What Makes a Hindu a Hindu?

[Ravi500]

Besides coming on the internet and claiming you're a Hindu, what makes you a Hindu?

Do you do a daily puja?
Do you attend temple once a week?
Do you have a Hindu name?
Have you been had the equivalent of a baptism, or formal entrance?
Do you meditate daily?
Do you pilgrimage near of far at least once a year?
Are most of your friends Hindu?
Do you listen to Hindu music primarily or exclusively?
Have you been initiated or taken diksha from a bonafide Hindu teacher?
Are you a vegetarian, or at least realise you should be one?
Do you dream about Hindu stuff?
Will you call yourself Hindu in public?
Will you consult an ayurvedic doctor?
Will you consult a Hindu astrologer?
Do you know your nakshatra?
Do you believe fully in reincarnation?
Do you believe in karma?
Do you believe in a divinity within all things?
Do you avoid wearing leather?
Do you know at least a few bhajans?

20 questions ... and one more ... how many of the above do you have to answer 'yes' to before by all measures, an onlooker would consider you a Hindu?

BTW, I can honestly answer yes to all 20.

There is a beautiful story I learnt from a spiritual master which I understand is a true story as well.

There was a doctor who was deeply devoted to his patients and worked wholeheartedly for their welfare.

One day , while doing his puja, the Divine Mother appeared before him in form. He was overjoyed and happy on seeing Her.

Suddenly a call came from outside , which was that of a poor patient. The doctor immediately rushed out and attended to the patient taking time in the process of doing his duty.

When the patient left, the doctor got reminded of the figure of the Divine Mother who appeared during puja , and felt crest-fallen that She must have left.

When he went back to the puja room, he found that She was still standing patiently, and he expressed his surprise over it.

The Divine Mother replied that , if he had not attended to the needs of his patient who came at that time, She would have disappeared immediately.

But since he went and attended to his patients welfare, She was compelled to wait for him and give him darshan to his hearts content.

I would say a spirit of duty, service and compassion for all , is what distinguishes the true Hindu.

 

[Maya3]

There is a beautiful story I learnt from a spiritual master which I understand is a true story as well.

There was a doctor who was deeply devoted to his patients and worked wholeheartedly for their welfare.

One day , while doing his puja, the Divine Mother appeared before him in form. He was overjoyed and happy on seeing Her.

Suddenly a call came from outside , which was that of a poor patient. The doctor immediately rushed out and attended to the patient taking time in the process of doing his duty.

When the patient left, the doctor got reminded of the figure of the Divine Mother who appeared during puja , and felt crest-fallen that She must have left.

When he went back to the puja room, he found that She was still standing patiently, and he expressed his surprise over it.

The Divine Mother replied that , if he had not attended to the needs of his patient who came at that time, She would have disappeared immediately.

But since he went and attended to his patients welfare, She was compelled to wait for him and give him darshan to his hearts content.

I would say a spirit of duty, service and compassion for all , is what distinguishes the true Hindu.

Beautiful.

Maya

 

[Aupmanyav]

Rādhe Rādhe japo chale ayenge bihārī
rādhā meri chandā chakor hai bihārī
rādhāra-ni gangā to dhār hai bihārī
rādhārāni murali to tān hai bihāri
rādhā meri gori to sānwale bihārī
rādhārāni sāgar taranga hai bihārī
rādhārāni misrī to swād hai bihāri
rādhārāni kamal to sugandha hai bihāri
rādhārāni bholi bhāli chanchala bihāri
rādhārāni kanganā , nathali bihāri...

I have no problem with your chanting Radhe-Radhe. Hindus would take things differently. I expressed my views.

 

[Aupmanyav]

Whatever your 'concept' of Brahman is, it is still a concept. You call the concept 'Brahman' and I call it 'Siva' - we are both correct according to Shankaracharya.

No problem. But would you say Shiva is greater than Vishnu?

 

[Sb1995]

Where is Vinayaka????????????

 

[Nyingjé Tso]

Where is Vinayaka????????????

We all miss him I hope he is all good

 

[Aupmanyav]

Yes, I too miss Vinayaka.

 

[punkdbass]

He never failed to give me a different perspective to look at things.. I hope all is well!

 

[Vinayaka]

Just so you all know, I'm fine. The universe is in a perfect state of evolving. But I don't feel at home here at all any more. After enduring a multitude of insults towards anything traditional, I decided to stop posting, and leave this 'Hindu' DIR to the more universalist leaning Hindus, non-Hindus, atheists, and debaters who frequent this DIR. But my friends know where to find me.

Aum Shanthi Shanthi Shanthi

 

[George-ananda]

Just so you all know, I'm fine. The universe is in a perfect state of evolving. But I don't feel at home here at all any more. After enduring a multitude of insults towards anything traditional, I decided to stop posting, and leave this 'Hindu' DIR to the more universalist leaning Hindus, non-Hindus, atheists, and debaters who frequent this DIR. But my friends know where to find me.

Aum Shanthi Shanthi Shanthi

I'm sorry to see any intelligent points of view leave a discussion.

You talk about 'traditional'. May I ask if you are a Hindu of Indian descent and born into a Hindu culture? Do you live in India or elsewhere?

 

[Poeticus]

You talk about 'traditional'. May I ask if you are a Hindu of Indian descent and born into a Hindu culture? Do you live in India or elsewhere?

Glorious Pitāmā, Shri Vinayaka...

...is white as they come; he is not a Hindu of Indian descent nor was he born into a Hindu Culture (<-- hehe what? don't you mean Indian?). He's of ethnic European descent. He has made many posts wherein he states he lives in Canada. He's been a Hindu for many decades; longer than I have been alive - possibly twice as long.​

However, a better question is: how and why did you equate "traditional" with "Hindu of Indian descent"?

 

[George-ananda]

Glorious Pit&#257;m&#257;, Shri Vinayaka...

...is white as they come; he is not a Hindu of Indian descent nor was he born into a Hindu Culture (<-- hehe what? don't you mean Indian?). He's of ethnic European descent. He has made many posts wherein he states he lives in Canada. He's been a Hindu for many decades; longer than I have been alive - possibly twice as long.​

However, a better question is: how and why did you equate "traditional" with "Hindu of Indian descent"?

I only meant the question as I worded it; I just wanted background information. I did no 'equating' except in your assumption of what I was doing.

I as an arm-chair sociologist, am always interested in knowing people's national and ethnic identities. I am smart enough to know the diversity within any groupings.

As Vinayaka has observed, you need a thick skin to hang out here.

That said, I believe there is on average a difference (not a rule) between Hindus of Indian descent and westerners who became acquainted with Hinduism only in their adult years.

 

[Poeticus]

I only meant the question as I worded it; I just wanted background information. I did no 'equating' except in your assumption of what I was doing.

I as an arm-chair sociologist, am always interested in knowing people's national and ethnic identities. I am smart enough to know the diversity within any groupings.

As Vinayaka has observed, you need a thick skin to hang out here.

That said, I believe there is on average a difference (not a rule) between Hindus of Indian descent and westerners who became acquainted with Hinduism only in their adult years.

Ah. Semantics: the way out.

ps - For future reference, most Indian Hindus, especially those living in India rather than abroad, are not traditional.

 

[George-ananda]

ps - For future reference, most Indian Hindus, especially those living in India rather than abroad, are not traditional.

Sorry, I don't accept what you say in the ps as true.

 

[Poeticus]

Sorry, I don't accept what you say in the ps as true.

...then please define what you believe accounts as 'traditional' so I can understand where you are coming from.

 

[NobodyYouKnow]

Just so you all know, I'm fine. The universe is in a perfect state of evolving. But I don't feel at home here at all any more. After enduring a multitude of insults towards anything traditional, I decided to stop posting, and leave this 'Hindu' DIR to the more universalist leaning Hindus, non-Hindus, atheists, and debaters who frequent this DIR. But my friends know where to find me.

Aum Shanthi Shanthi Shanthi

That's a shame, my friend. I shall miss you as well. :namaste

A home is not defined by the walls, but by those you love living within.

I have also had my fair share of problems and drama, and at times, I am a 'Universalist Hindu' (I was listening to 'Life Itself' by George Harrison last night, and I wept), a non-Hindu nAstika (I can actually come to terms and peace with that now, after the Lingayat thread), an Atheist (there's a very fine line between Absolute Monism and total Atheism in the Advaita school leading to the realisation of Brahman) and a debater (they say that healthy debate is 'sposed to be...healthy).

I've also had my problems with the Staff on RF, some other members on RF, just s*** happening...as it does.

However, the lesson I have learned is that autonomy also comes with personal responsibility. I have sailed very close to the wind here on RF a few times, and sometimes I also like to 'poke the bear' for fun, to see how far I can run before it catches me...fully knowing that one day, it will. It's all part of the game...and also part of my personality and what makes me, me.

People know this, but they also know I am fully aware where that line is I mustn't cross, and as long as I am respectful and courteous, they tend to let me get away with it a bit, but I know the limit and the consequences if I trip up.

I've thought about leaving this place a few times, but that would be no fun, and besides, the bear wouldn't get his exercise otherwise. Don't take it personally, Vinayaka. What ever anybody says...why should that affect you at all? Just listen and go (I love this meme):

In other words, just go 'lol wut?'

So, you expect me to represent Shaivism on RF without some help, do you?
I know nothing about Lingayatism and not much about Kashmir Shaivism and I have had to share my limited knowledge, knowing that isn't enough...waiting for you to come on and correct me, or add more, but you never do.

Still, what ever you decide, I shall fully support you, Vinayaka. Maybe it's time you moved on with your sadhana and your worship of Siva in private, and I should also spend more time doing that, so whatever it is you decide...

Bham Bham Bhole!

 

[Vinayaka]

I know nothing about Lingayatism and not much about Kashmir Shaivism and I have had to share my limited knowledge, knowing that isn't enough...waiting for you to come on and correct me, or add more, but you never do.

I know nothing about those school either, except for a couple of pages from a textbook.

But as you may have noticed, I did come back. needed the break ... I shall endeavour to be more careful about when and where to post to not enter debates, etc.

I like the change to blue though. That was indeed a factor.

 

[ShivaFan]

Namaste

For a while I have been "secretive" (or shy, perhaps?) about my own personal "Hindu-isms" (i.e. not that I have my "own Hinduism", but have tended towards "generalization" on a forum as we are a very diverse Family).

But becoming a little more comfortable here at the Hinduism DIR now that I can see that the predominance of membership reflects this diversity and are more focused on sharing Hinduism rather than so sectarian and full of self-identity as to simply call all millions (billions?) of other Hindus who do not belong to one sect as "non-Hindu", this welcoming climate actually affords a chance to also express one's own "Hindu-ness" (what makes you Hindu or your own "Hindu-isms" if you will).

So I think that it would be fun to be a little more personal and this question.

Some (of my) "Hindu-isms":

* My family and relatives all have been given instruction that my ashes are to be cast into the Ganga at Manikarnika in Kashi (Varanasi, India). I have this in writing. I prefer that if possible, I actually die in Kashi, but we cannot predict exactly all dangers each day so if not possible I have a fund set aside to pay for courier of my ashes to India by relative(s).

* This has already been mentioned, but I like the smell of incense and I like to put vibhuti on my forehead and like the perfume smell of vibhuti (I even keep a small vile of vibhuti in my car "just in case").

Om Namah Sivaya

 

[Jaskaran Singh]

Besides coming on the internet and claiming you're a Hindu, what makes you a Hindu?

Do you do a daily puja?
Do you attend temple once a week?
Do you have a Hindu name?
Have you been had the equivalent of a baptism, or formal entrance?
Do you meditate daily?
Do you pilgrimage near of far at least once a year?
Are most of your friends Hindu?
Do you listen to Hindu music primarily or exclusively?
Have you been initiated or taken diksha from a bonafide Hindu teacher?
Are you a vegetarian, or at least realise you should be one?
Do you dream about Hindu stuff?
Will you call yourself Hindu in public?
Will you consult an ayurvedic doctor?
Will you consult a Hindu astrologer?
Do you know your nakshatra?
Do you believe fully in reincarnation?
Do you believe in karma?
Do you believe in a divinity within all things?
Do you avoid wearing leather?
Do you know at least a few bhajans?

20 questions ... and one more ... how many of the above do you have to answer 'yes' to before by all measures, an onlooker would consider you a Hindu?

BTW, I can honestly answer yes to all 20.

Do you do a daily puja? Yes
Do you attend temple once a week? Twice a week actually.
Do you have a Hindu name? Kinda? Actually a Sikh name since I'm originally a Sikh.
Have you been had the equivalent of a baptism, or formal entrance? Yes
Do you meditate daily? Yes
Do you pilgrimage near of far at least once a year? Depends on what you mean by pilgrimage...
Are most of your friends Hindu? No
Do you listen to Hindu music primarily or exclusively? Yes, almost exclusively
Have you been initiated or taken diksha from a bonafide Hindu teacher? Yes
Are you a vegetarian, or at least realise you should be one? Yes.
Do you dream about Hindu stuff? I usually don't remember most of my dreams, so I'm not sure
Will you call yourself Hindu in public? Yes, most certainly.
Will you consult an ayurvedic doctor? Uh, no.
Will you consult a Hindu astrologer? What? Just because I'm a bhakti-centric Hindu doesn't mean I accept superstition, regardless of whether it's related to Hinduism or not.
Do you know your nakshatra? Yes, puShyami, but like I said in the above question, I really don't care.
Do you believe fully in reincarnation? Yes
Do you believe in karma? Yes
Do you believe in a divinity within all things? Yes
Do you avoid wearing leather? Yes.
Do you know at least a few bhajans? Yes.

 

[Jaskaran Singh]

How can he be an advaitin, if he is vaishnava?

There are plenty of vaiShNava advaitI-s, HLK (who was restricted) is an advaitI vaiShNava. Better question is, how is kAlidAs' friend a vaiShNava if he eats beef?