Are you a Hindu or a Christinized Hindu?

[Sephiroth 0]

That is the question which I have been pondering for the past few days now.

 

Are you a Hindu?

Do you learn Gita, Vedas or other Religious books?

Do you give respect EQUALLY to all the Hindu Gods (with a selected Deity of worship)?

Do you know Hindu culture and Heritage?

Or at least, do you even have simple pride of being a Hindu?

 

Are you a Christinized Hindu?

Do you know more about the Bible (or Al Quran) than you know about Gita?

 

Do you attend to justify what you have learn in books like the Gita with what you have learnt from the Bible (or Al Quran)?

 

Do you actually feel happy knowing that something similar have occurance in Bible as it is stated in Gita/Mahabrathan/Ramayana? Like the Virgin birth of Sri Krishna been equalized to Jesus's Birth? (Example taken from another thread)

 

Do you feel it is easier or more comfortable to socialise with Christians than you do with other Hindus?

[Pankaja_Dasa 1]

Yeah I am Hindu, Hindu means to me that I worship Hindu God Krishna as a pose to Muslims God Allah or Christian God Jehovah, that sounds funny maybe but it's true.

[Sephiroth 0]

 

Yeah I am Hindu, Hindu means to me that I worship Hindu God Krishna as a pose to Muslims God Allah or Christian God Jehovah, that sounds funny maybe but it's true.

 

You didn't answer my question. I didn't ask who you are worshipping.

 

I asked whether you have learn about the Gita, Vedas and other Hindus Scriptures and whether you give equal respect to all the gods of Hindus (exclusive of your Chosen One).

[Pankaja_Dasa 1]

I do give respect, every Hindu does. I don't know Gita too well, but I like Lilas, esp watching on T.V.

[Sephiroth 0]

 

I do give respect, every Hindu does. I don't know Gita too well, but I like Lilas, esp watching on T.V.

 

You say Sri Krishna is your chosen "god", correct?

Yet, you admit that you don't know the Gita too well.

 

How is it possible that you could worship God whose words you do not know well?

 

Bhavagad Gita supposed to be guidelines for Hindus (especially those who worship Sri krishna) - it has equal respect to all the gods in Hindu Pantheon and shows the material world in proper detail. Yet, you do not know it. So what is your guideline?

[Pankaja_Dasa 1]

!!!!!!!i JUST KNOW kRISHNA IS GOD.

 

You said how is possible to know God without reading Gita, we hear Gita usually. Because it's not easy to understand it. That way I guess we have faith. Well my Mum told me Krishna is God when I was small. When your small you believe anything, but as you grow older you start wondering too much.

[Sephiroth 0]

 

!!!!!!!i JUST KNOW kRISHNA IS GOD.

 

You said how is possible to know God without reading Gita, we hear Gita usually. Because it's not easy to understand it. That way I guess we have faith. Well my Mum told me Krishna is God when I was small. When your small you believe anything, but as you grow older you start wondering too much.

 

You know, since coming here, things have becoming clear to me on why Hindus are like what they are today.

 

In the past, Hindus could have study their Scriptures first, get to know God and then live life accordingly. This way, they could know that God is with them in everything they do and they could know which is good and which is not, which is Dharmic and which is Adharmic.

 

But nowadays, Hindus (or those who claims to be Hindus), have no time for Scriptures. They follow what their parents said is God.

 

That is why when Adharmic beliefs like Christianity and Islam comes along, it could easily influence this sort of people who couldn't know Dharma and Adharma.

 

Blind Faith will not lead you to God.

[Pankaja_Dasa 1]

 

You know, since coming here, things have becoming clear to me on why Hindus are like what they are today.

 

In the past, Hindus could have study their Scriptures first, get to know God and then live life accordingly. This way, they could know that God is with them in everything they do and they could know which is good and which is not, which is Dharmic and which is Adharmic.

 

But nowadays, Hindus (or those who claims to be Hindus), have no time for Scriptures. They follow what their parents said is God.

 

That is why when Adharmic beliefs like Christianity and Islam comes along, it could easily influence this sort of people who couldn't know Dharma and Adharma.

 

Blind Faith will not lead you to God.

Scriptures says theres God, and parents repeat it. That's it man. Best way to learn, I do study scripture don't get me wrong. But it's same thing what parents said.

[Guest guest]

 

Do you give respect EQUALLY to all the Hindu Gods (with a selected Deity of worship)?

 

 

 

“The whole cosmic order is under me. By my will it is manifested again and again, and by my will it is annihilated at the end.” (Lord Krishna, Bhagavad-Gita 9.8)

 

“I am the father of this universe, the mother, the support, and the grandsire. I am the object of knowledge, the purifier and the syllable om. I am also the Rig, the Sama, the Yajur [Vedas]. I am the goal, the sustainer, the master, the witness, the abode, the refuge and the most dear friend. I am the creation and the annihilation, the basis of everything, the resting place and the eternal seed.” (Lord Krishna, Bhagavad-Gita 9.17-18)

 

“Whatever a man sacrifices to other gods, O son of Kunti, is really meant for me alone, but it is offered without true understanding. I am the only enjoyer and the only object of sacrifice. Those who do not recognize my true transcendental nature fall down.” (Lord Krishna, Bhagavad-Gita 9.23)

 

Bhagavada Gita is taken authoratatively by hindu's of many sects. From my point of view, this shows that Krsna himself is stating that there is only one God and the is that God.

 

Ofcourse respect must be given to all Jiva's, however, Krsna clearly states in Gita that it is only neccesary to surrender unto him. Although all exalted jiva's should be given respect, as humans how can we give "EQUAL respect" to all "Gods".

 

Clearly if one is a devotee of Krsna, why would one give respect to each "God" equally? For a start they aren't considered "Gods" but are Godly, from a point of view of a Krsna Devotee. All jiva's and tattva's are seen as expansions of Krsna's energies, so why differentiate them to be Gods and respect all of them equally when they are only God-like or have Godly powers.

 

My point is that it is not neccesary to worship or try to respect every "God" equally, one should already be respecting ALL jiva's equally.

 

suhrn-mitrary-udasina-

madhyastha-dvesya-bandhusu

sadhusv api ca papesu

sama-buddhir visisyate

 

"A person is considered still further advanced when he regards honest well-wishers, affectionate benefactors, the neutral, mediators, the envious, friends and enemies, the pious and the sinners all with an equal mind."

[Pankaja_Dasa 1]

Don't mean to say this, but saying somebody whos Hindu is not devotee is not really disrespectful, but is probably offensive to God, (and the person), sometimes I am little ashamed. If a person doesn't chant 16 rounds, please don't vilify him to think his not a devotee. The poor bastard probably prays to God every night, with all his heart. Hare Krishna:)

[Sephiroth 0]

 

Scriptures says theres God, and parents repeat it. That's it man. Best way to learn, I do study scripture don't get me wrong. But it's same thing what parents said.

 

Then, to my understanding ... your parents is your God, not God.

You follow whatever they say and believe whatever they tell you to believe.

[Sephiroth 0]

 

 

Clearly if one is a devotee of Krsna, why would one give respect to each "God" equally? For a start they aren't considered "Gods" but are Godly, from a point of view of a Krsna Devotee. All jiva's and tattva's are seen as expansions of Krsna's energies, so why differentiate them to be Gods and respect all of them equally when they are only God-like or have Godly powers.

 

My point is that it is not neccesary to worship or try to respect every "God" equally, one should already be respecting ALL jiva's equally.

 

So, in your family, you don't respect your Uncle, Aunties, Cousins, Nephew etc because they all part of your Grandparents and respecting your Grandparents alone should be enough?

[Guest guest]

 

So, in your family, you don't respect your Uncle, Aunties, Cousins, Nephew etc because they all part of your Grandparents and respecting your Grandparents alone should be enough?

 

For a start, no. Because respect in terms of family and humans is earnt. Some of my cousins do not deserve respect in terms of admiriation and good qualities. The same with other members of my family, some aunts are corrupt and manipulative, do they deserve respect? Ofcourse from a spiritual standpoint I am respectful and humble to all of them. But should i respect my aunt who has done many bad things, which i would not like to mention, as much as my other aunt who supported her husband during his brain tumour? Right till his death she was so great and supporting. So I should respect both my aunts equally then?

 

Ofcourse absolutely none of that is applicable to Krsna's expansions, so i have no idea why you have used an analogy of a family. You cannot compare Krsna's expansions in terms of family in that way.

 

My first point, it would be impractical to pray and attempt to respect each "God" seperately. There are just too many "Gods" to deal with. An analogy is given that if one simply put water on the leaves of a plant, it will not grow. However, if one waters the root, the entire plant is satasfied. Similalry, all the "Gods" are pleased when Krsna is worshipped.

 

As i stated several times in my previous post, ALL jivas are expected to be respected. However, to consider all these living entities as being absolutey seperate from Krsna would be foolish - from a devotee of Krsna's point of view. So from a Krsna Concious point of view, Krsna should be the object of ones worship. But that does not mean that other Jiva's should not be respected, it means simply that one should not consider Jiva's like our siblings, Lord Brahma or Hanuman to be equivalent to Lord Krsna.

 

However, for one to progress in Krsna Conciousness one must respect all living beings.

 

"One who thinks himself lower than the grass, who is more tolerant than a tree, and who does not expect personal honor yet is always prepared to give all respect to others can very easily always chant the holy name of the Lord." (Adi-lila 17.31)

 

However, in Krsna Conciousness you cannot say other Jiva's are equivilant to Lord Krsna. In this way, I am arguing that it is not neccesary to respect all the "Gods" of Hinduism. Merely to be respectful to ALL living beings (which includes exalted Jiva's such as Lord Bhrama) and krsna-prema is what is needed.

 

In this way, you cannot say that one must "respect" all the "Gods" to be a true "hindu" as you have indirectly stated in your opening post.

[Pankaja_Dasa 1]

 

Then, to my understanding ... your parents is your God, not God.

You follow whatever they say and believe whatever they tell you to believe.

 

 

Yup.

[Ayodhya 0]

"One who thinks himself lower than the grass, who is more tolerant than a tree, and who does not expect personal honor yet is always prepared to give all respect to others can very easily always chant the holy name of the Lord." (Adi-lila 17.31)

 

You referenced a -lila here, Guest.

Where can I read lilas online?

 

Sephiroth

Your definition of a Hindu is nice, since I am not a Hare Krishna, but just a normal proud Hindu.

 

Since Hinduism has been around for close to 7,000 years, it has undergone several revivalist movements in which those sages involved brought forth the scriptures they favored.

 

The Vedas and the Upanishads, which are not read frequently were at some point in time in India. However, Sankaracharya, during his revival movement during the Middle Ages brought the Bhagavad Gita to the forefront, and thus, to this day, we read the Bhagavad Gita more than the Vedas and the Upanishads. Personally, I hope to one day compile the earlier scriptures (Smriti's, Agamas, Ithihases, etc.) and distribute a book that all Hindus can use without needing to sort through hundreds and thousands of scriptures (I mean come one, 108 Upanishads?!)

 

Swami Vivekananda

"Say is it proudly: I am a Hindu"

[Sephiroth 0]

 

"

Your definition of a Hindu is nice, since I am not a Hare Krishna, but just a normal proud Hindu.

 

Since Hinduism has been around for close to 7,000 years, it has undergone several revivalist movements in which those sages involved brought forth the scriptures they favored.

 

The Vedas and the Upanishads, which are not read frequently were at some point in time in India. However, Sankaracharya, during his revival movement during the Middle Ages brought the Bhagavad Gita to the forefront, and thus, to this day, we read the Bhagavad Gita more than the Vedas and the Upanishads. Personally, I hope to one day compile the earlier scriptures (Smriti's, Agamas, Ithihases, etc.) and distribute a book that all Hindus can use without needing to sort through hundreds and thousands of scriptures (I mean come one, 108 Upanishads?!)

 

Swami Vivekananda

"Say is it proudly: I am a Hindu"

 

One do not need to be Hare Krishna to a Hindu. Hare Krishnas are not Hindus alone.

 

Hindus are those who understand their Scriptures and take time and effect to learn, understand and follow what they have learnt. Personally, I think it is utter useless for anyone to claim themselves to be Hindu (or any other followers for that matter) BUT doesn't know their own religion and belief.

 

As for your effects, good luck.

[Guest guest]

 

Are you a Hindu?

Do you learn Gita, Vedas or other Religious books?

Do you give respect EQUALLY to all the Hindu Gods (with a selected Deity of worship)?

Do you know Hindu culture and Heritage?

Or at least, do you even have simple pride of being a Hindu?

 

 

I respect all Hindu gods but focus on the concept of Brahman. I'm proud of being a Hindu and know something about Hindu culture and heritage but not everything. I only read the Gita as it is the most popular but am also looking into the Upanishads.

 

 

Are you a Christinized Hindu?

Do you know more about the Bible (or Al Quran) than you know about Gita?

 

 

No I know about both but have only studied the Gita. The Gita has so much knowledge and depth that I'm quite satisfied and I do not feel the need for other religious scriptures.

 

 

Do you attend to justify what you have learn in books like the Gita with what you have learnt from the Bible (or Al Quran)?

 

 

I don't try to, I just do.

 

 

Do you actually feel happy knowing that something similar have occurance in Bible as it is stated in Gita/Mahabrathan/Ramayana? Like the Virgin birth of Sri Krishna been equalized to Jesus's Birth? (Example taken from another thread)

 

 

To be honest with you, I don't care. I'm more interested in the message of the Gita than in similarities between the Mahabharata and Bible.

 

 

Do you feel it is easier or more comfortable to socialise with Christians than you do with other Hindus?

 

 

It depends on the person. I find some Hindus are nice genuine people and others are materialistic, unsympathetic, ruthless money-hungry backstabbers. Somre are religious and some are not. Most Christians I come across are not religious and can be quite nice people. Ironically I find the religious ones have a chip on their shoulder.

[Sephiroth 0]

Good enough ... you seems to be in the right way with the right attitude.

 

Most of the so-called "religious ones" have major attitude problem. False Ego is always the biggest problem and obstacle for most religious followers.