What do you want others to know about your religion?
That there is no one "leader" or Pope or one Guru or Hierophant in Hinduism. No one prophet "in charge" of all Hinduism. That Hinduism is many "leaderless cells" with huge diversity but sharing something using the word "Dharma" - which I personally translate in my mind since a boy as "Duty" but others have variance to the meaning so there you go .. "duty" to family and society and Gods and rites and traditions etc. which are themselves very diverse, for example traditions regarding Gods can vary wildly, some emphasize a local God or Goddess as "Lord (or Queen) of the Realm", some no God, others some particular "main God" emphasized by a Guru or Saint of a long line of Gurus or Teachers going way back like a "chain" or "garland" of "teahers in our school" to some original God who taught or founded the "school" which may not even be the same God as the "main God" that is their "primary God" or "Goddess" emphasized in the "school". For example the "first" or "founder" or "the teaching" of that "school" as "distinct" from "another school" might have been Lord Brahma, but the Gurus in the "chain" or lineage in this school (and there can be 1 Guru of that school or even dozens alive at the same time) emphasize Krishna as the "Primary God " and not Lord Brahma. Get it? Some say Dharma means you uphold ahimsa or non-violence or "not-killing", while others say if you are a soldier then your Dharma or duty is to fight when called to do so and to kill people. There are Eternal Dharmas, but some of these also vary.
So in other words, this is sounding confusing perhaps to another, so the best thing to do is, instead of seeking cut and paste answers you can only understand Hinduism by EXPERIENCING HInduism by engaging in Hinduism, absorbing the sites, sounds, smells, tastes, moods, songs, lovings, adventures (very important, these include pilgrimages) and family and rites, and arguing in the market even over Mother In Law - probably start by going to a temple. Because for me, Hinduism IS the EXPERIENCE of Hinduism and not "cookie cutter" or some "book" or a "leader".
So that is what I want others to understand - that "no one is in charge". Well, SOME have someone in charge, let us say a Guru named Swami the Great. But Swsmi may call the shots for that person, but NOT all of Hinduism, not even close. Some would be shocked by me saying that, "no one is in charge". But not really, the average lay Hindu like myself (and the overwhelming number of Hindus are just regular people like me and are not priests or starving yogis or saints) knows exactly what I am saying. But some would be shocked. As if I am also saying "God is not in charge". I am talking about humans, demons, "angels", powers, travellers from far away, nations, and so on - they are "not in charge" or Presidente. No one is Pope, no one can say "I am the One" in charge of Hinduism. Some Hindus refuse to even call themselves Hindus. They hate the word. And in one way, there are so many Gods, you can sort of say "who is in charge is not as important as what you do". This allows some to say, "what I do" is Hinduism and I don't even believe in the Gods.
I also want others to know that there is a reazon no one is in charge. They need to know "Hinduism" is the "history" of humans, too, going way, way, WAAAAAY back. It is in your DNA if yuu will. You are many things.
What are some of your religious traditions/rituals which your family follows?
We have "murties" or "forms" (some call Idols) or deities in our house. These are different than the Murti in the Public or community Temple or the Temple for the "Realm God(dess)" in that in the Temple there is the RESIDENT but in the house, home, apartment, street pavement, hut, the taxi someone sleeps in and is their home, etc. the Murti is a "GUEST" you treat with great respect. Guests being treated like royals is a Hindu "tradition"
We have a lot of Murties, but my wife has a "special one" for her, and I do, too, but they may not be the same. She has a lot of one's that or different sizes ranging from small to the size of my outstretched palm from tip of the middle finger to the wrist and the same God but in different postures and made of metals. But I only have one "special one" that is mine, same size as the outstretched palm but made of silver. But neither is the "main" one. We also have Devi (Goddess) murti(s) and tradition.
Now, someone mentioned Sati tradition is dead. That is not 100 percent true. But yes things change. For example, women have "traditions" going WAY back that often differ than men. Why? Because Mother told them "do this". And Mother is EVERYTHING. Even for men. But she only told her daughter, no the man or son or the daughter's husband. Some of this can be "tricks". For example the "chapati Sati". The woman is cooking chapatis or rotis (bread) and she "puts herself in the chapati". Then when she is cooking or burning the chapati, she is "burning herself" (sometimes multiple times in a single day). Then if she gives the chapati to someone to eat, if the chapati was not "offered to God", that person, typically a male, is "eating the dead remains of the sati". She is laughing. So there are "tricks" sometimes as "traditions" in Hinduism that are as old as chapatis themselves, millions of years.
How does observing or performing these rituals affect your daily life?
They are very rewarding and happy for all involved. You are not bored, not at all.
Do you mind describing your relationship with God?
Gods give me lots of EXPERIENCES and adventures. But remember. Adventure awaits the brave.
Do you have any type of scripture or literature that you read and follow?
There are a lot of scriptures and literature I have read. Some of it, I was told I am not allowed to read or if I even see it my eyes should be pulled out. Some of it was "this is the secret stuff, I am giving it to YOU ShivaFan, it is special, don't share it with your barber". But I really love the Ramayana.
Do you pray? If so, how do you pray?
Well, not much like Christians do. I do pray for example to Goddess, "Mother! Give me food! (anna)" daily, but really not like praying for "things" Just sometimes, like during a "crisis" or if the Mother of the family "orders" such prayer.
Actually - that sort of goes back to my "no one is in charge" discussion on Hinduism. I might have misspoken that - actually in Hinduism for most lay Hindus, there is one person in charge. The Mother (gradma, Mother In Law, etc). Now she may not be in charge of some OTHER family's Hinduism, but only THIS family's Hinduism, but most ALL family has this Mother in charge and many say or see this Mother as the same, they call Her "Maa". Men are "on paper" in charge (of the family Hinduism), but it isn't worth the paper it is written on - they are like a "treaty". Actually if it were not for the billions of women and Mothers across zillions of villages and towns and cities of India and all over the word, Hinduism would have not been preserved to today. The Brahmins have these women to thank for a job.
While I may not pray - I do offer incense and "prayer like motions" to these murtis I mentioned. This is really about "darshan" or SEEING and communion rather than "praying for". Sort of like having Tea with the Gods. "So, how's your day? Nice weather."
How do you feel about other religions?
I like people who like religion.
Does your religion/faith provide guidance/hope for your future or life after death?
Well, I do what I do. But I am a rascal. But a cuddly rascal. But my gut is I am liked by the Gods, even favored. I get a lot of "things" and good luck, and even crazy things are nice. This will prubably continue. I have a lot of fun. That will continue, it seems.
Can anyone become Hindu or must you be born into the religion?
Anyone is already a Hindu.
Are there aspects of your religion that are no longer practiced?
Nothing. No matter what, you will find everything somewhere.
What are the most important traditions in the practice of Hinduism? (Yoga? meditation? Karma? Reincarnation?)
Mother.
Is there anything else you would like to discuss about your religion?
Disctssion is nothing next to experience.
