Engaging tradition with the everyday world.

[StarryNightshade]

This past week has been a roller coaster of emotions for me. On one hand, I arrived in another country for a 4 month student exchange and will be able to engage in a culture foreign to me. Very exciting stuff.

On the other hand, I've been falling into a low point in terms of my religious life; one of the worst I have felt in a long time. So much to the point that I've been questioning if I even belong in Hinduism. Yeah, I know this happens quite a lot. Probably a result of some form of anxiety and general self-loathing.

Earlier today I spoke with one of my teachers and told him of my woes.

What it essentially boiled down to was that I often feel as if I make a mockery of the millennium of tradition found in Hinduism by not doing a good job of doing the duties which have been prescribed to me. Not doing puja everyday, not waking up early, still craving meat on occasion, etc.

What I was told is that, in my teacher's perspective, that I was putting tradition and doing everything "exactly right" on a high pedestal, all the while being overly self-critical. While also forgetting that cultivating bhakti and saranagati is what should be paramount. Even if things aren't done 100% to a T, loving God and showing said love is what should be the most important.

He also said that this isn't an issue unique to me, as westerners tend to place traditions on a super high pedestal and make them infallible. Versus if you go to India, tradition is so integrated into everyday life that it's just another aspect of life; nothing too spectacular.

You see the Hindus of all castes who do everything piously and without fail; those who do what they need to do and then go engage in the secular world; those who only do the bare minimum, etc. Regardless of the externals that are done, and regardless if they are "orthodox" in their engagement, they still combine tradition into their everyday lives.

So I guess this post boils down to these two questions:

1.) Do you agree westerners who come into Hinduism generally get too hung up on the "rights and wrongs"; ultimately forgetting the important goal of Hinduism?

2.) How can people who are new to Hinduism do a better job at engaging tradition with their everyday lives without getting too hung up on the technicalities?

 

[Aupmanyav]

1.) Do you agree westerners who come into Hinduism generally get too hung up on the "rights and wrongs"; ultimately forgetting the important goal of Hinduism?
2.) How can people who are new to Hinduism do a better job at engaging tradition with their everyday lives without getting too hung up on the technicalities?

I will say yes to both these queries. I try to fulfill my dharma. I have never felt unfulfilled in my life. I do not do any worship of deities now except as a homage to symbols of my culture. I do not disrespect the deities. Just try to be a cheerful, helpful and righteous person. That is all that dharma demands from you. I guarantee you eternal happiness. Why this 'dvandva'/mental conflict?

Why This Kolaveri Di (Tamil song - Why do you have this murderous rage against me girl?)

 

[Valjean]

Reject tradition. Tradition is just he persistence of practices that were once practical but have been rendered quaint and ineffective by time.

 

[SomeRandom]

Even in Hinduism tradition is not always accepted. There are rebels within our community as well. I never cared for tradition, only observing it in Temple.
We are a fluid bunch and we often adapt to the times.
There is theory and then there's practice. You are too focused on the theory, following the book verbatim ends up being stifling and too rigid. One must be flexible and indeed human enough to take life as it comes.

 

[Bhadr]

This past week has been a roller coaster of emotions for me. On one hand, I arrived in another country for a 4 month student exchange and will be able to engage in a culture foreign to me. Very exciting stuff.

On the other hand, I've been falling into a low point in terms of my religious life; one of the worst I have felt in a long time. So much to the point that I've been questioning if I even belong in Hinduism.

I questioned many things I used to believe.We all do it,its evaluation of what we are doing vs what we want.
Hmm I don't know but this feeling of doubt could be intense now because you are in a new place.The people,culture,food,religion etc. is unfamiliar and you might be finding it difficult to relate to your beliefs,so inside it could result in a sense of loneliness.Some might find it difficult to practice their religion in new surroundings.I'm more comfortable doing my personal Puja in home than in a friends/relatives place.

tradition is so integrated into everyday life that it's just another aspect of life; nothing too spectacular.

This is the most important point in your Guru's message.Its just like doing everything else.

You see the Hindus of all castes who do everything piously and without fail; those who do what they need to do and then go engage in the secular world; those who only do the bare minimum, etc. Regardless of the externals that are done, and regardless if they are "orthodox" in their engagement, they still combine tradition into their everyday lives.

So I guess this post boils down to these two questions:

1.) Do you agree westerners who come into Hinduism generally get too hung up on the "rights and wrongs"; ultimately forgetting the important goal of Hinduism?

I assume all people feel so,western or eastern.But some worry more while others don't.
I don't think there is "one important goal for everyone" in Hinduism.Different people have different goals.We set our goals.We make our own choices.Broadly there are four(/five) types of goals which I think you already know.( Dharma,Artha,Kama,Moksha and Bhakti(acc. to some Shaiva texts).

2.) How can people who are new to Hinduism do a better job at engaging tradition with their everyday lives without getting too hung up on the technicalities?

Develop attachment by doing nama smarana of the deity you love.Select few namas of the Devata and recollect them mentally/orally or chant/sing them.

 

[Bhadr]

Reject tradition. Tradition is just he persistence of practices that were once practical but have been rendered quaint and ineffective by time.

Valjean ji,I disagree.Rejecting tradition isn't the solution at all.What to do after rejecting it?Cook up our own traditions?
Without traditional guidance sadhana might be like a rudderless boat on an endless sea.
While some maybe anachronistic,not all traditions are impractical or inherently bad .

 

[Aupmanyav]

Traditions are tried formulas, for say, 5,000 years in Hinduism. I would be very careful in rejecting any of them. Yes, I have chosen atheism as my path, but that is not for all people, not even for my own family. Be untraditional where your heart tells you to be, but still respect traditions, they may just be the right things for other people.

 

[shivsomashekhar]

1.) Do you agree westerners who come into Hinduism generally get too hung up on the "rights and wrongs"; ultimately forgetting the important goal of Hinduism?

There is no goal for Hinduism. If someone gave you this idea, that person is wrong.

I was born a Hindu and I have no such "important Hinduism goal". Neither do the Hindus around me.

2.) How can people who are new to Hinduism do a better job at engaging tradition with their everyday lives without getting too hung up on the technicalities?

I have told you this before. You are straddling worldly life and the quest for Moksha and the two are pulling you in opposite directions.

Pick one or else, your confusion and misery will continue.

You do not have to seek moksha to be Hindu (That is a common mistake among Western Hindus).
You do not have to be vegetarian to be Hindu.
You do not have to wake up early to be Hindu.

Keep it simple.

 

[Aupmanyav]

There is no goal for Hinduism. If someone gave you this idea, that person is wrong.

Beg to differ, Shiva. There is a goal in Hinduism. It is to follow one's 'dharma', fulfill one's responsibilities to family, society and country. That is why we have the three rinas (debts). Deva rina, Rishi rina and Pitr Rina. After these three debts have been repaid, one is free for life. http://www.hindupedia.com/en/Ṛṇatraya_(‘three_debts’)

Yeah, if a person spends his/her life according to dharma, then 'moksha' has already been achieved. No one can can deny that to the person. That is all that they desire and Gods will be happy to receive such a person. Remember the story of Dharmavyadha who was a butcher.

 

[Vinayaka]

So I guess this post boils down to these two questions:

1.) Do you agree westerners who come into Hinduism generally get too hung up on the "rights and wrongs"; ultimately forgetting the important goal of Hinduism?

2.) How can people who are new to Hinduism do a better job at engaging tradition with their everyday lives without getting too hung up on the technicalities?

1) In my opinion yes, especially if they have an Abrahamic subconscious. Less if they came from 'nothing'.
2) Hang out with other Hindus as much as possible. Preferably immigrant Hindus, not other 'converts'.

 

[Vinayaka]

Reject tradition. Tradition is just he persistence of practices that were once practical but have been rendered quaint and ineffective by time.

Or ... another perspective ... tradition can be and often is 5000 years of accumulated wisdom. You want to reject the wisdom of all the saints and sages and Gurus who walked this path before us?

 

[Aupmanyav]

2) Hang out with other Hindus as much as possible. Preferably immigrant Hindus, not other 'converts'.

I think he is in Korea these days. There won't be many Hindus around.
He will be lonely. No temples either. Starry, internet will perhaps be your only escape and Hindu forums.

 

[Vinayaka]

I think he is in Korea these days. There won't be many Hindus around.
He will be lonely. No temples either. Starry, internet will perhaps be your only escape and Hindu forums.

But only for 4 months. The situation goes long term.

 

[shivsomashekhar]

Beg to differ, Shiva. There is a goal in Hinduism. It is to follow one's 'dharma', fulfill one's responsibilities to family, society and country.

Which religious book made these rules for Hindus and where is the law that says all Hindus must follow these set of rules? Show me the book and I will show you millions who never read a single line of the book (because they are not required to). Show me the Guru and I will show you millions, who never heard of the Guru.

Family? I know Hindus who are unwilling to provide financial support for their parents, but are religious. You should be knowing some too. There are Hindus who abandon their families to go marry someone else; those who abandon their families to become Sanyasins. Though their numbers are few, they are all Hindus.
Society? We have crooked politicians and criminals who are highly religious - often visiting Tirupathi and conducting Yajnas and homas in their homes.
Country? We have had a country only since 1947. I have been outside my country for a long time. We have Western Hindus who were never Indian. How is this supposed to work?

These are all social responsibilities - to be followed by all humans, regardless of religion (Hindu, Muslim, Christian, atheist, etc.,). What makes them specific to Indians and/or Hindus? In short, I can shirk social responsibility and still be a Hindu (a religious one). The two are unrelated. This is how it is with all other religions too.

And this is why, I say that most people do not understand Hinduism. Because, they have not really spent the time and effort to see how it works. You are a Hindu if you meet any of these conditions -

1. Born as Hindu and has not explicitly disavowed the identity Not a *single* practice/rule is to be followed to maintain the identity.
2. Not born as a Hindu, but adopts one or more Hindu practices and consequently considers oneself a Hindu

 

[Aupmanyav]

I am not talking of crooks but of a person who takes his religion seriously. Action according to 'dharma' is the right thing in Hinduism, the least common factor, as I like to mention it. Yes, I agree with your definition of a Hindu.

But only for 4 months. The situation goes long term.

Yes, it may take more time for resolution of his 'dvandva'. Best answer, prapatti. Give your problems to the deity. Keep all fun for yourself. I have a long-term agreement with Lord Rama and am quite satisfied by it. He keeps his word (I keep mine).

 

[shivsomashekhar]

I am not talking of crooks but of a person who takes his religion seriously. Action according to 'dharma' is the right thing in Hinduism, the least common factor, as I like to mention it. Yes, I agree with your definition of a Hindu.

For Christians, regardless of how different they may all be - there are a couple of binding factors. Acceptance of Jesus and the word of the Bible. Similarly, for Muslims, they have the Quran.

But there is not a *single* factor that binds all Hindus together. Because Hinduism is different in structure from all other religions. Most Hindus do not like this. They like the Semitic model of common scripture, common God, common Dharma and so on. But other than sentiment, there is no basis for such a view of Hinduism as the facts simply do not align.

 

[Aupmanyav]

A crook will be a Hindu only in name. Such a person is a blot on Hinduism. Personally, I will consider only that person to be a Hindu who fulfills his/her responsibilities. But I agree, there are many like that.

 

[shivsomashekhar]

A crook will be a Hindu only in name. Such a person is a blot on Hinduism. Personally, I will consider only that person to be a Hindu who fulfills his/her responsibilities. But I agree, there are many like that.

But the crook is a Hindu. He was born in a Hindu family, performs all the rites, worships diligently and considers himself Hindu. But he also accepts bribes to do his work - which he does not connect to his religion. They are different.

I have no criteria, which lets me cherry pick. I cannot tell him he is not a Hindu, in spite of all the above, because I have my own idea of who a Hindu is.

If we get into cherry picking, consider this. Madhvas called Advaitins demons for misappropriating Vyasa's Vedanta and packaging it as Buddhism. There was no Hinduism back then, but if it did, then some Madhvas may have refused to consider Advaitins as Hindus. Same with the Shaiva/Vaishnava rivalry. So, it comes down to personal preferences and there is no authoritative yardstick to measure one's ''Hindu-ness" .

 

[George-ananda]

1.) Do you agree westerners who come into Hinduism generally get too hung up on the "rights and wrongs"; ultimately forgetting the important goal of Hinduism?

Well I don't think the average western convert is usually very concerned with filling traditions in the 'right' way. I think the more general case is that Hinduism is a label that best fits their own DIY creation. My thought is that your situation is not at all the norm. For me, spiritual progress is my goal, not Hinduism by name.

2.) How can people who are new to Hinduism do a better job at engaging tradition with their everyday lives without getting too hung up on the technicalities?

Only 'you' can tell yourself not to get hung up on the technicalities. Again, it seems to me your concern with these things is not the norm. Start with the question 'Why are these things so important to me'? You got to start by getting inside your own head.

 

[Fireside_Hindu]

1.) In general, yes. I think this has to do with the fact that we are coming at it from zero. It's not inetgrated into our lives since childhood so on the one have everything is new. We want to try it all, which is a good thing. I think then what happens is that we get hung up on the label. If I say I'm Hindu, that has a specific meaning and if I don't live that meaning than I must be lying. To extent this is true - but the key is to practice tot he extent that you personally can confidently declare yourself Hindu regardless if it meets someone else definition. You may get a lot of disagreement and that's okay - you just have to be able to defend your choice.

2.) Like Vinayaka said, spend more time with immigrant Hindus. Just go participate at temple. Don't go there with a goal in mind, but go, sit, be quiet, observe and then maybe during the pritibhoj strike up a conversation. I've said it before and I'll say it again, volunteer at a temple. Wash dishes, take photos for events, work on the newsletter. These aren't the height of the spiritual or intellectual, but they will make you feel more connected to not only others but to your faith. It's been my remedy for spiritual funk since the beginning. Believe me, there will be long stints of time where you just don't want to do puja, don't see the point etc. That's fine, but if you want to get out of that funk, let go of the mechanical need to do everything right and just go be with Hindus. If you don't live near enough to a temple to volunteer, pick an issue that's close to your heart and find an organization that works in that. I volunteered at a dog shelter for a month or so when I wasn't feeling like going to temple. It was like therapy.