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Hinduism As Understood By Western Man

Discussion in 'Interesting Shares' started by Thyagarajan, May 18, 2021.

  1. Thyagarajan

    Thyagarajan IL Hall of Fame

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    Hinduism


    Ten Things a Hindu can do While using English Language: - written byt Francois Gautier (check his Facebook page. He knows more Hinduism than many of us)

    # 00.
    stop using the term "God fearing" - Hindus never ever fear God. For us, God is everywhere and we are also part of God. God is not a separate entity to fear.
    It is integral.

    # 01.
    do not use the meaningless term "RIP" when someone - a hindu- dies. Use "Om Shanti", "Sadhgati" or "I wish this atma attains Moksha/Sadhgati /Uthama Lokas".
    Hinduism neither has the concept of "soul" nor its "resting". The terms "Atma" and "Jeeva" are, in a way, antonyms for the word "soul".

    # 02.
    don't use the word "Mythology" for our historic epics (Ithihaas) Ramayana and Mahabharata. Rama and Krishna are historical heroes, not just mythical characters.

    # 03.
    don't be apologetic about idol worship and say “Oh, that's just symbolic". All religions have idolatry in kinds or forms - cross, words, letters (calligraphy) or direction.

    Also let's stop using the words the words 'idols', 'statues' or 'images' when we refer to the sculptures of our Gods.
    Use the terms 'Moorthi' or 'Vigraha'. If words like Karma, Yoga, Guru and Mantra can be in the mainstream, why not Moorthi or Vigraha?

    # 04.
    Please don't refer to Ganesh and Hanuman as "Elephant god" and "Monkey god" respectively. You can simply write Shree Ganesh and Shree Hanuman.

    # 05.
    don't refer to our temples as prayer halls. Temples are "devalaya" (abode of god) and not "prarthanalaya" (Prayer halls).

    # 06.
    don't wish your children "black birthday" by allowing them to blow off the candles that are kept on top of the birthday cake. Don't throw spit on the divine fire (Agni Deva). Instead, ask them to pray: "Oh divine fire, lead me from darkness to light" (Thamasoma Jyotirgamaya) by lighting a lamp. These are all strong images that go deep into the psyche.

    # 07.
    avoid using the words "spirituality" and "materialistic". For a Hindu, everything is divine. The words spirituality and materialism came to India through evangelists and Europeans who had a concept of Church vs State. Or Science vs Religion.
    On the contrary, in India, Sages were scientists and the foundation stone of Sanatan Dharma was Science.
    #08. Blank.
    # 09.don't
    use the word "Sin" instead of "Paapa". We only have Dharma (duty, righteousness, responsibility and privilege) and Adharma (when dharma is not followed). Dharma has nothing to do with social or religious morality. 'Paapa' derives from Adharma.

    # 10. don't use loose translation like meditation for "dhyana" and 'breathing exercise' for "Pranayama". It conveys wrong meanings. Use the original words.

    Remember, the world respects only those who respect themselves!
    _________________________

    It looks in western world Hinduism best understood.
     
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  2. Hopikrishnan

    Hopikrishnan Platinum IL'ite

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    Many liked the post, but no responses !!
    Why is #08 Blank ?
    Have you heard this notion that "Hindu is a nationality, not a religion.".

    The practices, and metaphysics* of the Hindu that look to be like what the west may deem religious are all clumped together and called Hinduism. There is the confusion for the west.[*metaphysics=the branch of philosophy that deals with the first principles of things, including abstract concepts such as being, knowing, identity, time, and space.]
    If Hindu were to be compared with British, American or German that may be more rational. When a Hindu decides to adopt an organized religion, it would be like an American becoming a Sikh, and learning to wear the turban the right way. A Hindu can adopt a plethora of religions -- many of these are indigenous, and some are foreign.

    Organized religions have proselytizing practices. A nationality of people do not seek converts.
     
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  3. Thyagarajan

    Thyagarajan IL Hall of Fame

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    Thank you.
    After numbering the points, I had no patience to correct the point numbers. There was no intention to leave a point blank!

    Unlike other religions,
    for Hinduism there is no founder or father.
    I appreciate your point of view. It is true in Hinduism there is no conversion formula.
    I posted a funny in forum joke "pay in a different coin"
    yesterday that was heard in radio in tamil.
    Regards.
     
  4. Hopikrishnan

    Hopikrishnan Platinum IL'ite

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    You too use --ism following a label of a Nationality and call it a religion. An American does have an Americanism -- often pointed out as an affectation in behavior/speech or manners.
    la papa is the potato. Las papas fritas, is french fries.
    el papa is the father.
    el Papa is the pope.
     
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  5. Thyagarajan

    Thyagarajan IL Hall of Fame

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    Thanks. So you had visited jokes pages.
    Papa, pappa, dad, potato sin ... pope all in one league. LOL.
     
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  6. Hopikrishnan

    Hopikrishnan Platinum IL'ite

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    For the western world "Hindu" is concocted to represent something that people in India should not agree with. If you confront a form-filling situation that asks for your religion, find out what the choices are, and if "other" is available, choose that. Never choose Hinduism. It is a stupid label concocted by the west. There is no such thing. Our thoughts on metaphysics are in Adhvaitha vedanta. If you do not have multiple choice, and allowed to write down your religion, write down Adhvaitha Vedanta, in Roman script or in your own script, whether it be kannada, telugu, tamil or malayalam.
    I don't know if I had visited the jokes pages... however, I see jokes in many other pages. Like this one:
    A perfect lier is one who can assume the horizonal position, and stay there without disturbance. Given that everyone is bound to get there eventually, the right question to ask is about WHEN and not whether.
     
    Last edited: Jun 10, 2021
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