The credit for that goes to my friend, Sri, who still finds time from his busy schedule to make my site look good:-)) Thank you, Janelle, Thank you, Sri.
As member of a different religion entirely and a Christian, I respect the general views that Hindus have to offer. I believe that (though not a god in my eyes), every living thing does have a spirit like your examples of the tree and dog.
I also appreciate your personal opinion of non-violence and leaving greed of power and money out of the idea of religion entirely. I too think that each person should stand as an example of their beliefs without pushing it on to others. However, probably not surprisingly I view conversion and peaceful missionary work a necessity in this day and age simply because people have not heard and many want to hear more to help complete their spirituality through religion.
As you mentioned that one cannot know the entirety of religion, I too believe so at least while we are on this earth. It brings me peace to know as much as I do though, as I’m sure you might agree as to your own spirituality. Thanks for posting your thought provoking article; it was enjoyed.
Janelle-
Thank you for your views and I respect them, totally. My view is that spirituality and religion are two different things. One does not need religion to be spiritual and not all religious people are spiritual. Case in point–Osama Bin Laden, deeply religious but doesn’t have a clue about spirituality. How can you call a person who has scant regard for human lives as spiritual, but this gentleman does all things that are required of him from his religion’s point of view. Doesn’t drink, doesn’t eat pork and prays 5 times a day, but still finds time to kill people. Spirituality is within every single human being, and sometimes, I feel religion kills spirituality if it is in the wrong hands. As for conversion, I do not think that conversion is needed, but bringing about awareness about spirituality is welcome. In the same respect, the work of missionaries, Hindu organizations, Islamic teachers and message spreaders of other religions are to be lauded as long as they are employed to create awareness and help people. However, if done for the sake of converting people, then, the whole purpose is defeated. I have mentioned in my article that conversion is fine as long as people are converted because they find answers in their new paths, but one should not convert for money. I have also mentioned that killing people for whatever reasons they converted for is condemnable. In a way, I’m lucky that I was born into a Hindu household that is open minded, and I have the fortune of having a christian education and interactions with many members of the Muslim and Buddhist communities. So, I hope that my views are not clouded by the fact that I was born to Hindu parents who practiced the Hindu rituals–religiously:-) I do not practice religion, but I’m a student of spirituality, and in my search for the truth, I have discovered one wonderful aspect of Hindu philosophy, which makes a Hindu–a Christian and a Muslim, as well. At the end of the day, there is only one higher power or a higher intelligence, so, as long as we acknowledge that and stay true to our conscience, we do not need organized religion to make this world a better place for our kids! These are my humble views. Thank You for finding the time to post your wonderful views
Beautiful words of profound thinking. I wish that every hindu, muslim, christian, and jew understand his or her own religion first. If they do that, then, I’m sure nobody will have to convert others and get converted or feel insecure about their religions. There is no conversion because we are all one, and no matter what the end results are, we are one and the same. Thank you for your thoughts and comments.
Rajiv Karran
I believe,
the innumerable Hindu Gods are the manifestations of good qualities in human beings,
Devils (Asuras) are the manifestations of bad qualities,
Caste is a statement of Karma (not birth),
…
well, I can go on and on, the Hindu tenets are so deeply philosophical that it can take the whole lifetime to understand them. They touch every aspect of not just human life but the whole creation, because as you rightly said – Hinduism is not the creation of an individual but of several intellectuals.
great work updating the site by the way the! much better than the original wordpress theme
I dig.
The credit for that goes to my friend, Sri, who still finds time from his busy schedule to make my site look good:-)) Thank you, Janelle, Thank you, Sri.
As member of a different religion entirely and a Christian, I respect the general views that Hindus have to offer. I believe that (though not a god in my eyes), every living thing does have a spirit like your examples of the tree and dog.
I also appreciate your personal opinion of non-violence and leaving greed of power and money out of the idea of religion entirely. I too think that each person should stand as an example of their beliefs without pushing it on to others. However, probably not surprisingly I view conversion and peaceful missionary work a necessity in this day and age simply because people have not heard and many want to hear more to help complete their spirituality through religion.
As you mentioned that one cannot know the entirety of religion, I too believe so at least while we are on this earth. It brings me peace to know as much as I do though, as I’m sure you might agree as to your own spirituality. Thanks for posting your thought provoking article; it was enjoyed.
Janelle-
Thank you for your views and I respect them, totally. My view is that spirituality and religion are two different things. One does not need religion to be spiritual and not all religious people are spiritual. Case in point–Osama Bin Laden, deeply religious but doesn’t have a clue about spirituality. How can you call a person who has scant regard for human lives as spiritual, but this gentleman does all things that are required of him from his religion’s point of view. Doesn’t drink, doesn’t eat pork and prays 5 times a day, but still finds time to kill people. Spirituality is within every single human being, and sometimes, I feel religion kills spirituality if it is in the wrong hands. As for conversion, I do not think that conversion is needed, but bringing about awareness about spirituality is welcome. In the same respect, the work of missionaries, Hindu organizations, Islamic teachers and message spreaders of other religions are to be lauded as long as they are employed to create awareness and help people. However, if done for the sake of converting people, then, the whole purpose is defeated. I have mentioned in my article that conversion is fine as long as people are converted because they find answers in their new paths, but one should not convert for money. I have also mentioned that killing people for whatever reasons they converted for is condemnable. In a way, I’m lucky that I was born into a Hindu household that is open minded, and I have the fortune of having a christian education and interactions with many members of the Muslim and Buddhist communities. So, I hope that my views are not clouded by the fact that I was born to Hindu parents who practiced the Hindu rituals–religiously:-) I do not practice religion, but I’m a student of spirituality, and in my search for the truth, I have discovered one wonderful aspect of Hindu philosophy, which makes a Hindu–a Christian and a Muslim, as well. At the end of the day, there is only one higher power or a higher intelligence, so, as long as we acknowledge that and stay true to our conscience, we do not need organized religion to make this world a better place for our kids! These are my humble views. Thank You for finding the time to post your wonderful views
Sri-
Beautiful words of profound thinking. I wish that every hindu, muslim, christian, and jew understand his or her own religion first. If they do that, then, I’m sure nobody will have to convert others and get converted or feel insecure about their religions. There is no conversion because we are all one, and no matter what the end results are, we are one and the same. Thank you for your thoughts and comments.
Rajiv Karran
I totally agree with you, Rajiv.
I believe,
the innumerable Hindu Gods are the manifestations of good qualities in human beings,
Devils (Asuras) are the manifestations of bad qualities,
Caste is a statement of Karma (not birth),
…
well, I can go on and on, the Hindu tenets are so deeply philosophical that it can take the whole lifetime to understand them. They touch every aspect of not just human life but the whole creation, because as you rightly said – Hinduism is not the creation of an individual but of several intellectuals.