What Makes a Hindu a Hindu?

[Vinayaka]

Me either for that matter. Good thing the Gods are not as Racist.

Me neither. But I already knew this viewpoint existed. We need to tolerate the intolerant, as hard as that sounds. It's a common viewpoint, born of a certain experience. Quite understandable too, it you lived in certain sheltered areas of the world where there is nothing else. Here in the west we are privy to seeing many cultures.

 

[Kalidas]

Me neither. But I already knew this viewpoint existed. We need to tolerate the intolerant, as hard as that sounds. It's a common viewpoint, born of a certain experience. Quite understandable too, it you lived in certain sheltered areas of the world where there is nothing else. Here in the west we are privy to seeing many cultures.

I'm aware and I thought my answer was fairly tolerant. Tolerance does not mean having to agree I disagree greatly with what he said, but he has a right to believe it... that's tolerance. I also can defend myself and still be tolerant, I am who I am regardless of birth right or race. I would say we have been very tolerant of him, he isn't banned yet.

 

[Jainarayan]

It's true we need to be tolerant of the intolerant. Some of us know better and have been around the block a few times. But we tend to forget that on internet forums like this, there are people who are lurking and exploring and might be scared off by such provincial and parochial attitudes as our young friend's. It would be especially unfortunate if a young British-born or American-born Indian were to rediscover his or her roots, be swayed by such ethnocentricity and ethnic elitism, and take to heart that they could not be Hindu. Our young friend does Hinduism a great disservice by making such pronouncements and pontifications without the disclaimer "this is only my opinion".

 

[Vinayaka]

It's true we need to be tolerant of the intolerant. Some of us know better and have been around the block a few times. But we tend to forget that on internet forums like this, there are people who are lurking and exploring and might be scared off by such provincial and parochial attitudes as our young friend's. It would be especially unfortunate if a young British-born or American-born Indian were to rediscover his or her roots, be swayed by such ethnocentricity and ethnic elitism, and take to heart that they could not be Hindu. Our young friend does Hinduism a great disservice by making such pronouncements and pontifications without the disclaimer "this is only my opinion".

I'd be surprised if too many people take this stuff that seriously. Most people filter the wheat from the chaff.

 

[ShivaFan]

Actually, as a Hindu I know I am supposed to be toleratent. But actually I am not. That is why I have a deserved reputation as a rascal Saiva, but on two fronts regarding tolerance.

That is, for being not tolerant as well as being too tolerant.

When I was a kid and into my 30s, but mostly as a kid and teenager, I had a reputation of getting into fist fights with anyone who I thought was a bully. Oddly, aspects of tolerance and intolerance attract friends. Since everyone knew me as tolerating all sorts of diverse characters, and known as a "religious wild savage", I was very tolerant of all sorts of spiritual types and adventurers. This attracts all sorts. Because I was intolerant of bullies, this also attracted friends.

A bully isn't one who thinks ideas, but acts out ideas of picking on others or acts out repression. The "line" is the act.

As a Saiva, I am supposed to be, well, Advaitan basically, and merge with Siva. But I dabble and prefer Dvaita, I am friend with all the Devas and Devi. I am supposed to seek Moksha, but actually I am only interested in hanging out here and having fun in Hindu adventures. I associate with every Hindu, including, well, what some may think of as bad characters or even non-Hindus.

But I am not scared of anything or anyone. The only thing is, once they try to act out some oppression on another, then I am likely going to be "intolerant". Trouble may start, but ... I even got in trouble with advanced souls because, when I start the trouble it is sort of a fun game for me and I have been given orders "do not disturb others", but often I do it anyway. Probably I get away with this trouble-fun because no one ever punishes me in the end.

Take NAZIs for example. I can sit down and talk with them. But as soon as they try to act out their stuff, then the trouble is going to start. Like if they act out killing Jews, imprisoning mental cases, hanging homosexuals and that sort of thing, then I have lot's of fun giving them real trouble. So, I am not like Gandhi.

 

[Aupmanyav]

They are also the only Hindus I know that have no issues eating beef.

Where? But I agree, there are. I do not know which Hindu community in India would do that? However, what we do depends on Desha and Kala, Yuga-dharma, as my grandfather believed.

Yeah, but they don't worship Mother Cow or anything like that and those who abstain from beef, usually abstain from pork as well.

It's not like in India, where every Hindu doesn't eat beef...I don't know if the Aghore do or not, but Balinese Hinduism is a lot like the Aghore tradition in many other ways.

As for the practice, being in isolation from India has also helped preserve the purity of some of the more esoteric teachings...I like to think sometimes that this is how Hinduism was like a thousand years ago.

I have no problems with pork. A realized aghore would not distinguish between anything, pork, beef, or human flesh. 'Sarve khalvidam Brahma'. May have been in regions from where people went to South-East Asia. Of course, the local traditions must have affected them. Like Buddhism in Tibet with Bon.

Otherwise Hinduism is a made up religion that is used to pigeon hole the vast array of Indian religious traditions.

Syncretical. Hinduism is a syncratic religion. Syncretical: the attempted reconciliation or union of different or opposing principles, practices, or parties, as in philosophy or religion.

 

[Aupmanyav]

You are confusing things a bit. Did I say that Vedas borrowed from Buddhism? No. I said Hinduism quite possibly, borrowed from both Jainism and Buddhism. Made Buddha an avatara and forgot to make Mahavira an avatara. Actually, they both deserved it. It is like making Sachin Tendulkar a 'Bharat Ratna' and forgetting about 'Dhyan Chand'. Vyasa Muni is mythology, it is not history. And the 'karma-kandi' brahmins whose living was affected by aversion to rituals as advocated by Buddhist philosophy added the adverse comments to some scriptures, survival strategy.

 

[ShivaFan]

Namaste

Back to the list of the OP, as to what does a Hindu do to be a Hindu, it has occured to me by the acts of others, that because so many are still here but also seeking to look for some way to use their time while here productively that also makes the heart happy, that in this age Hindus should do seva by two simple things, keeping life simple:

+ Helping to build and be active in mandir, ashram, kovil (temples, residences for Devatas where devotees can go for darshan) galore (glory)

+ Helping to build and be active in goshalas (Cow residences for the protection of the beautiful gomatas and their babies and where devotees can get fresh milk and ghee, and enjoy having an extended family) galore (go lore or stories of go the Cow, glory).

There are many things for a Hindu, and if you are doing this, then you are a Hindu.

Om Namah Sivaya

 

[Kalidas]

Where? But I agree, there are. I do not know which Hindu community in India would do that?

Not India. Bali, Balinese Hindus, from the reasearch I did they had no issue eating meat beef included. They have a lot of different beliefs that are not the same as Indian Hinduism.

 

[Vinayaka]

Not India. Bali, Balinese Hindus, from the reasearch I did they had no issue eating meat beef included. They have a lot of different beliefs that are not the same as Indian Hinduism.

And a ton that are the same. There are so many beliefs, some are more central than others. Many are 'on the fringe' for a lack of a better way to put it. If they hold a belief that is maybe only common to 2% of all other Hindus, my guess is they'd be 'on the fringe'.

The Aghoris, despite their popularity in western portrayal, are definitely a fringe group.

Just by population alone the Balinese are kind of 'fringe' let alone their distinct culture. But they at least believe in God, in karma, and in reincarnation. That's a lot more than you can say for some others on here who call themselves Hindu.

 

[Kalidas]

And a ton that are the same. There are so many beliefs, some are more central than others. Many are 'on the fringe' for a lack of a better way to put it. If they hold a belief that is maybe only common to 2% of all other Hindus, my guess is they'd be 'on the fringe'.

The Aghoris, despite their popularity in western portrayal, are definitely a fringe group.

Just by population alone the Balinese are kind of 'fringe' let alone their distinct culture. But they at least believe in God, in karma, and in reincarnation. That's a lot more than you can say for some others on here who call themselves Hindu.

I like the way they view reincarnation of humans. To them each person is an incarnation of an older ancestor of the family.

 

[Vinayaka]

Maybe you should go into the rural areas of India, spread your wisdom and tell the hundreds of thousands, if not millions of people who have never even heard of the Vedas that they are not Hindu.

Much about life to learn you have, young padawan. :yoda:

No doubt about that. Still if they practice much at all, good chance it has some Vedic stuff in it, just by osmosis.

A bigger problem, in my humble opinion, is the denial that Sri Lankan Tamil, Nepalese, Balinese, Fijian Indian, Guyanese Indian, Trinidadian Indian, Malaysian etc. are all denied the idea that they're Hindu with this POV. But it's just a POV, from a youngster I gather, at that.

 

[Vinayaka]

I like the way they view reincarnation of humans. To them each person is an incarnation of an older ancestor of the family.

Yes indeed, they really get that. Beautiful island, at least it was.

 

[Kalidas]

Yes indeed, they really get that. Beautiful island, at least it was.

Yes it is a nice view of reincarnation, I have no clue what they think of animals.

Was? Did something happen?

Other funny fact Bali is the "most Hindu country in the world". Not by number but by percentage of citizens.

 

[ratikala]

namaskaram shiva fan ji :namaste

Namaste

Back to the list of the OP, as to what does a Hindu do to be a Hindu, it has occured to me by the acts of others, that because so many are still here but also seeking to look for some way to use their time while here productively that also makes the heart happy, that in this age Hindus should do seva by two simple things, keeping life simple:

+ Helping to build and be active in mandir, ashram, kovil (temples, residences for Devatas where devotees can go for darshan) galore (glory)

+ Helping to build and be active in goshalas (Cow residences for the protection of the beautiful gomatas and their babies and where devotees can get fresh milk and ghee, and enjoy having an extended family) galore (go lore or stories of go the Cow, glory).

There are many things for a Hindu, and if you are doing this, then you are a Hindu.

Om Namah Sivaya

jia jai , sounds perfect to me :namaste

 

[Jainarayan]

No doubt about that. Still if they practice much at all, good chance it has some Vedic stuff in it, just by osmosis.

Of course, they just don't know it. It might have to be through oral transmission and learning because so many rurals are illiterate.

A bigger problem, in my humble opinion, is the denial that Sri Lankan Tamil, Nepalese, Balinese, Fijian Indian, Guyanese Indian, Trinidadian Indian, Malaysian etc. are all denied the idea that they're Hindu with this POV. But it's just a POV, from a youngster I gather, at that.

Indeed, which is why I hope you are right that people reading that twaddle see it for the twaddle it is.

 

[Vinayaka]

Yes it is a nice view of reincarnation, I have no clue what they think of animals.

Was? Did something happen?

Other funny fact Bali is the "most Hindu country in the world". Not by number but by percentage of citizens.

Was ... tourism has had quite the effect, or so I am to understand. Some of the old ways are being lost.

 

[Kalidas]

Was ... tourism has had quite the effect, or so I am to understand. Some of the old ways are being lost.

That's sad.

 

[Aupmanyav]

Not India. Bali, Balinese Hindus, from the reasearch I did they had no issue eating meat beef included.

I did not mean the Balinese hindus, there could be some in India too, in whose traditions beef is not prohibited. We have such a maddening diversity.

 

[NobodyYouKnow]

And a ton that are the same. There are so many beliefs, some are more central than others. Many are 'on the fringe' for a lack of a better way to put it. If they hold a belief that is maybe only common to 2% of all other Hindus, my guess is they'd be 'on the fringe'.

The Aghoris, despite their popularity in western portrayal, are definitely a fringe group.

Just by population alone the Balinese are kind of 'fringe' let alone their distinct culture. But they at least believe in God, in karma, and in reincarnation. That's a lot more than you can say for some others on here who call themselves Hindu.

Precisely.

Hinduism in Bali is like a mixture of ancient Hinduism, Tantric Buddhism and Animistic beliefs all woven into one (it is entirely representative of all my posts on here).

It would sort of be where Kashmir Shaivism meets Tibetan Buddhism...if I had to describe it.

It is still Hinduism, but a very old form thereof.

Even today in Indian Hinduism, not much emphasis is placed on ancestor worship, worshiping nature spirits, practicing Raja Yoga as part of the religion etc anymore.

There are not many 'spiritual healers' or Hindu Shamans anywhere. There are fake Tantrikas who will curse/hurt people for a fee...do your astrology for a fee...there is nothing positive that comes from this, ever!

In Bali, 50-100 years ago and not so much now, priests and healers would roam throughout the country healing people, blessing people, teaching people...teaching others how to harness their Chi for doing good things.

Fortunately, I was one of the last to see/experience this and it is all inside my heart. I took to it like a duck to water.

Unfortunately, there aren't any more shamans in Bali now. They are all but gone. As the elders passed away, there was no 'new blood' keeping the old traditions alive and strong anymore.

I guess they figured that with a huge Islamic population bearing down on their heads, why bother?

It is very sad to see this happen and I wish I could change that somehow (I'd also like to change what is up with Chinese rule in Tibet), but all I can do is just sit and pretend...imagine that it is still like this and always has been...nothing has changed.

Who am I kidding though?