Followers of Hindu philosophy

Society Religion & Philosophy
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Re: Followers of Hindu philosophy

To ssingh's contribution, I'll add a small one. All we've been and Einstein has been saying is that you dont have to "convert" to Hinduism to follow its tenets. What the Bhagawad Gita and many Hindu scriptures say is universal.

As for actual conversion figures from foreigners, then yes there have been thousands of foreign converts to Hinduism who are in the ISKON movement, or followers of Sri Sri Ravishankar or Satya Sai Baba (a suspect actually).
Even Appless' Steve Jobs used to fo to the Hare Krishna temple in the US after the left University and made history with Apple computers.He often mentions it in his speeches.

I believe that sadiyah sahab is asking for "out-of-the-blue" conversion figures, (like that Afghan convert to Christianity). In that case,I'm afraid I dont have any figures. It could be any number.

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Re: Followers of Hindu philosophy

Wrong translation buddy. Here is the correct one. There is a big difference in meanings of the two.

“All who in whatever way surrender to me, I reward them accordingly. All mankind follows my path O Arjuna, in all respects”.
**Ghagwad Gita **
Chapter 4
Verse 11

Reference : http://www.bhagavad-gita.org/Gita/verse-04-11.html

Changes in GS administration
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Re: Followers of Hindu philosophy

Looks like Mr. vikz doesn't know his own scriptures.

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Re: Followers of Hindu philosophy

It is not only you who is confused, all the eminent Hindus are confused themselves.

It is not only Hindus unable to explain this myth, it is all those eminent figures too… Here are a few examples Sadiyah…

“Hinduism, as a faith, is vague, amorphous, many-sided, all things to all men. It is hardly possible to define it, or indeed to say definitely whether it is a religion or not, in the usual sense of the word. In its present form, and even in the past, it embraces many beliefs and practices, from the highest to the lowest, often opposed to or contradicting each other.”
Jawaharlal Nehru, The Discovery of India, New Delhi, 1983, p.75
Pandit Nehru was the first Prime Minister of independent India during 1947-64

“Hinduism does not rest on the authority of one book or one prophet, nor does it possess a common creed - like the Kalma of Islam - acceptable to all. That renders a common definition of Hinduism a bit difficult.”
M.K Gandhi, Hindu Dharma, New Delhi, 1991, p. 120
Mahatma Gandhi is known as the Father of the Nation, India

… isn’t it clean enough Sadiyah Sahab :cb:

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Re: Followers of Hindu philosophy

ssingh, yudishthir: you guys have provided info on what 'great' personalities think of Hinduism, did they convert and led "hindu" life?

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Re: Followers of Hindu philosophy

I gave information about what famous personalities think on hinduism. By hinduism, i mean hindu scriptures or even religion in some cases.

No they didn't convert to hinduism except George Harrison of beetles.

I also said i have no authority on hinduism(means even though by birth I am hindu, I cannot explain it atleast now). To know hinduism, i also said what is the best thing to do?. You reject it , accept it after reading it, it's your personal choice. What people of other faiths think about hinduism or any other religion, its their opinion. I dont have any intention of changing it.

But I do have a feeling of being a hindu. I do believe in Idol worship. I have read Bhagavad-geetha once. Couldn't understand certain aspects of it though. I do believe in hindu gods very much. I do believe in casteism that is there in hinduism (i know many people will tell ills about my religion or my belief on this. But it doesn't matter to me). But it doesn't mean that I oppress people from other castes. I do believe in re-birth as it is an important aspect of hinduism.

For me the above things are "hindu life". whether those personalities believed these things, I dont know. But they did like hindu scriptures. Some one asked about conversion into hinduism so i gave my view point. Beyond this i cannot comment.

But Just because i believe in hinduism very much, it doesn't mean that i hate other religions. I also say that to know any religion, you dont have to change your religion.

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Re: Followers of Hindu philosophy

ssingh, I doubt that I'd be able to read the entire Hindu holy book, give me a book or a few good books that I could read on it. I'll save it to the list of books that I want to read when I have free time.

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Re: Followers of Hindu philosophy

I have read only bhagavad-geetha completely. That's the only thing that comes to my mind. I think i have said whatever i wanted to say. Beyond this, i dont have anything else to say.

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Re: Followers of Hindu philosophy

But I do would like to add one more thing before i leave this forum or thread. I also believe, since Hinduism is not started by some person like other religions and no body knows how or who started it, it does create confusions even to many hindus. But, no matter what, nobody denies that bhagavad geetha and vedas are the foremost scriptures in hinduism.

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Re: A convert to Christianity

good joke, look who is preaching hinduism

Rate the above persons profile!!!
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Re: Followers of Hindu philosophy

oooohhhhhh…mighty lahori, please forgive us and our sins which we did to ‘you’ thats why you are so eager to open up your mighty tongue.:hoonh:

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Re: Followers of Hindu philosophy

Sadiyah i think i might answer some of ur querries:

  1. Conversion rates of hindusim - cant say coz hindus are not so obsessed to

    convert people. Belive or not but thats the truth.

  2. Creation of hinduism - again cant explain, being world's first relegion (pre-
    historic times) its creation is as difficult to answer as the exact age of
    universe.

  3. Faiths - There is one creator of the world thats is Eshwar or Parmatma.
    Eshwar takes care not only of its people but the whole of the universe.

  4. Concept of God - Eshwar takes care of the world by sending Lords (as holy
    men says in the form of common man) i.e Lord Ram, Lord Krishna the same
    like Prophet Mohammed in Islam. Together we say them God.

  5. Concept of Eshwar or Parmatma - Ancient scriptures has explained that
    Eshwar is the creator of the Universe, is the care taker and is the
    destroyer. These three forms of Eshwar has been explained by Brahma - the creator, Vishnu - the care taker and Shiva - the destroyer.

As someone in this thread said every relegion have its phylosophy so as Hinduism. Hindus unite themselves being worshiping thousands of Gods for thousands of years for one and only Eshwar.

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Re: Followers of Hindu philosophy

"It is hardly possible to define it, or indeed to say definitely whether it is a religion or not, in the usual sense of the word. "

I agree with this sentence. Hindus should not get infuriated with this sentence that "whether it is a religion or not". Because after that the sentence "in usual sense of the word" should calm them down. But i dont subscribe to other parts of what nehru said. I hope every hindu reads it properly. and i am not a big fan of nehru. And any hindu can correct me if i am wrong.

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Re: Followers of Hindu philosophy

we have the freedom to debate about theology since it is not a one man
show .ypu can t be rigid since as times changes new realtiies and new technologies emerge it will contadict what you have believed.
nehru would have been excuted if he belonged to other faith for questioning

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Re: Followers of Hindu philosophy

Okay if people disagree with J L Nehru, then I can quote another eminent Hindu personality here,

Dr. Radhakrishnan, ex-President of India and an eminent interpreter of Hinduism, as quoted in *India: An Introduction by *Khushwant Singh, New Delhi, 1990.(Hinduism is) "... a name without any content... Its content, if any, has altered from age to age, from community to community. It meant one thing in the Vedic period, another in the Brahmanical, a third in the Buddhist - one to Saivite, another to Vaishnavite and Sakta."

Dr. Radhakrishnan was the second President of independent India.

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Re: Followers of Hindu philosophy

I respect Dr. Radha krishnan because he was president of a country.

The one thing associated with hinduism is Bhagavad Geetha. When I read that i felt that It has helped me understand life in a better way.

Moreover, bhagavad geetha is associated with hinduism. So, i have affinity towards hinduism. If god or allah as you call, had associated it with islam, I would have liked islam. I hope the point is conveyed and also hope i am not talking too much about what i believe.

Now to what radhakrishnan said:

I disagree with the words "if any" because "if there isn't "anything", how can that "anything" change from age to age....?". Ok, even if some thing is there, it's left to the individual to decide whether he liked it or not. One who likes it ,for him it is a big deal in it, one who doen't, then no big deal for him.

I also disagree with "hinduism: a name without any content", atleaaa..sssttt for me.

I would rather put hinduism this way:"A religion which was without any name".

I dont know who first called the people following these scriptures as hindus.

And also, i dont want to talk about some other age. For me, it is this present age that matters even if meanings change (not words in a scripture) from age to age.

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Re: Followers of Hindu philosophy

^ Okay, so if you dissed Dr. Radha krishnan let me quote anothe Eminent Hindu here who is Swami Dharma Theertha

"Frankly speaking, it is not possible to say definitely who is a Hindu and what is Hinduism. These questions have been considered again and again by eminent scholars, and so far no satisfactory answer has been given. Hinduism has within itself all types of religions such as theism, atheism, polytheism, Adwitism, Dwaitism, Saivism, Vaishnavism, and so forth. (emphasis added). It contains nature worship, ancestor worship, animal worship, idol worship, demon worship, symbol worship, self worship, and the highest god worship. Its conflicting philosophies will confound any ordinary person. From barbarious practices and dark superstitions, up to the most mystic rites and sublime philosophies, there is place for all gradations and varieties in Hinduism. Similarly, among the Hindu population are found half barbarian wild tribes, and depressed classes and untouchables, along with small numbers of cultured, gentle natures and highly evolved souls."Swami Dharma Theertha
History of Hindu Imperialism, Madras, 1992, page 178

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Re: Followers of Hindu philosophy

I am only quoting Hindus here.
Please note, I have NOT yet tken any quote from any Non-Hindu..........

And these are being denied too

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Re: Followers of Hindu philosophy

"Frankly speaking, it is not possible to say definitely who is a Hindu and what is Hinduism. These questions have been considered again and again by eminent scholars, and so far no satisfactory answer has been given. Hinduism has within itself all types of religions such as theism, atheism, polytheism, Adwitism, Dwaitism, Saivism, Vaishnavism, and so forth. (emphasis added). It contains nature worship, ancestor worship, animal worship, idol worship, demon worship, symbol worship, self worship, and the highest god worship. Its conflicting philosophies will confound any ordinary person. From barbarious practices and dark superstitions, up to the most mystic rites and sublime philosophies, there is place for all gradations and varieties in Hinduism. Similarly, among the Hindu population are found half barbarian wild tribes, and depressed classes and untouchables, along with small numbers of cultured, gentle natures and highly evolved souls."

Completely agreed. yes..."I" wholeheartedly accept that such things are there in my religion. Whether it is good or bad, right or wrong, I dont know. I have heard it and sometimes also seen some of them. Yes, they are hindus. Other hindus may not accept what i have accepted.

Initially i did not accept because such things are not mentioned in Bhagavad geetha. I was and majority of hindus see hinduism through the prism of bhagavad geetha and still see it.

Besides If you are having pleasure on someone else's problem using it to boost your confidense about your religion or faith, then i just pity you. But amidst those there certainly some which i am not against.

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Re: Followers of Hindu philosophy

This will go on forever if someone starts finding faults in hinduism. But i definitely dont find any fault in bhagavad geetha. I have said enough and not really mature enough to proceed further. Besides, i dont have much time also and i am not lying. I have my exams coming closer.

If other hindus over here dont like me for accepting the faults in hinduism, I am really sorry.