Can one radiate or exude "Hindu-ness"?

[Jainarayan]

I was out for a long walk last night, about 4 miles. As I was walking, an older Indian couple and I approached each other. The gentleman and lady put up their right hands in a palm outward mudrā, just as you see the deities giving blessing, with a smile. I smiled back, nodded my head and said "namaste". We passed each other going our separate ways.

A few minutes later I encountered a younger woman and presumably her daughter. They raised their hands and vigorously waved hello to me with big smiles. I gave a big smile back with a nod of my head.

I did not know these people from Jump Street! I can think of only three things... I had that kind of look that brought out the friendliness in them; they may go to temple and have seen me; they noticed my kanthis (tulsi and rudraksha) which were visible because of the t shirt I was wearing. In any case it was a surreal experience.

 

[Sb1995]

Thats neat! Good to see people recognize you as a Hindu Do you wear a mauli thread?

 

[Poeticus]

"He who thinks he can radiate and he who thinks he can exude, both mistake."

Muahahahahaha!

Sorry, but I had to: it was ripe for the meme-ing!

 

[Jainarayan]

No mauli thread. I've never been given one.

 

[Sb1995]

No mauli thread. I've never been given one.

Well considering the fact that you have enough murti's in your home to open a temple I'm assuming you don't visit one often? If you do then next time you go just kindly ask a pandit to tie mauli for you

 

[Jainarayan]

"He who thinks he can radiate and he who thinks he can exude, both mistake."

Muahahahahaha!

Sorry, but I had to: it was ripe for the meme-ing!

Oh I can exude, but that's not fit discussion for this thread. :biglaugh:

 

[Jainarayan]

Well considering the fact that you have enough murti's in your home to open a temple I'm assuming you don't visit one often? If you do then next time you go just kindly ask a pandit to tie mauli for you

Haha good one. I haven't been to temple in about two months; I used to go at least once a week (one thing after another ), but I didn't know that I could ask for a mauli.

 

[Poeticus]

A few minutes later I encountered a younger woman and presumably her daughter. They raised their hands and vigorously waved hello to me with big smiles. I gave a big smile back with a nod of my head.

Are they Hindu like the other couple? And, what is Jump Street?

 

[Fireside_Hindu]

Nice story! It always feels nice when I am greeted with a simple smile at temple rather than curious stares - although I understand the curiosity. It may have been what you were wearing or I have heard of people who can "see" auras or non-visible qualities in people. I'm not one of those, but I believe we can have instant intuition about people.

:camp:

 

[Sb1995]

Haha good one. I haven't been to temple in about two months; I used to go at least once a week (one thing after another ), but I didn't know that I could ask for a mauli.

Please go on August 27th for Shri Krishna Janmashtami and the actual date is the 28th so I assume your temple will be singing bhajans and doing prayers till midnight! Check your local temple, when you go just ask a pandit to tie mauli for you and he will say a blessing and tie it!

 

[Jainarayan]

Are they Hindu like the other couple? And, what is Jump Street?

I assumed they are Hindu because they looked Indian.

Jump Street (21 Jump Street) was a Fox Network tv show years ago about young undercover cops; it was made into a movie with Channing Tatum :droolhilarious movie btw). Anyway, the way I used it was as "I didn't know them from anyone or anywhere".

 

[Poeticus]

the way I used it was as "I didn't know them from anyone or anywhere".

I see: it seems as if the Hindu energies are naturally attracted to each other and always come close into contact.

Maybe?

 

[Jainarayan]

Please go on August 27th for Shri Krishna Janmashtami and the actual date is the 28th so I assume your temple will be singing bhajans and doing prayers till midnight! Check your local temple, when you go just ask a pandit to tie mauli for you and he will say a blessing and tie it!

Yeah, it's on the night of the 27th here. The abhishekam is at 8 pm, until then it's the Sri Vishnu Sahasranama, Sri Shiva puja and Mangala Aarti, which I stay through. I'm facing a dilemma though. The temple is about 1/2 way between work and home, which is a 30 mile, 50 minute drive.

I can leave work and be at temple by 5:30 pm. But that will be an extremely long day until midnight (I wake up at 5:30 am). On the other hand, I would get home about 6 pm, then have to turn around in another hour and a half and drive back to the temple. Then I have to drive it again to go to work the next day. My boss is on vacation, so I can't take either day off.

I went last year but left about 9 pm, along with a few other people because we were getting edged out the door and almost down the stairs by all the people who came later and were pushing to get a "good view". At the very least I will fast.

 

[Jainarayan]

I see: it seems as if the Hindu energies are naturally attracted to each other and always come close into contact.

Maybe?

I think so. :yes: To co-opt a phrase "the gods do work in mysterious ways".

 

[Poeticus]

I think so.

Sorry, I can't help it, but:

"He who thinks and he who does not think, both mistake." -L.S.K.

EDIT: I didn't notice your edit about the co-opting; hehe.

EDIT#2: I think the point about auras that Fireside brought up is also important. Sometimes, I just know if a person is not only a Hindu but if that Hindu is a better Hindu, a spiritually evolved conscious elevated being by the "aura" or "radiance" they extort from their actions (physical karma).

 

[Sb1995]

You drive 3 hours one way to work every day :O wow! Anyways as long as you visit it's the thought that counts

 

[Jainarayan]

You drive 3 hours one way to work every day :O wow! Anyways as long as you visit it's the thought that counts

No, no, it's 50 minutes one way. I get home by about 6 pm, but I'd have to turn around and leave by no later then 7-7:30pm if I went home, to go back @ 8:00. What I may do is, as you said, just visit in the early evening right after work.

 

[Vinayaka]

Nice story! It always feels nice when I am greeted with a simple smile at temple rather than curious stares - although I understand the curiosity. It may have been what you were wearing or I have heard of people who can "see" auras or non-visible qualities in people. I'm not one of those, but I believe we can have instant intuition about people.

:camp:

I've been taught that you don't have to 'see' auras to see auras, or to be able to use that faculty. If you're in tune with your own intuition, than it's a consciousness shared by others. This kind of thing that Jai experienced is relatively commonplace. While driving through a town for example, and you need gas, you happen to pick out the one that is run by a Hindu. It may be the Sai Baba or Ganesha picture behind the counter on the wall, or it may be something else, but regardless of why, you just get attracted for a reason. It is a natural outcome. Like attracts like. Maybe it's like gaydar.

 

[Maija]

Please go on August 27th for Shri Krishna Janmashtami and the actual date is the 28th so I assume your temple will be singing bhajans and doing prayers till midnight! Check your local temple, when you go just ask a pandit to tie mauli for you and he will say a blessing and tie it!

Assuming a few things line up for work on some projects I have going on, I want to take the day off and go into San Francisco for this.
:shout

.. I always secretly wanted a mauli thread.

Where do you buy the red thread itself? The temple has a small store, would they have it there?

And Jai, sometimes I think it's the eye contact I meet with certain races, i.e. I'm not Ethiopean/Habesha but I can spot one from a mile away and have a feeling that this familiarity with ones culture is received from their side, same thing when I see Indians or people of Arab decent.

I usually find I'm smiling , hopefully in a non creepy manner!

 

[ShivaFan]

I am telling you Jainarayan, there is something "there". It happens to me! Like, I have Hindus (i.e. those from India who are clearly Hindu and not other "religion") treat me so nice, it is almost strange. Yes! They give you nice words, sometimes they turn and see me, and start to speak to me in Hindi! I am not kidding.

They don't know me, nor am I dressed like a Hindu at the time - no clues in attire of beads and such. No tilak or such. They sit next to me, and start conversation, then they say things like "go to a temple" or something. I have older Hindu ladies always telling me, "you are like my son" (I made no mention that I am a Hindu to them).

Honestly, that is why I am sort of shocked by some Hindu "internet" lurkers (who appear to be of Indian origin), and frankly are mean to me. It is very, very, very rare in personal interaction, face to face. Sure, once in a while, and when it can happen it is typically a form of racism (I am white, however) or exclusionary vision.

But, overall, maybe it is just because Hindus are so nice. Maybe it is that way. And not that they see something in me. Maybe they are nice to everyone.

In India, where I have been many times, only once did I ever have someone actually say something that might be considered "mean" (other than incidents of common criminal activity which exists everywhere in the world and has nothing to do with this conversation) - once some guy said to me, "You think you are better than us". I said, "no..." - that was pretty much it. The guy must of been upset with my "wealth". So it doesn't really bother me.

However, even if Hindus in general are nice, I don't think this explains all of it. I think, perhaps you are right. Some sort of "Hindu-ness" is around one, like an aura perhaps? Ok, now I am turning myself into an angel. Anyway, I think you get what i am trying to say. It's like "they know". Spooky.

Om Namah Sivaya