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Greeting, Hello All

Amani_Bhava

Amani_Bhava

Member
Hi,

I am from India. A Hindu by birth but have been a non-practising one for most of my life.

Have been reading about Hinduism for few years and have read the Bible in full when younger. Also read large chunks of Buddhist Pali Canon (Tipitaka/Tripitaka) over past few years.

Here to have conversation with others and learn about all faiths.

God Bless You All,

Love,

Amani_Bhava
 
Revoltingest

Revoltingest

Pragmatic Libertarian
Premium Member
Greetings!

We're just about to have our daily free lunch in the RF cafeteria.
Join us!
th
 
Aldrnari

Aldrnari

Active Member
Welcome! :)

I notice you identify as Hindu under your religious status, but you stated in your op that you were non-practicing for most of your life. Would you still consider yourself non-practicing today?
 
Amani_Bhava

Amani_Bhava

Member
Aldrnari said:
Welcome! :)

I notice you identify as Hindu under your religious status, but you stated in your op that you were non-practicing for most of your life. Would you still consider yourself non-practicing today?
Click to expand...
Very difficult question to answer.

I am by birth a Hindu but not a mainstream Hindu. Due to excesses of Brahmins there arose in early 19th century, Hindu Reformation movements. One of these created a sub-religion called Brahmo Dharma Brahmoism - Wikipedia (literally worshippers of formless Nirguna Brahman). It was restricted to very few educated people. We do not believe in idol worship, Vedic mantras, caste system but teachings of Upanishads and Vedanta. We have no temple and no gospel or liturgy. The Brahmos (as we are called) were also extremely accepting of West (study of English, French, German; travelling abroad; creating science laboratories; becoming mathematicians and so on .. remember this was back in 1850 or so when India was deep in grip of Brahmins ).

Thus even though I was a practising Brahmo, I was for all intents and purposes not a practising mainstream Hindu.

Unfortunately my religion died out! Reason is rather odd – because Brahmos were more educated they migrated to West (mostly USA and UK). Many became highly educated atheists (like my sister). And there was no longer sufficient momentum to keep the religion going past 1990.

Some young Brahmos like me began to feel social anxiety when they turned 18 – 20. I was not mainstream Hindu, I was not Muslim, I was not Sikh. I had no label in a country where religious labels are very important. I almost converted to Christianity at 25 (that is why I have read the Bible extensively).

For several years I read the Pali Canon extensively but found Buddhism to have contradictions that are unexplained and unacceptable (but I do not have any overall argument with Buddhism)

I would not consider myself non-practising today. But I only believe in Vedanta philosophy (leftover of my Brahmo upbringing). At times I would visit a temple to offer puja .. but not regularly. I have a shrine with Shiva, Kali and Krishna. I do pray daily to my Hindu Ishta Devta but I would shy away from any type of orthodoxy. I am returning to mainstream Hinduism .. but will most probably choose to stay in the outskirts.

I am spiritual but not very religious.

Long answer. Hope I could answer your query satisfactorily.

namaste

A_B
 
Last edited:
Aldrnari

Aldrnari

Active Member
Amani_Bhava said:
Very difficult question to answer.

I am by birth a Hindu but not a mainstream Hindu. Due to excesses of Brahmins there arose in early 19th century, Hindu Reformation movements. One of these created a sub-religion called Brahmo Dharma Brahmoism - Wikipedia (literally worshippers of formless Nirguna Brahman). It was restricted to very few educated people. We do not believe in idol worship, Vedic mantras, caste system but teachings of Upanishads and Vedanta. We have no temple and no gospel or liturgy. The Brahmos (as we are called) were also extremely accepting of West (study of English, French, German; travelling abroad; creating science laboratories; becoming mathematicians and so on .. remember this was back in 1850 or so when India was deep in grip of Brahmins ).

Thus even though I was a practising Brahmo, I was for all intents and purposes not a practising mainstream Hindu.

Unfortunately my religion died out! Reason is rather odd – because Brahmos were more educated they migrated to West (mostly USA and UK). Many became highly educated atheists (like my sister). And there was no longer sufficient momentum to keep the religion going past 1990.

Some young Brahmos like me began to feel social anxiety when they turned 18 – 20. I was not mainstream Hindu, I was not Muslim, I was not Sikh. I had no label in a country where religious labels are very important. I almost converted to Christianity at 25 (that is why I have read the Bible extensively).

For several years I read the Pali Canon extensively but found Buddhism to have contradictions that are unexplained and unacceptable (but I do not have any overall argument with Buddhism)

I would not consider myself non-practising today. But I only believe in Vedanta philosophy (leftover of my Brahmo upbringing). At times I would visit a temple to offer puja .. but not regularly. I have a shrine with Shiva, Kali and Krishna. I do pray daily to my Hindu Ishta Devta but I would shy away from any type of orthodoxy.

Long answer. Hope I could answer your query satisfactorily.

namaste

A_B
Click to expand...

Oh, interesting. Can I ask what about Christianity interested you vs. the other monotheistic paths such as Islam or Sikhism?
 
Hockeycowboy

Hockeycowboy

Witness for Jehovah
Premium Member
Amani_Bhava said:
Hi,

I am from India. A Hindu by birth but have been a non-practising one for most of my life.

Have been reading about Hinduism for few years and have read the Bible in full when younger. Also read large chunks of Buddhist Pali Canon (Tipitaka/Tripitaka) over past few years.

Here to have conversation with others and learn about all faiths.

God Bless You All,

Love,

Amani_Bhava
Click to expand...
Welcome to this diverse buffet of POV's!

Just curious, in what ways are you 'non-practicing' Hinduism?
 
Kenny

Kenny

Face to face with my Father
Premium Member
Amani_Bhava said:
Hi,

I am from India. A Hindu by birth but have been a non-practising one for most of my life.

Have been reading about Hinduism for few years and have read the Bible in full when younger. Also read large chunks of Buddhist Pali Canon (Tipitaka/Tripitaka) over past few years.

Here to have conversation with others and learn about all faiths.

God Bless You All,

Love,

Amani_Bhava
Click to expand...
Welcome!!

May you find purpose and meaning.

 
Amani_Bhava

Amani_Bhava

Member
Hockeycowboy said:
Welcome to this diverse buffet of POV's!

Just curious, in what ways are you 'non-practicing' Hinduism?
Click to expand...
I gave an extensive reply on same to Aldrnari above. For very long time I was a non-believer in mainstream Hinduism.
Now I am in the peripheral zone where I like to study Hindu philosophy but keep my engagement with ritualistic religion to as little as possible.
To be more specific .. I do not perform puja regularly nor believe in "Hindu way of life" since I am westernised to the core
Sort of rational humanist who believes in Hindu philosophy and who has developed faith in Shiva, Krishna and Devi/Kali.

namaste

A_B
 
Last edited:
Hockeycowboy

Hockeycowboy

Witness for Jehovah
Premium Member
Amani_Bhava said:
I gave an extensive reply on same to Aldrnari above. For very long time I was a non-believer in mainstream Hinduism.
Now I am in the peripheral zone where I like to study Hindu philosophy but
To be more specific .. I do not perform puja regularly nor believe in "Hindu way of life" since I am westernised to the core
Sort of rational humanist who believes in Hindu philosophy and who has developed faith in Shiva, Krishna and Devi/Kali.

namaste

A_B
Click to expand...
Thank you for replying....I read your earlier response, so thank you!

Regarding your statement, "....keep my engagement with ritualistic religion to as little as possible." That's a good thing!
As a Christian, I believe we are made in God's image, i.e., we have His qualities, like ability to be loving, patient, honest, and genuine; and can appreciate when these are shown to us. We don't like deception, or insincerity.

Keeping that in mind, do you think God wants ritualistic worship, that comes by rote....or worship that comes from the heart?

And one thing that Jehovah God wants from us, part of our worship, is to be genuinely concerned for others, despite any race, creed, political, or national barrier.

In fact, loving others beyond boundaries is what Jesus meant @ Matthew 5:44. It would ID His followers. -- John 13:34-35.


Hope you'll have some good conversations here!
 
Amani_Bhava

Amani_Bhava

Member
Aldrnari said:
Oh, interesting. Can I ask what about Christianity interested you vs. the other monotheistic paths such as Islam or Sikhism?
Click to expand...
Sikhism is a major religion in north India but on the whole restricted to people from Punjab. I do not speak the language so even if I wanted to convert it would have been hard.
About Islam .. that is quite out of the question (I would rather not answer why)

namaste

A_B
 
wheatpenny

wheatpenny

Quaker/Independent Catholic (dual affiliation)
Welcome to the Forum. A few years back I did some serious research into Hinduism (and even seriously considered converting), because I was impressed by the mystical element. I experimented with a number of Mystic traditions and finally settled on non-sectarian Christian mysticism.
 
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