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Best form of Hinduism for newbie Westerner?

Riverwolf

Amateur Rambler / Proud Ergi
Premium Member
I second what RW has said.
Don't worry about the meat yet. Just try to avoid eating beef, and hopefully, in time, meat won't become as big an issue for you.

Since you're in Cambodia, and in the countryside you have mentioned the belief in magical cows, I'm guessing that beef isn't as commonly eaten as some forms of meat. It should be somewhat easier to get around to avoiding beef. :)

Try living in America and not eating beef. ^_^

Luckily, Johnny Rockets' veggie burgers are AWESOME.
 

Breathe

Hostis humani generis
Try living in America and not eating beef. ^_^

Luckily, Johnny Rockets' veggie burgers are AWESOME.
I can imagine. Britain and not eating meat, hilarity ensues.

This exchange seriously happened between my mother and me when I stayed down there some time ago:

"Do you want some minced beef for supper?"
"No thanks; you know I try to avoid meat, especially beef."
"Hamburgers?"
"That's beef, mum.."
"Chicken burgers?"
"That's meat as well.."
"Oh. We have king prawns. That's not meat."
"What are prawns made out of then?"
"Okay, have a tuna sandwich."
"That's still meat!"
"Fine, I'll cook you an omelette."
"Eggs are considered meat, too."
"Fine, have some jelly [jello] and stop whining."
"Jelly is made from cows!"
"Oh stop whining."
"Fine, I guess I'll have a tuna sandwich."
"You're so awkward."
 

Jainarayan

ॐ नमो भगवते वासुदेवाय
Staff member
Premium Member
Try living in America and not eating beef. ^_^

Yeah, now Longhorn Steakhouse has that lobster-stuffed filet. Ruth's Chris Steakhouse is now advertising on tv in my area. :rolleyes:
 

Jainarayan

ॐ नमो भगवते वासुदेवाय
Staff member
Premium Member
I can imagine. Britain and not eating meat, hilarity ensues.

This exchange seriously happened between my mother and me when I stayed down there some time ago:

...

"You're so awkward."

I'd have gotten "then you're not hungry" from my mother. :rolleyes:
 

Jainarayan

ॐ नमो भगवते वासुदेवाय
Staff member
Premium Member
Mothers can be so smug. I think they slip Smugness 101 into those La Maze classes. :biglaugh:
 
I've been vegetarian in Alberta (for a few months) and survived! :p

Also, I guess being in the Lower Mainland of British Columbia, where we have a high percentage of East Indians, yoga adherents, Chinese Buddhists, and the natural health movement (organic this, low __ that, vegetarian and vegan-friendly whatnot, and soy/rice/almond milk in every grocery store), it's not that difficult to be vegetarian over here.

I would think that wherever there are faithful Sikhs, Hindus and Chinese Buddhists, if they are vegetarian, there must also be ways to do so. if they can survive, so can you!
 
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I'd have gotten "then you're not hungry" from my mother. :rolleyes:

My mother just never really cooked for me growing up. Lunch programme in Elementary school, and made my own lunches in high school. Packaged foods, canned foods, and microwavables abound in my childhood! The first thing I did when I left my mother to become independent was cook everything home-made for the first two years. XD
 
He Rām, it sounds just like my parent's house. Fruit and veg there were non-existent!

Being lower-middle-class Canadians combined with my mother's dislike of cooking attributed to cupboards always stuffed with instant noodles, Kraft Dinner, and Michelina's microwavable pasta (there were always apples and bananas though for consumption).

Suffice to say, at least we never went hungry! :D

When I first went vegetarian in high school about six or seven years ago, there wasn't too much of a difference. My mother kindly just bought me vegetables, and I would cook my own meals instead.
 

nnmartin

Well-Known Member
yes, not much beef eaten in Cambodia though fish is generally not regarded as meat here.

It would be very difficult living as a vegan here though.

I
 
I started out with the Bhagavad Gita ( A Walkthrough for Westerners ) written by Jack Hawley. It was a pretty good book. Even though it wasn't enough to " convert " me to Hinduism, I totally agree with the " attributes " that it gives to " God " whatever you prefer to call him - God, Allah, Brahman, even " Jehovah "...

So, yeah, for any newbies out there, the Bhagavad Gita is a good place to start.
 

anisha_astrologer

starstell.com
You'll get your biases... Just visit a temple, seek out the truth, and pray alot.

The branches of Hinduism are not denominations inasmuch as they are individual religions with completely different sets of beliefs, practices, and values. Whether it be Vaishnavism, Smartism, Shaivism, or Shaktism, taking shelter of any of these paths will give you full depth of what it means to practice Dharma. :D

I am a Vaishnava, and that is my religion, but I respect those who are non-Vaishnavas as well. ;)
:yes::yes: i agree with this view. in hinduism it doesn't matter which sect you are from, vaishnava or shaiv or any other, what matters is faith and the desire to attain moksha by practicing Dharma ( Dharma can be interpreted as your duty and also righteousness).:):):)
 

Breathe

Hostis humani generis
yes, not much beef eaten in Cambodia though fish is generally not regarded as meat here.

It would be very difficult living as a vegan here though.

I
You don't have to be vegan to be Hindu. :)

You should avoid, if possible, eggs, fish, seafood, poultry, and cattle. In other words, all forms of meat.

Some people will still eat fish and eggs. A few will still eat chickens. A fair few eat lamb.

However, Hindus love dairy. Milk, ghee, paneer, and yoghurt everywhere!

Hinduism is a lifelong thing. Don't worry about doing everything in one go. It's better if you do it slowly so it stays that way. :)
 

Vinayaka

devotee
Premium Member
:yes::yes: i agree with this view. in hinduism it doesn't matter which sect you are from, vaishnava or shaiv or any other, what matters is faith and the desire to attain moksha by practicing Dharma ( Dharma can be interpreted as your duty and also righteousness).:):):)

But one's nature or trust in God will lead you to one form or another. You can't just get off one bus and onto another. This view is only true at the deeper sense, (not a bad sense at all) But in reality, a Vaishnava, after many years of being one, can't just jump off the Vaishnava bus, and go on a Smarta bus in the other direction. It would naturally feel uncomfortable to him.
 
But one's nature or trust in God will lead you to one form or another. You can't just get off one bus and onto another. This view is only true at the deeper sense, (not a bad sense at all) But in reality, a Vaishnava, after many years of being one, can't just jump off the Vaishnava bus, and go on a Smarta bus in the other direction. It would naturally feel uncomfortable to him.

I completely agree. A year or two ago, I ordered the Tirumantiram and the Tirukkural. I read Tirukkural and was amazed by it, and began reading the Tirumantiram. However, a voice in my head felt that my heart wasn't in it, as much as the poetry was beautiful, as if saying "Why the heck am I reading this? There is so much beauty already in Vaishnavism; why should I waver in my Dharma?" After a few fifty pages or so of reading, I gave the two to my friend who was raised in the teachings of Shaiva Siddhanta Church for a very low price. :D

I take the advice of Satguru Shivaya Subramuniyaswami in that once one finds eir Dharma from the four religions of Hinduism, it is very important to just stick to it, especially in the beginning. There is so much wealth and treasure of knowledge in these Dharmas, that to quickly take one an eschew the other would lack a sense of deepening in the very Dharma one started in the first place. :)

And it certainly helps psychologically as well!
 

Vinayaka

devotee
Premium Member
I completely agree. A year or two ago, I ordered the Tirumantiram and the Tirukkural. I read Tirukkural and was amazed by it, and began reading the Tirumantiram.

The Tirukkural is basically just ethics, and could be read and appreciated by anyone anywhere of any faith.

But the Tirumantiram is the very core of Tamil Saivism. So no wonder you did what you did.
 
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