How to convert a Hindu

[ratikala]

namaskaram :namaste

We're way off topic now, but howabout the trend of Tibetan Buddhism gaining traction in China?

the thought would be nice , but from what I have seen the truth of the matter is somewhat far from reality , is it tibetan buddhism or is it china's version of buddhism in a vaguely tibetan style ????

a political manovure ?

 

[Sumit]

thats not correct..

In matter of conversion it's true, only Indians can help Indians.

for example, the only reason why yoga is accepted by all people in india is because non-indians accepted it,

I never met anyone who accepts yoga because non Indian accepts it.

indians need only that which is approved by non-indians.

It's a matter of shame for those Indian Hindus who believe so.

 

[Kalidas]

But this still misses the point to some degree. The core philosophy is entirely different. There are some very core belief differences. So no matter what, you get confused if you mix them. Nobody should be in the business of creating confusion. I will not read the bible because I don't want to get confused. I'm confused enough already as it is.

Oh sorry I probably confused you. I o.lay brought that up because I was Christian so I read the bible then. To explain that even the teaching with which the missionaries try to spread says ironicly enough that what they are doing is incorrect.

 

[nameless]

I never met anyone who accepts yoga because non Indian accepts it.

i have met such people, including christians and muslims

It's a matter of shame for those Indian Hindus who believe so.

thats what reality is, people in here lacks confidence in themselves.

 

[Vinayaka]

Oh sorry I probably confused you. I o.lay brought that up because I was Christian so I read the bible then. To explain that even the teaching with which the missionaries try to spread says ironicly enough that what they are doing is incorrect.

That may be your take. as it is/was with many. But it's certainly not the average missionary's take, or we wouldn't be having this discussion, or this thread, would we?

 

[Sumit]

thats what reality is, people in here lacks confidence in themselves.

Just be confident and we will change this.

 

[Kalidas]

That may be your take. as it is/was with many. But it's certainly not the average missionary's take, or we wouldn't be having this discussion, or this thread, would we?

:yes: indeed this is the sad truth.

So back to the important topic at hand. How would one (actually many) go about ra way to remedy the situation?

 

[nameless]

Just be confident and we will change this.

anyone who has interest can take part.

 

[ratikala]

namaskaram nameless ,

Originally Posted by ratikala
this kind of bitterness is hardly becoming of anyone who professes to have any spiritual understanding

are you the 'god' to decide this?

prehaps when people stop arguing and looking for a contentious issues with which to degrade hinduism even further they might just stop to think about the concequences of their actions ???

if the truth is known how many are posting here because they truely care about hinduism ? ....and how many are just fond of the sound of their own voices and stiring up trouble .

it is very easy to criticise if you realy care ? start thinking about some practical solutions , then come back and tell me where bitterness gets any one ?

 

[Sumit]

anyone who has interest can take part.

Will you

 

[Vinayaka]

One of the problems on the ground is that Hindus have been trained to respect books ... all books. When a Hindu drops a book accidentally, they bring it to their forehead in a gesture of respect. This custom developed out of a respect for knowledge, and education. So books themselves are considered 'holy'. In the old days, before the proseltysing era, it was largely true. But this custom, this respect for books, has been used against us, because it would be considered disrespectful to not take a bible. So one 'on the ground' thing that can be done is to let everying know that its okay not to accept bibles. It isn't a sign of disrespect, it's just the same as saying, "I'm sorry, I don't read that language."

There are all kinds of things, little things one can do.

But once upon a time I had this kid ask to stay after school. At that time the Gideons were distributing bibles in most schools. Maybe they still are, I don't know. Anyways this poor kid came to me and said, "What am I gonna do? Dad (Dad was an avowed atheist) will kill me if he sees this thing."
I didn't really know what to say. He caught me off guard. I didn't really want it either. So finally I just said, "Well, you do walk past a garbage bin on the way home, don't you?"

 

[Kalidas]

I think ratikala does have a good point. Talking and spreading the knowledge is good I mean personally I have learned a lot, a lot more ten I would in America. Yet talk can be shallow without adequate action. So how can this all be "fixed"( bad term but I will use it)

Vinyakas story of school was quit insightful I am trying to become a teacher myself and o have found education is the great equalizer of man. So what can we do to help improve the education so that these.people can begin to think critically and not just be brainwashed by others?

 

[VajraYosid]

I just wanted to say that only Hindus living in India can solve this problem because it requires efforts at ground level. Every Hindu must work in their states against conversion. I am working for it and I hope I will send church out of my city in next 5-8 years.

Ground level work is effective everywhere and by anyone. To give an example, last year my guru, some others and I were going through Nainital and he stopped by the church to see the bishop there, and castigated him for his presence and blight on Hindu society. The bishop was unable to defend himself effectively and became shamefaced and stammering. Hearts and minds were touched.

A small blow, but one all the same. My guru is not ethnically Indian.

As Vinayaka pointed out, if Indian HIndus see that Westerners - or others - are being converted to Hindu dharma, they will think twice, thrice and more about converting to a Western adharma. It is of vital importance that Hindus in India realize how much support is there internationally, and the potential of far more support.

A dear friend and brother disciple was brought back into the fold from the brink of atheism by a Western convert. There is much that Western or other non-ethnic Hindus can do to promote Hinduism globally and in India itself.

Hinduism of the 21st and 22nd centuries has to be colorblind and casteless - or at least, without caste based on jati. If humanity makes it that far - the survival and flourishing of Hinduism is going to be of the utmost importance for humanity's survival.

 

[VajraYosid]

namaskaram :namaste

the thought would be nice , but from what I have seen the truth of the matter is somewhat far from reality , is it tibetan buddhism or is it china's version of buddhism in a vaguely tibetan style ????

a political manovure ?

Namaskarji

It is both. But in last decade, Tibetan Buddhism has made great headway in China - and not from the Tibetan exile government's version of Tibetan Buddhism in vaguely Chinese style, but the original 'Tibetan' Buddhism that is already widespread in China & Mongolia, Gelugpa or otherwise.

It is beginning to become an influence on the thinking of influential leaders in China. There are some who say that it will become merged with the Chinese party ethos and flourish again.

 

[ratikala]

One of the problems on the ground is that Hindus have been trained to respect books ... all books. When a Hindu drops a book accidentally, they bring it to their forehead in a gesture of respect. This custom developed out of a respect for knowledge, and education. So books themselves are considered 'holy'.

not just holy , is it not commonly accepted that god is synonomous with his word , ....the word 'om' is god , it is not just respect for knowledge , it is respect for god .

In the old days, before the proseltysing era, it was largely true. But this custom, this respect for books, has been used against us, because it would be considered disrespectful to not take a bible. So one 'on the ground' thing that can be done is to let everying know that its okay not to accept bibles. It isn't a sign of disrespect, it's just the same as saying, "I'm sorry, I don't read that language."

I would agree totaly that one does not have to take a book simply because it is offered .

There are all kinds of things, little things one can do.

But once upon a time I had this kid ask to stay after school. At that time the Gideons were distributing bibles in most schools. Maybe they still are, I don't know. Anyways this poor kid came to me and said, "What am I gonna do? Dad (Dad was an avowed atheist) will kill me if he sees this thing."
I didn't really know what to say. He caught me off guard. I didn't really want it either. So finally I just said, "Well, you do walk past a garbage bin on the way home, don't you?"

and you think that was clever ???

if I was in a position of responcibility such as a teacher I would have taken the book from him if he did not want it or if it were to cause him any problems at home , and taken it to the nearest church and asked that it be given to someone who would appreciate it .

 

[Ashoka]

And you think that was clever ???

if I was in a position of responcibility such as a teacher I would have taken the book from him if he did not want it or if it were to cause him any problems at home , and taken it to the nearest church and asked that it be given to someone who would appreciate it .

Namaste,

I mean this in all respect and kindness...It's a book that calls for the deaths of those who do not worship the "one true god." That includes you and I.

Just because it may upset some people because Christianity is the norm, that does not mean that the book is not harmful.

 

[Kalidas]

not just holy , is it not commonly accepted that god is synonomous with his word , ....the word 'om' is god , it is not just respect for knowledge , it is respect for god .



I would agree totaly that one does not have to take a book simply because it is offered .


and you think that was clever ???

if I was in a position of responcibility such as a teacher I would have taken the book from him if he did not want it or if it were to cause him any problems at home , and taken it to the nearest church and asked that it be given to someone who would appreciate it .

Depending on where he lives that could lead to disciplanary action or termination of the job. In America where I live we can not talk about rligion what so ever with our students. The fact he even had this conversation could have been a giant risk.

 

[nameless]

namaskaram nameless ,

prehaps when people stop arguing and looking for a contentious issues with which to degrade hinduism even further they might just stop to think about the concequences of their actions ???

if the truth is known how many are posting here because they truely care about hinduism ? ....and how many are just fond of the sound of their own voices and stiring up trouble .

it is very easy to criticise if you realy care ? start thinking about some practical solutions , then come back and tell me where bitterness gets any one ?

i was not supporting tatvamasi, actually im worried coz he is here .
The part where i disagreed with you is that you were speaking as your knowledge of spirituality is universal, and you were judging others on the basis of your understanding of spirituality.

 

[ratikala]

Namaskarji

It is both. But in last decade, Tibetan Buddhism has made great headway in China - and not from the Tibetan exile government's version of Tibetan Buddhism in vaguely Chinese style, but the original 'Tibetan' Buddhism that is already widespread in China & Mongolia, Gelugpa or otherwise.

It is beginning to become an influence on the thinking of influential leaders in China. There are some who say that it will become merged with the Chinese party ethos and flourish again.

jai jai

 

[Sumit]

Ground level work is effective everywhere and by anyone. To give an example, last year my guru, some others and I were going through Nainital and he stopped by the church to see the bishop there, and castigated him for his presence and blight on Hindu society. The bishop was unable to defend himself effectively and became shamefaced and stammering. Hearts and minds were touched.

A small blow, but one all the same. My guru is not ethnically Indian.

I don't meant ethnicity. I just want to say that those hindus who live in India, so I used term Indian Hindus.