What brought you to Sanatana Dharma?

[Gaura Priya]

That was a big one for me too. Still is. When you think for yourself, discussion with the intent of conversion from the other side(on any matter, not just faith) can be annoying. But you have to understand it as immaturity and insecurity. Then its more easily tolerated.

I feel that save some organisations, the lack of forced conversions just add to the idea that our Sanatana Dharma is indeed a way of life and a culture; it is not simply a religious system in itself that can be easily extricated from daily life!

But then again, I've seen Hindus of all stripes in my life in varying levels of moderation and fanatical zeal.

I think the one thing that has always attracted me were the pujas and aartis; archana-vigraha. The worship done in Hindu fashion is so beautiful, that it pales in comparison! When I think of the way my Catholic childhood prayed in front of their statues and would count on their beads, and the way Hindus do so with their japa-malas and murtis, it just does not do justice!

The amount of beauty and devotion put into the process of archanam, or Deity worship service, is so beautiful. I wouldn't know what other spiritual system in the world would parallel that.

Gaur Haribol!

 

[DeviChaaya]

I didn't have much choice. I was seriously considering becoming a Jehovah's Witness when I started having dreams and an overwhelming fixation upon Lord Shiva. He was in my thoughts constantly, to the point that it was somewhat maddening. It took about three months but eventually I gave in and bought a small murti of Shiva meditating and set up the shrine in my apartment. The dreams and fixation gradually went away after that.

That was about six, seven years ago now. I moved to Melbourne three years ago and discovered that there's a beautiful Durga Mandir not twenty minutes away. I have been visiting it on a regular basis since. My focus has shifted from Lord Shiva to Mataji and I believe that it was Lord Shiva guiding me towards Ma Shakti.

Occasionally I still have dreams from Lord Shiva, usually when I need to get my *** into gear. Sometimes, very rarely, I dream of Mataji as well. Particularly of a large temple complex and library/book store. Who knows, maybe one day I'll work at one.

 

[Satyamavejayanti]

I was born into Hinduism, but was never interested.

I was kinda agnostic during early teens (now that i think about it), then late teens and early 20s i did not believe in any God, let alone 330 mil lol. I was more like eat drink and be happy.

Between 22-24 some things happened in my life that i could not figure out how to overcome, things that were out of my power, and it did not just effect me it also affected my family (which is worst then affecting just me).

So one day my mother suggested before i start my day i pray to Shri Hanuman Ji for guidence.
My parents have always been devout Hindus (Fijian Indian version), but never forced their belief on me,


So i did, and here i am, now i mostly sit in my home made mandir and read.

 

[Maija]

I would say the open minded aspect of my previous faith, the Baha'i Faith brought me close enough to respect the avatars in SD, it brought me to reading the BG with an open mind and ...it all resonated in a way more beautiful than anything I've ever read.

I got very interested in Vaishnavism, fell in love with Krishna, became addicted to kirtan..lol and couldn't get songs of praise out of my head.

And like others said, the lack of focus on conversion was very interesting.

 

[SageTree]

Raised Methodist.
@ age 18 started practicing Buddhism.
Which really opened up things for me.... but.....
I felt like the Divine was missing in the language, but not my heart.

I decided to stay within India for my inquest into the matter.

I picked up a collection of the Upanishads.
Brihadaranyaka Upanishad....Neti Neti captured 'It' for me.
I'd experienced something I hadn't since I was a child,
before I was told what God was and wasn't, which was mostly just a NO!-NO! philosophy.

Can't say I'm exclusively placing myself within the Sanatana Dharma....
depends who you ask I guess on what they mean by it.

But yes....

I still want to add that Sanatana Dharma helped me connect with my spirit again in a deep way.
And it has been helping shape my life and connectedness ever since.