAY OUT IS TO FEEL PITY FOR THEM. LET THE ALMIGHTY GOD GIVE THEM BETTER MIND, CULTURE OF TOLERANCE AND OTHER “HUMANE QUALITIES”, AT THE EARLIEST !!!!!!!!

” OHM SHANTHI !! SHANTHI !! SHANTHI !! ”

WITH UTMOST OF RESPECT AND REGARDS TO ALL READERS – MANNADY HARI, TRIVANDRUM, SOUTH INDIA.

Hi

Your post on “Am I a Hindu” is very nice except that I would disagree with a few points which I consider as myths about Hinduism which even educated Hindus sometimes don’t venture to examine.

You consider Ahimsa Paramo Dharma as the chief principle of Hinduism. I am student of Hindu scriptures for last few years. Ahimsa is an important virtue. But overemphasizing it makes you a weakling and an easy victim of religious and political injustice.

I consider that any virtue ceases to be a virtue if it does not help you to protect Dharma and fight Adharma. When you are under a threat or challenge, Ahimsa is no solution. Only the strong can maintain Dharma and Shanti. The weak ones will only victims of those who violate Dharma.

What Hindus and the World need now is “strengthening the virtuous people so as to defend Dharma and Shanti”. When major religions in world are bent upon converting Hindus and destroying Hinduism, what we need is to protect Dharma.

Maha Bharata proclaims, “Dharmo Rakshati Rakshitah” i.e. One who protects Dharma is protected. Let’s not forget it!

Very interesting blog, i have added it to my fovourites, greetings

sir you said hindu us ahimsa how its possible
in our house some body rapes ypur wife what will do ?if u sit what after all u got had with u?why?ahimsa if you dont treat evil what it deserves,i think that is not ahimsa, but fearfull .and cowards .look at all hindu god no god is ahimsa, krishna have the weapen to kill,ram had weapen to kill,all durga and kali and who s not ,now u are talking some thing god thats mythical or that should be jesus.
ashok

Excelent posts and blog. I wish good luck

Good One Uday!