Hinduism - Does it have merits?

bhavin

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Whilst Islam is the fastest growing religion of world. Hinduism has been declining in numbers for centuries? Why?

People say that it is a great religion, if it is great then why is it that so many have converted to Islam and Christianity.

in fact the birth of the Hinduism was from present day Pakistan and Afghanistan, yet these 2 countries are 99% Islam, and little trace of Hinduism


It would be nice to have a debate
 
Read this on Hinduism - Very interesting - It says that Hinduism is NOT a religion?

WHY I AM A HINDU-MUST READ

Four years ago, I was flying from JFK NY Airport to SFO to attend a meeting at Monterey , CA An American girl was sitting on the right side, near window seat. It indeed was a long journey - it would take nearly seven hours.

I was surprised to see the young girl reading a Bible unusual of young Americans. After some time she smiled and we had few acquaintances talk.I told her that I am from India

Then suddenly the girl asked: 'What's your faith?' 'What?' I didn't understand the question.

'I mean, what's your religion? Are you a Christian? Or a Muslim?'
'No!' I replied, 'I am neither Christian nor Muslim'.
Apparently she appeared shocked to listen to that. 'Then who are you?' 'I am a Hindu', I said.

She looked at me as if she was seeing a caged animal. She could not understand what I was talking about.

A common man in Europe or US knows about Christianity and Islam, as they are the leading religions of the world today. But a Hindu, what?

I explained to her - I am born to a Hindu father and Hindu mother. Therefore, I am a Hindu by birth.

'Who is your prophet?' she asked.
'We don't have a prophet,' I replied.
'What's your Holy Book?'
'We don't have a single Holy Book, but we have hundreds and thousands of philosophical and sacred scriptures,' I replied.
'Oh, come on at least tell me who is your God?'
'What do you mean by that?'
'Like we have Jesus and Muslims have Allah - don't you have a God?'
I thought for a moment. Muslims and Christians believe one God (Male God) who created the world and takes an interest in the humans who inhabit it. Her mind is conditioned with that kind of belief.
According to her (or anybody who doesn't know about Hinduism), a religion needs to have one Prophet, one Holy book and one God. The mind is so conditioned and rigidly narrowed down to such a notion that anything else is not acceptable. I understood her perception and concept about faith. You can't compare Hinduism with any of the present leading religions where you have to believe in one concept of god.

I tried to explain to her: 'You can believe in one god and he can be a Hindu. You may believe in multiple deities and still you can be a Hindu. What's more - you may not believe in god at all, still you can be a Hindu. An atheist can also be a Hindu.'

This sounded very crazy to her. She couldn't imagine a religion so unorganized, still surviving for thousands of years, even after onslaught from foreign forces.

'I don't understand but it seems very interesting. Are you religious?'
What can I tell to this American girl?

I said: 'I do not go to temple regularly. I do not make any regular rituals. I have learned some of the rituals in my younger days. I still enjoy doing it sometimes.'

'Enjoy? Are you not afraid of God?'

'God is a friend. No- I am not afraid of God. Nobody has made any compulsions on me to perform these rituals regularly.'

She thought for a while and then asked: 'Have you ever thought of converting to any other religion?'

'Why should I? Even if I challenge some of the rituals and faith in Hinduism, nobody can convert me from Hinduism. Because, being a Hindu allows me to think independently and objectively, without conditioning. I remain as a Hindu never by force, but choice.' I told her that Hinduism is not a religion, but a set of beliefs and practices. It is not a religion like Christianity or Islam because it is not founded by any one person or does not have an organized controlling body like the Church or the Order, I added. There is no institution or authority.

'So, you don't believe in God?' she wanted everything in black and white.

'I didn't say that. I do not discard the divine reality. Our scripture, or Sruthis or Smrithis - Vedas and Upanishads or the Gita - say God might be there or he might not be there. But we pray to that supreme abstract authority (Para Brahma) that is the creator of this universe.'

'Why can't you believe in one personal God?'

'We have a concept - abstract - not a personal god. The concept or notion of a personal God, hiding behind the clouds of secrecy, telling us irrational stories through few men whom he sends as messengers, demanding us to worship him or punish us, does not make sense. I don't think that God is as silly as an autocratic emperor who wants others to respect him or fear him.' I told her that such notions are just fancies of less educated human imagination and fallacies, adding that generally ethnic religious practitioners in Hinduism believe in personal gods. The entry level Hinduism has over-whelming superstitions too. The philosophical side of Hinduism negates all superstitions.

'Good that you agree God might exist. You told that you pray. What is your prayer then?'

'Loka Samastha Sukino Bhavantu. Om Shanti, Shanti, Shanti,'

'Funny,' she laughed, 'What does it mean?'

'May all the beings in all the worlds be happy. Om Peace, Peace, Peace.'

'Hmm ..very interesting. I want to learn more about this religion. It is so democratic, broad-minded and free' she exclaimed.

'The fact is Hinduism is a religion of the individual, for the individual and by the individual with its roots in the Vedas and the Bhagavad-Gita. It is all about an individual approaching a personal God in an individual way according to his temperament and inner evolution - it is as simple as that.'

'How does anybody convert to Hinduism?'

'Nobody can convert you to Hinduism, because it is not a religion, but a set of beliefs and practices. Everything is acceptable in Hinduism because there is no single authority or organization either to accept it or to reject it or to oppose it on behalf of Hinduism.'


I told her - if you look for meaning in life, don't look for it in religions; don't go from one cult to another or from one guru to the next.


For a real seeker, I told her, the Bible itself gives guidelines when it says ' Kingdom of God is within you.' I reminded her of Christ's teaching about the love that we have for each other. That is where you can find the meaning of life.


Loving each and every creation of the God is absolute and real. 'Isavasyam idam sarvam' Isam (the God) is present (inhabits) here everywhere - nothing exists separate from the God, because God is present everywhere. Respect every living being and non-living things as God. That's what Hinduism teaches you.


Hinduism is referred to as Sanathana Dharma, the eternal faith. It is based on the practice of Dharma, the code of life. The most important aspect of Hinduism is being truthful to oneself. Hinduism has no monopoly on ideas.- It is open to all. Hindus believe in one God (not a personal one) expressed in different forms. For them, God is timeless and formless entity.


Ancestors of today's Hindus believe in eternal truths and cosmic laws and these truths are opened to anyone who seeks them. But there is a section of Hindus who are either superstitious or turned fanatic to make this an organized religion like others. The British coin the word 'Hindu' and considered it as a religion.


I said: 'Religions have become an MLM (multi-level- marketing) industry that has been trying to expand the market share by conversion. The biggest business in today's world is Spirituality. Hinduism is no exception'

I am a Hindu primarily because it professes Non-violence - 'Ahimsa Paramo Dharma' - Non violence is the highest duty. I am a Hindu because it doesn't conditions my mind with any faith system.
A man/ woman who change 's his/her birth religion to another religion is a fake and does not value his/her morals, culture and values in life. Hinduism was the first religion originated. Be proud of your religion and be proud of who you are.
Om Namo shiva……………
 
Read this on Hinduism - Very interesting - It says that Hinduism is NOT a religion?

.....
 
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......If he is alive then he needs to do something with the world mess....!!...Starting with the greed, economy, religion, and giving - every man his daily bread.....!!...and making sure that no child goes to bed hungry...and that no child of 2 years is abused by a 32 year old....

...Or will he move in a mysterious way..?
 
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The rule of law is OUR responsibility. The only "mystery" is why so many disregard liberty AND justice as the true moral compass for our planet.
 
....Sorry, but perhaps you could explain more......I don't understand the Rule of Law.....what is it..?

....And also please expand on the disregard of the liberty and justice....
 
Hinduism like all religion has lot to offer. Though not a Hindu myself, I have had many Hindu friends and have dated many Hindu girls in past. Yes it is a peaceful culture, and India has lived under foreign rule for centuries and Hinduism has florished.

I have practiced Pranayama and Yoga, and I have found it useful
 
Read this on the net
"Hu Shih, former Ambassador of China to USA said: India conquered and dominated China culturally for 20 centuries without ever having to send a single soldier across her border."

How true it is, and only a peaceful religion can do this?
Was Budhism or Hinduism spread by sword, no!

We have a lot to learn from the Indians
 
.......Huan Tsang was sent by the Emperor of China to visit India on fact finding mission...and it changed Chinese philosophy and thought for centuries....
Xuanzang [Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy]

......Christopher Columbus set out to find India and found America instead....
BBC - History - Christopher Columbus (1451 - 1506)

......Sir Thomas Roe the UK Ambassador followed Aurangzeb for months just to get audiance so that he can plead for trade treaty.....
Sir Thomas Roe at the Court of Ajmir - Explore-Parliament.net

.....The subject diwscussion would need more space than entire space available on web.....
 
from the beginning God taught that obeying self-imposed laws would be required to (as much as posible) elimimate the awful things you mentioned from our societies. That makes it OUR responsibilty NOT GODS to have moral decent crime free lives on this planet, As far as the American way of liberty and justice that is soundly rejected by so much of the eastern world...... most people dont realize that JUSTICE is the part of the equation that exacts JUDGEMENT on those that abuse the liberties and do the things you mentioned.
 
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Jesus is alive now and that gives merit to the only true religion.


Jesus was himself a Hindu descendant.

Actually the new testament has Ram as the ancestor of Jesus.

Its all in the scriptures... which were written much before Bible was pushed down our throats.

Agreed about Hinduism being a peaceful religion.. no bast*rd missionaries trying to "convert" people by giving threats or bribes :LOL:
 
Why discuss religion on a forum thats meant to help you with ideas in making money!!
Dont see the point, theres a time n place for everything
 
......Please god..please please.......make that trade big......please....!

..there....!
 
Why discuss religion on a forum thats meant to help you with ideas in making money!!
Dont see the point, theres a time n place for everything

Ok Mate!
Cable is looking very very very very bullish!
The dollar is goung to f**ing collapse
There!
 
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