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Re: Hinduism Outside India - the Future Hinduism Outside India - the Future
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To: alt-hindu@uunet.uu.net
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Subject: Re: Hinduism Outside India - the Future Hinduism Outside India - the Future
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From: vprabhu@tinkerbell.tdd.sj.nec.com (Vivek R. Prabhu)
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Date: 4 Jul 1995 06:34:09 GMT
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From news%elvis.syl.sj.nec.com@syl.sj.nec.com Tue Jul 4 02: 25:14 1995
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Newsgroups: alt.hindu
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Organization: DCSD, NEC America, San Jose California
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References: <3spl4h$brp@babbage.ece.uc.edu>
In article <3spl4h$brp@babbage.ece.uc.edu>,
Vivek Sadananda Pai <vivek@cs.rice.edu> wrote:
>
> Subject: Hinduism Outside India - the Future
>
>In a previous article, drai@ix.netcom.com (DHARMBIR RAI) wrote:
>
>The question which runs through my mind when I read a statement
>like that is "but who determines what's valid?" Most Hindus will
>say that Vaishnavism, or Shaivism, or Shakti worship are all valid
>parts of Hinduism. Many will even accept instant swamis into the
>fold. But how many will accept someone like Rajneesh? Some will,
>undoubtedly, but most of the Hindus that I talked to said that
>he was not a Hindu. The harder question to answer was why they
>felt that way.
Well, it is not true that Rajneesh was not accepted by most people as
a Hindu. He was indeed accepted by most Hindus. The only reason why a
lot of the conventional Hindus did not follow him, was because of the
fact that he considered himself a Tantra Yogi, and this is a sect of
Yogis not widely followed in India. Also, the means of achieving the
state of Moksha, as prescribed by him, was unconventional in the very
least.
>[...]
>> During the quarter
>> century that has elapsed there has been a tremendous increase of
>> emigration of Hindus from India. An entire generation of Hindu
>> children have been born or brought up outside India and there is an
>> alarming trend of Hinduism losing its hold on this generation. If
>> nothing is done to stem this trend, the future is indeed bleak. We
>
>Yes, the future is indeed bleak, but with a little work, it can be
>made a little bit more hopeful.
Well I guess all religions, as do societies and cultures, go through a
period of renaissance and renewal, before which they suffer a gradual
and often long and painful process of decay, and this is what had been
happening with Hinduism in the Kalyuga stage. It is as though there is
a period of resurgence that is taking place with Hinduism, and this is
something that should be furthered. People're now actively taking part
in reforming Hindusim as we know it. The phase started in the 1700s by
Raja Ram Mohan Roy, and continued with Dayanand Saraswati and with the
influence of Swami Vivekananda. People are being drawn, in ever large
numbers to the spirit and soul of Hinduism as is evidenced by the very
active and large participation in Hindu cultural activities by youths,
and children on the West Coast here. The evidence is for all to see &
this is a refreshing change that we have observed.
>
>> have seen this happening before in various parts of the world both in
>> remote and recent past. Just in the past few decades Fiji, West
>> Indies, former Guianas - countries once with large Hindu population
>> have all seen the decline.
>
>You don't even have to look that far. Even in India, filmi music
>blares during the Ganesh festivals, men smoke beedis as they prepare
>to pull the Deities through the streets, and people get rip-roaring
>drunk on religious holidays. Yes, Hinduism is on the decline in
>many places, not the least of which is India. Anyone want to take
>a guess as to which country the WHO is worried about regarding
>a potentially huge AIDS problem? The influence of the Western
>ideal is making its way eastward, and the modern Indians
>seem all too happy to welcome it.
Well the case of Fiji and Guyana are not the right examples to give.
When Timoci Bavadra was overthrown, and Sitiveni Rabuka took over the
reins of the Govt. in Fiji, he purposely tried to destroy the Hindu
identity, and though initially he succeeded, he is now paying a stiff
price for it. Similarly in Guyana when Cheddi Jagan was overthrown an
immediate decline of the Hindu identity was seen but again the people
of Guyana had to suffer, and now that he is back, the Hindu identity
is back to the forefront. The best example, of course is the country
of Mauritius, where Hindusim is well and truly ensconsed there, both
in the psyche, as wel as in the consciousness of the people. That is
one country which is proud to consider itself a bastion of Hinduism &
is the place where the Hindu experiment has succeeded, and prospered.
So friends, do not despair, Hinduism has been around for 5000 years &
no matter the millions of hordes of Islam, or the British, or anyone
else who came in could not conquer or defeat the Hindu spirit. It not
only endured, but also enveloped everyone else in its fold.
>-Vivek
>
>P.S. The original post raised some important questions, and I
>thank Mr. Rai for bringing it up. I'd like to see this discussion
>stay away from the nit-picky level and stick to the general
>topic, and I'd ask that all participants try to adhere to that
>goal.
Regards,
Vivek. (The other Vivek)
--
vprabhu@dcsd.sj.nec.com (Vivek R. Prabhu),
Systems Integration Engineer - Data Communications & Systems Division,
NEC America Inc., San Jose, CA 95134.
Dr.BonD - The Flexible Dial-Up Router Solution To Internetwork Diverse Sites. http://www.ecst.csuchico.edu/~vivek
