are u a certian sect and why

[MochaRadha]

why are you a shakta,shaivite ect

 

[Vinayaka]

Saiva, not a choice, but a calling. You?

 

[MochaRadha]

why do u think u were called to be a shaivite. im still exploring religion

 

[Vinayaka]

Long story ... I'm 58, Saiva for 40, and probably 40 lifetimes before that.

In an extreme nutshell ... for me (that part is essential) it makes just so MUCH SENSE

 

[MochaRadha]

so are u duel or non duel. what type of shaivism do u practice

 

[Vinayaka]

non dual, monistic ... what makes you interested in Hinduism? It is a huge mental jump from Christianity ... very few can jump that far. (I didn't, because I was born and raised a 'nothing')

 

[Jainarayan]

why are you a shakta,shaivite ect

I am Vaishnava, an Italian-American convert from Christianity.

I have always been drawn to Lord Krishna, even as a teenager and while still nominally Christian (Roman Catholic then Eastern Orthodox).

When I began playing guitar I began keeping a small image of Maa Saraswati by my music area. When I did that my playing and learning improved by light years. Little by little I felt that She was drawing me closer to Lord Krishna.

However, I also pay respects and say prayers to Lord Shiva and Maa Parvati; Lord Ganesha; Lord Hanuman; and other deities. I feel an especial affinity for Lord Narasimha and Lord Shiva.

I'm an oddball Vaishnava in that I believe Lord Vishnu and Lord Shiva are complementary aspects of Brahman. There is a saying that Shiva is the heart of Vishnu; Vishnu is the heart of Shiva. Oh, and I'm further an oddball because I lean towards Advaita, unlike most Vaishnavas.

 

[Jainarayan]

It is a huge mental jump from Christianity ... very few can jump that far.

I've heard that before. Yet for some people, like me, it's a gradual "awakening". I could never go back to the constraints of Christianity after experiencing the vastness and "freedom" of Hinduism; freedom to love God without fearing Him/Her; freedom to know He/She does not mete out punishment.

Christians often pay lip-service to the "God loves unconditionally", but from experience I always felt there were conditions. At least that's what we were taught. Sometimes I still fall into that... "OMG! I accidentally ate oat fiber on Ekadasi! Lord Vishnu must be soooo peeeeeced off at me!"

And then one of you :slap: me, and I'm back on track. :angel2:

 

[MochaRadha]

im not picking any faith just yet but those reasons there r why im interested. the theology is so open i really became interested when i learn atheists could be hindus. i believe god sometimes very deeply but just the thought of that freedom and acceptance really attracted me. i still view jesus as a deity but he is just one of gods many faces

 

[zenzero]

Friend MochaRadha,

Humans all over usually practices that which their family does.
But with globalization the joint family system has broken free and children too are more inclined to stay separately after marriage and all this has put pressure on the practices too.
Some are just following it blindly whatever the elder or priests suggest hardly anyone bothers about the reasoning behind each facet of life/culture and where it originated from.
Only a few who are born spiritually inclined actually search and try to find a path best suitable to the self like you here are doing.

Personally born in a family who use the label *hindu* but kept everything at bay to question why and slowly it is realized that all paths reach to the same place and the place is a state of mind labelled no-mind and so do not follow any known path so follow no-path i.e. path that walk directly alone in connection with THAT which is labelled God/Brahma/Tao/Consciousness/whole/etc.
So am simply a being labelled *human*.
There is no right or wrong its the desire behind the action that further decides karma and till its a clean slate this human form hangs on and cleaning itself starts HERE-NOW!

Love & rgds